Faith, Family & Fun

Living on love is worth every dime

2012-02-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

Another Valentine’s Day has come and gone and once again I find myself surrounded by my wife and children and memories of my money.They’re good memories. It was money well spent. Who knows, if I hadn’t spent it on Valentine’s Day I just might be surrounded by my money with memories of my wife and children.Seriously though, I doubt my wife would leave me if I got stingy on Feb. 14. She might make Feb. 15 incredibly unbearable, but she’d still be mine. That is, I think she would, right Sweetheart? Sweetheart? Uh, let me get back to you on that.I was listening to KSBJ radio earlier this week, and they were playing a version of the old Newlywed Game where they pit newlyweds against “oldieweds.” That got me thinking about how well married couples know (or don’t know) each other. That was compounded when I took Sandy to see “The Vow” at the movie theater. It’s the story about a young husband who has to win back the love of his wife after a car crash erases all her memory of him and their life together. Her life was so different before they met that it was almost as if she had led a double life.A lot of things have been going through my mind as I’ve listened to the questions and watched the movie. How would I have answered some of those questions on the radio? How would Sandy have answered the ones about me? I like to think that I know my wife as well as she knows herself. I also like to think that I’m a multi-millionaire with a big, fancy home, nice cars and servants, but that’s beside the point.I learned a few years ago when I first joined Facebook that I apparently didn’t know my wife as well as I thought. There was a game where you asked your friends to answer questions about yourself to see how well they know you. It turns out that I knew my ex-wife much better than my wife. Now my ex-wife is my ex-friend on Facebook. We’re still friends in real life, but my focus has shifted to knowing and understanding my wife better.I’ve learned, for example, that women are moving targets. Once you think you’ve got them figured out, they change everything. It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind and the expectation of the man to know when it changes and what it has changed to. For example, if her favorite ice cream is Death By Chocolate, the man must automatically know the next time they’re at the ice cream parlor that he should order her the Mocha Mint because that has always been her favorite.There are some questions women ask that have very obvious answers. “Does this (insert name of garment here) make my butt look big?” The answer is always “no.” The same answer applies when she asks you if another woman in the room looks pretty. Most of us guys, however, often have the mouth in motion before the brain can intercede because the brain is too busy noticing how much prettier the other girl would be if her butt wasn’t so big.Interestingly enough, I used to have this dream long ago where I would wake up in the hospital and not recognize my wife and sons and thinking I was still married to my daughter’s mother. How would my wife and boys take it? How would I handle it? I never did find out and in all honesty, I don’t want to know. I love my wife and children dearly, and don’t think they could ever escape my memory because they are so thoroughly engrained in it. Life without them would scarcely be worth living.If there is anything I’ve learned in all my years it’s that there is nothing more important in this world than love. When Jesus was asked what the most important part of the law was, he summed up the Commandments into two parts: love God and love your neighbor. The common thread is love.I’ve also learned that love is not an emotion or feeling but a choice and a commitment. Love doesn’t quit. People quit, but real love does not. Love is what carries us through the highs and lows of life. As the late columnist John Coit once wrote, “Life is short and it hurts. Love is the only drug that works.”It is because of love and commitment that the saying is true: Real fathers have pictures of their family where their money used to be. In all honesty, I’d rather have the love and a lifetime of memories of my wife and children than my last dime. In the end when all is said and done, I can only take one of those things with me when I pass away. I think that’s what Jesus meant when he instructed us to store up treasure in Heaven.

I'm glad I wasn't my parent

2012-02-16T07:21:00.003-07:00

If I had been my parent when I was a kid, I would have had a very miserable childhood.Whenever I stop to think of the things I did when I was at the age my children are now, I realize what a sheltered and adventureless life they live. Actually, we do have a lot of adventure in our lives, but it pales compared to my childhood. The things my parents let me do (and the things I got away with) would make me a nervous wreck if my kids did them today. How my parents survived my childhood without having a heart attack or killing me, I’ll never know.Today I get after my boys for shooting their Nerf guns in the house for fear they’ll break something or shoot an eye out. We didn’t have Nerf guns back in the Disco Era. I did have a BB gun, and I used to go outside and shoot nearly everything that didn’t move – and a few that did. The same went for my experience in my teens as a hunter with my single-shot shotgun. The safest place for game birds was within my sights.My children have never been hunting and have only a mild interest in fishing. My hunting career lasted only three years or so and ended when the ringing in my ears began (and to this day has not stopped). I used to be an avid fisherman as a boy. I’d often walk or ride my bike over to the Frog Pond, which has a small creek running by it. I caught a lot of suckers, but not much else.Occasionally my exploits with a fishing pole would net me a small trout, carp or some sunfish. Come to think of it, not much has changed in that regard in the last 30-some years. (Sigh)One adventure we do share is a love of camping. Even that has changed. As a Boy Scout, we cooked our food over a fire and slept in pup tents that you could barely sit up in. My boys cook over propane stoves, sleep in tents the size of condos and have all kinds of electronic gadgets for entertainment.Growing up in the booming metropolis of Niwot, Colo., located just northeast of the People’s Republic of Boulder, my brothers, buddies and I had free rein to go just about anywhere we pleased. We rode our bikes all over town, over jumps, off road or anywhere else we could. Outdoor games like hide-and-go-seek could be confined to a yard or the entire neighborhood.We always knew when it was about time to go home when the lady next door would do her nightly summon of her son. His name is Mike, but we called him Mister because his initials were M.R. Each evening his mom would sing out “Miiiichaaaael … Miiiiiisteeer! Time to come home!” If we didn’t respond right away, it meant we were in someone’s house, down at the Frog Pond or over at the Fina (a little country store and gas station) and couldn’t hear.While my friends and I were everywhere, I get uneasy having my boys play with the neighbor across the street. Our house is on a busy corner in Rosenberg and I don’t feel it’s safe for my kids to ride their bikes in the area. In addition to a lot of traffic, we share a corner with a restaurant, bar, gas station and a Laundromat. Some of the characters we see on a regular basis make you wonder if there was a big sale at the thrift store and if all the dentists had been run out of town. There must also be a lot of deaf people in our community because of all the cars that go by with the music up so loud you would swear we were having an earthquake.I got my driver’s permit the day I turned 15½ and my license on my 16th birthday. My oldest two have no interest in driving. I had summer jobs away from home and went to college on the other side of the state. Not so with my youngsters.Living on a hobby farm in a rural community and being hyper-active in Boy Scouts gave me experiences that my children may never have. I used chainsaws, wood splitters, pocket knives, electric saws, sanders and drills; butchered rabbits and chickens; went rock climbing, canoeing, climbed mountains, drove cross-country, jumped from 30-foot cliffs into the water, jumped on our trampoline (without those safety nets), slept in igloos, and played a lot of sports.I plea the Fifth on such things as drinking, chewing tobacco, sneaking into concerts, playing with illegal fireworks, watching movies with ratings above my age, and reading certain types of magazines for men (and I use the word “reading” very loosely here). I never did smoke or try any drugs. After all, a fellow had to draw the line somewhere.I lived a very busy, active and adventurous life. My boys can build with Legos and play video games. They are active in Scouts, but even then it’s not like they’re out in the woods thinning out beetle-kill stands of pine or climbing Longs Peak on a hot, summer day.Maybe it’s time to change all of that and get my kids (and myself) outdoors more often and engaged in fun and challenging activities. That way they can experience more of life and I can learn more about the hell and countless hours in prayer that I put my parents through.

Forget winning, let son build his own derby car

2012-01-31T08:18:00.002-07:00

It’s time to get down and derby again.Every year for the last 10 years we have gone through the Cub Scout rite of passage where we turn a block of wood and four plastic wheels into a racecar. I loved doing it when I was a Cub Scout and still enjoy it with my boys. It’s that idealistic time when a father and son work together on a project with the father instructing his young Scout in the proper use of knives, saws and other tools as the youngster plies his new skills to craft his masterpiece.Scratch that. Let’s get real. This a time when overly-eager and overly-protective dads plug in the power tools and shape racers with the accuracy and detail of a profession machinist. All the kid can do is watch, which is boring, so he runs off to play while dad loses himself in the whir of power tools and sawdust. Making a pinewood derby car is more science than art – at least if you want a decent chance to win.A couple weeks ago I was knee-deep in that obsession when a neighbor kid came over to play with my sons. When he asked what I was doing, I told him I was working on the pinewood derby cars. His response nailed me fast to the pole of guilt. “Oh yeah, my dad is making mine, too.”There I was, a former preacher of kid-built derby cars doing what I had done every year for a decade. It must be genetic, as my father did the same to me and my brothers. At least I made my boys sand and paint their cars. I wasn’t allowed to touch mine until the race was over.Two of my three boys have now gone through Cub Scouts without ever having made their own cars. My youngest son still has two derby seasons to go. As he will be a Webelo, I intend for him to build most of his car next year and all of it the following year. It will be the father-son bonding experience it’s intended to be. I’ll probably have the older two make their own cars as well for the Pack’s sibling race.The derby car experience has always been about the journey, not the destination. Making the cars is much more fun than watching them zip down a wooden track in less than three seconds. If you think about it, you spend many hours building a car that will only be used for about 10 seconds or so.When it comes to Scouting and pinewood derby cars, I would love to see the emphasis put back on the spirit of the competition. Each Pack gets to set its own rules, within certain parameters. I’d like to see most Scout units create a rule or racing division for cars that are mostly kid-built or made without the use of power tools. I’d like to see the emphasis for the trophies switched from the races to awards for design and craftsmanship.I think that would help teach the boys how to properly use tools and to create with their minds. I think the sense of pride and accomplishment increase the more the boy can claim ownership in his own project. Children learn better from experience. Watching dad work isn’t much of a learning experience. Working with dad, however, is an experience you will treasure the rest of your life.No doubt that everyone wants to win come race time. The winning is so much sweeter for the boys who make their own cars versus those who had theirs handed to them. Those victories really mean something. Several years ago a limited-run movie came out called “Down and Derby.” It was about a competition between dads to make the perfect derby car. While the dads go to extremes to one-up the other, the boy and other relatives discover the real winning spirit of the pinewood derby race. It’s a fun film if you can find it. I highly recommend it for all Cub Scouts and their parents.All that being said, I do have to report that my middle son Luke finished his derby career with something no one else in my family has ever had before – a first place trophy! I give all the credit to him. After all, he sanded and painted the thing all by himself!

It's not Tebowing, it's prayer

2012-01-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

When it comes to the phenomenon that is Tim Tebow, the average person – and most definitely the media pundits – clearly do not understand him. They confuse his Christianity with the idol worship of modern athletes. When he prays, they call it “Tebowing.” It’s not Tebowing, it’s prayer. It’s one man speaking to God. It’s one man behaving the way he believes God wants him to. It’s admirable. What Tebow is doing is not striking a pose that so many associate with his success on the football field. What he is doing it taking a private moment on a public stage and thanking the one who made it all possible for him.I’ve never met Tim Tebow, and to the best of my knowledge have never seen him in person or heard him speak more than sound bites on TV. I respect him as a brother and a man of God. I am thrilled at what he has done not only for the Denver Broncos but for the NFL and society in general.I’ve been a Broncomaniac since the days of old No. 7 – the first No. 7, Craig Morton. I was born and raised less than 60 miles from Mile High Stadium. My dad had the games on TV, but I didn’t care about football until the year Morton led the Broncos to the Super Bowl. That was the first football game I ever watched, and I was hooked.Since the days after Super Bowl XXXIII, Denver has been awaiting the second coming of John Elway. We got Griese on our Bristered hands and finally called in a Plummer. Quarterbacks came and went, and ultimately Orton heard a boo. Sent packing, Kyle Orton was replaced by Tebow. It hasn’t been pretty, but the results speak for themselves. Tebow wins football games. Sure it’s not just Tebow; there is a whole team behind him. But try convincing Colts fans that their team can win without Peyton Manning. Try telling us old-time Bronco fans that Denver could win without Elway.What makes Tebow a cultural curiosity is not his unique style of play or his remarkable number of come-from-behind victories — it’s his overtly public display of his faith in Jesus Christ. That, more than anything, is what I admire and respect about the man. The fact that he is leading my favorite team doesn’t hurt, either.The NFL and all of pro sports have had numerous Christians in their ranks. The late Reggie “the Minister of Defense” White and former coach Tony Dungy and the Pittsburg Steelers’ hairy star Troy Polamalu are among some other notable Christian stars. None of them has been the lightning rod of public praise and criticism that Tebow has.Lots of athletes have bowed in prayer or pointed skyward in a gesture of thanks to God, but few if any have been as controversial at the Broncos quarterback. I don’t know why. I don’t understand why people feel that striking a pose and calling it Tebowing is a trendy sign of respect and success. If all the Tebowers out there really want to pay respect, they should actually use that pose as an honest moment of prayer. If they want to mimic his success, they should call on his God, not him. Tebow is no saint or savior. He is a man. Ultimately it does not matter what he accomplishes in football or how many games he wins or awards he receives. The only thing that will matter is how he served God and what he does to advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. It’s the only thing that will make any difference when our time in this world is over. With that benchmark, I count Tebow a winner in the extreme. My love and respect for my brother in Christ will not waiver if he never wins another football game. I may become critical of him as a player, but never as a man of faith so long as he preaches and practices biblical truth. I would expect no different. If my words or actions were not in line with the Bible, I would expect someone to call me on it.Like Tebow, I’m just a man, a sinner in need of grace and redemption. Without God there is nothing. Without Jesus, I am nothing. Without the Holy Spirit, I am a shell of a man, empty of hope and meaning. Tim Tebow understands this. That is why he is so often in prayer. It’s something to emulate, not imitate. God bless you, Tim Tebow … and go Broncos!P.S. I’m all for Houston, too. Go Texans!

Put the service back into customer service

2012-01-11T12:48:00.000-07:00

My first draft of this column was brutal. I had a really bad experience trying to buy some reading glasses from the optical department at a local big box store and I wanted to vent about it. At the same time, I had a very pleasant experience getting them from a local department store from an overworked and overwhelmed employee who had no choice but to make me wait for hours.As I wrote the column I found that way too many words were being vented toward a very pushy salesperson and not enough toward the very pleasant and very helpful one. I guess it’s human nature to want to complain. As I read and re-read the column, I realized that I wasn’t writing about the experience as much as I was about customer service.If you’ve ever been to the Chick-fil-A restaurants in Rosenberg and Greatwood you will know what I mean about the difference that customer service can make. Every time I walk into one of these stores I am greeted with “welcome to Chick-fil-A”. The multiple greetings usually come from very busy people working feverishly behind the counter.Anyone who has worked in the fast food industry can tell you that it is very hard, unrewarding and low-paying work. The people at Chick-fil-A, however, act as though as if they love what they do and that their customers are the most important people in the world. They will bring your food to your table and invariably someone will come by to check on us and offer to refill our drinks.I can’t recall a single time a fast food burger chain has provided that level of service. None of that has anything to do with my experience buying glasses, but it illustrates perfectly what I mean about the quality of customer service.The first place I went to for glasses was not very busy. I got prompt attention from the employee. That person began upselling and pushing products I did not need or want. My insurance benefits were probed as well as those of my family. I did not appreciate that violation of my records. I was very offended to be pushed toward buying a more expensive pair than what I needed. It was clear to see that this person was looking out for a big commission and did not care about the needs of the customer.The place where I got my glasses should have turned me off, but didn’t. It was at the JCPenney in Rosenberg where there was one person waiting on a line of impatient people and a ringing phone. The selection of frames was much smaller. But Regina, the salesperson, maintained her cool. She kept smiling, apologizing for the wait and treated each customer with her full attention and dignity.I found out later that Regina was a student at the University of Houston and had only been working there for two months. They were on their second day with a new computer system, and she was plagued by all the problems associated with it. On top of that, her manager abandoned her on one of the store’s busiest days of the year and left her to fend for herself.Knowing what a miserable day Regina was having, I was amazed at her poise and grace in dealing with all these hardships and that she still smiling and acting friendly toward each customer. That kind of service and dedication far outweighed the inconvenience of the long wait I had. It was worth it to me. And in the end I got what I wanted for a lot less money than the pushy person tried to get from me.All of this reinforces my belief that life is not about how we fend for ourselves but rather how we serve other people. What’s important in life is not what we get but what we give. Giving your time, talent and treasure will do more for you and those around you than taking all you can get ever will. I honestly believe Zig Ziglar when he says that you can get whatever you want out of life if you help enough other people get what they want.All the great motivational speakers and business leaders understand that living by the golden rule is the absolute best way to make a living. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you requires action first. You have to give something of yourself in order to have others do the same in return. Jesus did not say to have others do unto you before you do unto them.You’ve probably heard the saying that if you want to have a friend you must first be a friend. That is so true. Once you open yourself up to giving, the receiving naturally follows and in abundance.Later this week when I go to get my glasses, I will probably stop and have lunch at Chick-fil-A. When I return, I will know that I have done business with people who understand this principle and that my day will be better for it. And I hope your experience in reading this column has been more beneficial to you than it would have been if you had read my original gripe piece. That is my gift to you today.

Resolve to set goals this year

2011-12-29T09:46:00.001-07:00

Don’t make New Year’s resolutions. You won’t keep them. I’ve tried for years and have almost never taken one through a whole year. Most people start theirs on Jan. 1 and abandon them well before the Super Bowl.Instead of making New Year’s resolutions, make real, personal goals. Some really good advice on goals passed to me by Dave Ramsey includes these five simple steps:First, put your goals in writing. Don’t scribble them out on a cocktail napkin. Write them someplace more permanent. Type them in a Word document that you can save on your computer and also print a copy to display somewhere where you will see them every day. If one of your goals is weight loss, post it on your refrigerator door.Second, make your goals specific. If you want to lose weight, determine a specific amount. Don’t just say I want to lose a few pounds. If you want to lose 20 pounds, make that your goal. Map out how much you need to lose each week to reach that goal, set an exercise regimen and chart your eating habits. If you want to read more, determine how many books or how many hours a week you will spend doing that. Write out what you want to read and why.Third, make your goals time sensitive. A goal without a deadline is just an unfulfilled dream. If you want to lose those 20 pounds before summer, set Memorial Day as your deadline. That is one pound a week. If necessary, break a larger goal up into smaller, more manageable steps.Fourth, make your goals measurable. How will you know that you’ve reached your goal unless you have some way of measuring it? If weight loss is your goal, you can measure that on a scale or in the size of your clothes. Fitness goals can be measured by the amounts and duration of weights lifted or miles run or walked. Reading is measured by the number of books read.Fifth, make your goals personal to you. This is the big “why.” For what reason do you wish to achieve your goals? If it’s to please others, you may have a problem with co-dependency. Your goal may involve service to others, but don’t sacrifice your own satisfaction for the sole purpose of someone else’s happiness. If your goal isn’t personal, you will lack the motivation to achieve it. Without motivation comes failure and a further sinking into whatever you’re trying to get out of.What do you do once you achieve your goal? Celebrate! Don’t get caught up in the “now what funk.” Don’t fall back into old habits. Take some time to enjoy what you have accomplished and then move on. Keep the habits that helped you reach your goal and, if applicable, stretch your goals farther. If necessary, make new and more challenging goals.If you have a book reading goal, try writing a book. If you lost weight, blog about it. If you reached a financial goal, increase it. If your goal was a one-time thing like earning a college degree, embark on a new mission. That mission may include use of your degree or something way out in left field. The key is not to stop. The minute you stop pursuing goals is the day your dreams will die and take you along with them.Zig Ziglar, who is well into his 80s and has short-term memory loss due to a brain injury, still has goals of helping motivate others through books and speaking engagements. He has had to modify his techniques, but the goals are still before him.Getting back to Dave Ramsey, I recently listened to one of his recordings where he urges people and companies to have a BHAG — big, hairy, audacious goal. Not an unachievable pipe dream, but a mind-blowing goal that requires you to stretch way out of your comfort zone to accomplish. Most likely that will be a longer-term goal. It may take some time and several steps to set up. Each step toward your BHAG can be a personal goal.My first goal for 2012 will be to no longer make New Year’s resolutions. My next goal will be to set my goals for the year following these proven steps.

What a hairy mess this is

2011-12-29T09:43:00.002-07:00

The year was 1981 and I had just entered high school coming off three years in a private Baptist school.For three long years I had to keep my hair cut short. Really short. I hated it. This was the era of big hair, and I looked like a nerd. That was back in the days when being a nerd wasn’t cool. We’re talking swirlies and shoved-in-the-locker uncool.But now I was headed back into public schools and the freedom that went with it. I rebelled against short hair, shirts with collars and any pants that were not blue jeans. For the next several years my ears and the back of my neck vanished under the thick, bushy main of yak fur that was my hair. We’re talking about a killer hair helmet.I loved the feel of my hair as it swept across my neck and shoulders. I loved the way it made me look. I hated the time it took in front of a mirror with my hairbrush and blow dryer to get it that way, but this was the , and it was worth it. I have naturally cowlicky hair. It’s not wavy or curly. It is straight in places with a smattering of wicked, sharp curls. Because my hair was so bushy, it would puff out like the tail of a frightened cat. At the apex of my mane ordeal, I got a perm. It made my hair easier to manage, but by then it was managing me. Still, as much of a fur coat as it was, it didn’t come close to Troy Polamalu’s lengthy locks.My hair mounts my head like mop when I let it grow long, which I am doing now after about 20-some years of cutting it as short as my private school days. The longer it gets the more I am reminded of why I went to the conservative cut in the first place. Those darn cowlicks are impossible to control. I don’t use a blow dryer anymore, but I still wield the same hairbrush with the deftness of a dork trying to be cool.That old hairbrush is starting to thin out a bit, but not nearly as much as I am. Most people can’t see it because these locks are so bushy, but it’s getting quite thin down the middle. Gray hair doesn’t help, either. Gray hairs stick out any old direction they please. Between the gray hair and the cowlicks, the top of my head looks like Donald Trump tangled with Don King.So why, you might ask, am I putting up with it? Good question; please let me know when you find out. Actually, I’m hoping that someday in the coming year I will be cast as an extra in the new Lone Ranger movie being made by Disney. I recently contacted the casting agent who is in charge of finding extras for one of the locations in New Mexico. She told me that they want guys with long hair and whiskers. I went right to town on the long hair part, but since filming is still a couple months away I held off on the facial follicles until after Christmas. I can grow a scruffy, partial beard that would make Johnny Depp proud. Since he is starring as Tonto in the movie, I guess that is a good thing. While the top of my head is the envy of many a balding man (and more than a few women), the lower portion lacks much to be desired.The left side of my face has huge, hair-free gaps that render my beard-growing abilities to a lopsided goatee. I can grow a mean mustache, for whatever that is worth. I did have a mustache from 1996 to 2008. I’d grow it back, but my wife won’t let me. And we all know that if Mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.All that will change after the holidays as I try to get my best Indiana Jones/Jack Sparrow look going. I need to decide soon what to do about the mop. The bangs get into my eyes, which is very annoying. My hair is so thick and puffy that my cowboy hat doesn’t fit well. When I do wear a hat, my hair curls up around it like a rain gutter. If I don’t wear a hat, my hair still curls up like a rain gutter, but with a few downspouts in it.As I look back over what I’ve just written, I realize that I sound more like a bratty celebutant blogger than a he-man columnist. Who really cares about my follicular drama or the fact that I look like I just rolled out of bed after a night of wild parties. OK, who really cares besides my wife and our mothers?The last time I obsessed so much in print about my hair was in 2000 when I had it shaved off after thankfully losing a bet during a food drive. Who knows, maybe it will be time to do something like that again. I should get Donald Trump and Don King to join me. Then we can get this whole mess untangled.

'Fess up: It's all about the Christmas loot

2011-12-15T12:43:00.000-07:00

Ah, the holidays. It’s the joyous time of year when the War on Christianity heats up and the real meaning of Christmas moves deeper into folklore status.It’s Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays. Keep Christ in Christmas. Merry CHRISTmas. Jesus is the reason for the season. Nativity scenes are OK to display. I get as tired of these bumper sticker battles as I do listening to Christmas music endlessly for a month.To be honest, I really find Christmastime to be very depressing. As long as I can remember, Christmas was always supposed to be about the birth of the Christ. As a boy, however, it was all about the gifts. What am I going to get? What’s in it for me? Be honest, isn’t that what Christmas is really about in the heart of most every American youngster?Don’t give me the politically correct answer. When I was a kid I would invariably be asked what Christmas is all about. Like a good little Christian boy I would say it’s the birth of Jesus. I ask my own kids and get the same answer. But their anticipation of Christmas and their conversations say otherwise, just like their old man.Now that I have 19 years of parenthood behind me and two seasons as a mall Santa, I have come to firmly believe that modern Christmas is all about gift-getting. When was the last time you asked someone – especially a child – what they wanted to GIVE for Christmas? Do children have a hard time going to sleep on Christmas Eve because they are in such anticipation of how their loved ones will react when they see what they gave them?Come to think of it, do people have their children wait hours in line to see Santa so they can tell him what to give? No, they plop on his lap to give him a laundry list of toys that have been marketed into their heads on TV and to pose for overpriced “priceless” photos.We’re taught from the get-go to want stuff for Christmas. Oh yeah, we call it the season of giving and remind folks that it is better to give than receive, but we all know deep down the thing we like most about Christmas is hauling in the loot. If we somehow manage not to get everything we want, we hit the stores the next day to cash in on sales to get the things we think we need.What really depresses me this time of year is the tremendous pressure to spend money I don’t have to give gifts because it’s expected, not because I want to. That kind of giving isn’t from the heart. It stems from social norms and artificial expectations.When all is said and done and we return to work and school, discussions will center on what you got for Christmas. Was Santa nice to you? What did Santa leave under your tree? How did you spend your holidays?I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone anxious to tell their friends what a wonderful candlelight service they went to or how much they were inspired by “the reason for the season”. I don’t recall anyone talking about the gift of eternal life they received from God’s gift to mankind.A week later the average person will make their New Year’s resolutions. Have you ever noticed how resolutions almost always seem to be about self? Lose weight, read more books, quit smoking, eat healthier – this list goes on. While those are indeed good things, they do little for anyone else. Try this instead – resolve to volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Go to church regularly and volunteer for some of the ministry opportunities they have. Make a promise to donate time and money to helping people who need it. Resolve to reconcile broken relationships and to give forgiveness whether deserved or not. Let’s make 2012 The Year That’s Not About Me. By now I’ve probably been called a Scrooge and a killjoy by just about everyone who has read this far. I don’t want to take anything away from the joy and happiness that anyone feels at Christmas. It really is a lovely time of year. Please go and bless and be blessed. Who knows, maybe this time next year we can give Jesus the front seat on his birthday and start relegating Santa and Co. to folklore status.

Texans are finally winners

2011-12-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

Let’s hear it for the Houston Texans!Before I go on, first this disclaimer: I am first and foremost a Denver Broncos fan. I have been and always shall be. More about that later.That being said, I am a fan of the Texans and have followed them from the start. I didn’t really get serious about the team until I moved to Texas six years ago and more so in the last three years here in the Houston area. When the team formed I often referred to them as Denver South because of all the players, coaches and administrators that the Texans picked up from the Broncos and Colorado schools.Coach Gary Kubiak is a former Broncos quarterback and assistant coach. Offensive coordinator Rick Dennison is a Colorado State graduate who played and coached for Denver. Center Chris Myers played for Denver and the Texans roster has four players from Colorado State and one from the University of Colorado. All that is to say I had good reason for following the Texans from the start, even loosely from a distance.I consider myself to be a hard core Texans fan, just a couple of notches below the Broncos. This year my teams have given me plenty of reasons to be excited. Both teams are on a tear and have overcome spectacular odds to win. Houston is, at the time of this writing 9-3 and has secured the team’s second winning season. For the first time since the Oilers left, Houstonians are talking NFL playoffs. At 9-3 the Texans are tied for first in the AFC and hold a two-game lead over the former Oilers (Tennessee Titans) in the South with four games to go.What is amazing about this is the team has done it with depth. Many key starters are out for the season or have missed several games due to injury. Mario Williams, Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Kasey Studdard and more have been sidelined by injury. Despite those significant hits, the Texans keep on winning. They have the best defense in the NFL and one of the best offenses. If it’s true that defenses win Super Bowls, then perhaps Houston is headed for the big one in February.Amazingly, it was only a year ago after the Texans underachieved their way to another lousy season that fans were calling – no, screaming – for Kubiak’s head to roll. This year he is nothing shy of a genius. You don’t take a team with so many key injuries and keep them winning like this. It defies conventional wisdom, but speaks well for the coaching staff.When you have a rookie, third-string quarterback leading your team while key pro bowlers sit bandaged on the sidelines and you continue to have this level of success, you know that something beyond the tangible is at work.The same can be said of the Broncos where Tim Tebow is proving to be the Chuck Norris of NFL quarterbacks despite having the skills of a toad stool (at least according to the so-called experts). His style is unconventional (i.e. sloppy) but the bottom line is he wins games. Love him or hate him, you cannot deny that he is a winner.A man of faith, he is a natural leader and a man of integrity. In NFL vernacular, they call what he has “intangible”. He has those qualities that you can’t teach or coach. It’s those very qualities that his detractors call his faults that keep defenses befuddled and the Broncos in the W column.I guess you could say those same intangible qualities are at work with the Texans. Some call it luck and others call it dumb luck but either way the wins keep coming and the success keeps building. You gotta love that!One of the things I’ve learned from the likes of Zig Ziglar and other motivational gurus is that success is a choice. How we plan, prepare and execute determines the outcome. Obviously with the Texans working plans B and C, there has been some very careful planning and preparation in order for the team to execute and win the way they are. That is the hallmark of teamwork, commitment and dedication. Losers don’t have that. Winners do.So, I say it again, how ’bout those Texans!

Meet an astronaut's astronaut: Scott Parazynski

2011-12-02T15:33:00.001-07:00

(To the tune of the opening of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.) You know Aldren and Armstrong, Young and Crippen, Shepard and Glenn, and Cernan and Grissom; but do you know the most accomplished astronaut of all?Probably not. If you have ever heard the name of Dr. Scott Parazynski, it was probably in passing on a newscast or a space shuttle story you read in the paper. Chances are that you probably glossed over his name and lost it in the ethereal realm of hundreds of shuttle astronaut names. He is one of more than 500 people who have flown in space, and unless you’re a space nut, you’d probably walk right by him on the street and never know the amazing things he has accomplished in his life on and above the ground.I have the privilege of calling Parazynski a friend. Actually, most everyone who meets him becomes a friend. I can’t see too many people being an enemy. That’s just who Scott Parazynski is. He is friendly, engaging and very down-to-earth. On top of that, he is tall, (mostly) blond and handsome. Oh, and he is incredibly smart.The “Dr.” in his title isn’t just because he earned his PhD. He is a medical doctor and currently serves as chief technology officer and chief medical officer at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute here in Houston. His lists of awards and accomplishments are far too numerous to fit in this space. His NASA biographical data sheet is three pages long. Parazynski is what you would call an astronaut’s astronaut.Parazynski has flown in space five times, conducted seven space walks and spent time on the International Space Station and the Russian Mir space station. He was the medical doctor who conducted all the tests on John Glenn on his celebrated return to space. The first time I spoke with Parazynski, he told me that Glenn (who hates needles) had become so weary of blood draws that he began calling him Count Parazynscula.Among his earthly accomplishments, he is a pilot and an avid mountaineer who has summited major mountains in the Alaska Range, the Cascades, the Rockies, the Andes and the Himalayas. His summits include Cerro Aconcagua (22,841 feet above sea level) and 53 of Colorado’s famed 14ers (peaks over 14,000 feet). On May 20, 2009, he became the first astronaut to stand on top of the world when he climbed to the top of Mount Everest.Parazynski was originally supposed to stay aboard Mir, but his 6-foot 2-inch height made him too tall for the Russian Soyuz spacecraft (hence his call sign of Too Tall Parazynski). He is one of the world’s leading experts on the effects of long-term space flight on the human body. He invented some of the exercise equipment astronauts use to keep their bones and muscles from atrophying during long flights.My first contact with Parazynski came in 2001 when I did a telephone interview with him, Jeff Ashby and Kent Rominger, the three of seven astronauts onboard Endeavour for the STS-100 mission with Colorado ties. Rominger and Ashby were born and raised there and Parazynski, though born in Arkansas, considers Evergreen, Colo., one of his hometowns. I dubbed the flight the “Colorado Flight” because that is the highest number of Coloradans on one shuttle flight. That, and there were a number of projects and equipment on the flight made in the Centennial State.A few years ago we became Facebook friends and have corresponded a few times on the website. Last week, 10 years after that first phone call, I got to meet Parazynski in person when he was the guest astronaut at Space Center Houston. He gave two talks in the Blast Off Theater, where I took several pictures and lots of notes.Prior to his first talk, I ran into him in the hallway and he was gracious enough to visit with me and pose for a picture together. His talks were fascinating, at least to me, a handful of fellow space geeks and several school children on a field trip. He put things in a perspective that the children would understand, so he got a few laughs when he referred to his “orange pumpkin suit” and having “superhuman strength” in space. For all the clean-cut, straight-laced profiles of astronauts, the 50-year-old adventurer/explorer is really a kid at heart.“On launch morning it’s a lot like being a kid on Christmas morning,” he said.He began his talks by showing a picture of him as a 5-year-old boy holding a toy rocket in front of the Vehicle Assembly Building in Florida. He joked about flying in the mid-deck of the shuttle as “flying coach” and said it is an amazing experience going from three times your bodyweight to weightlessness within a few short minutes during launch.“You have a smile on your face every second you’re up there,” he said.In describing weightlessness, he compared it to being an Olympic gymnast. “There is no up, down, left, right, forward or backward in space,” he said.He called the last spacewalk on his last flight the “Apollo 13 moment” of the shuttle era. One of the giant solar panels was being unfurled when a cable snapped, creating a huge rip that put both the station and the shuttle in danger. That’s when Dr. Parazynski was called on to perform the riskiest surgery of his career.Using special equipment and hoisted on the end of the station’s robotic arm, Parazynski risked electrocution and other dangers to repair and save the solar panel.“We either had to fix this thing in some way or throw away a billion-dollar piece of technology,” he said.It would be easy to write a book about Parazynski and his incredible career, but there simply isn’t enough time or space here to do that. I do hope you realize now what a remarkable man he is, even if his funny-sounding name escapes your memory within minutes of reading this.

