Orange Shirt Guy

Test Post

2010-07-02T17:32:00.001-04:00

Just curious to see how the dominos fall.

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2010-06-25T06:03:00.001-04:00

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New Posts are. . .

2008-10-03T17:04:00.002-04:00

Over Here.

Snow Chores

2008-02-22T23:57:00.002-05:00

Monday was a scheduled no-school day.

Tuesday - everyone went to school normally.

Wednesday - Snow Day

Thursday - 2 hour delay (no school for 2 of the 4)

Friday - Snow Day.

M's Tooth

2008-02-17T14:15:00.002-05:00

A video log of M's Tooth.

Gloves that Don't Fit

2008-02-17T13:29:00.002-05:00

Cul-de-Sac Rules

2008-02-15T11:47:00.000-05:00

Living on a cul-de-sac rules. It is an extesion of the yard and an informal summer gathering place.

Get Ooouuuuttt of the Pictures

2008-02-14T12:30:00.000-05:00

Not that I'm trying to wish winter away or to support teasing by face-placement. But I do love playing on the cul-de-sac, listening the all of the neighborhood come to life, and (given the opportunity) being able to read while next to the street.

Lessons and the Greatest Generation

2008-01-19T16:19:00.000-05:00

I had a thought the other day regarding learning lessons through difficult or trying times. The "Greatest Generation" (you know, the generation that was born in the depression and had then fought in World War II).

Anyway, perhaps one of the reasons that they have been labeled the Greatest Generation was that they got many difficult lessons in a relatively short time span -- lessons from the depression in four years and then lessons from World War II in four years.

All of us probably learned or will learn the same lessons, but it will take a lifetime (or at least the adult portion of a lifetime) to learn what they learned in eight years.

Just a thought that I had.

Notebook Note

2007-08-28T22:11:00.000-04:00

Anyone that hangs around me for any length of time knows or notices that I usually have a pocket-sized notebook and pen with me.

I carry this pad of paper for the overt reason of taking notes of something that I either really want to remember or something that I need to do. On one level, it provides people with whom I work a bit of comfort – when they utter a profound thought or state a project need – seeing the notebook come out is a non-verbal cue. With the notebook, I am saying, “Your current discussion/statement is important enough that I’m going to try to make sure that I can remember it.”

People, being the creatures that we are, usually respond with a bit of chagrin and needling toward me. This is analogous to people not being able to take a complement – I get the needling because somewhere in my fellow conversationalist’s psyche, he finds it difficult to believe that someone thinks enough of his/her thought to put it to paper.

That is Reason #1 that I carry a pad of paper.

Covertly, I carry the pad as a reminder of my dad.

Years ago, when I was just out of college, visiting back home, and running errands with Dad, he said, “Do you have a piece of paper? . . . of course you do, you’re an engineer.”

Those few words, in a passing moment (probably in a hardware store) placed upon me a little bit more of my dad’s admiration and love toward me. It felt good.

It still feels good today.

That is Reason #2 that I carry my brown-covered, pocked-sized, curved-to-match-my-butt pad of paper.

PixSun 3 - Raising Boys and Girls

2007-08-26T21:52:00.000-04:00

First Day of School Picture 2007.

The difference between raising boys and raising girls is obvious to anyone with the chance to raise boys. . .

Far, Far Away

2007-08-23T21:53:00.000-04:00

On radio a couple weeks ago, I heard a story about four galaxies that are "racing" toward each other and preparing to collide. These galaxies are approximately 5 billion light years away.I have a few thoughts about this story -- or rather about the 5 billion light years:

These galaxies have probably (almost undoubtedly) already collided and whatever happened to them after the collision probably completed itself a very long time ago.
These galaxies are incomprehensibly far away -- the distance that light travels in a second is something like 172,000 miles; the distance that light travels in a year is 365 times 24 times 3600 times that; then, don't just multiply that by one billion, multiply that by 5 billion. That is one heck of a long way away.
Finally, something that far in the distance it must take up an amazingly small amount of the night sky. Jostle the telescope (or whatever they use to sense the galaxies that far away) just a smidgen, and you would complete the miss all four galaxies.
Space must be relatively haze-free for the light to be able to travel that far and not just die out.

BkThtTue 3 - Thought Repetition

2007-08-21T22:20:00.000-04:00

From p.39 of One Small Step Can Change Your Life by Robert Maurer, Ph. D.:

Try this experiment. Tomorrow at work or wherever you spend your time, ask one of your friends the color of the car parked next to hers. Your friend is likely to give you a funny look and then admit she has no idea. Repeat the question the next day and the day after that. By the fourth or fifth day, your friend will have not choice: As she pulls into the parking lot the next morning, her brain will remind her that that silly person (you) is going to ask that silly question, and she'll be forced to store the answer in her short-term memory bank.

PixSun 2 - Go Karts

2007-08-20T01:31:00.000-04:00

Go Carts in a big farm field.

Faith

2007-08-17T06:48:00.000-04:00

Initially, this post was going to be about making assumptions. But then last night I read a paragraph about faith. Here is Merriam-Webster's definition of faith:

Main Entry: ¹faith
Pronunciation: 'fAth
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural faiths /'fAths, sometimes 'fA[th]z/
Etymology: Middle English feith, from Anglo-French feid, fei, from Latin fides; akin to Latin fidere to trust -- more at BIDE
1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : LOYALTY b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs faith>
synonym see BELIEF
- on faith : without question on faith>

In reference to Definition 2b(1), do people (me included) go to church because they have faith (i.e., is their no proof) or is there another, subconscious reason that they go?

BkThtTue 2 - Inner Trust

2007-08-14T23:07:00.000-04:00

From page 61 of Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom:

"You see," he said to the girl, "you closed your eyes. That was the difference. Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them, too -- even when you're in the dark. Even when you're falling."

Isn't it interesting to see that when a person has to -- really has to -- trust another person, it frequently cannot be done with our cognitive processes in motion. We cannot do it with our eyes open, we can not think it through, and we cannot make a list of pros and cons. A part of us has to let our subconscious takeover -- it is gifted in this area.

PixSun 1 - Barnstorming

2007-08-12T16:25:00.001-04:00

Barnstorming in Noblesville, Indiana - I spoke to this pilot for a few minutes, watched him take off, then watched him do a low fly-by and rock his wings goodbye.

The caterpillars are all in their chrysalis and will be back out in about four days. We found it interesting to watch their leaf-devouring technique.

Space Shuttle Education

2007-08-09T22:17:00.001-04:00

The Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-118 - 119th shuttle flight) blasted off yesterday at about 6:36 p.m. local time.

At about 6:05 p.m., the kids and I had just sat down at Goldstar for some Cincinnati chili. I mentioned to them that I'd like to be able to make it home to watch the shuttle take off in about a half-an-hour. Then, I wondered out loud if we'd be able to make it. I thought that it'd be close, but if we didn't make it, it'd be ok . . . it wasn't worth stressing about.

But then, I had a mini-victory. My laptop was in the car. With a little luck, we'd get a wireless signal on the way home and we'd stop and be able to watch the event.

So, a little after 6:30 found us parked on the side of the road with me holding the laptop up facing the back of the minivan with all of us watching the little screen and listening to the countdown.

We watched it clear the tower, roll, and keep on going. I still get a proud and impressed feeling when I see it lift off.

But that isn't really what this post is about.

Not too many people watch the shuttle take off or land anymore which (I guess) is ok. So, sometimes not too many people have any public working knowledge about it. Here is some of the trivia that I know:

On ascent, the shuttle slows a little to go through the sound barrier. Then they "Throttle up to 106%". It was when they throttled-up that the Challenger exploded [the throttling up was unrelated to the explosion].
A little after clearing the tower, the shuttle rolls to help with telemetry and communication.
About 8 minutes into the launch, the shuttle is PNR - past the Point of No Return - they are going to space -- even if they lose all of their main engines.

This also is not what the post is about, but the following is:

So K. was having a discussion with one of her friends about the shuttle. K. stated that after a little while, the rockets fall away from the shuttle. Her friend disagreed in what I picture as a looking down the nose type of disagreement. K. stood her ground and reiterated that they do fall away -- and so does the large fuel tank. The friend disagreed again.

K. brought it up during bedtime tucking-in. While talking about, I mentioned to K. that it was ok that her friend disagreed, but K knew what she knew -- she had seen it first hand -- she saw the rockets separate.

And that is what this post is about. Because Dad likes shuttle launches and even puts lift-off into his Outlook schedule to try to see them, his enthusiasm for this has (been forced to) rubbed off on his kids a little bit.

Nearly instant feedback on some of the parenting that is going on around the homestead! It felt good.

Incidentally, landing is scheduled for no earlier than August 18, 2:29 p.m.

Here are links to the launch and the rocket separation. Godspeed STS-118.

BkThtTue 1 - Everyone Met

2007-08-07T18:29:00.001-04:00

Today,I learned that a distant family member died.

Later in the day, I was reading Tim Madigan's book about Fred Rogers titled "I'm Proud of You". On page 7 of this book, while talking about Fred Rogers, the author wrote:

Another time he wrote [a letter to me] that he had discovered the South African word ubuntu, which means: "I am because we are." "Isn't that lovely!" He said. "My identity is such that it includes you. I would be a very different person without you."

With the effort of just a little reflection, it is (hopefully usually) good to know that everyone we meet puts or adjust a little bit of clay on us.

Caterpillars and Poop

2007-08-04T11:26:00.000-04:00

Recently, Kim and Kira brought some wild flowers home from the farmers' market.

A couple days after that, Kira told me about it and said something to the effect, "Won't it be cool to have a butterfly in the house?"

Yesterday, Kim, Morgan, and Kira were looking at the flowers and at the caterpillars, were commenting on the caterpillars, and noted that there was not one of them, but (to date) four of them!

Today after breakfast Kim asked, "Do you think that all of that stuff on the floor is from the flowers . . . or is it poop?" I said that in my mind, "it is from the flowers" - regardless of what I actually know. Kim stated, "Nope, I'm pretty sure that it is poop -- I remember commenting about all of the poop the last time."

For more stories about caterpillar poop, look at Beehive Academy here and here

Retribution

2007-08-04T11:14:00.001-04:00

While vacuuming today I "accidently" vacuumed up a small, sharp lego block that in the past either it or one of its gang has caused severe pain to my foot while walking through the house at 3 a.m.

I don't feel bad about it at all -- there are plenty, plenty more legos and it provided me a bit of happiness and joy.

Day 11 - Reacclimation

2007-07-22T22:35:00.000-04:00

Kim's body clock is getting re-acclimated to Eastern Daylight Time, but her body clock is still probably set to somewhere over the mid-Atlantic.

