Happy Birthday Ned

Ned,
Today is your 21st birthday. I look at you and see your face the first time I held you. You were a beautiful baby and have grown up to be a handsome young man. I remember your Grandma Smith and Great Grandpa Edmund Smith standing in my hospital room discussing all of your attributes that were of course all Smith. When Grandma mentioned that you had your Dad's blue eyes, I had to pipe up. If there is anything about you that I can claim as Etzler, it is your blue eyes that sparkle like the sunshine on Lake Michigan in the summer.

Looking back, your Dad and I thought we were so grown up. But there is nothing like looking into the eyes of your first child, to realize how much you don't know. You were a happy baby and a sunny toddler. People would stop me and say "He should be a model". I remember standing in the line at Cub and a little girl commented on what a beautiful little girl I had. When I told her you were a boy she say "Oh no, not with those beautiful long lashes he can't be.

I should have known when they had to induce me when you were 2 weeks overdue, that you had your own time line. I remember worrying that you would never be potty trained. But one day you said you were ready for big pants and you never had an accident. Reading was hard for you at first, but once you learned to read, you never stopped.

You have brought so much joy to us and our family. We are so proud of you and the man you are becoming. I don't feel like the mother of a 21 year old. When I told that to Grandma Etzler, she said how do you think I feel being the mother of a 52 year old. So I guess it is all relative.

Enjoy your life, trust in God and know that you are greatly loved.

What Makes Kids Happy?

Some encouraging news

When asked what one thing makes them most happy, 20 percent mentioned spending time with family — more than anything else. About three-quarters — 73 percent — said their relationship with their parents makes them happy. After family, it was relationships with friends that people mentioned most.

This came from a survey by MTV and the Associated press . It was an open ended question asked of 1,280 kids ages 13-24. When asked who their heros were, almost half named their parents.

What Age Am I anyway?

I have had some great discussions with people lately about generational differences. I heard someone say that 50 is the new 40. I had to laugh, my generation is no different then the ones before, we are just more vocal about it.

Some days, I still feel sometimes like I am still in my 20's. I am baffled by my aches and pains the next day after spending an afternoon in the garden. I am surprised to realize that my son is turning 21 next month. I just don't feel like someone who has a child that old.

What our kids don't know until they have kids is that although you become a parent, you are still yourself. I can vividly remember what it was like to be in college, and how I thought I was so grown up. I can understand my kids skepticism, after all, I have trouble remembering the name of the movie I saw yesterday, how can I remember something that happened 25 years ago?

I would never want to go back to my 20's. However, I can still feel like I am in my twenties with the wisdom and knowledge of someone in her 40's.

What is your commute time?

I thought this article about the cost of commuting was very interesting.

It may cost your life. We often think of that commute to work as a waste of time sitting in the car and spending a fortune on gas, but there is a hidden cost. There was a recent piece on Forbes about how unhealthy our commutes really are and what some of the consequences are.

The article goes on to mention hidden consequences such as air pollution, accidents, and lifestyle choices.

Ross and I were talking about this last night. He is working at Starbucks in the Minneapolis airport. Since he has to park in employee parking and take a shuttle bus to the terminal and go through security, he has to leave an hour earlier then he would if he was working for the neighborhood Caribou.

For Ross, a confirmed night owl, the commute issue is not the monetary cost of gas and wear and tear on the car, but it is all about the hour of sleep he misses.

I used to have a 50 minute commute to and from work (on a good day). What made it bearable was being able to work from home 1 day a week and the flexibility to alter my work time to avoid the heaviest traffic times. When I started my search for a new position, a short commute was one of the top 3 things I considered when looking at job offers. Like Ross, I resented the time spent commuting.

Life is full of compromises. The key is to really look at the trade offs you are making to be sure they are worth the risks.

I can't wait until I am in my 80's

When I was a kid, I hoped that my Great Grandma would live to be 100, just because I thought it was cool and so very old. I want to live to be 100 to see how Generation Y kids are going to handle their adult lives. Settle down little doggie, I can see the GenY hackles rising. I say this with love. I enjoy the Gen Y group. They are smart, articulate and ready to take on the world. I thought Modite summed up the attitude of a lot of Gen Y kids (I can call them kids because, well, they are) in this column.

1) Selfishly entitled. Guilty. Generation Y believes that we deserve everything the world has to offer. And we do. Paying dues when we enter the workforce is a joke. Not only have we already paid dues in high school by working harder to advance our standing in college, but we then work even harder in college to get ahead once we dive into the real world.

We’ve worked hard. We’re willing to work harder. We deserve success.

2) Impatience. Impatience is a virtue. Trust me. We need a sense of urgency and impatience to solve some of the world’s biggest problems within the next few decades… Now here comes Generation Y, urgency coursing through our blood. No waiting here. We’re ready to get things done. Just show us how, or let us take the reins.

