Amazingly, we are now only two weeks from Christmas. This time of the year makes me so thankful forthe blessings we experience every day. This year will be particularly special as we have recently returned from a short-term missions trip to Joplin, MO and have seen firsthand the tragic loss that city has withstood this year.

From a business perspective, it is important to ensure that we utilize our resources carefully and maximize all the benefits of our investments in capital assets. From a human standpoint, we must remember that there are greater concerns than a building or a vehicle. I hope and pray that all of us will take time this holiday season to remember to love the people around us with a reflection of the love of Christ, the true reason for the season.

Who ever knew that working on my own without a full time employment opportunity was going to be this busy? There are so many things to do, I am questioning how to get everything done. I guess that is great news.

I recently re-visited my personal stance on geen technology and I wanted to clarify a few points.

1) Green technology is admirable and I support all efforts to preserve our environment and limit our abuse of the planet. I do, however, take exception to the lies and self serving overstatements of current technology capabilities. If the current technology is still in trial phase, then call it trial phase, under development, or a work in progress.

2) People who can afford to do so should support green efforts and invest in the mainstreaming of the technology when possible. When doing so, please take the time to calculate the cost before making a fool of yourself bragging about how much you are saving while neglecting to consider the backside costs of your decision. For example, your electric car is not operating for free just because it does not use gasoline(!). Many people that cannot afford to support the initiative are aware the total costs and have taken the time to consider it carefully before sticking with the tried and proven alternatives that are on the market.They will see through your pompous fraud quickly and it may destroy your credibility in other areas as well.

3) There are more opportunities to utilize energy saving technology in our home or business than in our vehicles. Take a look at your opportunities in the facilities you utilize and see what gains you can make. It is highly likely that there are cost effective environmentally beneficial improvements such as lighting, digital controls, and envelope surveys that will benefit you and the environment at the same time.

Tonight I was looking at an article where this young (former) Marine was discussing his pending Congressional Medal of Honor. He stated it was hard "...getting recognized for the worst day of your life..."

Picture from http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/crandall/medal/index.html

The reality is that we will almost never achive great recognition for something easy. Anything valuable enough to deserve recognition will likely be difficult. In his case, he certainly deserves recognition. The young man saved many lives, and brought four of his fallen comrades out of the hostile environment where they had lost their lives.

Unfortunately, it seems too many people believe that there should be some recognition for little or no real sustained effort or risk. Perhaps the question for all of us is, what risk are we willing to take, even if there may be no recognition at the end?

I started working on a new project lately, and if this is going to be as big as I think it is, it will be a lot of fun. There are so many people in the world that have made it to a place where they simply don't know what they are doing, but it is what their predecessor did, so it must be right...

Clara Barton said, "I have an almost complete disregard of precedent and a faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things have always been done...I defy the tyrranny of precedent. I go for anything new that might improve the past."

If only this was true in the business and political world today, how much more could be accomplished with the vast resources at our disposal.

Last day of class! Yahoo! The good news is that we get to be done with project management class and we get to go home. The bad news is we will be driving home late today. The good news is that I will be home for the weekend; the bad news is that I will be returning to Omaha next wek for another three days. (Not that I don't like Omaha, I'm just tired of traveling.)

Here I am in Council Bluffs, IA again. Some times it seems like I live here and not in Wisconsin. I have gotten to know the greater Council Bluffs - Omaha area pretty well over the last year or so. It has been fun getting to know the area. In fact, yesterday I decided to try something a little different from the nightly routine in the restaraunts near the hotel and went east one exit. I found the coolest park and campground.

There was signs for a park and campground, including a boat ramp and lake information. I did not know there was a lake in Council Bluffs, but was pleasantly surprised to discover Lake Manawa. Lots of people out fishing and enjoying a relatively warm day in the spring around this beautiful lake right on the edge of town. Along with that there is a ~75 site campground and many picnic paviliions.

The deer population here must b pretty healthy too. I think it was about 50 deer that I saw last night driving through the park. Many just stood in the weeds near the edge of the road as I drove through, not really all that worried over the automobiles.

What a great relaxing evening. I hope to get back out there again as it was a very enjoyable spot, and would probably be even better in the summer.

Another Birthday!

One of the things that I never thought of when we were having this many children was the number of birthday parties that we would be having. That, combined with the fact that the birthday parties involve many more children...

Today (actually last weekend) was 11 additional five year olds in the house. it was fun, and the kids were actually very well behaved, but the noise level was the equivalent of a 747 taking off from close range. This really is something that everyone should experience at least one time.

Kids, cake, presents!

Balloons, banners, and bows!

Hannah Montana, HSM, and noise!

Iowa...
I had to go to Omaha this week for a quick overnight trip so Mrs. decided to come along. I had hoped to be able to spend more time with her travelling and this seemed like a great opportunity. We drove out on tuesday and returned late in the afternoon on Wednesday. It was a fun little trip.

The truth is, driving from Wisconsin to Omaha, Nebraska is really boring. Iowa is pretty, in a farm setting kind of way. But seven hours of corn farms, cattle farms, pig farms, and open farmland is really not that exciting. I thought it was interesting to discover that Iowa at night is really not much different from Iowa in the daytime. Neither one will do much to keep you on your toes along I80.