Here are a few of the lessons that I've learned while staying at home during the past week:

No. 1: I now understand how damn frustrating it is to be getting out the door on time with all four kids fed, clothed, teeth brushed, hair brushed, no food on front of shirt, no food on sleeves of shirts from using them as a napkin, in their seats without bickering . . . only to learn that one of them has neglected to bring something of paramount importance to our destination.

Right now, I can't remember what the specific item was that was left behind. But, boy oh boy do I remember walking around the house, feeling the stress rise, and thinking, "all of this preparation, all of this coordination, all of the reminders, and it is unraveling because No. X forgot to get ________! Arghh.

No. 2: The Arghh is a good segue. Earlier in the week, the kids talked me into taking them to Scallywags Laser Tag. I agreed to take them, but knew that I wasn't going to play as No. 4 was a bit too small.

Then a friend suggested that I should go play tag with them. You'll have fun and you can make sure that G and G are getting along ok.

Well, I did go in and I had a blast. So, even though it wasn't fun that I had picked, as I got my mind in the right arena, I found that it was darn fun. Glad that I did it.

No. 3: Just like at work, I have to be responsive to my kids needs and requests. Bear in mind, I don't always have to do what they ask, suggest, or say; but I do have to respond to their requests - they deserve an answer -- even a "no" if that is the answer.

But, if the answer is a "Yes, I'll be there in a minute." I also owe them that follow-up visit to take care of the item.

No. 4: There is only one time that I have a struggle with having my kids sitting in my lap.

Normally, our kids will use both of us (the 'rents) as bases or safe locations or resting pods. Usually, I am happy (and honored) to have them sit in my lap. It says something about our relationship that they'd like to spend time near me, they trust me, they know that they'll be comfortable, and they know that they'll usually get some quality dad-time.

Except when I am trying to take pictures of something. During those times, I can feel the frustration rise.

No. 5: It takes a mom and dad to raise kids.

There are others. I'll write them down later.

Day 10 - Back in the US

2007-07-14T22:34:00.000-04:00

Kim and her sister arrived back in the US/Cincinnati today around 3:30pm.

More to follow. . .

Day 9 (US Friday) - Windfield Farm

2007-07-14T00:50:00.000-04:00

This morning at about 11:55, the kids, some friends, and I talked about how Kim and the other travelers should now be wheels-up and bound for home! [and a little later, I received a phone call from Kim's mom that they were leaving a little late, but would probably be able to arrive back in the US on time.]

So as Kim was traveling today, we decided that we should also travel (ok, that wasnt the reason, but it makes a good segue). So we loaded up and went to my parents' farm.

At the farm, our kids were able to meet their second cousins (is that was cousins' kids are to each other?) And while my cousin and I were able to reconnect without missing a beat, our kids connected with no prior beat. Just great that the prior happens and amazing that the latter happens.

My best idea of the day (and possibly the week): the kids eat the pizza outside. The several spills were just asides, not the events they would have been in the dining room.

Kim will land back on US soil in about five hours, then a meandering path via Chicago to Cincinnati.

Day 8 (US Thursday) - Geocaching

2007-07-13T00:31:00.001-04:00

The Geocache Titled "Kids' Rule" has been placed. No. 1 found the geocache on her own with the use of Mom's GPS.

She read on the GPS that she was within 5 feet and after a couple of minutes and one hint ("This area may flood."), she found it.

[For info on what in the heck Geocaching is, click on Geocaching.com]

Day 7 (US Wed) Whooped. Or Men and Women are Different

2007-07-11T23:04:00.000-04:00

A link to of a picture of Kim in Mamelodi is here on the Go Mamelodi Mama's blog.

Stayed up late last night working, got up early this morning for our morning meeting, going all day, and swimming this evening. I'm whooped.

There is a reason that the design is for two individuals to raise kids.

I can't articulate it too well, but here is an example of one of the differences between men and women (and a bit of what our kids are missing this week):

Kim and I used to go hiking in NJ on a certain "mountain". From the top of the mountain, one could (on a clear day) see the Manhattan skyline. During the many hikes, we discovered that if I led, we would move the whole time, our hearts were pumping, and we got to the top a little sooner.

When Kim led the hike, we saw more nature, talked a bit more, and were better connected.

Both methods had their positives and taking just one would still make for a fine use of the mountain, but over the course of the summer, taking both methods provides for a better grasp of the mountain's facets.

This week, the kids are doing fine; their hearts are pumping, their getting good parent time, but I'm not able to provide the slow-down view of life that their mom provides.

Just an insight from a "do you want pizza again tonight" type of Dad.

Day 6B (US Tuesday Evening)

2007-07-10T22:39:00.000-04:00

Part A - the Home Front: This whole scheduling thing is amazing. I do/have done quite a bit of scheduling of construction projects at work. I've done macro schedules of large projects that show (only) the start and finish times of mini-projects and I've done micro schedules that indicate down to the minute when work trains have to move through an area to ensure Monday morning rush doesn't get hit.

But this scheduling at home thing is a different animal. There is both an over-abundance of things to schedule and an under-level of "what am I going to do with these guys today".

I've come up with the perfect solution . . . I've double booked them for Wednesday. Two of the kids are supposed to do two seperate things with two different families. Try as I might to sync the schedules with both a Palm Pilot and Microsoft Outlook, I'm now being told by one of the electronic calendars that "this appointment conflicts with another appointment on your calendar.

I talked with a neighbor on the phone the other day and had a slow-dawn of why she and my wife talk so many times each day. It isn't just because they're friends -- it's because MS Outlook can't do what they must do. They talk to coordinate, to schedule, to compare notes about which kids need which color t-shirt for VBS, and if there is time remaining, to chat.

Part of me thinks that I could make this stuff more efficient, make it more timely, and make it "better", but Day No. 6 Dave thinks that might ruin the whole thing, make it more sterile, make it less human, and make a difficult task into lonely task as well.

Part B - The There Part: In Mamelodi, I imagine that even though only the second day of construction has ended, the Construction Teams are probably hitting their strides. At about this time, some members are calculating how much work they can get done before they have to leave. Others are beginning to ask the leaders how they can work longer hours. They are beginning to feel, "we're here, we've got a job that it before us, we can do more -- just let us."

Also about this time, some of the team members are just beginning to get the next, other side of the Construction - the side that those above will get at some point between now, the plane ride home, and after being back in the US for a week or two.

Sure the Construction Team built houses, provided a hand-up, gave some shelter to those needing to fill the base of Maslow's pyramid. It provided the conclusion to a goal.

But from the US-individual's view, the construction was not an end, but a means, a lesson, an ahaa!-moment. They'll remember the people that they built the houses for and after a while, they'll realize that those people were content, satisfied, and had an internal guidance that provided grace.

At some point, they'll laugh out loud, shed a mini-tear, or just exclaim "Crap! I get it! . . . Now how can I grab it and keep ahold?"

At least, that is what I did.

DAY 6A (US Tue) - 7 Deadly Sins

2007-07-10T13:10:00.000-04:00

I don't know which Deadly Sin it is, but I'll admit that I have it.

It showed up on Monday morning when my four kids were in the correct-colored-T-Shirt for VBS.

It showed up again today about 30 minutes after the UPS man left.

On Monday morning, the kids had Vacation Bible School to attend. Kim was in the know and advised me that our kids should have orange t-shirts on for the first day. I don't know why each day has its own color, but it does. Here is the deadly sin part -- I was quietly proud and (hopefully) covertly superior as I looked at the other poor chaps whose Moms either did not have the same info that I had or didn't have enough time to find orange shirts.

I still have the pride (oh, that is the Deadly Sin that I am talking about, just came to me, duh) of knowing that I did well with the shirts. The silly parts are (a) man, there is a lot of competition and a ton of pressure to get everything just so. Just so one can depict the perfect parent, family, lawn, etc. (b) it shouldn't be that way as every parent has (I assume) the same amount of stresses and each parent knows that there is that stress at everyone else's house, but the competition is still there.

Deadly Sin No. 2 (for Tuesday): This one might be Gluttony, but it could also be Pride.

Today, the UPS man brought the yellow giant - a new vacuum cleaner -- a DYSON. [Man, do I need help.]

I don't quite know where I got the bug for a new vacuum, but after reading some things on the internet, talking to some friends, and ultimatley getting the new giant. I am (again) a proud head-of-household. I feel that I have conqured some of the dirt that we didn't even know was there. After about 8 minutes of using the vacuum, I have relieved our abode of about 1/2 gallon of dirt/dust/dust-bunnies.

Life is pretty darn good, if I can get this pride and gluttony in check and in moderation, I'll be able to chalk up the day and darn, darn good.

Day 5B (US Monday Evening) - Hot Day Today.

2007-07-09T22:27:00.000-04:00

Listened to some music at Fountain Square today. It was hot, hot, hot. No. 4 Checks were a bit red. Afterward, went to the top of Carew Tower - wasn't nearly as stressful as I thought it might be (with 4 under 9-year-olds running around).

Best attraction of the day: Riding the escalators in the Tower.

Entire Lawn is cut!

Day 5 (US Monday AM) - Lawn Check

2007-07-09T11:16:00.001-04:00

Cut the back yard for 12 (yes, twelve) minutes this morning before we had to rush back out the door!

Front Lawn: Check
One Side Yard: Check
Back Yard: 1/3 done (in the center)
Side Yard Two: Haven't seen it yet.

Insights - Day 4 (US Sunday)

2007-07-09T00:09:00.000-04:00

Fear might not be the correct word, but for a bit of humor, its the one that I'm going to use.

Things that people that are currently in South Africa might have concerns (fear) about regarding those people they've left in the US:

Accidents - don't want any 911 calls, bloody noses, or missing houses upon their return.

Triumphs - don't want to miss any momentous occasions like first bike ride, first missing tooth, first solution of a differential equation while sitting on the potty.

Lack of Need - will everyone back at home do just fine without me? Ans: Anyone can fake it for a little over a week, but when things start growing in the kitchen because someone has left a half-cut pare on the counter and it is slowly turning to moosh, signs are being written on the wall. . .

Here are the real-life day-to-day concerns that the "stay-behinds" have in the US:

Laundry - Should I wash the red clothes with the dark colors (that contain some whites) or with other colored items (but just in cold water)? Ans: Create a stack of reds for (a) the return of the laundry-genius and (b) hope that those VBS-types don't create a "Red T-Shirt Day" later this week.

Coffee - Should I re-run water over the grounds to create the typical solution or should I go out now and make sure there's enough for the week. Ans: Both.

Clothes - Have we all left the house with enough clothing? Does everyone have shoes, dry clothes (or something from the Dad's trunk to wear)? Ans: see picture.

