tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182901002024-03-05T03:31:26.065-05:00Life:FoundThis blog is about helping you change your life for good. Feel free to leave a comment and to join the subscriber list to get important updates Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-27568428232343654192014-08-28T12:22:00.001-04:002014-08-28T12:22:51.870-04:00What Do We Want? Peace! When Do We Want It? Now<h3>
Is there a way to truly find peace in this world? I think so. </h3>
<h3>
<br /></h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMosfP0A6_qIei0If5tU3La7v76Sw5Kr5jpIbOSFvIeIRFXuKGb1yLT7EuESfAZ1Q91J1AdqIQdMO_6-_UGWoEOJi_w2objlYobbgwsqHalA5CNZ9p5FWPhdcmwZQ9vERKijPNw/s1600/Forest_in_Yakushima_28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMosfP0A6_qIei0If5tU3La7v76Sw5Kr5jpIbOSFvIeIRFXuKGb1yLT7EuESfAZ1Q91J1AdqIQdMO_6-_UGWoEOJi_w2objlYobbgwsqHalA5CNZ9p5FWPhdcmwZQ9vERKijPNw/s1600/Forest_in_Yakushima_28.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Wiki Commons</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What do we want? Peace! When do we want it? Now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a chant heard at many rallies around the world when
craziness is taking over a neighborhood or a community or a state … or an
individual. We all want peace. And we want it now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
But what is peace … really? </h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peace is several things. <b>True peace is like a sleeping baby.</b>
Many of you have probably had that experience. The day you had been waiting for
all those nine months. You got through the doctor’s appointments, the
late-night cravings, the worries, the baby showers, the sore back and feet, the
anticipation. The day finally comes and that little bundle of joy pops out into
this earthly realm. There are 10 toes and 10 fingers. She cries a little bit
— actually a lot — and you know that everything is fine. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At last, the new mom and dad are moved to a room and the new
little bundle of joy — all wrapped up in a pink blanket with a bright pink
beanie on her head — is brought into the room. She’s sleeping like a log in her
little clear, plastic crib. <b>And all anybody can do is smile. </b>They look down at
the sleeping baby, this little miracle of life, and a giant grin spreads across
the faces of even the most hardened human. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“She looks so peaceful,” the new dad says as he reaches a
soft finger to brush her cheek. “She just looks so peaceful.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is real peace. Inside peace anyway. Like calm waters or
a sleeping baby, <b>true peace is a resting of our soul.</b> When the world around us
is churning with turbulent waters, our souls are safe and calm and clear. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are at peace. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We want that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But we also want peace on the outside. And what we are
really saying is we want connection, unity with everyone and every thing around
us.<b> We want respect, love, admiration, contact, relationships.</b> We want to
experience life like a forest of trees that isn’t upset at the bugs and
microbes living off its bark or the small animals using it for shade. The tree
is at peace with its surroundings. It isn’t jealous. It isn’t angry. It isn’t
spiteful.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The giant tree realizes that it needs the microbes and the
bugs and the animals, just as much as the animals and bugs and microbes needs
the tree. The forest is the forest because of all those organisms. Take
anything away and the forest ceases to be a true forest. Oh maybe not right
away, but take one part of the ecosystem out of the forest and over time, that
forest will die, a slow death. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>We need the people and things around us.</b> That’s what makes
this place earth. That’s what makes us, us. We want the same unity and
connection as the trees and the microbes and the bugs and the animals. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes we choose something else besides unity. We choose
competition, us vs. them, rage, jealousy and the like. But what we want, what
we really want, is peace. We want serenity on the inside and the outside. We
want the unity of the forest and the peaceful slumber of a newborn baby. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
What do you want it? </h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Peace</b></i>! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When can you have it? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you choose … </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Now!</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What do you do to find <b>peace</b> in this world? Do you have it?
Is it <b>attainable</b>? Let us know in the comments section. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-24847809489757346292014-08-19T12:13:00.002-04:002014-08-19T12:13:18.916-04:00They Can Train A Robot To Do Your Job<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Pq-S557XQU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br /><br /><br />
<br />
I know the video above is a little long (15 minutes) but it lays out the very near future of your job and everybody else's job too. It's worth 15 minutes of your time. <br />
<br />
For the last couple of months I've been saying that we are all just holding our jobs until the people that hire us can find a robot to do our work. Corporations pay us just enough to keep us interested until the robots — that are already here — are cheap enough and smart enough to put to work and do our jobs.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Is Any Job Safe?</h3>
Trucker? robots can do that<br />
<br />
Waitress? Waiter? Barista at a coffee shop? Yep<br />
<br />
Warehouse worker? Builder? Oh yeah.<br />
<br />
But what about the hard stuff?<br />
<br />
Lawyers? Robots can do that<br />
<br />
Doctors? Even better than modern doctors<br />
<br />
Creative Types? There are robots that can write music that even expert humans can't tell whether it's written by computes or a homo sapien.<br />
<br />
Yep, even my latest job - storytelling. Computers can do it right now. And they are doing it more and more every day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Robots Are Coming! The Robots Are Coming!</h3>
The question then becomes not "if" these robots are coming for our jobs but "how soon"?At the turn of the 20th century most people didn't think that horses would ever be replaced. A horse would always have a job. Except now, with a very few exceptions, they are unemployable. Are humans next? <br />
<br />
I know there has to be a positive spin to this but it does make you think. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
What do you think? </h3>
<br />
What do you think about robots taking over almost every human job? Does it bother you?<br />
<br />
What should the next generation focus on when it comes to training for a career? <br />
<br />
Leave a comment in the comment section and let me know what's going on. Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-77609593445645285612014-08-18T17:07:00.004-04:002014-08-19T09:12:48.841-04:00Prepare For Any Job Ever: 12 Skills You Need To Learn Now<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1028603524;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:-1915984880 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
</style>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibByj3TETyEQUxBR79GtbIOF7SduZgT5J5kyq8TvVA7WLoBppaRterhEVVqyHL1hXYCOCaSbGTgqwFLfjtmyjnuuQL8icUksHo3ggqAqoYslfEB2nH_DFTNBQwTl84RX4-nprK-g/s1600/fishing+gear.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibByj3TETyEQUxBR79GtbIOF7SduZgT5J5kyq8TvVA7WLoBppaRterhEVVqyHL1hXYCOCaSbGTgqwFLfjtmyjnuuQL8icUksHo3ggqAqoYslfEB2nH_DFTNBQwTl84RX4-nprK-g/s1600/fishing+gear.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
</h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
Learn These Skills, Stay Employed </h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s an old saying that says, “Give a man a fish and he
will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will probably buy a huge bass
boat and never come home.” That may or may not actually be the way that saying
goes, but it’s something about fishing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regardless, the basic premise is if you want to survive, learn a skill. I was reading a blog post from Austin Kleon
the other day about the importance of learning a skill (Read it <a href="http://austinkleon.com/2014/08/13/office-hours/#more-16080" target="_blank">here</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">)</span>.
One of the things he says is “I would recommend thinking about what the world
needs, thinking about what you have to offer, and working hard to build a skill
set so that you can fill that void.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I agree totally. The only way to stay employed in this crazy
world is to develop the skills necessary to survive. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
The Future of Newspapers And The Mark of the Beast </h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After working in the newspaper industry for years, kids (and
adults) would ask me the future of journalism. The
short answer is: I have no freakin’ idea. But the longer answer is: It’s not
going away. It may change, but it’s not going away. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People are going to want to read stories about their
neighbors. They are going to want to know what’s happening in their community. The key is telling the story.
That skill — the skill of crafting a story — is not going to go away. In
the future that story may get told totally online, in the cloud or beamed
directly into our heads through the Mark of the Beast, but we will get stories.
And somebody has to tell them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are some very basic things that all humans should know
how to do — build a fire, cook, change a tire, and how to record “Keeping Up With The
Kardashians — but there are also some basic skills that will keep most
homo sapiens employed long past the rise of the apes. Storytelling is one of
those. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cartoonist Scott Adams (famous for his Dilbert comic strip)
said there are “12 core human skills” that if everybody can be in the top 25
percent (very good) at most or all of these skills, they would never be out of
a job. Author Josh Kaufman wrote a blog post about it here <a href="http://joshkaufman.net/core-human-skills/" target="_blank">here</a>.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-outline-level: 2; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
You can read the 25 skills
yourself, but they are: information assimilation, writing, speaking,
mathematics, decision-making, rapport, conflict resolution,
scenario-generation, planning, self-awareness, interrelation and skill
acquisition. <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
The History of Every Job Ever
</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did a little research myself some minutes ago on the
Internet — The Source Of All Truth — and came up with a list of basic jobs that
have that have been around since homo sapiens crawled out of the goo and
started talking on their cell phones. Each of these jobs requires one or more
of the skills that Adams put in his list. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My list of basic homo sapien jobs and skills required: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Farmer – Grows things. He solves problems and
provides for a group of homo sapiens. Skills needed: information assimilation,
mathematics, decision-making, planning, and skill acquisition. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Philosopher — Studies the important questions of
life and tries to answer the question, “Why are homo sapiens here?” And then
she shares that answer with other homo sapiens. Skills needed: information
assimilation, writing, speaking, scenario-generation, self-awareness,
interrelation and skill acquisition.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Artist — Translates the biggest questions of
life and explains them to homo sapiens through words, paint, musical notes,
videos, movies, acting, etc. Skills needed: writing, speaking, rapport,
scenario-generation, planning, self-awareness, interrelation and skill
acquisition. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Tradesman — These are the homo sapiens, who
build and make things. One homo sapien designs a product and a tradesman homo
sapien brings that vision to reality for the rest of the homo sapiens to enjoy.
Skills needed: information assimilation, mathematics, rapport, planning,
interrelation and skill acquisition. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Merchant — A merchant is a homo sapien with, for
lack of a better term, the gift of gab. She can talk to any homo sapien and
convince that homo sapien that he needs whatever she is selling. It’s a rare homo
sapien gift. Skills needed: information assimilation, speaking, mathematics,
decision-making, rapport, planning, interrelation and skill acquisition. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Statesman/Politician — These are the
leaders of the of the homo sapien world. They set the vision, offer solutions
to problems and negotiate peace between groups of homo sapiens. Skills needed:
information assimilation, writing, speaking, decision-making, rapport, conflict
resolution, scenario-generation, planning, interrelation and skill acquisition.
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Warriors — Warriors have no fear. These
homo sapiens are willing to put their lives on the line for other homo sapiens.
Skills needed: information assimilation, decision-making, rapport, conflict
resolution, scenario-generation, planning, interrelation and skill acquisition.<br />
<br />
All of these jobs are still around today in one way or another. Nothing changes. And these skills will always be in demand. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
Forget the Resume, Learn a Skill </h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Basically, if you learn all or most of the 12 core human
skills, you can do any of the jobs that have been in existence since Jesus
wrote the book of Genesis. And if you can do any job in the world, ever, then
you should always have a job, even if you have to create your own
(especially if you have to create your own).
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So forget about majors, and college and writing resumes. The key is
learning skills. Fill a void that the world needs. Become very good (be in the top
25 percent of the world’s population) at each skill and set back and wait for
the money to come in. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKCn3zHxKxu3lJn603SXej7CCV9H3kL9EM8Jt0VI-JKIzGQg-L1VcU5O9M-Yo1qeFrxwS6D3Ef6iSkFE1aEn-rwAjqW1xKf-eDUGfMpfh3T5XRgSDgSigOYZpNXpJPSw6TjJ_fQ/s1600/big+boat+on+the+water.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKCn3zHxKxu3lJn603SXej7CCV9H3kL9EM8Jt0VI-JKIzGQg-L1VcU5O9M-Yo1qeFrxwS6D3Ef6iSkFE1aEn-rwAjqW1xKf-eDUGfMpfh3T5XRgSDgSigOYZpNXpJPSw6TjJ_fQ/s1600/big+boat+on+the+water.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until then, you might want to hold off on putting that down
payment on that new bass boat. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 262.0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-62814275541115960552014-08-13T18:12:00.000-04:002014-08-13T18:12:50.482-04:00Make $3,650 A Year With Two Solo Cups<h3>
<b>Marketing Doesn't Have to Be Hard. </b></h3>
<h3>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.1" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.2" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">panose</span>-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.3" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.4" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">charset</span>:0;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.5" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-generic-font-family:auto;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.6" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-pitch:variable;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.7" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.8" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>, <span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.9" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">li</span>.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.10" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>, div.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.11" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>
{<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.12" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.13" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.14" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.15" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">ascii</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.16" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.17" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.18" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">ascii</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.19" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.20" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.21" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">fareast</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.22" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.23" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.24" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">fareast</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.25" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.26" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.27" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">hansi</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.28" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.29" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.30" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">hansi</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.31" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.32" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.33" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>-font-family:"Times New Roman";
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.34" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.35" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.36" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.37" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-header-margin:.5in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.38" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-footer-margin:.5in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.39" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style>
</h3>
-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes you can spend millions of dollars on advertising and maybe
not make one sale. And sometimes you can put a couple of Solo cups to work for you and make
$3,600. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRdlxVA_l4dWd-S1i1DX8oEyo1xpPhuoAWnuOQAawtyMXlnz1TfKTwRfjaPHJWj5Z4ZCIEf1Q_nZHI14q5ozNt2xlM4Ij3vLa86cCNofZe7UkH7XWP55nu02iatAo0kw0r-k1wQ/s1600/marketing+doesn't+have+to+be+hard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRdlxVA_l4dWd-S1i1DX8oEyo1xpPhuoAWnuOQAawtyMXlnz1TfKTwRfjaPHJWj5Z4ZCIEf1Q_nZHI14q5ozNt2xlM4Ij3vLa86cCNofZe7UkH7XWP55nu02iatAo0kw0r-k1wQ/s1600/marketing+doesn't%2Bhave%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bhard.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.40" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.41" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">panose</span>-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.42" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.43" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">charset</span>:0;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.44" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-generic-font-family:auto;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.45" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-pitch:variable;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.46" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.47" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>, <span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.48" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">li</span>.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.49" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>, div.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.50" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>
{<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.51" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.52" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.53" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.54" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">ascii</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.55" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.56" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.57" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">ascii</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.58" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.59" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.60" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">fareast</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.61" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.62" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.63" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">fareast</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.64" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.65" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.66" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">hansi</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.67" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.68" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.69" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">hansi</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.70" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.71" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.72" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>-font-family:"Times New Roman";
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.73" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.74" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.75" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.76" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-header-margin:.5in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.77" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-footer-margin:.5in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.78" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style>
-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
I walked into a coffee shop today and had to smile when I got to the counter. It wasn’t because I got free
coffee (although, it sort of was). It was because of the little genius
marketing idea sitting on the counter. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each week, the baristas at the coffee shop create a question
of the week. I call it the “Which is Better?” poll.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week the sign out front asked customers “Which is better
[implied] Pluto or Scooby Doo?” This week’s question was “Which is better
[again, implied] Smoothies or Milkshakes?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Customers of the coffee shop can “vote” by dropping a dollar
in one of two cups — one labeled with a photo of a couple of milkshakes and the
other with a photo of smoothies. The shop has also done Captain America vs.