'Invasive species' threatens all things Texan

2011-11-30T15:15:00.001-07:00

As we sit back on this Thanksgiving Day and reflect on our blessings, I wish to take a few moments of your time to issue a warning.You may or may not have heard about the mass hoard that has crossed the border into Texas with the intent to manipulate and change the people, politics and character of this great state. This eastward migration across our western border has been creeping up on us slowly and with great stealth and now these alien invaders are infiltrating our neighborhoods, our businesses, our schools, our governments and even our places of worship.Speaking as a refugee whose homeland has been conquered by these undesirables, I’m here to tell you that nothing native is sacred to them. They come here under the pretence of seeking a better life, but then they set about making their new home the same thing the left – a wretched wreck of chaos, amorality, soaring debt, inflation, pollution, and political correctness run amuck.As they arrive they will occupy homes and not give a hoot what it does to the real estate market. I know, I’ve been victimized by this before. It’s part of the reason I moved to Texas. These ornery varmints are a big part of the reason my home state of Colorado has turned from a deep red to a dark blue stain on the political map in just a few short years.Their homeland has been hemorrhaging immigrants by the tens of thousands for years and they just keep coming. They’re a non-native invasive species that threatens overtake the natives and bend their will to their way of thinking. Oh, sure, they’ll smile and act pleasant. Some may legitimately be ignorant of their offense, but they will be offensive just the same.It’s nothing for them to say how nice and beautiful it is here and how much they like more than the place they left. Almost in the same breath they will tell you how much better things were back home.Companies and agencies that have been exporting workers have reportedly held classes to teach their people how to blend in. They tell them to quickly get new license plates and driver’s licenses and to remove identifying features from their vehicles such as dealer stickers and bumper stickers of their favorite pro teams. They are told to avoid as much as possible disclosing where they are from as to not incite outrage and rejection.Most of the time they ignore this advice, acting though as if the natives should want to root for their teams and be more like them. They will openly display disdain for local teams.Unfortunately there is very little – if anything – our government can or will do to stop this invasion. In fact, some even encourage it so they can chart the growth of their communities and thus receive more tax dollars from Washington and more representation in Congress.Developers and real estate agents are more than happy for their migration because it means more business for them. Local school districts, however, are often stuck with the burden of overcrowded classrooms and a clash of cultures within their halls. It ain’t pretty.According to the most recent Census figures, more than 363,000 of these people moved to Texas over the past five years. This made the state grow twice as fast as the rest of the nation since 2000. That is just the number that has moved into Texas. That figure doesn’t count other states! Despite mass emigration, their homeland continues to increase in population. Is there no end to this madness?Before going any further I must confess one thing. My father, the one whose blood runs through my veins, is an immigrant from this foreign land. Granted he escaped to Colorado in the 1960s, long before the exodus, but he cannot hide the fact that he is – GASP! – a native Californian.There I said it. Even though I was born and raised in Colorado, I am descended from a Californian. And my mother – God bless her – came from Nebraska. Fortunately I have been able to rise above my parental heritage and wisely married a Texan. (I pause for a moment to let those who know me best to catch their breath. Yes, I grew up anti-Texan, but living here has helped me overcome most of that prejudice.)Colorado was overrun by Californians in the 1980s and ’90s. They drove housing prices through the roof, crowded the streets and schools and became staunch Democrats. Maybe someday they will leave and I can safely return with my family. Until that time, I am happy to make Texas my home … at least until Californians take over. Trust me, they will if we let them.You have been fairly warned. I now return you to your Thanksgiving holiday. Turkey anyone?

We need to stop this culture of divorce

2011-11-21T13:20:00.001-07:00

There is a reason God says “I hate divorce”.Actually, there are many reasons for hating divorce. My first marriage ended in a divorce that was very much against my wishes. My wife’s first marriage ended for safety reasons. Our marriage has taken some mighty blows, but we have always stuck together. Our love and relationship have grown much stronger because of our commitment to God and each other.It saddens and infuriates me to see how flippant marriage is treated in the United States these days. There is a lot of buzz about reality TV star Kim Kardashian’s 72-day marriage to basketball player Kris Humphries. Hollywood is full of celebrity marriage shams, including the multiple, brief marriages of Elizabeth Taylor, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Shannen Doherty, Pamela Anderson, Lisa Marie Presley, Rick Salomon, Nicolas Cage, and Drew Barrymore; Britney Spears’ 55-hour debacle; the refusal of stars such as Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt to make their live-ins legal; and so on.There is also the issue of same-sex marriage, but that is a topic for another day. Nonetheless, it is another cultural assault on marriage.What really galls me is how the legal system treats divorce. How many billboards and advertisements do we see from lawyers pitching “easy” and “quick” divorces? How many divorce-made-easy books and websites are out there now? When was the last time a judge refused to grant a divorce? The no-fault divorce laws make not only a mockery of marriage, but also of contracts, vows, commitment, honesty and integrity.I have yet to see a divorce where there wasn’t fault or blame involved. Whether one or both spouses are to blame, there is fault to be found. It is my belief that the guilty party or parties should be held legally accountable for their actions. If a person cheats on their spouse, becomes abusive or neglectful, or causes irreparable harm to the marriage in some way, they should be held liable and fully responsible for their offense.That a spouse could cheat on a marriage and walk away with half the income and the kids is absurdly unfair and reprehensible for the courts to uphold. But it happens every day and the problem is escalating.When a man and a woman get married, they make a moral and legally-binding contract. It is a vow, a commitment for life. The wording of the marriage vows does not include an escape clause. When children are born to the marriage, the obligation and commitment deepen.When a couple divorces, the courts focus on “what’s best for the child”. What a farce! What is best for the child is to live safe and secure in their own home with both parents. Failure of our courts and our culture to support this is a travesty and a crime in itself.There are many child advocacy groups. In some divorce cases, even the children get an attorney to look out for them. Where are the marriage advocates? Where are those who will stand up in defense of a struggling marriage? Who will help a couple overcome their problems and restore their relationship?If a business breaks a contract, there are legal remedies and ramifications. If a spouse breaks the marriage contract, not only are there no penalties, but the system is geared toward dissolving the contract, not enforcing it. The victims of such cases are left with devastation and financial ruin much of the time.Culturally, Americans are a greedy, self-centered lot whose word – even in writing – isn’t worth a hill of beans. Even outside the realm of marriage, our $15 trillion debt tells the world how untrustworthy we are. When you couple that with the staggering personal debt load the average American carries, it’s no wonder we’re in a deep recession.We are a society that will sacrifice the future to meet our greed for the moment. We do it with stuff and we do it with people, especially those we love. Most marriages end because of selfishness. Whether it’s an affair or money problems, the root is almost always because one partner has placed their wants above the needs of the other and their relationship.The baby boomers were once called the “me generation”. What they have produced are successive “me” generations. It’s an attitude and a mindset that must transform into a “we” generation. We need to learn to sacrifice for others, to postpone gratification and to live responsibly. Only then can we expect to save marriages and families and to restore our financial, emotional and cultural wellbeing.Besides, if God hates divorce, shouldn’t we hate it too?

Favorite animals and childhood dreams are what grown-ups are made of

2011-11-03T10:22:00.001-06:00

Several of us in Mrs. Weaver’s fifth grade class at Niwot (Colo.) Elementary School identified closely with a favorite animal.
Kevin liked rabbits. Billy liked chickens. Dale liked cows. Me? I like raccoons. I must have some fixation with masks being a Lone Ranger fan and all, but that’s a different story. The thing is, we country bumpkins were real serious about our animals. Even now my daughter is all about horses and my middle son can’t get enough information about sharks.
At one point back in the day, each of us had as a “pet” our favorite animal. My ownership of a coon was limited to a few days, as we caught the critter in the wild and it was far too old to tame. Kevin had rabbits for a Scout project and Billy and Dale lived on a hobby farm.
I have not given up hope of having a pet raccoon someday. I’d also like to see my daughter own horses. My son has bala sharks, which are a freshwater fish more akin to carp than actual sharks.
I don’t know about my other friends, but I still have a collection of toy raccoons and still have a very strong affinity for the critters, though nothing like I did when I was 10 years old. Those were the days when I was going to grow up to be a forest ranger. I had my whole life planned out. I was going to be a ranger, working in the Rocky Mountains and spend my time hiking, camping, climbing, fishing and hunting. And yes, I would have a pet raccoon.
Now that I’m in my midlife years with a journalism career where my forest ranger should be, a home far from the Rockies and a dog and two cats where the raccoon belongs, I can’t help but reflect on what might have been if that idealistic Boy Scout in me had not given up on his dream. Actually, the dream was never surrendered; it was sidetracked by the fascination of newspapers and the process of making pictures and words become a product you could hold in your hand.
I never did tire of the thrill of watching a black and white image emerge in a tray of developer under the red light of a darkroom. I love the creativity of photography and page design. I am still awed by the pleasure and power of the written word. The smell of ink is intoxicating. Ink stains, bitter coffee, fresh donuts and buzz of police scanners have been a huge part of my daily routine.
There is a certain feeling that comes from knowing your community intimately well and being known intimately well by your community. That’s been one of the unexpected benefits of being a journalist. I doubt I would have experienced that as a forest ranger. On the other hand, there are a lot of experiences I know I missed by not being the outdoorsman I thought I was going to be.
I refuse to look back with regret. My career is very rewarding. I’m more interested in seeing what my children choose for their careers. Heather, my daughter, is in college now. She is still very passionate about horses and art. I’ve tried very hard to encourage her to follow her dreams, as I do with my three sons as well. Wesley, the oldest, wants to be an engineer. He is very mechanically inclined and well suited for that.
Luke, my shark-loving middle son, wants to be a marine biologist. I’m behind him 100 percent on that. I’ve read enough Clive Cussler books to know how honorable and rewarding a career that can be. My youngest son, Colton, wants to go into the Army and design weapons. Fortunately he is still young enough to dream beyond mayhem and slaughter. Other than his fixation on science fiction weaponry, there really isn’t a violent bone in his body and I’m sure his loving and caring nature will soon manifest itself the more he discovers his passions in life.
Even if he does go on to become a weapons designer, I will do nothing to disparage him or crush his dreams, even if I don’t agree with it. All I ask of my children is that they grow in their faith in God and that they relentlessly pursue their dreams and do the best they can in all aspects of their lives.
As I look back on my life’s journey, I can’t help but feel that all proverbial bucket lists are filled with unfulfilled dreams. If we make those dreams our goals it gives us something to strive for. It gives us drive and passion and a compelling urge to move forward.
My dream of being a forest ranger is not likely to ever be fulfilled, and I’m fine with that. I have a wonderful career that has given me opportunities beyond anything I imagined as a child. I won’t give up on the dream of having a pet raccoon. It may be a childish dream, but look where those dreams of old have taken me. I look forward to the realms my new dreams will traverse. Where do you want your dreams to take you? I hope it’s someplace nice – someplace you’ve always dreamed about.

Have the courage to man-up for your kids

2011-10-28T12:43:00.002-06:00

I finally got to hole-up for a couple hours in a movie theater last week and watch “Courageous”.
It was pretty much as I expected it to be, which is a good thing. Being a fan of the previous films produced by Sherwood Baptist Church of Albany, Ga., I knew it would provide inspiration based on biblical principles amid action, comedy and drama. The quality of the production and the acting has steadily improved with each outing by Sherwood Pictures.
The focus of “Courageous” is on fatherhood. Their previous films have focused on marriage (“Fireproof”), integrity (“Facing the Giants”), and honesty (“Flywheel”). In “Courageous”, the story revolves around four men – three sheriff’s deputies and a laborer. The four men come together and, through various trials, learn what it means to be a father. Each has their own story and I won’t ruin it here with spoilers. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing something special.
I knew going in that I needed to be convicted and inspired in my role as a father. I have four children, three boys who live at home and an adult (gulp!) daughter from a previous marriage who lives in Virginia. Many times in the movie I felt like the script had been written under my roof.
The part where one of the fathers is emotionally detached from his oldest child, a son, and devoted to his little daughter could very well be me. I met my oldest son just before his fourth birthday. I was dating his mother and adopted him after Sandy and I were married. I love him to no end, but it has been hard for me to show it. He was (is) a vivacious character who could steal your heart and simultaneously push your hot buttons.
Too often he would steal his mother’s heart while pushing my buttons, which led to a lot of conflict. As a result, I was never as close to him as I am with his younger brothers. At 4 years of age his personality was set and I had no say in shaping his early character. We tend to be polar opposites in personality. He’s outgoing and I’m quiet. He is good with math and electronics and I’d rather read a book. He likes modern music and I’m content with classic country. You get the picture.
I have tried to be a part of his life, but I don’t give myself passing grades for the effort. I am often there with him but rarely there for him. The things he likes do not appeal to me and vice versa. That’s not to say that we don’t get along. We do. There is a mutual love and respect now that he’s well into his teen years. Still, I can’t help but wonder how much jealousy and/or envy he feels for his brothers and sister. I’ve been able to engage in their lives much more easily.
(Wesley, if you’re reading this, I want you to know how sorry I am for every minute that I spent on the computer and not at your side. I’m sorry for almost never playing catch, board games and generally horsing around with you. I hope you can forgive me. I really want to make it up to you but I don’t know how. You’re a young man now with your own life pursuits. Please understand that I love you very much and I desire to be a vital part of your life.)
As I was reminded very vividly in the movie, life is precious and short. Our relationships are what matter most in this life. Without relationships and love, all the money and power in the world ain’t worth squat. Since I don’t have any money to worry about, I should be investing a lot more of myself into my children and my wife. Even if I did have money, I still need to be more involved with my family. I have always had a tendency to be a little aloof, not just with my children but with most everyone. It’s not that I feel superior or disinterested, I just have a difficult time connecting with people the way I should.
I feel like I’m paying the price for that now with my two younger brothers. I did have a superiority complex being the oldest. I was more interested in finding my own friends than spending time with them. Now I haven’t seen them (or my friends) in years. I feel like I’ve lost touch with a part of me.
Time and money keep me from visiting. Time and money have kept me from a lot of things. I refuse to let them keep me from my familial relationships. I will have the courage to change. I will engage in the lives of my loved ones. It takes real courage to man-up like that. I don’t need a movie to tell me do it. Without the movie, however, I would be struggling a lot more on this journey without its guiding light.

What's up with the whole Occupy Wall Street thing?

2011-10-28T12:42:00.000-06:00

I don’t fully understand what the whole Occupy Wall Street protest is all about.
Do these people want to live on government welfare? Do they think it’s immoral to make a profit? Do they lack the gumption, fortitude and good ol’ American ingenuity to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and start their own business (or, Heaven forbid, take a lesser job for a while)?
I sure wish I had the time to sit around and bite the hand that feeds me. I’d use that time to do something constructive with my life. Just imagine what these people could do if they took all their energy, passion and talent and put it to positive, constructive use.
I suppose these people who are all against “corporate greed” (i.e. profits) and who want government to fix their problems might be happier in a place like China. It’s a communist nation and the government will provide for them. They can take back their jobs that were sent over there so people here didn’t have to do menial, tedious work to make affordable the cool gadgets we like so much.
I really do feel bad for those who are out of work. The U.S. economy has been weak for a long time. That doesn’t mean, however, that envy and anger at those who are successful in business is going to accomplish anything. Instead of being upset that you don’t have what they have earned, why not learn from your mistakes and their successes and change your own life? Why wait on someone or something else to take care of you?
I know what it’s like to be unemployed. I started a business that failed. I’ve been bankrupt and out of a job. It hurts. It’s no fun. But I didn’t sit there and protest. I went right out and found a job. The economy in the post-dot.com era wasn’t much better than it is now and I still found a way. And if I can do it …

Tut, Tut, it looks like reign

I thought that headline was cute. When I went to the press preview of the Tutankhamun exhibit at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, I had two things running through my mind – the song “Walk Like an Egyptian” and the quote from Christopher Robin in Winnie the Pooh, “Tut, tut, it looks like rain.” I don’t know how many people out there caught the play off that quote. Pooh, of course, was interested in a type of gold much sweeter than that of a golden mummy.
Growing up, I heard a lot of mention of Tut, but didn’t know much about him. Seeing the exhibit was initially a curiosity thing for me. I wanted to know what the fuss was all about. I left totally awed by what I saw. The first thing that struck me was how much smaller the artifacts were than what I had imagined them to be. The second thing was how incredibly ornate and finely detailed each piece was, especially considering their extreme age. I had no idea that ancient Egyptians had the knowledge and the tools to make things of such fine detail and craftsmanship.
We were told that this U.S. tour would be the last time the Tut exhibit would make the rounds. It is bound for permanent placement in a new museum in Egypt. We have less than six months to see it here in Houston. I highly recommend it, especially for children who may never have an opportunity like this again. The history behind it and its discovery is fascinating and the artistry of the pieces is unparalleled, especially for its time. Maybe I’m just naïve about art and antiquities, but even for my untrained eye, I could tell this is something that’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
If you get the opportunity to see it, do so! You won’t regret it.

Got money? Dave Ramsey can teach you how to get some

2011-10-14T11:23:00.001-06:00

Dave Ramsey is the rock star of nerds.
A bald, pudgy, middle-age man who dresses conservatively and councils people about money, Ramsey has all the power, enthusiasm and a following that would make the typical celebutante envious.
When Dave Ramsey speaks, even Charles Schwab listens – or at least he should. When Ramsey makes public appearances – which he did last weekend in Katy and Houston – he is greeted by cheering throngs of wide-eyed, book-toting fanatics. They’re either meeting him at a book signing (like the one in Katy) or attending one of his seminars (which he held in Houston).
They come in droves to study at the master’s feet. He regales them with humorous anecdotes, fast facts and the painful truth. He is a counter-cultural revolutionary who is helping millions of people get out of debt and build personal wealth. As he likes to put it, he is helping people change their family tree.
In the last few months Ramsey has had a lot of my attention. He ought to have a lot of yours. I don’t mean to put him on a pedestal or to worship him like some kind of idol or living god. That’s that last thing he would want and I certainly don’t pray that way.
As someone who works in a struggling industry during a weak economy and who has been through a business failure, bankruptcy and foreclosure, the message Ramsey preaches is more valuable than gold, more inspiring than a mountaintop sunrise and more personally meaningful than anything on TV or at the movies. This is real life and real common sense.
In a society that values credit and debt, Ramsey is the get-rich guru who teaches sound, biblical principles of getting out of debt, building wealth and giving much of it away. He’s the guy known for cutting up credit cards and using a great deal of charisma and passion while speaking to people about how to handle their finances at his sell-out seminars and on his daily radio show.
Last weekend I had the opportunity – no, the honor – of interviewing him in person during his stop in Katy. A scheduling conflict kept me from attending his seminar at Reliant Arena, but I made the most of the few golden minutes I had. The interview was held on his tour bus in the parking lot at Katy Mills Mall. He greeted me with a smile and a firm handshake and offered me a drink. I had a bottle of water and he sipped his drink of choice, Mountain Dew.
His tour bus is far more opulent inside than my home or the homes of a lot of people I know.
“This is John Madden’s old bus,” he said.
Ramsey is on tour promoting his new book, EntreLeadership. His seminar was based on a previous book and program called The Total Money Makeover. In addition to his book tour, seminars and radio program, he is also touting his Great Recovery program and is very active with social media. When I asked him how he does it all, he just grinned and said, “I work when I want to.” His team – not employees or staff – is trained to run his business without him. “I’ve got a great team,” he said.
“I spend about 25 to 30 percent of my time as CEO and 70 percent of my time being the product,” he said.
The key to his business and the central point of his new book is to value people. He said all people, customers and employees alike, need to be valued, honored, respected and trusted. That’s why he has a team and no employees. He is a teammate, not a boss or a manager.
“Those businesses that are run well really believe that people matter. Their customers are real; they have real dreams and families,” he said.
It’s the Golden Rule. Treat people the way you want to be treated. You can get what you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.
Even though the economy is down, he said this “one of the best times ever” to start a new business.
“There are a lot of great businesses started in down times,” he said. “There are a lot of really good people who have been pushed out of the corporate nest who are in need of a job.”
He said pooling that misplaced talent and growing it in an environment that allows them to be creative and to build on their strengths will help any business flourish when everyone else is busy tightening their belts.
I asked him if he had some time to talk to the President and the Secretary of the Treasury what he would say to them. It was one of the few times I saw him frown.
“I don’t know that I would be able to tell them anything. I’m just a regular guy,” he said.
He went on to say that his advice would be to the public to “quit looking to the President and the Secretary of the Treasury to fix your life.”
He said it’s wrong to put your hopes on Washington to fix our jobs. He said the best thing government can do is to get out of the way and let businesses do what they do best. He said taxing businesses and rich people hurts the economy and doesn’t help it.
“I can’t hire people with money I don’t have,” he said.
After the interview, he posed for a couple pictures, autographed a book and wished me well. I left the bus clutching a bottle of water and hanging onto more hope and inspiration than I’ve felt in a very long time. It was the same sense of hope and happiness that I saw in hundreds of faces in the line in Books-A-Million as he signed books and visited with folks.
Yeah, he was a rock star, shining on the stage of life and giving hope to so many desperate people who just want to turn their lives around.
God bless you, Dave Ramsey!

I'm a perfectionist in recovery

2011-10-06T11:17:00.000-06:00

I’m not a slob; I’m a perfectionist in recovery.
I came up with that little gem the other night while listening to an audio book were a therapist described herself as a perfectionist in recovery. I think I’ll plaster it on some T-shirts and bumper stickers and make a little money on the side. I hereby proclaim copyright to the phrase and will file the necessary paperwork just as soon as I can find it on my desk.
There once was a time when I was so much the perfectionist that if it were true that a clean desk is a sign of a sick mind, my mind would be the unhealthiest place on earth, or at least at the level of a two-day-old tuna fish sandwich on a hot summer day.
I’m a packrat by nature, but an organized one. As a boy, I had a very cluttered room. Not a messy clutter, just a room overflowing with stuff. I kept my action figures and models neatly displayed on stands or in dioramas on my bookshelf. My walls were plastered with posters, but in an orderly fashion. I’m anal to the point of trying to keep various objects straight and neat and in order.
If I didn’t have room for something, I placed it in an organized pile. Those piles were my variation of an in-box of things to do later. Eventually, later would come and the pile would be dispatched with each item in its proper place.
Flash forward to adulthood and wouldn’t you know it, I married a fellow packrat. Together we are raising a brood of little packrats. Our house sometimes has the feel of a storage unit on steroids. We haven’t been able to park a vehicle in a garage since midway through the second Bush administration.
When you take two packrats and put them together – each coming from a previous marriage and with a household of stuff – you get to become very familiar with boxes and tight spaces. By the time you throw a few children into the mix, you reach a point where you own more stuff than you can possibly cope with in the dwindling time you have.
When we left Colorado in 2005, we had already held a huge garage sale and disposed of what I thought was a lot of stuff. It was a lot of stuff by the standards of any sane, normal person. The move to Amarillo, however, required multiple trips with huge rental trucks and trailers. Even so, we still left a few things behind. When we moved to Rosenberg almost three years ago, the move was made in haste and everything we brought had to fit in a rental truck and two cars. That meant leaving a lot of our belongings behind.
When you are forced to sacrifice like that, you really learn what things are important to you. I hate choosing between sentimentality and necessity. The compilation of most of my life’s work – dozens of boxes of newspaper clippings – were abandoned. Only a handful of things I’ve kept from my childhood made the trip. Most of the things that possessed me are now in a dump somewhere in the Panhandle.
We moved into Sandy’s grandfather’s house and he moved out to a retirement home. Naturally, he left us most of his stuff. Managing all of this stuff hasn’t been easy. Sandy has acquired numerous books and magazine articles on de-cluttering your life. I know she has, because I think we still have most o f them.
I no longer have the time or energy to be the anal-retentive, neat-freak perfectionist that I used to be. At home I am a husband, father and pile manager. In recent months I have been listening to a lot of self-help audio books. I’ve taken to heart Luke 12:34 and Matthew 6:21 which says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
If there is anything I have learned it is that my stuff has taken possession of me to the point that perfectionism has been squeezed out of me and I no longer enjoy my stuff the way I used to. I have boxes that have not been emptied in four moves and nearly a dozen years. I think it’s safe to say that I don’t want or need whatever the contents are.
I have reached the point where the perfectionist side of me is ready to make the big purge. At the end of the month we are going to hold a huge yard sale. I really do not need the boxs of Star Wars cup toppers, stuffed animals, freebie items, old electronics and so on that now reside where my car should be. It’s time to kick my stuff to the curb and take my car from the curb to the garage.
When that finally happens, I will have to learn how to park the car just so in a neat, orderly way. Then I can start telling people that I’m not a perfectionist, I’m just a slob in recovery.

Batter up? But this is football season

2011-09-30T10:08:00.001-06:00

Are you ready for some … baseball?

Yeah, I said it. Baseball. Sure we’re deep in the heart of football season. Football is my favorite sport. By the time you read this, the Houston Astros will have had their last out for the season and the Sugar Land Skeeters will still be months away from their inaugural season.
Last weekend, however, I got to experience the Big Leagues like never before. Being a native Coloradan, it was hard to resist when the Rockies came to town. My two favorite teams went head-to-head in a meaningless series of games that only served to drive each of them lower in the rankings (they split the four-game series). Sad as that may be, it didn’t really matter to me.
With special thanks to HCN photographers Patric Schneider and Juan DeLeon, I was able to photograph the games on Thursday and Saturday evenings. It’s one thing to watch the game from the stands. It’s quite another to experience it next to the dugouts. With tickets that I can usually afford for ballgames, I’m close enough to the action that you can read the numbers on the jerseys and sometimes even see the ball.
From the photography pits, not only can you see the numbers, but you can see the stitching on them. You’re close enough to see the stains and patches on the uniforms, smell the Icy-Hot, hear the clicks when the players pop their gum and see the sweat on their faces. I got to listen in on a few conversations and even had to duck a couple foul balls. That’s not something the average person gets to experience from the stands.
It was very interesting to see the difference in attitudes of the various players. Even though both teams had significantly bigger numbers in the “L” column than the “W” column, the players still competed with the intensity of a contender. The minor league call-ups were clearly enjoying their moment in the sun … er, under the lights with the roof closed, at Minute Maid Park. The games seemed to matter to some of the veterans. That competitive drive never seems to rest in a professional athlete. It was the players who are sitting the bubble for a return to the roster next year that had a laser-sharp intensity.
One of the players I really enjoyed watching was Juan Altuve. The second baseman is the only player on the Astros roster shorter than me. He is also about the same age as my oldest child. I felt my age when I realized I am old enough to be the father of a Major League player. Altuve was always smiling and very friendly and cordial. I think this kid is going places.
In the games I photographed, I saw some of the best and a lot of the worst professional baseball I’ve ever seen. I’ve watched a lot of baseball, mostly at Coors Field in Denver. (I once worked very briefly as a ticket taker for the Rockies and even then never had the kind of access to the game that I had in Houston.)
It is very disappointing to see the Astros finish as the worst team in the Majors with triple-digit losses. On the upside, there are many advantages to a lousy season. For one, the Astros were practically giving away tickets just to get butts in seats. Merchandise was slashed in price. Another advantage is player access. Without huge demand, it’s easy to get close and get autographs from many of the players. And when the time comes and the Astros are a contender again, you can honestly say you were with them through even the worst of times. For me personally, if the Astros were gearing up to play in October, there is no way I would have scored press credentials.
An unexpected bonus came Saturday evening when it was verified for the record books that the game was the 200,000th regular season game in MLB history.
Still, any fan worth his salt would give all that up all those bonuses to root for a winner. Perhaps now that baseball is over we can fully turn our attention to football and for the first time root for a winner with the Houston Texans. I’d love nothing more than to see my Denver Broncos go all the way, but this season looks more like they’ll be jockeying for a good draft pick.
The Texans might actually give fans a reason to stand up and cheer this year. That would certainly be a grand slam for longsuffering Houston sports fans.

Do you want to lose weight and get out of debt?

2011-09-26T09:16:00.002-06:00

Why do we have to make the simplest things so complicated? Take for example the obesity epidemic. By definition, I am morbidly obese. I am working to change that. The most effective way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more.
That’s it. No fad diets. No magic pills. No surgery. Just plain, old fashioned self-control. Apparently to most of us, it’s no fun to lose weight naturally. We want the quick fix. We want to be thin and we want it now. We want it bad enough to spend billions each year on weight loss products and services, but we don’t want it bad enough to do it ourselves. We don’t want it bad enough to do the hard work of resisting temptation at the table and TV throughout the evening to get ourselves in the condition we desire.
As motivational speaker Zig Ziglar puts it, he used to be overweight on purpose. “I never did put anything into my mouth by accident.” He also discovered that his body retains ice cream. He decided to eat less and start jogging each day with a goal to lose 1.9 ounces a day. Wouldn’t you know it; the weight came off and stayed off. Not only that, but he felt better and was more energized than ever.
Another simple truth is that if you want out of the pit of debt, stop digging. No one has ever spent their way to prosperity. Unfortunately, that lesson is lost on President Obama. He subscribes to the Robin Hood theory of soaking the rich to give to the poor. He proposes raising taxes on the rich while at the same time giving away billions of dollars in the name of job creation.
Here’s a thought – instead of punishing financial success to reward complacency and failure, why don’t we leave job creation to the wealthy and help the poor to help themselves become wealthy? You know, a hand up instead of a hand-out.
Under Obama – who gave us bailouts, stimulus funds, Obamacare and now a jobs bill – our nation has plunged trillions into debt. Most of that debt is owned by China – Communist China. We have a massive trade imbalance with China. They buy our debt, we buy their goods and all of our money goes overseas. For a communist country, China is teaching us a lesson in capitalism.
Here is a novel idea – let’s try spending less than we take in. Let’s start paying off our debts. Let’s get back to manufacturing goods and selling them to China. That would be turning the tables on them. It’s the American way, or at least it used to be.
We need to wean ourselves off of government-funded social and welfare programs and push people to live responsibly and to care for themselves, their families and their neighbors. It’s not the role of government to do that. Obama, however, doesn’t see it that way. He thinks government should take care of everything. He’s the typical tax-and-spend liberal who gets elected into office by promising a chicken in every pot and a flu shot in every arm, all paid for by the people who have the gall to make money and get ahead in life.
Do you suppose if we got away from our computers, television sets and video games and actually set out to physically work harder to produce more and better products that we might actually see the obesity epidemic melt away and financial prosperity return? Could it really be that simple? What if we put a huge effort into green living? What if we created modes of transportation that didn’t depend on fossil fuels or pollute the environment? What if we built and powered our homes with renewable resources? Gosh, that might mean putting people to work and helping save the planet at the same time!
I guess I should stop here. These ideas are just too radical for the typical American and American politician to comprehend. Maybe I should just grab my laptop, drive a few blocks to the nearest coffeehouse and browse the Internet while sipping a $5 cup of frothy, sweet coffee and thinking of more radical ways of making life better for all of us.
That, after all, has become the American way.

Just say no to alcohol at movie theaters

2011-09-19T07:36:00.002-06:00

As an adult I have tried to live my life honestly and without regrets.
As a teenager, I lived my life without regrets – or at least regrets that didn’t surface until I was old enough to regret them. One of those regrets was the weekend routine my buddies and I had of going to see the double feature at the drive-in theater (anyone remember those?). That in itself wasn’t regretful. Nourishing ourselves on beer and nacho cheese Doritos is where the regret comes in.
My friend was always the driver, so I kept convincing myself that I wasn’t technically drinking and driving. But I sure was an accomplice to it, not to mention an underage drinker. That was a very stupid time in my life and I am not proud of it. We could have very easily killed someone, including each of us. I wish I could make that chapter of my life go away, but it is what it is. I learned my lesson and will never do that again.
I bring this up because of a very disturbing request by a local movie theater to serve alcoholic beverages. This is a really bad idea. It’s worse than mowing the lawn barefoot with a hangover. The theater in question is the AMC First Colony 24. It has applied to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a permit to serve beer, wine and cocktails. I intend to contact the TABC with a copy of this column to let them know I oppose it for many reasons.
First of all, the theater is a very popular place for families, teens and young couples. No matter how hard AMC tries to keep booze out of the hands of minor, it will happen. I know, I just admitted it above. It’s real easy to slip drinks down a darkened aisle or spike a Coke. We do not need to be putting children in places where they are in contact with alcohol and people who are drinking it.
We must also consider what kind of message this sends to children. All through school they are taught that it’s bad to drink, smoke and do drugs. If this is approved, they will go to what is arguably the most popular hangout in town for youngsters and be exposed to the very thing we don’t want them getting mixed up with. They will relate fun and good times with movies and booze.
At the beginning of each movie, the theater runs an announcement to quiet all cell phones and to be quite and respectful of the other guests. It’s a proven fact that alcohol releases one’s inhibitions, often leading to loud and rude behavior. When you combine that with the strong emotions stirred by movies, you have the potential for any number of problems. If that’s what I have to look forward to, I will go elsewhere for my entertainment.
Safety is another big concern. Theater parking lots are full of young, inexperienced drivers. Do we really need to add alcohol and drunk drivers to the mix? Please, let’s not go there.
From a strictly moral perspective, one cannot deny that morality is evaporating in modern American society. Many of the movies offered in the theaters have strong sexual content to them. If you take hormonally-enraged youngsters, fill their minds with an overabundance of sex and their bodies with booze, you’ve got a combination for disaster. Look for date-rape and other sex crimes to increase.
If adults wish to enjoy their movie-going experience with the influence of alcohol, let them imbibe in establishments elsewhere out of sight and influence of the next generation. We simply do not need to feed corporate greed the mortal souls of our children, friends and neighbors. We do not need to push more people into the world of alcoholism.
I know I might sound like some puritanical prissy, but this is a real threat and needs to be nipped in the bud. We are in a real culture war. It’s a war we cannot win if we keep lowering our standards like this. I implore AMC to withdraw its request and ask the TABC to reject it.
Trust me, I know from experience that movies and booze do not and should not mix. Let’s not make this a mistake we end up regretting.