3) Commitment-phobia. Our lack of loyalty has made employers mad. They have a generally negative view of us, in fact, believing the only thing we’re good for is fixing the faulty computer. Employers invest in our talent and potential and we usually quit on them within two years of starting…

For Generation Y, commitment-phobia is more about being realistic about a situation then a lack of desire to work to be loyal. We don’t see the point in staying in a relationship that isn’t mutually beneficial. We’re practical about the extent of our abilities and reach. Millennials approach projects with an attainable goal within reach. There is no long-term commitment, but rather we’re involved with the project to achieve that goal, and don’t find it necessary to stretch it out further.

Dare I go on? The paragraph above says a lot about this generation of twenty somethings and how they think.

As a parent of Generation Y kids, (the Jones Generation), I feel like the middle child I am, sandwiched between my older siblings the Baby Boomers who get all the credit and the younger ones Generation Y, who don't acknowledge that without my trail brazing, they wouldn't be able to enjoy the freedoms they have today (coming from a family of 6, my 2 younger brothers were able to get away with a lot more).

I have more sympathy for the girls who were a year ahead of me at Concordia Grade School. They fought hard for the right for girls to be acolytes just like the boys. The policy was changed, not in time for them to participate but just in time for my grade. We were less then thrilled with our new status (I was deathly afraid of tripping and starting the whole church on fire). They didn't feel appreciated and at the time, they weren't.

So in another 20 years or so, I will be sitting in my home by the lake, responding to work e-mails and listening to my grandchildren complain about their parents and how "they just don't get it". You know, I guess things really don't change.

Bridge 9340

It has been a week since the 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis. I am still amazed at the low death count (5 confirmed, 8 missing, assumed dead), since it could have been so much worse. The stories of the survivors is also incredible. For me, it is more difficult to look at pictures from the scene now, then it was when it first happened. Tim, a local photographer and Civil Engineer, has an incredible website documenting the scene. Here is a report from 2001 about the bridge.

I am fortunate in that my work and home are far enough away, that I am not affected directly by the bridge collapse and the traffic delays that come with it. I didn't know anyone who was killed or injured. However, it happened to my town, in my state. It is something that we will live with for many years to come. Like 9/11 and the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia, it will be a question asked for many generations. Where were you when..

If you want to help

Pet Peeve - Ice Hockey

I have noticed recently that people who are from the West coast and southern states refer to hockey as "Ice Hockey". Why the modifier? I can understand street hockey, field hockey and even Rollerblade hockey but really, when someone says hockey, don't you automatically think of ice?

What Generation are you?

In recruiting, there has been a lot of talk lately about Generations in the workforce and how they interact (or don't). A couple of my co-workers are in their twenties and working with them has given me some insights into my own kids behavior and thoughts. I thought this quiz from Brazen Careerist Blog was interesting. I ended up with 12 points, so although I am a Generation Jones, I am on the cusp of Gen X/Y which I am sure would appall my kids.
Take the test and find out where you belong:

Do you have your own web page? (1 point)

Have you made a web page for someone else? (2 points)

Do you IM your friends? (1 point)

Do you text your friends? (2 points)

Do you watch videos on YouTube? (1 point)

Do you remix video files from the Internet? (2 points)

Have you paid for and downloaded music from the Internet? (1 point)

Do you know where to download free (illegal) music from the Internet? (2 points)

Do you blog for professional reasons? (1 point)

Do you blog as a way to keep an online diary? (2 points)

Have you visited MySpace at least five times? (1 point)

Do you communicate with friends on Facebook? (2 points)

Do you use email to communicate with your parents? (1 point)

Did you text to communicate with your parents? (2 points)

Do you take photos with your phone? (1 point)

Do you share your photos from your phone with your friends? (2 points)

0-1 point - Baby Boomer

2-6 points - Generation Jones

6- 12 points - Generation X

12 or over - Generation Y

A Prayer for Nick (part two)

I first wrote about Nick back in December. The story caught my eye because he was so close to my son's age. Like so many kids his age, he struggled with what he wanted to do with his life, but seemed to be on the right track. His body was found recently in a lake close to his home.

35W Bridge Collapse

Yesterday was a good reminder of how quickly things can change in the blink of an eye. A major bridge in Minnesota spanning the Mississippi river going into Minneapolis collapsed yesterday evening during rush hour. I heard about it as I was driving home, listening to the traffic report saying that 35W bridge had collapsed. I knew instantly what bridge they were talking about. I had driven over it daily on my way back from work. I never got tired of the view. Coming from the North, you had a spectacular view of Minneapolis skyline and the locks. No matter how hard of a day I had, seeing that view was a lift to my spirits. Incredibly, although there were many cars on the bridge, there are only 4 people confirmed dead and 20 people missing at this time. Initial reports were talking about a death toll near 100. There was a school bus on the bridge filled with children, but they came out OK. I am sure that people who were on the bridge right before it collapsed were thinking about getting to the Twins game, what to make for supper or how to handle a problem at work. Talk about a wake up call. We can't go through life in fear, we just need to remember our priorities. Life is precious, tell people that you love them and enjoy every day you are given. It truly is a gift from God.

The Rock Mann

When Pastor Al Mann asked "How are you?" you knew he really wanted to know. Pastor was one of those people whose smile lit up his face. And he smiled alot. He enjoyed life and enjoyed his family and friends. He also loved rocks.