Superman, New Ninja Turtles movie vs. Classic Ninja Turtle movie, and last
week, Pluto vs. Scooby Doo. You can see from the photo above, Scooby Doo won last week's poll. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The winner at the end of the week, is announced on the
counter next week, along with a new question. But the real winner(s) are the
baristas, because they get to keep the poll tax each day as tips. Not a bad way
to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ask
</i></b>for a tip without really asking for a tip. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See, marketing doesn’t have to be hard ... or <i><b>expensive.</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>You Can Simplify Your Advertising: </b></i></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<i><b>1.</b></i> <b>Keep it simple
— </b>Sometimes it’s just as simple as putting out a shingle and letting folks know
you are in “business.” In this case, the baristas are in business for tip
money.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<b>2. Put out a tip jar</b> — Let people
know that you are in business. Get business cards. Start a website. Tell people
you are in business. Put out your “tip jar.” </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<b>3. Ask for business — </b>Even if it’s
only a dollar (or something that is inexpensive). Put a price on your services
and ask people if you can “serve” them. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<b>4. Give something valuable in return
— </b>Give people something in return for a little cash that they put in your “tip
jar.” Each week, these baristas give everybody in the coffee shop a chance to
have their voice heard. </div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<i><b> </b></i></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>These Baristas Inspire Me</b></i></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.362" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.363" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">panose</span>-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.364" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.365" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">charset</span>:0;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.366" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-generic-font-family:auto;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.367" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-pitch:variable;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.368" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.369" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>, <span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.370" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">li</span>.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.371" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>, div.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.372" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>
{<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.373" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.374" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.375" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.376" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">ascii</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.377" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.378" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.379" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">ascii</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.380" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.381" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.382" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">fareast</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.383" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.384" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.385" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">fareast</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.386" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.387" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.388" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">hansi</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.389" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.390" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.391" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">hansi</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.392" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.393" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.394" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>-font-family:"Times New Roman";
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.395" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.396" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.397" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.398" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-header-margin:.5in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.399" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-footer-margin:.5in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.400" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style>
</b></i></div>
-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
While these baristas aren’t getting rich each week, they do
get tips that they might not ordinarily get. For the price of a couple of cups
and some paper with two photos and a new question each week, they get $10 a day
or so in tips. I’m not great at math but I think that’s about $70 a week and
$3,650 a year ($3,660 on leap years). That’s very little cash outlay to get a
lot in return. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By the way, I voted for Milkshakes. And from the looks of things, other people like milkshakes too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<i>Your Chance to Share</i>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.440" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.441" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">panose</span>-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.442" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.443" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">charset</span>:0;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.444" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-generic-font-family:auto;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.445" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-pitch:variable;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.446" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.447" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>, <span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.448" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">li</span>.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.449" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>, div.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.450" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>
{<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.451" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.452" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.453" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.454" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">ascii</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.455" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.456" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.457" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">ascii</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.458" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.459" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.460" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">fareast</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.461" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.462" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.463" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">fareast</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.464" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.465" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.466" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">hansi</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.467" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.468" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.469" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">hansi</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.470" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.471" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.472" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>-font-family:"Times New Roman";
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.473" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.474" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.475" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.476" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-header-margin:.5in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.477" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-footer-margin:.5in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.478" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style>
</h3>
-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you seen an example of Small-Budget-Big-Bang marketing
in action? Please share … </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>P.S. </b></i>Don't forget to sign up for the e-mail list (sign up <a href="http://eepurl.com/0vMOb" target="_blank">here</a>)<i><b>. </b></i>If you sign up in the month of August, I'll send you my e-book "Life:Found: How I Got My Out Of Control Life Back and Found Happiness." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.490" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.491" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">panose</span>-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.492" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.493" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">charset</span>:0;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.494" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-generic-font-family:auto;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.495" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-pitch:variable;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.496" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.497" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>, <span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.498" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">li</span>.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.499" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>, div.<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.500" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">MsoNormal</span>
{<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.501" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.502" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.503" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.504" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">ascii</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.505" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.506" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.507" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">ascii</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.508" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.509" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.510" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">fareast</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.511" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.512" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.513" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">fareast</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.514" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.515" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.516" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">hansi</span>-font-family:<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.517" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Cambria</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.518" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.519" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">hansi</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.520" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">latin</span>;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.521" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.522" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>-font-family:"Times New Roman";
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.523" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.524" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>-theme-font:minor-<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.525" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bidi</span>;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.526" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-header-margin:.5in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.527" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-footer-margin:.5in;
<span aria-haspopup="true" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1" id=":10.528" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">mso</span>-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style>
</b></i></div>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b> </b></i> </div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-72347027989280246522014-08-08T16:12:00.002-04:002014-08-08T16:12:41.782-04:00Somebody Please By Me a Rolex — How To Choose The Right Watch
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Courier New";
panose-1:2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 0 65536 0 -2147483648 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:17705933;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:1477497342 1763112236 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-start-at:0;
mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
margin-left:.75in;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:185097530;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:57158266 -373143882 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-weight:normal;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRj8fbUMb3orNJbUYnhQUq18GDqTV-EAe4Scp3H5irV4IgIw_byYvRLMj7pGmMS_ZQsS75OU6B_NHXL2PmoiIwi9Z2xx0QWSI6oxFAIWvkPZF9hHfWrKK3O0JucqWOc_kHL-Yaw/s1600/Timex+Sport+Watch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRj8fbUMb3orNJbUYnhQUq18GDqTV-EAe4Scp3H5irV4IgIw_byYvRLMj7pGmMS_ZQsS75OU6B_NHXL2PmoiIwi9Z2xx0QWSI6oxFAIWvkPZF9hHfWrKK3O0JucqWOc_kHL-Yaw/s1600/Timex+Sport+Watch.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Summer of Change
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been writing a little about my experiences with what I
call The Summer of Change. (You can catch up on the series<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://rodhays.blogspot.com/2014/07/summer-of-change-wisdom-of-deion-sanders.html" target="_blank">here</a></i></b>, <i><b><a href="http://rodhays.blogspot.com/2014/07/summer-of-change-how-to-not-look-like.html" target="_blank">here</a></b></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>and <i><b><a href="http://rodhays.blogspot.com/2014/07/summer-of-change-interim-pastor.html" target="_blank">here.</a></b></i> )</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the other things I’ve had to change this summer was
finding a new watch. For many years, I always tried to have the latest and
greatest watch available — usually several varieties — and wore them all
the time. Then a couple of years ago, — Boom! — I just stopped wearing one
altogether. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I didn’t like the way it felt on my arm. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I figured didn’t really need a watch since I
have a cell phone</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I didn’t like the concept of time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the last couple of years, I didn’t even keep up with the
time on my phone because I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">didn’t really
buy into the concept of time. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">All We Have Is Now</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Physicists over the last 150 years or so have sort of
debunked time. It really doesn’t exist, at least in the way we think about it. Einstein
wrote a paper about time and how weird it is called the Special Theory of
Relativity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The guys at Physics Minute did a nice job of explaining
here:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ajhFNcUTJI0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time is relative. And it’s relative in your life too.
Tomorrow is already gone. Tomorrow will never come. All we have is “<b>Now</b>.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I didn’t need some gizmo to tell me it was “now.” Thus, I
didn’t need a watch. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, to me having a watch meant answering to The Man. I
didn’t like The Man. I didn’t want to be a slave to The Man. I was The Man. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But in all honestly, I wasn’t The Man, I was a jerk. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe you’ve experienced the same thing. But here’s the
problem. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The world we live in
runs on time. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Man and most other people, who are going to do nice things
for you like make your latte and sell you Big Macs or do something simple like
pay you, are all running on time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So in the Summer of Change, I needed a new watch. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Do You Really Need A
Watch?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The short answer is yes. Yes, you do. You need a watch. I’m
not talking about your cell phone, I’m talking about a timepiece on your wrist.
And here are 3 reasons why. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1. It’s part of your
fashion statement.</b> A watch is part of who you are. It’s one of those items
that you wear that says, “Hey, this guy pays attention to the details.” It’s a
nice addition to any outfit from going to the gym to business casual to
boardroom attire. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2. It’s easier than
digging around in your pocket</b>. You don’t want to be continually fishing
around in your pocket for a cell phone. Plus, if you are like me, you are
concerned about battery life. My cell phone usually lasts all day unless I do
something crazy like make a phone call or text somebody or try to use Google
maps. Then it lasts about an hour. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Get a watch. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. The rest of the
world runs on time. </b>It’s time for you to face facts. The rest of the world
runs on time. Even though next week doesn’t exist, that job interview you’ve
been waiting for is scheduled for then. Don’t obsess over next week’s
appointment or last week’s failure — live in the now — but keep a watch
around just in case The Man wants to throw more money your way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tips For Picking Out
a Nice Watch</b>: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pick a watch that’s classy</i> </b>— I know
their current trend in watches is the giant watch face that looks like a
grandfather clock on your wrist. Buy one of those if you wish. But also get one
that will you can wear to meet your new mentor, who understands a little class.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pick a watch that’s timeless</i></b> — Buy a
cheap trendy watch if you must, but get a nice watch or two that will still be
stylish 40 years from now. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pick a watch that costs as much as you can afford
— </i></b>A watch is an investment, an heirloom. It doesn’t have to be a Rolex,
but if you can afford one why not?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pick
a watch and wear it. </i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now it’s your turn. Do you wear a watch? Do you think a
timepiece on your wrist is important or do are you satisfied with your cell
phone? Let us know in the comments section. Please be sure to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">leave a comment</i>. And if you like The
Summer of Change series, why don’t you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">share</b>
it on Twitter or somewhere you hang out. And don’t forget to sign up for my
newsletter <a href="http://eepurl.com/0vMOb" target="_blank">here.</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh wow, look at the time. I better be going. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-33931863871319092132014-07-31T18:03:00.000-04:002014-07-31T18:03:25.338-04:00Say Adios to Poverty: 3 Steps to Empower People<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2Q11sTRoJMEiPYs70iNqiNPr-sLm4F_WgVmz5ijIQBDiGyZIi8MECxYiJ_TX2fcqC3and3b8BjmiK6n3iCZu4bOmSOa_-rPuAHUf6mblqocglXN8wyXEwjtCaIZ8koCiFPwZpA/s1600/PoorES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2Q11sTRoJMEiPYs70iNqiNPr-sLm4F_WgVmz5ijIQBDiGyZIi8MECxYiJ_TX2fcqC3and3b8BjmiK6n3iCZu4bOmSOa_-rPuAHUf6mblqocglXN8wyXEwjtCaIZ8koCiFPwZpA/s1600/PoorES.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"PoorES" by LaNicoya; Amy Lopez - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Poverty is rampant not just in America but across the world. The problem seems to be getting <b><i>worse</i></b> instead of better. <br />
<br />
<b>But it doesn't have to be that way. </b> <br />
<br />
I read a story not too long ago. The
story tracked poverty in rural areas of Texas, Mississippi and the
Great Plains.<br />
<br />
These places contain some of the nation's 46 million
people who live below the poverty line (below $22,050 for a family of
four).<br />
<br />
As I was reading the story, I wondered: What keeps people from
living<i><b> "the American dream?"</b></i> <br />
<br />
I did not grow up with a
silver spoon in my mouth. We always had food (including plenty of
Twinkies), clothing, electricity, running water, new clothes and plenty
of love around our house, but we were not rich. It wasn't until I was
much older that I realized the sacrifice my parents made each year to
make sure we had everything we needed.<br />
<br />
My parents used a combination of
credit, layaway programs and a savvy use of the money they did have to
make our lives comfortable. <br />
<br />
One area where our family
struggled was with fashionable shoes. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69W9ktjvXYv4Osj99kEGFebaWPK6geBfPSvp1Pvphy32MXfQcBsX_XCJuefO5oorwKfno99ZZ6wEk68h3EL4q7LYPo71kNae1q4H60Cj-ZaYiHmgH47S2CIKe24WTRL72udfPTA/s1600/Emil_Zatopek_running_shoes_by_Adidas_1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69W9ktjvXYv4Osj99kEGFebaWPK6geBfPSvp1Pvphy32MXfQcBsX_XCJuefO5oorwKfno99ZZ6wEk68h3EL4q7LYPo71kNae1q4H60Cj-ZaYiHmgH47S2CIKe24WTRL72udfPTA/s1600/Emil_Zatopek_running_shoes_by_Adidas_1948.JPG" height="220" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Emil Zatopek running shoes by Adidas 1948" by Zac Allan </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We couldn't always afford the fashionable brands when I was a kid. When
we needed shoes, we went to the discount store in Longview and bought
the knock-offs called<b> "Adios."</b><br />
<br />
They had the same styles and colors, but
they only had two stripes instead of Adidas' trademarked three-striped
look. But man, I was proud of them and wore them out of the store. <br />
<br />
When
it was time for college, my parents just were not able to help. So, instead of
enrolling for my first semester, I joined the Army National Guard.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEGh4n69jsdBltz3keCBA8UZNA-4KaXiBcWUErd6JUm95qv61vDpQqyWrJt3PoK5zhFyf844vkqO74MAnkM_WVGaTpKIEaqYG6YWYxDxioN-q38mUPd8EYA5KuD7I0MJQhfhyOw/s1600/Flickr_-_The_U.S._Army_-_Drill_Sergeant_of_the_Year-_Staff_Sgt._Joshua_Marshall_(Army_Reserve_Component).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEGh4n69jsdBltz3keCBA8UZNA-4KaXiBcWUErd6JUm95qv61vDpQqyWrJt3PoK5zhFyf844vkqO74MAnkM_WVGaTpKIEaqYG6YWYxDxioN-q38mUPd8EYA5KuD7I0MJQhfhyOw/s1600/Flickr_-_The_U.S._Army_-_Drill_Sergeant_of_the_Year-_Staff_Sgt._Joshua_Marshall_(Army_Reserve_Component).jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Flickr - The U.S. Army - Drill Sergeant of the Yearby The U.S. Army</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While
my classmates were attending the fall semester, I went to boot camp and
my first Advanced Individual Training course (the shortest one I could
find). I got back into town just in time to enroll for the spring
semester. <br />
<br />
I went to "drill" with the National Guard
one weekend a month and worked two or three jobs to supplement my grants
from the government to go to school.<br />
<br />
I wasn't <i><b>lazy.</b></i><br />
<br />
I wasn't looking
for a<i><b> hand-out.</b></i><br />
<br />
I didn't feel <i><b>entitled.</b></i><br />
<br />
I just needed a <i><b>little help</b></i> to
move up the economic chain.<br />
<br />
Most people want the same things I did.<br />
<br />
Why don't they succeed? <br />
<br />
<b>1. Help people "think" they can — </b>Some people don't "think"
they can do succeed. For me, and many other Americans, there was never a
doubt about the ability. If you work hard and get a little
help (money, contacts or opportunity) most people can find a little
piece of the American Dream. But for many, the ability to succeed sounds
about as easy as taking a stroll on the moon. <br />
<br />
<b>2. Change starts with the
mindset. </b>It starts with a good education, of course. The great educator
Horace Mann said, "A human being is not attaining his full heights
until he is educated." We have to make sure kids have access to a great
education, not just in elementary and high school but beyond. A little
bit of money invested in a child's education, can save a truck load of
money in prisons and other institutions of reform. <br />
<br />
<b>3. <i>Empower</i> dreams. E</b>ducating a child not just by filling minds with facts
and figures but by empowering their mind to dream big dreams. We have to
help them "believe" not only in the American Dream but dare to believe
they can dream too.<br />
<br />
Most people aren't lazy and looking for a hand-out,
they really do just need a change in mindset. <br />
<br />
The old
NAACP commercial used to say, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." I
couldn't agree more. But something more important than not wasting a
mind, is having faith and hope that all of us can do what we want to do.