Food/Nutrition - Which child says that they'll eat a hamburger, but really takes just one bite and would much rather have a grilled cheese. Ans: the one that just spilled the chocolate milk on the red T-Shirt.

Toilets - Did No. 4 go to the bathroom before bed or will she end up going later . . . and where will later be? Ans: So far its been "YES!"

General - How are things going over there? Are you tired? Is it a good tired? What are you learning? Who has made friends with whom? Is the guava juice still really thick? Is everyone staying warm? How many homes have been built? Are the bus rides to the Township part of the fun as you have good chatting time? Has any one seen Raymond the Taxi Driver or Nancy the woman that wants a house? Did Tim drink less water on the Safari trip? Are you awake right now - getting ready for the day? Did you sleep well at your host's house? Are you finding that people are people and even on a mission-trip half way 'round the world, there are still some sticks in the mud? Do you find pity and grace in those situations? Did you remember to write your five favorite things of the day today? Isn't it great not having a cell phone? Isn't it great having completely new and completely different problems that require solutions? Is the moon out?

Quote of the day: [While listening to the Grease Soundtrack - you know the one they made a long time ago - when we were kids.]

"Dad, if you and Mom talk about it, I'd like to take acting lessons. With singing, too. Because I'd like that. Something where I could act, but I didn't have to kiss anyone."

Day 3B (US Saturday Evening)

2007-07-07T22:23:00.000-04:00

All the people in South Africa are probably not awake for Sunday yet, but are about 90 minutes from their alarms doing their jobs. So, it'll be Sunday morning when they wake up. If I remember correctly, they'll go to Sunday Church, hang around the church (play soccer, look around the hospice and school, and eat lunch) then get paired to go spend the night in Mamelodi.

This will probably be only the second time that Americans (and not to get too racey, but it'll be noticed there) specifically white Americans will be spending the night with in the Township. This will again (I'm sure) be a big deal.

There will be some awkward moments with the locals being good hosts and meeting the needs of their guests . . . and the American's being good guests and accepting the no-I-don't-really-need-that intangible gift. But by morning time, a rare, honest, and seared friendship will have been made. [Re-reading that last sentence -- it sounds pretty corny, but based on the interactions that I previously saw and the stories that I heard, that is what happens - I didn't stay the night in '06.]

On the home front, things continue to go well. We've managed to (so-far) make all of the appointments, dose out the correct medicines, and stay relatively clean, happy, and satisfied. It feels good knowing that I'm (heck, all five of us are) playing a small, support role to those traveling in South Africa.

The Score:

1-EA Minor I-Miss-Mom meltdown (occurred because "Mom took my mirror to South Africa and now I can't find it." - Best said with a voice that carries amazingly well from such a small frame.)

0-EA Major I-Miss-Mom meltdowns (that I can remember. Of course, I reserve the right to purge any Major, In-Public Meltdowns from my short-term memory).

Several-EA Why-can't-I-have-candy-for-lunch Meltdowns from No. 3 with an assist from No. 4.

1 or 2-EA Major Boy-I'm-too-Tired-to-Admit-I'm-Too-Tired-(or-Too-Grumpy) meltdowns from Nos. 2 and 3.

The front lawn is cut and the wind is at our backs. -D

Day 3A (US Saturday)

2007-07-07T14:20:00.001-04:00

The day is more than half way through.

Here is View No. 1:

#4: Dad. Dad. Daddy! Daaadddy!!! I found a bug.

Dad: [Turning to look] Yes you did, would you like to throw it away or put it outside.

#4: No, I'm going to keep it.

Dad: [Quizzically confused, but still turning to get a camera] OK?!

View No. 2: This is the view one gets looking eastbound on SR 32 just before picking up a pink cowboy boot that's been dropped out of your own vehicle while driving westbound on SR 32. [Yes, I saw the boot after about three minutes search and on-purpose went back to the car to get the camera.]

Day 2 (US Fri)

2007-07-06T22:19:00.000-04:00

This evening the kids and I went to the Y for Pizza and Swimming. As we arrived, a big cloud helped with the heat of the day, but put a damper on the swimming of the evening.

G is holding a globe beach ball that he found at the baby-pool. With that, we were able to show where you landed this morning (afternoon to you) and also where we are. M responded with a "that sure is a long way to fly over the ocean."

Things went pretty well at the pool, but I think that the some of the kids are a little sleep deprived and a little quick-to-grumpy. With any luck, a good Friday evening snooze should provide the perfect antidote.

After swimming, we arrived back home to discover that the small garage door was locked from the inside. Apparently for safety's sake, M also locked the front door as he left the house. . . Did I mention that we had eaten some not-amazingly-greaseless pizza for dinner? I had to double over twice while I waited for (well, hell, I don't quite know what goes on when you have such a huge (but relatively quick) stomach pain that makes you bend all over and . . . just . . . stop) for the pain to pass. But I did the right thing . . . I stopped . . . twice.

As all of the doors were locked and the neighbors were either on vacation or just out (so there weren't any other keys around -- no I still don't have one). Oh, did I mention that the keys to the van were locked away safely in the house - we took those in to make sure we had Y passes (otherwise, we could have used those).

So, I decided to take the back door off its hinges. After I took the pins out, I realized that the door had to be open to remove it from its hinges . . . No dice there.

In relative desperation, I surveyed the house for the screen that would be easiest to fix (and that protected an unlocked window). Fortunately, I was able to (thieves and robbers, please stop reading HERE) remove the screen to the kitchen from the outside and to have No. 2 crawl over the kitchen sink to let the rest of us in.

All is well in Cincinnati.

Wiki-Mamelodi

2007-07-06T21:02:00.000-04:00

I just discovered that when you google "Mamelodi and Cincinnati" you get a wikipedia entry for Memalodi that mentions the largest Hospice in South Africa created by Charity and Faith church in South Africa and Crossroads Community Church in the US. See the link here.

They're Off!

2007-07-05T23:01:00.000-04:00

The second-weekers are off!

Kim and her sister met at a airport-local hotel las evening, received a huge amount of sleep, and were scheduled to leave for the first trip of their leg to Mamelodi, South Africa at 6:45am.

Along with my wife and sister-in-law, I have several friends that are also traveling to South Africa. There are several blogs that I am watching. If you're interested, here they are:

Trip's Official Blog - The Crossroads Community Church Blog site - Comments that you leave on this site with traveler's names will be printed for them to read - I remember looking around the walls at support notes - it'll make any of the traveler's days if you leave a comment for them and they read it on the hotel's wall.

Rachel's Shine-On Blog - A just plain good blog of the trip, insightful and entertaining. It'll warm your heart.

Go Mamelodi Mama's - A college and family friend also on the IT Team. Carole is in the middle of the whole thing.

Computers for Mamelodi - A site of found through Google - an IT SWAT Team's site

Krisiti Earl's Blog - A Go-Group Partner of Kim and Kirstin

This Blog (Orange Shirt Guy) - Views of the Support network for Go Mamelodi 2007. My view of the assistance that I must have received during my Go Mamelodi 2006 trip. And also notes to my wife, sister-in-law, and friends should they have the opportunity to log on during the trip.

A Thurston Back to South Africa

2007-07-05T22:00:00.001-04:00

Did a cold ever keep you from school? When it did, did you find yourself looking at the oven's clock and thinking that your classmates were now moving to Mrs. Moulder's math class or back to Mrs. Lands for lessons on cursive writing?

Kim is currently traveling to South Africa and as I am staying back in the US, I am finding that I am having similar thoughts about Kim and her travels. Right now, she should be about 1/3 of the way across the Atlantic toward the southern end of Africa. If I remember correctly, her plane should be preparing to land on a small island off the western coast of north Africa in about 3 hours. I remember being able to look at the the different views provided by the plane's closed circuit television, seeing the runway lights and thinking "Boy that certainly does look pretty darn short for an airliner runway. I remember being told that the whole purpose for this island (and its almost-as-long-as-the-island-runway was to re-fuel long-flight airplanes.

No one is permitted to get off of the plane, but it does provide a middle of the night social experience . Of course, the smell of sleep permeates through the plane, but we tried not to think about that too much.

In about 4 hours from now, she and her fellow travelers will again be airborne for another 9 hours of flight. About that time, they'll again be able to use the on-board cameras to get their first glimpses of South Africa. It'll look a little like the US's southwestern US and a little like Europe (OK, that is not a really good all-encompassing description, but that is the best that I have right now).

Tomorrow morning, at about 8:10am, the kids and I will probably talk about Mom just-now landing in South Africa. We'll talk about how they've had a bath, gone to sleep, eaten breakfast, had an all-day baby sitter, eaten lunch, gone to dinner with Dad, gone to the library, gone to sleep again, and beginning to eat breakfast again --during all of those things that they've done, Mom has been traveling to South Africa.

Traveling to help others, to meet fellow travelers, and (this is the really ironic stuff) to be helped by those who (by "stuff-standards") have less than us.

Here's to the future chirp of the plane's rubber on the asphalt. And to the beginning of the life experiences and the life lessons.

Underwater Dock

2007-03-03T22:50:00.000-05:00

Within the past couple of years, our daughter -- probably just over 7 at the time, took this underwater, cropped photo of dear old dad and #2.

I like the picture as it was taken, obviously, underwater (one of those disposable, water-tight cameras). It reminds me of a fun Florida vacation with the family. It appears that I must have been a victim of the sun (and no-I-don't-need-sunscreen!-mentality) as I am swimming with a T-shirt.

But studying the picture, I love that I am supporting my son.

But not really supporting him -- I have placed my arm within reach of him and have pushed my leg out just so -- both to create "safe-zones."

"What, you are taking in more chlorinated water than air? What, your eyes have been cleared of bacteria by the pool-chemicals and you can't see? What, you're cold?

"Well, I will always -- always -- do my best to save you. But, just in case, you'd like to be a little nonchalant about the whole thing, feel free to grab my well-placed arm or land on my just-so leg -- I'll make you look good, let you grab your breath, and allow you to swim away at will.

"And on those occasions where you'd really just like to rest for a while -- who cares what other people think -- I'll also be there to pull you out of the water, wrap you in a towel, and give you a shoulder and a shadow for summer-napping.

"We're family . . . we're friends . . . and I'm an underwater landing facility."

Good stuff.

What If?

