The Winter Holidays are officially over.....

Kids went back to school yesterday and I am back to both jobs today. It was a pretty good holiday. 

Christmas saw my in laws over again and the Mrs. spoiled me. 
New Years found me at home relaxing. 

So a ton has happened since my last post....

-my dad died. Around September 21st. Took a while to get through that although I'm not done yet. 

-New job is doing well. 

-kids are doing well. 

I'll write more later. 

It has truly been a long time since I have typed anything on here. And now I am borderring on one of the biggest decisions of my life. Figures.

So a few weeks ago, our warehouse manager called us all together in our "rally" area to talk about a future development. Apparently, I have two more years until the warehouse I work in closes. The work we do is getting shifted to our warehouse in Spanish Fork, Utah. It was a heavy week as people were discussing options and ideas on what to do. 

If I was single, the thought of going to Utah wouldn't be so harsh. It's easy for a single person to load everything into a U-haul and just head on over.

Except I am not single.

Except that two children call me Daddy.

Decision time is upon me even though I have until around February 2013 or so to discover my plan. Wish me luck.

We all hear about the different lasts as it relates to one's passage from life to death. Just putting it to screen to collect my thoughts. No cause for alarm:

Last Words: usually spoken before expiration. Accounts for some collective sign of comfort for those who are not there for the departure. Kind of like a last blessing of sorts.
(Example, Elijah and Elisha)

Last Request: As in the convicted man's chance for one more thing before death. Perhaps a last meal or something similar. 
(Example,Moses at the entrance to the Promised Land)

Last Act: A person expires doing something heroic or something as far from suffering as possible. Lie a soldier in combat taking as many enemy soldiers with him as he dies.
(Example, Samson's last act before his death)

In conclusion, it isn't how you die that is important. It is the marks you leave through your life that count. How have you inspired someone lately? How have you made a difference today? 

from Hamlet by William Shakespeare:
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!

These words were spoken to Laertes by his father Polonius. Yet these words have a very sincere meaning.

You are the charter member of your team and it is to you that all is accountable when it comes to you.

Never forget!!!!

For work, I am a boot person. It's a necessary evil really for the warehouse since if I don't wear boots and I drop a box, I am screwed.
For leisure, I am actually a flip flop person. I wear shoes for going out, but I like to lounge around in flip flops.

tags: boots, fall, shoes, sorel, writer's block

Imagine for a moment that you are driving down a public road. You see a guy on the side of the road. He seems to have a knife in his hand. Instead of driving by, you stop and ask the guy if he's okay. He starts walking to you with the knife drawn. What would be the first instinct you would be thinking? 

Is the man carving wood or is he threatening you?

Now, imagine that you are a police officer. Does that change your mind?

Apparently, not if you are a Native American in Washington State. Last night, the city of Seattle had a town meeting of sorts where different Tribal members demanded accountability in such a case. They made statements about being mowed down before or that this was unjustified. Yet, recently in the last year, we have seen many badges shed blood of their own when people have started assassinating police officers. 
The Native American community wants officers to hesitate. Not the smartest idea I think. 
Hesitation is the difference between death and life. If we make our police officers second guess themselves, we take away their ability to save themselves and innocent people when danger threatens. 

I feel apologetic for the man who was killed at the side of the road when this happened. Yet, I do not think the officer acted irresponsibly. He acted as if he were threatened and if the facts are accurate, he was. 

.....you could go back to your high school graduation as who you are now and speak to your classmates?


My Answer:
To the Woodbridge High Class of 1992:
Well, the time has come for you to go into the world and make your mark whatever the mark may be. Just remember that the mark you hope to make may be different than the one you actually make.

When I left WSHS, my goal was 20 yrs in the military and 20 yrs civil service. 20 yrs later, I am happily married and having two kids.