We may not find a silver spoon but we can find a slice of the American
Dream. <br />
<br />
Maybe it’s time to stop focusing on what and
how we teach the Three R’s and instead, strap on our Adios shoes and
start teaching a child to believe in themselves. Helping a child believe
in the dream might help us say, <b>"adios" to poverty.</b>Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-63553985500144071902014-07-29T14:12:00.001-04:002014-07-29T14:12:21.675-04:00Summer of Change — The Wisdom of Deion Sanders
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:439299668;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:1605929956 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:1084836891;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:-1405351396 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
This is really weird. Just a couple
of months ago, I wrote a newspaper column going on and on about how liberated I
was because I didn’t own a suit. And now here I am with my own subscription to
freakin’ GQ magazine. What a strange turn of events.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I have never really had a style to
call my own. I was one of those in-betweeners never really dressing up but not
quite dressing like the cross between a shadetree mechanic and a homeless
person either. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
For a long time, dressing up to me
was wearing a sportscoat with my jeans and t-shirt. I have owned about six
suits in my entire life, never more than two at a time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
My first suit after college was a
gift from Aunt Jo. She took me over to a local men’s store, helped me pick out
a nice navy blue number, one crisp white dress shirt and a maroon silk tie. I
believe she even bought a pocket square to match the tie. It made quite an
impression for my first sales job interview. Unfortunately, my lack of sales
skills (or any skills at that point) did not leave a great impression and I did
not get the job. Fortunately for me, I did not leave a great first impression
because if I would have gotten that first sales job I would have sawed off my
hand and tried to go on disability after about six months. That was 1987. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Since then, I have worn various
degrees of dress up from suit and tie to sportscoat and tie to shirt and tie to
something called “business casual,” which is usually oversized, comfortable
chinos and a frumpy golf shirt (not POLO, but usually a golf shirt with a logo
from whatever company gave it to me). This was my style, at least at work. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
On weekends, I was even more laid
back. T-shirts, jeans, or shorts were my go-to gear for going just about
anywhere. For some strange reason, I used to tuck my t-shirt into my jeans or
shorts for a more “formal” look. It turns out all that did was make me look
like a “formal” twit. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Then about ten years ago, I jumped
off the fashion train and jumped onto the much more comfortable fashion moped. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
About two years ago, I gave up
completely. I tossed out my last remaining suit, all my polo shirts (with or
without company logos), my dress shoes (except one pair) and all of my slacks.
All that was left in my closet were t-shirts, a few party frocks and three
pairs of pre-washed, relaxed fit, boot-cut jeans. Oh, Jesus, was all of that
comfortable. In facet, I bet Jesus himself would have worn the exact same
outfits if he were around today. At least I used to think that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Then the Summer of Change happened.
It became the summer of 2014 and I needed a change. I needed an upgrade. I
needed to do things differently. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Here are the four steps I followed
to look more stylish and fashionable:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Step 1: Do a quick Google search
for fashion blogs. I did and immediately found 2 million links to all kinds of
ladies’ fashion blogs. I refined my search for “men’s fashion blogs” and came
back with 4 million links to all kinds of men’s fashion blogs. Who knew that
many men were into fashion? I did not. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
It was eye-opening. I learned a
ton.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
For instance, I always thought that
for a man to be fashionable, he had to be uncomfortable. That, I discovered,
was not always the case. Many pairs of nice jeans, chinos, wool slacks, dress
shirts, fitted polos and shoes of all kinds could be both fashionable and
comfy. My God, I love the Summer of Change. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Step 2: Throw out your old shit. I
went through my closet and through out all of my old shit. Well, almost all my
old shit. I kept a few items to keep in the mix, but most of the old party
frocks, boot-cut jeans and 27 pounds of old t-shirts went to Goodwill. My wife
joined me in the fashion reboot and together we took about 10 garbage sacks
full of clothes to be recycled. It was liberating and scary as hell all at the
same time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Step 3: Start shopping for a new
look. I tried to buy just the essentials at first. Here’s my list of
essentials:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Navy
or grey suit. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>One
white dress shirt, one light blue dress shirt</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Khaki
and navy blue dress slacks. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Navy
blue sports coat. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Brown
dress shoes.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Black
dress shoes.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Three
or four dress polo shirts</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Three
or four nice white t-shirts (nothing in a bag). </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>A
dressy henly-collared shirt</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>A nice
grey sweatshirt. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>A nice
pair of white tennis shoes sans logo</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I think that’s it. I haven’t
purchased it all yet, but I’m slowly adding to it when it can. If you have
these essentials, I discovered, you can mix and match to come up with a variety
of outfits to wear to a variety of events, including events that might have
called for a party frock in the past. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Step 4: Wear the new style. Dress
up. Even if you feel slightly out of place, dress up. It’s amazing how much
more respect and attention you get if you dress up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Of course, that doesn’t mean
wearing a navy blue suit with black cap toes to the beach, but it does mean
make sure to wear the best in beach attire when you do hit the beach. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The main thing I learned was that
things need to fit. For a man, that means trousers that are slimmer fitting
around your leg and just long enough to touch your trousers with maybe a break
about halfway up your shin. For shirts, they should hug your body, not too
tight but definitely not sagging around your mid section like a produce bag
full of broccoli. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
A cheap suit can look expensive if it
fits right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And an expensive suit
can look cheap if it doesn’t fit right. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Find a tailor, get to know him and
let him know the style you are going for. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Why should you dress up? Three
reasons. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>First
impressions — It makes all the difference in the world. Pay attention to
details — shoes shined, clothes with a perfect fit, pocket square, nice
watch, tie bar, all the little things. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Respect.
Dressing up makes you feel better and people around you treat you differently.
My good friend Deion Sanders famously says, “If you look good, you feel good.
If you feel good you play good. If you play good, they pay good.” And while I
don’t want to play cornerback for the Cowboys, I would like to get paid well.
(Call me Jerry Jones.). </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Flexibility.
Dressing up means you are flexible to do other things. If you wear a suit to
work, you can take off the tie and throw on a nice polo or t-shirt with it to
go out for drinks afterward. Your employee may want to send somebody to see a
customer face-to-face. Who is she going to send, a guy with a well-tailored
suit or the “business casual” guy with the baggy chinos and the red IBM polo he
won at a trade show. Give me the suit guy any day. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Thank the good lord for the Summer
of Change. </div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-5681627877512165422014-07-24T14:10:00.000-04:002014-07-24T14:10:03.376-04:00Summer of Change — How to Not Look Like a Drug Dealer
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WY_QOhv9AMpf70lyHDa3PyjNpjgMWwT_VD7QzUKSMiFz3EcFU5pEgwbG1tbNa61JC4OY99ul4kBn1KqCzVIhWsqiGIMfdfgtFvWKl6kmkiG0u6KqZ_zbHAtvRnHPEZoNJHbCWw/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WY_QOhv9AMpf70lyHDa3PyjNpjgMWwT_VD7QzUKSMiFz3EcFU5pEgwbG1tbNa61JC4OY99ul4kBn1KqCzVIhWsqiGIMfdfgtFvWKl6kmkiG0u6KqZ_zbHAtvRnHPEZoNJHbCWw/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking Like a Drug Dealer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
For several months now I have let
my hair grow out to the length that I can only describe as “drug dealer.” Not
that all drug dealers have long hair but with the right clothes I’m pretty sure
I could pass for a guy that might know where to “score some weed.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Many people asked (or at least
given me “the look” of) “Why did you grow your hair out?” That’s seems like a
fair question. Why did I grow my hair out? Let me see if I can explain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
About two years ago, my wife and I
were out with friends having a few drinks and dancing to the music of some band
— I can’t remember who (which, by the way, would make a great name for a The
Who tribute band). At closing time, I was watching the way the lead guitarist
was really getting into the music. As I watched him get lost in the song, I
started thinking “I’m gonna grow me some rock and roll hair.” I may have even
said it out loud. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“What?” my wife shouted at me on
the dance floor. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
“I’m gonna grow me some rock and
roll hair,” I shouted back. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I remember I had a pretty good buzz
that night, but I decided, right then and there on the dance floor, to let my
hair grow out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
And so, I started letting it grow.