2007-03-01T22:21:00.000-05:00

What if. . .

you remembered to brush your teeth every AM and every PM?

you read a favorite book everyday?

you hugged your wife and kids at every chance?

you connected . . . really connected . . . with your friends each and every single time you saw them?

you wrote your thoughts -- all of them in a journal a few times a week?

you slept 8 hours each evening?

you had a dog?

you had a god?

you seized every moment? You thought that the next day might be your last? You were told that you only had one year to live and - then - just then you got it -- really got it -- and you lived hard and you lived well -- you hugged, you were honest, you loved, you made mistakes, and you turned it up to 11 . . . and you did that for each of the next sixty years of your life?

you woke up each day and thought, "holy crap, I can't believe that I'm still in bed because I am so damn happy that the sun is getting ready to come up again because I get to go do ____ all day today and I get PAID for it -- people pay me to be me and to be good at being me and I help them by being me . . . and I really like it."

you tapped your foot (no, I mean really tapped your foot so enthusiastically that people around you wonder if you're having a seizure) because you really, really like the music that you're listening to -- it is the Tacoma Narrows Bridge music to you -- it resonates and it builds you up, and brings a tear to your eye, and makes you forget to breath -- it is that good. And it is reminds you of the stuff that is inside you . . .but now (through music) it is now outside of you for everyone to hear and share . . . if they are just on the same page?

you figured out your purpose?

you realized that hugging your bride, balancing your boys, and dancing with your girls was payment enough?

you had these thoughts and feelings and memories each and every single time that your sensed a new life. . . a new season . . . and your paired it with the similar feeling that you have each spring when you get your first waft of that well-known first-of-the-spring smell of fresh cut grass.

70 degrees ago

2006-10-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

7-W

2006-09-21T21:49:00.001-04:00

What do the number 7 and the letter W have in common?

Go ahead, leave a comment and take a guess.

I'll post an answer in about a week.

Conflicting Emotions

2006-09-19T20:17:00.001-04:00

A couple of weekends ago, I experienced conflicting emotions that I had not endured since puberty.

On the Thursday of this week, I noticed that some of our cutting knives just weren't (well) cutting it. As I tried to pop one of the old Kroger balloons and really had to dig into the rubber to make it pop, I sturdied my stand that to be safer: "Knives should be sharp."

I spent about ten minutes sharpening each of our black-handled, wooden sheathed knives.

Cut to Saturday evening. Romantic. The kids are at a friend's house (yes all four of them, but that is another story in miracles). We are away from Cincinnati for the weekend in a rustic, but posh cabin. The kind of place where a couple cannot go on a first date as the bedroom is the living room, is the shower, and is the fireplace area. All rooms are intimate. All places are romantic.

I have done some homework here and have packed some crackers, three varieties of cheese, some wine . . . and have even obtained some taste-contrasting apples.

The fire is warm. The evening is still. The iPod plays some background music.

It is good.

I am using the knives. I am cutting the apples. I am slicing the cheese. . .

The knife slips.

Kim's sits up quickly, eyes open wide, looking at me and my thumb.

"Right now, I am in a conflicted emotion . . . I don't know whether to be happy about the time wasted sharpening the knives or to be happy that I did such a poor job sharpening them."

10-digit Dave's evening continued . . .

I-75 Necessary Stops

2006-09-14T22:12:00.000-04:00

Written while driving north from Knoxville TN to Cincinnati OH.

Currently, I am nearing exit 41 on northbound Interstate 75 in Kentucky.

Currently, I also need to find a facility -- not for my car if you get my meaning.

As I am driving, I find it kind of amazing that McDonald's -- one of the premier cookie-cutter restaurants is always able to duplicate everything in its restaurant. I would guess that at least 90% of the time, its hamburgers, soda, french fries, morning breakfast sandwiches, uniforms, paint schemes, drive-throughs are remarkably the same.

Unfortunately, their men's restrooms are also almost (without exception) remarkably the same. Not really clean -- more like kind of smelly, do-I-really-want-to-touch-the-door-handle, stinky dirty. Maybe I am not being absolutely fair in this judgment, and maybe it is just the McDonald's and other fast food restaurants near the interstate system, but why are they all so repulsive that one has to almost physically restrain one's son or daughter from touching (well) anything?

So, while I am driving, I am making my list of best places for a personal pitstop:

1. Any rest area just inside the border of a state. It seems that the state does not want to make a negative impression to its newly welcomed visitors just after they have crossed the border.

2. Cracker Barrel -- I don't know how, but they usually keep their bathrooms Disney-clean.

3. The most recently constructed rest areas -- something about the relatively recent architecture lends itself to people hitting the toilet.

4. Fast food restaurants that are to the right of exit ramps -- even if it is not clean smelling, at least it is efficient to get back on the interstate.

5. Truckstops -- these are moderately clean and the persistent cigarette smoke masks the years and filth.

6. Gas stations -- these people consistently understand that getting the vehicle's driver to stop for fuel is their number one priority. Their step number two involves getting the same drivers to purchase the "sundry" items inside (to maximize, Hell to create) actual profit. Their step number three is to get them back out of the store and away from their pumps to lure more drivers.

Having clean bathrooms, therefore, is not a part of their business plan as it causes vehicles to park in front of the pumps for profit-crushing durations.

7. An underpass or any shoulder just past the end of any guardrail. Maybe this should be #5 or #6.

8. The Bigfoot "Convenience Station" on Interstate 74 at the Greenwood, Indiana exit -- never, never, never again.

Do you have any additions or modifications to this list?

iPod's Connection (and Beauty)

2006-09-13T21:24:00.000-04:00

September 13, 2006: This morning, I left the hotel relatively early so that I could stop by the Atlanta Bread Company to get a "real" cup of coffee and to spend some down time before the day's meeting.

As I was there, I was listening to my iPod (Frank Deford and KCRW's The Score). As I was watching these people socializing (it sure seems that there are a lot of men in Bible groups in the Atlantic Bread Company early on Wednesday mornings) I was struck by the irony of these people socializing while I was lurking in their midst and behind iPod's earbuds.

The volume was not turned up, but the earbuds themselves were enough of a social deterrent that nobody stopped by or interrupted my study.

During these 20 minutes alone in public, I drank some coffee, ate my morning sandwich and listened to podcasts which were on two different (not opposite) emotional spectrums.

The first podcast was from a commercial pilot who collects stories in the air from other commercial pilots, flight attendants, and passengers regarding things that happen 30,000 feet up. This particular podcast however was not a combination of several stories, it was one story by Joe d'Eon created on September 11, 2006 giving his view on the Twin Towers and the pilots of the ill-fated flights.

The second podcast included Frank Deford of NPR. Mr. Deford's column usually has something to do with sports and their meaning in our daily life (it is not a package of scores or daily results). During this podcast, Mr. Deford draws a parallel between Pluto and some of the lesser-regarded or lesser-attended sports teams. Listen to the whole thing as you will undoubtedly laugh at the well done sixth grade humor.

IPod -- the poor man's satellite radio . . . but rich with emotions.

Education Begins Everywhere

2006-09-12T23:52:00.000-04:00

Last week, a friend and I met to discuss education and how we might make education better for the teachers, the students, the families, and (although we didn't formally discuss it) society.

This evening, I just finished writing of the minutes of that initial meeting to both capture the record of the meeting and to create a to do list to get that all-important inertia overcoming static friction and dealing with the less-energy-to-overcome kinetic friction.

Meeting with my friend last week was quite good as it was another push to get the wheel moving. Finalizing the minutes this evening are self-validation that this seemingly pie-in-the-sky, big hairy audacious goal, it's-just-to-right-thing-to-do Project (with a capital P) is coming to life.

Mary Shelley would be proud.

Fly -- No Matter What

2006-09-11T21:19:00.000-04:00

This post rambles -- I've re-read it twice, changed it around a little bit. It still rambles, but right now, I still can't fix it.

In time, I'll be able to. . .

-----

Everyone remembers where they were on September 11, 2001 -- I was in a Construction Meeting at the Greater Cincinnati Airport. My wife called twice and I picked up the cell-phone on her second attempt -- our code for "it's important".

She told me that a plane had just struck the World Trade Center. She said, "Dave. It's important. Tell everyone in the meeting what just happened." From the first minute, she understood better than anyone I know what was going on. No, she did not know if it was a terrorist plot or an accident, but she knew that today was a day that we'd remember. She knew that it was important for me to tell everyone in the meeting that something big and terrible was happening.

When she called the second time about twenty minutes later -- we ended the meeting.

That afternoon, I returned from our field office at the Airport to our Main Office. That day I did not want anyone to take anything from me -- I continued to work for several hours as I did not want to give into anyone trying to terrorize me -- I was not going to be bullied.

The Unger Report posted a piece today on comedy and how 9/11 has impacted laughing. If you have a couple of minutes, listen to it -- especially the last 40 seconds. It is the voice of someone that gets it -- and ironically he gets it, because he admits that he just doesn't understand it. David Letterman went back to work six days after the 11th. I recall him stating that he was going back to work because Mayor Giuliani asked that people try to return to their normal ways.

In 2001, our family was only four in number -- now it is six. As I was driving today, I realized that none of our kids will really remember September 11 -- just as I don't remember November 22, 1963 (I wasn't alive yet) or July 20, 1969. They'll learn of it and remember it, but they won't know right where they were when it happened. Is that a good thing -- I don't know -- part of me thinks yes and part no.

A couple of years ago, my daughter started learning about 9/11 while listening to the words of Alan Jackson's song. She listened to enough of the words to wonder why "the world stopped turning."

It was sometime in 2003 and even though it wasn't September or an 11th or 2001 -- just some random day -- I remember where I was -- driving up Hunley explaining to her what had happened a couple of years before . . . and having to stop talking a few times from being choked-up.

I wonder if that is what she'll remember?

TED

2006-09-06T23:29:00.000-04:00

If you are interested in hearing some very good speakers talk about some work they are doing that can change the world one thing at a time, check out TED -- People using technology to make things better (or Geeks Providing Love) -- seems like a good thing.

Mudpie-1

2006-09-04T21:18:00.000-04:00

365 x 2 plus time

2006-09-01T23:29:00.000-04:00

Each year, I (literally) take thousands of photos.

I took the attached photo two years ago tomorrow. The quality stinks, the cropping is poor, the reason I took it is not quite known (even to me), but its importance is paramount.

8 seconds before this photo was taken, my wife had walked from the garage down to near where I was and advised me that my Dad had died.

She bore the news and before she got to me, our then-four-year-old son got it and got to her. He went to her with all available hugs and comprehension.

I still don't know exactly why I took this picture - my camera was close and something told me that I would want this years later -- and painfully sweet, I know that I was right. Picturing (literally, again) the hurt on my wife's face, the comfort to her from my son, and knowing the situation reminds me again and again what a phase life is.

I don't like interrupting a story-line, but two years ago as I was driving back to Indianapolis, I was listening to a CD that I had compiled just a few days before. Being in the state that I was, I was imagining that each song really meant something that my Dad wanted to say to either me or to someone else. In each song, I was able to apply meaning -- except one.