It's time to claim victory in the war on terror

2011-09-13T07:32:00.000-06:00

The two things that make the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks different from the rest is that we have cut the head off the snake that caused them and we now have real progress on a memorial at the site of the former World Trade Center towers.
For the past nine years, Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the attacks, remained a thorn in our collective side. Though he was rendered mostly harmless, his very existence was a painful annoyance to all of us. Now that he is dead, this year’s anniversary feels more like a victory party than a wake.It helps significantly that we are about to dedicate the new memorials at Ground Zero. Water structures have been built into the footprints of the former Twin Towers and for the first time in 10 years the site is pleasant to look at. Again, another cause for celebration.
Yes, it is a time to remember and reflect. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives that day. It changed our world forever. It is a sad occasion. Yet this time it just feels like a victory celebration. Ten years is a long time to get to this point. Now that we are here, we can really begin to mend the wounds inflicted on our psyche that horrible day.
While the enemy is not defeated, we can claim victory in this round of war. Shy of killing every terrorist combatant, we will always face a threat from al-Qaida and their ilk. Thanks to our military and our aggressive efforts at security, their threat is greatly diminished. If the worst thing we have to fear is body scanners at airports, I’d say the job was well done. The world today is a much safer place than it was 10 years ago. It’s not perfect, but nothing is.
Most adults and a few teens today can recall where they were and what they were doing when the planes crashed into the towers, the Pentagon and the Pennsylvania field. I was just out of the shower, getting ready for a day at work, when I heard the news on the radio. I turned on the TV and watched until the second tower was hit. That’s when I knew there was serious trouble and we would all be very busy in the newsroom.
I was the first reporter in. Two editors and the features editor were next. The four of us were the major force behind the production of an “extra” edition that morning. It’s the only “extra” I’ve been involved with. We churned that puppy out and then set about the task of covering local events for the next day’s paper. I must have pulled about 16 hours that day but it felt more like three. Time flew as fast as it stood still.
What really stands out to me from that time is how we came together as a nation and how nobody complained about all the public prayers that went up. Since then we have become more polarized than ever. Religion, especially Christianity, is under constant attack. Culturally and socially, I don’t think our nation is better off now than we were 10 years ago. How much of that is because of Sept. 11, it’s hard to say.
As one who was born and raised in the Vietnam War era, I am pleased to see how well our military is treated and respected no matter how you feel about the wars they are fighting. I have a cousin who served several stints in Iraq and my brother-in-law is an Army chaplain who is currently stationed in Iraq. They can tell you how important the support from the home front is to them.
I guess what all this comes down to for me is that perhaps this anniversary on Sunday is an ideal time to declare victory and to move on as a nation from a position of fear and intimidation to one of pride and confidence. I’m not suggesting we let our guard down. That would be stupid. We know our enemy will try to strike again. I’m just saying that it’s time for an attitude adjustment and to move on.

Health Museum is strong with the Force of Star Wars

2011-09-02T08:01:00.006-06:00

The Force is strong with this one. The John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science, also known as The Health Museum, has turned to the dark side, in a manner of speaking, luring thousands of Star wars fans with an exhibit of movie props, costumes and models and delivering an educational, scientific experience in the process.

What all that means is the museum has the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit and if you haven’t seen it yet, you only have until Sept. 18 to do so. It’s uber cool and enlightening to boot! You can see the Millennium Falcon, the original Darth Vader costume, Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder, the Wampa ice creature, R2-D2 and C-3PO along with dozens of other authentic relics from all six Star wars films.

While you’re busy ogling the displays, you can also visit stations to learn about the real science inspired by the movie magic. Build your own moisture farm, run a maglev vehicle along a track or view prosthetics and robotics used today that are not unlike those seen in the movies.

“It’s more than just the costumes and props; it encompasses technology used and inspired by the films,” said museum spokeswoman Stephanie Manning.

Manning said the exhibit was created by the Museum of Science in Boston and has been touring the country. She said it has helped boost attendance at The Health Museum this summer.

“It brings in some people who wouldn’t normally come in on their own,” she said.

That would include people like me. I’m a Star Wars junkie and I love history and museums, but a museum dedicated to health didn’t excite me; at least not until I was lured by the Force of Star Wars. I took some time to quickly tour some of the museum’s standing exhibits and was blown away. The aspects of science and biology are very intriguing and the interactive nature of the museum makes it very appropriate for the whole family.

But like I said, I was drawn in by the glamour of the Star Wars artifacts. Before you even walk into the gallery, there is a large X-Wing model on display in the hall. Right inside the door is a huge model of Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon. It only gets better from there. Inside are the actual costumes worn by the likes of Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), David Prowes (Darth Vader), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) and many more.

There are several models on display, mostly those used in the first three films. There are Imperial Walkers, a Star Destroyer, the Tantive IV (Rebel blockade runner), and a Y-Wing to list a few. An R2-D2 and one of the C-3PO costumes are displayed along with the “naked” C-3PO puppet. Speaking of puppets, the original Yoda is there.

Remember in “Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith when the helmet was installed on Vader’s head? The pieces of that helmet are included in the exhibit. You could almost hear the hiss and the sound of that first breath while marveling at it.

Among the props are lightsabers, blasters, various droids and an assortment of gadgets that even casual fans would recognize. From the science perspective, the exhibit has modern-day robots, including a flying sphere used on the International Space Station. There is a model of what a matter/antimatter rocket would look like to ferry people to other stars. It’s almost as long as Texas is wide!

From an interactive standpoint, there is a station where you can manipulate levers to make robotic legs walk. At another you can see how robots “see” things. But the best interactive part of the show will cost you an extra $5. Be sure not to miss the Millennium Falcon Experience. Climb into a mock-up of the ship’s cockpit and let Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) take you on a dizzying journey from Earth to the outer edges of the known universe.

Oh, and while you’re at the Health Museum, be sure to go inside yourself and explore how the human body works. It’s absolutely fascinating! But act quickly; you only have until Sept. 18. It will cost $20 to get in and no, Republic Credits will not do.

Lone Ranger movie caught in budgetary cliffhanger

2011-08-26T13:41:00.002-06:00

By Joe Southern
jsouthern@hcnonline.com
Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear when a masked man on a white horse accompanied by an Indian companion were the most exciting heroes in pop culture.
Established well before the days of super humans in spandex, The Lone Ranger galloped across the 1940s and ’50s as the ultimate he-man hero of a now aged baby boomer generation. For 78 years the Lone Ranger and Tonto have been righting wrongs and saving the day as one of the most powerful entertainment and marketing creations in America’s 20th century history.
Long since left in a cloud of dust by spacemen and macho men in cowls and tights, the Lone Ranger has made occasional leaps into our collective consciousness, just enough to give baby boomers a sense of nostalgia. They rallied for actor Clayton Moore in his battle to wear the mask during personal appearances. They stayed away from the movie theaters in droves when “The Legend of the Lone Ranger” came out and fell flat on its face.
Occasional comic books, toys and keepsakes were all that kept our intrepid hero visible for 20 years until about 10 years ago when it was announced that a major motion picture was going to be made by Sony. The WB had also green-lighted a pilot for a new Lone Ranger television show. In 2003 the pilot, then turned into a made for TV movie, aired and established itself as the “Ishtar” of TV Westerns. The series was thankfully never made.
The movie, however, kept plodding along through development hell at Sony, finally succumbing in 2007. A few months later in 2008, super producer Jerry Bruckheimer announced he wanted a shot at it. A major announcement was made by Disney Studios that Bruckheimer would again pair up with his “Pirates of the Caribbean” star Johnny Depp in a remake of the masked man. Only this time Depp would star as Tonto and the movie would focus on that character.
For the next two years the project lingered on. A script was written by the powerhouse duo of Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, who gave us such wonderful stories as the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies, “Shrek”, the two recent Zorro movies, the National Treasure films, “Aladdin”, “The Road to El Dorado” and many more. That script was rejected by Disney and handed over to Justin Haythe for a rewrite.
While Haythe sank his teeth into it, rumors went wild as to who would star as the Lone Ranger and who would sit in the director’s chair. Depp stayed busy doing Alice in Wonderland, Public Enemy and another Pirates movie with Bruckheimer. The producer extraordinaire, however, plowed into his popular television shows and gave us lukewarm films such as “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”
Finally, a couple months ago the movie moved into production. Former Pirates director Gore Verbinski hired on to direct. Armie Hammer won the right to wear the mask and an all-star cast began to populate the growing list of characters. Set construction began in southwest New Mexico and casting for extras was announced. It was given a Dec. 21, 2012, release date.
Just as soon as the light of day finally shone on this project, Disney CEO Robert Iger thrust it back into darkness over budgetary concerns. With a reported $250 million budget and a lackluster performance record of modern-day Westerns and Bruckheimer’s own silver screen letdowns, Disney was not ready to play high-stakes poker with an uncertain economy and fickle moviegoers.
Following a week-long dollar détente and the willingness of Depp and Bruckheimer to cut their own fees, the director and producer were unwilling to trim their vision for the film. The game of brinkmanship ended with the purse strings pulled and the project thrust back into the pits of development hell. It’s just as well, as the movie reportedly contained Indian mysticism and werewolves. (Western werewolves? Oh, brother!)
While I remain hopeful that a Lone Ranger movie will be made and am frustrated at the current turn of events, I must applaud Iger and Disney for their financial frugalness. (Now, if we can just get our elected officials to learn from that lesson, maybe we can get this country back on track.)
In the meantime, Disney and Marvel will continue to pump out spandex-hero blockbusters while Bruckheimer and Depp circle the wagons and figure out a way to make the Lone Ranger ride again.

Meet Zig and Dave, my new best friends

2011-08-17T13:28:00.001-06:00

I want you to meet a couple of good friends of mine. Perhaps you’ve heard of them or know them yourself. They are Zig Ziglar and Dave Ramsey.
No, I have never met either one. I highly doubt either of them knows I exist. That isn’t important. What is important is what they have done in my life and what they can do for you. These two gentlemen are turning my life around. If you don’t know these men, let me introduce you.
Ziglar is the world’s foremost motivational speaker. His books, recordings and lectures have reached millions of people. He is a champion of positive thinking. He preaches success, motivation, achievement and positive self-image.
Ramsey is a financial guru who uses his daily radio program, books, recordings, lectures and frequent television appearances to teach people to get out of debt and build wealth.
These men are world-changers and they do it the same way. They use proven, time-tested, biblical principles to change attitudes and behaviors of people. They change hearts, challenge minds and inspire the spirits of those whose lives have become unmanageable.
My life was unmanageable. For most of the last seven years I have been toiling in the miserable pit that is my mind. The result of my severe depression has been a succession of failures, poverty and wasted time and talent.
My last two jobs came with hour-long commutes. I began listening to audio books in my car. I caught up on a lot of reading and it helped pass the time. I finally listened to Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” That set me on a path of self-help and self-discovery. From there I latched onto recordings by Ramsey and Ziglar.
Those guys – Ziglar in particular – have done more for me in a couple of months than years of medication and counseling. I’m setting goals, feeling motivated and desiring to make a difference in the lives of others.
As Ziglar says and Ramsey often repeats, “You can get what you want when you help enough people get what they want.” Delaying gratification, saving money, giving of your time and resources and following a strategy of achieving your goals through hard work will result in a wealthy, successful and positive life.
Ramsey is fond of saying that “first you must live like no one else so that later you can LIVE like no one else”. This is a pay-to-play world. You get out of it what you put into it. If you don’t make a contribution up front you won’t get to collect at the end. If you think it’s OK to slack off because the government will take care of you, you can bet that the government will take care of you alright.
Social Security is an oxymoron. It doesn’t work. Stimulus funds didn’t boost the economy; they just sank us deeper in debt. They made us more dependent on the government. The best thing the government can do to boost the economy is get out of the way. It needs to stop punishing success with higher taxes and allow those who are successful to create and provide jobs for those who need them. We’re better off having the entrepreneurs of the nation paying the employed masses than having their profits siphoned off by the government so it can give the money to those who don’t work.
Conventional wisdom over the years is that we grow our economy by spending what we earn. It supposedly spreads the wealth. I disagree. We grow our economy by selling, not buying. Americans are spending their money on foreign goods. Rather than buying from Japan and China, we should be selling to them. We should be creating and manufacturing products and exporting them. You employ more people and create more wealth that way than you do by buying things that come primarily from overseas. Our money can’t work for us if it’s in a bank in Hong Kong.
As the saying goes, charity begins at home. The more we give the more we help ourselves. When you help others get what they want/need, you will get what you want/need (sound familiar?). Government takes before it gives and it gives (spends) more than it takes. That’s why government is growing and our debt is increasing.
I’m no economist. I’m just a guy coming out of depression with the help of a couple of good friends. Would you like to meet them?

I've gone over to the digital side

2011-08-11T13:06:00.001-06:00

Ta-i Kemosabe, I’m back!
This is the first of my columns since 2005 that will not appear in print. I have gone over to the digital side. If this were Star Wars and journalism the Force, I would be serving on the Death Star. This, however, isn’t Star Wars and print journalism is no longer the force it used to be.
Working for print editions of newspapers these days is more like riding on the back of a dinosaur. It may have a loud roar, but extinction is coming. Stick a bone in it; it’s done. It died about five years ago, but will take another decade or so to bleed out.
I’m one of those throwbacks who enjoys the feeling of a paper in my hands and the smell of ink on my fingers. With my life’s work boiling down to a digital fingerprint, I have to accept the fact that reporting no longer happens in cycles, but is a continuous stream of ever-changing data that we now package as “content”.
I loved being a reporter. Now I am a “content provider” which is the same thing in the realm of cyberspace. Most of what I learned about journalism in college is obsolete. I’m using tools and skills that could not have been imagined back in 1980-something.
As much as things change, the more they stay the same. The Internet may have signaled doom for newspapers, but it cannot touch quality journalism. People will always want and need well-written stories about news events and things they are interested in.
With the exception of bloggers and tweeters who think they can write, most of the stuff that passes for legitimate news is still written by professional journalists and given away online by their employers. Trust me, that is a model that cannot sustain itself much longer. Eventually we humble journalists will want to eat, buy clothes, own homes and other things that we frequently report about. That being the case, you will eventually have to pay for your news. (You don’t know the power of the digital side!)
There is something of a paradox now that I’m working online. It used to be that we were limited by space and had to write stories to fit a certain length. Online we can write to our heart’s content, but readership habits have limited news reading to a headline or less. If you’ve actually read this far, I am truly impressed. You’re a rare bird.
Long gone are the days when you came home to an evening paper and leisurely read it while supper was cooking. That became a quick scan of the paper over breakfast on the run. Now it’s a quick browse online from the desk at work or on your smart phone when you have a down minute or two. If it doesn’t have a shocking headline, a shocking photo and/or the right tags on it, no one will bother to look at it.
Back in the day, a headline might read “School board to re-evaluate superintendent’s contract”. Today that headline would read “Superintendent in hot seat” or “School board barking mad at top dog”. If the headline works, you will click on it and be taken to a story where you expect to see a picture or read about school board members foaming at the mouth, racing around on all fours ready to pounce on the poor, helpless superintendent. If that isn’t there, you’ll be lucky to find anyone who reads three paragraphs into a story about the school board doing the annual performance review of the district’s top administrator.
In other civilized countries of the world, people actually care about how their local school superintendent is performing his duties and the story would be worthy of the front page … er, make that homepage. In the good ol’ U.S. of A., if the superintendent isn’t having an affair, embezzling funds or storing kiddie porn on his computer, people don’t seem to care what he’s doing or how well his performance is.
The same thing goes for most any elected official. Incumbents are usually a lock on Election Day unless they are embroiled in some kind of scandal. Depending on the nature and timing of the scandal, they could be out on their can or re-elected by a wide margin.
The thing is, if it were not for journalists, the average person wouldn’t know about the scandal or the straight-laced duty performance.
All that being said, I’m glad to be back and to still be employed doing what I like. I hope you will stay with me on this grand adventure into cyberspace and beyond.

Coming to terms with closing of newspaper

2011-07-28T19:28:00.001-06:00

Depending on how you count it, I have worked for anywhere from seven to 13 newspapers in my career.

One was a group of five weeklies that shared the same stories and two would be my high school and college papers. I’ve had ink on my fingers and in my blood since 1981 when my high school typing teacher asked me to join the journalism class as a photographer.

In all that time, I’ve always been the one to leave a paper behind. With this issue, the paper is closing, leaving me behind.

What a strange feeling that is. Many of my friends and colleagues have gone through it and come out for the better on the other side. The closing of a newspaper was always something that happened to someone else. I never thought it would happen to me. It did; and now this is goodbye.

With that, I’d like to leave you with some parting thoughts (parting shots?). I’m deeply touched by all the people who have expressed sadness that the News Citizen is closing. (For a change I’m not hearing what a rag sheet it is.) I can’t help but see the irony how some of the people upset that the paper is closing are some of the same ones who quit subscribing and/or advertising.

Corrupt mayors?
Almost from the day I got here, I’ve been hearing stories about how “corrupt” Hempstead Mayor Michael Wolfe, Prairie View Mayor Frank Jackson and Brookshire Mayor Joey Vaughn are supposed to be. I have not investigated many of those claims. I do not know if there is any truth to them, but they are persistent.

I also can’t help but notice that no one is pointing fingers at the white mayors in the county. I’m not playing the race card here; it’s just an observation. The finger-pointing, however, has been done by people of all races in the county, not just whites.

Landfill finger-pointing
Most of the finger-pointing of late has been at County Judge Glenn Beckendorff and the four members of the commissioners court. There are still many people out there who are convinced that their elected officials are in cahoots with Green Group Holdings, the company that wants to build a landfill on Highway 6. I can tell you that, to the very best of my knowledge, none of them want the landfill. None of them recruited a landfill. None of them entered into secret negotiations with GGH. None of them lined their pockets to “allow” them to come to Waller County.

First of all, that would give the court a lot more power and control than it has. Secondly, what would be the motivation? No amount of money would be worth the cost to them. The loss of office, business, friendships, integrity and trust would be too great. Everything they have worked their whole lives for and the county that they love would be lost to them. So please let the conspiracy theories die a quick death.

Obama’s space out
Though the space program isn’t exactly a local matter, I have to say that I’m very unhappy with the leadership of President Obama. Former President Bush was able to take the tragedy of the space shuttle Columbia disaster and inspire NASA and the nation to new levels of adventure and exploration with the Moon, Mars and Beyond program.

Obama took a space program from its post-lunar peak with the shuttle, International Space Station and plans to explore other worlds and plunged it into nothingness. Instead of being stuck in low-earth orbit, we are dependent on Russia just to get us off the ground.

Instead of inspiration and direction, we have job losses across the board in the space industry. Instead of helping employ more people and boosting the space and technology sectors, he has put more of the country’s brain trust and other rocket scientist types on the welfare rolls. It’s no wonder his policies have this nation trillions of dollars in debt. Where Bush turned tragedy into triumph, Obama has turned triumph into tragedy.

Behind the mask
One last note before I sign off. Look for Disney’s “Lone Ranger” to hit theaters on Dec. 21, 2012. It’s got a heavyweight cast and crew and will likely be blockbuster material. When you go to the theater and watch Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp ride off into the sunset, remember me and ask “who was that masked man?”

Hi-Yo Silver, awaayyy!

Golden Rule doesn't shine in landfill fight

2011-07-21T08:45:00.000-06:00

As the final days for the Waller County News Citizen wind down, I have taken some time to reflect on my short two and a half year stint here as the editor.
One of the first columns I wrote upon my arrival was on Hempstead suffering from a severe case of apathy. I saw that apathy evaporate when Green Group Holdings, LLC., announced its plans to open Pintail Park and the Pintail Landfill about a mile north of Hempstead on Highway 6.
The community rallied together in a show of unity against the landfill in ways I’ve rarely seen a community do. Petty bickering and squabbling have been shoved aside in order to fight what some have called a monstrosity and a life-or-death battle for Hempstead.
I found it heartwarming to hear people at the various meetings describe their love for Hempstead and Waller County. There were many passionate stories of multi-generational families, quiet country living, retirements, dream homes and a rural quality of life.
Hempstead is a community of hard-working, God-fearing folks who have invested their lives and livelihoods here to make a better place for their families and the generations to follow. This community has survived many economic and social blows and is still standing tall. Folks here work hard, play hard, look out for one another, attend church on Sundays and give of themselves to help their neighbors.
Hempstead prides itself as a community of character. Folks here live by the Golden Rule. At least that’s what they purport to do. Before coming after me with torches and pitchforks, please allow me a moment to share what I hope is an impartial observation of the way people have been behaving throughout this whole ordeal. Please let me play the devil’s advocate to see if I can’t help spread some truth and goodwill into what is a very volatile situation.
In the three big meetings that I’ve reported on so far, I’ve observed some things that I find disturbing. First of all, it agonizes me that Hempstead and Waller County have to be put into this situation, especially from outsiders who do not live here and do not know the values of the community.
Secondly, it disturbs me that people here are not responding in a way that reflects those values or their purported Christian beliefs. As Jesus says in Luke 6:27-31, “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 4:26-27 “‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” A couple verses later in 31-31 he says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
I fully understand and expect people to be angry about the landfill. I don’t begrudge anyone that. But I feel the anger, gossip and hype around the whole thing is a heap of hypocrisy and reflects poorly on the people who live here. I wish people would stop long enough to try and see things from the perspective of others. I wish they could see the negative image they are portraying to the rest of the world.
Life has given Waller County a load of lemons with the landfill. But instead of trying to make lemonade, residents have responded with a sour face. Oscar Allen and Ernest Kaufmann have a very thankless and undesirable job to do. Their company is behaving in a more Christ-like manner by extending all kinds of benefits, concessions and cash to the community. Rather than welcome these strangers and agreeing to work with them on solutions that are mutually beneficial, the community has responded with righteous indignation. No “Good Samaritans” are we.
A while back I suggested that the county enact ordinances governing the locations of undesirable projects such as a landfill. It did so, but in a very knee-jerk fashion. On paper it sounds good to limit landfills to locations within two miles of current or former landfills. I highly doubt, however, that anyone involved in creating this bit of legislation has done their homework on it.
Are these locations better suited for a landfill? Whose toes will be stepped on if it’s relocated? What are the environmental impacts of the “approved” sites versus the proposed site? How will the other sites better protect the groundwater and other natural resources? What will be the impact on the roads to those locations?
We need to slow down and think this through before flying any further off the handle. I know many of you will think I’m just selling out because I don’t live here and the paper is closing anyway. You can chose to believe what you like, but the truth is, I do care.
I want what’s best for the community, but in order to know what that is, we need to act and react in a civil manner. We need to treat them the way we want them to treat us. So far, we haven’t been very neighborly.

Conspiracy theories remain unfounded

2011-07-06T14:25:00.000-06:00

The County is our government; we shall not have a dump.
It raises our taxes, it moves slowly, it stirs restlessness in our souls.
It guides us in paths of concrete and asphalt for business’ sake.
Even though we walk through the County of Waller, we will fear no landfill, for the judge and commissioners are with us; their laws and their ordinances, they comfort us.
They prepare a public hearing before us in the presence of our enemies.
They anoint the proceedings with solemnity; the crowd overflows.
Surely civility and common sense will govern all decisions, and we will dwell in a county without landfill forever. (With apologies to King David, the psalmist.)
Don’t shoot the messengers.
There is a huge outcry against Waller County Judge Glenn Beckendorff and the members of the commissioners court over the proposed Pintail Landfill. GreenFirst, LLC, has announced plans to build a landfill and industrial park about a mile north of Hempstead on Highway 6.
It was revealed at the June 28 session of commissioners court that Beckendorff had been contacted six months earlier by GreenFirst representatives and has kept it secret all that time. That launched conspiracy theories that flew faster than you can say Lee Harvey Oswald.
After all, if local government officials knew about the landfill and didn’t say anything, it proves that they are in cohorts with GreenFirst and have been making backroom deals that will line their pockets and surrender Waller County to the eternal wasteland. Judge Beckendorff has sold out and thrown Waller County under the bus. Obviously, he’s paved the way for CenterPoint Energy to string high-voltage power lines across the county and now he wants to dump on the north end of the county.
Poppycock!
Do you honestly believe that Beckendorff or any member of the commissioners court would be actively engaged in recruiting a landfill or seeking to get rich while clearing the path for its arrival? That would be social and political suicide. We’re talking about men and women who have lived here all their lives and care enough about the county and its residents to serve in elected leadership positions.
Has it ever occurred to anyone that they are legally bound from disclosing this kind of information, regardless of the nature of the business? Suppose instead of a landfill, a clean, reputable company wanted to build an environmentally-sound business that provided hundreds of high-paying jobs. Our county officials would have the same obligation to remain tight-lipped.
If Beckendorff or any of the commissioners had released the information prior to GreenFirst giving their OK, they would have set the county up for a huge lawsuit. Then the taxpayers would be out a fortune in legal fees and fines and the landfill might still be coming.
From what I understand, the commissioners have three options when it comes to the landfill. They can support it, remain neutral, or oppose it. They do not have any authority to approve or disapprove it. Those decisions rest at the state level with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. That’s where people opposing the landfill should be focusing their efforts.
The judge and commissioners are merely the messengers. I believe each one strongly opposes the idea of having a landfill in the county, especially on prime highway property so close to Hempstead. I don’t think there is anyone who wants a landfill here. I think 99.9 percent of the population is against it. I’m sure that message is getting across loud and clear.
Unfortunately, the landfill opponents are preaching to the choir when they complain about it to local government. They instead need to turn their trumpets toward Austin and give the local leadership the benefit of a doubt.

County should prepare for undesirable growth

2011-06-30T10:21:00.000-06:00

As you have undoubtedly seen on the front page of this week’s paper, a company called GreenFirst (a subsidiary of Green Group Holdings) wants to build a landfill off Highway 6 just north of Hempstead.
If you’re like most people – and I’m assuming most of you are – the idea of having a landfill in our back yard is less than appealing. In fact, I heard tell of organized opposition to it well before the project was officially announced to the public.
To be sure, no one wants a landfill near their home. I don’t. But before flying off the handle, I think the folks at GreenFirst deserve to have their say. It’s only fair to give them an ear just as residents would like to be given an equal chance to be heard.
As undesirable as a landfill may be, we need them and they have to go someplace. Whether or not it should be just north of Hempstead on Highway 6 is not for me to say. As someone whose livelihood depends on the economic prosperity of this community, I certainly don’t want to see it in Hempstead’s back yard.
Wherever it goes, there will be fierce opposition. The same goes for the proposed power lines that CenterPoint Energy wants to run across the middle of Waller County. I expect people in the county will be in full protest mode for quite some time over these projects. It should be noted, however, that the county does not have the power to say yay or nay to projects like these. That power is in the hands of state regulatory agencies.
The power lines and landfill are symptoms of a much larger problem the county has failed to adequately address. It comes as no surprise to anyone that massive growth is on its way to Waller County from Houston. I hear it talked about frequently. But what I have not heard is a lot of talk about how to manage it. It’s a simple matter of being proactive rather than reactive to growth in the county.
Someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe Waller County has a long range development plan. Does the county, or its municipalities, have regulations in place governing what type of development and industry can locate here? Are there designated zones for what most people would call undesirable growth?
Several times I have asked Hempstead Mayor Michael Wolfe if the city has ordinances governing sexually-oriented businesses. I have yet to receive an answer. If it doesn’t, what’s to stop someone from opening a strip club or adult video store in the heart of downtown or next to a church or school?
As far as the landfill issue goes, I don’t think the county has any ordinances designating proper zones, distances from residential areas, environmental protections or the like in place. The same could be said for the location of power transmission lines, sewer plants, chemical plants, pig farms, slaughterhouses, prisons, shooting ranges, nuclear power plants, or any number of things people don’t want in their back yards.
It’s hard to fault companies wanting to locate here. I do, however, fault local government for not being prepared for the growth it knows is coming.
Waller County is close enough to the Houston metro area to be convenient, yet far away enough to be unseen. That makes Waller County an ideal spot for developers to locate their undesirable projects. Believe me, they are thinking way ahead of us country folk out here. They’re going to get their infrastructure and industry in place before we’re organized enough to regulate or stop them. I know the county is working on fire and building codes, but that’s hardly enough.
There is a community near my hometown in Colorado that was home to a regional landfill. When it closed, two more opened nearby to take its place. There was nothing the residents could do to stop them because there were no laws governing such things. You can be sure there are now.
If the people of Waller County don’t wake up and take care of Waller County, you can bet Harris and other neighboring counties will take advantage of that. The same thing goes for each of the cities. Regulations don’t necessarily have to be limited to unwanted development. As the growth comes, do you want to see super-sized box stores taking over? How about another trailer park? Perhaps a high-rise apartment building or condo is what you would like to see in your neighborhood.
Now is the time for Waller County to give this some serious thought. As the saying goes, if you fail to plan you can plan to fail.

She overcame much to get that diploma

2011-06-23T11:19:00.001-06:00

There she stood in her teal gown and mortarboard with her gold honors sash draped over her shoulders and her high school diploma in hand.
Sure, to a newspaper reader a high school graduation is no big deal. They happen every year. So another kid made it – so what. Thousands do every spring.
Well, the graduation last Friday of Heather Southern in the Hickory High School Class of 2011 in Chesapeake, Va., is a big deal to me and her mother. My firstborn child and only daughter went through a lot to reach that important milestone.
Her parents separated when she was 3 years old and divorced when she was 6. In her 12 years of schooling, she has attended seven schools in three states. In her early years, she bounced back and forth between two families and 11 different houses, not counting the three she lived in before the divorce. Both of her families have been through spells of extreme financial difficulty.
Stability has never been hers, yet there she was, an honor student beaming with a pride that outshone that of her parents and grandparents combined.
She did it!
I was happier and more excited for her than I was for my high school and college graduations.
Though Heather struggles with a lack of self-confidence and is unsure about her future as she heads into junior college this fall, she can go with the knowledge and confidence that she is a strong-willed survivor. She has remarkable skills at adapting to her environment.
Heather has her mother’s book smarts and my creativity. God has blessed her with incredible gifts and talents. She did better in school than either of her parents and did so amide the turbulence of her life. She is also a terrific artist and was awarded the Level 4 Art Student of the Year award from her school.
If you think I’m just another proud parent bragging about his kid, you’re right. What parent wouldn’t be proud of their child, especially considering all she accomplished under the circumstances?
Congratulations Heather, YOU did it!
On a side note, we sure packed a ton of sightseeing while I was in Virginia for Heather’s graduation. My parents drove out for the occasion and the four of us stayed very busy. In addition to all the graduation hoopla, we also toured Historic Williamsburg, visited my old haunts in North Carolina, including stops at the Wright Brother’s monument and the beach on the Outer Banks. We ended the trip with a quick tour of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Most of our time was spent in the Smithsonian Institution’s museums. We did visit the new World War II Memorial, which is absolutely incredible.
It was the first time Heather and my parents had visited the museums and we took in Air and Space, Nature and Science and American History. I’ve visited most of those before, but noted the exhibits had changed quite a bit. The original Wright Flyer had its own room and it was very cool seeing it the day after seeing where it made its historic first flights.
I was really disappointed with the American History Museum because a lot of it was being remodeled. The thing I most wanted to see was Clayton Moore’s Lone Ranger mask, but it was not on display.
Our last stop, however, more than made up for my disappointment. We went to the new Air and Space facility just outside of Washington in Virginia. There on display was the test space shuttle Enterprise. It was an awesome sight to behold. I got to see a Concord, the Enola Gay (the plane the dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan) and a Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird, amongst scores of other historic aircraft.
The biggest bonus came while we were viewing the Enterprise. The rest of the family moved on and I lingered to take a few more pictures. That’s when they began ushering everyone out of the room. As I left, NBC news anchor Brian Williams was escorting former astronaut and Senator John Glenn into the facility. I was among the throng of people ignoring Williams and reaching out to shake Glenn’s hand as he passed by.
Once clear of the crowd, Williams led Glenn over to where his Mercury Friendship 7 capsule was displayed. That was the craft Glenn flew in as he became the first American to orbit the earth.
All of that would never have happened for me if my dear, sweet daughter hadn’t risen above her upbringing to become the wonderful young woman and high school graduate that she is today.

The measure of a real man

2011-06-18T16:09:00.001-06:00

Zefram Cochrane, the fictional character from Star Trek, was quoted as saying “Don’t try to be a great man, just be a man.”
With Father’s Day coming up this Sunday, I thought I’d take a look at manhood and what it means to be a man. The broadest definition means all of mankind, male and female. That’s not the definition I’m going to use today. My focus is on the male of the species, primarily the adult male.
Technically, all adult males are men. Our society, however, has a different definition of a man. A real, red-blooded, American man is John Wayne, Gen. George Patton, the pre-Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger, or the fictional Col. Miles Quaritch, the tough, scar-faced Marine played by Stephen Lang in the movie Avatar. A real man is tough, strong, stalwart and unbendable.
It’s my hope to dispel some of those myths. A real man is all of those things and none of those things. A real man is tough, but he is also vulnerable and has a soft heart. A real man is strong, but he is also humble and meek. A real man is stalwart, but he is also thoughtful and tender. A real man is unbendable, but he is also flexible.
To truly be a real man, one must first be a follower of Jesus and have a heart modeled after God’s own heart. He is resolute in his beliefs and has a passion for compassion. A real man is tough in that he can defend his beliefs and can take criticism for what it is. He proves he is tough not by what he can do, but by what he does not do. A tough man does not give in or is easily moved.
Underneath his tough exterior is something worth protecting. It is a loving, tender heart. It is a man who is willing to be vulnerable and to open himself up to the wants and needs of his family, his loved ones and those who cannot fend for themselves. His toughness is like the shell that protects the egg inside.
A strong man is not necessarily muscular or powerful. Physical strength is what most of us think of when we define strong. A true strong man is one unyielding in his values and beliefs. He is humble before God and leads with the heart and attitude of a servant. A strong man puts others before himself. He uses his strength to help other people. He is mentally and emotionally strong and dependable.
The stalwart and unbendable man tends to be one and the same. They are firm and unyielding. Those are good traits when it comes to beliefs and values such as truth, honesty and integrity. There are times, however, when even the most stalwart man must learn to be flexible, understanding and willing to yield. No man is perfect and the man who will not own up to his faults and mistakes is not worth a lick.
A real man will learn to listen to all sides of an issue and try to put himself in the shoes of the other person. He will be kind and understanding. He will not be so inflexible that others cannot work with him. In his my-way-or-the-highway world, you’re better off hitting the road.
In the same light, a real father is one who will give up a round of golf to play catch. A real father allows mistakes but disciplines disobedience. He shares his time, his cookies and his glass of iced tea on a hot, summer day. He reads more than he watches; encourages more than he discourages; slays dragons, vanquishes monsters from closets and squishes spiders; compliments more than critiques; gives without taking; loves mother and child unconditionally; and prays for and with his family every day.
I’ll be the first to admit that I fail at this as much or more than I succeed. But each day I strive to meet this standard and to be a better man than I was when I went to bed the night before. I battle my demons and strive to win the day for my God and my family. They are the only ones who will determine whether or not I succeed. That is a measure I cannot gauge for myself. After all, my life is not about me. It’s about my service to God, my family and those whose lives I touch, no matter how briefly.
Those things may not make me a great man in the eyes of the world, but I hope it will mean the world to those eyes that are on me. A real man couldn’t ask for anything more.