But that doesn’t answer the question of why?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The main reason was: I could. My
hair could grow out. I have a lot of hair. It grows fast. At the time I had a
job where hair length was not a deal-breaker. I figured the worse thing that
could happen was I would have to get it cut. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Plus, I started to realize that a
lot of men my age don’t have hair at all. They start to bald and either shave
it smooth or wear it in a monk style fashion like St. Francis of Assisi. Now I
like Bro. Francis, but I don’t want his hair-do. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
So I let it grow as sort of a
tribute to those who could not grow. Those who wanted David Lee Roth hair but looked
more like a balding Animal from the Muppet rock band, Dr. Teeth and The
Electric Mayhem. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Lastly, I grew my hair out because
I wanted to. I wanted rock and roll hair. In more than 40 years of life, I
never had long hair and dammit I wanted it long. So I let it grow. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
And man did it grow. Through the
many months of awkwardness, I let it grow. Finally, when it got to about 7 or 8
inches long, it started to look pretty rock and roll, if I did say so myself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
It was long, really long, for about
a year and half. Then, I got tired of it. It had to go. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Now, another good question is Why
did you cut it all off? That’s a really good question. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
First, it was the Summer of Change
and I figured long hair was part of that change. I wanted to change my style
completely and part of that was a more reasonable hair cut. Not short, but
reasonable. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Plus it was so freaking hot. It’s
the middle of summer in Texas, when temperatures soar into the low 200s, and
long hair does not help that problem. I felt like my head was on fire most days
and I have light colored hair. I don’t know how my wife — who has long dark
hair — does it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUicpTwfy0bDndMrhg8qT9yLKKvphcIvmcfiEbRj2X7EPWKtWzd_e23osIafjgqwa7wBLU_RPJiM-rXkxQXSWo6om7EyJgDoeKKARIcXSo_EUHCtInpk9HBigtlEoJrx8itFonQ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUicpTwfy0bDndMrhg8qT9yLKKvphcIvmcfiEbRj2X7EPWKtWzd_e23osIafjgqwa7wBLU_RPJiM-rXkxQXSWo6om7EyJgDoeKKARIcXSo_EUHCtInpk9HBigtlEoJrx8itFonQ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not a good look for a dude.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I had a hair appointment on a
Monday in early July. I called my stylist the Wednesday before and said, “I
can’t make it til Monday. It has to come off today.” She got me in that
afternoon and left enough hair on the floor to recover a couch, if you had a
mind to want to recover your couch with former rock and roll hair.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
And lastly, I did it because I
wanted to. That’s the good thing I guess. Nobody told me to cut it. Nobody
complained. I just did it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iY77eZr_hvrL1bO8gCy_iJvL8JIPeiBDgozgbpWDEFdkp8JUhPMNcLjVulocEj1Y-Od5M4vJxdb9bkus4FJU-JxAqc4c0SvnKTEoN4d37lXKMn0RCCwIVoOMVgTnJNm81dI62g/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iY77eZr_hvrL1bO8gCy_iJvL8JIPeiBDgozgbpWDEFdkp8JUhPMNcLjVulocEj1Y-Od5M4vJxdb9bkus4FJU-JxAqc4c0SvnKTEoN4d37lXKMn0RCCwIVoOMVgTnJNm81dI62g/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A much cleaner and cooler cut.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I really like my new cut. It’s cool
in two ways — it looks pretty “cool” and every time I walk outside now, my head
whispers a little “thank you, bitch.” My head has a little bit of an attitude. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while I don't look like the guy who
might be able to score some weed, I'm starting to look like a guy who could
score a decent car loan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
It was a nice change. Sometimes
change is good. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVtMv30umbSBAP2b5FeXsS8L5E9x6qpw9qgWpzhZyCd5RuOie3N4Fu0oAZlFnCMNe0esQtovMEIPiEyMQRYFSPO6JVwAUdTFagV2XBo2TljHXS4QWbr8-ds0BqlNPtnkNCkACBA/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVtMv30umbSBAP2b5FeXsS8L5E9x6qpw9qgWpzhZyCd5RuOie3N4Fu0oAZlFnCMNe0esQtovMEIPiEyMQRYFSPO6JVwAUdTFagV2XBo2TljHXS4QWbr8-ds0BqlNPtnkNCkACBA/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little behind the scenes look at my notes for this blog post. H/T to Austin Kleon and his book "Show Your Work." </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-72446267575866892442014-07-22T12:01:00.001-04:002014-08-08T16:13:50.620-04:00Being a Professional Photographer (Or whatever) in Five Simple Steps<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:699664101;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:-1165689212 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
</style>
-->
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Talented photographer Chase Jarvis (@chasejarvis on Twitter) recently shared some insight into how to be a professional photographer. He said he gets asked a lot about what needs to be done to achieve professional status. When I read through the list, I thought this list could be for any profession, especially the creative professions. Since he is wildly successful, I figured I might take a little of his advice myself. Maybe you should too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Here are his steps (with a few notes from me). Thanks, Chase. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Declare
yourself a photographer (or whatever)</b>. Nobody is going to believe that you are
a professional at anything until you do. Don’t tell people you are a full-time
barista and a part-time whatever. Be a full-time whatever all the time.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Make
it a business. Make it real</b>. Any business needs a few things. You need business
cards. They are cheap so go out and buy some. You may need a business name and
register that name with the county or state you live in. Make it real to you. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Read
everything about the business you want to be in</b>. If you want to be a
professional photographer, read books on photography, especially books on the
business of photography. Spend your time getting better by learning from those
who came before you. Read books about whatever business you are in (see what I
did there?). Start today.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Want
to be a professional photographer? Take photos</b>. Take photos every day. Then
find a way to post those photos, online, offline, in-line, out-of-line,
whatever. Edit those photos. Online display the best. Let people see your work.
Then market the shit out of those photos so that people know — or at least want
to know — who you are. Give them a way to see your stuff and contact you about
doing more stuff. Again, this goes for any business. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Repeat.
</b>Especially the last step. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
Here's a link to his original <a href="http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2012/03/how-to-become-a-pro-photographer-in-5-easy-steps/" target="_blank">post</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
Follow him on Twitter @chasejarvis and check out his <a href="http://www.chasejarvis.com/" target="_blank">blog. </a></div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-6832064778870245132014-07-21T13:53:00.002-04:002014-07-21T13:53:22.741-04:00Summer of Change — The Interim Pastor
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Once, in another life, I was part
of a new leadership team at a small Baptist church in South Texas. Okay.
Honestly, I was not part of the new leadership team. I was the leadership team.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I can’t say for sure, but the church
was probably 50 years old when I got there in 2001. It has always been small,
but in the days of the early 2000s, attendance had dropped to less than 10
members on Sunday morning, mostly due to death and apathy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I had just quit a job as a youth
minister at another Baptist church when the deacon (yes, there was only one
deacon) came by my house to offer me the job as interim pastor. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I don’t remember what my first
thought was. I guess I thought this was God’s way of shining a light on the
next step in my life. “This is my perfect will,” was what I wanted God to say
to me. But he didn’t. At least I didn’t hear it if he did. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
But I was desperate for money and
fame, the kind that only comes with being the interim pastor at a small church.
I’m not so sure whether it’s fame or infamy, you feel like a celebrity as the
pastor of a church. I wonder if Jesus felt like a celebrity? Did he walk around
looking at faces in the crowd and thinking to himself, “Yep, they just
recognized me.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Was Jesus an A-lister in Jerusalem?
B-lister? Would he been invited to all the coolest parties and new club
openings in Galilee? Nobody knows. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
But that’s the feeling you get. At
least I did. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I started dreaming about standing
up in that pulpit week after week and spewing God’s message to the dozen or so
people in the audience. I felt like God was going to use me to spread his
message of love and hope to the masses. The fact that the God of the Universe
could use a lowly, humble servant like me really swelled me head. It was quite the
rush. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
After much time in my prayer closet
(about four hours), I accepted the job. I started out at the standard rate of
$250 per week. It paid the grocery bill and provided a few other luxuries like
electricity, gas and the occasional dinner out at the Dairy Queen. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The first week, my family of four —
me, my wife and two kids, aged 14 and 11 — joined the church and immediately
dropped the average age below 65 for the first time in what I can only assume
was many years. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I thought nothing but exciting times
were ahead. And, it turns out, the times ahead were exciting, but not exciting
in the “yee-haw” sort of way, but in the “oh my fucking god” sort of way. I
never would have used that type of language back then, but I do now. A lot.
Things change. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Some people just don’t appreciate
change. I found this out the hard way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
As the new “leader” of the church,
I immediately started implementing some positive changes. I wanted to start
meeting on Sunday nights and Wednesdays. Before me, the six or eight souls who
met each week, only met on Sunday mornings. I wanted to upgrade the sound
system. Invite more people to join the church, maybe some younger people. Add a
few more deacons to the flock to help with the church work. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
All of these things I looked at as
a positive in a church that was less than 10 years away from extinction. I
figured since I was the leader, people would follow. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I was wrong. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The church members that paid the
bills and kept the doors open — barely — before I got there didn’t want any
kind of change. They wanted to spread the wealth a little bit, maybe have a few
new faces around, maybe have a little more variety at the monthly potluck
suppers, but they did not want real change. They liked the way things were. And
they let me know it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
When they approached me about it, the
first thing out of my mouth was probably not the response they were looking
for. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
As a sidenote: When I was younger,
sometimes my mouth overloaded my brain and I said stupid shit before I really
thought about it. It strained more than a few relationships. I would like to
hope I’m better but that may just be my mouth spouting off again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I did not impress the Old Guard
with “Doing things the same way got you here,” I said. “I thought you wanted to
see this church grow. If we don’t change, it won’t.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The Old Guard didn’t like it. They
didn’t like me. But to be honest, I didn’t like them either. I know that’s not
a very Christian attitude, but I did not like them. They were evil. When I say “they,”
it was really just one or two people, but in a small group, that is all that
matters. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I couldn’t handle the pressure, so
I left the church. I didn’t need their $1,000 a month. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I was wrong. I did need their
money. I needed it to buy groceries. Not having grocery money causes more
stress. I found that out for sure. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
But I was wrong there too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Doing something just for the sake
of money will not remove stress. It may — MAY — pay the bills but the other
bills will begin to pile up. Sometimes those other bills are in the form of
hospital visits because stress causes sickness. Sometimes those other bills
will come in the form of paying for an addiction or an escape because you need
something other than reality. Sometimes it’s not a monetary bill at all,
sometimes you might pay with your mental sanity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
In those times, what you need is
change. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
That’s what I’m going through right
now. Change. I needed it. The summer of 2014 is the Summer of Change for my
wife and me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
We figured if we wanted something
new, something different, something better in our lives, we needed to do some
things differently. We couldn’t expect to do what we’ve always done and get
different results. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
In football, sometimes you have to
take a knee. Accept being down by a touchdown, go into the locker room at the
half and regroup. Make some changes. Sometimes those changes might be a
dramatic shift in the game plan. Sometimes they might be a slight tinker here
and there — a new play, a different defensive front, wrapping up the other
team’s running back, or sticking with a block a few minutes longer. Whatever
the case, changes must be made. If you are losing the game at halftime, you
can’t stick with the same game plan. You must change. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
In the case where the game is not
going your way, change is good, change is healthy, change is imperative. If
nothing changes, you will lose. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
But in life, you don’t have to
lose. You might not be successful each day, but you can be successful in life
for the long term. You might have to take a knee sometimes, but you can win.
You can create a life that looks like the one you dream about, one that brings
fulfillment, joy and peace. But the game plan might have to change. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The bad news is: It’s some times a
lot of work. The good news? It can be done. You can do it. You are in control.
You are the coach with the whiteboard in your hand. Change the damn game plan. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-37970982569469864632013-03-25T06:00:00.000-04:002013-03-25T06:00:08.713-04:00A Flock of Vultures<br />
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Just when I thought I was one of the luckiest people in the world, I ran into a flock of vultures. Let me explain. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
My wife and I took a little road trip recently. We were sickling down the highway at the approximate legal rate of speed (about 110 miles per hour), when up ahead I saw brake lights. I got a little closer and I realized what caused the car in front of me to slow down. A flock of 20 or so vultures were enjoying a leisurely breakfast of roadkill carnage souffle in the middle of the road. I slowed down to a more reasonable speed (about 107 miles per hour) to give the birds a chance to get out of the way, about 19 or so did. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Unfortunately, one of them, I'll call Fred, did not get out of the way fast enough. Fred went from enjoying a leisurely breakfast to becoming … how can I put this … lunch. I assisted Fred in completing the circle of life. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I really do hate hitting animals in the road. Through the years growing up in the country, it was very rare to NOT hit an animal, especially at night. I've hit possums, armadillos, birds, raccoons, squirrels and the occasional Morphis. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I'm kidding, I never hit a squirrel. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Each time, I hate it. I guess I just a ol' softie when it comes to killing things. I don't hunt and I rarely even fish. I will eat a giant steak and fried chicken is never safe around me, but I can't imagine having to actually kill my next meal. That's probably totally hypocritical of me, but that's what I do. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
My driver's education teacher, Mr. Moneypenny, always taught us to not slam on the brakes or swerve to miss an animal in the roadway. He said more bad things happen when trying to miss hitting an animal. In that regard, I have most of the time obeyed him. But will always slow down to try and avoid hitting an animal if I can do it safely. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Fred was not so lucky. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
In Fred's defense, he tried like a champion to get out of the way. He was just about to take off from the breakfast table, when he slammed into the left side of my car's front grill. He busted the grill, broke the fan guard and ripped off the little lever thingy that opens the hood. All in all, it will probably cost several hundred dollars to fix the damage left in Fred's wake. I guess I'll pay it though. It will be my penance for squelching the life of another sentinet being. It will also keep my car from looking like a one-eyed death machine rolling down the road. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
The whole incident really shook me up for a while. First, like I said, I hate taking animals out like that. And second, I didn't even want to think about the damage to my car. I started playing out all of the "What Ifs?" in my head. What if I would have slowed down to a crawl? What if I would have honked the horn? What if I would have left 20 minutes earlier or 20 minutes later? All of those What Ifs? really don't make any sense. It already happened and there was nothing I could do about it after the fact. It's better to learn from the past, forget it and move on. The Buddhists call it being present or mindfulness. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Most of us are tortured by things from the past or worries about the future. But all we have is right now, in the present. I had to realize that and move on. That little Fred incident could have ruined my trip, even though I probably ruined Fred's day. But there really was nothing else to do. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Later that same day, we were traveling on the road when we ran upon a line of cars just stopped in the road. Up ahead there was some accident on a small two-lane road, so traffic was backed up and nobody was going anywhere. We were in a hurry to start drinking … er … I mean to get to our final destination, but we couldn't move. For two hours, we moved about 500 yards. That's it. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
People were turning around and going the opposite direction and the others just stood around and tried to make do. What else could we do? </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
My wife and I got out of the car and started making friends with the people around us. We petted some dogs, speculated on what the accident was, talked about where were from and what we should be doing instead of being stuck in traffic. While many were stressed because of the hold-up, we just decided to make the best of it. We made a little dinner right there on the road, went to a little store near us and bought a giant honey bun with that white icing and enjoyed the beautiful evening. We didn't spend it quite how we wanted to, but we were together and living in the moment. We were present. In the end, it didn't seem like we were stuck for two hours. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I think the message of this column is to enjoy life right now. And try to avoid flocks of vultures. </div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-47228862329521548242013-03-22T06:00:00.000-04:002013-03-22T06:00:14.494-04:00Am I Lucky or What?<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of my
favorite shows growing up was Hee Haw. The chicken-fried variety show featured
Buck Owens and Roy Clark (one of them was Pickin' and the other Grinnin' but I
don't remember which one was which). They would play country music, have skits
poking fun of all things country and backwoods, say "Yee-Haw" a lot
and show country girls in pigtails and lots of skin-baring outfits, which, come
to think of it, might have been the real reason why I watched Hee Haw. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everybody
probably remembers ol' Junior Samples and his telephone number: BR-549. Try to
call it, he still answers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another
memorable part of the show is the song "Gloom, Despair and Agony On
Me." Each week, Roy Clark, Grandpa Jones, Archie Campbell and Duke the
bloodhound would get together and sing that lovely, spirit-lifting ditty. The
group would sing along, take a pull from a jug of moonshine and lament the
sorrows of growing up in the land of Hee and Haw. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Gloom,
despair, and agony on me. Deep, dark depression, excessive misery. If it
weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all. Gloom, despair, and agony on
me." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The song,
written by Roy and Buck, was very catchy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The song
was written as a joke, but I'm afraid too many people took the words to that
song a little too seriously. If I had a trillion dollars for each time I've
heard somebody say, "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at
all," then I would probably have enough money to pay off the national debt
and have a little left over to take my family out for a nice dinner at Pancho's
Mexican Buffet — and I'm mean a REALLY nice dinner. A lot of people think that
they are magnets for bad stuff. Woe is them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I'm a
magnet for good stuff. I'm one of the luckiest country boys this side of
Dustin, Oklahoma. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let me
give you a recent example. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good
luck: Recently, my wife and I decided to take a little trip to East Texas. We
haven't been out there in a while, so we gathered up a bottle of water, a couple
of corn dogs and hit the back roads to nowhere in particular. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bad luck:
We were almost in Greenville, when a light flashed on the dash of my car
indicating I had a low tire. The light is usually yellow but this one was
definitely not yellow. It was as red as Satan's tiny tail. I knew I needed to
pull over but I decided I could probably make it to Greenville. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In town I
looked in vain for a place to put a little air in the tire. I left town and was
on my way to the Interstate to find a little spot, when the tire went
completely flat. Ugh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good
luck: No problem, I thought, I'll just change it. In the trunk, I found the
spare, the jack, and the little tire nut undoing thingy (Note from editor: It's
called a lug wrench). After a little effort, I loosened the tire nuts (Note:
lug nuts), put the jack under the car and started lifting it up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More good
luck: As I worked, two different people stopped and offered to help. How lucky
of me. Of course, I was in complete control of the tire nut undoing thingy, so
I thanked them and sent them on their way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bad luck:
When I put the spare tire on I realized I had a real problem on my hands: it too
was completely flat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good
luck: Thankfully a nearby tire shop was kind enough to send a truck a mile or
so out of town to pick me up and take me back to the shop to fix my tire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bad luck:
My tire was beyond repair. Plus, my tires are not a really popular size. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good
luck: They had one used tire to replace my tire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bad luck:
As I replaced the tire, I stripped one of the tire nuts and couldn’t use it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good
luck: I got four of the five and enough to get me back into town. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bad luck:
The tire shop didn't have a tire nut thingy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good luck:
They knew of another store that might carry the tire nut thingys. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bad luck:
It was several blocks away and what were the chances really.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good
luck: They did have it in stock. I put the tire nut thingy on my car, tightened
it down and was back in business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bad luck:
I couldn't find a decent barbecue place in Greenville. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good
luck: There was a great restaurant just ten miles down the road in
Farmersville. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Things just
seem to work out for me and I’m not complaining at all. It’s probably my
outlook on life. I don’t look at the gloom, despair and agony on me. I remind
myself I’m a magnet for the good stuff. And that’s the way I prefer it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
Does anybody know of a good
place to get barbecue within walking distance of my house?</span><!--EndFragment-->
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-71384788336959624732013-03-20T06:00:00.000-04:002013-03-20T06:00:02.507-04:00I'm On a M-Effin' Boat<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">There are certain events that absolutely require my attendance. The
list is pretty simple really. Take Wimbledon, for example. If the Grand Slam
tennis tournament ever comes to the Dallas-area — or any city in Texas for that
matter — I will be there. No doubt. Another item on the list is a Glen Campbell
concert. The next time the Rhinestone Cowboy comes to town, expect me to be in
the front row (or the back row, depending on ticket prices). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">For me, the Dallas Boat Show is also another must-see attraction.