The one song that I could not give any justification was a Jimmy Buffett song -- "Permanent Reminder of a Temporary Feeling". The whole drive up, I could not figure out any of the lyrics that made sense. Each and every other song had a least one line that I was able to fit into something that he would want to say to either me or to Mom -- but not this one. Nothing would fit.

Years ago, knowing my affection and admiration for my Dad, I asked that should he die before me, would he mind giving me his wedding ring. I admired his love and givingness to my Mom and thought that I'd like a little of that passed on to me.

Driving back to Cincinnati the next day while wearing my now-given-to-me-from-my-Mom Dad's wedding band, I was again listening to the same CD in the truck when Track 6 came on. I got it when I heard Mr. Buffett sing, "What's this ring on my finger, what is its meaning?"

Contact from my dear old Dad. Dad 1, Dave 0.

Tomorrow, it will be two years later, time will have moved on. My mom still aches, I still miss my biggest fan, and this picture reminds it all to me.

A Difference

2006-07-22T23:58:00.000-04:00

Earlier today, my family found a squirrel's nest fallen from a tree above. My family also found two squirrels in the nest that previously were 30 feet above the ground.

Our initial thoughts were to leave them alone (and keep our scents off of them) in hopes that their parents would get them hoisted back up to their (new) nest.

As the morning rolled into the afternoon, the kids reported that apparently one of the squirrels was rescued by its parents. But the other was not.

Here is where the difference kicks in: My wife and my daughter then begin to think of ways to help the baby squirrel (and they end of getting info from a local wildlife person. "Put the baby squirrel in a clean butter tub and nail it high off of the ground. Put some paper towel over it so it doesn't get burned by the sun."

Here is where the difference continues: As the hours faded into evening, my wife went to the store to buy kitten formula. And now she and our daughter are feeding the squirrel.

Here is the other side of the difference: When it was first found and throughout the day, I have said (once) and thought frequently, "It is nature. It is what happens. It is the circle of (ironically) life."

Glad I'm Here 4th

2006-07-04T00:23:00.000-04:00

The other day, the Senate just missed passing a bill (or perhaps it was a resolution -- I can't remember School House Rock too well) which would have banned the burning of the American Flag. If I recall correctly, they missed by one vote.

In 1979, I remember my father being a disappointed that the Equal Rights Amendment was dieing as two-thirds of the states did not ratify it within the required time. (I am sure that my mother was disappointed as well, but it apparently struck a cord as my father's disappointment was a sting to the proverbially extendend helping hand and doing a just-do-the-right-thing-because-it-is-the-right-thing)

So, anyway, the flag amendment did not pass the US Sentate's floor.

I say "Well done. "

One thing that I love about this country is that people can do things which I might not be able to stand and as long as they aren't hurting anyone else, they can do/say what they want. I am crazy-happy that a blog that I might write will not cause the internal police to visit my house, I am psyched that my opinion . . . no matter how different from my neighbor . . . will be considered by that neighbor without repructions to either me or that neighbor -- We can speak over the fence freely and openly.

Lucky, Lucky, Lucky.

So as our country celebrates #230, I say "Speak your Voice, Speak It Well. Speak it from the heart and the brain and surely know that good and wise words will be gathered and they will grow."

Airport Psychology Class

2006-06-30T11:02:00.000-04:00

A few years ago, I read of a collegiate study which I'll call "Pretend Prison".

In this study, half of the Psych class was deemed "guards" and the other half "prisioners" - they would act in these roles. All of the students knew each other and hand been in the same class for nearly a semester. The study was scheduled to last a week and was to record the interactions between the two sets of people.

The study had to be stopped after one day.

It seems that those that were given power (the guards) took advantage of their situation and were more-than-anticipated abusive to the prisioners. This was just role-playing, but the role-playing guards were "on it".

This morning, I participated in one of the traveler's tasks that I just can't stand -- I went through the security checkpoint. Each time I go through, I absolutely cannot stand having to take off my shoes. Remember the guy that was going to blow up the plane with something flammable that he had smuggled on the plane in his shoes? Well, I don't blame him for the shoeless security frakus. I blame the knee jerk reaction.

Perhaps those in the know saw this as an opportunity/excuse for checking/x-raying shoes . . . but what is going to happen if someone smuggles something in the bra? Or how about between one's hair and neck (me excluded).

This morning while going through security, a TSA agent said that she was going to check my shoes for explosives -- Fine. After she took them, she realized that she didn't have the sniffer (some other poor slob was being sniffed left and right). So she gave them back to me without doing the test.

One could say that she was just doing a random test and that she was filling her daily quota, but I think that she (and her co-workers) are becoming the Guards and the travelers are becoming the Prisioners.

I am looking forward to the end of the day when this psych-class/collegiate-study is stopped -- and the guards and prisioners return to normal again.

Dante Keillor

2006-06-29T23:07:00.000-04:00

"Dante says the hottest place in hell is reserved for those who in time of crisis remain neutral, so I have spoken my piece, and thank you, dear reader." *

This morning I got down to the hotel lobby a little early and noted that this hotel had some old books (and they weren't in Sweedish as in a recent Indy hotel visit, but I digress).

As there were books, comfy arm-chairs, and time, I decided to take a look. I found a book titled Human Nature Politics by Graham Wallas.

I noted that this was the third edition and had a copyright of 1922 or 23. The preface indicated that the first edition was written in 1908.

This book's preface notes that some typos have been corrected and the third edition preface has been added. It goes on to note that the first edition statements were (again) substantiated by the initiation of the Great War -- most notably, the people with the means will do what they like at the potential cost of those without the means.

* From Homegrown Democrat: A Few Plain Thoughts From the Heart of America by Garrison Keillor

Divided Highway

2006-06-28T23:45:00.000-04:00

Last week, the temperature was about 70°, the wind was whipping through the open windows and I was driving north in Michigan on US 31 (a divided highway with very pretty trees and natural-landscaping). This section of highway was the type that improved any car -- as long as it windows can open. In normal circumstances I would've been impressed and slightly elated at how pretty and emotionally-full the drive was.

But . . .

While I was driving, I was listening to a two-part story on NPR. The first part of the story was recorded in 1994. It involved two 13 year old boys who had overcome some obstacles and were placed in positive-habit-forming foster homes. Listening to the innocence and openness and world-is-my-oyster views, one got the feeling that these young kids were initially given a sour deal in life, but the next 15 years looked like they would be full of improvement.

Skip ahead 12 years to 2006. Adult male voices fill the speaker with background noises that do not bring to mind pictures of the pleasant life. The echoing other voices and the clink of the metal impart that this voice is confined. And this boy-now-man has the better story. For whatever reason, life continued to give this person bad blows. Or ultimately he found himself in this predicament. But, his life is still working and (presumably) can still be improved.

The other young boy's voice can no longer be heard. He died this February mostly from his environment.

Where does it happen? How does it happen? Does the marching of time keep time with things going downhill, or are there specific and unique occurrences that provide turns for the worse or turns for the better? Listening to the innocent voices, then skipping 12 years to a man's voice and cell doors. . . Argh.

That stretch of US 31 which should have been a very enjoyable and very pretty drive through tree-lined roads will not be remembered by me as such. It will remind me of, well . . . Crap, life is not only unfair, it can be harsh, unrelenting, and hard to stomach.

Gaining Velocity Back.

2006-06-22T00:33:00.000-04:00

It is an ironic rule of flying that just when things are going really poorly and the wings have stopped producing lift (and are getting ready to stall), a person's natural reaction is to pull back on the stick to try to "get away" from the approaching ground.

Unfortunately, this action is the exact opposite of what the pilot needs to do -- pushing forward on the stick allows the plane to start flying again and even though the ground will get closer, the intent is to allow the plane to get enough velocity so that it can again climb away.

Similiarly, when the day and week are amazingly full, when nothing is being completed, and when the ground is approaching, the natural action is to pull all-nighters, stall deadlines, and try to get some distance between a person and the approaching deadline. This may work for a little while, but the ground is still approaching.

The trick is (once again) to push forward on the stick -- to push back from the desk, get the fly-rod, pick up a flat skipping stone, and enjoy the sights and sounds of a little bit of time picking up some speed (and yes even passing you by) so that you can gain enough speed to fly again.

Awakened by God

2006-06-21T07:19:00.000-04:00

Or at least his minion, Mother Nature.

Is there any better way to be awakend by the sound of thunder in the distance? Or (now that I think about it) morning birds, frogs croaking, or basically anything other than the meandering monoto of the singled noted liquid crystal Timex?

Paul is 64.

2006-06-19T22:54:00.000-04:00

At what point do we realize that we are still learning and doing, but to do more, we actually need to plan it.

Or to put it another way, when does one stop living by the mantra, "it is Friday, what are we doing tonight" and start living the [extreme] "it's 2006, we need to start planning for retirement."?

Or to put it an even different way, when (and how) do we cross the line of being immortal [and "damn straight we can cross the street anywhere we want to] and begin realizing that we are not only immortal, but chagrinned to find out that soccer post-40 might just actually require a discussion with one's doctor.

So, here is the point. . .

Apparently, I am crossing another one of these lines (not sure which one exactly) but here is the deal. The other day I began thinking that teaching kids was a pretty important (if not extremely important) job. As I was thinking this a bit, I thought that for me to teach, I'd have to take a not-so-insignificant pay cut. That didn't seem right.

Helping the construction of roads and bridges is (I think) a pretty good occupation -- it assists others in reaching destinations so that they might be able to do some good in society [really, this is how I view engineering - it is an assistance-type job - not for acquisition of any higher purpose actual goal, but a necessary stepping stone toward one of those higher goals].

So, isn't teaching the same thing? Except that the canvas (or concrete form) is a bit cleaner. Yes, it is. Teaching kids is one of the paramount goals of any society that can't or won't reach the Ultimate Goal within the next generation. It has to be -- otherwise we're moving backward -- and attaining goals moving backward doesn't really work.

So, I have a goal. I have taken the first (albeit tiny) step in getting teacher's pay equivalent to engineer's pay -- from just post-graduate to 30 years.

It is important to me and I am moving forward.

By the way. . .
Some information, yesterday, Paul McCartney was 64. Will you still need me, will you still feed me. . .

Chip #2

2006-06-15T22:39:00.000-04:00

Safe or Out?

2006-06-13T06:38:00.000-04:00

Front Yard near the Street

2006-06-12T23:02:00.000-04:00

Soccer or Softball

2006-06-10T06:42:00.000-04:00

Turtle 2002

2006-06-08T23:23:00.000-04:00

2 Parallel Bridges, End Dam, and Dollar-Bill Scale

2006-06-05T23:31:00.000-04:00

The bridge on the left was supposed to be even with the one on the right -- it wasn't as their concrete was placed at different ambiant temperatures.