In their house, he had a room full of different samples all labelled with the scientific name. Each sample had a story, either of where he found the rock or a story about that type of rock. Pastor would spend hours showing us his collection. He talked about the process of polishing the stone and how depending on the hardness of the stone, the materials used to grind and polish were different. Some stones took longer then others to be completed. He showed me how a rough, ugly stone, would turn into a beautiful stone after hours of grinding and sanding.

He was a wonderful teacher. He told a gawky, shy 9 year old that just like the rock was turned into a beautiful stone after being jostled around in a barrel with just water and sand, God did the same with us. It takes time, but soon the beauty of the rock became vi sable. Some rocks took more time then others, but no matter how they looked on the inside, but God could always see the beauty within.

God called Pastor Al Mann home on June 13th. I can only imagine the fanfare and joy as one of God's children came home. Well done, good and faithful servant.

15 Things I wished I knew in High School

Lazy Man had a posting on what he would tell himself if he was able to go back to the future. Since my 30th high school reunion is this summer, I thought the subject was a good one.



Here is what I would tell Hockey Mom:



Pay attention to the Komet hockey games. You are going to be spending a lot of time watching them in the future so you might as well get used to it. and learn the rules early.



Spend time with your Grandparents. Listen to their stories and write them down. Grandparents love you just because you are you.



Don't get mad at your Dad for telling you either you go to Valpo, or you pay for your own college, it is going to be a life changing experience for you.



Pay more attention to your brothers. I now they are annoying, but a little attention now will make a difference in their lives. Plus, years from now, you will be great friends (I know, this one is probably the hardest one to believe).



Straighten up. When you move to Minnesota, people will think at 5' 6" that you are tall. You just hang around a bunch of tall people.



Do the knee exercises that the Dr. gave you.



Don't be afraid to speak up, or tell someone how you feel. You will find that life is short and sometimes you don't get a second chance.



Save your money. The records you buy now, will end up in the closet under the stairs later. Put money in a savings account.



Keep your room clean. It will make Cindy happy. Believe it or not, later on, you will actually get along with her.



Give yourself options. Take the extra classes, do the extra credit. Work a little harder in school.



Believe it or not, the friends you have now, will still be your friends at your 30th High School Reunion.

I am Trying to Win a Wide Screen Monitor

I came across this promotion from another blog. I would really like a 24″ wide screen LCD monitor , just because it would make it easier for me to see the screen when I play Solitaire and Sudoku. The contest which is sponsored by BlueFur, who wants to let you know that they’re hosting Canada . Since Canada is Mark's motherland, and they love hockey there, I am feeling positive about winning. Go to John Chow dot Com and you could also enter to win.

Wish me luck!

Thank God for Wonderful Dads

My Heavenly Father - What can I say, he is always there for me, he takes care of all my needs and only wants the best for me.

My Dad- One of the biggest blessings in my life has been my parents. My Dad has taught me so many things, but most importantly - God first, family second and career third. He and Mom provide our family with a soldid foundation of love and faith. Although as I grew up, I chaffed at the boundries, as an adult, I acknowledge those boundries helped me to grow into the person I am today. The phrase "but everyone else is doing it" was seldom used on our family because Dad would reply "well, not child of mine is doing that." I often did not understand his rulings, but I never doubted that the decision was rooted in love.

My Dad has a loud booming voice. You never have to wonder how he is feeling, because he lets you know. He has the admiration of everyone who knows him. He taught me integrity, honesty and the importance of family.

People say girls marry someone like their father, and I am not an exception. Mark is an incredible father, who prays everyday for his kids and family. He not only is a wonderful provider, but he also is the guiding compass for our family. From the start, he has been involved with the boys lives, as a teacher, coach and mentor.

There is no doubt in my mind, that having a loving father and mother is a tremendous asset to a child. A sense of belonging, unconditional love and discipline is a great recipe for success.

Thank God for Fathers.

Freedom is Never Free

The following is an exert of a letter, written to the children of a Marine killed in action. To me, it is another reimnder of just how incredible our men and women who serve in the miliaty. Here is a linke to the complete story.

Dear Kiana and Alek,

Ray and I had a conversation late May in 2004 while we were deployed to Iraq. He spoke of why he fought. He fought to give the people of Iraq a chance. He fought to crush those who would terrorize and enslave others. He fought to protect his fellow Marines. The last thing he told me that day was, "I don't want any of these people(terrorists) telling my kids how to act, or how to dress. I don't want to worry about the safety of my children." Kiana and Alek, your father fought for many things, but always remember, he fought for you.

As you fight this battle we call life, you will find your challenges greater, your adversity larger, your enemies more numerous. The beautiful thing is, you will grow stronger, smarter, faster, and you will overcome the obstacles in your way. No one could've better prepared you than your father. I saw how, with the help of your incredible mother, he instilled in you the essentials to life:

• Live with integrity, for without integrity we deceive ourselves,we live in a house of cards.


• Fight for what you believe, for without valor, we lose our freedom.


• Be willing to sacrifice, for anything worthy in life requires sacrifice.


• Be disciplined, for it is discipline that builds the foundation of your success.