Whenever the big boat show hits the DFW area, I am there. Last Sunday, the boat
show closed out for another year, but not before I got the chance to visit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 27px;">This year the show had a venue change. After
many years at the Market Hall in Dallas, this year’s show was actually held
under seven massive tents at The Ballpark in Arlington, home to the Texas
Rangers (the baseball team, not the law enforcement agency headed by Chuck
Norris).</span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">I was a little afraid the venue change would cause the show to
suffer, but I was fearful for no reason. It was bigger and better than ever.
Actually, the crowds were down a little this year, but there was a lot of stuff
to look at. I like to look at stuff. My senior year in high school I was voted
Most Likely To Look at Stuff. Boats and boat accessories are just fun to look
at. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Humans have been infatuated with boats since Noah built the first
luxury cruise liner. Depending on who you ask, Noah took anywhere from two to
120 years to build the ark. Also, depending on who you ask, Noah had two of
every creature, including dinosaurs and Kardashians, on the ark. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Humans have a love affair with boats and the water. Our affinity for
water is in our DNA. There is a reason why water and water elements bring us so
much comfort and relaxation. We were born in water. Our mothers carried us
around for nine or so months in a nice little sack of water. Then, depending on
who you ask, the stork takes that sack of water to a local hospital and we are
born. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">We love water. You might say it’s in our blood. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">I didn’t grow up on boats, however. My love affair for boats and
water recreation began a couple of years ago, when I started working for a lake
magazine. My very first story was about a sailboat race on Lake Texoma. The
sailboats intrigued me because of the power and grace they show as they glide
across the water with the help of nothing but wind and, in the case of this
race, frosty margaritas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Almost immediately I wanted to learn to sail. I started hanging out
with people that loved to sail. I read books about sailing. I started sailing a
little myself. My wife and I decided we wanted to retire, buy a boat and sail
the world, all the while living off our lottery winnings. It’s a lofty goal,
but it could happen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Since then, we have developed friendships with many people who own
boats. We have been on small boats, big boats, power boats, sailboats and boats
that probably shouldn’t actually be allowed on the water. What’s our favorite
thing to do on the water? Float and party, of course, or as some people call it
Beer Bobbin’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Depending on who you ask, boats were made for throwing parties. I’m
sure Noah had a party or two on his vessel. I bet there was a huge party on
that boat Jonah hitched a ride on before, you know, they had to throw him into
the sea. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Boats are perfect party vessels, no matter the size. Little Big Town
made that obvious with their Grammy-award-winning song “Pontoon.” The song is
about partying on a regular old aluminum-sided pontoon boat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Here’s a little sample: </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">“Who said anything about skiing? Floating is
all I want to do. You can climb the ladder, just don’t rock the boat while I
barbecue.” And this mind-blowing line: “Reach your hand down into the cooler.
Don’t drink it if the mountains aren’t blue. Try to keep it steady as you
recline on your black inner tube.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Now, if that don’t light your fire, your wood is wet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">But, alas, we didn’t buy our dream boat this year. The winning
lottery ticket still eludes us. But the boat show got us in a summer mindset.
We are now more ready than ever to get out there on the water, reach down into
that cooler, pop a top on a cold one and party like a Kardashian. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-52103704358112560782013-03-18T06:00:00.000-04:002013-03-18T06:00:08.103-04:00Have Some Cake And Eat It To<br />
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
With the recent death of my favorite snack cake, The Twinkie, I have now turned to more traditional desserts: cakes and pies. I enjoy pies in varying degrees. I love traditional cherry, apple, Boston cream and chicken pot pie. I also tolerate peach, lemon and coconut (if it has loads of that creamy meringue stuff on top). I probably wouldn't pass up on key lime, either. But I will not eat mincemeat, rhubarb or anything labeled as "sugar-free."</div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Cakes are also terribly delicious in various forms of chocolate, strawberry or carrot (the closest thing to a vegetable that I will ever eat).</div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
The only problem with these types of desserts is cutting the pies and cakes into slices. I am not very good at slicing cakes evenly. I try very hard but my cake slices wind up looking like a gerrymandered map of congressional districts in East Texas. That's why I like to cut a pie or cake into two separate but equal pieces. Plus I'm not beyond shoving a whole cake or pie into my, proverbial, pie hole. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
When I think about pies and cakes, especially the ones cut into two equal pieces, I often think about our country, the good ol' U.S. of A. It seems America is becoming more and more of us vs. them. There is very little in between anymore. You are either on this side or the other side, the good side or the bad side, the losing side or the winning side, the cake side or the pie side. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I suppose this isn't a new thing. When I was growing up in rural Oklahoma many people fell on one side or the other. There were some folks in my hometown who actually chose to go to Oklahoma State University, wear black and orange and root for the Cowboys. And there were plenty of others who were smart enough to wear the crimson and cream of the University of Oklahoma and root for the Sooners, the World Champions of the World. Some people are just strange like that. There are very few Okies who feel neutral on those issues. Oh, I know there are a handful of Tulsa Hurricane fans out there, and some people will occasionally skip the annual Bedlam Series game between OU and OSU to watch the Mighty Tigers of East Central University take on Southern Nazarene, but not too many. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Our country seems to be the same way. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
The newest debate here is gun control laws. Most people fall on the two different sides. On one side is the NRA and others, who strongly support the second amendment to the United States Constitution. And on the flip side of that argument are those who believe that our country could probably do away with a few assault weapons and 20-shot magazines to make us all a little safer. But there doesn't seem to be many voices in the middle. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
This past presidential election was also extremely divisive. Barak Obama secured a second term, but only received 51 percent of the vote. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Congress can't get anything done in Washington because everybody is either a Republican or a Democrat and both sides see the other as the enemy. One side thinks gun control is good, so the other side has to be against it. Republicans think Democrats are agents of the Devil, who would like to create a failed Marxian-type of Utopia. Democrats think Republicans are all just a bunch of narrow-minded fat cats, who would like to create a failed Roman Empire style of purgatory. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
On almost every issue, the country seems to fall on a sharp blade, evenly dividing 350 million of us on one side or the other. The only problem with sharp blades and division, is that nobody wins in the end, everybody just gets cut. The only thing that can be divided without any real negative long-term effects are love and dessert. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
So, I suggest that our country needs to practice a little of both. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Whenever two groups come to an impasse trying to solve a problem, maybe both sides should just take a break, smile, hug the other person and split a piece of warm cherry pie (with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream). Maybe John Boehner and President Obama can sit down in a room, kick off their shoes, play a game of Twister and share a big ol' hunk of strawberry cake with vanilla icing and candy sprinkles. It's hard to be mad at somebody when your hugging and smiling and eating cake and putting your left foot on the blue circle. It's just not possible. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Wise sages agree with me too. Ghandi once said, "A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave." That Ghandi was a wise man.</div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Then there's that quote from either Marie Antoinette or Kim Kardashian who said, "Let them eat cake." Maybe that was a bad choice of words at the time, but it's hard to argue that cake is ever a bad idea. </div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-87744604517240977022013-03-15T06:00:00.000-04:002013-03-15T06:00:02.204-04:00The Miracle Of the Smartphone<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">No matter what you say,
smartphones are the greatest invention since yogurt in a tube. I know many
people will argue and ask What about air conditioning? Or indoor plumbing? Or
The Internet — The Source Of All Truth? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">All of those are valid
entries for Greatest Invention Ever, but in the end the smartphone stands alone
at the top of the heap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">My mom would probably
disagree. She won't even buy the latest smartphone because she has a belief
that all phones and computers in general are from the Devil. She still owns a
small flip phone like you could purchase in 1952 and uses it only for basics
like make phone calls to the Western Union office to send a telegram. Maybe she
knows best, I don't know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">After last week, I am now
on my fourth smartphone. Smart doesn't even begin to describe what these phones
mean to me. They are the first thing I pick up in the morning and the last
thing I lay down at night, which probably explains the mysterious orange,
Cheeto-like markings on my smartphone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I got my newest little
handheld miracle last week. While I might be a fan of cell phones, I am not
high on cell phone contracts because it seems the cellular company wants me to
sign a two-year contract for a device that is guaranteed to be broken or
out-of-date within about six hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">My last phone was a
problem from the start. I tried to save a little money — a fact my wife likes
to remind me — for another type of smartphone that was just as good as the
Apple iPhone, matter of fact it wasn't even really as good as using an actual
apple as a communication device. It was slow and cumbersome. And while I could
sort of make it work for most of the 24-months of my contract, the last three
months were a torture the likes of which the world hasn't seen since the
Spanish Inquisition. Over that time, I could not check my e-mail, check
anything online, text anyone with a last name beginning with G, H, K or for
some reason, Q and I couldn't keep up with the Kardashians without a
considerable amount of effort and patience on my part. I lit a candle and
thanked the patron saint of cell phones when my package containing my new
phones arrived. I couldn't wait to start putting it to use. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Of course as with any new
technology, my new phone required some "set-up," which amounts to
about three hours of downloading and uploading information, agreeing to
something called "terms and conditions", and setting new passwords. I
don't mind passwords but I am starting to have a hard time remembering the
1,346 passwords that I have. Everything requires a different type of password.
Most passwords require at least eighteen characters, including a capital
letter, at least one number, one Chinese character and at least one name of a
Kardashian. Passwords have become so confusing and hard to remember that I now
have to store them in a password-protected file on my iPhone and a legal pad
next to my home computer. It's sad really. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">But it's worth it to have
all of that power in the palm of my hand (which also used to be the slogan for
Twinkies snack cakes).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">After all the setup and
downloading and uploading and approvals was over, I immediately started
figuring out all the apps I wanted to put on my phone. "Apps" for the
uninitiated is short for Applachian Mountains. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Haha. That's just a joke.
The Applachian Mountains are much easy to circumnavigate than the Apps Store on
my new phone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Apps or applications are
an integral part of making my life easier so I only wanted the latest and
greatest apps on my phone. I figure the best thing to do is to ask an expert —
or "Genuis" if you will. I went by my local store and asked simply:
What apps do I need to download to be cool? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I didn't like the way
this particular Genuis looked down his nose at me, but he fished out his own
smartphone and showed me some of his favorites. After a thorough 15-minute
demonstration of the latest apps, I promptly ignored his advice and started
downloading my own apps. I only download helpful apps like Spanish translators,
so that I can learn to cuss in a foreign language. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
Now, I feel like a real member of the 21st century again. And most of
all, in spite of what my mother thinks, smartphones are not from the Devil.