At the Farm, In the Creek, but dancing all the same

2006-06-04T17:43:00.000-04:00

A picture from last weekend.

2006-06-03T07:01:00.000-04:00

The Big Mac Bridge - taken from the southern mid-river pier while I-471 was closed for steel-placement of overhead steel on Fort Washington Way.

'Pilars

2006-06-01T23:42:00.000-04:00

The (child's) finger is provided for scale.

South African Directions

2006-05-31T22:30:00.000-04:00

Photo taken April 15, 2006 from a bus, eating lunch and (I think) an unwashed apple.

Scouts and Flag

2006-05-31T00:04:00.000-04:00

At a recent bridge ceremony. . .

Swingset and Sunset

2006-05-30T22:02:00.000-04:00

An Engineer looks at Noah

2006-05-16T20:12:00.000-04:00

I've recently been reading a book about math and numbers.

This book makes a couple of assumptions then postulates an outcome that causes me (the engineer) to say (cleverly) "humh?" One of the stories is about Noah and the storm.

It rained for 40 days and nights. There was no place for the dove to land, therefore, all of the mountains in the world were covered.

So, given these starting points and assumming (conservatively) that the tallest mountain in the area was (say) 15,000 feet above sea-level; it must have rained 15,000 feet of rain in 40 days -- or about 15.62 feet of rain per hour.

Said another way, every hour for forty days, New Orleans deepest flood was created and surpassed.

I am not taking a stand either way as I (like Fox Mulder) want to believe.

[Hey, what happened to the fresh water fish?]

But the Creator gave me me, just as I am, for a reason. That is a lot of rain, isn't it.

Mother's Day and Self-Imposed Deadline

2006-05-14T22:47:00.000-04:00

Perhaps there can be some sort of middle of the road compromise between being here and doing the things that need to be done elsewhere.

I was quite happy that I completed my goals from the previous post AND was able to give a little Mother's Day gift of a relatively free afternoon (ok #4 was sleeping at home, but it was relatively free) .
The kids (and their dad) liked the park and the catepillars [man, that was a spelling word for Kira last week, I hope that I just spelled it correctly.]

On another front and as a part of the journey, today I found a $5 bill in a ziplock bag that Crossroads had given me (along with the rest of the congregation also receiving other denominations). This happened about a 1 1/2 ago and I never gave it to someone that just might need it (e.g., someone in the grocery line a little short, someone that needed just a little something extra, etc.).

Well, while completing one of the weekend tasks that was on my list, I found the ziplock bag. And as I was going to complete the other tasks (the letters), it occurred to me that I'll just send along the $5 bill (bag and all) to one of the people in South Africa.

To me, it is only five dollars, but perhaps, just perhaps, the thirty (South African) Rand that it turns into will be a blessing of (a) completing my task of letters and (b) completing my task of giving from 18 months ago.

Top of the World, Dad

2006-05-11T22:29:00.000-04:00

The funny thing about being a person is that items at-hand are frequently of utmost importance.

We've been away from Mamelodi, South Africa for a couple of weeks now. As amazing (and easy) as it was to acclimate to things there - no grass, lots of trash, fires burning (seemingly at random, but without alarm), business under blue tarps, not going out at night as it is too dangerous, large amounts of pulp in OJ . . . it is just as easy to acclimate to things back here in the US (and away from SA).

There are things that I wanted to do upon return to the US, but now they have become a lesser priority as (well) I am continuing to live my life here (with its (possibly relatively trivial) issues and problems). There are letters/postcards (it'll cost only 84 cents to mail) that I'd like to write to Raymond and to Nancy.

Heck (actually, I'd like to write Hell, so) Hell, there are some minor amounts of cash that I'd like to send to some people there -- just to make. . . well, I don't think that I can call it a dent. . . just to make a statement -- "I remember you and I hope that you are doing well; perhaps this will make your day a little better" type of letter.

So, why haven't I?

Because, perhaps, I've drifted away from the experience a little, because my "remember-Mamelodi" button is inoperative. Because (well) I'm (a) human, I'm a husband. I'm a father, I'm an employee.

Because the things at hand are not out-of-sight, out-of-mind. Because in Dave-World, pushing a swing loaded with a just over 1,000,000 minutes old person is pretty darn important; giving a hug to someone that has donated her (now-shorter) hair is pretty darn important, too. As is cutting the hang-toenail of #3 while he sleeps and handing a wrench to #2 to fix a bike. Because talking to one's wife over the sound of rain and wind is fun.

So, here is the deal: If you went on the trip to Mamelodi, do one (just one) of the things that you thought of over there that you really ought to do when you're back over here. Do the one that just popped into your mind just now. Write it down ('cause if you don't within 9 seconds, studies show that you probably won't). Put it on your 'fridge or in your calendar. And don't Nike it, but plain and simple "Do It".

If you didn't go to South Africa. Great, thanks for being part of the support team. But, when you read the above statement, you thought of something useful/good/supportive that you wanted to do. It might have been to write your Mom (when is that Hallmark-created holiday anyway - is it this weekend or next?), to pick up some trash, or to schedule (really schedule and then follow through with) some quality time with your son, daughter, Mom, Dad, friend, book, dog (sorry, but cats don't fall into this category). And once again, "Do It".

Do the Important, I want to help friends/society/the-world thing. Do the I-say-that-I-don't-have-time-but-its-just-an-excuse thing that you've been meaning to do.

Do It by Sunday Evening . . . and then celebrate the Did It.

Differences

2006-05-02T22:31:00.000-04:00

I've been back for over a week. Here are some differences that I wrote down during the first day of return.

911 and/or Police - when things go bad around our house, we are able to dial three digits and get help. In Mamelodi when the neighbor's music went on to 2 a. m. and she was trying to get some sleep, there was no one to call for assistance to ask for assistance with the neighbors. Nights are spent getting used to bad, loud music.

Friends/Family - In Mamelodi, Friends are of paramount importance. They are the lifeline to getting along, to being entertained, and to the extended Family. In the US, things are the same . . . sort of. Here, one has to consciencously plan to spend time with Friends to make the extended Family work.

Health Care - Here our kids go for annual checkup to make sure that things are progressing healthily. There, kids are apparently healty, but all of the kids and youth appear much younger than their US counterparts. Even the 18 year old in South Africa looks to be about 14 or 15. It's different.

Water - There, every formal settlement home is entitled to water (and power). The water there is potable by South African standards. But the standard varies.

CNN, TV, and radio (for the most part)- Same. Only difference is the quality of the reception. Both South Africa and the US lose here.

Gas Prices - Here high and we hear about it in the media. There, sold by the liter and high too.

Airplanes - During the week there, I saw two airplanes and one helicopter all week. We have some privledges here (that aren't too expensive).

Electric Tools (or anything not-man-powered) - Here, ironically, we want cordless tools. There, we would have been very grateful for a corded circular saw or electric concrete mixer.

A/C - Here, I don't want to say that it is needed, but it is appreciated. There, it was autumn, so I don't quite know how it might be come summer.

Supermarket - Here, we take a trip to Kroger for granted. There, chickens are sold plucked on the street. So are their feet.

Swingset - Here, many backyards have one. There, the church has one that was just painted.

Fridge - We have two. There, well, I don't remember seeing any in the houses.

That is all. Food for thought.

Debrief - Postponed

2006-04-25T06:40:00.001-04:00

Here is something that I should have seen coming -- but didn't.

As myopic as I was about going to South Africa, I now realize that I am consistantly short-sighted about the return to the US. I thought that it would just be "coming home." But, things are a little different. Views are different, Opinoins are different, and People and Materialism is different

(By the way, anything that I say about people and any habits include my own -- I am just as much people as anything that I might comment on.)

So, as I am processing this, odds are good that I won't make another post until this weekend (unless of course, I post a picture of the four tie-died kids).

Last Africa-Side Update

2006-04-21T04:01:00.000-04:00

Currently waiting in the lobby of the Holiday Inn - Pretoria. Getting ready to go to the Apartheid Museum, then a flight to Atlanta and finally CVG.

Here is a synopsis of our team - Construction 9:

Sean: a great block layer and a good guy. Quiet, but deep. He gets it. Glad that I met him.

Nancy: a go-getter. Doing the block-brigade was not her favorite thing -- but each and every time, she stepped up to the plate. I like the way she prays and I like how she is.

Deborah: a rubber-meets-the-road-person. We met in the lobby one morning and had a great conversation. She interruppted my journal writing at just the right time as it was focusing on the negative. A walking blessing.

Daryl: Good guy. Huge heart. He was there to serve and was a good reminder to me when stuff hit the fan. I like him and look forward to running into him at church.

Dana: a better friend and great conversationalist. I was glad that I was able to share the trip with her and for her listening skills and tactful pointedness. Every time I hear that one song that we all danced and looked at each other, I'll remember her funny face.

Raymond: our taxi driver. He was our South African sounding board. He answered our silly questions, gave us a little black South African perspective (both vocally and non-vocally) and served us well. I'll miss him.

Nancy M: wanted a house. Asked for my hat (and got it). For me she represents the people of the formal settlements. Needs some help, is willing to accept the help, is willing to wait, and holds no ill will.

I look forward to returning to Cincinnati, seeing my wife and kids, visiting friends and co-workers. Sharing the stories. Helping people get it. Retaining the views and emotions and lessons that I've had here. And basically becoming a better person and Useful Instrument.

Thanks to all those that have supported this effort - as I've thought about it, I've realized that it runs the gammet from financial, to spiritual, to logistical, to heartfelt and to friendly. I've been lucky to have traveled here.

I was wrong, it wasn't just another construction job. It is a renewed life and a fresh view.

Godspeed Travelers.

Sweet, Sweat, and Bittersweet

2006-04-20T17:01:00.000-04:00

Pictures: Nancy breaking block; the Future Owner, two local kids in front of her existing home; Signing a soccer ball gift; Nancy and Dave (ref: Tuesday's entry); Dave and house; mural in church schools kid area; Daryl and a (tired) young man.

Today was the last day of construction. Now our team is getting into its groove - at the end of the day, we are tired, but not too sore. So, it wasn't too tough of a physical day, but it was a little of a roller coaster ride emotionally.

Last Fall, when we started the trip, the goal was to build 40 houses. After we got here, we were told that it took 1 1/2 days to build a house. After we arrived on site, we realized that it was going to be tougher than we thought (the concrete blocks had not arrived on the first day). So on that first day, we were used to assist other teams, but unfortunately, we didn't get our assigned house until the second day.

So the toughest part of the day was the slow-dawn realization that we were not going to get our house completed.

