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.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
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!
Wish me luck!
Monday, June 18, 2007
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.
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.
Monday, June 11, 2007
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
Thursday, June 07, 2007
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)