You will encounter misguided people in your life who may question America's attempt to help the people of Iraq and the Middle East. These pathetic windbags, who have nothing so sacred in their lives that they would be willing to fight for it, will argue and debate endlessly on what we should've done. While they criticize, they forget the truth, or conveniently overlook the fact that it takes men and women of action, willing to make a sacrifice, to free the enslaved, to advance the cause of freedom.

Our great nation was built on the shoulders of men like your father. While the nay-sayers and cowards hid in the shadows sniveling that nothing was worth dying for, men like your dad carved our liberty away from the English, freed the slaves and kept the Union together, saved Europe from the Germans twice; rescued the Pacific away from the Japanese, defeated communism, and right now, fight terrorism and plant the seeds of democracy in the Middle East.

In your future, when you are pushed against a wall, in a tight spot, outnumbered and seemingly overwhelmed, it may be tempting to give up,or even use the absence of your father as a crutch, as an excuse for failure.

Don't. Your father's passing, while tragic, serves as an endless source of your empowerment. Your father would not want you to wallow in self-pity. I know you will honor him by living your life in the positive example he set. Respect and remember him. Drive on with your lives. Serve something greater than yourself. Enjoy all the good things that life has to offer. That is what he would want.

Ray died as a warrior, sword in hand, in service of his country, his comrades and you, his loved ones. His spirit and example give us all hope,reaffirms our faith. Your father reminds us there are men willing to fight for people that they don't even know so that all may live in peace.

I joined the Corps to serve beside men like your father. There is no other Marine I'd rather have protecting my flank in combat than your dad. Even now,as I write this letter in Iraq, I will honor him on the field of battle by slaying as many of our enemies as possible,and fight until our mission is accomplished.

Very Respectfully, Doug

An Open Letter to MN Senators Regarding the Immigration Bill

The following is a letter that Mark sent to our MN Senators regarding the Immigration bill.

Dear Sir/Madam
I am a Canadian by birth and a U.S. citizen by choice. My family legally immigrated to the U.S. years ago and we went through the legal process.

My family spoke English, my parents were educated and we still had a difficult time getting approved. Now we are Americans and we are very proud of our adopted country. The struggle of going through the legal process perhaps makes us appreciate our citizenship more than those of you born here and who take it as aright of birth and "no big deal". We are discouraged by the current Immigration bill. Why is it that the border between Canada and the US appears to be a stronger barrier than our southern border? We are not racist and we are not bigoted, but we do want everyone who comes to this country to live and work to go through the same legal process we did.

Here is my list of objectionable faults of the current Immigration Bill
1. Z visa is basically automatic and renewable continuously until the person dies, therefore it is not temporary - it is a permanent visa

2. The Immigration Bill gives the government only one business day to conduct a background check to determine whether an applicant is a criminal or terrorist then the alien receives a probationary Z visa the next day. One day??? How can anyone think that one day to search all databases is enough time to do a reasonable search? Therefore this is an automatic Z Visa.

3. Under the Immigration Bill, illegal aliens on Z Visas would receive a taxpayer subsidy worth thousands of dollars and they would be treated better than U.S. citizens from out-of-state, who must pay three to four times as much to attend college. As a father paying for 2 kids colleges/universities tuition, I know the costs of college
4. Also troubling is that legal aliens, like my nieces and nephews who possess appropriate F, J, or M student visa would not receive this valuable benefit. Nor would they be eligible for the federal student loans that illegal aliens could obtain by this provision.
5. The final criticism I will list is that there is no real enforcement before amnesty. I see that Section 1(a) allows probationary Z visas to be issued immediately after enactment, and then Section 601(f)(2) prohibits the federal government from waiting more than 180\ days after enactment to begin issuing probationary Z visas. So all the talk about immigration enforcement is null and void.

There are Four voting family members in my family and we respectfully request that you vote against this Bill in its present form and in any future bill that contains these deficiencies.

Sincerely,
Mark Smith

Remember Me

This video clip was produced by 15 year-old Lizzie Palmer. Remember to keep our soldiers and their families in your prayers.

Memorial Day

Yesterday was Memorial Day. We decided to go out the Lakewood cemetery to visit Mark's Dads grave. It has been quite a while since we have been out there. We used to go when the kids were younger. I was surprised at the activity at the cemetery. They had trolley and horse rides as well as tours of the cemetery. It reminded me a bit of when I was a kid. I remember several times going out to the cemetery (I think for Memorial Day) to have a picnic. My grandparents would bring along hoes and watering cans. It was a time to tend to the graves, check out old headstones and just enjoy being together.

I didn't see any picnics at the cemetery yesterday. I did see people gathered together to honor their loved ones. I saw hundreds of American flags to mark those soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. I saw people who didn't want to forget.

Thanks for your sacrafice

Thanks to the thousands of soldiers and their families who sacrificed their lives for this country. May we never forget that we are one country, undevisable, under God.
America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)
Text: Samuel F. Smith, 1808-1895
Music: Thesaurus Musicus

1. My country,' tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside let freedom ring!

2. My native country,
thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills, thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

3. Let music swell the breeze,
and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;
let mortal tongues awake; let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

4. Our fathers' God, to thee, author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light;
protect us by thy might, great God, our King.