Cell phone contracts on the other hand. </span><!--EndFragment-->
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-71899465067914386562013-03-13T06:00:00.000-04:002013-03-13T06:00:03.932-04:00And the Award Goes To ...<br />
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<i>This was written just a few weeks before the Oscars. You can probably see just how spot on I am. </i></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
It's that time of year when everybody who is anybody gets all giddy to watch hours and hours of television. Of course, I'm talking about the brand new season of "American Idol," which this season features a new tweak where contestants actually have to survive on a remote island just off the coast of Maine at a place called Kennebunkport. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Ha. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I'm kidding. No one watches Idol anymore and very few people not named Bush actually go to a place called Kennebunkport or Maine for that matter. Winter means that all television viewers turn their attention to awards season. There's the People's Choice Awards, Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Directors Guild Awards, The Grammys, Writers Guild Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and, finally, The Greater Kennebunkport Area Awards for Art and Pastries. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Oh, and there's also something called the Academy Awards. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
The Academy Awards are the awards program that most people not named Bush are really excited about. This is an especially exciting time around my house, where each year during the Academy Awards, I spend the entire day watching reruns of "Matlock" and eating leftovers from Pancho's Mexican Food Buffet (don't ask how I do it). </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Even though the 85th annual Academy Awards isn't airing until Feb. 24, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts, Sciences and Pastries, have announced this year's nominees. The Academy announces the list early to give movie lovers a chance to read the list and then Google each of the movies announced because most people not named Bush have never heard of any of the movies on the list. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Let's take a few minutes to look at some of the Academy Award nominees making headlines. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
First let's take a look at this year's nominees for Best Motion Picture. This year's nominees are: Argo, Amour, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, and Zero Dark Thirty. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
In the spirit of all honesty, I have to admit I have only heard of about three of those movies and haven't seen any of them. I like movies. I like going to see a movie. I like movie popcorn and those giant movie-theater Snicker bars. I also like seeing movies that leave me changed and make me think. Unfortunately, with these movies, the only "change" that would come about is the $15 I would get back after breaking a $100 to get in to see these movies and it would only make me think, "Why did I just waste $85 and four hours of my time seeing something called Django Unchained?"</div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
It's a strange world we live in. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I am excited about this year's Academy Award nominees for Best Performance By an Actress in a Leading Role. This year's nominees include Emmanuelle Riva, Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain, Naomi Watts and Quvenzhane Wallis. I'm excited because those are all great multi-syllabic names. I hope one of them wins. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I actually stopped watching the Academy Awards several years ago, when my favorite movie of all-time was snubbed by the Academy. In 1994, one of the greatest movies of all time was released to the public for the first time. The movie, "Dumb and Dumber" was one of the best movies not named Bush ever released by Hollywood. The movie follows the lives of two lovable characters, Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne, as they travel across the United States to return a lost briefcase to the love of Lloyd's life, Mary Swanson. The two winsome travelers wind up in the city of Aspen, Colo. (where the beer flows like wine), where they discover that the briefcase is loaded with cash. The pair decides to do the only thing plausible and that is to "borrow" the money to buy extravagant items, including a Lamborghini, and in the place of the cash, leave IOU's. It's a great coming-of-age story of adventure, loyalty and friendship filled with pithy dialogue and a couple of classic tuxedoes.</div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Lloyd was played by Jim Carrey, who should have won the Oscar that year for his brilliant performance. I still use the memorable lines "So you're saying there's a chance?" and "Big Gulps, huh? Welp, see you later" almost on a daily basis. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Now that is the kind of movie that will change your life and make you think. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
But in 1994 instead of handing out the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture to the folks that brought us this Hollywood Classic, the Academy handed the award to "Kennebunkport, Maine." </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Seriously, the award that year went to "Forrest Gump," which was a true story about one boy's struggles to become a ping-pong champion, drink Dr. Pepper, run across the country and to meet several presidents. While "Forrest Gump" was an entertaining movie, it was no "Dumb and Dumber." While Tom Hanks (who won the Oscar for Best Actor that year) was good as a leading actor, he could not carry the extra pair of gloves of Jim Carrie's role of Lloyd Christmas. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
It makes me sad, really. </div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 20.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
So I probably won't watch the Academy Awards this year either. Instead I'll be watching my copy of "Dumb and Dumber" for what could be the 1,000th time and wondering why my last name couldn't have been Bush.</div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-27304545768395381092013-03-11T06:00:00.000-04:002013-03-11T06:00:07.399-04:00Searching for the Right Words<br />
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
In 1971, John Francis was living in San Francisco, searching for meaning and his purpose in life. One day tragedy struck when two oil tankers smashed against one another, leaking thousands of barrels of oil into the San Francisco Bay. Hundreds of volunteers walked the coastline around northern California doing their best to help the animals and wildlife affected by the black crude collecting on top of the water. Francis was one of those volunteers. Something inside him changed as he watched a bird struggling to breath with the oil clogging its lungs. When it died, Francis could not hold back the gush of emotions. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Those events led Francis to make changes in his life. At first, Francis decided to forego gas-powered automobiles. He felt like using fossil fuels for transportation would only compound the problem that lead to the spill. Wherever Francis had to go, he walked. Sometimes he rode a bike too, but mostly, he walked. No cars. No buses. No airplanes. No trains. Only his two feet to get him where he wanted to go. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
The comedian Steven Wright once said, "Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time." That's true. No matter how far you have to go, if you have the time, you can make it on foot. That became the thought process for Francis. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Many people, including his own father, thought he was crazy. He was told, you can't be a contributing member of society by walking everywhere. Francis found that every time he tried to explain his reasonings, he wound up arguing with every one he met. So he took another step, so to speak. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
On his birthday in 1973, he decided the only way to stop arguing is to be silent. So for one day, Francis gave up speaking. It felt so good to him, the next day he decided to continue his silence. The days turned into weeks then months then years, 17 years, in fact. Francis never uttered a word out loud. He didn't even laugh out loud (That's LOL to you young people). He learned to communicate by some hand signals and sometimes he scrawled his thoughts on a page. He also learned to communicate with his banjo that he had always strung over his shoulder. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Instead of speaking, Francis said he tried listening. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
In his book "The Ragged Edge of Silence," Francis writes this about his choice: </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
"As I lived this quiet life, friends and strangers sought me out, and they were eager to share their lives with me because they accepted my silence as a sign that I would listen." </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
On Earth Day in 1990, Francis decided to end his period of silence. During those 17 years, he earned three college degrees, including a PhD, and walked across the continental United States and through other countries across the globe. Everywhere he went, he tried to help humanity and his brothers and sisters of nature with a message of peace.</div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
We are strange creatures sometimes. We spend the first two or three years of our lives trying to learn to speak and then spend the rest of our lives never shutting up. There is constant search for the right words, the right thing to say, the perfect anecdote or story to help. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I know a couple who recently experienced a horrific experience. An experience most wouldn't wish on their most hated enemy. This couple lost their five-month old little girl. One morning, the father woke up early, fed the tiny little girl, drove her to the nursery school, where she was going to spend a couple of hours. Before they could pick her up that afternoon, they received a phone call telling them the baby was gone, a victim of something called Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. She left behind a mother, a father and a 4-year-old sister.</div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I saw the father the other day and he was trying to tell me the story. He told me about how his baby was just starting to show her personality. She wasn't just an "it" anymore. She was a human being, my daughter, he said. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
But now she is gone and the rest of the family was left to struggle with "Why?" Why did something like this happen? What is there to learn from something like this? How do we go forward? How do we survive? </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I searched for just the right words. I stalled to find the perfect anecdote or story to help. But there are no right words. There is no story or helpful anecdote that will help a grieving mother and father through the death of a child. It just doesn't happen. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
There was a time in my past, when I thought as a minister I was supposed to have all the right words at just the right time. I could help any grieving person by sharing a story, or a word of scripture or a simple, "maybe it's just the Lord's will." </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
The problem is, it's not "the Lord's will." There is no Psalm of comfort in those settings. Explanations are just beyond reach. Time will heal some wounds, or at least makes them bearable, but nobody knows how much time is needed for each case. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I struggled with the silence as the tears welled up in this dad's eyes. I had nothing to say. All I could do was listen and say, I'm sorry. You're right. It's not fair. I wish it never happened. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
After the grieving father left, I sat there on that ragged edge of silence, searching for answers. Then I realized that maybe my silence was the answer. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-34135230616627928932013-03-08T12:34:00.000-05:002013-03-08T12:34:48.916-05:00Taking a Look Back at 2012 ... Finally<br />
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
The Year of 2012 was packed full of fun times, interesting news stories, technological advances and, unfortunately, more reality television. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
It all started in February. Actually the year — technically — started in January but nothing ever happens in January. It's boring and cold and grey and just plain weird. In the calendar, January is that weird uncle that keeps showing up uninvited at family reunions and everybody avoids eye contact with. The NFL used to feature its premier game the Super Bowl in January, but even the executives of the National Football League felt like January was not appropriate enough for the big game. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
But February was very exciting. While February is still cold and sometimes grey, the 2012 version was a fascinating mix of holidays (Valentines Day, Presidents Day and I Have Six Toes Awareness Day), the Super Bowl and presidential politics. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
During the early months of the year, the presidential primaries were in full swing. The front runner early on was a guy named Newt Gingrich. Newt (from the Latin, Limosa Politicus, meaning Slimy Poltician) spent a great deal of time on the campaign trail calling Mitt Romney (from the Latin, (see above)) names, and telling the good folks in Florida that a colony on the moon was all but a done deal if he were elected president. Unfortunately, Americans did not want a Moonsville, and voters promptly turned their attention to a much more qualified candidate. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
But before the attention turned fully to the more qualified candidate, Texas Governor Rick Perry threw his name into the hat for the presidency. Perry said that the federal government needed fixing and he was the man to do it. Some of his plans included IRS Tax forms filled out on the back of Post-It Notes and eliminating three federal agencies: Department of Education, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Baking and Roasting or something or other.</div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
In all it was an exciting political season. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Then the summer came and all Americans turned their eyes toward that event so big that it could only be held every four years: The Mayan Apocalypse. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
According to scholars, the Mayan calendar abruptly ended on December 21, 2012, which meant the world was about to end. While experts disagreed on just how the world would exit stage right, Americans around the world began prepping by storing food, making Bucket Lists and maxing out credit cards. (I would like to personally apologize to Visa for that extremely large purchase of "Hostess Baked Goods." As my grandfather always says, "I would rather owe ya' than beat you out of it"). </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
The Olympics were also held this summer in London, England. They came off without a hitch, much to the dismay of Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
The United States pretty much dominated the Olympic games in medal counts, especially in events like swimming, track and field, and reality television. China finished a close second, dominating events like ping pong, gymnastics, and shoe making.</div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Early in the fall a medical journal contained a report saying that coffee was found to be bad for you. According to the report, a person consuming more than two cups of coffee per day was 60 percent more likely to contract athlete's foot. A severe latte addiction can also cause a sudden drop in one's bank account. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
November brought us the Election Day. It was quite a relief to most Americans and much of the world when the campaign season was finally over for three days before the start of the 2016 presidential campaign. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
President Barack Obama was re-elected for his second term, narrowly defeating Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Exit polls showed that many voters were upset with Romney and Republicans in general because of several verbal missteps like mistakenly calling 47 percent of the population "a bunch of babies who won't vote for me anyway." Which is actually true. A large portion of Americans are under the age of 18. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Some other notable news items from 2012 are: moderate amounts of coffee heals maladies like athlete's foot, Prince Harry and Kate are going to have a baby, Jersey Shore is calling it quits and the Mayans ate up the remaining cache of Twinkies. </div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 19.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I hope you have found blessings this past year and I wish you a prosperous, peaceful and happy 2013. Also, if you have any Twinkies stored up for the Apocalypse, let's meet for coffee and share a box. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-18044540408891786752012-12-26T10:43:00.002-05:002012-12-26T10:43:57.250-05:00Peace On Earth, Good Will To All Creatures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnwKK0incjmRyBRpO2JO9fuiRCHM_pDBbMKaleEdRLfxkH80IZJk00qkl6VaNpkRCzGDAesL_XVXfZIYvSN37JjgVLMksM7oqzDWqgJBd0QIcAAJ7cuWhMG0KJMFBDckgBNTAgg/s1600/rod+and+bigfoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnwKK0incjmRyBRpO2JO9fuiRCHM_pDBbMKaleEdRLfxkH80IZJk00qkl6VaNpkRCzGDAesL_XVXfZIYvSN37JjgVLMksM7oqzDWqgJBd0QIcAAJ7cuWhMG0KJMFBDckgBNTAgg/s320/rod+and+bigfoot.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
