The folks over at the BHT have been talking about parenting lately. It's been on my mind a lot since my son turned 13 a year ago. He's 14 now and he's expressing himself quite a bit lately. Unfortunately, I, nor his mother, are too wild about his expressions. We've been pretty generous with allowing him to develop into who he'll be. We restrict certain movies, books, songs, TV shows that we deem are inappropriate for him. He usually agrees but lately he's been wanting to know more about the "why". I don't think he likes my answers but he understands them. (I usually say that it's my job to protect him from things he shouldn't be seeing at his age regardless of what his friends get to see/do/hear. I tell him it's my job to train him to be able to discern what is good and right and noble and perfect.)
Sharon Waters over at the BHT has kids that are either out of the house or just about out of the house. She has a pretty good insight into what she should have done better. Of course...we all have those days!
Check it out. Sharon on Parenting.
Eric
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Bill of Non-Rights
(Got this in an email from my Dad...I have to say I agree!)
"We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other bed-wetters.
We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."
ARTICLE I:
You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but No one is guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II:
You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is Based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; But the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
ARTICLE III:
You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool Manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV:
You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the Creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes. Get an education and go to work .. don't expect everyone else to take care of you!
ARTICLE V:
You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.
ARTICLE VI:
You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
ARTICLE VII:
You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
ARTICLE VIII:
You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.
ARTICLE IX:
You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
ARTICLE X:
This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!
ARTICLE XI:
You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!!!!
Eric
"We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other bed-wetters.
We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."
ARTICLE I:
You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but No one is guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II:
You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is Based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; But the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
ARTICLE III:
You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool Manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV:
You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the Creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes. Get an education and go to work .. don't expect everyone else to take care of you!
ARTICLE V:
You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.
ARTICLE VI:
You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
ARTICLE VII:
You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
ARTICLE VIII:
You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.
ARTICLE IX:
You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
ARTICLE X:
This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!
ARTICLE XI:
You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!!!!
Eric
Monday, January 15, 2007
Slow Down....
I've heard this all my life. Being ADHD this is one of my biggest problems. Slowing down and taking a hard look at things.
Like paperwork.
I'm usually pretty good with paperwork. Get it down. Get it down quickly. Usually get it done accurately. If it's inaccurate, it's because I went too fast.
My job has a lot of paperwork. Paperwork I'm still getting used to. I'm supposed to double check all the paperwork before it goes back to the MotherShip. I usually do a cursory glance to see if anything jumps out, counting on the other pilots to be professional enough to catch their own mistakes.
Three pieces of paperwork got through to the MotherShip; two with small errors and one really big one. The really big one wasn't all my fault nor the other pilots fault. Most of it lies with Dispatch and us being newbies. The other two was me being too fast in my cursory perusal.
Then the phone call. The veiled threat. The chastisement. The promise to do better. The berating myself for being "stupid, stupid, stupid" because I went too fast.
I've been on this job, in a supervisory position, since November. I had hoped by January I'd have most of the lumps and wrinkles ironed out. Nope. Learning curve is still there. Can only hand on the FNG label for a little while longer.
I'm hoping by Feb 1 I'll have the basics down. Am I too hard on myself expecting to have it down in only 2 months? I really want to make a good impression with this company. I really want them to not second-guess their choice in me as pilot and Lead Pilot. A position I reluctantly agreed to for the good of the company. A management-type position I didn't think I was ready to take again. But it came along and I took it and I'm here so I'll do my best. Somebody, somewhere (Yes...I'm talking about God!) thought I was ready.
What I want and what I get are two different things. When will I learn this??
God only knows....
Eric
Like paperwork.
I'm usually pretty good with paperwork. Get it down. Get it down quickly. Usually get it done accurately. If it's inaccurate, it's because I went too fast.
My job has a lot of paperwork. Paperwork I'm still getting used to. I'm supposed to double check all the paperwork before it goes back to the MotherShip. I usually do a cursory glance to see if anything jumps out, counting on the other pilots to be professional enough to catch their own mistakes.
Three pieces of paperwork got through to the MotherShip; two with small errors and one really big one. The really big one wasn't all my fault nor the other pilots fault. Most of it lies with Dispatch and us being newbies. The other two was me being too fast in my cursory perusal.
Then the phone call. The veiled threat. The chastisement. The promise to do better. The berating myself for being "stupid, stupid, stupid" because I went too fast.
I've been on this job, in a supervisory position, since November. I had hoped by January I'd have most of the lumps and wrinkles ironed out. Nope. Learning curve is still there. Can only hand on the FNG label for a little while longer.
I'm hoping by Feb 1 I'll have the basics down. Am I too hard on myself expecting to have it down in only 2 months? I really want to make a good impression with this company. I really want them to not second-guess their choice in me as pilot and Lead Pilot. A position I reluctantly agreed to for the good of the company. A management-type position I didn't think I was ready to take again. But it came along and I took it and I'm here so I'll do my best. Somebody, somewhere (Yes...I'm talking about God!) thought I was ready.
What I want and what I get are two different things. When will I learn this??
God only knows....
Eric
Saturday, January 13, 2007
I Do My Best Thinking in the Shower...
...and on the pot.
Seems the bathroom is where most of us have a lot of time to spare. We can come up with all kinds of things as we go through those autonomous motions and actions associated with cleaning and...well...pooping.
I'm not the only one.
Scott Adams of "Dilbert" fame has these moments too.
( Scott Adams' Blog ) (HT to BHT)
Now the part about "tickling my weiner." had me chuckling...then snickering...then laughing. How true!