Blind as a Bat

I had to laugh when I read my brother Andy's post on his Lasic surgery.
For those who know me, you know that I was blind as a bat. Literally. You know that big "E" on the eye chart that you see at the eye doctor? Yeah, I couldn't even see it. I'm not sure exactly how bad I was, but my contacts were -7.0 and -5.5. The average near-sighted person is -2.0.

You see, my contacts are -14 and -12. Since the age of 3 I have worn glasses or contacts. I had eye surgery when I was 3 and again at 6. I don't remember much about the first surgery, although my Mom mentioned that they really had to watch me because although I had bandages over both eyes, I would run around like I could see ( guess it didn't make much of a difference for me). I do remember the surgery when I was 6 quite vividly. I was in a room with about5 5 other kids. One of the girls kept talking about "vomit". I had not idea what she was talking about ,but it sounded exotic. Mom had made new pajamas for me to wear during my hospital stay. They were a pretty light yellow, with small flowers. The day after my surgery, the nurse came in to feed me some oatmeal. I told her I didn't like it and felt sick. She forced me to eat "just one more spoonful" and I promptly threw up. Never ate oatmeal again.

According to my Dad, contacts (and hair) are the root of all evil. As with most things durng my childhood, my sister Cindy was the pioneer regarding contacts. The first day she had hers, she dove into a pool and promptly lost them (this was in the day before dispoable and soft contacts). Basketball games would come to a halt while all the players dropped to the floor to look for a lost contact. Losing a contact was especially difficult for me, because I ended up being a cyclops when I lost a contact.

I got my contacts between junior and senior year in high school. My braces also came off my teeth that summer, so needless to say there were a lot of people who didn't recognize me when returned for senior year.

When the kids where toddlers and they came into our room, they automatically would hand me my glasses and then identify themselves.

I have gotten used to my lack of sight. I am extremely grateful for contacts. As an avid reader, I don't know what I would do without the ability to read. I have thought about having Lasik surgery but have always hesitated . My doctor told me that I probably would have to wear reading glasses or even a very slight correction even if I had the surgery. To me, it is an all or nothing event.

As I told my eye doctor when he mentioned it, I am not sure I am ready to wake up every morning with clear eye sight. I enjoy the fuzzy entry to the day, where everything seems soft and unformed.

The Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak - April 11, 1965

I saw this article today in the Star Tribune and it made me think of the Palm Sunday tornadoes in Indiana. I had always thought they were on the same day. I was only six when the Palm Sunday tornadoes hit. We lived in South Bend, IN at the time and were heading back home either from Fort Wayne or Lima, OH. The sky had a weird green tint to it. I remember thinking it was like the Wizard of OZ.

The thing I remember most about that day was Dad telling us "look out for twisters. None of us had a clue what a tornado looked like, but we kept our eyes open. I remember the devastation we saw. Silos were twisted like a piece of gum wrapper, foundations stood without houses. We kept coming up on roadblocks and having to turn around. I didn't think we would ever make it home and we weren't sure if the house would still be standing when we got there.

Growing up in Indiana, there were plenty of tornadoes and warnings. I learned early the devastation and fury that a tornado can cause.

Prayers for Nick's Family

Nick Rossini, a West Point Cadet who went missing last December has been found. His body was found in a lake close to his home. They had searched around the lake at the time, but because of the ice, they were not able to search the entire lake. Please keep Nick's family in your prayers as they mourn once again the loss of their son.

Plowjacking reported in Oneida

I had to giggle when I saw this headline Plowjacking reported in Oneida. Seems a guy (in Wisconsin of course) decided to high jack a snow plow. If it was April 1st, I would assume it is a joke. The joke is on us. Any other April, the plows would have long been put away. However, they were out on the roads during a "spring" snow storm.

Police are looking for a 25-year-old man who apparently hijacked a snow plow early today on Commissioner Street in Oneida.

Deacon Powless had a weapon and used force to take a red, 1-ton Ford F350 truck
with V plow blade from the operator at about 2:45 a.m. today, said Oneida Police
Chief Rich Van Boxtel. He gave no further details, but said no one was hurt in
the hijacking.Powless is considered armed and dangerous. If anyone sees the plow
or Powless, they are urged to call 911 immediately, Van Boxtel said.Powless is
6-feet-1, about 220 pounds, last seen wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, blue
jeans and wire rimmed glasses. The plow was seen traveling east on Wisconsin 54
from Oneida.

I am John Doe

For those of you not living in Minnesota, you might not have heard about the "flying Imans" six Muslim clerics who were detained on a flight from Minneapolis to Phoenix in November. Last month, they filed a lawsuit against USAirways as well as the passengers "John Doe" who reported their concerns to the airline. This is a chilling strategy, an effort to make people think twice before raising a concern for fear of becoming involved. Michelle Malkin had a great posting in response I am John Doe and I hope you will join me and thousands of others in speaking out.

When is enough enough?