This holiday season is more than just about shopping, music and nutcrackers. The holiday season is about peace.<br /><br />
That message of peace was preached to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” <br /><br />
As those words filled the heavens that night, the shepherds got it. They understood the need for peace because, under Roman rule, they saw the opposite of peace every day.<br />
<br />
They longed for peace. Two thousand years later, I believe we still do. <br /><br />
During that time, the shepherds and pretty much everybody else in the world were under the control of the Roman Empire. The Romans claimed to bring peace to the world. They called it Pax Romana, the Peace of the Romans. <br /><br />
In one way, the Roman Empire did bring about a peace. They ended a civil war. They built roads. They protected their citizens. But they achieved it through war and violence. But that peace was different than the peace God promised through his Messiah.<br /><br />
The shepherds, who represented other misfits in society during those days, longed for that true peace. Jesus was supposed to bring about true peace, a peace through justice instead of violence. <br /><br />
Let me tell another story from scripture. <br /><br />
In the first three or four chapters of Genesis, the writer tells us about the beginning of the world and mankind. Everything was perfect peace in that garden. But soon enough man messed all that up. Adam and Eve found a tree, talked to a snake, ate some fruit and eventually got kicked out of that place of peace and justice. <br /><br />
Then some small but not insignificant stuff happened. In Genesis 3:23-24, the Bible says that God kicked Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden and placed a giant angel to protect the east gate. Mankind was forced to live just east of Eden. <br /><br />
In the next chapter of Genesis, we meet two brothers, Cain and Abel. Long story short, Cain got upset and killed his brother Abel. As punishment, God kicked Cain off the land just east of Eden. Now, Cain has to move even further east of Eden to a place called Nod. <br /><br />
What if moving east is really a metaphor for moving away from the peace and justice God had planned for us: a perfect peace and justice, a place of joy, a place some might call heaven? It makes me wonder if the fact that the Magi from Matthew 2 were “from the east” has any real significance besides just a designation. Maybe they were looking to the west for a King who would restore peace and justice, the kind previously only found in Eden. <br /><br />
Last week a lone gunman walked into an elementary school in Connecticut and opened fire. After killing 20 school children and six educators, he turned the gun on himself. In the aftermath of that senseless act of violence, we look for answers. We try to pin blame on something or someone else. We also seek change. And we look for a return to normalcy, whatever that means. But in the end, we really are all just seeking peace. <br /><br />
As we mourn for our brothers and sisters who are affected by this tragedy, we reopen the old debate about gun control and laws to keep things like this from ever happening again. But the truth is unless something changes inside us, no law will ever keep us safe. I’m not against banning certain weapons and high-capacity magazines to keep them out of the hands of those who would do harm, but I don’t think that is the only answer. The answer we look for is a place of peace. Or as Isaiah said as he looked forward to a day when “they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”<br /><br />
It’s a place where we each give love, tolerance and compassion and receive it in return.<br />
<br />
It’s a place absent of hurt, poverty, abuse, tragedy and tears.<br /><br />
What if we can find that peace? <br /><br />
What if it starts with the man in the mirror? It seems we have to find a way to love and forgive the person staring back at us that we see each day as we wipe the morning goo from our eyes. After that we can “let our gentleness be evident to all … and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7). <br /><br />
I believe that’s the answer. And that’s the reason for the season. May we all start making our way out west, back to a place called Eden, a place of joy, perfect peace and justice for all. <br /><br />Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-26098308487893645882012-12-21T07:00:00.000-05:002012-12-21T07:00:04.763-05:00The Tale of Ebuyneezer ScroogeThis is the story of a man named Ebuyneezer Scrooge. Like many Americans, Ebuyneezer and his family have been hard at work getting in the Christmas/Holiday spirit: putting up the tree and decorations, sending out holiday cards, wishing everyone they meet a rousing Happy Holidays, trying to spend some time giving back to their community and buying gifts for family and friends. <br /><br />
It’s the last part that has been a little stressful on Ebuyneezer and his family. Since Black Friday, Ebuyneezer and his family have spent most weekends at the mall, the Dollar Tree and shopping on The Internet — The Source Of All Gifts. He was so tired after a day of shopping recently, that Ebuyneezer sat down in his favorite chair, flipped on the television with every intention of catching up on the current season of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” Instead, he fell into a fast, deep sleep filled with a strange dream. <br /><br />
In his dream, Ebuyneezer was visited by three ghosts: The Ghost of Holiday Shoppers Past, The Ghost of Holiday Shoppers Present, and The Ghost of Holiday Shoppers Future. <br /><br />
The first ghost, The Ghost of Holiday Shoppers Past, met him in his dream and carried him off to a far-off and distant past (or 1948). The ghost showed him the downtown of the small town where Ebuyneezer spent his childhood. Lights decorated the streets and window signs of every store welcomed the holiday shoppers and wished them a Very, Merry Christmas. The Ghost showed Ebuyneezer a simpler time when many Christmas gifts were made by hand instead of purchased and the Kardashians were just a small family of sheep herders from Armenia. <br /><br />
Ebuyneezer had the cockles of his heart warmed by the sight of young families enjoying the holiday season. There were young boys chasing each other with frozen balls of snow. The little girls dreamed of dolls in shop windows and imagining having little children of their own. Mommies tended to the babies and daddies gathered with friends to share a laugh and perhaps warm their own hearts’ cockles with a quick slug from Uncle Marvin’s tiny silver flask. <br /><br />
“It was such a simple and joyous time,” Ebuyneezer said in the direction of The Ghost. <br /><br />
“Yes it was,” The Ghost replied.<br /><br />
“What are cockles?” Ebuyneezer asked. <br /><br />
“I have no idea,” The Ghost admitted sadly. <br /><br />
In a flash, Ebuyneezer was back in his favorite chair when, suddenly, he was met by The Ghost of Holiday Shoppers Present. The Ghost whisked him away to the same mall where Ebuyneezer had spent approximately 108 hours in recent days. He watched as a little girl was being dragged out of a store by her mother. <br /><br />
“That’s why I hate shopping,” the little girl said. “We have to go into so many stores.” <br /><br />
“She probably will put off making the potatoes until tomorrow,” the mother answered to some invisible being on the other end of a cell phone. <br /><br />
Ebuyneezer was happy because he had most of his shopping done. But he also experienced a twinge of sadness at those who still had bargains to find and lists to complete. <br /><br />
“Why do we do this to ourselves?” Ebuyneezer asked The Ghost of Holiday Shoppers Present. <br /><br />
“I doubt very seriously he had a birdie on the 13th,” The Ghost said to the invisible ghost on the other end of his cell phone.<br /><br />
Ebuyneezer was whisked away again. This time instead of returning to his home, he was met immediately by the third ghost, The Ghost of Shoppers Future. <br /><br />
“Sorry,” The Ghost of Shoppers Future said, “no time for napping. It’s 2112.”<br /><br />
Ebuyneezer went to a village he didn’t recognize full of massage therapy centers, doctor’s offices, hospitals, pharmacies and little gated-communities filled with streets named for trees with no actual trees in sight. Instead of seeing a familiar shopping season, Ebuyneezer gazed at a scene so foreign. <br /><br />
“Why is it so hot?” Ebuyneezer said. <br /><br />
“This is Hell,” The Ghost of Shoppers Future said.<br /><br />
Ebuyneezer was shocked and gasped aloud. <br /><br />
“I’m just kidding,” The Ghost said. “Hell was actually outsourced several years ago. And Christmas in the future actually starts right after Mother’s Day. It’s the middle of June.” <br /><br />
“So, people have half a year to stress about Christmas?” Ebuyneezer asked. <br /><br />
“Of course not,” The Ghost reassured him. “Christmas shopping was also outsourced. Nobody does their own shopping any more.” <br /><br />
“Why does everyone looked so sad then?” Ebuyneezer asked. <br /><br />
“Because,” The Ghosts said, “Joy and happiness have also been outsourced. Everything is outsourced.” <br /><br />
Then The Ghosts of Shoppers Future unleashed a sinister laugh. HahahahaHAHAHAHAHA. <br />Ebuyneezer jerked awake just as the final credits rolled on The Kardashians. <br /><br />
“Is everything okay, honey?” his wife asked. <br /><br />
“I just had the strangest dream,” he responded. Ebuyneezer wiped the drool from his chin, grabbed the remote, and changed the channel. “What time does ‘Finding Bigfoot’ come on?” he asked, then warmed his cockles with a quick nip from his flask.<br />Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-6658712872446875912012-12-19T08:00:00.000-05:002012-12-19T08:00:05.148-05:00Good-Bye, Old FriendIn 1933, James A. Dewar started on the path to genius. That was the year Mr. Dewar suggested to his bosses at the Continental Baking Company of a new pastry treat, something that would obviously revolutionize the snack cake industry. That was the year, Continental, who baked snack cakes under the Hostess banner, created the Twinkie. The company had been making strawberry shortcakes for several years but when the strawberries weren't in season, the machines sat idle. Dewar suggested a new treat filled with banana cream. One day while driving down the road he had an epiphany for the name when he saw a billboard advertising shoes from the Twinkle Toe Shoe Company. He shortened the name to Twinkie and priced them at a nickel for a pair. <br /><br />
When World War II caused a banana shortage and rations were put in place, the good folks at Hostess changed the recipe and filled the spongy cake goodness with vanilla creme. <br /><br />
The popularity of Twinkies grew in the 1950 when the little yellow cakes sponsored the Howdy Doody Show. Under the constant threat of a doomsday nuclear scenario in the 1960s sent Twinkie sales soaring again, when it was discovered the cakes would "stay fresh forever." It became an American icon. <br /><br />
President Bill Clinton included a Twinkie in a time capsule. During its heyday, Twinkie sold half a billion a year. <br /><br />
In 1966 another cultural icon would come along: Me. A couple of years later I started a 40-year love affair with the little snack cakes. I was smitten from the start. Twinkies, and their closest cousins the Ding Dongs, were staples in the Hays' house when I was a kid. My Scooby Doo lunch box was packed with one or the other of the snack cakes every day. I must have broke open and licked the creme out of center of nearly 10,000 Twinkies as a child. <br /><br />
A couple of years ago, I wrote a nice, award-winning when Hostess Brands decided to move the Twinkie-making mother ship to the Dallas-area burg of Irving. I went on and on about how the Twinkie had brought so much joy to my childhood. I informed readers about how whenever a teacher somehow misunderstood my genius during a school day, the Twinkie would be there waiting for me. I talked about how I considered Twinkie the Kid, the lovable Twinkie mascot, one of my best friends. I recounted all of the joy those little guys brought. <br /><br />
But, like many things, it was too good to last. <br /><br />
One day, almost out of the blue, I realized that Twinkies didn't taste quite as good as they once did. The one spongy yellow cakes oozing with creme, somehow seemed to be more springy than sponge and the creme wouldn't even pile up on my upper lip anymore. Soon thereafter I figured out that Twinkies might be the cause of what some doctors might call, and I quote, "a weight problem." So I quit them — or at least limited my consumption to maybe one box of Twinkies per year. <br /><br />
Then, several months ago, Hostess began working with its union bakers trying to come up with a solution to a shrinking snack cake market. Those talks eventually failed and Hostess asked a judge to allow them to liquidate the assets. Twinkies could be gone forever. I was sad. Then the baker union said it would buy the recipe and equipment and keep making Twinkies. I was elated. Then the union said they couldn't work out a deal. I was sad. Now it seems, save from a miracle from the good Lord himself, the Twinkie brand will be no more. <br /><br />
I can't look at my little Twinkie the Kid mascot on the corner of my desk without waxing a little nostalgic. The demise of the Twinkie brings one of the last connections to my childhood. Pretty much all I have left is Pancho's Mexican Food Buffet and Bartles and Jaymes wine coolers. What happens when those are gone? I shutter to think. <br /><br />
So, with a sad heart, I say good-bye to another dear friend. So long, Twinkie, you gave me more than I could ever repay (including about an extra 60 pounds or so). Thank you for everything. <br /><br />
As I write these words, I sit here in one of my favorite Twinkie shirts. It has a Twinkie cut in two pieces exposing the delicious creme filling and the words "It's what on the inside that counts." Truer words have never been spoken. <br />Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-14640749931067657122012-12-17T13:55:00.000-05:002012-12-17T13:55:05.495-05:00Giving Thanks for the Cream-Filled TreasureThank goodness it’s Thanksgiving. This week marks the 83rd anniversary of the very first Thanksgiving celebration, which took place in a wooded area just north of Tupelo, Okla. On that very first Thanksgiving day, a group of new immigrants from a far-off land called Iowa settled down to a feast with a group of natives known simply as The People Not From Iowa. <br /><br />
That first group of grateful souls sat down to a communal meal of turkey, ham, squirrel, instant mash potatoes, cranberry Jell-O (which even then, nobody ate) and pecan pie topped with Cool Whip. After everyone filled their bellies from the bountiful harvest, the attendees of that first Thanksgiving sat down to say a word of thanks to the creator. They were thankful for a land of freedom, plenty of clothes to wear, and that ”Keeping Up with the Kardashians” had not been invented yet. <br /><br />
Today, we continue the tradition of sitting down one day each year to say ”thanks” for all the good stuff we’ve been given (and for all the specials we can pick up on Black Friday). This year, I am thankful for so much and I hope you are too. <br /><br />
Here is my Top 5 List of Things I’m Thankful For (or, for those strict grammarians ”Things For Which I am Thankful”). <br /><br />
1. My family — My family is special and dear to me. Together we have been through a lot of thick and thin and in the end, we still have each other. Every day I realized how blessed I am for my wife, my son, my daughter, my daughter-in-law, and my granddog, Lola the Bullpup Princess. My wife is more than just my soulmate. She is my best friend, my coach, my cheerleader, my voice of reason and my rationer of Twinkies. <br /><br />
My kids make me so proud every day. They are hard-working and want to do whatever it takes to be happy and successful. And Lola the bullpup is basically perfect. <br /><br />
2. The land of freedom — I live in one of the greatest countries in the world. We have our problems, for sure, but America is still the land of opportunity. As I read news stories of war, famine and disease from all around the world, I’m glad I live in a place where those problems are scarce among a people trying hard to make it scarce in those other places too.<br /><br />
3. The presidential race is over — The presidential race of 2012 seemed to last about 423 years. I appreciate the importance of democracy in action as we elect our leader, but the endless debate and arguing and name-calling and all-out nastiness of the election season almost makes me want to move to a foreign country like New Hampshire. Almost. I do, however, look forward to the race in 2016, which started this past weekend. <br /><br />
4. Beauty in the world — Sometimes in our fast-paced world it’s hard to stop and see beauty all around. This past year I had the opportunity to see the beach, to see flowers in bloom, to watch butterflies skitter about while collecting pollen and watch the leaves turn to autumn colors before falling to the ground. I heard beautiful music and looked at wonderful art. I heard stories and laughter and grateful utterances. Mankind has been given a beautiful place to spend our existence. This year I want to experience even more beauty and, quite possibly, even create some of my own. <br /><br />