During the day, there was a ribbon cutting, PR-type event at a house across the street (for one of the houses that another Crossroads team built). A couple of us stayed in our house laying block -- we figured that the US would be well represented and we really, really wanted to get the house done. (as an aside, a guy named Mark from another construction team was walking around the site, saw that we were still building, and then began mixing mud for us -- that was impressive).

But, house-completion wasn't to be.

The construction superintendent assurred us that the house actually was livable now -- so that was good (and I don't think that he was just being polite) -- but to have literally handed the keys over would have been great.

The improvement of relationships was of paramount importance and that was started on Day 1 and continues. However, the American civil engineer would have also liked a tangible conclusion.

Bittersweet conclusion.

Doing

2006-04-19T15:42:00.000-04:00

"

"

Pictures: The first four pictures are of businesses along the streets of Mamelodi. Two hair-style places, a tire store, and a muffler store (I am not being funny, they are stores that provide real services.) The final two pictures are views of the informal settlements. (Raymond, our taxi driver that gets our team to the construction site) told us that people can buy prefabricated walls (not unlike the ones above) for about Rand750 (or about US$135). When asked "Where did all of these people come from?" The common answer is "I don't know, they just came.")

"What you have done in four days would have taken us years."

Last evening, the pastor of the local church (our sister church) said the above words. Initially, I was trying to figure out that if it was accurate that it would have taken years to build one of the houses that we are building. "Getting funds together, getting building material, getting assistance -- ok, maybe it would take a long time" was my traing of thought.

Then it dawned on me that he didn't really mean years to build the houses, but years to build the relationships. Relationships with the people of the formal and informal settlements, with the people of the local church, and with the local media, and with the local politicians.

It is still a long row to hoe, but perhaps our visit has shortened some steps in the journey of improvement.

For me, it is interesting to see what I've learned. Before we left, I think that my wife was getting a little -- well, frustrated is not the right word, but a diet version of frustrated is -- that I was not getting excited about going and that I was thinking that it was just another construction job.

Well, I was wrong. Its not just another construction job.

Right now, I can't think of appropriate words that describe how I'm feeling each day/moment or even what I'm learning -- or maybe I just don't really want to post them. But, I am receiving my own education of who I am, perhaps a little more of my purpose, and perhaps even a little closer to the ultimate goal.

From our side, the hardest part about leaving here will be to remember-to-remember what we've learned, what we've felt, and whom we've met. Not unlike a morphine drip button, it'd be great to have a Mamelodi-drip button to put us back in our learning place. That'd be good.

The pictures above will provide a little input of what things here look like and how society operates. But they won't do justice to the interactions with the residents. They won't provide the choked-up feeling when we talk to people. And they won't provide the flow of joy in simple things of life.

Conversation

2006-04-18T16:21:00.000-04:00

Today, our group began construction on our own construction site. During the day, I sat down to drink some water and refill my water-backpack. A nice, grandmotherly-type resident from Mamelodi sat down next to me. We had a conversation, she said:

"I want a home.

"If you come back, I want you to build me a home."

- Nency Moekelers
30019 Ward 10
Mamelodi Township

Real Construction and Blessings

2006-04-17T16:13:00.000-04:00

Pictures: Loosened up Americans with Mamelodi toddler, South African boy with yoghurt cup, baby sleeping in wrap on mom, Construction (2 photos).

Personal Note from Deborah to her husband (a fellow constructioner): "Greg, I am doing really well."

Today, we started construction for real -- it was great.

It was great to see the numerous people getting to do real work. The first task that we accomplished was just plain moving the concrete blocks to the construction site - bucket birgade style. To move a trailerful of blocks in about 10 minutes was refreshing -- kind of like a warm up session.

People in the Township - it is referred to as "17" were out and about and were watching us. I've been told the leaders that the construction that we are doing is appreciated, but apparently, the greater reward is that "17" is seeing that people (a majority of them white) are doing what they said they would do, when they said they'd do it. This is the real story that is now cascading out of the Mamelodi Township, south to Pretoria and Johannasburg. There was a story on the news about the efforts and the partnership. Perhaps, this will create enough buzz for the beginning of a tipping point -- tipped toward people are people.

During church yesterday, one of the pastors said somthing that stuck to me: "From the lowest Christian to the highest, where the lowest will be blessed and to the highest who will be a blessing."

There have been numerious Divine Interventions for me on this trip - one could call them coincidences -- but there is something greater going on. I can't describe it or adequately write about it, but one can sense it - much like a sound at such a low frequency that you can't hear it with your ears, but you can sense it with your body. Even today at the Church, there was a service for the beginning of work - the Americans were looser, were dancing more and singing more.

I sat next to a Sohto woman that spoke a little English (since her English was better than my Sohto, we chose English). She explained some of the Sohto songs being sung and that was good. But in retrospect, this woman that I didn't know, that was (I got the feeling) normally a shy person (at least around white people) initiated the conversation and translation -- that is not really normal. It was either Divine Intervention that she should speak to me or just her everyday faith that overcame any timidness and knew that she should reach out.

Amazing. Inspiring. A Blessing. Just-plain-good-stuff. All are good descriptions.

Back to the construction for a moment. Our South African construction contact was happy with us. He told the project superintendents (about the American workers), "You just show them once how to do something . . . and they do it!" Good for the Constructors. Today, it wasn't hard to know how to be a blessing.

Now here is a personal story that I've shared with a bunch of people around here already. Yesterday, I was sure to pack some "known-clean" food for during the day (I was an early victim of an unwashed apple). Anyway, I packed some granola bars and a chocolate bar. I put all of them in my pocket. It gets hot in South Africa -- hot enough to cause a Hershey's bar to liquify. Fortunately, I took it out of my pocket before it exploded out of its foil. During an evening wrap up at Charity and Faith Church, I set it on top of my gym bag so (a) I wouldn't step on it and (b) so I could remember to throw it away.

Well, during the meeting, it solidified a little bit, so I decided to take it back to the hotel. After it solidified, I offered it to several people, but they didn't want it.

So today after all of our construction activities, but before dinner, I saw it and decided that I'd take it downstairs to eat while waiting for all of us to gather. I began eating it and thought to myself, "Re-solidifying chocolate tastes a little different than original-chocolate." But, I didn't care too much and I kept eating.

As I went to break off a third piece or so, I glanced down at the bar and saw that there was some type of writing on the inside - I was thinking a contest or something -- then I realized that it was my wife's writing and one of our son's name -- Garrett. I laughed out loud and a few of the people around me turned and looked at me.

I (now) carefully opened the rest of the wrapper and removed the bar. And there in my wife's handing writing it said "We hope that you are having a great day! Love, Kim, Kira, Morgan, Garrett, and Darby." It choked me up.

For me to have kept that seemingly mushy, almost non-edible candy bar and then take it back to the hotel and then actually have enought light to see the writing (instead of opening it on the bus), and to actually look back at the foil (did I mention that my wife put her writing inside the foil part of the wrapper and then re-wrapped it?) was once again just amazing. At the least, there had to be some vibes that I was receiving from Kim. I'd like to think that perhaps there was some God-like vibe-intensifier in there with the assist.

Thanks Kim -- what a great support network I have -- lucky, lucky.

Easter and Construction Prep

2006-04-16T15:39:00.000-04:00

Pictures: Mother and child after church; interior of an example-home that we are to use a guide; the grandmotherly greeting (see below); post-church interactions; Daughter and Father.

I wasn't going to write too much today, but then as I sorted through the pictures, I saw one picture (which aesthetically isn't too great) but it reminded me of its occurance.

After Easter Service - which was pretty good -- or actually perhaps I am not giving it enough credit as I sang in Church today and I never (and I really mean never) do that -- we delivered some construction material to the sites. The sites that we visited today were not the squatter-cities, but were lower-income areas. People were out doors at many of the sites and looked at us with a little bit of wonder - 10 white guys getting out of a bus and dropping construction material off isn't (I think) too normal a site in Mamelodi. [sidenote: they weren't looking at us in a negative manner, just a "this-is-interesting-I-think-I'll-watch" manner -- much like we are looking at the residents as our bus passes by.]

Anyway, at one of this sites a grandmotherly type woman met us. Usually, this person that meets us suggests where we should store the material for safe keeping. She may have done that, but then she came further out and hugged each one of us that was bringing the material.

She didn't speak English -- she was quite grateful, happy, and excited about the promise of a new home.

Moon and Game Park

2006-04-15T17:29:00.000-04:00

Photos from today: An elephant that got a little upset at a driver that passed us and tried to speed by (no confrontation by contact, just some pounding hearts). The other pics, three of the Big 5.
Today, we went shopping at a not-so-local, but not-out-of-the-way place. It was good and there were a lot of things one could buy. All of the shop workers were (once again) quite nice and polite. They wanted to sell their things and get a good price for them, but they weren't overly pushy like a New Yorker might be.

After shopping, we went to a Game Park for a look at the Big 5 animial (elephant, giraffe, leopard or cheeta (I can't remember which), hippo, and rhino). It felt a little like cheating seeing the animals (and just enjoying ourselves) before we have really done any work, but the leader of the local church has stated that he would like us to see Africa and some of its beauty before we begin working - he'd like us to experience all of it.

So, all of that was great. I was riding along with a friend and she said, "all I really want to see is a giraffe." So (trying to help or solve a problem (I am a guy you know)) I began scouring the brush to try to find that elusive giraffe. I was quite hoping that she'd be able to see what she really wanted. About 10 minutes later, the jeep-like thing stopped and just off our right - about 30 feet was a giraffe eating behind a tree. We stayed there about 20 minutes and the giraffe proceeded to come closer, cross the road and was probably about 10 feet from us. It was great.

Second part of this email. After dinner as we were driving back to the hotel, I saw the moon. [I think that the moon, and sun, are in the northern horizon as they cross the sky instead of the southern - no point here, just interesting]. While looking at the moon, I thought of my wife and kids. Even though we are so far away here, they can look at the same moon -- and if it is dark in Cincinnati, we could even look at it at the same time. Kind of unifying.

There is a point there, but I think that you'll have to draw your own conclusions.

Why not Cincinnati?

2006-04-15T02:21:00.000-04:00

Photos: Left - Day 1 group photo again. Day 1 photo of one of the classrooms storing some stuff.

Over the past few days people have asked me? "OK, going to South Africa to help - that is a good thing. Congratulations on doing that. But, why not help out in New Orleans, or local homeless, or Over-the-Rhine (a Cincinnati neighborhood).

Well, after a conversation this morning, I think that I have a good answer for that. "Because, if we were in Cincinnati, we'd still be taking cell calls, we'd leave what we were doing to see our friends and family -- or in short We wouldn't be totally immersed."