Permanent weight loss requires major change

2011-06-10T07:53:00.000-06:00

The waist is a terrible thing to mind.
Remember that little twist on the United Negro College Fund campaign slogan?
How about the Special K pinch-an-inch test? Those old television commercials from the 1970s showed people who would be obscenely skinny by today’s standards pinching an inch around their waists. Nowadays, if you can grab some flab…
Believe it or not, there was once a time when I could not even pinch an inch on my now-rotund frame. I was a three-sport athlete (i.e. benchwarmer) in high school and was very active in intramural sports and swimming in college. The day I was handed my high school diploma, I weighed in just shy of 150 pounds dripping wet.
I ballooned to 170 pounds by the end of college and managed to stay in the 180-190 range throughout most of the 1990s. I had to give up health club memberships about the time my first marriage ended in the late ’90s. I tried jogging, but bad shins put an end to that.
Enter the 21st century and a decade of no regular exercise, a sedentary occupation and an addiction to the Internet and I found my 5-foot, 10-inch frame hoisting 260 pounds of pure bulk. A couple years ago I volunteered for a medical study which had me very carefully counting and recording my calorie consumption. In three months I lost 30 pounds. Then my part of the program ended. Since then, I have put about half of that back on.
You may ask why my weight weighs so heavy on my mind. Apparently the obesity epidemic is weighing on a lot of people. Everywhere you turn there is some kind of reminder about ways to lose weight or stories about childhood obesity. Recent events have put this problem on the forefront of our lives in the Southern household.
Of the six of us, three are obese, two are normal weight and one is underweight. That is about to change. Our diets are about to undergo a radical transformation. My wife, who has hypoglycemia, has always had to watch her sugar intake. She recently had to have her gallbladder removed and must now avoid fat in her food. When you throw in my middle son who has Celiac’s disease – an intolerance to wheat – and you have a dining nightmare.
In order to accommodate everyone, we will be making a radical lifestyle change at the dinner table. I also plan to start counting calories again, at least for a while. Most importantly, however, I intend to increase our level of activity. Eating less and exercising more are the only surefire and natural ways of controlling your weight. Pills, surgery and other methods only attack the symptoms of obesity, not the problem. Simply put, it requires a change in lifestyle and habit.
Growing up in the days before personal computers and home video, we spent a most of our free time outside playing. My brothers, neighbors and I rode our bikes everywhere. We jumped on our trampoline for endless hours at a time. We ran around the neighborhood playing some wicked games of hide-and-go-seek, kick the can and ghost in the graveyard. We played little league baseball, fished in a nearby stream and pond and went swimming whenever we could talk Mom into taking us to the pool. We were always on the move. It was great. We felt good and had fun.
Today, my kids give their thumbs the biggest workout as they manipulate video game controls. In the last 10 years, they’ve seen more movies and watched more hours of television than I did in the first 20 years of my life. I became content to let them vegetate in front of a screen so I could have time to explore the Internet and email friends. It’s sad that I have more face time with a computer screen than I do with my own children.
I’m just taking a guess here, but I bet this is typical for most parents my age. It’s time to say enough. It’s time to take back our lives. No longer will I be a slave to Facebook and the almighty donut. I am committed to spending more time with my family than I do on my home computer. (Unfortunately I can’t eliminate my work computer.)
We will watch what we eat and make sure to get moving outdoors (sorry kids, the Wii doesn’t count) at least a little bit each day. I want this change to become a permanent habit. After all, the waist is a terrible thing to mind.

Journalistic journey needs guiding light

2011-06-01T13:59:00.000-06:00

The year was 1981. A 15-year-old boy in his first year of high school decided to take a typing class.
One cold January day he was telling his typing teacher about the new camera he got and how much he loved to take pictures. The teacher, being the advisor for the student newspaper, knew that her photo staff was about to graduate that spring and she was on the lookout for new recruits.
She invited the boy to join the newspaper staff as a photographer. He did and the rest is history – my history. That is how I got into journalism. I love photography and page design. Over the years I have come to love writing and editing.
I spent the rest of my high school days as the photo editor of the Niwot South Paw. I then went to Adams State College where I joined the student newspaper, the South Coloradan, as its photo editor. I remained in that position for two years. The next year I became the associate editor and then editor my senior year. In the spring of 1987, I graduated as one of the last journalism majors at ASC. They changed the degree to mass communications after that.
From there my career took me to a weekly paper in Minnesota for two years, a small daily in northeastern North Carolina for seven years, my hometown paper in Colorado for eight years, Amarillo for two years and Hereford for just under a year. I am now at the two and a half year mark at the Waller County News Citizen.
It’s not that my career path is of anyone’s business but my own, but I bring it up to demonstrate that I have been in the occupation for a long time. In all those years, I have seen this industry go through significant change. Right now newspaper journalism is undergoing its biggest transformation since, well, ever.
If you are reading this in print it means you are A.) Old, or B.) A youngish person into the whole “retro” thing. Chances are that you are reading this online, most likely on www.yourwallernews.com or Facebook. From my perspective, printed newspapers have a relatively short lifespan. Soon it will all be online. Stories will no longer be days old, but minutes old. There will be more video and interactive elements. What you get now on your computer is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
As pulp editions pass away, old goats like me will have to adapt to the new ways or move on to more exciting careers like public relations or Walmart greeter. I understand that some of you reading this are thinking “if newspapers are going away, why should I subscribe?” That’s a very good question. Print editions will survive for a few years and they still offer things that you will not get online.
Many papers offer print-only news and content. Not long from now, I hope to have the Waller County News Citizen offering news that is print-only and online-only. Eventually we want our readers to migrate online. Same goes for advertisers. We also respect the fact that we still have a sizeable readership that doesn’t use a computer or does not like reading stories online.
This brings me to the point of this column. Print or online, this is where it becomes interactive. I need to hear from you, dear reader, about what kind of news/content you want to see in print and/or online. I can use my vast industry knowledge (aided by my ESP) to figure out what is of interest and importance to you. Or I can do what I’m doing here and asking you nicely to let me know.
I hope to revamp the paper later this year, but I want it to be relevant. I don’t want to change for change’s sake. I want this to be a publication that you just can’t wait to get your hands on each Thursday (which is also known as “Monday” by many of our postal customers).
I know that local news and sports are our meat and ’taters, but what can we offer in these paper pages that will keep you reading well into the digital age? Do you want state news or Houston news? Perhaps local business news or entertainment features? What about games and puzzles (Sudoku, etc.)? Do you like the local columns or should we do something different? Maybe there were newspaper features from yesteryear that you long to see again.
I don’t know what you want unless you tell me. The same goes for features on our website. Please, drop me a line at jsouthern@hcnonline.com or send a letter to me at 705 12th St., Hempstead, TX 77445. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thomas a picture of grace, integrity

2011-06-01T13:58:00.000-06:00

I saw a picture of grace at the last Hempstead City Council meeting. It was truly an image of a Godly man in action.
It was the last regular meeting for Alderman Fred Thomas III. Just two days earlier he lost his seat by four votes to Charles Hegemeyer.
Thomas appeared to be very distracted at the meeting and made or attempted to make many of the motions or seconds. Afterward, I asked him if he was going to ask for a re-count. He said no and that he was going to do the Lord’s work and if God didn’t want him in office anymore, that was OK with him. Thomas is the pastor of Greater St. Peter’s Baptist Church.
After talking with me, he went over to Hegemeyer, shook his hand and gave him his congratulations and blessing. It was humbling and very gracious. I could see that Thomas enjoyed serving on the council and he will miss it. But I couldn’t help but be very impressed with the way he carried himself with the utmost dignity and integrity during this transition.
I respected Thomas before, but now I hold him in very high regard. He took the high road out of office and I admire with the way he did it. He could have been stubborn and called for a re-count. He could have given a rant about race, religion, age, or politics in general. He did none of those things.
In all of my few dealings with him, he has always been friendly, helpful and encouraging. The world could use some more people like him. I will miss seeing him at the big table every other Monday. It was always a pleasure working with him.
I do look forward to getting to know Hegemeyer. At 23 he is young and inexperienced, but he will bring a perspective to the council that it is lacking. His views as a youthful, political outsider should help give the folks at City Hall a slightly different take on the business as usual.

Rapture
Just in case you missed it, the Rapture was to have taken place Saturday evening. I was ready for it. But then as a believer in Jesus Christ, I am to be ready at any time. We do not have an appointment with God, but rather he has an appointment with us.
It’s kind of like having a doctor’s appointment. You know as you sit in the waiting room that you will see the doctor. The doctor, however, knows when he will actually see you, not the other way around. You could wait anywhere from five minutes to 50 minutes or five days, whichever comes first depending on a complicated mathematical formula that involves the number of patients in the waiting room versus tee times at the country club.
Seriously though, I pity those who genuinely believed that Jesus was coming to call home his followers at a predicted time. If they had actually read an actual Bible, they would have known that in Matthew 24:36 Jesus says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Paul reiterates that in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3: “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
The way I see it, if the angels and Jesus himself do not know the time, there is no way a preacher with a billboard is going to know. The secret is to always be ready for Jesus’ return. Like the Boy Scout motto says, Be Prepared.
It is safe to say that anyone who makes bold predictions about the exact time Jesus will return is going to be wrong. Unless of course you spend the rest of your life predicting that he will come now … now … now...
For those of you who do not believe that Christ is coming again, you’re in more eminent danger than you know because the world is scheduled to end next year as the Mayan calendar expires.
Toodles.

Get your geek on at Comicpalooza

2011-05-19T10:30:00.000-06:00

Got your geek on?
I do. It’s been nearly six years since I’ve attended any type of science fiction convention. Thanks to Comicpalooza on May 27-29, I’ll be able to slake my desire to dress in costume and join thousands of other cosplayers and stargazers and geek out for the weekend.
I attended the second Comicpalooza two years ago when it was just a comic book festival in a Houston mall. Next weekend, Comicpalooza will return to the George R. Brown Convention Center and will feature a huge number of movie stars, authors (such as Katy resident and vampire romance novelist Kerrelyn Sparks), comic book artists and creators, roller derby, gaming, and a bunch of other fun and unusual things.
In four short years, Comicpalooza has grown to become the largest convention (or con, as they are often called) of its size in Texas and is on pace to become one of the largest in the country. Even if you’re not into comic books or that whole sci-fi thing, it’s a great place to people watch and to see and meet some well-known Hollywood actors.
You want some Star Wars? They’ve got the one and only Chewbacca (Peter Meyhew) and the original Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch). How about some Star Trek? Welcome Counselor Deana Troi (Marina Sirtis) and the Klingon Kurn (Tony Todd). Perhaps Battlestar Galactica captures your fancy. Try spending the weekend with Admiral Adama (Edward James Almos) himself! Does Harry Potter have you under his spell? Seamus Finnegan (Devon Murray) might have the cure. If you’re anticipating the upcoming Green Lantern flick, actors Deke Anderson and Nick Jones will be there with the scoop.
Other actors include Sam Trammell, Meaghan Rath, Sean Maher, voice actor Tom Kane, James Hampton, and Dan Braverman.
Of course, what would a comic con be without comic book and anime creators. There will be more than three dozen artists and writers there, including Arthur Suydam, Brian Denham, Larry Elmore, Chris Foreman, Alejandro Garza, Phil Hester, Bob Layton, Terry Moore, and Dirk Strangely, to name a few. It would fill all the space I have in this column just to name all the guests and events going on at Comicpalooza.
For fans of horror, Splaterfest will be returning and new this year will be a film festival. If gaming is your thing, there will be several experts and many opportunities to twiddle your thumbs across a controller. Other added attractions include a roller derby demonstration and Quiddich matches between teams from Texas A&M and Sam Houston State.
One of the things I like the most is the costumers (or cosplayers as they are now known). Several groups will be there, such as the Star Garrison from the 501st Legion (Star Wars Stormtroopers and other bad guys), the Rebel Legion (the good guys from Star Wars), a Ghostbusters group, steampunk costumers, and many others, including TexLUG, the Texas Lego Users Group. If you in the mood for a good bodyslam, Doomsday Wrestling will be there.
As an experienced con-goer, I can tell you that I’ve never seen a lineup this huge outside the daddy of ’em all, the San Diego Comic Con. If you look at all the novelty entertainment, much of it is a first for a comic con. This is clearly going to be one of the biggest and most unique cons in the country.
As it continues to grow, it will finally be mentioned in the same breath as San Diego, Atlanta’s Dragon-Con, San Francisco’s WonderCon and the New York Comic Con. In four short years, Comicpalooza has surpassed Starfest, Denver’s long established sci-fi convention. That is where most of my con experience comes from, though I have been to others.
It always amazes me that no matter how hugely popular these events are, the average person is scarcely aware of them. A lot of people think they are an extension of the old Star Trek conventions, which is the main root of these events. Needless to say, the modern cons have boldly gone where no Star Trek festival has gone before. And the more that movies and comic books blend together, the more varied and popular they will become.
For more information, visit www.comicpalooza.com or look them up on Facebook.
I know where I plan to be in my Lone Ranger disguise that weekend. I will definitely have my geek on. How about you?

Better late than never: Thank you moms!

2011-05-11T14:43:00.000-06:00

Well, that was weird. I normally write a Mother’s Day column the week before the big day, but this year I blew it.
Mother’s Day seemed to be early this year. I know it’s past us already, but I still want to give a shout-out to all the moms and moms-to-be out there. I don’t think I’d call motherhood a thankless job, though it may seem like it at times. Since I am not a mother, I don’t exactly feel qualified to say for sure. But I have a mother and a wife who is a mother and I can tell you that they love the job and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Being a housewife, however, is a whole different story. That does involve a lot of thankless work. Please allow me to take a brief moment to tell all the moms, wives, housewives, stay-at-home moms, single moms, working moms, grandmothers, and any other woman who has, is, or is contemplating becoming a mother, thank you for all that you do. Believe me; it really is appreciated by most of us males of the species.

Conspiracy theory
Once again our dear President Obama has made a really stupid mistake. His decision to not release photos or video of a dead Osama bin Laden is a huge blunder that also flies in the face of his campaign promise to make government more open and transparent.
About 10 years ago we got to watch ad nauseam as nearly 3,000 people died at bin Laden’s command. For more than a decade the taxpayers of this country have funded the manhunt for him. We taxpayers paid the men who killed him. We paid for the equipment they used. Those images belong to the American people, no matter how grisly they are.
To be sure, release of the photos would be inflammatory. On the other hand, not releasing the photos creates the mother of all conspiracy theories. Inflamed passions will die down, but conspiracy theories have a significantly longer shelf life.
I somehow doubt that people – i.e. our enemies – will be inflamed any more by pictures of his corpse than they were about news of his death. Frankly, I don’t care if we anger our enemies. It will subject us to more media coverage of radicals shooting guns, burning the American flag and assaulting us with verbal tirades. Yes, it will also put some of our troops in harm’s way, but they are in harm’s way already. It may result in our enemies coming out of hiding in order to shoot at us. Bring ’em on!
There are moral and ethical questions about releasing the pictures. No doubt they are not for the squeamish and young children to see. At least I think so based on the description of bin Laden’s death. I would like the opportunity to decide that for myself. I don’t want a politician making that choice for me. I have spent just under a fourth of my life waiting for the day bin Laden is brought to justice, only to be denied tangible proof of his demise. I don’t have to tell you how frustrating that is.
It’s not that I have a morbid curiosity to see him dead or any desire at all to exploit it. I just want the satisfaction of seeing for myself the proof that he is truly gone and getting intimately acquainted with the real “great Satan”. More than that, however, is my fierce opposition to the notion of our government keeping secrets from its people.
I can see and agree that there are some things that should be kept secret in the name of national security. But Obama himself said the photos pose no national security risk. I see this as an example of the President denying us something we’re entitled to under the Freedom of Information Act. This is the same President who feels he can violate the Constitution and require citizens to buy health insurance. I see a very disturbing trend here. Or perhaps I’m wrapped up in a big conspiracy theory. (Where is Wikileaks when you need them?!)

Speaking of conspiracy theories
I can’t begin to tell you how many people have approached me in recent weeks convinced that Hempstead Mayor Michael Wolfe is guilty of nepotism. Let’s please put this rumor to rest. Unless you have proof of this, it is wrong to perpetuate the rumors. I have checked with three different sources, including the mayor himself, and am convinced he has not hired any relatives to work for the city that he cannot legally hire. He told me he has had ample opportunity to hire relatives and has adamantly refused to do it. I believe him. If I am wrong, I encourage anyone to come to me with names, proof of hire and the statute it violates. Otherwise, do as the Good Book says and stop being a gossip. Thank you. ’Nuff said.

Download this before you upload that

2011-05-06T09:02:00.000-06:00

The old saying “nothing lasts forever” may apply to many things, but apparently it has lost its meaning in the digital age.
If you text it, upload it, photograph it, blog it – whatever it is you do, keep in mind that it will never completely go away. Someday, somehow, someway, it can and probably will be retrieved and viewed by someone it was never intended for.
I lost a job once because of a snarky email I sent to my supervisor three months earlier. It didn’t matter that the issue had long since been resolved and was long forgiven and forgotten, my supervisor’s boss found the email and I was instantly history.
I am a Facebook junkie. I put a lot of pictures and most of my writings on the social networking site. Everything that anyone posts online will stay forever in the ethereal realm of cyberspace. Even if I deleted my account today and removed everything from Facebook’s servers, a copy of it would remain in any number of places where those with the knowhow could call it up any time they desired.
If I take a picture of my kids doing something goofy and send it via text or email to my wife, it will always exist somewhere out there. If I were to lose or donate my old phone, anyone with the right skills could pry into it and find things that I thought were permanently vanquished.
It’s important for people to know and understand the permanence of digital communication. Given that there are trillions of texts, emails, etc. sent out, the likelihood of them being rediscovered by unintended persons is very slight. But if someone were to investigate you – say for a job, security clearance, because you became rich and famous or whatever – they can use technology to find whatever they want, even if you believe it to be long gone.
Those who are into “sexting” – sending sexually explicit messages, pictures and video – must do so with the realization that several years down the road those things could wind up on the computer of a potential employer or even your grandchildren.
If you send nude or risqué pictures of yourself to your boyfriend/girlfriend or even a spouse and that relationship goes sour, you are powerless to stop that person from exploiting those images and wrecking your reputation and your life. Think about it, do you really want to explain to your spouse, or child, or pastor, or employer why there are pictures of you performing a sex act with someone who is no longer in your life?
There might also come a time when you go to your boss seeking a raise or promotion and he first asks you why you questioned his parentage in an email to a colleague.
The digital age is a wonderful thing with tremendous possibilities. Instant communication has great value and importance. It can also be the snake that bites you when you’re not looking. The main thing is to be aware of what you are doing and sending out into cyberspace. If you don’t want it shouted or shown from the rooftops, then you probably shouldn’t be doing it.
The Internet is a great equalizer in many ways. It’s very transparent. It can make the weak powerful and the powerful weak. In my youth, my youthful indiscretions rarely went beyond the memories of those who experienced them with me. Today, youthful indiscretions can wind up on Facebook or YouTube and be there to haunt you well into your retirement years.
Look before you leap and think before you speak. It’s called integrity and it’s a value that is quickly fading with each succeeding generation. Our fathers and grandfathers believed the Bible in Luke 12:2-3 when Jesus said “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”
That is now our digital reality. Our private and public lives are merging. It has been said that the real character of a person is how they act when they think no one is looking. In this day and age you can no longer assume no one is looking or listening, especially if it crosses into cyberspace.
That’s something to think about the next time you feel that nothing lasts forever.

Area rich in history but poor in interest

2011-04-27T14:06:00.000-06:00

On this spot in 1865, nothing happened.
That was on a plaque in my barber’s shop in Amarillo. It sums up some of my feelings about living in Colorado. The state has a very colorful history, but the place where I lived was seriously lacking in local lore.
It was hard to get excited about being in a place that gold miners passed through on their way to the mountains above Boulder. Oh, that and the town I lived in was a railroad stop and had a huge sugar beet depot. Woo-hoo.
What I did find interesting was that Arapaho Indians used to live in what is now the village of Niwot, which means Left Hand and is named after an Arapaho chief.
Texas, on the other hand, is loaded with history. I’ve been immersing myself in the War for Texas Independence and really relishing the abundance of historical information and artifacts that are available now for the 175th anniversary. Maybe I’m just a history geek, but it seems to me there should be a lot more interest in local history than what I’ve seen. Perhaps you natives grew up with it pushed at you from all directions in your youth and it’s lost its appeal.
I find it fascinating that the Runaway Scrape passed through Waller County and that the Twin Sisters cannons were delivered to Sam Houston just south of Hempstead at Bernardo Plantation. While the event itself may not be monumental, it is significant in the war because those guns were paramount in the decisive outcome of the Battle of San Jacinto.
Without the cannons, the Texian Army would have likely lost and Texas would be part of Mexico. Just think, the city of Houston could easily have been the city of Santa Anna. The San Jacinto monument could be marking the place where Mexico won final victory in the war. The battle cry “Remember the Alamo” would have a very different meaning.
Viva Texas! Viva Sam Houston!

Live debt free
Thanks to my wonderful mother-in-law, I have fairly recently became a fan of Dave Ramsey. If you don’t know Dave, you should. He is a Christian radio talk show host who informs people how to eliminate debt in their lives. I’ve been listening to some CDs my mother-in-law, Jerry “Grammy” Snyder, loaned us, and it’s eye-opening how simple it is to live a debt-free life.
I did say it was simple, but it also requires hard work. Some of Dave’s staples include: living on less than you make; shredding your credit cards; saving money to buy the big-ticket items you want (house, car, etc.); saving and investing a portion of your income; and, as he is fond of saying, “live life like no one else so that you can live life like no one else.”
Dave is a very dynamic and energetic speaker. You can hear him on the radio locally at 700 AM KSEV in Houston from 2 to 4 p.m. and 1510 AM KAGC in Bryan from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. He is also online at www.daveramsey.com. He will speak live in Houston on Oct. 8. Ticket information is on his website.
I still struggle with finances. Other than my car payment, however, I have almost no debt. I haven’t had a credit card for several years, though I do have a debit card tied to my checking account. The economy makes it difficult for my family to make ends meet, but it has taught us how to live in a thrifty way.
Right now the Texas Legislature is contemplating a measure that would allow casino gambling in the state. I hope they are smart enough to turn it down. While they’re at it, they can take away the lottery as well.
As Dave will tell you, the lottery just a tax on the poor and those who are bad at math. Have you ever wondered why you don’t see wealthy people buying lottery tickets? If you want to win the jackpot, take the money you throw away on the lottery and invest it in an interest-bearing account. It’s guaranteed to make you a winner each time. That’s advice you can take to (and from) the bank. Try doing that with a lottery ticket or at a casino.
Alan Ahlgrim, a pastor of mine back in Colorado, preached an annual sermon on the 10-10-80 plan. It’s great advice. You tithe 10 percent of your income to the church, save another 10 percent and live off the remaining 80 percent. That requires some budgeting and sacrifice, but the long-term reward is worth it.

First shuttle pilot laments end of era

2011-04-21T08:36:00.001-06:00

Robert Crippen was a household name 30 years ago with his picture plastered across the front pages of nearly every newspaper and news magazine as he and John Young thundered into orbit on the first flight of the space shuttle.
Today the veteran of four shuttle flights is making the rounds talking to crowds about his historic first flight and lamenting the coming end of the space shuttle era of manned spaceflight.
“I’m sorry to see this part of the space program end. … It’s been a stunning adventure for 30 years,” he said during a speech at the 18th International Academy of Astronautics Humans in Space Symposium last Thursday at the Westin Galleria Hotel.
Two days earlier Crippen was at Kennedy Space Center on the stage with NASA Director Charles Bolden when he announced where the retiring shuttles would be displayed. In an interview after this talk, Crippen was reluctant to share his feelings about Houston’s shuttle snub.
“There really was no way NASA could win on this with only four vehicles … and 20-some applicants,” he said. “I thought they spread them out pretty good, though obviously Houston is disappointed.”
The announcement was made on April 12, the 30th anniversary of the first shuttle flight. Crippen’s remarks in Houston came two days later, on the anniversary of the first landing.
“The launch was great, but the landing was even greater,” he quipped during his speech.
Commanding Columbia on the historic flight was John Young, a veteran astronaut whose previous voyage to space took him to the moon.
“John Young was a natural for being commander of the first flight,” Crippen said. “He was chief of the astronaut office, so he got to pick who went on the flight.”
He said Young selected him as pilot to help expand NASA’s experience base. It was Young’s fifth flight and Crippen’s first. Crippen went on to command three more shuttle flights on Challenger, one in 1983 and twice in 1984.
The first flight met with many delays, most notably the tiles that kept falling off and the main engines that kept exploding in tests.
“The engines are really, really powerful and fragile,” he said.
Safety has always been a top concern for NASA. “We did have ejector seats on the first four flights, but to me that was a placebo,” Crippen said, noting that the tongue of orange flame would instantly vaporize the astronauts if they ejected during flight.
After two days in space putting the shuttle through its shakedown paces, it was time to return home. “Entry was a thing of beauty from my standpoint,” he said. He added that even though they were traveling through space at 17,500 mph, it wasn’t until they were landing that he got a feel for their speed.
“The clouds going by gave me much more sense of speed going by,” he said.
He was caught by surprise when he looked out the window and saw thousands of vehicles parked around the runway at Edwards Air Force Base to view the landing.
“It’s a bittersweet time for me as the program comes to a close,” he said.
He gave a short pitch for a book he helped work on called Wings in Orbit, detailing the shuttle era. Crippen also advocated for the administration to put NASA back on course for continued human spaceflight and exploration. After the last two shuttle flights, NASA will have to depend on Russian Soyuz capsules for transportation to and from the International Space Station.
“It’s sad to see the shuttle come to an end without a definite plan where we’re going in the future,” he said. He added that he feels humans should first establish a base on the moon and then shoot for Mars and beyond.

Historical anniversaries shouldn't be forgotten

2011-04-13T14:24:00.000-06:00

This year we mark the 175th anniversary of the War for Texas Independence. It’s also the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the 135th anniversary of Little Bighorn, the 50th anniversary of the first man in space and the 30th anniversary of the space shuttle.
For most people, that’s ho-hum news. For us history buffs, it’s an exciting time to learn and expand our knowledge of the events that made our country and our world what it is today. I don’t know why we make such a big deal out of milestone years divisible by five, but we do. The first big one I recall outside of my birthday was July 4, 1976, when Uncle Sam blew out 200 candles.
That year, we learned all about the Revolutionary War in school. My mother and I baked a birthday cake for America and stuck 200 candles on it. My dad lit them with a blow torch and we sang Happy Birthday. We had to do it quickly because the top of the cake had become a sheet of wax and several of the candles were flickering out in the bubbling pool of red, white and blue goo.
Of course 11 years ago was the big millennial celebration when we all hunkered down in front of our television sets and waited for the Y2K bug to bite. I’ve been bitten worse by gnats.
Thinking of these historic anniversaries has me puzzled at the hows and whys of the things we celebrate. Events like the Alamo and Goliad were one-sided slaughters. We lost, yet we remember them in a much different light with the ultimate victory at San Jacinto – which will be celebrated this weekend in Houston.
The Civil War was won by the North, but the majority of reenactors are Southern Confederates. Even though the South lost, much of its identity is linked to the War Between the States.
America has also been slow to honor the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic first human flight into space, mostly because the milestone was made by our Cold War rivals.
On the other hand, Americans have met most space milestones with nonchalance. Think about it. Without looking it up, can you tell me the date man first landed on the moon? How about the date the first American went into space? Who was that first American?
Getting closer to home, Waller County is in a great position to celebrate many of these milestones. Hempstead and Liendo Plantation played a small role in the Civil War, housing a prisoner of war camp here. To the south, 175 years ago this week, Gen. Sam Houston took possession of the Twin Sisters cannons at Bernardo Plantation during the Runaway Scrape.
Our proximity to the city of Houston should connect most people to space history. There are no doubt people living in the county who made significant contributions to the space program. I know astronauts have visited the area. I got to meet one of them a year or so ago. Charles Bolden, who is now NASA’s administrator, came to Prairie View to honor some gifted math students. Bolden is also the one who on Tuesday snubbed Houston as the home for one of the retired space shuttles.
For whatever it’s worth, the anniversary of Little Bighorn is of no real significance to Waller County, except that George Armstrong Custer was stationed here at the end of the Civil War.
As rich as this area is in Texas history, it would seem to me that there would be some kind of recognition or celebration of the local events. Perhaps the Watermelon Festival parade could have a Texas history theme to it. Maybe a celebration could be tied to the dedication of the Waller County Clock and Bell Tower.
Just to toss out another suggestion, since Waller County played such a huge role in the Runaway Scrape, perhaps the county should do something to commemorate it permanently. A monument with replica cannons and/or an annual reenactment might be in order. With 25 years to go to the bicentennial celebration, perhaps the commissioners could plant a little seed money now to invest in a big shindig when the time comes.
When I was living and working in Elizabeth City, N.C., the city’s bicentennial passed with no formal recognition. The paper put out a nice special section, but the city fathers failed to even acknowledge it with so much as a proclamation. I was pained to see such a milestone pass without recognition. I’d hate to see the same thing happen here.

Biggest thing we make in U.S. is government

2011-04-07T09:16:00.000-06:00

Let’s make something, shall we?
I’ve been reading an opinion piece from the Wall Street Journal that jives with something I wrote a few months back. We are no longer a productive nation. This is what the article says: “Today in America there are nearly twice as many people working for the government (22.5 million) than in all of manufacturing (11.5 million). This is an almost exact reversal of the situation in 1960, when there were 15 million workers in manufacturing and 8.7 million collecting a paycheck from the government.”
The government doesn’t produce a product. It doesn’t export goods. It simply grows, costing taxpayers more and more each year. The more you feed the beast, the bigger and lazier it becomes.
Let’s face it, people (like me) want to have cozy office jobs, working on a computer without taking the risks or physical exertion that goes with making, marketing and selling a product. It seems our idea of economic development is to lure business and industry here. What ever happened to starting homegrown businesses?
I would say this problem has direct bearing on the nation’s obesity problem. We sit at a computer all day. We come home and spend several more hours surfing the Internet, watching TV or playing video games. It is any wonder that the highest paid people today are entertainers, athletes and the nerds who design the cool gadgets we watch them with?
Note that I said the nerds who DESIGN the gadgets. We’re too cheap and lazy to make them here. We get them from China and its neighbors where they make them faster and cheaper. It used to be that all the cool stuff came from Japan. Once the Japanese got financial clout it caught America’s consumerism disease.
I take a small degree of comfort and pride in knowing that as a journalist I am providing a service and producing a product. Still, there are times I wish I were working outdoors or making something with my hands. The more time I spend with my Scouting sons, the more I recall how fun it was as a kid to do leather craft, wood carving and the sort. I used to love to cartoon and draw pictures.
There are times I’d like to have my childhood imagination back again. I was big into comics, Star Trek, The Lone Ranger, and old monster movies as a youngster. I would draw creative pictures or role-play adventures with my friends. I used to sit in class at school and daydream some fantastic stories.
Now that I’m grown up, my mind is filled with things like, work, church, kids, wife, making ends meet, mowing the lawn, cleaning house, washing dishes and laundry, keeping cars running, and so on and so on (and not necessarily in that order).
While I love my job and have enjoyed a long career, there have been times when I have daydreamed about what I’d like to do if I ever left the Fourth Estate. All of my adult life I’ve had friends telling me I should be a teacher, but I haven’t felt that calling. Many times I’ve desired to get into Christian ministry, but that requires an education I can’t afford.
Sometimes I think it would be fun to design theme restaurants. Imagine dining on the Black Pearl, eating in the Great Hall at Hogwarts or doing lunch in the Batcave. Other times I’d like to have my own curio shop. I’d want to sell stuff ideal for this area, such as cowboy/western, pirate/sea, and space/science fiction collectibles and memorabilia. Houston is kind of a nexus for all three genres. (By the way, I’m claiming intellectual copyright on my ideas!)
There is also a part of me that wishes I had followed my childhood dream of being a forest ranger. I love being outdoors working with animals and such. I’d also like to be a farmer or rancher, though I don’t have the education or money for that. Even running a dude ranch sounds like fun.
Alas, for now those are just dreams. Interestingly, not a one of those occupations produces a product, at least not one that could be exported. And being a teacher or forest ranger would put me on the government dole. That would kind of defeat the purpose of my thought process here. I guess it’s my hope that in some way this column will inspire the entrepreneurial spirit in someone. Maybe we can once again be a nation of makers instead of takers.
So, what do you say, shall we make something?

Don’t let your ego ruin your marriage

2011-03-31T12:18:00.000-06:00

“My advice to you is get married: if you find a good wife you’ll be happy; if not, you’ll become a philosopher.” – Socrates
I see it way too often. Friends, associates, colleagues and strangers who aren’t worth the ego that God gave them. Ego is that which builds us up and tears us down. The ego is the most selfish and self-serving part of humankind.
We all have an ego. What we allow our ego to become is what defines our character. An uncontrolled ego is the bane of everyone else’s existence.
I am no philosopher. I am no expert in psychology. I have, however, learned a few things along the way. One of those things is that egos are the most destructive things a family can endure. The ego (i.e. selfishness) is what ends marriages and harms children. To give in to the ego is to the detriment of those around you.
Almost all cases of divorce have at their root the ego of one or both individuals. Before I go further, let me make it clear that I have been divorced and know full well of which I write. My divorce was not my choice; rather it was forced upon me against my will. I am remarried and much happier than ever before. I trust that my wife can say the same.
What I have learned through my two marriages is that my life is not about me. Life is about what I am to others. What makes a good husband is the attention and service he gives his wife and vice versa. The same goes for a father to his children. To lead a family, one does not command respect but rather provides unconditional love and service.
If I want my wife’s respect, I must first treat her with dignity. It’s the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If I put the needs of my wife and children before my own needs, they in turn will do the same. This is a concept lost on a lot of people these days. Everyone, including me, falls into the ego trap. We become so self-absorbed that we forget to meet the needs of those who depend on us.
(Allow me to pause here a moment and clarify that I am not condoning co-dependency. That is unhealthy. You should be of service to others, not trying to fix them or make your happiness dependent on their happiness. There are those in life who will not respond in kind. You must guard your heart against that.)
The warrior in a man becomes satisfied once he captures the love of a woman. He no longer needs to court her and pursue her heart. Instead, he becomes content to have a live-in maid who is the mother of his children. He puts so much emphasis on being the provider that he forgets he is also a nurturer. Why else provide if not to nurture one’s family?
While material provisions are good and necessary, it is the provision of yourself that provides nourishment to the soul of your mate and children. If you are in a marriage because it suits you and fills a need within you, then you are probably in it for the wrong reasons. I am in my marriage to fulfill the needs and desires of my wife. Likewise, she sees to my needs and desires.
Our need of each other supersedes that of our children. It is because we have such a strong foundation in our relationship that our children can be content and comforted in knowing that their foundation is secure. Mommy and Daddy are never going to leave them of their own free will. Sandy and I are in this, quite literally, until death do us part.
I can have this kind of relationship because I am the master of my ego. I am a man of my word. As the saying goes, “A man is only as good as his word.”
When I said my wedding vow, I made a sacred, unbreakable covenant between me, Sandy and God. If you are not capable of making such a permanent commitment, then perhaps you are not ready for marriage.
Trust me, when it comes to “for better or for worse” you will find there is a lot more of the worse than you probably bargained for. It’s your ability to keep your ego in check and keep your commitment through the bad times that make the good times even better than you imagined. This is not my philosophy, but rather the reality of life. Those who let their egos quit before they taste victory will only know the sting of failure.
If you would like to know how to have the best marriage you can, I strongly suggest you visit www.familylife.com, click on “events for couples” and then “Weekend to Remember”. There are sessions coming to our area soon. If you value any part of your marriage, whether you are struggling or not, this is worth attending.