5. Twinkies — This year has been hard on Twinkies and snack cakes in general. Many people are blaming the American obesity problem on Twinkies. And they are probably right. But I am thankful for all the Twinkies I ate as a kid and the few thousand I’ve had as an adult (mostly this year). <br /><br />
Now Hostess brands, the makers of Twinkies and Ding Dongs is working with a bankruptcy court to liquidate its assets and get out of the snack cake business. It’s a sad day indeed, but there’s no need to focus on the sadness. I believe it’s a time of looking back and remembering the good times we had with that creme-filled goodness. <br /><br />
Honestly, I hope everyone remembers to be grateful, not just this one day each year but every day, every year. Some of the most important words we can utter are ”I love you” and ”thanks.” They are simple and powerful. <br /><br />
I am also thankful for you, dear reader. I hope this holiday season brings you everything you need to be happy and successful. I love you almost as much as Twinkies.Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-79857501606512535972012-11-19T07:00:00.000-05:002012-11-19T07:00:00.796-05:00On the Road to Inspiration
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:NimrodMT;
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-alt:"Nimrod MT";
mso-font-charset:77;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:auto;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Century-Light;
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:77;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:auto;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.01bodytext, li.01bodytext, div.01bodytext
{mso-style-name:"01 body text";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:justify;
text-indent:11.5pt;
line-height:10.5pt;
mso-pagination:none;
mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;
font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Century-Light;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:Century-Light;
color:black;}
span.01BodyText0
{mso-style-name:"01 Body Text";
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-ansi-font-size:9.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Century-Light;
mso-ascii-font-family:Century-Light;
mso-hansi-font-family:Century-Light;
mso-bidi-font-family:Century-Light;
color:black;
position:relative;
top:0pt;
mso-text-raise:0pt;
mso-font-width:100%;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;
text-decoration:none;
text-underline:none;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:.5in .5in .5in .5in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Recently my wife and I drove across eastern and
northeastern Oklahoma looking for beautiful fall foliage. It helped that one of
the wonderful casinos in Tulsa graciously offered us a room and a free buffet
if we would drop in and spend a couple a hundred dollars trying to retire early
… it seemed to good to pass up. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Plus, I was looking for some inspiration to help me finish
some writing projects I’m working on and maybe a little to help me churn out
one or two hundred more award-winning humor columns. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">We couldn’t check into our room until 4 p.m., although the
happy casino worker suggested we could leave our bags at the front desk and
start gambling right away. Tempting as that was, we decided to look for
something else to do that didn’t involve planning for retirement. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">We hopped in the car and drove north from Tulsa toward the
historic town of Oolagah. Oolagah, for the uninitiated, is the birthplace of
Oklahoma cowboy, actor and funnyman Will Rogers. Rogers is one of my heroes,
not only because he’s from Oklahoma, but because he was one of the original
humor column writers. Rogers penned more than 4,000 nationally-syndicated
columns each week taking on politics and the establishment as a whole. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">What a
great guy. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">We found Oolagah and turned left off Oklahoma Hwy. 169 to
tour its “historic downtown.” </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">When the Oolagah City Fathers say, “historic,” they really
mean “this is pretty much the only stuff we haven’t torn down yet.” The
downtown is just a row of early 1900s buildings, which now contain insurance
agencies, a flower shop, the county tag agency and the historical society and
museum. The centerpiece in historic downtown Oolagah is a statue of Ol’ Will
Rogers and his trusty horse — Trigger? — in the middle of Main Street. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">I still didn’t quite find the inspiration I needed, so we
continued north on Hwy. 169, through Talala and turned back to the east on
County Road 300, which would take us through some beautiful backroads country,
eventually landing in the Rogers County seat in Claremore, where Will Rogers
spent a great deal of time. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">We started down a beautiful, tree-lined two-lane road that
took us right over the top of Oolagah Lake. We almost stopped at the Winganon
Bait Shop to find out what type of fish were biting but we decided to try and
make it to Chelsea, right on the famous Route 66. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">The town of Chelsea has a
population of 2,100 people, according to the sign at the city limits, but I
doubt it. We stopped at the local convenient store, which serves as a meeting
place, a fuel center, a hunters’ check-in station and the local Mazzio’s Pizza.
We got gas and a drink and wondered around inside for a bit trying to figure
out who Rhonda Benright was and why there was a sign by the cash register that
said: “Rhonda Benright is not allowed inside this store.” It must have been
bad. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">A few miles further down the road I said something about
how this was the perfect excursion. I was traveling along Route 66, looking at
some pretty fall foliage, listening to country music all with the beautiful
company of my wife. “All is right in the world,” I said. It must have been
exactly what the Joads were experiencing in “The Grapes of Wrath” except for
the whole depression and Dust Bowl and such. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">The inspiration was slow so I continued on. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Thirty minutes later, we drove up on the thriving
metropolis of Claremore, Okla. and once again found ourselves in an historic
downtown area. While the one in Claremore was a little more exciting than the
one in Oolagah, I can’t help but think Will Rogers might have poked a little
fun at the new Claremore, as the town tries to keep one foot in its rich past
as one of Oklahoma’s first towns and one foot in the capitalistic future of
fast food chains, banking centers on every corner and the local shopping strip
center with its ubiquitous donut shops, nail salons and dry cleaning
establishments. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">Maybe it’s just too hard to find inspiration in modern
American. Or maybe I was just looking in the wrong places and at the wrong
things. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">It’s the people who bring inspiration not necessarily the
places. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">While historic birthplaces and famous highways remind us
of former glory and trying times, t’s the fact that people like Will Rogers and
the Dust Bowl Okies lived and worked and survived that we are inspired. They
did what they had to do to survive and to carve out a better life for
themselves. That is the true American spirit. These are the stories that
inspire me and millions of others. </span></span></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<br /></div>
<div class="01bodytext">
<span class="01BodyText0"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: NimrodMT; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-font-width: 102%;">And, of course, winning $500 at the casino sure doesn’t
hurt. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-18306335871175070642012-11-16T07:00:00.000-05:002012-11-16T07:00:20.704-05:00Politicians, Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy: Which is More Real?Call me naive (not out loud, but you catch my drift), but something seems weird about politicians. I can't quite put a finger on it. Most of them have perfectly coiffed hair and fine-fitting suits, but something just feels wrong about it. They kiss babies, shake hands with potential voters and tell us all how things are bound to get better if we put them in office, but, in the end, I still feel like something is off. <br /><br />
Most times, when a politician takes to the airwaves or I hear one in person, I start getting that "someone just walked over my grave" feeling. You know the feeling, when right out of nowhere, you feel a tingle creep up and down your spine? I've been thinking about this a lot (about 15 minutes or so). I think I've finally figured it out and I will now proudly share it with the millions of folks or read this column. <br /><br />
I believe the problem stems from the fact that many politicians struggle with something very basic: the truth. They seem to have a firm grasp of a lot of things but the truth is not one of them. Politics seems to be a place where the truth goes to die. <br /><br />
I've watched a couple of debates this year (in between snack breaks) and I've done a lot of reading (in People magazine) about the 2012 election cycle. It seems like every time a politician from either side of the aisle opens their mouth, they misremember the facts. Some of it is half-truths, some of it twisted facts and some of it, Lord help us all, is just outright fairy tales. It's really weird. I guess it's not a new thing to politics but it just especially egregious today. <br /><br />
This year will mark the seventh presidential election I will participate in. My first election was in 1988 (I turned 18 just a few days after the 1984 election. You're old! No, I'm not. Yes, you are. Haha. Please, stop using the parentheticals to insult me. Okay, but still ... you're pretty old. Haha. It ends here ...). <br /><br />
That year George H.W. ("Scoobie") Bush was running against somebody named Michael "Slats" Dukakis. Bush had been the vice president under the very popular president, Ronald Reagan, who had decided not to seek re-election that year because he had already served two terms and because he, and I quote, "couldn't get a decent Twinkie in the White House." Dukakis, the Democrat, was the governor of Massachusetts. Bush was known as a war hero, whose plane was shot down during World War II. Dukakis was known as a governor with some seriously bushy eyebrows, who kicked puppies as a sport (I may have some of these facts messed up but that's what I found on The Internet — The Source Of All Truth).<br /><br />
I don't remember who I voted for that year but I was proud to vote. <br /><br />
I'm sure they lied about each other and struggled with patching together a 100% true story, but I don't remember it. I know for sure we didn't have anything like www.factcheck.org back in those days — mostly because Al Gore hadn't invented the Internet yet, but still. We didn't need to fact check (or maybe we should have). But today, as we say in Oklahoma, "you can't believe nobody." <br /><br />
It's sad really because all anybody hear are the "facts" politicians state while speaking at debates or to the American public in places most of us have never heard of like Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida (although I think I've heard of Florida in a mythical The Lost City of Atlantis sort of way. I understand it's somewhere between here and Key West). <br /><br />
I guess we all struggle with the truth. I know I do. I have a lot of good in me but, I'm ashamed to say, I don't always tell the truth. <br /><br />
It probably started out at an early age, when my mom told me about Santa Claus and The Tooth Fairy (Spoiler Alert: They aren't real, unless you ask a politician and then all bets are off). When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I almost came to blow with a kid in my school who had the audacity to tell me Santa Claus was just my parents. It was a pretty tense stand-off for a while, until we both split a Twinkie and went our own ways. <br /><br />
I guess all I'm saying is that politicians are really just like us: human beings. It doesn't always seem like it because of that great hair and blue suits with the red ties, but they are all just humans. They lie. They breathe. They feel. They love. They hurt. So, I guess we should forgive them. Don't believe everything they say, but forgive them. <br /><br />
And in this year's election, I would like to personally endorse Twinkies and The Tooth Fairy.Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18290100.post-38585540912231077142012-11-13T14:13:00.004-05:002012-11-13T14:13:35.351-05:00Get Out There And DanceI lost one of my idols last week and America lost a true hero. <br /><br />
Last Monday, Bob "Coach" Stevens died after 88 years of life. He was born and raised in Indiana and served his country as a pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps. He fought in both World War II and the Korean War. His service made him an American hero, but that is not the only reason why he is my idol. <br /><br />
After his service to the country, Coach returned to college, completed his degree and went on to do one thing he truly loved: coached basketball. He spent several seasons as an assistant at Michigan State before being given then head coaching job at South Carolina University. After turning the program around, Coach was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year. He coached one of my favorite sports. <br /><br />
But that's not the only reason he's my idol. <br /><br />
In 1962, Coach Stevens became the head coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. Under his one-year tenure he went 12-13 and was reportedly "pressured" to resign. While he didn't have success winning at OU, Coach did introduce a new form of offense that is seen in most schools today. He called it the "go-go" offense, because when his team got the ball, it was time to go, he would say. It was a little non-traditional in the 1960s.<br /><br />
In 1997, Coach also worked on the staff for the Oklahoma City Calvary, a member of the Continental Basketball Association, the basketball minor leagues at the time. The Calvary held off the Florida Beachdogs four games to two that year to secure the CBA championship. Coach proudly wore his ring until the day he died. <br /><br />
But that was not the only reason he was my idol. <br /><br />
Coach's claim to fame was discovering the then unknown rebounding talent of a undersized kid at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Okla. After his coaching days were over, Coach opened his own scouting service, helping NBA teams find and evaluate talented college hoops players. Coach was watching a Southeastern Oklahoma State game in the mid 1980s when a skinny kid named Dennis Rodman was clearing the boards for the Savages. The Detroit Pistons made him their third pick of the second round in 1986. He went on to a great career with five NBA championships, led the NBA in rebounds for a record seven consecutive years and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year twice. Rodman may owe his career to Coach. Probably not, but maybe. <br /><br />
But that's not why he was my Idol. <br /><br />
Coach and I shared the same birthday in November, which gave us a lot in common but it was not the reason he was my idol. <br /><br />
Coach Bob Stevens was my idol because he knew how to live life. He lived it to the fullest every day. Each and every day, including his last, Coach woke up and did what he loved to do. <br />You see, Coach loved the lake. He owned a 42-foot boat and each weekend during the summer, he would make the two-hour drive south from Oklahoma City to his boat dock for the weekend. During an interview once, he told me during the warm summer months he loved to spend time on the lake and during the cold winter months he loved to spend time in the basketball gym. It was a perfect marriage of hobbies. <br /><br />
Every weekend, he would drive across the lake, tie up his boat and catch a ride with the shuttle to the Tanglewood Resort, have a few cocktails and dance with the ladies. That's the thing Coach really loved to do was dance with the ladies. He was smooth on the dance floor, too. And he was smooth with the ladies. Last week, many of those ladies paid tribute with photos of Coach on Facebook. <br /><br />
I got to see Coach at least once or twice a year during the last six years. We even spent a long night of celebrating our birthdays together (neither of us probably remembered much from the party, although for completely different reasons). But he was out there every weekend, looking for a good time, trying to find a dance partner, trying to celebrate the life he'd been given. <br /><br />
On a recent Monday Coach's body was found near the marina where he boat was moored. Nobody knows exactly what happened, but Coach didn't make it on his boat after a night at Tanglewood. He died in the chilly waters of Lake Texoma doing what he loved to do.<br /><br />
Coach didn't want a funeral. He wanted people to get together and celebrate his full life, something he did for 88 years. While we won't see his smiling face on the lake next summer, I can guarantee you that Coach will always be remembered. His spirit lives on. He taught many of us that life has too much to offer to be sad and lonely and to stand on the edge of the dance floor. If he were alive today and the music of life was trying to get us down, I'm sure Coach would say, "get out there and dance." <br /><br />
That's exactly what I plan to do. And that is why Coach Bob Stevens is my idol. And he should be yours too. Rest in peace, my friend. <br />Rodney Hayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17638749712006771834noreply@blogger.com0