tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134013522011-12-25T22:01:36.138-08:00Personal musings and ramblings...Ericnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3051100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-77488089156371819552010-11-12T14:48:00.000-08:002010-11-12T14:48:47.239-08:00

It's been a while since my last post. In that time I have been seeing a therapist for my PTSD. We have done EMDR; Eye Movement Desensitization and Retraining. Never heard of it until one day while engineering a talk show on psychology. The guest was talking about EMDR and PTSD. We were talking during the break about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and how it wasn't/didn't seem to help. The

Ericnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-29230437190704572112010-05-31T19:10:00.000-07:002010-05-31T19:11:40.881-07:00

...fuck off.I really shouldn't say that. God allowed it for a reason and I'm learning. But I hate PTSD and all it's done to me over the last 2 1/2 years.I need a full-time job.Wife needs me to have a full-time job.Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-63329191786781708302010-03-05T20:39:00.000-08:002010-03-05T20:47:04.589-08:00

Tired. I'm tired of looking for a job for 2 years. I'm tired of depression. I'm tired of PTSD. I'm tired of ADHD. I'm tired of praying to a God who seems to enjoy seeing me slog through the mud and never offering a hand out of the miry clay. I'm tired of praying for my wife and son and daughter and having no response. I'm tired of the constant war with my son over simple obedience, respect

Ericnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-38350381853726521442009-08-03T11:05:00.000-07:002009-08-03T11:06:32.652-07:00

There's a missionary who lives in Papua New Guinea who's mother lives near Redding. She needs to get to her mother to help her out. Mother has MS and she has more bad days than good.What's a missionary to do?Pray.Ask.So she and her husband do.And God worked it out like this.Missonary gal, Jen, calls her sending churches Missions Pastor and explains the details. A friend of hers finds out and says

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-52002037976522875152009-07-29T11:31:00.000-07:002009-07-29T11:43:10.993-07:00

My sister sent me this.Do you find yourself in a place of nothingness? There is a time and place in our walk with God in which He sets us in a place of isolation and waiting. It is a place in which all past experiences are of no value. It is a time of such stillness that it can disturb the most faithful if we do not understand that He is the one who has brought us to this place for only a season.

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-27062955655545446042009-07-09T10:10:00.001-07:002009-07-09T10:11:36.680-07:00

It just dawned on me this morning as I was beginning my prayers.Satan is a loser.Here's what I mean:Satan is known as the Tempter and the Accuser. As the Tempter, he dangles those little temptations at you. You know the ones; they look good on the outside but you know (probably from experience) they ain't so good on the inside. And so you move through your day, brushing aside those temptations

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-42943321478986660852009-05-18T10:00:00.000-07:002009-05-18T10:33:30.390-07:00

On Wednesday, I'll have been unemployed for a year. It also marks at time of great emotional, marital and spiritual upheaval. I suffered a nervous breakdown associated with PTSD, my wife and I went several rounds including one that had me writing out a Power of Attorney and packing my bags for who knows where, a growing distance between my son and I and an overwhelming fear of flying.Lots of

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-33828219395774595882009-04-24T15:56:00.000-07:002009-04-24T16:22:52.500-07:00

As Ron White says, "You can't fix stupid."We laugh because we know people who are stupid and can't seem to be fixed because they continue to do stupid things. Even after they do stupid things and they recognize that "that was stupid, why'd I do that?", they do stupid things.But what do you do when you're angry and you do stupid things? You hurt people. You create problems within relationships.

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-56262251898084205092009-03-09T12:30:00.000-07:002009-03-09T12:34:50.873-07:00

Fr. Pat says it better than I can...my daily devotion has been going through Proverbs and what I've been reading, while having been read before and understood, is now taking on a new light when I think of my 16 y.o. son and what he should know to make it in life.Here's what Fr. Pat says....Proverbs 18: Many commentators have spoken of the “pragmatic” motive in much of the Book of Proverbs. That

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-2740753988526994092009-02-24T16:06:00.000-08:002009-02-24T16:15:22.474-08:00

...and beer.Not everyone's journey to God is the same. Many have followed the same path: go to church, hear a sermon, you feel a tug, someone asks if you want to be "saved", you find yourself raising your hand, you go up front, someone has you repeat a prayer, you're whisked away to the "door on my right, your left", some hands you a Bible and a tract or pamphlet, someone prays for you again,

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-72263386000204978322009-02-22T12:48:00.001-08:002009-02-22T13:34:33.359-08:00

One thing I have noticed about Barack Obama's speeches is that they are full of sincerity. His words about hope and change and transparency ring with heart-felt conviction. His delivery and oratory on the subjects we as American's care about echo with sincere thought. The question is; is he truly sincere about all of that or not?With deep sincerity and conviction the Pharisee's thought the 600

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-70231481473279467282009-02-08T14:26:00.000-08:002009-02-08T14:32:22.969-08:00