Poking at life's box of chocolates

2011-03-25T13:54:00.000-06:00

Have you ever had one of those “box of chocolate” days? That describes the weekend for me.
Certainly you know that famous line from “Forrest Gump” where Forrest says, “My momma always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’”
I tasted a bunch of chocolates this weekend. It began on Friday with the funeral of the father of one of our Cub Scouts. That one didn’t taste so good. It was a beautiful service, but seeing a 10-year-old boy lose his dad on his birthday is a bitter pill no matter how much chocolate you put on it.
That afternoon, I went to cover the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. When I got there, I went to pick up my press box pass for the Alan Jackson concert. Before I could reach the media room on the second floor of the Reliant Center, I encountered a mob scene.
It turns out I caught the tail end of Jackson’s induction into the HLSR’s Star Trail of Fame in honor of performing for his millionth fan at the show over the past 19 years. He became the fifth entertainer to reach that milestone behind Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Charley Pride and George Strait.
I quickly pulled out my camera, adjusted the settings and worked my way through a sea of cowboy hats until the familiar white hat and blond mustachioed face came into focus. I shot off several frames, but by then he was finishing up and leaving the scene. That chocolate was cherry-filled. I didn’t expect that.
I made the rounds through the show, locating several Waller County folks and snapping a bunch of the pictures you see in this week’s paper. Finding them was like plucking a nougat out of the box. I always seem to have a hard time finding local folks when I go there. This time I ran into Debbie Hollan and Cody Dennison, who directed me to a bunch of kiddos and their projects.
After spending the afternoon and evening walking around, my feet and legs felt like Gummy Worms. When the rodeo started, I continued to move around the stadium trying to photograph the events from different angles. Every once and a while I plopped down into a vacant seat to rest my weary bones. The funny thing is, people holding tickets for those seats somehow felt they were entitled to sit in them. Imagine that.
By the time the rodeo ended and the concert started, I hung around the main concourse shooting more photos of Jackson. After a few songs I retreated to the elevator and went up to the press box on the eighth floor. The view wasn’t so great, but the plush, soft chair was another cherry-filled chocolate.
The next morning, Sandy wanted to take the whole family shopping at Home Depot and Hobby Lobby. I bit into a coconut on that one, but went along with it like it was a chocolate cream. (Oh my aching Gummy Worms!) After shopping and lunch, we headed to the back yard to finally begin making the compost pit we have been talking about for some time. That included digging a rectangular hole in root-infested clay soil. It also meant uprooting a large bush that Sandy didn’t like.
By the time we finished for the day, I had Pop Rocks hands to go with my Gummy Worms feet. A nice hot shower and a movie date with Sandy and I was back into cherry-filled heaven again. We had to get up extra early Sunday morning (coconuts!) so Sandy could sing with the praise team at church. Getting to see and hear the love of my life on stage like that makes it all worth it, though, in a truffle sort of way.
We followed up church with a nap and a great small group Bible study. Now we’re talking dark chocolates – oh yeah! We ended the day by cleaning up our back yard mess. After lifting and hauling branches and limbs and several bags of grass clippings, I had one of those manly-man tired feelings. It was all good.
On Monday morning my commute was beautiful with blooming flowers, lifting ground fog and the setting of the moon. Smooth as caramel! Getting to the office, however, and finding it in disarray was like biting into a maple chocolate. Eww!
Our landlord, Doug Holloman, had his crew working in here over the weekend to paint the walls and put down new flooring. They were far from finished and everything was shoved into corners and jumbled in a way that you had to follow rabbit trails to get anywhere. Even now as I write this, the sounds of saws and drills coupled with the smells of glue and paint are making me feel as bad as if I had just scarffed down the whole box by myself.
I’m glad the work is getting done. It is way past due. But going through the process is like that moment just before you bite into a chocolate – you anticipate delight, but fear getting something bitter. I guess in the meantime I’m going to keep poking at the chocolates looking for the cherries.

Love is the elixir for life’s hurts

2011-03-16T14:47:00.001-06:00

“Life is short, and it hurts. Love is the only drug that works.” John Coit, late columnist for the late Rocky Mountain News
John Coit was no philosopher and certainly didn’t have time for organized religion. What Coit did have was an incredible insight into the human condition. As a columnist for the Rocky Mountain News back in the 1980s, he had a knack for shining the spotlight on the marginalized side of life.
He hung out with bums, drug addicts, and an assortment of people that you’d flip a quarter to as you passed by, never to think of them again. His idea of covering the Super Bowl was from Bourbon Street, not the Superdome. He was an old-school journalist who lived as hard as he drank and smoked.
Coit died of a heart attack on Jan. 11, 1986, just 11 days after getting married in the lobby of the Rocky. He was 38. I could never relate to Coit personally because we lived such different lives. But I loved his columns and read them regularly. It turns out we both got our start in daily newspapers at the same place, The Daily Advance in Elizabeth City, N.C.
I loved that quote above from Coit and memorized it a long time ago. It jives with many of the messages in the Bible and is a truth that anyone can recognize. I was reminded of Coit and that quote this weekend after a campout with our Cub Scout pack at CubWorld in Conroe.
Pack 1000 is small, only about a dozen boys. A few weeks ago a boy by the name of Colby joined us. He is the only boy we have working on his Bear badge. He came in late in the game, but is enthusiastic and has been working hard to achieve the rank by the end of the school year.
Our campout was his first one with us. He is a quiet kid but didn’t shy away from being involved. Normally his grandparents or his mother bring him to meetings. This time his dad came with us. Marvin’s looks and personality reminded me of the late disc jockey Wolfman Jack – big in stature and bigger in heart.
On Saturday morning as we got up, fixed breakfast and prepared for a hike, Marvin stayed back and took it easy. He didn’t join us on the hike because of a heart condition that prohibited a lot of excursion. After lunch, he and Colby began packing up their gear and taking down their tent.
When I asked him why, he said that sleeping on the ground was too hard on him. That and Sunday was Colby’s 10th birthday and they were planning a big party for him. Marvin had Colby taking down the tent by himself. When I offered to help, Marvin called me off. He said Colby needs to learn to do these things himself and to do them right. I respected that. As they were leaving, the Pack gathered around and sang Happy Birthday to Colby.
I was sad to have them leave early but was happy that they were spending family time together for this milestone occasion in Colby’s life.
Focusing on the rest of the activities, I didn’t think much more of Colby and his dad. We finished the campout and all of us had a great time. On Sunday afternoon, we returned home, unpacked and resumed life as usual. Late Monday night, an e-mail was sent out from the mother of one of the other boys. Marvin passed away on Sunday – Colby’s 10th birthday.
“Life is short, and it hurts. Love is the only drug that works.”
I can’t begin to imagine what Colby is feeling right now as I write this. The rest of his birthdays will be burdened with the memory of the loss of his father. My heart and my prayers go out to Colby and his family. I only knew Marvin for a few hours, but they were happy ones.
I have pictures of Colby and his dad sitting around the campfire roasting hot dogs. The last picture I took of them was of Marvin instructing Colby how to roll up their tent.
Life isn’t fair. Life really is short, and to be sure it comes with a lot of pain. Life, however, comes with much joy and pleasure. Love is the fuel that makes life worth living. It’s a father and a son and final moments together, inseparable and happy. In the end, that’s the most any of us can hope for when our time is up.

I've finally caved in to the Dark Side

2011-03-09T12:41:00.001-07:00

The power of the Dark Side is strong and it’s lure too great. I have gone over to the other side and I think I like it.
Last week I upgraded my old flip phone for (gasp) an iPhone. I have entered the world of touch pads, mobile Internet, and all the bells and apps that go with it. To my surprise, this handy little gadget even has a cellular telephone built into it!
I’ve seen many other people using iPhones. I’ve often privately mocked them, seeing what slaves they’ve become to technology and the loss of personal contact that goes with it. You’ve undoubtedly seen these iPhonies walking around with a glazed look in their eyes and the shiny, slender device in the palm of their hand, leading them though as if they were zombies.
Without their iPhones, these people look … lost, like they’re out of place ... almost lifelike. While they seem helpless without the gadget in hand, at the same time they seem very powerful when wielding their iPhone. Their ability to connect to the world from most any place at any time is astounding. I used to marvel at how fast I could take a picture with my digital camera, upload it to my computer and then e-mail it to friends or upload it to Facebook. That now seems sluggish compared to the ease and speed of the iPhone.
Last Saturday night I sat down with the phone and discovered the app store. It took me a couple hours, but I successfully downloaded the free Facebook app. My 15-year-old son was sitting next to me about to explode with frustration while watching my struggles. He could have done it within seconds, but I was determined to find my own way. After all, a real man doesn’t ask for directions; he blazes his own path.
As Wesley watched me scroll through the endless list of apps, he kept pointing out games he likes and things he thinks I should have on my phone. I really don’t want to get caught in that trap, though I admit the temptation is great. When I finally figure out how to use this tool to connect to the newspaper’s website, I should be able to post things much faster from the field and with a little more consistency. I’m looking forward to that.
On Sunday we attended our new small group at church. We met some people who are new to us and wouldn’t you know it, one of the guys works at the Apple store! God must have gotten frustrated with my slowness and sent him to me.
This is a bold step into a new world for me. I don’t like phones in general and I specifically don’t care for cell phones. But this thing is a game-changer. It’s also dangerous. It can be very easy to get caught up using the blasted thing and to lose all track of time and human connection. I fear now that I have joined the Dark Side that I will become an iPhone zombie.
Anyone who knows me well will understand my distaste for constant electronic connection. To say that Joe Southern has an iPhone is akin to saying Donald Trump doesn’t carry a wallet. Those things just don’t happen. But it has happened and I am simultaneously proud and ashamed.
I have a very good reason for not liking phones. Almost 30 years ago I lost about a fourth of my hearing due to firing shotguns without ear protection and listening to loud music. I have tinnitus, which is a permanent, continuous ringing of the ears. I have a hard time understanding people in good circumstances, but if there is any background noise or distortion, such as that of a phone, I have a really hard time understanding what I hear.
It’s kind of like having the old man syndrome where you may say one thing, but I hear another. My wife thinks it’s selective hearing. To a degree it is. Usually whenever somebody says something of interest or humor, they speak a little louder and clearer. Oftentimes I catch part of what was said and end up asking the person to repeat themselves. Other times I can be sitting at a table with a group of people and if the conversation isn’t directed at me, I tend to tune it out like the rest of the “white noise” in the background. This is especially true if I’m reading or otherwise distracted. If I focus too hard to listen to a conversation that doesn’t involve me I can’t concentrate on what’s before me. That gets me into a lot of trouble, especially at home.
I also have a love-hate relationship with Hollywood. There are a lot of movies and things I like, but there are many more movies, TV shows and such that I despise. I also don’t like the thought of Hollywood having 24/7 influence over what I see and hear. There is something Big Brotherishly wrong with that.
That is the influence that attracts most people to the Dark Side. That is the part of the Dark Side that I fear. I pray that it will not catch me in its web.

Go Mexico, and take Santa Anna with you

2011-03-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

When you think about it, 175 years really isn’t that long a time in the grand scheme of things.
This month, however, it’s a really big deal in Texas. (But then what isn’t a big deal in Texas?) It was in 1836 that a group of brave revolutionaries collectively thumbed their noses at Mexico and penned the song “We’re Not Gonna Take It”, which later became a big hit for Twisted Sister.
The words were written by a committee of dudes who met just up the road from here. Then they went a few miles south of town and picked up a couple of canons and went to help defend the Spurs at the Alamodome. By the time they got there, however, the Spurs had already lost (typical!).
Mexico was coached by a guy named Santa Anna. Why someone would be named after an old, fat man and a girl is beyond me, but that’s the way it was. They had already whooped up on the team from Goliad and were determined to keep their winning streak alive at Houston which, given the sorry state of the city’s pro teams, wouldn’t have been too hard.
Along the way, a guy named Sam Houston and some of his buddies bushwhacked the Mexicans, and in a matter of a few minutes ended their season. As a result, Santa Anna took his ball and went home. He said Houston and his cronies could have Texas and he really didn’t like it that much anyway.
Yeah, whatever…
So that, in a nutshell, is what we are celebrating this month. And wouldn’t you know it, Waller County is smack dab right in the middle of where a lot of that stuff happened. That’s why local cities and county officials are commemorating the big anniversary by doing absolutely nothing.
Apparently the 175th anniversary must have snuck up on them. It was kind of hard to see it coming from so far away. In all fairness, I’m the pot calling the kettle black because I haven’t done a special story for the paper.
If anyone in Waller County is a descendant of anyone who fought for Texas Independence, I’d like to hear from you so we can do a story. My wife and sons are apparently descended from a man who fell at Goliad. We are still working to verify that.
Ancestry is a fascinating subject. Lately I’ve been researching the Southern side of my family. I’ve made some eye-opening discoveries. My great-great-great-great-grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War. Two greats before him, the first Southern came to America from England.
On my mother’s side, I’ve been told that my great-grandfather Gust Ekborg was one of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders and was even wounded at the Battle of San Juan Hill. I have yet to find any evidence of that, but I’ll keep looking.

Where’s the beef?
Not long ago Taco Bell got its bell rung when someone sued the fast food chain because it allegedly has only 36 percent beef in its beef mixture. While the company disputes that, you might want to know that two of the big three hamburger chains do not use 100 percent beef under their buns. Burger King and Wendy’s have seasonings and/or fillers. Only McDonalds uses 100 percent beef.
How do I know this? I have a son with Celiac’s disease. It is a genetic disorder that causes his body to reject wheat gluten. When he was first diagnosed, we checked out the restaurants thoroughly. Wendy’s and Burger King have wheat in their meat. Not only that, but they cook their fries in the same oil they use for breaded fried foods, such as chicken. Only McDonald’s has dedicated fryers for their fries. To Wendy’s credit, however, Luke can eat their chili, and he loves it.
It’s also safe to say that Chic-fil-A doesn’t use a single bit of beef in its sandwiches. Luke can eat there if we order his chicken grilled and not breaded. Their waffle fries are also safe for him to eat. We loves us some Chic-fil-A!
You would be surprised at the number of foods that contain wheat. Some ice creams, root beers, colas, candies, and even some brands of popsicles have wheat in them. A good clue is to look at the ingredients. If you see caramel coloring listed, most of the time it is burnt wheat. Modified food starch often contains wheat.
So, before you go asking Taco Bell “where’s the beef?” you might want to ask that of any place you dine on some divine bovine.

Mayor responding to citizen concerns

2011-02-24T08:13:00.001-07:00

I have to give credit where credit is due. I have recently been critical of the way Hempstead Mayor Michael Wolfe has dealt with people who come to council with complaints and concerns.
I said he was stifling the citizens and apparently ignoring their concerns to push his own agenda. On Monday night, Wolfe demonstrated very clearly that he has been listening. There was a lot of discussion on various issues. He has seen to it that restoration work is being done to headstones in city cemeteries. There was more give-and-take between himself, the council and the audience than usual. His mayor’s comments portion of the meeting addressed many of the issues people have been asking about, including updates by project officials.
On the other hand, Wolfe traveled down a rocky road in pushing for road repairs along 18th Street, right in front of Greater St. Peter’s Baptist Church, which is pastored by Alderman Fred Thomas III. Thomas voted for the street improvements when they first came up earlier this year, which was clearly a conflict of interest.
At Monday night’s meeting his error was caught and Thomas was prohibited from voting on the remainder of the street improvements, which upgrades all of 18th between Rice and Washington streets. That left the council in a tie vote for doing the improvements with Ben Tibbs and Emma Washington voting for it and Katherine Ragston and Patricia Chernosky voting against. Wolfe broke the tie in favor, casting a rare tie-breaker vote.
More than one person has noticed that the road getting fixed benefits Thomas. Several people, especially Ragston and Chernosky, feel other streets should be a higher priority for repairs.
An example that stands out in my mind surfaced last July when council told Alfred Restivo, who lives at 25th Street and Colorado, that he could not put a gate across the city’s easement that runs through the middle of his back yard. When I saw that Colorado was nothing more than a cleared path through the woods with little to delineate it as a road, I had to wonder how and why it was considered a city street. Parts of Colorado are only accessible by off-road vehicles.
There are many roads in town that need to be improved, 18th being one of them. I’m on the side that feels some of the more-traveled roads should have been a higher priority. At the least the mayor should have consulted with council and city staff on the priorities. If he did, nothing has been said of it.
I am not saying or insinuating in any way that there are any exchanges of political favors or backroom dealings on the road improvements. Both Mayor Wolfe and Alderman Thomas are pastors and honorable, God-fearing men. There are plenty of other people, however, who are trying to connect the dots and I hear about it all the time.
Lately I’ve been hearing about other rumors related to City Hall, but so far they are unsubstantiated. Please people, don’t bring me rumors and gossip. If you’ve got a gripe or concern, show me your proof.

On the road again
Every weekday I drive from Rosenberg to Hempstead and back. Along that route I routinely see a lot of wildlife. Most of it, however, is squished on the road. On any given day I can expect to see raccoons, opossums, dogs, cats, skunks and armadillos keeping their eternal vigil of the pavement.
I don’t know who is responsible for cleaning up the mess or if it’s left to the vultures to care for. It does pain me, however, to see so many good raccoon pelts go to waste. Raccoons have been my favorite animal since the fifth grade. At one point in my life I used to tan hides of small game, mostly rabbits. Seeing a freshly dead coon with a carcass in good shape makes me want to stop and collect it for its pelt.
I understand that’s against the law in Texas. It’s also gross and kind of creepy, but that’s beside the point. Many of the animals I see are no less fit for human use than if they had been shot with a hunting rifle. Since I drive the same route morning and evening, I know which ones are fresh.
Given the price of furs these days, I think I may try to moonlight as a carrion reclamation specialist. After all, it’s a green way of recycling natural debris. It keeps the roads clean and could put some cash in my pocket. I balk, however, at using it to put meat on the table.
I’m joking, of course, but I’ve known of people who have done this for both meat and pelts. If there are any carrion reclamation specialists out there, please let me know. I think it would make a very interesting story.

Don't stop showing love for your spouse

2011-02-21T09:28:00.001-07:00

OK guys, it’s safe to come out now. Valentine’s Day is past.
I can’t say that I’m a big fan of Valentine’s Day. While I think it’s nice to have a day to celebrate love and romance, I dislike having someone else telling me to romance my wife. I don’t like the pressure of having to buy cards, flowers, gifts, dinner out, etc., especially when it doesn’t fit in the family budget.
I think I continually express love to my wife and am very capable of providing my own bouts of romance. On the other hand, there are plenty of women who hold onto Valentine’s Day with a death grip because it’s one of the few times a year their spouse or significant other gives them the attention they deserve.
Guys, loving your wife is something you should do continuously. Most women need to have regular assurances and demonstrations of your love. Most of us think of love as a noun, as a feeling. While that’s true, love is also a verb. You have to put it into action. You have to make the choice every day to love your spouse. Even if you don’t feel like it, you have an obligation to demonstrate your love.
Too often, right after the wedding, most guys relax and treat their wife as a trophy they have just won and placed on the mantle. They quit investing emotionally in her. She becomes part of the furniture or a tool for intimacy. A real man will never stop pursuing his wife’s heart. He will put her interests and needs before his own.
In case you haven’t noticed, wedding vows are not some ceremonial mumbo-jumbo you say at the altar. A vow is your word, your promise and commitment. Marriage vows are meant to be permanent, an unbreakable bond between husband and wife. A wedding vow is “’til death do us part”, not “for as long as I feel like it” or “until something better comes along.”
Christian author Dr. Gary Chapman has a popular book out called The Five Love Languages. In it he has discovered that most people speak a primary love language. When you speak your spouse’s love language, you fill their love tank, keeping that “in love” feeling alive. Failure to do that can lead to anger and resentment.
The five love languages are: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. Most of us will have a primary and secondary love language. A lot of good marriages go stale or sour because spouses fail to speak the proper love language. A guy can shower his wife with a big house, nice cars, and fancy jewelry or perform all kinds of household chores and honey-dos, but she still won’t feel loved by him if her primary love language is quality time. The time spent buying those gifts or doing those chores would be better spent snuggled up with her and engaging in conversation.
Another thing that I have learned is that, outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ, the relationship with your wife is the most important one you will ever have in this life. You need to treat it like it was the most important thing on earth, because it is. Your relationship should take precedence over that of parents, children, friends, family and career. It should be subordinate to only one relationship – the one you have with the loving God who created all things.
This does not mean you should focus on your wife to the exclusion of all others. That much of an obsession is not healthy. Relationships need to be kept in perspective and priority. You are not going to grow old with your golfing buddies, but you need those relationships to add balance to your life. If you have to make a choice between wife and buddies, your wife should be the clear winner.
While your relationship with your children is vitally important, they also need to see and feel the strength and security of the relationship of their parents. That is the root from which they spring. As children grow up and marry, they are expected to leave their parents and cleave to their spouse (that’s cleave, as in cling or adhere, not split or separate).
To me, demonstrating love to my wife is a never-ending thing. That’s why I find it mildly offensive to be prodded by a holiday to do what should come naturally. I should note, however, that failure to do something special for your wife on Valentine’s Day could have dire consequences … like the next time you want to go golfing with your buddies or the four-fold restitution you will have to make the next year on Feb. 14.

Rookie mistakes lead to Rookie lessons

2011-02-11T08:42:00.001-07:00

Jim Morris, the real man behind the Disney movie based on his life called “The Rookie”, was the guest speaker at my church Sunday.
Morris became famous for becoming the oldest rookie in Major League Baseball history in 1999-2000 when he pitched for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was a 35-year-old high school teacher and baseball coach when his team made him promise to try out for the pros if they won the district championship. They did and he did.
He tried out with a scout, thinking that he was just fulfilling an obligation to the boys and had no chance. But his blistering 98-mph fastballs proved otherwise. What kept Morris from pursuing his dreams in his 20s was the same problem that plagues most of us. He believed what others said about him.
He lived with an abusive father who was a Navy recruiter. He moved a lot and attended 30 schools before graduating high school. Growing up, he was told by his father and several of his teachers that he was stupid and would never amount to anything. He was a standout football player with Major League Baseball ambitions. His football coach told him he would never make it and talked every college that wanted to give him a football scholarship out of their offers.
A high school graduate with less than adequate grades and no hope of going to college, he tried out for the minor leagues, but multiple shoulder surgeries ended that career. He went on to get his degree and became a science teacher and baseball coach in Big Lake, Texas. “By the way, there is no lake in Big Lake,” he said.
In Big Lake, even the teachers said the kids would never amount to anything. They were losers who would never make it out of West Texas. They told Morris the same old pessimistic garbage that he grew up with. His players, however, believed in him. They made a deal with him that if they won the district championship that he would try out for the Majors. The rest, as they say, is history.
Today Morris is a motivational speaker and a devout Christian. He teaches and preaches on the theme of Remember Who You Are. His message is simple: Don’t believe the naysayers and pursue your dreams relentlessly. He said God didn’t close the doors in his life; others did with their words and attitudes. Once he learned to trust God and pursue his dreams, God blessed him beyond his imagination.
As Morris was sharing his story, I was in rapt attention. So were my kids, which is rare. Afterward, I got in line to meet him and told him how much his story meant to me. I told him I couldn’t relate to the part of having athletic power, but I know too well the feeling of being told you’re too stupid to amount to anything.
It hurts, and when you hear it often enough or from someone in a position of authority over you, you believe it. I’ve had teachers who told me I’d never go to college (BA in journalism from Adams State College, 1987). Coming out of college, I had many editors tell me I’d never make it in newspapers. My professional newspaper career spans nearly 23 years.
In elementary school, not only was I last picked for teams, but often there was an argument about who had to take me. I played three sports in high school (four if you count intramural bowling), lettering in two.
As I sat there listing to Morris, I was almost brought to tears. My eyes welled up hearing how he was made to feel worthless. They also welled up with laughter, because he’s a very funny speaker.
Morris is 19 months older than I am. One of his drawbacks in his youth was a cocky self-centeredness. I was that way from high school and well into my 20s. Life can serve up a huge piece of humble pie, especially if you lose sight of your dreams and God’s plan for your life.
I think the key to success is to align your dreams to God’s calling for you and then to pursue them even more aggressively than you think you are capable of. You must be cautious as you do this because you don’t want to do it for selfish reasons. Do all that you do to the glory of God. Serve others before serving yourself. Don’t compromise your beliefs and values.
These are some good lessons to learn, even if they come from a rookie.

No Lone Rangers in Order of the Arrow

2011-02-03T10:05:00.001-07:00

Last week I wrote about my struggle between going to a Lone Ranger event or staying for a special Boy Scout honor my son was receiving. I opted to stay with my son and have no regrets.
As the owner emeritus of the Lone Ranger Fan Club, I would have loved to have been at the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and Museum for the Lone Ranger Fan Day last Saturday when they unveiled a new Lone Ranger museum collection. As fun as that would have been, nothing there could top what I felt when Wesley was tapped out for induction into the Order of the Arrow.
The Order of the Arrow is an honor camper fraternity. You have to be selected by your peers to join. Wesley had no clue until his name was called that he was selected. We managed to keep it a secret from him for a couple months. He will have is ordeal in March, at which time he will formally become a member.
My induction into the Order of the Arrow about 25 to 30 years ago was very unique. I was tapped out at a Scout Show, but missed the ordeal and never did anything else about it. Fast-forward a couple of years and I was working as a mountain man at the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch in Red Feather Lakes, Colo. I did that job for three of my four years on camp staff and loved it.
One of the really cool things each week was the Order of the Arrow tap-out ceremony. It featured a big Indian dance by the OA dance team. I volunteered to bang the drum and did so with pleasure. It wasn’t until sometime in my final year that it occurred to anyone that I was not in the Order of the Arrow. To rectify that, they made me an honorary member with full membership privileges. My service as a drummer served as my ordeal.
What’s unusual about that is that I have never heard of anyone else becoming an honorary member. I never did a formal ordeal and never participated in any other OA activities. I still proudly wear my Kola Lodge OA patch on my Scout shirt, but that’s been the extent of it.
For those of you who don’t understand Scoutspeak, the Order of the Arrow is a program of the Boy Scouts of America and follows a Native American theme. Members belong to a local lodge.
This is how the BSA describes OA: “For more than 90 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting to America’s youth.”
Camping is a big part of Scouting. It not only teaches basic cooking and survival skills, it also helps the boys learn about the environment and the importance of protecting it. The native people were the best stewards of the land this country ever had. They provide the perfect role model for teaching these skills and values to the young men.
Through Scouting and, more specifically the Order of the Arrow, the boys learn about Indian ways and traditions. They learn the history and heritage of the native peoples and develop a respect for who they were and how they cared for Mother Nature.
There just are not that many organizations that teach those values and skills outside of Scouting. In an age when the thing is to go green, and the environment is a top concern, these are valuable lessons the boys are learning and putting into practice.
Now Wesley will have a chance to develop these skills and gain this knowledge that will help him as he moves into manhood. It’s exciting as a father to be there as he takes this first step. I know the things he learns in the Boy Scouts will carry him far. There is little that makes a dad more proud than to see his child not only follow in his footsteps, but to blaze his own trail.
If I had gone to the Lone Ranger event like I wanted to, I would have missed this first step and might not have had the chance to help him on his journey.
Welcome to the brotherhood, my son. I can’t wait to see where this adventure takes you.

Mayor stifling citizens at council meetings

2011-01-26T14:52:00.001-07:00

It seems to me that Hempstead Mayor Michael Wolfe has forgotten one of the primary roles of government.
Government exists to serve the people, not the other way around. I get the feeling that he has his own agenda, whatever that may be. At the last City Council meeting, he placed seven agenda items submitted by resident Red Foster under public comments. That limited Foster to just three minutes to make his case on all seven items combined and prohibited the council from responding. At the end of three minutes, Wolfe cut him off.
Next, former city secretary Virginia Shafer resumed her earlier complaint about improprieties with the city budget. She started her complaint last month and Wolfe cut her off without listening to her. This time he appeared to at least listen, though he did time her and cut her off again.
Each time Shafer has spoken, I have asked Mayor Wolfe for comment. Each time it’s been “no comment.”
How can Wolfe expect to represent the people of Hempstead when he won’t listen to them? Granted, Shafer now lives in Houston, but she still has interests here.
Foster went to the extreme of filling out agenda request forms for each of his seven items. As a taxpayer and resident of this community, he should have had each one placed on the agenda and dealt with appropriately. The way Wolfe is acting, it’s like he doesn’t want to respond to issues concerning the people he represents. He seems more content to focus on the things he wants to deal with.
Most of the items on Foster’s list have to do with making more information public. He was looking for regular updates on several municipal projects. He is also concerned about the way many graves of veterans are left in disrepair. These things are important, but Wolfe doesn’t seem to care. At least that’s the perception I have coming out of the meetings.
Wolfe also told me that one of the reasons he did not make agenda items out of Foster’s requests was that it would have made the council meeting last too long. Since when is the length of a council meeting an issue? Isn’t conducting the business of the people more important than finishing within an hour? And if time is a real concern, why don’t the council meetings start on time?
I write this with a bit of trepidation, as I value my working relationship with Wolfe and also as a brother in Christ. In my role as watchdog of the government, however, I have a hard time swallowing this kind of arrogance. It is my hope that Mayor Wolfe will take this as constructive criticism and not a personal attack. That’s the way it’s intended.
I don’t think these people’s opinions should be shut out just because they seem trivial or bothersome. Transparency in government and free and open dialogue are vital to the success of our democracy.

Walking the walk
This is much harder than I thought it would be. A while ago I wrote about giving up the Lone Ranger Fan Club so I could devote more time and attention to my family. The transfer to another owner is in progress and should be complete soon.
In the meantime, the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco announced it will have a Lone Ranger Fan Day on Jan. 29 to unveil a new Lone Ranger collection. I really want to go and would like to do a story on it for my last newsletter. I talked it over with my wife and she thought it would make a good family trip.
To help spread the news, I created an invitation for it on our Lone Ranger Fan Club Facebook page. I promoted it and talked it up and have two people from England and a friend from Atlanta flying in for it.
The guy who will appear as the Lone Ranger had his gun belt stolen and is not sure his new one will be made in time for the event. I offered to bring mine as a backup for him. Everything was looking good for a really fun event.
Then we got word about a major Scouting honor my son will receive on the same day. (Shh, don’t tell him, it’s a surprise.) I have been struggling internally whether to stick with my commitment to the event or break it to be at the Scouting event. My wife and I have had a lot of discussion about this.
I concluded that I will forgo the event and be there for my son. Lone Ranger events will come and go, but I only get one chance to raise my son. I love you, Wesley, and I’ve very proud of you!

Be sure to say the three little words

2011-01-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

With apologies to my mother who first misunderstood what this column was about, I present to you a little gem I wrote for the Longmont (Colo.) Daily Times– Call in 2004.
It’s a timeless piece meant to bring warm feelings – among other things. So sit back, relax and enjoy this little flashback:
Three little words. You know them. You’ve heard them since childhood. They are the words that express how we feel to those who are closest to us. They are not words you say to just anybody. Those three little words convey a feeling you carry deep within yourself. They connote closeness. They say “you are welcome in my space, in my life as long as you can stand it.”
I don’t remember my own father saying those three little words to me, though I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. My mother to this day has never said those three little words to me, though I know how she feels about me.
I have learned to be more open and expressive with my family. I only say those three little words in jest to my wife. But they’re very meaningful to my children. When I say those three little words to my children, they know that I am expressing my joy and my pleasure with them. They feel accepted and welcome.
Contrary to popular belief, most women don’t care to hear those three little words. They don’t share in the exhilaration of the moment. It doesn’t mean the same to them. But in a man’s world – the world of a father – those are the words that bond and unite.
They’re the words that men say to each other in manly moments. They are the three little words that we long to hear from our own fathers because we hear them so little.
Those three little words spread love and make the world go round. They’re the three little words that no child should ever grow up without hearing.
Guys, please, if you haven’t said them in a while, go home tonight, gather your children or your closest buddies around and share these three little words with them: Pull my finger!
Do it today and feel the love.
But seriously folks I’ve had to kind of pull my own finger to get that one out of my system. I’ve been trying for a long time to get that bit of humor formulated in my mind and out of my head. But it leads me to a much more important message.
When was the last time you said the real “three little words” to your family? What will be the last thing you say to your spouse and children when you leave the house today?
Every time I leave my family I make sure to kiss them and tell them I love them. I always want their last memory of me to be an expression of love. You never know when you will see your loved ones for the last time.
As I walk out the door – no matter how rushed or stressed I am – I always have that warm feeling of peace in my heart and the pleasant memory of my family in my mind as I head out to work or wherever.
I don’t normally carry thoughts in my mind that I may never see my wife and children again. But I’ve been in this business long enough to have seen too many cases where people never had the chance to say I love you and goodbye. I don’t want that to be said of me.
I’ve conditioned myself to share my love with my family every chance I get. Sometimes things happen and I get angry or frustrated and I blow my top. But I always come back with love, peace and forgiveness.
Some guys have a hard time saying the words. Some guys can say it, but don’t show it. I do my best to say it and show it. It’s not always easy to do with three rambunctious boys – one with ADHD and two in the throes of the terrible twos.
But they know you love them when, after having called them the third time without response, yelling at them, applying the appropriate attention-getting measures, that you can still tuck them into bed at night, snuggle them up, kiss them on the forehead and say to them, “pull my finger!”