I also do my best thinking when I'm driving. Especially long distances. I used to drive from Redding to Oakland every Sunday night then Oakland to Redding every Friday night for about 3 years. It was always late at night, 10 to about 1 am. Did a lot of thinking during those long drives. Preached sermons in my head. Taught Sunday School lessons in my head. Argued politics, apologetics, rocked out to loud, rock and roll (mainly to stay awake). But I always have my best ideas in the shower.
Or on the pot...
Eric
Seems the bathroom is where most of us have a lot of time to spare. We can come up with all kinds of things as we go through those autonomous motions and actions associated with cleaning and...well...pooping.
I'm not the only one.
Scott Adams of "Dilbert" fame has these moments too.
I also have my best ideas in the shower, but only if I have my backside toward the showerhead to experience the soothing, warm water. If I’m facing the spray, my brain can’t think of anything but “the water is tickling my wiener.” As soon as I turn around, I’m wondering how many observed natural phenomena can be explained by assuming the universe is shaped like a donut with a black hole in the center. See the difference?
( Scott Adams' Blog ) (HT to BHT)
Now the part about "tickling my weiner." had me chuckling...then snickering...then laughing. How true!
I also do my best thinking when I'm driving. Especially long distances. I used to drive from Redding to Oakland every Sunday night then Oakland to Redding every Friday night for about 3 years. It was always late at night, 10 to about 1 am. Did a lot of thinking during those long drives. Preached sermons in my head. Taught Sunday School lessons in my head. Argued politics, apologetics, rocked out to loud, rock and roll (mainly to stay awake). But I always have my best ideas in the shower.
Or on the pot...
Eric
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
New Year...
For some reason, it doesn't feel like a new year. I haven't had any problems writing 2007 on my checks (Okay...I've only written one check). I haven't had any problems writing 2007 on anything requiring a date.
I don't make resolutions. I break them too quick before they dry. I do have goals. Some I've had since I was in my teens. Some since my 20's. Others have hung around as recently as my 30's. (I'm 41 for those of you keeping track.)
One of my goals is to be a better dad. To be more of a good example not only in word but in deed. My kids are good and well adjusted. But I still feel I'm letting them down in someways. As if I've abdicated some responsibilities to others...the school, the church, others. My son is of an age now where I think I really need to be getting him involved in what I do as a husband and father and man. More around-the-house kind of stuff. Like putting up the Christmas lights. Or mowing the lawn. (I did let him use the leaf blower a few weeks back...he was sooo stocked! Power tools will do that to a guy!) Or getting/using my tools when I need them.
Another of my goals is to not screw up at work. (This one I've had since my 20's and 3 jobs ago!) Even after I told them my screw ups, they still hired me and asked me to assume a supervisory position within the company. Lead Pilot at the Redding Base. It came as a bit of shock not that it happened but that it happened so soon. I've always had good administrative skills, good communications skills and good paperwork skills. For some reason, they saw that and moved me into that position. I really only wanted to be a line pilot...go to work, fly, go home, earn check. But working is fun again. The flying is good and the office work breaks up the day. I'm not "in charge" ala the Chief Pilot and Dir. of Operations so I have limited liability and limited authority. Really, just what I should have. God is good when he provides his children with what they need as opposed to what they want.
Because I've always wanted...something else. Not just this but this+that. And God has given me the this+that and I've managed to let it get the best of me.
Another goal is to realize I'll never have it all together. I will never "arrive" so to speak, until I die and shed this mortal coil. I look back at my teens, my 20's, and my 30's and I see growing pains along the way. Good times and bad times. It was the book, "Men in Mid-Life Crisis" that helped show me that there are turning points, milestones, changes that need to take place at certain times but that, in the end, we are continually a work in progress. Some of us progress a little slower than others!
Progessing along,
Eric
I don't make resolutions. I break them too quick before they dry. I do have goals. Some I've had since I was in my teens. Some since my 20's. Others have hung around as recently as my 30's. (I'm 41 for those of you keeping track.)
One of my goals is to be a better dad. To be more of a good example not only in word but in deed. My kids are good and well adjusted. But I still feel I'm letting them down in someways. As if I've abdicated some responsibilities to others...the school, the church, others. My son is of an age now where I think I really need to be getting him involved in what I do as a husband and father and man. More around-the-house kind of stuff. Like putting up the Christmas lights. Or mowing the lawn. (I did let him use the leaf blower a few weeks back...he was sooo stocked! Power tools will do that to a guy!) Or getting/using my tools when I need them.
Another of my goals is to not screw up at work. (This one I've had since my 20's and 3 jobs ago!) Even after I told them my screw ups, they still hired me and asked me to assume a supervisory position within the company. Lead Pilot at the Redding Base. It came as a bit of shock not that it happened but that it happened so soon. I've always had good administrative skills, good communications skills and good paperwork skills. For some reason, they saw that and moved me into that position. I really only wanted to be a line pilot...go to work, fly, go home, earn check. But working is fun again. The flying is good and the office work breaks up the day. I'm not "in charge" ala the Chief Pilot and Dir. of Operations so I have limited liability and limited authority. Really, just what I should have. God is good when he provides his children with what they need as opposed to what they want.
Because I've always wanted...something else. Not just this but this+that. And God has given me the this+that and I've managed to let it get the best of me.
Another goal is to realize I'll never have it all together. I will never "arrive" so to speak, until I die and shed this mortal coil. I look back at my teens, my 20's, and my 30's and I see growing pains along the way. Good times and bad times. It was the book, "Men in Mid-Life Crisis" that helped show me that there are turning points, milestones, changes that need to take place at certain times but that, in the end, we are continually a work in progress. Some of us progress a little slower than others!
Progessing along,
Eric
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