A Great Moment...

Yesterday we stopped at Grandma and Grandpa's house and had a wonderful visit. I was sitting in the sunroom with Grandpa and we were talking about my trip to Louisville this week.

Grandpa got quiet and started thinking. Pretty soon he says, "I remember going to Louisville." I was waiting to hear what he had to say, wondering if his mind would pull this thought out after 97 years of memories. After a pause, he continued. "It was before I was married. We were downtown. It was Shorty S... and Jerry, and (pause) I can't remember who else. There was five of us. We started talking and decided to go to that race, the (pause) Kentucky race, (pause) the horse race, the, you know, the (pause) Kentucky Derby.

I was so happy to hear him get that thought out that I almost missed the signifigance of it. I had never known Grandpa to be a man of impulse. He had always seemed so straight and his every move so planned that this was news that surprised me. Now I got to hear that this man also had an impulsive side, even though it was from a story over seven decades old.

Grandpa continued to tell his story of how the five of them had driven overnight to go to the Kentucky Derby. He remembered going in the morning to get tickets to the race. As he wistfully looked out the window he smiled a little and said "I can't remember much else about it, but I remember going there."

Louisville Travel On Ice

Traveling to Louisville this week for Project Management class was supposed to be a nice break from winter. No such luck. So far it has snowed and iced over everything exposed for the last two days. The news says there is 400,000 homes without power in Kentucky right now. Thankfully our hotel is not included.

Last night we ordered pizza in at the hotel because the ice was treacherous on the sidewalks and we really weren't sure if anything was open. Most of the city appeared to have shut down. Tonight there were more signs of lifw so we ventured out to 4th Street Live - a really neat area a few blocks away. We had a great meal at The Pub there. The Hard Rock Cafe is next door as well.

The trees are covered in ice, so bad that many are breaking. Sidewalks are frozen yet, and the streets are in danger of flooding as drains are blocked with sluch that is now freezing to solid ice. Tomorrow will be the fourth day in a row that the schools are all closed. Hotel employees are staying at the hotel because they cannot get home. It seems to me like another winter day in Madison, except we are not in Madison...

I called the girls before bed time again tonight. It has been pretty smooth the last two nights, tonight was tougher though. Two are crying and "I miss you Daddy" was the mantra.

Business travel is overrated.

Bedtime story....
I was putting our youngest daughter to bed tonight and she wanted a story. I really wan't in the mood and made up some lame excuse to not read a story to her. She smiled with those big beautiful eyes and said 'that's ok daddy, you can just tell me one without reading'. I struggled for a few moments as my mind raced to think of something to tell her or to say that would pass as an acceptable bedtime story. From a dark corner of mey memory came this amazing tale...

Two young boys played in the snow covered yard of the log home nestled deep in the national forest. The intersection of two unimportant roads marked the corner of forty acres that was the home to one of the boys. They laughed and played, chasing a Springer Spaniel around the yard through the sparkling white powder. More white snow drifted lazily to the ground around them as they ran, desperately trying to catch the dog.

The dog was able to run in the snow much faster than the two young boys. They would never catch him, but it was a wonderful way to spend a winter weekend afternoon. The boys became so involved in their play that they let themselves wander further from the house. Soon they were darting in and out of the trees along the edge of the clearing around the homestead. As the dog ran ahead, they followed, finally turning deeper into the woods and away from the home.

When the boys realized the snow was falling harder they looked quickly for the path home, but the wind was growing in intensity as it wiped their tracks away after just moments had passed. The falling snow now fell faster and faster. The boys began to yell and anxiously searched for any sign of how to find their way home.

Soon it began to get dark, and now the wind was howling, pelting the boys with snow. They were definitely lost and in the dark they were in danger of falling or hurting themselves. Using the skills they had been taught, growing up in the north woods, they hunkered down together under a pine trees low hanging bows. The dog had long since disappeared. They were alone in the dark of night, facing the fury of a northern Wisconsin winter snowstorm. They cuddled as close as possible, conserving any body heat that remained, fervently praying that their parents would somehow find them.

In the middle of the night, as the wind howled around them, there was a momentary pause in the storm. In that pause there was a voice that called their names! With new hope they jumped up and began to yell. With each moment seeming like eternity they waited for another sound. Then there it was, another shout! Then a light in the trees, and finally men reaching down to pick them up and carry them out of the woods.

That story was true, and it was my friend Paul Noetzel and I lost in the woods behind my parents house when we were about eight years old, I think. I hadn't thought of that in years, but it was an amazing miracle that we survived, much less without any significant damage. The neighborhood men had gathered and began a search on snowshoes. In the middle of a real blizzard, a momentary pause in the wind at the perfect place in time made their voices reach us. I wonder if Paul remembers too, I haven't spoken to him in thirty years. Anyway, tonight it made a pretty exciting bedtime story.

Business Travel is Over-Rated.