A bad sign of the times in Hempstead

2011-01-17T08:36:00.001-07:00

The Hempstead City Council made a big mistake last week when it denied Vicky’s Italian Seafood and Grill’s appeal of the Historic Preservation District’s denial of its sign because the letters are too big.
Restaurant owner Virginia Wences went to City Hall for all the necessary permits and paperwork to open a new restaurant at the corner of 10th and Wilkins streets. Other restaurants have operated in the building before.
Unaware of the small print in her documents informing her of the restrictions on letter size for signs in Hempstead’s historic district, she erected a sign very similar to what had been there before. But the letters were six inches too big and the sign police nailed her.
Wences was scheduled to go before the Historic Preservation District’s board, but missed the meeting due to a miscommunication. Because she wasn’t there, the board denied her request for the larger letters.
She appealed to the city council, which, following the direction of Mayor Michael Wolfe, also denied her appeal. Their main points were that the sign was in violation, she had been given the information about the signs, and the council did not want to set a bad precedent by overruling the historic preservation board.
To the city’s credit, the blame for the mistakes is undeniably Wences. The economic and public relations blunder, however, rests with the city. What the council did not consider was the anti-business message it sent. What it did was cause an unnecessary hardship for an upstart business, which the community desperately needs.
The way I see it, the historical board and the city council have violated the pitch they made in creating the historic preservation district last year when they said the purpose was to protect the historical integrity of the town, not to nitpick every little thing with business owners.
The building is being used for the same thing it was last used for – a restaurant. The sign is consistent with prior signage. There was no significant alteration to the building or the sign on which the offending letters are placed. As an added insult, the city made Wences cover the sign until it can be brought into compliance.
She was willing to change the letters, but was asking for a two-year exemption to give her time to get established and to have financing to do it. Granting a two-year exemption is not the same as going against the historical board. If it were a permanent exemption, that would be one thing. If the sign were completely new and gaudy and offensive to what city hall wants the downtown to be, I could see denying it. But to pick nits over something that is essentially the same as what came before it, that is too much.
If I ever had any thoughts about starting a business in Hempstead, they would have been dashed by the city council at the last meeting. I would want to run a business in a community that welcomed me, made me feel wanted and worked with me to make my business a success.
I wholeheartedly agree with the need to preserve historic buildings and to establish building codes. At the same time, I dislike government meddling in this fashion and telling a business owner what can and cannot be done to their own property. There has to be an acceptable middle ground here somewhere. This however, is far from it.
This is also far from the only complaint I’ve heard from business owners about the historic preservation board. It’s high time the city rein in the monster it created.

Cold enough for you?
Let me first say that I do not like the cold. If I had to choose between living in Phoenix or Anchorage, I’d be a long time in Arizona. That being said, I find it amusing to hear people complain about how cold it is with temperatures dropping near the freezing mark at night.
At the same time, many of my friends in Colorado are posting lows on Facebook that range from 10 degrees to -20 degrees. I went to Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo., and it was not unusual to reach the -30s. I don’t know how many times we had to trudge to class in sub-zero temperatures. But hey, it was a dry cold.
From there I moved to Minnesota. Same frigid temps, but the humidity gave cold a whole new meaning.
Having grown up and lived most of my life in colder climates, I can say that what passes for cold here is just a chill. But it’s a humid chill and I’ll be very happy when it passes.

$5 gas will put economy in the tank

2011-01-06T09:11:00.001-07:00

Here’s a simple prediction: If gas hits $5 a gallon, as the experts anticipate, our economy will tank again.
Does anyone remember what happened in 2008 when it reached $4 a gallon? People stopped buying things and going places so they could afford to fill their gas tanks. The result was a recession that we’re just now crawling out of.
The laws of supply and demand do not justify the rising price of oil. It’s driven by the greedy speculation of commodity traders (traitors?) who would stick a knife in the heart of this country for the sake of making a buck. I would hope that smart investors would learn their lesson and not speculate so high on oil. If they value the rest of their investments, they won’t.

Well, duh!
Did you see the news last week that the baby boomers are now afraid Social Security will run out before they do? As the Me Generation reaches 65 this year, there appears to be widespread concern that this generation will use up and outlive all the savings in Social Security.
Gee, I think I’ve heard that song before. My whole life these same boomers have been telling my generation that we should not expect Social Security to be around when we retire. They said our smaller numbers will not be able to support their larger numbers. Then they proceeded to let Congress “borrow” from the Social Security savings account.
I suppose the baby boomers really are afraid of getting old before they die.

Son of a Bum
With Houston Texans owner Robert McNair giving head coach Gary Kubiak his vote of confidence, it appears that the job of defensive coordinator will be offered to Wade Phillips, son of beloved former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips.
I thought McNair wanted to make a winner out of the Texans? I’ll hand it to you that Son of Bum is a good defensive coordinator – at least he used to be – but his head coaching record is pathetic. He has personally decimated three talent-laden teams (Denver, Buffalo and Dallas) and now McNair wants this man to turn the defense around?
I guess if you have the worse defense in the league, there is nowhere to go but up. Somehow I wouldn’t be surprised if Son of Bum can find a way to dig a deeper hole.

Go Pink
I was recently introduced via CD to a dynamic motivational speaker by the name of Dan Pink. Some of you may have heard of him. I just did in the last few weeks. I have listened to a couple of his talks about how to motivate people and improve production. He basically points out that the carrot-and-stick approach to management is a failure and he champions the use of Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose. This is also the same concept as the Results-Oriented Work Environment.
Using the AMP method, employees are given a certain amount of time (all, in some cases) to be free to create and experiment on things that interest them on the job. The results have been innovation, increased production, increased job satisfaction, healthier and happier workers, and increased profits and company growth.
The popular motivational model of increasing income for better performance has a narrow focus that keeps the employee on track to earn more money – or to leave in pursuit of it. Those given the freedom to try new things often look at problems from different perspectives. It allows them to learn and grow and gives them ownership of a project and the feeling of importance to the company. Both sides benefit from that model.
As an example, Pink gave a story about two groups trying to create an online encyclopedia. The first hired staff and followed traditional means of producing its product. The other paid nothing and got volunteers to create and produce the product. The result is Wikipedia, one of the most popular websites on the Internet.
I have to admit that the more AMP I’ve had, the better my work has been. I have not fared well under the management microscope.
Anyway, that should give you something to think about while you’re sitting at home twiddling your thumbs because you can’t afford the gas to get out and go anywhere.

I hearby resolve to make skid marks in my undies

2010-12-29T17:34:00.002-07:00

I, Joe Southern, being of absent mind and round body, do hereby resolve the following for the coming year:
To not eat live toads first thing in the morning. They make a better afternoon snack.
To stop breaking wind in the fragrance aisles at major department stores.
To experience more unbridled passion, romance, energy and excitement during intimate encounters with my wife.
To experience less unbridled passion, romance, energy and excitement during intimate encounters with football on TV.
To get my Christmas cards written before Christmas.
To clean the skid marks off my undies.
To live a life so adventurous and exciting that I can’t help but leave skid marks in my undies.
To write the Great American Novel – or at least the mediocre-small-state-in-the-upper-Midwest pamphlet.
To stop repeating myself.
To experience more unbridled passion, romance, energy and excitement during intimate encounters with my wife. (What? I like that one a lot!)
To stop picking on people of lesser intelligence.
To see if I can actually find someone of lesser intelligence.
To eat mor chikin.
To think outside the bun.
To start to think after I stop to think and forget to start again (I think).
To find a healthy way to live off of cheeseburgers, pizza and my wife’s meatloaf.
To stop procrastinating by the end of the year.
To stop losing arguments with myself.
To drink less coffee.
Who am I kidding? Of course I’m not going to drink less coffee. What moron came up with that one?
To stop referring to myself as a moron.
Idiot!
To finally get “Dancing Queen” out of my head.
And finally, to stop starting sentences with conjunctions.
But first, to stop making resolutions I won’t keep.
On that note, I would like to get serious for a moment. Every New Year’s Eve we traditionally look at the coming year as a blank slate; a new beginning. In many ways it is. That is true of every single day. The future is what we make of it, God willing.
The trouble is that we keep hauling the garbage of the past right along with us. We’re comfortable with the skeletons in our closets as long as we can keep hearing their bones rattle and know they’re safely tucked away.
I learned last year that evicting the skeletons from my closet is an amazing thing. While I’m not yet ready to make my skeletons common knowledge, I can say that their removal has made my life much better. With the big things out of the way, it makes it much easier to deal with the little stuff, like losing weight, getting organized and reading so many books.
My challenge to you is to look deep down and resolve to make changes in yourself that will really impact your life and the life of those closest to you. Deal with the things that rattle in your secret place. Trust me; you’re not the only one who can hear them. You’re just the only one who can ignore them. And you’re the only one who can deal with them.
For some that may be alcohol, smoking, drugs or other such things. For others it might be pornography, an affair, gambling, over-eating or some other compulsive behavior.
Ask yourself how your skeleton is making your life better? Ask yourself if you would want a giant spotlight to shine in your closet for all the world to see. Ask yourself how your skeletons are benefiting your spouse and children. Ask yourself how you would feel if a family member or someone else very close to you were harboring the same set of bones in their secret place.
Dealing with the proverbial elephant in the room will clear the way for you to make a real difference in your life and the lives of others. Once you have exposed those skeletons and dealt with the underlying problem, you will be free to deal with all of your other nagging hang-ups.
If you want more help or information on how to do this, I suggest you find a local Celebrate Recovery group to visit or look it up online. It’s making a huge difference in my life and I know it can help you with yours.
Blessings to all for a happy and prosperous 2011!

Christmas thoughts go round and round

2010-12-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

As I sit here contemplating a column idea, I keep having these circular thoughts about things that are unrelated but connected nonetheless.
Every year at Christmas I get distressed about what the holiday has become. My interest in Christmas has certainly evolved over the course of my life. As a child, I, like most children, couldn’t wait for Christmas. Santa … snow … decorating the tree … and presents, lots and lot of presents!
Sure, we all know that Christmas is about giving and that it is more blessed to give than to receive. But it’s human nature – especially for children – to want to receive. We want to know what gifts we’re getting. We want to know what Santa brought us. I never once sat with my family around the Christmas tree eagerly waiting to see the expressions on their faces as they opened their gifts from me.
More often than not, I gave my brothers gifts that I wanted for myself and usually wound up with before the stroke of midnight on New Year’s. I had many a sleepless night in my pre-teen years as I tossed and turned in bed unable to sleep. Every few minutes I would peek to see if “Santa” had come. How he managed to deliver gifts each year without my knowing it still baffles me to this day.
My parents finally made a rule that my brothers and I could not wake them up before 5 a.m. to open gifts. I would usually go downstairs and start a fire in the pot belly stove around 4:30 and then head to the kitchen and make the coffee. It would be ready and waiting for them 30 minutes later as we excitedly dragged Mom and Dad out of bed.
By 5:15, the gifts would be open, the excitement would pass and then, as the post-present letdown started to sink in, I’d retreat to bed and let sleep win over for the next few hours.
As I reached adulthood, my interest in gifts very slowly began to wane. By the time I was in my 30s, I had more interest in watching my children open their gifts and had only a passing interest in opening mine. But then I saw my children – my own flesh and blood – become the greedy, self-absorbed monster I had been and I began to see Christmas in a whole, new light.
About this time I was growing rapidly in my Christian faith and I soon felt a degree of righteous indignation toward Christmas. I had finally figured out that Santa, Christmas trees, ornaments, lights and gifts – those precious gifts I had so longingly pined for – have nothing at all to do with Christmas. I began to see Christ – the real reason we have Christmas at all – being lost in this spending orgy and the surreal fantasy characters and idols that have displaced what should be a very sacred birthday party.
Once the term “black Friday” became popular, it occurred to me that this nation’s economy depends on Christmas for its survival. If it weren’t for the holiday spending sprees, our retail economy would collapse on itself. Our economic viability depends on our manufactured fairy tales that in no way have anything to do with the gift of Jesus for the salvation of all mankind.
That has me thinking of what it would be like if we ditched this modern version of Christmas and turned it back to the Christian celebration that it originally was. What if instead of fueling the greed, we gave generously to our churches and other charitable organizations? What if a Christmas service was the highlight of the celebration? Instead of making a Christmas tree the centerpiece of our celebration why don’t we gather around a nativity scene?
Going deeper and looking at the decay of Christianity in this country, I often think it would be nice to live in a place that was governed by Christian principles – a place where the moral corruption of the day could be held at bay. I know such isolated colonies have been attempted. Jonestown, the Branch Dravidians and the Mormon Trail come to mind.
But in my circular way of thinking, I realize that such a place would essentially become a theocracy. It then occurs to me that Middle Eastern countries ruled by Islam are just that.
Suddenly I find myself understanding why the Muslim world hates America so much. I understand why our immoral, crass lifestyle offends them and how they value their faith above what we would call basic human rights. I now understand why our brand of democracy is so offensive to them.
I still do not understand why they feel the need to wage war with us and to attack us with cowardly acts of terrorism. I clearly do not agree with their theology, ideology and any other “ology” that condones acts of hatred and terrorism. But I can sympathize with their desire to not have their way of life corrupted by our democracy, greed and our declining sense of morality.
All of a sudden I’m back to bemoaning the over-commercialism of Christmas and my thought pattern goes around once more.
Oh well, Merry Christmas to each of you. Please, never forget the real reason for the season.

A demented twist to some holiday favorites

2010-12-16T08:51:00.001-07:00

For almost three weeks now Christmas music has been playing on the radio and everywhere you go.
I don’t know if I can hold out the remaining week until Christmas is over and regular music returns. I do like Christmas music, but I get tired of hearing the same songs over and over.
Since these things are stuck in my head, I thought it would be interesting to have some fun with them. So, I decided to write some parody lyrics. Without further ado, I present to you songs sung to the tune of:

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire)
Chipmunks roasting on an open fire,
Jack Daniels nipping at your nose,
Long underwear hanging on a wire,
And jerks dressed up like old hobos.
Everybody knows a turkey’s in the White House,
Hope to set the country right.
But all he’s done is act like a louse,
Making it hard to sleep at night.
He knows that election’s on its way;
He’s loaded with lots of beer, but hey.
And every Congressman is going to spy,
To see if healthcare is really going to fly.
And so like cattle sent out to graze,
Losing my job in a week or two,
And though it’s not wise, more of a craze,
I guess we’ll just re-elect you.

Feliz Navidad
Fleas on the dog,
Fleas on the dog,
Fleas on the dog,
And now they’re spreading to the kitty cat.
I really want this song to end,
I really want this song to end,
I really want this song to end,
’Cause they play it way too much
(Repeat endlessly)

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
I saw Daddy punching Santa Claus
In front of the Christmas tree last night
He slapped him across the cheek
And then bonked him on his beak
Then he hit him with a roundhouse
That knocked him off his feet.
Then I saw Daddy kicking Santa Clause
Kicked him with the left and then the right
Oh, what a sight it must have been
’Cause Daddy had just seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.
I saw Daddy punching Santa Claus
In front of the Christmas tree last night
He slapped him across the cheek
And then bonked him on his beak
Then he hit him with a roundhouse
That knocked him off his feet.
Then I saw Daddy kicking Santa Clause
Kicked him with the left and then the right
Oh, what a sight it must have been
’Cause Daddy had just seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town
You better watch out
He’s starting to spy
He gonna find out
If the Falcon can fly
Boba Fett is coming to town
He’s gunning for Han
And Chewie too;
Gonna find out who’s best with a gun
Boba Fett is coming to town
He knows where you’ve been hiding
Like Imperial trash
He knows you can’t make light speed
Once you release the parking brake.
O! You better watch out
He’s starting to spy
Gonna find out
If the Falcon can fly
Boba Fett is coming to town.

I'm wise enough to know what smart is

2010-12-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

As a child, I fervently prayed to God for wisdom. The Bible says that if we pray for wisdom that God will grant it in abundance.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).
Apparently he must have found fault with me, because I never seemed to get the wisdom I asked for. As the text continues, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”
I equated wisdom with being smart. I believed only smart people are wise. It wasn’t until I was well into my adult years that I learned that wisdom and knowledge are two very different things. Knowledge is basically facts, information and understanding. Wisdom is the ability to prudently put knowledge into practice.
The whole time I was praying for wisdom, I really wanted knowledge. I wanted to be smart. What I wanted was for my own benefit, not for the glory of God.
You see, I had incredibly low self-esteem in my younger years. I was led by my peers to believe I was stupid. It turns out that I’m just slow. Being slow is not the same as being stupid. Somehow the two had become synonymous in our culture and in our education system.
In addition to being slow, I’ve always had a very difficult time with memorization. In elementary school, most tests were either timed or required rote memorization. Not being too good at either cost me a lot more than grades. I was seen by my peers as slow and stupid and often not worth their time. Bullies seemed to have plenty of time for me, however, which made school that much more difficult.
Moving ahead, one of the things that attracted me to journalism was that while it may be a deadline-oriented career, writing always gave me a chance to stop and compose my thoughts. Given the time to do what I needed, I discovered that I really wasn’t stupid (please, no comments from the peanut gallery).
It wasn’t long before my peers and former teachers who had pigeonholed me as an unteachable sloth were complimenting me on my insight and my ability to tell a story. It turns out that God did hear my prayers. He did grant me wisdom and knowledge. He just did it on his timetable, not mine. Either that or it took me this long to figure it out.
I do not believe in the slightest that I possess an abundance of wisdom but I do have enough to know that there will always be someone smarter, faster, more eloquent, slower, less intelligent and thickheaded than me. The only thing I’ll ever be the best at is being me. Trust me, it ain’t that hard!
All of this leads us to the question of why does anyone else care if I’m smart or stupid, wise or foolish? It matters because there are a lot of children in schools today who are waging the same internal struggle. Likewise, there are a lot of smart people out there who are ignorantly inflicting their view of intelligence on their peers and students who, like me, just need a little more time to work things out upstairs.
Remember this folks, it was the tortoise that beat the hare. Slow and steady wins the race. To borrow another cliché, this is my word to the wise and I’m sticking to it.

Reining in Rudolph
This weekend at First Colony Church of Christ in Sugar Land will present the world premier of the musical “Rudolph”. This original tale is loosely based on the animated “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” with a Christian twist to it. The music is original and very catchy. There is a lot of humor in the show and great sets and costumes. While I know this isn’t a local church, it is the church that my family attends, along with State Rep. John Zerwas.
I have the distinguished role of “elf” and my wife is cast as the “assistant director.” She is also one of the costumers. Last year in FCCC’s Winter’s Eve program, I was Santa and Sandy was “soot-covered neighbor.” Our eldest son Wesley is returning to his position behind the spotlight.
If you’re willing to drive an hour or so to Sugar Land this weekend, please try to catch one of the three performances. Tickets are $5 each and the money supports the Second Mile Mission. Showtimes are Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door or online at www.firstcolonychurch.org.

Breaking tradition to embrace nature

2010-12-02T11:21:00.001-07:00

I broke tradition this year.
For as long as I can remember, I have always put up the Christmas tree on the weekend following Thanksgiving Day.
Alas, my poor tree remains confined in its box, stuffed way back in the attic. It waits, however, for a good reason. Instead of decorating for Christmas, we went camping at Brazos Bend State Park.
My two youngest sons are in Cub Scout Pack 1000 and my wife is the Cubmaster. She planned an exciting and fun weekend for the members of the pack, which helped us escape the madness of the malls and department stores for three days and two nights. The first night the temperature dipped to 29 degrees.
As someone who grew up camping in much colder temperatures in Colorado, that wasn’t a big deal. But I have to confess that I’ve acclimated better than I thought to the South Texas climate and I was surprised at how cold I felt.
Going to bed, I made a complete change into clean clothes and nestled into my trusty old mummy bag. As soon as it warmed up inside, I slept well until sometime around 3 or 4 a.m. when I had to roll over because of a pain in my hip. That’s when I made two unsettling discoveries. First, the pain came from sleeping on the hard ground. My air mattress had deflated. Second, when I rolled over, my backside pushed open the zipper of my sleeping bag in the middle.
So I sat up and began softly murmuring to myself as I wore my fingers raw trying to fix the zipper. After a few minutes I discovered a third unsettling thing. My bladder was darn near the bursting point. That added an element of urgency to my zipper repair job.
When I finally got it fixed, I got up and tip-toed through the maze of sleeping bags to the door. As I slipped on my shoes, I tripped and fell on my oldest son’s legs. By then everyone was grumbling and trying to get back to sleep as I anxiously whispered “sorry” several times. I was finally able to emerge into a beautiful moonlit night and answer nature’s call.
Returning to the tent and once again stumbling over my kids, I got back into bed and slept well the rest of the night. Come morning I was sitting around the campfire flipping pancakes. Being the most experienced camper in the group, it kinda fell on me to be the Lord of the Fire Pit and the Grillmaster. I thoroughly enjoy both jobs, but the hardest part was keeping a bunch of boys – especially my own – from throwing things in the fire.
Throughout the day we did all kinds of fun things like going on a nature hike, visiting the nature center, going to the observatory, fishing, and other such things. We were joined by members of Pack 201, which our pack helped start this fall. It was nice to make new friends and enjoy a gorgeous day outdoors in the park.
I think the hardest part about camping was breaking camp and parting ways. I just didn’t want that experience to end. I was vividly reminded of my childhood dream of growing up to be a forest ranger. All the rangers in the park seemed to love what they were doing. I used to be most comfortable outdoors as a boy. I liked traipsing through the creeks and ponds, catching frogs and fish and, in my teens, hunting for fowl and small game.
There is a passion that this weekend rekindled in my bones that made me long to return to the adventurous ways of my youth. I know that I can’t live vicariously through my children, but I can expose them to the things I enjoyed at their age and see if any of them take an interest. Based on what I saw this weekend, that shouldn’t be much of a problem.
I honestly feel they would get more out of life by camping, hunting, fishing, riding bikes, skipping stones across the water, catching critters, and hiking in the woods than they will watching TV or playing video games. Who knows, maybe we’ll start some new family traditions.
In the meantime, we may have missed the date, but there is still the tradition of the Christmas tree to tend to. I sure am looking forward to a great Christmas season.
P.S. Happy 8th birthday to my son, Colton.

Marriage is not obsolete in U.S.

2010-11-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

A new survey out last week shows that 40 percent of adult Americans feel marriage is obsolete.
I suppose those same people would think that the foundation to their house is also obsolete. After all, why would you need to worry about what’s underfoot as long as there is a roof overhead? Aren’t there a lot of people in developing nations who get by just fine with thatched-roof huts and dirt floors?
Marriage is the foundation of family and family is the foundation of civilization. We are not animals who mate at random and then move on. It may seem like we’re headed that way if the Pew Research Center survey is anywhere near accurate.
The survey showed that those who had less education and lower incomes were more likely to feel marriage was unnecessary. The shocker was that people who claimed to be conservative had a lower opinion of marriage than their liberal counterparts.
Conservatives are the ones who brought us the whole “family values” thing.
With half the marriages in this country ending in divorce, I guess it makes sense that almost half the people would feel marriage is obsolete. Another part of the survey is equally alarming. It showed that the vast majority – 63 to 88 percent – define families as single parent and child, unmarried couples living together with children, gay or lesbian couples raising a child, and a childless married couple. The survey says 88 percent of respondents believe an unmarried couple living together without children is not a family.
In my book, a family is a married husband and wife with or without children. Single parents with children are a family, albeit a broken one. People with children who cohabitate may not be formally married, but are united in a common law marriage. The government and the courts look upon them as a married family.
Don’t even get me started on gay and lesbian couples. That in no way can or should be a marriage. (Please note that this is my personal opinion and not necessarily that of my employer.)
Getting back to the importance of marriage, it is my belief that marriage is essential to human civilization. Marriage is a vow – an unbreakable commitment and bond – to spend the rest of your life to the one you have selected as your mate. Unfortunately, we live in a society that feels “so long as you both shall live” means “so long as I feel like it.”
America today is perhaps the single-most selfish society the world has ever known. Though selfishness is a natural part of human nature, I think you can pinpoint what ails this country to the post-war baby boom generation. The so-called “me generation” certainly did not uphold the values instilled in it by their parents.
The generation that experimented with drugs and alcohol, burned draft cards, supported women’s liberation, legalized abortion, took prayer out of schools, and took the shame out of divorce and out-of-wedlock parenthood is the same one dumping its liberal philosophies into the minds of their children and grandchildren.
The baby boomers don’t hold the entire blame. The so-called “greatest generation” is the one that dropped the ball as parents and allowed – even encouraged – their experimental behavior. Rather than reining in their children, they simply dropped the reins and let them discover life for themselves.
What we now must contend with as a result of these actions (and inactions) is a society that is devaluing marriage, families, family identity, commitment, work ethic, faith, trust, integrity, honesty, education, responsibility, etc. It seems of late that every social “advancement” means lowering the bar, not raising the standard.
All that being said, I’m not here to bash either generation. I simply assign the responsibility of our current condition to them. Both generations have accomplished great things – and continue to do so. It’s their failures that are the cause of so much consternation.
There once was a time when we would not have thought to even question such things as family, marriage and faith. Now we can’t even accurately define them because they have become so convoluted.
The moral decay that I see in America is nasty and rampant. Sometimes I think we’d all be better off living in isolated tribes with thatched-roof huts and dirt floors. At least that way you’d know where you stand.

Cosplay is your word of the day

2010-11-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

The word of the week is “cosplay.” It’s a combination of the words “costume” and “play”.
According to online sources, the term was coined by a Japanese studio executive named Nobuyuki Takahashi. He got the idea in 1984 after attending a science fiction convention in Los Angeles. Initially it referred to people who dressed up in costumes based on Japanese characters in manga, anime, comic books, etc.
Here in the good ol’ U.S. of A., the term has come to mean most anyone who dresses up as a costumed character for something other than a stage production. For example, the people in period dress at the Texas Renaissance Festival are cosplayers. So are the folks who will dress up in Union and/or Confederate uniforms and invade Liendo Plantation this weekend for the Civil War re-enactments. A lot of people here have also seen the Brazos Bottom Cowographers perform at the Watermelon Festival. Those fine folks are cosplayers, whether they know it or not.
If you’ve ever seen the people dressed up as Stormtroopers from Star Wars, you’ve seen a cosplayer. Same goes if you’ve seen me in my Lone Ranger outfit. Of course, the best place to see cosplayers is at a convention of the science fiction or comic book variety.
There is a vibrant subculture and a thriving cottage industry in the world of cosplay. There is a lot of time and money invested in those costumes. My Lone Ranger outfit, for example, cost more than $1,500 and I still don’t have a decent pair of boots to go with it. A good Stormtrooper uniform will easily go well over $2,000.
The industry has moved way beyond the days when people wore plastic pointy ears and red, blue or gold shirts and went to Star Trek conventions. The costumes of today often rival and sometimes exceed those made by the Hollywood professionals.
My wife, Sandy, is a semi-pro costume maker. Most of her work is for children’s Halloween costumes and church and school theater productions. She loves making period dresses and has done several from Gone With the Wind and Pirates of the Caribbean.
It’s amazing how serious some of these people can be about their costuming. There are some who take it from an art to an exacting science, especially in the Star Wars cosplay universe. I know that to get into the 501st Stormtrooper Legion that a costume must meet certain standards.
Another group of cosplayers are the folks who participate in the Old West shooting competitions in the Single Action Shooting Society or Cowboy Action Shooting. These people dress in period clothing and hold shooting competitions using replica weapons of the time. It’s a lot of fun and the people who do it really get into their hobby. If there is anyone around who does that, I’d love to do a story on it.
What brings all this to mind are two things that are going on now. The Texas Renaissance Festival wraps up on the next two weekends and is located very near here between Plantersville and Magnolia. The Civil War events take place the weekend before Thanksgiving at Liendo Plantation. Both events are costume-intensive. And you can rank the Civil War cosplayers among those with stringent costuming regulations. You have to if you want an accurate representation of an historical period.
No matter the genre, one thing all cosplayers have in common is a love of what they do. Speaking from experience, it is a lot of fun to step outside yourself and assume a new identity for a while. People love it. It’s a nice feeling when someone wants to have their picture taken with you or they stop to talk about your costume or the character you’re portraying. It’s a great way to meet new people and make friends.
It’s also a way to help keep history and heritage alive. The more we study history and the attire and accessories of the people, the more we learn about ourselves and where we come from. On the other end of the spectrum, those who engage in the comic book, sci-fi and fantasy cosplay help expand creativity and imagination. Kids these days seem to be lacking that trait. This is a fun way to get them to express themselves in unique and creative ways.
The important thing to keep in mind when engaging in cosplay is that it is a hobby and it’s just for fun. There are those who can and will get carried away with it and become obsessed to the point that it becomes their idol. There is no way I can advocate this activity to that degree.
Anyway, I digress. My point is that this is a growing industry and enjoyable hobby. Like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it. If nothing else comes of this column, at least you learned a new word today and had your eyes opened to a different sector of our culture and society.

Experiencing the thrill of a lifetime

2010-11-11T10:56:00.003-07:00

Cross one more off the ol’ bucket list.
Every once and a while in this job you get a chance to do something out of the ordinary. In my career, that has meant flying with a 95-year-old pilot (who set a world record five years later on his 100th birthday), riding in a hot-air balloon, flying in a biplane, flying in a stunt jet, watching a space shuttle launch, attending major concerts, meeting numerous celebrities, photographing pro sports, shooting paintball guns and participating in Cowboy Action Shooting events.
But of all the incredible things this career has afforded me, nothing comes close to what I experienced last Saturday at Skydive Houston, just south of Waller. That’s right; I went and jumped out of a perfectly good airplane about two miles above the ground.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever beaten the airplane to the ground,” I told my tandem jump instructor, Marcus Harris, after we landed.
On that day, Marcus was my newest and closest friend. I mean that quite literally. When you’re strapped together for a tandem jump, you are in very close quarters.
Let me back this tale up to the beginning. When I learned there was a skydiving business in Waller County, I knew it was a story I’d just have to do. Whether I got to jump or not, adrenaline junkies make great stories and even better pictures.
I contacted owner Todd Bell and we made arrangements for me to come out last Saturday to do a story. A family emergency kept him from meeting with me, but his public relations specialist Thomas Baen filled in quite adequately.
One of the first things you notice when walking onto the Skydive Houston building is the joy and passion expressed by nearly everyone there. Hanging out in their building reminded me of what it’s like in a ski lodge, or a surfing shack or a rock climbing cabin.
People who take risks and enjoy thrills for a living have a special attitude and swagger about them. The attitude is the same even if the sport is different. It’s an air of confidence, if not outright cockiness. But when it comes to safety, they’re as straight-laced as an Army drill sergeant.
Thomas gave a fantastic interview and tolerated well my three, wiggly sons who were in tow. I got to meet and interview others on staff, all of whom were very friendly and enthused about sharing their sport. After the interviews were finished, it was time for me to experience a jump. I was introduced to Marcus, who strapped me into my safety harness and then gave me a quick, two-minute instruction on what to do. Then we boarded the plane and were soon off the ground. It was the first time I had flown facing backwards. It was a strange but enjoyable sensation.
As we climbed to roughly the two-mile mark over Waller County (between 13,000 and 14,000 feet), Marcus strapped us together, tightened everything and gave me some last-minute instructions on how to exit the plane. When we hit the spot, the videographer, Alex Frey, slid open the door and stepped out, holding onto the side of the plane. As soon as we nosed out, he let go and was instantly in our faces as we began the free-fall.
All my nerves and butterflies vanished in an instant as soon as we began to fall. Actually, it feels more like floating than falling. The air was cold and the wind whipped by at more than 120 miles per hour. After about two minutes of free-fall, Marcus pulled the chute open and we jerked to an upright position.
It was instant paradise. It became silent and we slowed to a gentile drift. From that vantage point we could see the Houston skyline and even make out the waters of the Gulf Coast. It was a very peaceful yet exhilarating feeling. After a bit Marcus asked if I got air sick easily. I assured him I didn’t and he offered to do some spins. That was a trip! We spun around rapidly, watching the world spiral ever closer. As we glided closer to a landing I noticed that most of the jumpers on our flight were already down, even though we were first out. Finally Marcus instructed me to lift my legs up for the landing. It was smoother than landing in a plane.
Even though it’s been several days since the jump, my head is still in the clouds. That was easily one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of my life. If my budget would allow it, I’d go up again in a heartbeat.
To be sure, it’s not for the faint of heart. Not everyone can skydive for various reasons. But if you’re healthy, adventurous and can spare a couple hundred dollars and an afternoon, I highly recommend you try it at least once. Then you, too, can cross it off your bucket list – or begin a new hobby.
To find out more, visit www.skydivehouston.com or call 1-800-JUMP-OUT.

The Bible is full of strange things

2010-11-04T08:58:00.001-06:00

It’s interesting some of the things you will find in the Bible if you just open it up and read it.
For example, did you know beer is in the Bible? It appears several times in the Old Testament. Probably the most notable verse is Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”
Almost all of the references to beer are in a negative connotation. This from Proverbs 31:6, “Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish.” Notice that beer is to be given to those about to die anyway, while wine is used to ease pain.
In the King James Version of the Bible, the word “stuff” is used 16 times. I always thought that word was more modern than that.
There are apes and baboons in the Bible, but no monkeys. I found references to lions and bears, but not tigers, oh my!
Of course, there are going to be differences in translations when you look at various versions of the Bible. I found several references to donkeys in the New International Version (my preferred version), but none in the King James Version. Instead, all I found in the KJV were asses. (I remember as a kid trying to justify the vulgar use of the word “because it’s in the Bible.”)
Speaking of donkeys, I won’t print it here, but have you ever read Ezekiel 23:20-21? I doubt you’ll ever hear a sermon preached on that!
Another difference between the two popular versions of the Bible can be found in the names of creatures. The KJV refers to the mythical satyrs, unicorns and cockatrices (rooster-serpent hybrids). The NIV calls them goats, oxen and vipers respectively.
Another example can be found in 2 Kings 18:27, where the commander replied, “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the men sitting on the wall — who, like you, will have to eat their own filth and drink their own urine?” (NIV). The KJV uses the words dung for filth and piss for urine.
The second book of Kings (2:23) we get a somewhat modern insult that is very similar in both versions. The NIV puts it this way: From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you baldhead!”
Not all of the really weird stuff is in the Old Testament. The New Testament has some pretty strange things, too. It has zombies, dragons, demonic pigs and bug-eaters (not to be confused with Nebraska Cornhuskers). The book of Revelations alone is filled with many strange creatures, some of which are unfathomable.
In Matthew 27:52-53 we find the zombies. “The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”
There are many references to dragons in Revelations. The KJV is peppered with talk of dragons in the Old Testament. As for the demonic pigs, do you recall the story of how Jesus drove the demons out of a man and into a heard of swine, which then stampeded off a cliff?
As for the bug-eater, Matthew and Mark both say that John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey (talk about bitter-sweet!).
Now that Halloween has passed, I’m reminded that there are ghosts in the Bible. In 1 Samuel 28 we get the story of Saul going to a medium and having her call up the spirit of Samuel. So, if you believe the Bible, you must believe that there are ghosts.
You can take comfort that they will not bother you unless you seek them out like Saul did. Even then, Samuel did not want to be bothered. “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” he demanded of Saul. He later warned the king that “The Lord will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me.”
Somehow I don’t think I’d want to be messing with a dead guy like that. I’m content to leave the dead well enough alone.
As weird things in the Bible go, I’m just scratching the surface. To really find out about biblical oddities you should sit down and read the Bible for yourself. Not only will you find many strange and bizarre things, you will also find the truth and the light. That is a treasure that is worth looking for.