I have lived in Minnesota longer then any other state. I love our house, our neighborhood and being able to drive around Lake Minnetonka and seeing the beautiful scenery while doing errands. I enjoy the changing seasons and the cold crisp winter mornings. One thing I don't enjoy is the continual rise in taxes. For some reason, the Minnesota legislature believes that anyone making over minimum wage should give all their money to the State, that we are not smart enough to manage our own money.

The second plan would simply add a fourth tax rate that could go as high as 10 percent, Bakk said. That would give Minnesota the highest income tax rate in the nation. The state's existing top rate is 7.85 percent. Only three states have top tax rates of 9 percent or more.

This is on top of the 20 cent gas increase and other taxes that have been proposed by the legislature this year. I don't mind paying my fair share. We have been blessed in our lives and are more then happy to help those who have less then us. Where the legislature and I part ways is in that I feel I can better decide where my money should go then they can. Sorry, it is a trust issue.

I would have to leave Minnesota, but although I may be giving up a lot, the money saved on taxes would pay for a lot of trips back here to visit.

Take a moment

I was talking to my Mom earlier today to get an update on my brother in law Jack's condition ( he had a brain tumor removed on Tuesday). Mom mentioned that both Jack and Denise were overwhelmed by the out pouring of support from co-workers and friends. It didn't surprise me a bit.

Denise and Jack are both nurses, and for all of their careers they have touched so many lives. Not only the patients that they have cared for but the co-workers and friends who they have also cared for and nurtured. They are the kind of people who are the first ones to offer a hand for a friend who needs a boost. They are positive and upbeat and don 't have to take a moment to think "What would Jesus do?" They know and they do. They don't hesitate to pitch in and help when needed, whether a phone call, a pat on the back or just a quick note saying "I care, you are not alone."

Our lives are so busy, so often it isn't until someone is critically ill or dying that we tell them how we feel and sometimes it is just too late. Is there someone you know who you have been meaning to call, or a neighbor who could use a break from her kids, or someone at work that just needs someone to talk to? Take a moment and make that call, write that letter and let them know they are not alone. That they are appreciated and loved.

Don't just do it today, make it a point to do something for someone else every day. What a change that can make in our world.

P.S. Take a moment to pray for Jack's full recovery so he can continue to touch lives.

An Open Letter to the MN Legislature

I am appalledat the Minnesota House and Senate’s response to the Minnesota High School Athletic League (MSHSL) change of by-laws regarding student athletes utilizing open enrollment not for academics, but for athletics. I feel that as a legislative body you have more important things to worry about like say, balancing the budget, transportation etc. I guess ALL 48 MEMBERS VOTED FORT THIS BILL are well meaning, but don’t really know what they are doing. This group is made up of high school principals, coaches, athletic directors and others who are dealing with the issues of open enrollment on a daily basis really don’t understand what is going on. Think of all the poor kids who just want a chance to better themselves through open enrollment. But what about the other side?

There is a group of kids who have up until now been deeply affected by open enrollment. These are the kids who have worked hard since kindergarten to improve their skills. The kids who sat in the stands watching the high school team dreaming of the time when they could represent their school. They work hard to hone their skills and finally get to high school. They are the ones who are told “sorry, you didn’t make the team” because someone from another city or area has decided that they don’t like the coach in their school district or feel they have a better chance of being seen by a scout at your school. It is always difficult to be cut from a team. But the pill is even bitterer when you are displaced by someone who doesn’t even know the school mascot or cares.

Be very careful in your deliberations. You are setting a dangerous precedent. This ruling does not eliminate students from extracurricular activities; rather it prevents students from moving from school to school to get a better coach, better position or more exposure to enhance their athletic ambitions. The MSHSL was put in place to govern student athletes. Let them do their job and you get back to doing yours.

Father (or rather the MN Legislature) Knows Best

Late last week the Minnesota State High School League, the body responsible for governing High School sports in Minnesota voted 48-0 to implement a new policy for student athletes who transfer to another school district after 9th grade.

Seventy-two hours after the Minnesota State High School League finalized
new rules to tighten eligibility restrictions on athletes who change
schools, the Minnesota Legislature took the first step toward overruling
that action. By a 3-2 vote Monday, a House subcommittee approved a bill that
would make it illegal to limit the eligibility of any transfer students. The
Disparities in Student Support and Service subcommittee moved the measure
forward to the K-12 Finance Committee, which could hear the bill next week.
Last Friday the MSHSL representative assembly voted 48-0 to enact the
new rule, which is scheduled to take affect for the 2007-08 school year. It
forces athletes who change schools without a change of residence to sit out
varsity competition for one year. Under the current rule there is no penalty
for first-time transfers; students who transfer a second time must sit out
half their varsity season. A bill in the Senate that was a companion to the
House bill was defeated in committee earlier this month. Should legislation
be resurrected in the Senate, move through both chambers and become law, it
would remove all restrictions on eligibility and might allow athletes to
compete for more than one school during one season.