I'm not shaving or cutting my hair until I get a face-to-face interview. Which means I'm going to be a bit scruffy looking at my parents 70th Birthday shindig next week! I do keep it neat and trimmed but me, with long hair and a beard, is something most of my extended family have never seen. First time I grew a beard my daughter referred to them as "weeds" on Dad's face.My wife hates the beard

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-82248933644038546422009-01-23T14:06:00.000-08:002009-01-23T14:12:06.079-08:00

I'm just not a salesman. Yes, I have the personality to do sales but I'm just not a salesman. I hate pushy salesmen. Every time I've let a pushy salesmen talk me into something I've had regrets. I just cannot be that person.So I'm back to looking in an industry that is taking a beating due to the economy and morons in Washington D.C. who think airplanes are of "the debil" and that private

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-10800313458167020742009-01-21T17:03:00.001-08:002009-01-21T17:21:01.018-08:00

I always have said I like to have options. But there are times when too many options makes making a decision difficult. Especially when it concerns the rest of your life.I have some decisions to make regarding 3 options. And gathering information to make the correct decision is becoming a problem because I'm at the point where getting more information means a commitment of some sort to one of

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-43978329510128264262009-01-14T12:02:00.000-08:002009-01-14T12:19:01.384-08:00

(This is what happens when you have waaay too much time on your hands, an overactive imagination, a large vocabulary and a medium white chocolate mocha from Dutch Bros.)I've been thinking about blogging, Facebook and Twitter recently (Okay...I was laying awake last night, trying to go to sleep and my mind wouldn't shut up!), and how all three have changed the way we interact with each other. Not

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-42827631173356345922009-01-02T09:51:00.000-08:002009-01-02T10:01:45.536-08:00

(okay...I'm a day late!)Let's see what I bring into 2009.(BTW...I don't put much stock into the magical qualities of the turning of the page of a calendar signifying the change from one year...or millennium...to another.)I bring a near total reliance on God.I bring a renewed interest in what the Bible says.I bring a renewed interest in discussing issues in the Marketplace of Ideas.I bring a new

Ericnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-43629241125118725702008-12-31T13:22:00.001-08:002008-12-31T14:18:28.503-08:00

...you sucked.What did 2008 bring?January: The flight from hell. Which led to a poor excuse for an incident debriefing where I was told to "buck up, it wasn't that bad". Where I was accused of not knowing how to use the radar in the aircraft. The same radar that turned out to be not functioning properly. I was accused by the Director of Operations of not knowing basic weather. The same D.O.

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-76168186594498912772008-12-25T09:17:00.000-08:002008-12-25T09:19:57.600-08:00

Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-82089424515469603502008-12-22T09:37:00.000-08:002008-12-22T09:44:25.294-08:00

...just like all ya'll...The iMonk hits another one out of the park in a way that is both gracious and hard hitting, compassionate and confrontational. Many years back, I rejected the fact that I was a "sheep". I was smarter than a sheep. I knew my Bible. I didn't follow the crowd (or so I thought). That was until I read a book, "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23" by Keller. Then I realized I

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-13049204381651189492008-12-11T10:15:00.000-08:002008-12-11T10:16:42.615-08:00

My son turns 16 today. When he turned 13, I wrote him a letter explaining what was probably going to transpire of the next few years. When he turns 18, I'll write him another letter and probably again when he turns 21. Here's the letter I just wrote him:December 11, 2008Dear Matt,Wow…16 years old!You are halfway through your teens.You are halfway through High School.You have two more years

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-2104604722881213342008-12-05T13:33:00.000-08:002008-12-05T13:41:40.132-08:00

Like this week.Sunday: We were putting up Christmas decorations and while climbing the ladder into the attic I rammed my head into the edge of the opening into the attic. 20 minutes later, I fell off of said ladder, got my legs entangled in the braces and fell. Fortunately, the ground broke my fall.Then the wife and I got into a big fight. She slept on the couch.Monday: Realized my UI

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-19708914994045211902008-11-17T16:17:00.000-08:002008-11-17T16:27:36.610-08:00

I've noticed there is a group within Xianity that tend to become, well, kooks. I'll be nice, conspiracy theorists. It's usually someone who has been saved out of drugs or some other hedonistic/criminalistic lifestyle. They tend to listen to Hal Lindsay, watch TBN and think Sean Hannity is the Holy Ghost 2.0.They are the ones who tell me Obama will not be sworn in on Jan. 20th as his birth

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-33422526340601597732008-11-06T11:23:00.000-08:002008-11-07T16:53:06.447-08:00

This post can be found Here!

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-25421729116580396652008-11-05T09:40:00.000-08:002008-11-07T16:51:43.567-08:00

This post can be found Here!