Predicting local election winners

2010-10-28T08:47:00.000-06:00

If there’s one thing I do not like to write about, it’s politics.
I am not very politically oriented. Politics are very subjective and are equally emotional. Passions run deep, and so do the pockets whenever election season rolls around. That’s something that I just don’t like to mess with.
I have my values and beliefs and they generally run on the conservative side. But I’m not in lock-step with the Republican Party. Every once and a while the Democrats do something I can support.
That being said, I thought I would make my predictions on the outcome of the local races. Please note that this is not – I repeat, NOT – an endorsement. It’s just me looking into my imaginary crystal ball and trying to guess who the winners will be.
I think it’s a safe bet to predict that Elton Mathis will win District Attorney, Pat Spadachene will win District Clerk, Debbie Hollan will win County Clerk, Susan Winfree will win County Treasurer, Frank Pokluda will win County Commissioner Precinct 2, Delores Hargrave will win Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, and Ted Krenek will win Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, as they are all unopposed.
Another easy call is Stan Kitzman (Republican) over Wesley “Sandy” Buller (independent) for County Commissioner Precinct 4. Kitzman handily won the primary and was out of the country serving in Iraq when he did it. If he’s that well liked I think it means things will go in his favor.
The other easy call is Glenn Beckendorff over Dorothy Bottos for County Judge. Both have waged a hard campaign, but Beckendorff comes with the name recognition and the experience of already being a commissioner on the court. He’s also a Republican in a conservative county.
In the race for Judge, County Court at Law, I think June Jackson will stay on the bench. I don’t see much effort coming from her Democrat challenger Erica Hughes. Incumbency and being a Republican weigh in Jackson’s favor.
The contests for Justice of the Peace in precincts 1 and 3 are a little harder to call. In Precinct 1, Republican Joseph “Joey” Williams has been in a relentless campaign to unseat Democrat Charles J. Karisch. It will be interesting to see if Williams’ efforts are enough to overcome incumbency. I think he’s got a legitimate shot at it, but feel Karisch will carry the day.
Perhaps the most interesting race this election pits Democrat Marian Elaine Jackson against Republican Milton Whiting for the JP Precinct 3 seat. This is the race to replace DeWayne Charleston, who lost the position when he pled guilty to a federal programs fraud offense last August.
Jackson is the wife of Prairie View Mayor Frank Jackson. It will be interesting to see if voters want to place so much power into the hands of a single family like that. On the other hand, Whiting is a Republican in what is largely a Democratic precinct, but he comes with the name recognition of having been a county commissioner.
This is perhaps the toughest contest to call. I do think Whiting will pull it out but would not be surprised if it went the other way.
Looking on at extra-county races of interest, I foresee Republican Jeff Steinhauser defeating Democrat Alan Folger for 155th Judicial District Judge. Either man is well qualified but Steinhouser will benefit from straight-ticket ballots and a stronger campaign.
I also feel very confident that state Sen. Glenn Hegar, a Republican, will defeat Democrat challenger Patricia “Pat” Olney. Likewise, Republican state Rep. John Zerwas should have an easy time against Democrat Wayne Raasch.
In the race for Congress, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, Republican, should have no problems against Democrat Ted Ankrum and Libertarian Jeremiah “JP” Perkins.
Finally, for the whole enchilada, I believe incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Perry will stay in office, defeating Democrat Bill White, Libertarian Kathie Glass and Green Party candidate Deb Shafto.
So there you have it. Again, I remind you that this is not an endorsement but just a simple prediction. Now it’s your turn to decide. Be sure to get out and vote!

You have the right to remain stoopid

2010-10-21T07:59:00.000-06:00

You have the right to remain stupid.
Anything you say can and will be posted online.
You have the right to comment, but only if you do it anonymously.
If you do not have a computer on which to post your comments, your friends are sure to get online and do it for you.
I figure that I’ve been hitting some pretty heady topics lately, so it’s time to have some fun. That brings me to another cute kid story starring my youngest child, Colton. A couple weeks ago he was on the phone wishing his great-grandmother a happy 93rd birthday. He told her, “I’m going to live to be a hundred, but that will take a couple hundred years.”
Several years ago, my oldest son, Wesley, was playing with a new toy. I don’t remember what it was, but I do recall that it was kind of expensive and he was banging it around pretty hard. I told him, “Stop that or you’re going to break it! What do you think it is, a toy?!”
The blank, incredulous look he gave me was priceless.
I also liked the look on his face a few weeks ago when he was talking about school and realized what he said when he told us that “I don’t have a conscious brain.”
Those things reminded me of the time back in my early 30s when I moved back into my parents house. At some point my mother started nagging me and we got into an argument. In all honestly I have to admit that I blurted out, “Who do you think you are, my mother?!”
Back when I was in elementary school, our family was taking a road trip to visit grandparents. To help pass the time, we were playing hangman. I won a round because no one could guess that my word was “stoopid.”
Another time in elementary school, a couple classmates got into a bit of a squabble. I was sitting too far away to hear what it was about. Suddenly one of them held up a book, pointed with his finger and said in a loud voice, “See! I told you ‘gullible’ was in the dictionary!” If that wasn’t bad enough, I took out my dictionary and verified it.
Then there was the time in high school when I was running for class secretary. Only on my campaign signs I said that I was running for seceratary. I didn’t win.
As long as I’m confessing my bloopers, I have to tell you about the time in college when I was a photographer for the student newspaper. We were doing a story on a blind girl. In all seriousness, I asked her to “look this way.”
Moving on, apparently there is a new television show starring William Shatner called $#*! My Dad Says (or Bleep My Dad Says). I’ve never watched it and I’m too offended by the title to give a rip about it. But it seems to me they could have used another four-letter word that begins with S and ends in T and means the same thing as the word they’re bleeping out.
Hollywood is becoming a little too aggressive with use of vulgarities in the titles of movies and TV shows. There is a certain superhero spoof I would have liked to have seen, but the name is offensive, so I won’t waste my time seeing it.
There are times when I am proud to see newspapers buck free speech in favor of morality and decency. The paper I worked for in Colorado refused to run an ad that promoted the band “The 4 Nicators.” The compromise was to drop the 4 in the ad.
I’ve also been told that the Amarillo Globe-News ran ads for a movie that starred Roger Moore as James Bond in “Octopus”.
Normally newspapers are stalwart defenders of free speech. And they should be. But I have to respect those who will put decency and integrity ahead of that right. To me it’s not censorship if the thing being censored is vulgar or otherwise inappropriate for a normal, healthy community standard. There are limits to free speech and those limits are under constant testing by mainstream media.
But getting back to that bleep word; have you figured it out? The word is “scat.” There, now don’t you feel stoopid?

SHAC Jam highlights Scouting adventure

2010-10-15T08:47:00.000-06:00

My Scouting career began in the fall of 1974 when my friend Kevin McConnell encouraged me to join Cub Scout Pack 161 at Niwot (Colo.) Elementary School.
That invitation changed my life. It set me on a course that took me through Webelos and the Arrow of Light award (highest youth award in Cub Scouts) and on to Boy Scouts where, in 1981, I was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout.
In those few years I had many great adventures which included many campouts, wood cuts, skiing, canoeing, cooking, hiking, climbing, pinewood derby races and much more. Scouting was a family affair, with my mother serving as a den leader for me and my two younger brothers and later, my dad serving as Scoutmaster for Troop 161.
But my real adventure was just beginning. I spent four of the best summers of my pre-adult life on staff at the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch in the northern Colorado Rockies.
That was my coming-of-age season of life and it was unlike anything most people can imagine. It’s hard to put into words what it’s like to live in a teepee, wear buckskin clothes and teach wilderness survival and Indian lore for two months of the year in one of the most scenic places on the globe.
When I finished college and got married, I thought my Scouting career was over. It wasn’t. I volunteered at the district level for a couple years when I lived in North Carolina. That came to an end when my daughter was born.
A few years later, that marriage ended and I returned to Colorado where I met and married Sandy. I adopted her son, Wesley, and when he turned 6 I wanted him to get involved in Scouts. The church we belonged to didn’t sponsor a Scout unit, so a fellow Eagle Scout and I started Cub Scout Pack 158. I served as the Cubmaster for the first five years and Sandy served as a den leader much of that time.
When we moved to Amarillo in December of 2005, Wesley moved on into Boy Scouts with Troop 94. We later moved to Troop 1776 with his former Scoutmaster. In the meantime, my middle son, Luke, became old enough to join and we entered Pack 301. Once again Sandy took on the den leader role.
When we moved down here at the end of 2008, Wesley joined Troop 1000 in Richmond and Luke joined Pack 1000. Once again Sandy became a den leader. This year, our youngest, Colton, has joined. Sandy is now the Cubmaster and I am going to be a Webelos den leader.
What brings this all to mind is this past weekend at the Sam Houston Area Council Jamboree, or SHAC Jam as it’s commonly called. I have been to many Scouting events (with the exception of the two biggies – the national jamboree and Philmont Scout Ranch) and I have never seen anything quite like this. It was Scouting heaven! There was so much going on you couldn’t do half of it in a day.
Wesley camped out there with his troop and Sandy and I took Luke and Colton as part of the pack. The Boy Scouts were there from Friday through Sunday. The Cub Scouts had a day trip. We camped Friday night nearby at Bovay Scout Ranch with about 2,000 of our closest friends.
There was a lot of energy and enthusiasm that weekend at Texas World Speedway. It was Scouting at its finest. My compliments to the huge staff of volunteers who worked diligently to make the experience delightful, fun and well organized. Even though there were 26,000 people there, it really didn’t feel too crowded. There was plenty of room and so much to see and experience.
Each of us came home thoroughly exhausted but enthusiastic and reinvigorated about Scouting. All three of my boys want to reach Eagle and Wesley is currently working on it.
As for my friend Kevin, who got me started, he is a Scout leader for his son Tristan with a troop in Austin. Kevin and I advanced through Scouts together, each earning rank at the same time and ultimately holding our Eagle Courts of Honor together.
Thank you, Kevin, for setting me on an adventure of a lifetime.
If you know a boy who would like to experience Scouting, you can find more information and unit locations at www.shac.org.

Keep employees happy during down economy

2010-10-07T08:12:00.000-06:00

Here is a hint for all of you business owners and managers of employees: Treat your people right.
In a down economy like we’ve been experiencing, not too many people are getting raises. Most are fighting just to keep a job. But what will happen when the economy improves and jobs become plentiful again? Will your employees be loyal to the brand?
There are some things employers can do to keep their employees happy when times are hard. This is how not to do that.
The daily newspapers I used to work for have been hit especially hard by the recession. I think salaries have been frozen for most, if not all, of the last few years since I left them. There have also been hiring freezes. As people have left they have not been replaced. The staff of one of them has been through unpaid furloughs, loss of overtime, decreased benefits, a layoff, reduced hours for some, significant pay cuts for salaried staff, and so on.
At the same time, people have been picking up extra duties and responsibilities. They’ve been doing more for less for a long time. They’re expected to work like dogs for table scraps. I’ve kept up with many of my friends from those papers and not a one of them is happy with their job situation.
Unfortunately, the job market is so tight that they keep working for fear of being unemployed and unable to get a new job. Fear can be a good motivator, but it’s also rotten for employee retention and morale. Whenever the economy turns around, there will undoubtedly be a mass exodus from those newspapers.
When the companies finally see revenues increasing, they will try to rebound while at the same time suffering a brain drain and the loss of a great deal of institutional knowledge and experience. I highly doubt they are the only companies that will experience that when the time comes. “You get to keep you job” can only provide so much motivation.
I understand that many companies cannot afford to give raises. I think employees understand that. But there are other ways of motivating employees and letting them know you value their service, even when you can’t increase their pay. People like to get things. Whether it be a compliment or a new car, just showing you care about them can go a long way.
Implement an employee of the month program if you don’t already have one. (And then brag about them with an ad in the newspaper!) Honor your top performers with a gift or a gift certificate. You can buy them fairly inexpensively or barter goods and services for other goods and services. For example, if you make pizzas, trade with a movie theater for tickets.
You can also treat the top performers with tickets to sporting events, movies, theater, etc. A $50 gift says a lot and is far less expensive than a 4 percent raise. Maybe you can reward your staff with coffee and donuts, lunch, a round of golf, a magazine (or newspaper) subscription or a promotional product of some sort. Gym memberships and spa treatments are also well received.
Another small suggestion is to do your best to keep a positive attitude and work atmosphere. People get tired of gloom-and-doom. They want to know that what they are doing is important and that their future is bright.
Several of my former colleagues routinely complain about how bad they have it. They grumble about furloughs, pay cuts, increased work loads and so on. Whether management appreciates them or not, they sure don’t feel it. I guess it all boils down to the golden rule of treating others as you would like to be treated.
If you’re going to take away the carrot and start cracking a whip, don’t be surprised when your team comes unhitched and you’re left going nowhere.

Lone Ranger rides on
In my last column I wrote about my desire to sell the Lone Ranger Fan Club and to make more time with my family. I am happy to report that a solution is being worked out that will take most of the load off my shoulders but keep me involved. I can’t tell you what that is just yet, but I think what is being worked out will benefit everyone in the long run.
Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

The sun is setting on the Lone Ranger Fan Club

2010-09-30T13:26:00.000-06:00

There comes a time at the end of the trail when every cowboy must ride off into the sunset.
I’m afraid I’ve hit that point with the Lone Ranger Fan Club. For the last eight years I’ve been riding the range with my faithful companion, Tonto (a.k.a. Sandy), bringing back the thrilling days of yesteryear to fans young and old. I’m afraid I’ve reached a season in life where it’s time to take off the mask, send Silver out to pasture (I’m keeping Tonto!) and let someone else chase down the bad guys for a while.
Actually, I never came across any bad guys. Lone Ranger fans are some of the most enjoyable, fun-loving people I’ve ever known. It’s been a real thrill to get to know so many of them, even if it’s only been by correspondence. I will always treasure my time in the saddle. To understand why I’m giving it up, you must first know what got me into it.
Back several years ago I got the notion into my head that I wanted to write a novel. At first I wanted to do a Star Trek novel, but that field was crowded and the storyline I had in mind played out one evening on my television set. Realizing that I was not going to be sending the Enterprise and her gallant crew on any missions against the Klingons, I took stock of other heroes that were still beloved but not necessarily in the mainstream. That led me to one of my childhood favorites, the Lone Ranger.
As much as I liked the character, I didn’t know much about him. At least it wasn’t fresh in my mind. I began doing research, looking for any information I could. I found an address for Clayton Moore and wrote him a letter requesting a phone interview. I also included a photo for him to sign. He signed and returned the photo, but I missed his call. A few months later he was gone.
As my research continued, I found a contact for John Hart, the actor who took over the role for a season. I did a phone interview with him and wrote a feature story for the newspaper I was working for at the time. Not long after that, I came across a website for a Lone Ranger newsletter called “The Silver Bullet.” I was sure that would be a treasure trove of information, so I subscribed.
I was right. It was loaded with all kinds of information about the masked man. A few issues into my subscription, the writer/publisher, a guy from Washington State named Terry Klepey, wrote that he was losing interest since Moore’s death and was ready to let someone else take the reigns. As a professional journalist and now a Lone Ranger enthusiast, I felt it was something I could do very easily. I talked it over with my wife and gave Terry a call.
A short time later I was running the newsletter. It’s a quarterly publication and was printed on a copier and stapled together in the top left-hand corner. I did it that way for a while, but felt it deserved more, so I upgraded it to a booklet. At the same time, I began to hear from some of the old-timers who lamented that there wasn’t a club they could belong to like they did when they were kids. That got me to thinking, why not?
So in 2003 the Lone Ranger Fan Club was formed and The Silver Bullet became its official publication. I contacted the trademark owners of the character and got their seal of approval for what I was doing. They were thrilled to have free publicity for their character. At the time there were plans announced for a major motion picture to be made, a television pilot was being filmed and several other major projects were in the works. My timing couldn’t have been better.
I got a website up (www.lonerangerfanclub.com) and the club began to grow. So did my family. I now had four kids and became the Cubmaster of a Pack we started at church. On top of that, we started a home-based business printing T-shirts, mugs and things. Then, my world fell apart. The movie was dropped. The television pilot became a movie of the week and it bombed big time.
I left my job at the newspaper to focus on my business at home, but it tanked. In the span of a few months I fell off my lofty perch atop my world and hit rock bottom with a thud. We moved to Amarillo to seek a new start in life. Through all the chaos, the fan club continued to thrive. But with an active church life and another son going into Scouts, it became a struggle to meet the publication schedule.
In 2008 we held a convention in honor of the 75th anniversary of The Lone Ranger. It was a mild success. We barely broke even, but had a ball in the process. I got to meet a lot of people I only knew via e-mail and phone calls.
About that time I took a job that was an hour away from home. The commute really took its toll on me and further hindered my ability to do the newsletter. Yet the fan club continued to grow. Disney announced that super-producer Jerry Bruckheimer was going to make a Lone Ranger movie and membership began to skyrocket.
Then came the move to the Houston area. We moved into Sandy’s grandfather’s house in Rosenberg and I accepted this job in Waller County. Almost two years later and my family is pretty entrenched in Rosenberg. We now have three boys in Scouts and a hyperactive church life. My commute is still about an hour and it’s wearing me and my car out. The demands on my time here at the paper and at home with my family have me burning my candle at both ends and melting in the middle. Something has to give.
Now, as we are just months away from the movie being filmed, it is time to let go. I’ve put the fan club up for sale. Someone else can bask in the bright lights of Hollywood. I’ve carried this ball to the goal line. Someone else can score the touchdown. I have a family that needs me. I need my sanity back. My boys need a Scout leader and a dad who will play catch, ride bikes and go fishing.
While giving up the fan club won’t shorten my commute, it will take off a lot of my stress at home. There is still a big part of me that wants to keep going with it and maybe I’ll find a way to keep my hand in it. But I have to accept the fact that I am first a family man and that’s the role I need to play. No mask required. It’s time for me to ride off into the sunset before the sun sets on me. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find time to write my book.
If you’re interested in doing this gig, e-mail me at lonerangerfanclub@sbcglobal.net. Hi-Yo Silver, Awaayyyy!

Now for some totally random thoughts

2010-09-23T09:48:00.000-06:00

Hello, here we are once again. I’m writing to you from the business end of a blank page.
That tends to happen from time to time in the life of a newspaper columnist, especially as deadline draws near. There comes that time when I have to put a string of complete sentences together in an order that both makes sense and has some important and/or entertaining value to it.
This is where I part lines with the rules and reality. I have a lot of topics in mind to write about, but nothing that really stands out as a good column idea. So, as my teenage son would say, here is a collection of some “totally random” thoughts.

How ’bout them Texans!
OK, so two wins does not a season make. But hey, you gotta love seeing the Texans start the season at 2-0. To sweeten the pot, they’ve done it at the expense of two pretty good teams, the Colts and the Redskins. I just hope they can keep the momentum going for the next few games.
I would love to see the Texans crush the 0-2 Cowboys (emphasis on the 0-2), followed by the Raiders and the Giants. As a die hard Broncos fan, I have a strong dislike for the Raiders and any team that has beaten the Broncos in the Super Bowl, which includes the Redskins, Cowboys and Giants. A 5-0 start for the Texans would make me a very happy man – and a very enthused Texans fan.

Speaking of football …
I went to Royal High last week for the big game between the Falcons and the Hempstead Bobcats. I was pleased to see so much fan support on both sides of the field. Though I could only stay through the start of the second half, I was surprised to see the 32-14 final score in favor of the home team. I was anticipating either a defensive struggle or a shootout, since both teams have stingy defenses and high-powered offenses.
Royal’s running back Brandon Williams appears to be the real deal. He’s got a great combination of speed and power. You don’t see too many players of his caliber at this level.

Teen transformation
Just a couple weeks ago, my son, Wesley, had really long, stringy hair and a mouth full of braces. He looked about as teen-geek as they come. This year he entered B.F. Terry High School as a freshman and joined the Junior ROTC. Off came the hair. And last week, after about four years, off came the braces. My how quickly my young man has grown up! If you looked at before and after pictures side-by-side, you could hardly tell they were the same person.
The transformation is also at work on the inside. Between JROTC and the Boy Scouts, he is really improving his character. The training and discipline are doing him a world of good. I am so proud of him!

Why?
Have you ever noticed in those corny credit card commercials that the big, tough Viking characters all speak with a decidedly British accent? What’s up with that? And speaking of Vikings, the hit movie last spring, “How to Train Your Dragon,” had Vikings with a Scottish brogue. Doesn’t anyone remember that Vikings were Scandinavian? And why do Scotts and the Irish get brogues while the rest of us are stuck with accents?

How do they do that?
You can’t live in cattle country for very long before you learn about modern facts of life. When I was a kid back in Colorado, we had a cow. One day my dad had a vet come over and – going up to his elbow in a place where the sun don’t shine – artificially inseminate the cow. If you don’t know what artificial insemination is, please don’t ask me to explain. That’s why God made Google.
After a number of years I learned to understand and accept this unnatural practice as a way of doing business in the world of modern cowboys. What I failed to consider then, and am a bit squeamish about finding out now, is one of those profound mysteries of life. How do they get the semen from the bull? Worse yet, whose job is it to extract it?
Somehow I don’t think the process involves a secluded stall, a glass of wine and a copy of Cowboy Magazine. That, after all, would be udder-ly ridiculous.

Looking for God in all the wrong places

2010-09-16T12:43:00.000-06:00

Where is God?
In biblical times, men assumed God lived in the sky, somewhere amid the clouds.
As man learned to fly, God was pushed to outer space. When man went to space, he was again moved to someplace in the universe. Now, as Hubble and other space-borne telescopes gaze through the heavens (kind of ironic calling them that), they see no sign of God. All that can be seen is his creation.
Now we have the likes of Stephen Hawking and others trying to prove that creation could happen without God.
As we search the stars are we failing to see the forest (maker) for the trees (creation)? The question remains, where is God?
As a Christian, I know God to be in my heart in the form of the Holy Spirit. Lately I’ve been reading some books that have me thinking anew about the nature of God. We try to visualize and restrict God to what we can see and experience for ourselves. To me, that is like trying to understand an artist by looking at his painting. It doesn’t tell you much of anything about the artist, the equipment he used to paint with, his viewpoint and ideas about his subject or anything else about his world.
All we can discern is what we see on the canvas. The picture is beautiful, even as we muddy it up with our destructive way of life. To us, that canvas is all that there is. There is nothing beyond the frame. To me, that way of thinking is incredibly ignorant and small-minded. We theorize and assume there must be no painter (creator) because he is not visibly reflected in our limited picture.
We do not see him and we do not see his other works of art nor the world in which he lives. Therefore, we must have evolved and appeared naturally with the painting. After all, everything we see and know can be found in this painting.
I submit to you that God is much more than the painting. I think some of what he is has been reflected in his masterpiece that is creation, but that there is infinitely more to him than that which we know and see.
Consider for a moment that God is eternal – no beginning and no end. Eternity is not limited by the linear concept of time as we understand it. God, being an eternal being, can move forward and backward in time. I believe he also goes above, below and through it. Because he can be at any point in time, he certainly knows everything there is to know about what he has created.
One of the books that I’ve just finished reading is “The Shack” by William P. Young. While it is a work of fiction, it wrestles with some very deep concepts about God and why bad things happen in this life. It opened my eyes to the fact that what happens in this life is not about us, but about him and our relationship with him.
In the book, the protagonist is bitterly angry when his young daughter is kidnapped and killed. He is angry at the killer and at God for allowing it to happen. While I don’t want to ruin the story for those who want to read it, suffice it to say that it says a lot about forgiveness and looking at situations from a perspective not our own. It places a huge emphasis on God’s love for us and his desire for a relationship with each person – even those who do evil.
The concepts of forgiveness and relationship have been reinforced in the book I am currently reading called “Pagan Christianity” by Frank Viola and George Barna. That book takes a startling and, dare I say, shocking look at how modern Christianity in all its forms have been to prevalently influenced by paganism. I am amazed at how much stuff we call “church” is anything but scriptural.
What is scriptural is the call for Christians to be in fellowship with and to minister to one another. We are to be in a continual relationship with God. He’s not some distant being who serves as our go-to guy when we need a prayer answered or when we attend church. We are indwelt by him in the form of the Holy Spirit and he expects us to act like it. I plan to have more to say on this book after I have read it and delved into the follow-up books.
In the meantime, I am learning to look within myself and in the hearts of others as I seek God. I know he is not hiding someplace in the cosmos waiting to be found by prying eyes with majestic telescopes. He’s right here, with you and me – where he wants to be and has been all along. By looking within we can see beyond the canvas of creation and see the artist.

Finding meaning in a meaningless game

2010-09-09T08:56:00.001-06:00

It will go down in the annals of history as just another meaningless pre-season football game between Tampa Bay and Houston which saw the Buccaneers overcome the home team 24-17.
That game was played on a Thursday night, featured the second string as starters and left more empty seats than fans in the stands of Reliant Stadium. At least that’s the way it looked from the field. As the game wore on the stands slowly filled, but it was far from being a sell-out.
As meaningless as the game may seem, there are some people to whom it was priceless. One of them, to be sure, is Neal Rackers, who gave Chris Brown, the last original Texan, the boot in the contest for the kicking job. There are a few other players who are still suiting up based on their performance in that game. There are still others who are not. To each of them, the game was not meaningless.
The game was also special for a friend of mine, Bryan Borden, who took his 3-year-old son, Bryce, to his first professional football game.
“I think the atmosphere of the great fans and the big stadium really had him in awe,” Bryan said. “He loved watching the great hits and asked a lot of questions. We had a great time. I think his favorite parts of the night were yelling at the players, eating ice cream, and the train ride (park and ride).”
The game was certainly not meaningless to me. I had the privilege of photographing the game from the sidelines. It’s the third time I’ve photographed an NFL game and the fifth time I’ve shot a pro game. The first non-NFL game was the Denver Gold vs. the New Jersey Generals in the USFL and the other was the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks vs. the New York/New Jersey Knights of the World League of American Football. The other NFL games I did were the Denver Broncos vs. the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings vs. the Miami Dolphins.
Being on the sidelines of an NFL game – even a pre-season game – is a unique experience. It’s easy to be in awe of being up-close with big name superstars of the game. I’ve been around enough celebrities in my day that, while I still get a little tingle about it, I really don’t get starstruck anymore.
This was the first professional game since before 9/11 that I’ve done and I must say that I wasn’t prepared for the increased security. In addition to showing my ID to get my press credentials and having my bag thoroughly searched, I also had to sign in again inside the stadium and was then issued a red photo vest.
Inside there is a room just for still and video photographers that is well guarded and equipped with computer ports, outlets, televisions, and a nice spread of food and drink. Annie Green was one of the Texans people assigned to assist us and I have to give her kudos for being very kind and able to anticipate our needs before we were even aware of them.
Out on the field, the sidelines were crowded. After the pre-game VIPs were sent upstairs we got a little breathing room, but there were still an awful lot of press people interested in a “meaningless” pre-season game. Aside from all us media folks, players and coaches, you have a ton of other team officials, game officials, mascot, cheerleaders and others whose business I could not discern who were all vying for precious space to view the game.
I was there to observe the sidelines as much as the game. At least, that was my premise for being there. Thanks to Vince Yokom and the loan of his camera and zoom lenses, coupled with my company-issued Canon, I had two cameras to shoot with and ended up getting more than 300 shots. You sure couldn’t do that in the days of film cameras.
There is nothing like being at an event live to really get a feel for what is going on. The difference is like listening to your favorite group on your iPod versus having front-row seats at their concert.
As enjoyable as this experience was, I was still very disappointed that the starters sat out the game. It was like watching the junior varsity play after you’ve been conditioned to enjoy varsity ball. Still, when you’ve got guys battling for a spot on the team, you tend to get a lot of colorful action as they put it all out on the line.
These are the guys, like me and my friend Bryan, for whom the game was anything but meaningless – even if the wrong team won.

Ignoring the moon is just plain lunacy

2010-09-09T08:55:00.000-06:00

I guess you could say I’m going through the moon phase of life. I’ve always had a love for NASA and space exploration. Lately though, I’ve been enthralled by the Apollo missions to the moon.
I’ve recently read Neil Armstrong’s biography, “First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong” and have previously read Buzz Aldrin’s “Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon.” (That’s “read” as in listened to the audio books.) Years ago I read Jim Lovell’s book upon which the movie “Apollo 13” was based.
One thing that has always puzzled me is the lack of national interest in the great feat that was the Apollo program. Sending men to the moon and returning them safely is mankind’s crowning achievement to date. Yet we celebrate it with a collective yawn.
Every five years NASA trots out Neil and Buzz for a big anniversary soiree. There’s no national holiday in honor of the occasion and most people couldn’t tell you the date of the first lunar landing. (It was July 20, 1969, by the way.)
There were 24 men who have flown to the moon and 12 who have walked on the lunar surface. How many of the dozen moonwalkers can you name? Most people can’t get past Armstrong and Aldrin. After them, in order are Pete Conrad, Alan Bean, Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, David Scott, James Irwin, John Young, Charles Duke, Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt. (And just to be honest, I had to use a cheat sheet to keep them in order.)
Of the 12 moon men, three have passed on – Conrad, Shepard and Irwin. The remaining nine – with the exception of Armstrong and Aldrin and perhaps Cernan (the last man to walk on the moon) – are hardly recognized in public. One would think, given what they have accomplished, that their likenesses would be as well known in public as, say, the Beatles.
I bet if you asked someone on the street who Harrison Schmitt is or what Edgar Mitchell is famous for, you would not get the correct answer nine times out of 10, even in Houston, home of NASA.
The most famous of those who went to the moon without reaching the surface would have to be Jim Lovell, who went there on Apollo 8 and then returned on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission. People might recognize the names but not the faces of his crewmates on Apollo 13 – Fred Haise and Jack Swigert. Michael Collins would be a close second to Lovell as the command module pilot of the Apollo 11 mission.
Frank Borman, Bill Anders, Tom Stafford, Dick Gordon, Stuart Roosa, Al Worden, Ken Mattingly and Ronald Evans also went to the moon without walking on it.
Aside from Lovell, can you name the other astronauts who have made two trips to the moon? They are Young and Cernan, both of whom flew on Apollo 10 and later on Apollos 16 and 17 respectively.
I’m still dumbfounded that the nation would so quickly lose interest in the moon landings that the last three Apollo missions would get scrapped. What gets me even more is how there is little support for going back to the moon and onto Mars. That just 40 years after the first moon landing we could have an American president attempt to kill the manned spaceflight program is absurd.
Ending manned spaceflight is not going to solve the nation’s social ills. On the contrary, it will be a setback in the science that is going on in space that will lead to cures for diseases, technological advances and increased understanding of our world and its place in the universe. We cannot take a step forward by taking a giant leap backward.
One has to ask, where will we find the next generation of astronauts – or will we even need them? Is space travel something once accomplished and forever obtained? Or is space travel our future?
If you ask me, aside from maintaining the International Space Station, we should leave development of low-earth orbit exploration to commercial ventures and focus our national resources on the moon, Mars and beyond. Only when we explore what’s out there will we learn the things we need to better understand what we have back here.
Men have gazed as the moon for millennia, wondering what it’s like up there. Only a dozen have looked back at Earth from the moon. I think it’s high time this nation went back into a moon phase and let someone else discover what lies beyond the pull of Earth’s gravity.

How I spent my summer vacation

2010-08-26T12:06:00.000-06:00

Writing those dumb “how I spent my summer vacation” essays upon the return to school always seemed like a waste of time to my friends, but for some weird reason I always looked forward to it.
I liked telling my friends what I had done the previous three months and I liked hearing what they did – assuming it was something interesting. I never thought my life was anything but ordinary, but I did have some unusual experiences. In hindsight, I now know that my childhood was not exactly what most people would call normal.
We had our chores to do which included mowing the lawn, feeding the cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and other assorted critters, milking the cow, shoveling a lot of … compost, weeding the garden, cutting firewood, raising honeybees, and feeding, breeding and butchering rabbits (we had a couple hundred at one point).
Being a country boy, I assumed most kids my age had to do those things, so I never wrote about them. I always wrote about the vacations to Omaha, Neb., or Stockton, Calif., to visit grandparents, Scout campouts, showing animals in the county fair, fishing at the Frog Pond, hiking in the mountains, playing baseball, going to the movies, and buying, selling and trading comic books.
I guess the things I felt were special were more in line with the ordinary than the things I had to do every day. Still, I wouldn’t trade any of those experiences for anything.
In keeping with the “how I spent my summer vacation” theme, I thought I’d share some of the highlights from my vacation last week. It was only the second time in about five years that I was able to take a week off and go somewhere farther than Walmart.
My wife’s parents have use of a house this month at Holly Lake just north of Tyler. We spent the week with them and had a great time. But you don’t want to hear about a great time. You want to know about the unique things I got to experience. Or maybe you don’t. Either way, I’m going to tell you.
Holly Lake is a gated community nestled in a forest with a couple of manmade lakes in it. No matter how many times we saw them, we still stopped, pointed and gawked at the deer. They were everywhere. It would have been a hunter’s paradise. I suspect it would also be a great place for an entrepreneur to open a shop selling replacement headlights!
The community doubles as a resort and offers a swimming pool and hot tub, a community center with a small movie theater, crafts, game room, grille, and a host of things to do like fishing, putt-putt, golf, archery, tennis, boating and more. Of course, with all of that to do, the thing my kids loved the most was the Wii.
My in-laws brought their Wii game system with them and hooked it up to the large screen TV. As much as I really didn’t want them to be playing video games, the only games they had were Wii Fit and Wii Sports. They got more exercise on that contraption than they realized.
One of the highlights of the trip for me was finally visiting the Lone Ranger hat. Kickerz Coffee (formerly Yahooz) in Tyler is a drive-thru coffee chain best known for the large cowboy hat roofs on the buildings. There have been three built so far and the third and largest was done in a Lone Ranger theme.
Unfortunately, the ground in front of the building eroded away thanks to faulty waterlines and some poor engineering by the Big Box store across the street. That hat is closed for now while Kickerz’ owners sue for damages. Their other two hats are operational and are doing a phenomenal business.
I’ve been following the saga of the hat for my Lone Ranger newsletter for a few years now and was pleased to finally see it in person and to meet the owner, Valerie Smith. She shared the whole Kickerz story with me, including their David-versus-Goliath fight against Yahoo over the Yahooz name.
I must say that they brew a mighty fine cup o’ joe. Speaking of brewing up some coffee, my father-in-law, Joe Snyder, shared some of his kopi luwak with me. He received it as a gift while working in Indonesia. I have to admit that it is really good stuff. For those who don’t know, it is made from coffee beans harvested from the excrement of the Asian Palm Civet (a small cat-like creature related to the mongoose). And yes, I knew that going into it.
One of the special moments I will not soon forget from this trip was when my 15-year-old son declared in all seriousness that “I don’t have a mental brain.” That’s where the seriousness ended, by the way.
As they say, all good things must end. We came back with just a day to unpack, clean up and wash laundry before sending the three boys back to school and my daughter back to her mother in Virginia. Now things are settled into a “normal” routine … whatever that is.