Who are these rabblerousers who want to limit parents (oh, I mean student athletes) from traipsing from one school to another to showcase their skills? The esteemed Debra Hilstrom, DFL-Brooklyn Center classifies them as such "When you look at the makeup of the people that are on that committee, it is primarily made up of coaches, athletic directors, principals, those kinds of things," she said. " Of course! The coaches, principals and athletic directors have no idea of how these things work and how their school districts are affected. But don't take my word for it. Here is a link to the by law . I especially appreciated the last paragraph

address the belief that students who live in a community should be the ones representing their school and that they should not be immediately displaced by others who choose to attend a school but who do not reside in the community

From the time they are in kindergarten, many kids dream of playing for their high school team. For some, they are just not good enough to make the cut. But the cut is especially deep for those who are shut out by athletes who abuse the open enrollment option because they won't be a star athlete at their own school or want to increase their chance at college level sports by being at a school with a better program.

Open enrollment was enacted to give students a chance to improve their academic performance not a chance for student athletes or coaches to improve their team by "recruiting". Shame on the legislature for poking their noses into something that does not concern them, when they aren't able to complete their own jobs.

Which Superhero are you?

I donlt know why, but I love taking these quizzes. I am Wonder Woman, You are a beautiful princesswith great strength of character. Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

What Kind of Soul Are you?

You Are a Warrior Soul

You're a strong person and sometimes seen as intimidating. You don't give up. You're committed and brave. Truly adventuresome, you are not afraid of going to battle. Extremely protective of loved ones, you root for the underdog. You are picky about details and rigorous in your methods. You also value honesty and fairness a great deal. You can be outspoken, intimidating, headstrong, and demanding. You're a hardliner who demands the best from themselves and others. Souls you are most compatible with: Old Soul and Peacemaker Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

It's about time

I had to laugh when I read the headline German Scientists Reading Minds Using Brain-Scan Machines. My first thought was women have been doing this for years, followed closely by, "well it is about time"

BERLIN — At a laboratory in Germany, volunteers slide into a
donut-shaped MRI machine and perform simple tasks, such as deciding
whether to
add or subtract two numbers, or choosing which of two buttons to
press.
They have no inkling that scientists in the next room are trying
to
read their minds — using a brain scan to figure out their intention
before it is
turned into action. In the past, scientists had been able
to detect decisions
about making physical movements before those movements
appeared.

But researchers at Berlin's Bernstein Center for Computational
Neuroscience claim
they have now, for the first time, identified people's
decisions about how they would later do a high-level mental activity — in
this case, adding versus subtracting.

Isn't this what we have been asking our men to do for years? Now they really won't have an excuse

An Old Fashioned Snow Storm

We are in the midst of a snow storm. For the past several years, we have watched with envy as other parts of the country get walloped with a good snow storm. Up until last week, we felt like the proverbial bridesmaid as storm after storm shunned Minnesota for more southern states. Last weekend, we finally got some snow - about a foot. Some local meteorologists called it "The Storm of the Century" which goes to show just how wimpy our Winters have become.

It turned out to be a trail run for this week's storm. The snow started falling last night about 6 pm. Light fluffy flakes, nothing special. We woke up this morning to a respectable 4 inches of new snow. Don't get complacent we were warned, the worst is yet to come. Since that time, we have gained at least another 8 inches today. Snowfall totals by time the storm winds down tomorrow are predicted to be around 20-28 inches. I can hardly wait! The best part of a March snowstorm? We know it will be all gone in a couple of weeks.

It is another one of life inedible truths. When it snows, the city of Minneapolis declares a snow emergency, hundreds of cars get towed and every media outlet in the Twin Cities goes down to the impound lot and interviews people who have excuses on why their car should not have been towed. I have to admit, the rules are confusing.

Phase 1 (until 8 a.m. today): Don't park on either side of a snow-emergency
route until it is fully plowed to the curb. Snow-emergency routes are marked
with red snow-emergency signs and/or blue street name signs.
Phase 2 (8
a.m.
to 8 p.m. today): Don't park on the even-numbered side of residential
(non-snow-emergency route) streets until fully plowed. Also, don't park on
either side of city parkways until they are fully plowed. For a list of
parkways, go to www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/snow/FAQ/parkway.asp.
Phase 3 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday): Don't park on the odd-numbered side of
residential (non-snow-emergency route) streets until they are fully plowed.
After 8 p.m., parking resumes on both sides of all streets unless posted
otherwise or further winter parking restrictions are put into effect.

One can only hope that they can get through Phase 3 before the next snowfall, which is supposed to come through on Wednesday. My solution - but a house with a garage.

Happy Birthday to Us!

When I was younger, I felt very special because I shared a birthday with George Washington and my cousin James. Most of you have heard of George Washington (come to think of it most of the people who read my blog are family, so you know James also). So I am sending a big shout out to George and James. And to anyone else who shares a birthday with us. May the year ahead be filled with wonderful surprises!

Nope, the birthday cake isn't mine, just an image I found on the web. I love google!

What ever happend to face to face conversation?

I have found living in Minnesota, that the people who advocate tolerance and diversity often are the ones who are most intolerant when it comes to their own behavior. Rep. Ellison calls the cops to snuff Tancredo’s cigar. Ellison is the first Muslim to serve in congress and is from Minnesota. Seems to me that this would have been a great opportunity for him or his staffer to go next door and actually talk to Rep Tanceredo.