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-19996591520193924892008-10-24T16:03:00.000-07:002008-10-24T16:25:30.525-07:00

I hated roller coasters when I was a kid. Scared the crap out of me. Then, in Jr. High, at Magic Mountain, home of "The Revolution", the worlds first loop coaster, and at the urging of my friends (peer pressure at its finest!), I got on "The Revolution" and found out...Hey...I really like roller coasters!So much so that I really only like sitting in the front seat of many of the coasters I've

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-31507190140224058852008-10-14T16:21:00.000-07:002008-10-14T16:26:20.539-07:00

....that I really don't like Microsoft products anymore??Or PC's anymore?Really...the only MS product I use on a regular basis (besides XP) is Office and even that can be replaced by Open Office.The more my laptop has issues, the more I want a MacBook Pro. Heck...any Mac will do.There are only 2 programs I use that only run on Windows...Logbook ProPaint Shop ProI can run WinXP as a Parallel to

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-17333011910701477592008-10-01T16:52:00.000-07:002008-10-01T17:00:57.475-07:00

Do you realize you probably get lied to on a daily basis? By people who purposely mislead you to get what they want?We decided, due to my unemployment, to refi the house. Lending Tree said, "sure, we can do that!"What was said on the phone: "We finance our own loans."What's said in the documentation: "We intend to sell 100% of all loans."What was said on the phone: "We need $400 dollars on

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-29440565213559703772008-10-01T09:23:00.000-07:002008-10-01T09:41:54.485-07:00

"Why God? Why all this stuff I, we've gone through?""Because.""Because why?""Because I am God.""What's that supposed to mean?""What's what supposed to mean?""What's 'Because I am God' supposed to mean? I mean, what kind of answer is that? I know you're God and God does what God does for a reason. I'm looking for the reason?""Hmmm...I have many reasons. But the answer to your question is, '

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-76232021479614666722008-09-30T22:54:00.000-07:002008-09-30T22:58:11.062-07:00

The folks over at The Kindlings Muse have a podcast up at their website discussing the pros and cons of the book "The Shack".It's runs close to an hour but it's well worth the time. They make good points about allegory and story in modern evangelicalism or rather the re-discovery thereof...Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-75390435116623592292008-09-27T12:40:00.000-07:002008-09-27T12:46:38.099-07:00

The Jehovah's Witnesses were out today, canvasing the neighborhood. I tried to avoid them but the old lady and her very young helper hung around until I popped out into the garage. I noticed them and quickly scooted back in. Too late! She rang the bell and I got to talk to...well...she did most of the talking.Anyways...She went on and on about how the earth was once a paradise and how God was

Ericnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-73269098941022402852008-09-26T18:00:00.001-07:002008-09-26T18:02:40.177-07:00

You.Stupid.Git.If you fell for this you bear some of the blame. But not all. Most of that goes to...well...watch this video. It explains it better than I can.My bank, Wamu, with whom I bank and have/had my mortgage (we refi'ed last week with another lender) is now Chase. And Wamu's current CEO is getting his $18 million in severance. I'm going to his house to piss on his plants...Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-42362310926782093672008-09-19T12:33:00.000-07:002008-09-19T12:39:08.389-07:00

My EDD appeal that is.My former employer claims that I "willfully violated company policy" which, in EDD-speech is, "misconduct connected with work" which is defined as "...a substantial breach by the claimant of an important duty or obligation owed the employer, wilful or wanton in character (emphasis mine), and tending to injure the employer (Maywood Glass Co. v. Stewart - 1959)."The employer

Ericnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-83920769844666395252008-09-17T15:23:00.001-07:002008-09-17T15:23:42.156-07:00

....thisclose....Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-16831061141388520002008-09-03T14:12:00.000-07:002008-09-03T14:22:55.914-07:00

...is another man's non-landing.I just got back from my EDD Appeal. My former employer, at roughly $600-$700 expense, flew my former Director of Operations, to Redding to explain the company's side of the story because, "there is no one at the Redding base who is familiar with the situation."Pardon my French but....BULL.SHIT.The Base Manager was part of the whole firing shebang. Lying

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-83090915776266120802008-08-29T10:37:00.000-07:002008-08-29T10:51:48.825-07:00

I've been reading Job lately. It has come up in my daily reading. It also dovetails with what I'm going through personally. (Caveat...while I've lost my livelihood, I still have my family, some money and better health than Job!) Even my counselor mentioned the connection. He called it..."Being dinked by God."And I didn't like hearing that. The God of love is now dinking with me? What the

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-47683642391150935812008-07-29T11:10:00.000-07:002008-07-29T11:43:04.985-07:00

As you can see from the sidebar, I'm promoting the book, "The Shack". There's been some controversy over this book (Check out Thunderstruck.org for other reviews.) One of those controversies is the fact that the book references God as a black woman, Jesus as a Jewish Laborer and the Holy Spirit as an ethereal Asian woman whose name in Sanskrit means "wind". There are those that have gotten all

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-25316773430105655982008-07-28T13:48:00.000-07:002008-07-28T14:04:10.396-07:00

Yup...here's the story why: Story.So I had my first counseling session regarding the incident above. Which also directly related to the story I related Here.Why did it take me 6 months to seek help? Typical bull-headed, male-ego reasons. Thought it was something I could just tough out. You know, "this kind of stuff happens in this industry" etc. Turns out, screwed my up more than I thought.