Rethinking Superman in a more realistic way

2010-08-23T15:08:00.000-06:00

With Hollywood pumping out remakes and superhero movies faster than a speeding bullet, one would think that it would be time to re-think Superman.
It’s always bothered me that he has these unbelievable powers just because he is in different color sunlight. I’d like to see a more “realistic” version of the last son of Krypton.
In my mind, the Man of Steel would be more man than steel. He wouldn’t be the muscle-bound freak he is in the comics today. (What’s up with that anyway? Does he paint his costume on?) I think he should be built more like a normal person. I don’t think he should be able to fly. I think he should be able to jump real high, like the Hulk does, as he is still bound by the laws of gravity.
I don’t think his x-ray vision and heat vision should be something he can turn on and off at will. I’d do away with the heat vision and make his x-ray vision his normal vision. Instead of being bullet-proof, I’d make him feel bullets much like a normal person would a BB shot from a BB gun.
Here is how I think his back story should unfold. Rather than being placed in a rocket ship alone by his parents and blasted to Earth from the dying Krypton, I would put the whole family in the craft. As they go into suspended animation for the long flight, a meteorite from the home world would damage the craft, causing his parents’ life support units to malfunction, killing them.
Upon crashing on Earth (say, around Roswell, N.M.), he is rescued by a couple from Kansas returning from vacation. Young Kal-El (Superman/Clark Kent) should be a juvenile who speaks a different language and has some educational background. He should be wounded from the crash and very frightened and confused. He should grieve the loss of his parents.
Because he is on a much smaller world and in a different color of sunlight, he has what appears to be superhuman strength. His body is dense and tough, but not impossible to penetrate. Because of his mass, he would be very heavy. I think he would still suffer burns because his hide is dense, not fireproof.
Because of his physiology and the fact that he is on a smaller world and in new light, he can see a larger spectrum of wavelengths, which includes x-ray. Most everything he sees on Earth would have varying degrees of opaqueness to him – most of it see-through.
At first he will need to discover how to communicate, what he can and cannot eat and how to walk in a much lighter gravity (like the astronauts on the moon). I think he should be able to run faster than the average person, but not have blinding speed.
I think this represents what we would more accurately expect from a humanoid visitor from another world. It also makes him more vulnerable to humans and their machines. It means he has to use his mind as much as his muscle to defeat his enemies.
Another twist should be that as he ages, his body adjusts to the lighter gravity. He weakens, his eyesight slowly fades and he gradually becomes more human. His aging process should also be much slower – say, taking 20 years to age five years.
It might also be that, as he matures, other alien qualities develop, kind of like going through puberty. Perhaps he would have the ability to change skin tone and color and camouflage himself much like some lizards and sea creatures do.
Lex Luthor, Superman’s nemesis, should be a secret government agent assigned to investigating the crash of the alien spaceship. He becomes doggedly zealous in his pursuit of the missing alien. So obsessed is he that it causes him to lose his job. But by now he is so determined that he turns to crime to fund is pursuit.
Superman – who sees himself first as Kal-El and goes into hiding when necessary as Clark Kent – plays a cat-and-mouse game with Luthor. He needs to retrieve belongings in his ship from Area 51 and knows Luthor holds the key to locating and entering the secret base.
I think this version of Superman more accurately describes how an alien visitor would appear to have superhuman powers. I think it gives him a vulnerability that is lacking in the modern version. It would make the outcome of his exploits a little less certain.
You know, come to think of it, instead of re-inventing Superman, maybe I should just create a new superhero using this as a guideline. That would be original – something lacking in Hollywood these days.

Loyalty strikes out in pro sports

2010-08-11T13:26:00.000-06:00

For the love of the game. That was the title of a pretty good baseball movie a few years ago starring Kevin Costner.
I wish there were more players who do what they do for the love of the game. It doesn’t matter the sport, it’s all about the money. It always has been ever since the first person got paid to play a game. Occasionally you find an athlete who really doesn’t give a hoot about the money – but then they generally make more in a year than most of us will see in a lifetime.
I’ve slowly been losing interest in professional sports because I’m so frustrated with the high salaries, the off-field crimes, the drug abuse and so on and so on. It makes me stop and wonder at what point sports stops being about the team and becomes more about the individual.
As children playing our first little league games, it is coached into our heads and hearts how important the team is. We develop loyalties early on to our local teams and yearn for the day when we can play for the local high school. (As a side note, Hempstead ISD has a teamwork motto.)
That loyalty continues into college. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Rudy,” you know what I’m talking about. But something happens in college. Once a player begins to realize he has the potential to go pro, his focus changes. He works on improving himself. He wants more playing time. He must decide if he will stay with the team or forgo his senior year and turn pro.
How does turning pro a year early help the team? It might help the individual, but by then the team concept is lost on him. At the professional level, even entry is contrary to the team concept. Players are drafted. They can’t apply to a favorite team. They go where they’re told – at least long enough to get some time in and then renegotiate a contract for more money or perhaps another team.
It’s rare that you see a player stay with any one team their entire career. Just ask Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman. As much as Astros fans might miss them, understand that they are gone not because of their commitment to the team but because of the almighty dollar.
You can argue that Andre Johnson will be a career Texan, but look at the pile of loot it took to keep him. Even then, there is no guarantee that he will stay a Texan. Anything could happen that would ship him elsewhere, such as a trade, drop in performance or other unforeseen incident.
Professional sports isn’t fun and games. It’s a business. And like any businesses it is driven by economics. Loyalty and commitment have little meaning in the big leagues. Just imagine what the face of professional sports would look like today if loyalty and integrity were valued character traits. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if players rode for the brand instead of themselves?
Imagine sports without strikes, lockouts, salary disputes, relocations, performance-enhancing drugs and off-field troublemaking. What if those values were modeled for children today? Think of what this country might be like if loyalty were better exemplified not only in sports, but in the workplace and in marriages.
A generation or two ago it was not uncommon to see someone retire after 30, 40 or even 50 years of service to one company. Now you’re lucky to see people reach the 10-year mark with the same employer. I know I’m the pot calling the kettle black because I’m with my sixth newspaper in 23 years.
I’m not naïve enough to think that loyalty should be everything and that people shouldn’t look out for their best interests. I feel, however, that loyalty should account for something. I think companies (and sports teams) need to do a better job of recognizing and respecting loyalty. And workers (and players) need to understand that money isn’t everything. There are benefits to making the most of where you are at. If your situation is bad, it makes perfect sense to move on. But if you are happy, why upset the apple cart?
It is more important to make more money and climb the corporate ladder or to spend more time with your family, volunteering in your community and being involved in the world around you?
I feel the most important arena for loyalty is not a sports arena but the arena of relationships – especially marriages. Cheating is not an option. Loyalty and commitment are stalwart characteristics that should describe every familial relationship. Once they are grounded at that level, they will spread to all aspects of our lives – on and off the field.

What attracts two people together?

2010-08-05T08:05:00.000-06:00

What is it, aside from their physical attributes, that attracted you to your spouse? Conversely, what is it, aside from your physical attributes, that you think attracts your spouse to you?
Obviously, our appearance is the first thing we notice. Setting that aside and getting to the heart of the matter, what is it that makes you click as a couple? There are two clichés that come immediately to mind: “Opposites attract” and “we have a lot in common.”
In order to “complete” each other, it is assumed that we need to fill the voids in our lives, thus the attraction of opposites. But if we’re completely opposite we would have nothing in common to share and build a relationship on.
That reminds me of another cliché used to describe relationships: “It’s complicated.” I know what it is that attracted me to Sandy and what keeps me attracted (that is, beyond her beautiful feminine features). We have a lot in common. We share a love for Jesus Christ and we cherish our family values. We have similar interests in movies, music, food, sports and other cultural trappings. I like that she cooks from scratch, loves to sew, has a passion for books and enjoys getting out and doing things.
I like that she is the “queen of free” and has a knack for finding fun, free and low-cost things to do. She is very practical and thrifty and knows how to bargain. She has a very caring heart and loves to volunteer and help others. She is an excellent mother and lover.
At the same time, we are opposites. She has a mind for numbers and business. Her expertise with the medical insurance industry has saved us thousands of dollars over the years. Her nursing background has helped us to no end when dealing with doctors and hospitals. She manages our money and does it fairly well.
I, on the other hand, have a fear of numbers. I don’t do them well and have a great need for someone like Sandy to fill that void in my life. She is a computer whiz and I’m just a lowly consumer. She is mechanically inclined and I can never remember which way to turn a wrench.
Of course, I have characteristics that drew her to me. And just as soon as one of us can figure out what they are, we’ll let you know.
Actually, she said that she took her second look at me when a mutual female friend said that I was “too religious” for her taste. Sandy wanted a man with a heart for God and found that in me. I think my natural good looks and quick wit helped to. (Hush! No comments from the peanut gallery.)
It’s safe to say that I disappointed a lot of women the day I got married. Now I can focus on disappointing just the one. (Insert rim-shot here.)
Seriously though, the one thing that holds us together is our relationship with Jesus Christ. He has been our anchor in this very stormy life. We have survived a lot of hardship in the last 10 years and are still together and as madly in love as we were on our honeymoon. It’s fair to say that we haven’t always been “in love” all the time. No one is. But we’ve survived many things that would destroy a marriage and have come out on the other side closer than ever.
Even now as we face some mid-life changes in our lives, there is no one I’d rather be with than this exceptional woman who has put up with me and my eccentricities all this time. How many other women would put up with a gap-toothed, pot-bellied, middle-aged man who likes to dress up as the Lone Ranger, attend science fiction conventions, read comic books and who doesn’t like cars? I’m telling you, Sandy’s a rare gem and I’m very honored and privileged to have her as my wife.
Attraction is what brings people together. Commitment is what keeps them together. I think that’s the secret to a good marriage. Sandy and I are committed to each other and our vows no matter what. I’ve been learning that as long as I put her needs above my own that she will do the same for me.
That being said, and in all fairness, I don’t always put her needs first. I’m your average, clueless American male and I don’t always catch the hints she drops. Sometimes I don’t even get them when she clubs me over the head with them like a 2-by-4. And there are times when my own selfishness gets in the way.
Eventually I will come around and see the error of my ways. There are two simple rules to marriage that cannot be changed. First, the woman is always right. Second, if the woman is wrong, see rule No. 1.
Once again I have strayed off topic. Sometimes it’s fun – or at least enlightening – to sit back and think of the things that attract you to your mate. It’s also a good time to think about what you can do to satisfy your mate and work on your relationship. I feel that if every couple did this as a regular exercise you would see a lot less divorce and marital discord in this country.

Armchair quarterbacking our favorite local festivals

2010-07-29T08:49:00.001-06:00

It’s time for a little armchair quarterbacking.
In the last three weeks we have had the Waller Freedom Fest and the Hempstead Watermelon Music Festival. My family and I had a great time at both events. But attendance was down and I’m hearing some grumbling here and there from locals who were less than thrilled.
While I haven’t been here long enough to know what the festivals of old were like, I certainly didn’t have much to complain about beyond getting a little sunburned. The heat certainly impacted both festivals, but that’s to be expected in South Texas in July. You really can’t do much about that.
Using my limited experience and unlimited hindsight, I have a few suggestions that might make both events bigger and better.

Waller Freedom Fest
Next to the fireworks display, the most successful part of this event is the children’s play area where they can have a blast in the water. I think the festival should capitalize on this and expand it. I could see something like a mud volleyball tournament, water balloon toss, tug-o-war over the mud pit, dunk tanks, greased pig contest, and other such events.
Another thing that was highly successful in my hometown of Longmont, Colo., was a picnic in the park. There was a contest for the best picnic display and people came out to compete, eat and enjoy live symphony music with patriotic tunes.

Hempstead Watermelon Music Festival
I though this year’s festival was greatly improved over last year’s. It helped a lot having everything in one central location. Crossing Austin Street is dangerous, especially without traffic control. I also liked the idea behind the evening concerts.
I suspected there would be a problem when the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce announced that it wanted to bring in a “name act” and then contracted with Cowboy Troy. “Cowboy who?” was not only my response, but that of many people I talked to. He is not a name act. The headliner has got to be a more recognizable personality – someone who doesn’t make people ask, “who’s that?”
Another concert killer was having the headliner go on at 11:30 p.m. That’s just way too late. The headliner should go on around 9 p.m., or 10 at the very latest.
I would also recommend expanding the watermelon contests. I think it is very realistic for the watermelon eating contest to become a sanctioned International Federation of Competitive Eating event with big cash prizes. I think there would be a lot more participation in the watermelon judging if it were promoted far enough ahead of time so people could start growing their own for the competition. That way the commercial growers don’t dominate everything.
Another event that I think would go over well is a watermelon wine tasting. In that same vein, a watermelon cooking contest of some kind might be a lot of fun.
I have really enjoyed having the Brazos Bottom Cowographers here. Assuming they are invited back – and I hope they are – I would like to see them get a more prominent place for their set. In the two years I’ve been here, they have been off to the side where they haven’t been as visible as they could be.
An unrelated event starting up this year is the Watermelon Run For The Fallen. I think if the event is held next year that it should be done in conjunction with the Watermelon Music Festival. It doesn’t have to be on the same day, but at least the same weekend.
Finally – and this is probably the most important part – next year’s festival needs more volunteers. The core group of about five people at the chamber busted their backsides to pull off the festival and they deserve our thanks and our help.
As I said at the beginning, I’m just armchair quarterbacking here. That being said, I plan to pitch in next year and do my part to make the festival a bigger and better success. I hope many of you will too.

Buzz, Woody bring childhood to life

2010-07-22T09:22:00.000-06:00

I took the kids to see Toy Story 3 last week at the Hempstead Theater.
I love the Toy Story movies. In fact, I like just about all of the Pixar/Disney films. The Toy Story trilogy, however, has a special place in my heart. When I first saw the original Toy Story, I thought someone had probed into my life and crafted a film around my childhood imagination.
The protagonists were a cowboy and a spaceman. My heroes were the Lone Ranger and Capt. Kirk. The toys, Woody and Buzz, were owned by Andy, a little boy who could have been me. I loved to play with action figures and imagined all kinds of adventures for them.
It may not have been very manly to shun sports for action figures (don’t you dare call them dolls!), but I didn’t mind. I’ve never had the eye-hand coordination or blazing speed to be competitive in athletic endeavors, but I had a vivid imagination. My toys could take me to places only my mind could go.
The antagonist in the original Toy Story was a mean kid named Sid. I’ve been Sid. In my early teens I had a thing for blowing stuff up with firecrackers. But most of the time I’ve been Andy, treating my toys though as if they were living things. On weekday mornings before school, “The Lone Ranger” came on TV. I would watch it with my Lone Ranger and Tonto figures sitting on their horses so they could see it, too. I’d get angry if my brothers sat in their way. After all, it was their show and they had a right to watch it with me.
I still have those figures. They’re displayed on a shelf above my desk. I have a second Lone Ranger figure here in my office. But the toys I really miss are the old Mego superhero figures. I had a huge collection, including the Star Trek figures (and bridge set), Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Captain America, Fantastic Four and more, including many of the villains. But I left them one day at a friend’s house. The next thing I knew, they were packed up and his family moved to Oklahoma. I never saw my figures or my friend again. What I wouldn’t give to have those back, including the friend.
I had other figures, too, such as Johnny West, G.I. Joe, Muhammad Ali, Six Million Dollar Man and Evel Knievel, among others. But the Lone Ranger and Mego figures have always been my favorites.
In 1977, when Star Wars came out, I just knew Mego would make a line of Star Wars figures. Little did I know at the time that Mego had gone out of business. I got stuck collecting the little, plastic, 2-inch figures instead. I collected them all, including the mail-order Boba Fett. But when I reached my mid-teens, I figured I had outgrown action figures and I sold off the Star Wars set at a garage sale for 50 cents each. D’oh!
When the new trilogy of Star Wars films came out, I bought the action figures for my children (at least, that was my excuse). When they gave them up, I took them back and they now sit on a shelf here in my office.
In 1995, when Toy Story came out, I got my daughter the Buzz and Woody figures. Yeah, like a 3-year-old girl wants anything to do with that. The figures went from her to each of her younger brothers. Buzz bit it a couple years ago when someone barfed on him and we couldn’t get it cleaned out. Woody was headed for a garage sale before I intercepted him and plopped him amid my stuffed raccoon collection.
I don’t know what possesses me to possess my collections. Maybe it’s just the memories or the way the toys fire up my imagination. I certainly don’t idolize them. I could even live without them, though there would be an empty spot in my heart.
Maybe the thing that’s so appealing to me is watching how we grow and change through the eyes of our toys. In Toy Story 3, we got to see Andy head off to college. The movie was a coming of age for the boy and his toys. It addressed many of the fears of the future that were hinted at in the second movie – college, storage, landfills and children destroying toys.
As I grow older, I know I’d love to see my toys passed down through the generations behind me. My kids don’t have an interest in my toys. They barely keep interest in their own things. But maybe there will be a day when, at the very least, they see the monetary value of keeping these old playthings. Better yet, maybe one of them or their children will love and respect them the way I do. If so, I know they’ll be taken care of for infinity and beyond.

What could be worse than living in hades?

2010-07-16T07:29:00.000-06:00

An interesting point was made in the Wednesday night men’s group at my church last week.
One of the guys told how he had befriended a nonbeliever years ago and asked him if he knew of anything that was worse than hell. The nonbeliever couldn’t think of anything that was worse than the fire and brimstone of eternal damnation.
My Christian brother said he could think of one thing: Getting there and finding your wife and children there because you didn’t lead them to eternal life though Jesus.
That was profound. It was profound enough that this nonbeliever is now one of the strongest Christians I know and is a servant leader in our church.
It’s one thing to think of your soul existing in torment for all eternity because of decisions you willfully made. It’s another to think of your loved ones souls condemned for all time because of decisions you didn’t make.
Conversely, how would I feel arriving in heaven with the full knowledge that my loved ones and acquaintances were eternally doomed because of my inaction?
I don’t want it to ever be said that I was ashamed to speak about Jesus. I want anyone to feel welcome to talk to me about faith – yours or mine. I know what I believe and I am not embarrassed by it. I am humbled and honored to be loved beyond comprehension by the creator of all that is and ever will be.
It was also interesting to me when, guys being guys, someone said that they would be willing to die as the Apostle Paul did for the sake of Jesus Christ. There was a lot of murmuring in agreement about that until I asked how many would be willing to risk their employment in order to talk about Jesus on the job. The room fell silent.
I don’t think there was a man in the room who is not willing to risk losing his job so he can talk to a coworker about Christ. At the same time, I think many of us don’t want to be in a spot where they have to make that choice. We’re comfortable with a don’t ask, don’t tell mentality toward proselytizing. We won’t open the door for that conversation unless the other person opens it first.
I’m not the kind of person to walk up to a stranger and say, “Hi, my name is Joe. Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?” I am, however, the kind of person who will wear Christian T-shirts, put fish logos on my car and do my best to live my life as an example for others to see. I guess I hope that will open doors.
That being said, I am far from perfect. My current car does not yet have any Christian symbols on it. My office has a cross on the wall, but far more items indicating my interest in the Lone Ranger and Star Wars. I have many personal failings; among the more obvious ones are a lead foot and a propensity toward gluttony. I can only hope to overcome my failures before they overcome me or get in the way of my ability to reach others for God.
To my credit, I try my best to be a spiritual leader in my home. We attend church regularly, have nightly family prayer time and encourage our children to read the Bible and understand their faith. I feel confident that come judgment day I will be six-for-six when it comes time for my family to enter the pearly gates. I wish I could say the same about everyone near and dear to me, but sadly I cannot.
I can only hope that by writing this that someone, somewhere will be convicted or inspired enough to investigate the claims of Jesus and come to know him as their savior. This is my way of reaching out and saying that I don’t want you to make a mistake – willingly or in ignorance – that will cost you eternity in paradise.
It is my hope that when I reach Heaven that I will be greeted by a large number of people who are thankful that I showed them how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I hope that this column will reach others long after I’m gone. It’s the best way I have to impact generations yet to be born on behalf of the one born to die for them.

Y’all come now
This Saturday is the 22nd annual Hempstead Watermelon and Music Festival. I hope everyone will come on out and enjoy the festivities. Once again the Waller County News Citizen will have a booth. This time we will offer an incredible deal on subscriptions in honor of our 120th year. Come on by. You won’t want to miss it. I won’t be at the booth very much because I will be out taking pictures and covering the festival. But I will be easy to spot in my new, green Waller County News Citizen polo shirt. Please feel free to come by and say hi.

Festival fun abounds in Waller County

2010-07-07T14:30:00.000-06:00

It’s festival time in Waller County! This is the week between Waller’s Freedom Fest and Hempstead’s Watermelon Music Festival – kind of a breather between the two major events.
This is certainly a fun time to be in Waller County. I took my family to the Waller Freedom Fest on Sunday and we had a great time, just as we did at last year’s festival. This year’s event was much smaller and more intimate than last year’s inaugural Freedom Fest.
Even though the crowd was smaller, I think I liked it better. It kept all the best parts of the previous celebration and added a few things which made the day memorable. Last year’s festival was good, but it suffered from 100-plus degree heat and not enough activity to sustain participation from the opening until the main events began that evening.
This year, however, the event did not start until 4 p.m. and there was as much, if not more, to do. All of the events were centered in the area behind the Waller Junior High School football stadium. When we first got there, the Waller Fire Department was spraying water from a truck and my two youngest boys ran out and got soaked.
From there we made the rounds at the booths, checking out the food, crafts and things for sale. Three of my kids took shots at climbing the rock wall. After that we moved over to the children’s area where my three sons lost themselves on the water slides and in the bubble machine. My wife and daughter spread a blanket in the shade and settled down to work puzzles, draw pictures and relax.
I busied myself throughout the afternoon taking loads of pictures. I had fun watching the skateboarders do their thing. It was also a thrill to watch the team from Skydive Houston parachute into the football stadium. That’s something I want to try someday.
As evening came on, we got some food and settled down to listen to the concert. Contemporary Christian recording artist Matt Brouwer performed, giving a great show under the big, white tent.
After the concert, the crowd made its way into the football stadium for the fireworks show. The display was colorful and fun, but then what do you expect from a fireworks show?
An added bonus for me was getting to hold some baby raccoons that people brought. They were my favorite animals as a kid. It brought back some very fond memories.
In all, I have to say that Waller had a great sophomore outing with its Freedom Festival. Hopefully the city and the Waller Ministerial Alliance will keep building on the momentum for next year.
Looking ahead, we’re just a week away from the re-named Hempstead Watermelon Music Festival. Despite the heat, last year’s festival was a big hit and a lot of fun. It was my first Watermelon Festival and I really enjoyed all there was to see and do. There’s so much going on that one person cannot possibly do it all in a day.
Of particular interest to me was the Wild West Show featuring the Brazos Bottom Cowographers and the Civil War display by the 11th Texas Cavalry. I really get into the Civil War and Old West periods of American history.
For most people, however, the festival is all about watermelon, music and barbecue. For others it’s the car show, food and craft booths and the quilt show. Whatever your interest, there is something for everyone at the festival. Assuming we’re not getting deluged by tropical rains, I encourage everyone to come on out and have a great time.

Upsy-daisy
I finally broke down and did it. It took prompting from my doctor and a reminder that I’m reaching one of those milestone birthdays, but I finally had a colonoscopy. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s a procedure where a doctor takes an upside look at your downside from the inside out.
In other words, you go to the hospital where they either knock you out or send you so far into la-la land that you don’t care what’s going on behind your back. The doctor inserts a cable up the wrong direction of your digestive tract and looks through a tiny camera to see if there is any sign of polyps or cancer. The worst part of the procedure is not the main event, but the preparation.
To get ready, your digestive system must be empty. That means not eating the day before. That is bad enough, but then you get to take a couple pills and drink several glasses of an oily-thick laxative. That is followed by what feels like several days spent mounted on the porcelain throne, attempting to launch yourself into orbit.
While the prep was nasty, the recovery was nice. I got to lock myself in my bedroom and take a nice, long nap. That alone made the whole thing worthwhile. The icing on the cake was the clean bill of health that I got.

The complications of a simple life

2010-07-01T13:15:00.000-06:00

If it’s true that time seems to get faster the older you get, then at this rate a year will pass each day by the time I’m 80. That’s funny, because when I was little, it seemed like each day lasted a year.
I always thought technology was supposed to simplify our lives. It seems the more gizmos and gadgets we get, the more complicated life becomes. Of course, having four kids and being active in church and Scouts doesn’t slow things down, either. Even here at the newspaper things have picked up quite a bit.
It’s July already and I’m still trying to figure out where last Christmas went. In the last few weeks, I’ve had my daughter fly in to spend the summer with me, sent my oldest son to Scout camp, had all three of the boys visit my folks in Colorado and have made a trip to San Antonio.
In between all of that have been a couple Astros games, several church activities and a few Scout related things. If that weren’t enough, I had my home computer die a couple months ago, taking everything with it. Since then I’ve commandeered my children’s computer in order to reestablish e-mail and to start rebuilding everything I need to run the Lone Ranger Fan Club. I’ve just about finished my June newsletter, not a moment too soon.
Oh, and in preparation for my daughter’s arrival, we moved two bedrooms around, ripped out some ancient carpet and have been doing some reorganizing of the house.
In order to be that busy requires tools and things that were not commonplace, if in existence at all, a decade ago. While our busyness may sound typical of the average American family these days, none of it could happen efficiently without the aid of e-mail, cell phones, texting and other technological wonders of the 21st century.
We have had to communicate on the move, move farther on a tankful of gas, and be able to manage the schedules of six people on the fly. I don’t think we’d be accomplishing nearly as much without the modern marvels at our fingertips.
What gets me is how we used to talk about technology making our lives easier and freeing us for more leisure and intellectual pursuits. What I’ve discovered is that I am now doing the job that three or four people used to do. As the saying goes, the hurrier I go, the behinder I get.
It also feels like we are engaged in more activity, but not the depth of involvement that we had when I was a kid. In the rush of things, we don’t seem to get as heavily involved in any one project like we did back in the day. One the other hand, my children are involved in more things than I was. Who knows, maybe this is what all this technology was meant to free us to do.
Then again, if my kids didn’t spend so much time playing video games, texting and watching DVDs, they’d have time to engage at a deeper level. We do try to limit how much electronic entertainment they’re exposed to, but ironically it seems we have to communicate it and enforce it by electronic means.
All of this has me pining for the simple days of farm life that I enjoyed as a kid. To clarify that, we lived on an acre lot. On the back half my dad built a barn. We had a couple cows, a few sheep, a couple pigs, some chickens and turkeys and about 200 rabbits to care for. We also had a large vegetable garden that was well fertilized and in need of constant weeding.
Whenever I hear my kids complain about their chores, I have to laugh (as my father did to me) whenever I think about what I had to do compared to their small list. My list included everything they have plus critter care.
At the time, I would have loved to have had the iPods, cell phones and other contraptions to make life more comfortable, if not easier. But then I shudder to think of how busy we would have been back then if we had all those so-called time-saving devices to free us up for more “leisure” activity.
Anyway, back to the farm. I think spending time outdoors working with animals has benefits that can’t be measured with any number of modern gadgetry. Milking cows by hand, collecting eggs, seeing foals and calves born and butchering meat for supper are experiences most folks don’t have today. We were more fit and ate better back then and no amount of amazing high-tech machinery can replace that.
I’ve come to the conclusion that technology doesn’t simplify our lives; it only enables us to become busier. The proof of that is in how fast time flies with all the “leisure” time that has been afforded us.

When seasons of life collide

2010-06-24T10:08:00.001-06:00

Is it just me or does anyone else find Facebook and Twitter freaky in a good sort of way? I’m on both, but mostly Facebook. I now have more friends than I’ve ever had in my life. Some of them I actually know.
My daughter once asked me how I could have more than 300 Facebook friends when she, a teenager, could barely muster 100. I thought about it and concluded that after having attended elementary school, junior high, high school and college; having lived in four states; being a member of several churches and organizations; and now working with my fifth employer, I have accumulated many friends and acquaintances along the way.
In the normal flow of life, almost all of my Facebook friends would be nothing more than memories to me. That’s the way things go. You move on in life, say goodbye to old friends and make new ones.
Now, thanks to social media, we can dig up our past and drag it kicking and screaming into the present. It’s very surreal to be in almost daily contact with people I’ve only known briefly and that many years ago. It’s also interesting to see how friends from different areas of my life are connected with other friends that I would never have known they knew each other. (Did that make any sense?) Facebook really is a world wide web unto itself.
I’m fascinated to see friends from vastly different parts of my world get into discussions as they comment on something I’ve posted. I’ve also gotten to know some people just by being regular commenters on mutual friends’ postings.
At one time I was “friends” with my wife, ex-wife, a couple of former girlfriends, former drinking buddies, prayer partners, current and former co-workers, athletes, astronauts, artists, cowboys, actors, pastors, authors and seemingly endless numbers of family and former classmates.
I’ve wised up and dropped a few that I have no business associating with anymore. I’ve also blocked from my “stream” several friends that I want to keep in contact with, but don’t want to know the minutia of their lives.
In addition to my own personal Facebook activities, I maintain a page for the Waller County News Citizen, as well as one for the Lone Ranger Fan Club. In hindsight, I think I’m more social online than I ever was in person.
As for Twitter, I mostly use it as another way to access Facebook. I also follow several celebrities on there. For the most part, Twitter is a waste of my time and is often redundant to Facebook.
One of the huge benefits of Facebook is joining pages of favorite restaurants and businesses that offer discounts and freebies exclusively on their pages. I can also get updates on my favorite sports teams and movie companies. A big one for me is the ability to keep up with everything going on with NASA.
While it may sound like I’m a rambling commercial for Facebook, I’m not. There are times I wish I could break my addiction to this time-sucking electronic spider web. I think at times I’m overwhelmed at seeing the various seasons of my life collide and then explode in a shower of photos, video and commentary. There is something very unnatural about that.
Sadly, I have some friends who have had their marriages end because they or their spouse formed relationships online that never should have happened. I guess that risk exists in many arenas of life, but can be done much more stealthily (and permanently) online.
On the other hand, it’s all very exciting to answer the “what ever happened to …” questions and see where some of the mysteries of my past have played out. It’s also very handy for staying in contact with family, friends and associates, especially with people I care about being scattered around the globe at various times.
As a closing note, it’s interesting to me that while I am writing this as my weekly column for the Waller County News Citizen, there will be more people who read it on Facebook than there will be in the newspaper itself.

Ain't nothin' better than being a daddy

2010-06-17T08:09:00.001-06:00

Happy Father’s Day to all the great dads out there.
Being a dad isn’t the easiest thing for a man to do, but it sure is the most rewarding. There is nothing like holding your newborn baby for the first time and knowing that your world is a better place. Great are those moments when your youngster takes those first, precious steps, says their first words, catches a ball, swims across the pool and rides a two-wheel bike for the first time.
Among the joys of fatherhood is hearing “I love you, Daddy,” receiving crayon scribbles on construction paper, the first day of school, fishing on a lazy summer day, mowing the lawn together, wrestling in the living room, pillow fights, bedtime stories and stargazing.
As they grow older, there are the music lessons, athletic events, camps, youth group activities, helping with homework, and training a puppy. There will be hours of playing catch, foot races, playing ball, going to movies and watching sports live or on TV.
The older they get the more important a father’s instruction becomes. There is a special bond between a father and child that is like nothing else on this earth. Finally, they get into high school and college. If your child is athletic, there will come that memorable moment when they make the big play and you swell with pride and relish the moment where all that hard work and dedication has come to fruition. It’s at that moment your child will look at the camera and say “hi, Mom!”
I am blessed with a great and wonderful God, a beautiful and loving wife and four of the best children a guy could ask for. Everything else pales in comparison. I have those things because I have parents who modeled that for me. They led me on the straight and narrow path. And even though I strayed at times, it was through their love, dedication and direction that I have the great family and good life that I do today. The same can be said for my in-laws and their daughter, my beloved Sandy.
I know too many guys who have given up on their families and left for “greener” pastures only to miss out on the greatest experience of their lives. There is little that is more harmful to a child than to have to live without one of their parents, be it through death or divorce. Of those two, divorce is more devastating. Death is something we cannot control. Divorce is the willful desertion of one or both of the parents from the family. It is something that can be controlled. What’s needed is for more men – and women – to take a “we first” attitude toward one another.
Finding true happiness in this life comes not from doing what feels good or in pleasing oneself, but in pleasing and caring for those around you. When the people around you are happy, you too, will share in their joy. And when those people are your wife and children, a guy can’t ask for much more than that.

I screwed up
When I make a mistake, I own up to it. Last week I made a huge mistake. Actually, I made a bunch of them. It’s my lapse in judgment and I take full responsibility and apologize to those affected by it.
In the interest of integrity and serving as a government watchdog – which is a mantra of this profession – I published a list of public officials who are behind on their taxes. For the most part, I was right on. I should, however, have thoroughly vetted the information I had and I failed to do so. That reflects negatively on my own integrity, the integrity of this newspaper and the integrity of those wrongly named.
I should have contacted everyone on the list first to verify that I had the right people and to offer them a chance to tell their side of the story. I did with the ones I could find, but I didn’t with all. That meant that fine people like Johnny Johnson of the Hempstead ISD Board of Trustees and Joe Garcia of the Royal ISD Board of Trustees got mixed up with their namesakes. It also meant that people like Brookshire City Judge Karl Micklitz, who is on a quarterly payment system, and Monaville Fire Chief Dan Easter, who is in the process of refinancing, were listed as delinquent when they had legitimate reasons.
To each of those who were wrongly affected by my errors, I humbly and sincerely apologize.