After being in St Paul for a few days on business I am so happy to be home. Living in a hotel room with a noisy heater and a strange bed just cannot compare with the comforts of home. No children fighting. No wife yelling. Maid service making the bed every day. Yet I still miss being home. I guess my domestication is complete.

Snowing again, and freezing rain. Total by tomorrow night supposedly will be approximately 10 inches. Anyone know of a small town in middle America where there is only occasional snow, never below zero, never over 80 degrees in the summer, no crime, and a great school system? If so, let me know.

Good night.

An idea for Thanksgiving!

http://www.backofthebox.com/recipes/pies-pastries/ritz-mock-apple-pie.html

A long time ago, my mother told us about making an apple pie from Ritz crackers. I finally looked up the recipe and think we may try to do this for Thanksgiving dinner. When Mom told us about it she thought it was a great idea because the crackers were cheaper than apples. I don't know if that is true anymore, but it will be fun to try anyway. I want to see if it comes out good enough to fool the family as an actual apple pie.

Yesterday our friend Marie came by. She and Jennifer went shopping at the outlet mall and had a wonderful time. I got to stay at home with my prescription for happy pills and listened to five young children running and playing. The funny part is, I don't mind doing that. They put on a fashion show, painted their nails, and had a great time just goofing off and being creative. It was really a lot of fun to see. (Until the painkillers started to wear off.)

Why is it that some men are afraid or unwilling to spend time with their children? The kids are the future. We cannot ignore our children and expect them to magically absorb the knowledge that they should be learning through interaction with their parents. Especially fathers, need to be actively involved in their children's lives. Many studies have been completed and unanimously find that children with involved fathers do better at school and in social interactions. One such link http://nces.ed.gov/pressrelease/father.asp relates to an entire study of father's roles in their children's schools.

I look forward to the time I can spend with my children and hope that the number of men actively involved in their children's schools and lives will continue to grow. We need to be positive role models as these children grow and mature. We need to be the christian models they see every day counteracting the immoral garbage they get in the media.

Anyway, this week is the first deer hunting I have missed since being in the Army 20 years ago. I have ben looking out the window thinking I should really be out there...but it is not to be. Hopefully next year will be better. Maybe Dad can be healthy next year too.

Another exciting day!!!

Update from the doctor:

Today was follow up at the doc's office. He said I'm healing great. I told him it was a shame I wasn't healing faster, then I could punch him for lying to me and saying this wasn't going to hurt. He seemed genuinely surprised and has upgraded me to Percoset. This appears to be working much better to kill the pain.

New challenge tonight:

Mrs. was coming home from a work engagement with two girls in the truck and a driver turned left directly in front of her just a few blocks from home. The good news is that all are safe and the Suburban has what appears to be minimal damage. The girls, including Mom, were all pretty upset. The other driver was taken to the hospital be cared for. Officers on the scene said he was not seriously injured. Very frustrating that I could not even go pick up the girls when it happened.

Thank God we continue to be safe and by all appearances the damage is minor.

LIFE AFTER FAVRE
I remember going to a Packer game in Milwaukee in September 1992. It was the annual Shrine game and the atmosphere was great, party for a day, watch a game, and all for a good cause. Midway through the game the Packer quarterback, Don Majkowski was injured and left the game with an ankle injury. We didn't realize at that time we were watching history being made. The "Majik Man" was replaced by a young, unknown kid the Packers had recently acquired. No one knew how to pronounce his funny looking name, but we had all heard he could throw the ball a mile.

Life is like that too. We never know what is going to be the defining moment that will impact our life,or the life of someone around us.

That day in 1992, an injury for one player turned into an opportunity for the young quarterback from Kiln, Mississippi. Today we know that Brett Favre is one of the greatest players to ever play in the NFL. His retirement may provide the opportunity for another star to be discovered, or it may provide the opportunity for him to discover something new in his own life.

In any case, it should be a reminder that nothing lasts forever on this earth. We have opportunities every day to impact people around us and to make a difference in lives that we may not even know.

I want to be remembered like Brett Favre. I want people to know I loved my life, I gave my all, and everything I have done is with integrity and honor. I may never have the fame and stardom, the great big paycheck, or the talent like Brett Favre; but I can take what I do have and make sure it is used to be a positive impact on all the people I meet.

Misery Is A Choice!

I choose NOT to be miserable. The last day of January has been, like most of this winter season, a challenge. Snow and wind have alternated with frigid temperatures making travel difficult and my commute sometimes measures in hours instead of minutes. But rather than complain like most of my coworkers, I think we should try to be more positive, and focus our energy on things we can actually change or influence, rather than the weather.

Instead of looking at the negative, lets try some positive alternatives.


"What a great workout" puts a better outlook on "I am sick of shoveling".

"The snow is beautiful" instead of "Snow again!?!"

"Time to relax and put on a little music" instead of "Traffic's barely Moving!"

"They must be in a bigger hurry than I am" replaces "Tailgating jerk!"

"Thank God we have a warm home" is much more positive than "Heating bills are up again!"

So everyone, let's stop complaining and think of the things that we can say or do that will cheer someone up around us today rather than join the miserable crowd of complainers at the office.

Do something unexpected, be happy.