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-54526743348417807742008-07-09T11:20:00.000-07:002008-07-09T11:33:13.680-07:00

I belong to a web forum for professional pilots called ProPilotWorld. During one of the conversations about where aviation was headed, one guy wondered if there was a light at the end of the tunnel. His "name" was Spudskier. "Occam's Razor" had this response...Spud,There is no tunnel.You are rafting down a long river. There are calm stretches of water where the scenery is gorgeous and the ride

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-67282665750915556052008-07-02T10:55:00.000-07:002008-07-02T11:47:53.945-07:00

Last month, the California Supreme Court overturned Proposition 22 which passed with a 2/3rds majority during last Novembers election. The citizens of the State of California stated that, in California, marriage was defined as a union between a man and a woman. Period. Simple enough. The people of the state spoke, the Governor, who's whole platform was working for "the people of California",

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-25331261496752498132008-06-26T16:22:00.000-07:002008-12-09T02:34:10.262-08:00

This is what this blog looks like Wordled. (Is that even a word?)What will they think of next?Here's what Wordle is...Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-5994103373517260002008-06-13T13:32:00.000-07:002008-06-13T13:35:15.026-07:00

"You are not eligible to receive benefits under California Unemployment Insurance Code..."My first thought was "oh shit".My second thought was "calm down".My third thought was "oh shit".My fourth thought was, "okay...where to now Lord?"Then I had to call my wife and tell her.I'm not a big believer in superstitions like Friday the 13th but the irony is not lost on me...Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-86724716884124717412008-06-03T15:07:00.000-07:002008-06-03T15:15:33.864-07:00

Wait. For many of us that is a 4-letter word. We don't like to wait. We don't want to wait. The "ONE MINUTE" button on the microwave is too long! A 10-minute workout is too much. The Bible-A Minute a Day is too time consuming.But we are constantly told to "wait upon the Lord". It's like "a little while". How long is not up to us. It's up to God and God has his own interpretation of space

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-4424845259838888892008-05-30T11:32:00.000-07:002008-05-30T11:36:01.447-07:00

At another board I frequent, Ventura County Lutherans, one of the denizens, noting it was rather quiet, asked what people were doing. In a fit of despair I posted this...Having a nervous breakdown.Fighting back against the throes of depression.Wondering what the hell to do with my life.Trying not to throw up everytime I think about flying.Trying to count my blessings, holding desperately to the

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-61041973501189745812008-05-28T11:49:00.000-07:002008-05-28T12:00:43.750-07:00

Most preachers, come election time (or the "silly season" as some refer to it), pray that God will raise up "His" candidate, that God will bless whomever wins, the the winner will be "God's man" in the White House, that God's Will will be done through whomever wins, that the winner will seek God and his ways when running the country. All good stuff there. But my pastor has prayed a different

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-31594015691104634252008-05-24T09:37:00.000-07:002008-05-24T09:39:40.991-07:00

My wife came home from dropping off our daughter at her friends house for a birthday party, marched into the bedroom and said, "We have nothing to complain about!" (I'd been fired three days before.)The father of my daughters friend was just diagnosed with a brain tumor....For the 5th time.No surgery this time as the previous 4 didn't work. Doctor's say all he has left is to wait and die.And I

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-54818451570578894542008-05-19T09:21:00.001-07:002008-10-16T09:40:32.581-07:00

The contents of this post have been deleted by me.The reason? While writing things down is good therapy for me, the events I wrote about here, the statements I've made here, can and will come back to haunt me. I do not totally trust my former employer to just let this go. So, on some very good advice, I am deleting the contents of this post. The only written documentation of what happened can

Ericnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-78467659111711994022008-05-14T15:46:00.000-07:002008-05-14T15:58:26.972-07:00

I am no longer in management...of any kind!I had to take a little trip to Phoenix to the mothership to meet with the Director of Operations (DO), Chief Pilot (CP) and the head of the Air Medical Group (AMG). It was in regards to me filing a process improvement form regarding pressure to take flights. Basically, I upset the apple cart.Turns out, the AMG head didn't like the fact that a Lead

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-31744960204155434572008-05-02T12:50:00.000-07:002008-05-02T12:53:45.637-07:00

....whether you like it or not!That's what I'm hearing these days. A little devotion my wife gave me basically said (and re-inforced throught Sunday's sermon and Wednesday night's Bible Study) "I'm not going to swoop down and rescue you from this. You have to go through it. I'll be right there with you but you have to go through this. No...I won't tell you how it's going to turn out just know

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-62151121943580136292008-05-01T09:52:00.000-07:002008-05-01T10:13:28.962-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about cause and effect. Especially as it deals with the way God deals with His children. I was a jerk at the USFS. I wasn't a good witness for God at all. I swore, laughed at bad jokes, told some bad jokes; not much very Christian-like. And I got arrogant. And I lost my job.I flew freight, again, for about a year. It nearly killed me. I was pretty desperate and

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-2731307391851845022008-04-11T09:24:00.000-07:002008-04-11T09:33:45.621-07:00

How do you pray? Do you bow your head and close your eyes? Maybe make a little steeple with your hands like you were taught in Sunday School? Do you cry? Do you sigh? Do you rant and rave and shake your fist? Do you cling to the verse that tells us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings?Yes....I do. Have. Will continue to do.We're taught to "go into your closet and pray".