Maybe this is why our government is is such a disarray. The art of conversation has gone by the wayside. In this era of fast food, instant feedback and instant messaging we have lost the art of communication and building relationships. As anyone can tell you, it is a lot easier to say no over the phone or via e-mail then to tell the person face to face why you aren't going to take time out to help them.

Too often it is easier to let someone else deal with our problems instead of facing them ourselves. Let's hope that our congressmen can learn to talk face to face and resolve their issues directly, as opposed to filtering them through the media.

Snoopy, we hardly knew you

Call me old fashioned, but I was dismayed to see the following headline in the Minnepolis Star Tribune newspaper today "Mall negotiating to replace Snoopy with SpongeBob" Since the Mall of America (or MOA for those in the know) opened back in the 90's, the indoor amusement park was known as Camp Snoopy. There was a big snoopy statue and Snoopy's huge water dish was at the park's entrance. Several years ago, becuause of a dispute over trademark, the amusement park suddenly became the Park at the MOA or something like that. I keep referring to it as Camp Snoopy.

I am for the most part a forward thinking person. I am open to change and encourage people all the time to change, change their job, change their resume etc. However, I have found in some ways I resist change. I still call the local department store Daytons's, although it has gone through several revelations since then, Marshall Fields, and now Macy's. I don't do it to be contrary (at least I don't think so) I just don't see a need to change just because of the sake of change.

So I guess it isn't surprising that I am balking at the prospect of more change in my life. I like Snoopy and the Charlie Brown character. Not only did I grow up reading the comics with Charlie Brown, but I fondly remember "The Great Pumpkin" and "Charlie Brown's Christmas". Nothing like a loser, to make yourself feel better. In college, I played the role of Linus in a sorority rush play.

What type of character is Spongetop Bob (or whatever his name is)? Anyone who reminds me of cleaning can be up to no good. Anyone want to go to Camp Snoopy?

In the Blink of an Eye

I was reminded this afternoon how quickly things can change in our lives, literally in the blink of an eye.

Tuesday January 2, Aaron Holm was headed back to work after a great holiday
vacation with family and friends. On his way to work he was called by a
colleague from his office to come to the rescue of changing a flat tire at 394
& 169. We all know that Aaron would give the shirt of his back to help
anyone and everyone and so he did.Aaron parked behind his colleague and went to
survey the situation. At this time a car came behind his and crashed into his
car sandwiching him between 2 cars. Thank heaven above that God was watching
over Aaron because he is alive! Tragically, Aaron lost a leg at the scene of the
accident. He was transported to North Memorial where the best surgical team was
awaiting his arrival to try and save his second leg. After over 3 hours of
surgery, they were able so save the 2nd leg just below the knee. The next 7-14
days are crucial. Aaron will need surgery every 48 hours to finish the
reconstruction and fight off the possibility of infection.Aaron is a fighter. He
indeed will fight this battle and win. He is at North Memorial in Robbinsdale in
Intensive Care. The family has requested no visitors at this time but encourages
lots of prayers.

Aaron and his family are thankful that he is alive, if he had been kneeling by the wheel, he would have been killed. He is planning on walking again by summer.

This is just a reminder not to take anything for granted. Our lives can change forever in an instant. Please keep Aaron, his wife and their three small children in your prayers.

Global Warming? I Think Not

I have a feeling that the idea of Global Warming is not being fully embraced in Colorado, who just had their third snow storm in as many weeks. Granted, a lot of areas of the country are enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures for January (we say some golfers enjoying the links outside Madison, WI yesterday), but is a couple of weeks of warm weather something to despair or rejoice?

I am not holding my breath on Minnesota becoming the next Arizona. Yes, we did break a high temp record this week, but let's face it, the old temperature was set back in the late 1800's. As this article in the Canadian Free Press says

We should listen most to scientists who use real data to try to understand
what nature is actually telling us about the causes and extent of global
climate change. In this relatively small community, there is no consensus,
despite what Gore and others would suggest.
Here is a small sample of
the side of the debate we almost never hear:
Appearing before the Commons
Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development last year, Carleton
University paleoclimatologist Professor Tim Patterson testified, "There is no meaningful correlation between CO2 levels and Earth's temperature over this [geologic] time frame. In fact, when CO2 levels were over ten times higher than they are now, about 450 million years ago, the planet was in the depths of the absolute coldest period in the last half billion years." Patterson asked the committee, "On the basis of this evidence, how could anyone still believe that the recent relatively small increase in CO2 levels would be the major cause of the past century's modest warming?" Patterson concluded his testimony by explaining what his research and "hundreds of other studies" reveal: on all time
scales, there is very good correlation between Earth's temperature and
natural celestial phenomena such changes in the brightness of the Sun.

Let's get back to enjoying the warm weather as the blessing it is.

Let it Snow!

After a meager dusting of snow for Christmas, we finally got a good snowfall for New Years! It might have made travel difficult for New Year Eve revelers, but it was a beautiful sight to see. A Minnesota winter without snow is not a winter at all.