Everything in South Africa has been stripped away. We don't really have anything to worry about here except ourselves, what we're doing, and what we're seeing. Sounds kind of selfish -- but I think that if we were in Cincinnati, we'd return to our own homes and our own issues and then not be totally immersed.

Now, moving on, I think that going through this immersion will ultimately help New Orleans, Cincinnati, or even our local neighborhood as we'll remember what we've seen here, how we've gone about helping and how we've connected.

Here, we've stripped everything away so that now it is people to people - no agendas (hidden or open). Just a mindset of "This is what improves things."

On a personal note, Today, Darby is 1,000,000 minutes old (at 3:47 a.m. eastern)- so if you see her, wish her a happy millenia.

Disclaimer: I have not proofread this (or any of the blogs) as time and internet connections here make it not really worthwhile.

Touchdown at 10:04am local (4:04 am Eastern US)

2006-04-14T09:40:00.000-04:00

The people on the right are my Go Team", the lady on the left as well as the picture above are mentioned below.

The flight went well -- although 18 hours on a flight is 18 hours.

We landed, got on busses and then headed to our sister church - Charity Church (and briefly saw) Mamelodi. It is interesting, there are "stores" along the street that fix mufflers, wash cars, do hair, sell chickens (I think) and other things I can't think of right now.

Anyway, when we visited the new Hospice and School, we were also able to me A LOT of kids. They loved having their pictures taken and then seeing themselves in the digital preview window. First one would have their picture taken, then another would join, then a whole bunch of them - analogous to seagulls, popcorn, and the beach.

And they were all smiles. One kid about Garrett's age came up to me (the introvert) extended her hand and said "My name is Ichikununo. What is your name?" Did I say that she was maybe 3 1/2 years old! She was something. Actually all of the kids were.

We were visiting the church and they were between some type of service/conference and many people were eating lunch. Lots of Moms and Grand moms. Thinking retrospectively, I don't recall seeing too many Dads or older males. But anyway, the women were also quite nice and welcoming.

Well, that is all for now, we're here. Skies are sunny and the breeze is at our backs.

Last US-Side Update

2006-04-13T01:37:00.000-04:00

So it is about 2 a.m. Cincinnati time (or about 8 a.m. Mamelodi time).

Sometimes, I am quite slow on the uptake. Just this evening, I realized that there is a whole, whole lot of support-group stuff occurring on this trip. Initially, I thought that things were happening behinds the scenses and all was well. Now that I've been exposed to a little more of the logistics, I realize that there is a TON of behind the scene stuff.

Although that is impressive, that is not what this entry is about.

This entry is about the support and impact that we are receiving from home. I realized this just today. I mean that I kind of knew that Kim was doing a lot of things to allow me to go on the trek, but the more I think about it, the more grateful I am -- one night of bath duty with just one parent can be a little much. Tie that in with post-bath tooth-brushing negotiations, and carrying to bed negotiations and -- well -- it can cause some frustration.

So, hat's off to Kim and the kids for allowing me to go. What a gift.

And fortunatley, I realized this before calling Kim at 12:10 a.m. (about 25 minutes after she dropped me off) and asking her to please come back and please bring to me my money (both US and South African) that I'd forgotten.

I guess that I didn't add "Bring Money" to my checklist. -- Thanks much Kim (and Charlotte - her mom for watching our kids for another hour -- see there is another support person!)

Anyway, we are going to get on the buses to go to the airport soon. DAY-ATL around 6 a.m., then the rest of the way.

Godspeed Travelers.

T minus 1 Day or So

2006-04-12T08:39:00.000-04:00

Right now I am in St. Louis, I'll be Chicago in a few hours, then back to Cincinnati. In less than 24 hours, I'll be on my way to Dayton and Atlanta and then just a little more than that, I'll be on my way to Johannesburg! Wow, writing that brings up a couple of nerves.

The rubber is getting nearer and nearer to the road.

Practice Flight

2006-04-11T22:30:00.000-04:00

Thinking of this post reminds me of Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant. "Kid, if you want to do good. . ."

It'll be a long flight to and from South Africa -- 18 hours is the advertised duration. I think that there is a scheduled refueling after about 9 hours on that little part of Africa that juts out to the west and used to match up with Central and South America.

Word on the street is that the flight will become a little less crowded as some people de-plane.

I hear that there are on-demand movies on board, so that'll make the time pass a little quicker. Of course, if one is watching a movie, then one is not sleeping and that might make customs and the bus ride's time pass a little slower. If only I could have some type of constant reminder that waiting around, slowly moving, and being (in my American mind) not too efficient was ok, it would be (well) ok.

Ironically, I was at Chicago O'Hare today and witnessed people being stressed out, not relating, and just (basically) surviving -- lots of people -- and it seems if there was some type of required down time for each person, each day, then all things would be better. Kind of like a forced nap. [sidenote, I just realized that none of our kids are or have been in schools where they have to take a nap -- I remember taking "forced" naps in cots.]

So, I wonder if when I am in Africa and when I am (hopefully) completing good and meaningful work (on houses, co-workers, and myself), I'll be able to step back, take stock, and truly sieze the moment, releash the moment -- even the bad ones. Perhaps even think, "OK, what do I need to learn here? What is the lesson that Life has tried to teach me several times, but I haven't gotten yet? Wouldn't being un-frustrated be better?"

If and when I do really get it -- all of it -- will I look back and just shake my head at how naive or short-sighted I was? Will others that already really get it, say "You know, we wanted to and even tried to tell you, but ultimately, we knew that you would have to learn it on your own. We're glad that you have learned it."

Taxes, Packing, and Schedule

2006-04-10T23:08:00.000-04:00

We are leaving for South Africa on Wednesday evening - April 12 - Actually, we're leaving our homes on April 12 to have a huge rendezvous and then get on busses for the different airports around 3 AM on Thursday morning April 13. We are scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg on Friday morning around 10am local time.

Friday is going to be a "last-leg-of-the-trek" day.

Saturday is to be spent on a safari - I know that this sounds like a vacation day because, well, I guess that it is. Titus (the leader of the sister-church) has insisted that we spend a day on a safari as they are quite proud of their animals and they'd like to share the experience - so we are.

Sunday will be Easter Services (I've heard that they give some of our masses a run for their money as their service is scheduled to last about 3 hours long).

Monday - Thursday will be construction days. Our goal for each group of eight is to build 1 house per day. (Remember, the houses are about 30 ft x 20 ft; the roof is already installed, and we are installing concrete block walls - I think it is do-able).

Friday - Travel back to Jo-Burg in the morning. Visit the Apartheid museum. And Prepare for 18 hours against the jet stream.

Saturday - Land in Atlanta, learn if Delta has struck and figure out the next steps. With any luck, return to CVG between 11am and 6pm.

Sunday - Sleep in. Hit Church. Sleep out. Say hello to Kim and the kids.

Oh yea, the point of the cardinal and the moon - none, I just saw it this evening and took it.

Dancers

2006-04-06T23:31:00.000-04:00

On April 2, we all attended a meeting to finalize many of the traveling considerations.

I'll be arriving back at CVG around 11:30 - which is a bonus as other flights land as late at 6pm. In other words, there is only so much one can do while waiting for a flight in Atlanta. I'll accomplish that in about 55 minutes and others will have 6 hours and 55 minutes to accomplish the same.

Of course, if Delta strikes, then I'll either be driving back from Atlanta with a few other (probably a little grumpy) people or finding some comfy carpet at ATL.

Anyway, during the April 2 meeting, members of the Prayer group (both formal and informal) came to the meeting and walked in holding candles and offering their prayers for us - kind of humbling. There are about 300 of us going on the trip. And there is at least one prayer partner for each person going - how is that for cool - we've just increased the team's size by at least double.

More than than, even people from our iD Series group showed up and provided their support! Can you believe it? They took time out of their late evening, drove over to church, waited (pretty) silently for quite some time (while their candles were burning (literally)) and then walked into the darkened auditorim carrying the candles.

It was like an endless wave of people. The first 50 or so were impressive as they came in -- then, it just wouldn't end. It was enough to make even the baldest of attendee have hair stand up.

So, that was good. Then after that, there were some African dancers as another surprise. I've added a picture (as a test while in the states and just because).

All is good Houston. T-Minus 6 days.

3 for show

2006-04-06T15:25:00.000-04:00

Here is a test picture (#3 actually) of bubbles and Paper moon.

lkjsdflkjsa

sflkjds

Thoughts on Time

2006-01-18T22:38:00.000-05:00

Time is an Agreement.

Bouncing Ball

2006-01-14T07:53:00.000-05:00

The man who complains about the way a ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it. Lou Holtz

Dance

2005-12-29T22:51:00.000-05:00

Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music. -- Anon.

Hock and Einstein

2005-12-28T14:02:00.000-05:00

Simple, clear purpose and principles give rise to complex and intelligent behavior. Complex rules and regulations give rise to simple and stupid behavior. -- Dee Hock

Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. -- Albert Einstein

Darwin Quote

2005-12-27T08:12:00.000-05:00

A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. --Charles Darwin

K Day 1

2005-08-27T10:47:00.000-04:00

First day of school for Mr. Morgan. T-Minus 13 years until graduation.

ODOT 156 Steel Fit Up

2005-06-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

ODOT sent back an initial response to RFI 029 that we would not be able to
make field cuts of pan-steel.

ODOT 156 Steel Plates RFI

2005-06-19T13:01:00.000-04:00

The engineer has reviewed the request to field trim the steel and has sent
his response to ODOT. Unfortunately, we were not included on the response.
With any luck, we'll be informed of the response on Monday, June 20.

7-Mile Remobilization

2005-06-17T09:22:00.000-04:00

Contract Dewatering confirmed that they would have their casings on site on
Tuesday next week and the rig would be there Tue PM or Wed AM. Sunesis will
be mobing an excavator to the site today and anticipated "undoing" the
existing pipes on Monday and Tuesday and straightening up/grading the site
for their rig.

Lburg Pump Station

2005-06-17T08:55:00.000-04:00

At 7-Mile, Electrician will be working this weekend. Flygt is set up for
either Wed or Thur next week. City agreed that it will be very difficult to
test larger pumps (as there is insufficient flow or availability of water).
City is supposed to look for electrical connectors today (Friday). If they
can't find them then they stated that we should just order them. These
connectors are not a small dollar item.

7-Mile - Re-Mobing

2005-06-16T14:27:00.000-04:00

We should be remobilizing equipment to the site tomorrow (Friday). Our plan
is to begin dismantling the existing outfall piping (the single 16" pipe
won't handle the new flow) and reinstalling two new 16" next week. Our
Dewatering sub is scheduled to be on site on Monday or Tuesday.