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-16854337070922022212008-04-07T11:04:00.000-07:002008-04-07T13:14:53.042-07:00

...may not always engender you to the masses. Mostly, it will piss people off. Ignorant people. People with agendas that differ from yours. People who are just plain mean. And people who are just plain stupid.Charlton Heston died over the weekend. He's know for his starring roles and portrayals of famous figures throughout history. He was a minority in Hollywood in that he stayed married

Ericnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-32968024175407879042008-04-06T13:59:00.000-07:002008-04-06T14:01:04.567-07:00

Here's the website.This is real church folks...not the multi-plex, christian ghetto you see in suburbia..Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-19729187332708465492008-04-01T17:51:00.000-07:002008-04-01T17:54:35.060-07:00

...by Eddie Izard (Language and really bad makeup alert!)Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-41121892133558015032008-03-21T12:49:00.000-07:002008-03-21T12:50:22.422-07:00

One of my favorite songs of all time...The Choir, "Beautiful, scandalous night.""Beautiful Scandalous Night"Go on up to the mountain of mercyTo the crimson perpetual tideKneel down on the shoreBe thirsty no moreGo under and be purifiedFollow Christ to the Holy mountianSinner, sorry and wrecked by the fallCleanse your heart and your soulIn the fountain that flowsFor you and for me and for

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-14845055176920745492008-03-06T09:38:00.000-08:002008-03-06T09:43:19.610-08:00

Blogs are too long.Emails are too infrequent.I need to know what's going on in every minute of everyone's life.Everyone needs to know what's going on in every minute of my life.Here comes Twitter.As if idk and brb and bff and lol weren't short enough...We've lost the fine art of communication. The sitting down and taking time to talk about this, that and the other.I had that opportunity for a

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-17036005057239137442008-03-01T17:11:00.000-08:002008-03-01T17:16:59.622-08:00

Nothing like wearing one of these to Costco!It's a Utilikilt! I own the Mocker as shown above, in Olive. Looking to get one in Khaki!Had lots of people look, look away, look back then act like they weren't looking. One dude came up to me and said, "I just gotta ask....did you used to play bagpipes nearly CV High School?""Nope.""Oh...I saw the kilt and thought you did!"Saw a friend there who

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-13564399874225651352008-02-25T10:26:00.000-08:002008-02-25T10:32:33.549-08:00

Larry Norman has passed.This is from his website...LARRY NORMAN4/8/47 - 2/24/08 Hello everybody.Our friend and my wonderful brother Larry passed away at 2:45 Sunday morning. Kristin and I were with him, holding his hands and sitting in bed with him when his heart finally slowed to a stop. We spent this past week laughing, singing, and praying with him, and all the while he had us taking notes on

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-49399302047225636302008-02-19T10:54:00.001-08:002008-02-19T10:56:11.013-08:00

This post was titled "Prayer".And this was my response...If Kucinich and his pals had there way, we'd be speaking German...or Japanese...or Russian...or Arabic.While I agree that some of our liberty's have been put on hold, can he offer another way of accomplishing what the Patriot Act has? Can he offer another option to Gitmo? Does he feel safer without armed military personnel protecting him?

Ericnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-60129316495302128782008-02-18T09:19:00.000-08:002008-02-18T09:33:22.884-08:00

I'm 42. Soon to be 43. And I'm out of shape. Yep. Happens to the best of us.Actually, I was in pretty good shape about a year go. Weight was down to about 190-195, decent stamina. A little belly. Then I quit Kung Fu. So for the last year, I've been pretty sedentary. Weight's gone up to about 205, stamina is gone, belly is rounder.And the problems began in November.Rewind to about middle

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-2759940407773723442008-02-01T17:54:00.000-08:002008-02-01T18:10:24.021-08:00

Some days I wonder if I want to be in aviation anymore.Not two hours after my turbulent air encounter "debriefing" (which left a lot to be desired..."Everyone's okay now right? Good...let's move on.") the boss man calls to pressure a pilot to take a trip that he can't take due to weather.We do "long range" trips on occasion. This one was supposed to leave Redding, fly to Ontario, OR (1/2 flight

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-643134488326172362008-01-29T12:13:00.000-08:002008-01-29T12:14:42.728-08:00

Sunday wasn't a good day. All is explained here.Needless to say...I can't pray. The words just stick. As a matter of fact, during the whole incident, I wasn't even able to say, "Dear God..GET ME OUTTA HERE!" All I got out was, "Dear Go..."Honestly, the old adage about aviation being "hours and hours of sheer boredom interrupted by moments of sheer terror" was played out in a matter of 1 and

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-16696146863672167432008-01-28T13:02:00.000-08:002008-01-28T13:03:18.614-08:00

Weather in California has been in the news lately, mainly L.A. and SFO. Lots of icing, snow, turbulence...not uncommon this time of year.We got a call for a RDD to MCC flight and weather was above VFR at both locations. Reports of light icing and occasional moderate chop at all altitudes, airmets for light rime in clouds and precip...normal. Radar showed lots of light and medium greens with dark

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-67938438409219534822008-01-11T09:26:00.001-08:002008-01-12T09:26:32.500-08:00

For the most part, I think the ACLU is full of libtard nut-jobs who ain't happy until nobody's happy. But, I think I might have to agree, somewhat, with them on this one...In its written objection to the law, the ACLU claims REAL ID amounts to the "first-ever national identity card system," which "would irreparably damage the fabric of American life."I understand the concerns of the Federal

Ericnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-89507177191992845472008-01-07T14:54:00.000-08:002008-01-07T15:32:57.640-08:00

Back in June, my son broke his wrist. He fell from his scooter when it hit a piece of pea gravel on our driveway. Small fracture, easily set. He is covered under my wife's insurance policy. Her company pays for the entire premium but has a very high deductible...$5100. When we got the bill it was $3225...no break down of charges, just $3225. My wife called and asked if she could make

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-61726689228322304282007-12-21T09:07:00.000-08:002007-12-21T09:09:08.681-08:00

Jamey B at Wittenberg Hall posts his Top Ten list for the year 2007. He hits it on the head. Especially the part about "getting it" (#10) and "You probably don’t know as much as you think" (#3).Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-78397063967677652412007-12-17T10:04:00.000-08:002007-12-17T10:05:22.465-08:00

(HT Mickey's Funnies)THE POLITICALLY CORRECT TWELVE DAYS OF C*****MAS On the 12th day of the Eurocentrically-imposed midwinter festival, my potential acquaintance gave to me, TWELVE males reclaiming their inner warrior through ritual drumming. ELEVEN pipers piping (plus the 18 member pit orchestra made up of members in good standing of the Musicians Equity Union as called for in their union

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-75770816368433511522007-12-07T15:30:00.000-08:002007-12-07T15:45:50.188-08:00

I grew up in a conservative Baptist church. We loved to say "in the world but not of it". Which basically meant...we were growing up in the ghetto of evangelical Christianity. We cloistered ourselves with Christian music, a list of movies not to see, the evils of alcohol among other things. While we were being fed a good dose of the Bible what we weren't being fed was a good dose of how to

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-27864659937483762592007-11-25T16:21:00.000-08:002008-12-09T02:34:12.206-08:00

...Christmas!Every year, my wife wants me to get all of the Christmas stuff out of the attic the day after Thanksgiving. Every year...I put it off until Sunday! After church we put on some Mannheims Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra with a sprinkling of Vince Guaraldi's "Charlie Brown Christmas" and set up the real fake tree. I string up the lights and the put up the red beads and set

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-12091753517975985842007-11-21T17:36:00.000-08:002007-11-21T17:56:18.534-08:00

Historically, FAR 135 Operation Specifications (that book that tells an operator what they can and cannot do), has had errors in it in the management category. When I was Chief Pilot, my name never showed up on the Ops Specs. As a matter of fact, by the time the Ops Specs caught up with me, there had been 2 Chief Pilots after me! Not uncommon.I got our revision today for our Ops Specs and

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-5077751926004365792007-11-17T09:28:00.001-08:002007-11-17T09:29:16.108-08:00

...A Compendium of 150 Monty Python Sketches.(HT to BHT...)Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-91615185614337906352007-11-15T09:27:00.000-08:002007-11-15T09:28:25.615-08:00

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone. 2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire. 3. Its always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it. 4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-29164309071255475692007-11-07T19:48:00.000-08:002007-11-07T20:02:23.241-08:00

...hits the big time!Tom Mercer and High Desert Church Rocks!When I was in Jr. High, our little Conservative Baptist church, Foothill Baptist on 15th Street in Upland, got a new Youth Pastor. Tom Mercer had longish hair, a mustache, drove a white Camaro with orange stripes and played Larry Norman tunes on his guitar in Sunday School. He took the High School group and grew it into the largest in

Ericnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-74112990463546139272007-10-28T12:35:00.000-07:002007-10-28T18:01:51.586-07:00

Courtesy of Lyrics ManiaTom Waits - Chocolate Jesus lyricsArtist: Tom WaitsAlbum: Mule VariationsYear: 1999Title: Chocolate Jesus Don't go to church on SundayDon't get on my knees to prayDon't memorize the books of the BibleI got my own special wayBut I know Jesus loves meMaybe just a little bit moreI fall on my knees every SundayAt Zerelda Lee's candy storeWell it's got to be a chocolate

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-69870602170731440672007-10-12T19:56:00.000-07:002007-10-12T20:05:40.095-07:00

First off...I took the Apple plunge.Just hit the "BUY" button over at Apple.com for 4 iPod Nano's. My mp3 player died, the kids' mp3 players have issues and the wife wants one too. Soooo....I dropped the dime and picked up 4 Nano's. (The kids get theirs for Xmas...I get mine NOW! Why? Cause I'm the Dad...that's why!)I also signed up for NaNoWriMo...National Novel Writers Month. The idea is

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-27378419607728551012007-09-25T09:55:00.000-07:002007-09-25T10:21:05.654-07:00

(HT to BHT)I find it funny (ironic) that it sometimes takes a person outside of the mainstream of Christianity to see what most people within the mainstream are blind too.There's a lot of talk these days about the Emergent Church (as a denomination) and the emerging church (as a movement). It seems every generation wants to make church palatable to their peers. For me, in the 80's, it was

Ericnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-32524303866927320162007-09-07T07:55:00.000-07:002007-09-07T07:56:33.252-07:00

"MarriageParentingMenWomenFoodSexMoney"(HT to BHT)Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-22750633644788299092007-09-04T11:57:00.000-07:002007-09-04T11:59:24.325-07:00

(HT to Think Christian.net)Someone shot me a link to the World Clock, a fascinating collection of significant national and world stats illustrated in an operable clock. Instead of just time, it also shows how many… * births * deaths * diseases (from cancer to HIV) * abortions * cars produced * prison populationLike I said, a fascinating collection. Who knows if any of it is true

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-55085598609325020072007-09-04T10:58:00.000-07:002007-09-04T11:18:54.881-07:00

Friday - Had to work. Covered a shift for one of my pilots who was moving. No big deal...now he owes me!Why is it that grown-ups can't play nice? What is it? Why do we think all those rules we were taught as kids now all of a sudden don't apply? Is it merely the fact that we are grown-ups? That's what I used to think. (I still use that excuse with my kids...usually tongue-in-cheek with a

Ericnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-48193740154523365632007-09-02T12:51:00.001-07:002007-09-02T12:52:02.790-07:00

(HT to my cousin Jeff...for he sends this along to my Mother who sent it to me!)I must send my thanks to whoever sent me the email about rat poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet towel with every envelope that needs sealing. Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason. I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-59756909351824792672007-08-31T14:49:00.000-07:002007-08-31T14:51:39.544-07:00

Over at the BHT, Jim Nicholson posted this as he marked his 46th birthday...For all my life, I believed that the message of the gospel was this: God loves us so much that he will let us go our own way, walk away from his will, and make a mess out of our lives, and when we hit the bottom and have no place else to turn, he will come to us and bring us back to himself. And all of that is true, all

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-39089345996298247372007-08-29T10:59:00.001-07:002007-08-29T11:00:41.047-07:00

My son will graduate from High School in 2011. That seems weird for some reason. My daughter will graduate in 2012. Still weird. But here's some things put together by Beloit College that makes us born in the 60's go "hmmmm...."THE BELOIT COLLEGE MINDSET LIST FOR THE CLASS OF 2011 Most of the students entering college this fall, members of the Class of 2011, were born in 1989. For them, Alvin

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-47361870971392266242007-08-28T20:18:00.000-07:002007-08-28T20:20:48.214-07:00

Not just because I'm allergic to them, I just don't like cats. Not a cat person.But these are hilarious!I am in ur chareLOL CatsMeme CatsCat. The other white meat!Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-32000260583312390742007-08-28T10:55:00.000-07:002007-08-28T10:57:54.392-07:00

I was a reporter once. Not a journalist. Just a reporter and a news anchor for a newstalk radio station. I was told to be objective and check my facts...over, and over, and over, and over, and over.Unfortunately, some people put politics and ideology ahead of good, honest reporting.There is an answer.Humiliate these people. Or as Rush Limbaugh used to say, "illustrate absurdity by being

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-64680222195754502752007-08-27T16:28:00.000-07:002007-08-27T16:40:30.077-07:00

Long ago, when I was a young, hip youth worker, I ran a Campus Life club for some Jr. Highers here in Redding. As part of my ministry (I was on part-time staff...raising my own support), I was required to attend a leadership training meeting where we devised a basic curriculum for Jr. High groups within Campus Life. Something one of the guys from Sacramento said has stuck with me from way back

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-80162589009503980592007-08-27T10:40:00.000-07:002007-08-27T10:41:33.538-07:00

"God's gonna cut you down.."(HT to Think Christian)Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-33288118194761545182007-08-24T12:09:00.000-07:002007-08-24T12:11:49.420-07:00

Are you feeling randy tonight? Want to know if you'll be committing sin when you follow through on your urges?Follow this chart!I guess I've been sinning this whole time...except for 2X. (I have 2 kids!)Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-77816306081979130792007-08-06T16:54:00.000-07:002007-08-06T16:56:43.709-07:00

That's right.Bonds Ties Aaron* says it all.Unfortunately that is the new symbol of "excellence" in sports since McGwire. I hope Baroid pulls a hammy and A-Rod brings it.Signed,A Hank Aaron Fan from back in the day...Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-35915290352981825902007-08-06T13:44:00.000-07:002007-08-06T13:50:09.089-07:00

Every year I get a daily calendar. The kind where you can read something pithy, interesting, educational or funny. At work, we have one that deals with survival. Like if you're attacked by a heard of elephants or are submerged in a car or maybe caught in an avalanche. It also gives you tips on how to make tourniquets, slings, pine needle soup and other such stuff one might need should one

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-29708652138219553092007-07-25T15:21:00.001-07:002007-07-25T15:21:51.694-07:00

....to work in government.Proof.That explains a lot...Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-15028314813487934332007-07-23T09:31:00.000-07:002007-07-23T09:56:02.137-07:00

It is the answer to the question of life, the universe and everything according to Douglas Adams' "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".It's also my age.As of yesterday.My wife asked me if I felt "old". I said no. (She's asked me that every year since I was about 35.) I don't feel old but I'm not as young as I used to be. In the morning I do feel old but that's just years of abuse to my body.(

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-79628784454068393232007-07-16T09:26:00.001-07:002007-07-16T09:27:50.705-07:00

(HT to Mikey's Funnies)THINGS I WISH I'D KNOWN BEFORE I DATED~ Never date anyone who is rude to the waiter/waitress. ~ Never date anyone who is rude to their mother. ~ If they have a tendency to be rude to you now, just wait. ~ If you date someone who doesn't share your standards, they'll lower yours. ~ The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship: "I apologize" and "You are

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-35672886462928105892007-07-08T14:49:00.000-07:002007-07-08T15:05:35.694-07:00

Live Aid. Band Aid. Live 8. And now Live Earth. Roger Daltrey, singer from 1970s British rock band The Who, told British newspaper The Sun in May that "the last thing the planet needs is a rock concert."And the singer from 80s pop sensations The Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant, attacked the arrogance of pop stars who put themselves forward as role-models."I've always been against the idea of rock

Ericnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-24554026273060714472007-07-05T15:27:00.000-07:002007-07-05T15:28:55.615-07:00

Audacity: v -President Clinton tried to draw a distinction between the pardons he granted, and Bush's decision to commute Libby's 30-month sentence in the CIA leak case."I think there are guidelines for what happens when somebody is convicted," Clinton told a radio interviewer Tuesday. "You've got to understand, this is consistent with their philosophy; they believe that they should be able to do

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-61820329687480721452007-07-04T09:30:00.000-07:002008-12-09T02:34:12.919-08:00

Yes...Clint Eastwood visits my home airport on numerous occasions as he has property northeast of Redding. If you watch the opening sequence of the movie "Firefox" when Clint is running towards a cabin, that's his cabin on his property. I know where it is...I've flown over it countless times!In the 17 years I've lived in Redding I've only heard stories and never happened to be at the airport

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-56565632759746298432007-07-03T16:52:00.000-07:002007-07-05T18:04:11.747-07:00

(HT to BHT)Apparently my blog is rated PG...hmmm...Mingle2 - Blog RatingBetter get a few more "dead's" and "death's" in there! (J/K!)Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-83053525235291824362007-06-14T10:53:00.001-07:002007-06-14T10:57:51.026-07:00

(HT to BHT)Before I wanted to be a pilot (and sometimes while I am a pilot!) I flirted with the idea of being a teacher. Specifically at 7th or 10th Grade History teacher. I love history. I love teaching. If I were, this is the kind of teacher I'd like to be...Eric

Ericnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-81157207125925847742007-06-06T11:27:00.000-07:002007-06-06T11:31:43.711-07:00

I saw the movie, "Man of the Year" starring Robin Williams last night. Excellent movie. Part of the premise is that politicians will say anything to anybody to get elected but won't do what needs to be done to get the job done.I was surfing Rush Limbaugh's website this morning, something I do every once in a while, and Rush was talking about the Democratic Pandering to Christian Conservatives.

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-23747595236401059872007-06-02T14:14:00.000-07:002007-06-02T14:56:50.796-07:00

My daughter has been playing fast-pitch girls softball for the last three years. She's 12 now and this has been the best season for her so far. Her first season was an intro to softball. She played on her best friend's team. Her dad was the coach and is also a friend of mine. She learned the fundamentals and had a fun time. Second year wasn't so good. The coach was a win at all costs kind

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-76247560615230091992007-05-15T11:19:00.000-07:002007-05-24T10:36:55.345-07:00

J.P. Moreland was introduced to me by my former brother-in-law Curt. I have been an admirer of Moreland's ability to reason through many issues of the day and present a clear and understandable discussion of the topic that is both relevant and true.Over at Scriptorium Daily, Mr. Moreland has a bunch of posts on culture and Christianity. His latest puts into words something I've been trying to

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13401352.post-4964810290130006482007-05-11T13:41:00.000-07:002007-05-11T14:26:39.389-07:00

On Thursday I flew to Bend, Or to pick up a patient. While the Med Crew went into the hospital to retrieve the patient I sat outside on a bench watching the clouds and the planes and the helicopters come and go. An old guy came up and asked if I charged to sit and watch the planes. He introduced himself as Bob B. from Bend. Then he proceeded to talk...Bob was on his way to get his FAA medical

Ericnoreply@blogger.com0