End of 2008

As the new year rapidly approaches, I have reflected on what has happen over the course of the year. For the most part, it has been a very rewarding year on a personal level. My sons have gone into new endeavors. I have reach two personal goals. And my wife has reached an end of an era. And of course, there are the many old friend and frat brothers that I have found.

This year brought two very important personal goal. The first one was to teach history. Not all situations are perfect, and this one was certainly not, but I did reach that goal. History at the 6th grade level in Florida is world history. Although it is very important to understand world history in order to understand American History, hopefully this year, I will gain a position teaching American History at the high school level. Secondly, was coaching track, specifically high jump at Arlington MS. It was extremely rewarding when one of my kids, Tevin, won the conference meet. It put his faith in me, and he became the best. Tevin was an extremely talented high jumper, and my have done it without my help, but in the end he did.

This year my sons played football for the very first time, and James surprised me to no end. Not so much with his play, but rather his will not to give up, and therefore gain confidence in himself. I have often described my sons this way: James would look at a pole and say "if I hot my head into it, it is going to hurt" Adam on the other hand would say "how much" and just smile. so when they came to me and said they wanted to play, I actually found myself trying to talk James out of it. Adam go get them. At first, James was very timid as I figured he would be. But by the end of the season, he was taking down the big kids that have been playing for years. He made me proud that he would not quit.

My wife Amy has worked for mother Merrill since 1992. They have moved us around the country a couple if times, and she has done quite well with them. This past fall, with all the turmoil in the financial community, Merrill was bought by Bank of America, those ending mother Merrill's reign on her. I don't know how this will all end up, but we can be in one of five states by this time next year. So we will have to see.

Then there are all the great people that I meet this year, and all the ones that I have reconnected with. I started riding with a new group out of St. Augustine, that are just a great group of people. Through my Friend Amy, (not the wife) I have reconnected with some great people that were in my past. Although we can never change what has happen in the past, we can look back an reflect at a more carefree time in our lives. I can look back to see myself as a person I didn't like very much. That at time didn't treat people very well, and could be just nasty. To which I can be very happy that I have changed to become a much better person

In closing, I wish everyone a happy and blessed New Year.

Life Changing

I have recently reconnected to an ex girl friend. In fact, she was not just any ex, but my first love. She had seen what I had done in the past 30 years and commented to that, and said that outside of one event, she had not had any "life altering events" a boring life. And that struck me as odd on many levels. Although we had lost touch for almost 30 years, I knew a little about her, and she had more life altering events then she was aware of. Which brings me to this, do we stop long enough in our busy lives to smell the roses?

Her and I had some life altering moment that I do not think she is aware of. When I look back, I can think of several moments in our brief time together, that had things went one way instead of the way they did, it would have altered our lives. We make choices everyday that alter out lives, we just have to take the time to notice. For these life altering events do not have to be major, but rather very uneventful.

But in order to see an altering event, often it takes time for use to realize it, and then to take the time to think about it. When I was in high school, I was going to enlist in the Marine Corp. My parents and my high school coaches talked me out of it, and encouraged me to go to college instead. At the end of my first year of college, I enlisted in the Army. In 1984, the Marine Corp barracks were bombed in Lebanon. Had I chose the Corp instead of college, I could have been in those barracks. The night I chose to go out to a bar with the guys from work, instead of going to my girlfriends (a different one) had a major altering event, that was the night I met my wife. Which in turn led to the most major events, the birth of my two sons.

But it is the little stuff. Like this morning, I was out of Copenhagen. Instead of going right out to my favorite C store, I elected to wait, and go on my way to church. When I got there, there was police tape up and the crime scene unit was there. The store had been robed. If I had left when I wanted to, I might have walked into a robbery. How about the day I left for school late, was in a rush on the scooter, and hit the back of a car. Had I left on time, I would not have had that accident. And the list goes on and on.

So, there are many events in our lives that alter the way that we live our lives. Some are major, and many are not. We just need to take the time to think about them. When I'm out for a run, or riding my bicycle, or the motorcycle, I take that time to think about my life. We all have these outlets, whether it is in church, on a golf course, hiking, fishing or out for a run. use that time to reflect on our lives.

Biker Christmas

Although I was raised in the Catholic Church, still participate, send my kids to Catholic School, and in no way am I looking to leave the church, I do from time to time like to get out and experience Christianity on other levels, which brings me to yesterday.

Yesterday, a bunch of bikers got together at a local biker bar, and held a Christmas pray services. I went to take pictures of the event. It was not the typical Catholic services with all of it's ritual, but rather Christianity in it's most basic form. Something that would have taken place in the beginning of Christianity, as it spread out of the middle east, and into Europe. A group of people with a common interest looking for the word of the Lord. And there, amongst the beer signs and bars, I did feel the hand of God.

I felt among other sinners not a righteousness of "I'm perfect" but rather, I have sinned, with all my brothers and sisters. We all sat there, and listen to the minister, for we knew that we had strayed, and therefore excepted it, and needed to be brought back into the fold. And there, without the pomp that goes along with the Catholic Church, I felt that hand. I only came away with a few pictures, because I was so moved by the experience, that I just didn't feel right taking pictures at the time. I didn't come away with the next Pulitzer, but what I came away with was so much more important.

On Wednesday, my son will be an alter server for the 7:30 pm Christmas Eve mass, and I will be there, not to say this is not right, but rather to offer up my new found love of the Lord. May you all have a Merry Christmas, and my the Lord bless you and your families.

Well this is it!

Welcome to my blog. I have taken my leave from my brother from another mother, Whiplash and have gone into the world of blogs.

I grew in Central New Jersey, and escaped to Colorado which I now consider my home. I moved to Florida in 2002 under protest, but I have tried to make the best of it. I was an avid skier, and seeing that there are no mountains and no snow, I'm kind of a duck out of water. So, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and that is what I have done.

I have met some great people, and Whiplash is at the top of the list. I also get to ride my scooter just about all year round. No it isn't skiing, but it is a damn close second. Riding a motorcycle is the second most fun you can have with your clothes on. I have also embraced the sport of triathlons to make up for the void that I have for skiing. It gives me a reason to train, and try to stay on some kind of shape.

I'm the proud father of two incredible boys. The two of them keep me going with everything that they are into. Football, baseball, soccer, and cub scouts, plus school there is very little time for me, but I wouldn't have it any other way. They are truly the loves of my life. I am a die in the wool conservative, and do not support the republican party on much, since they are way to liberal for my tastes. I have two degrees, one in Marketing and the other in History with a minor in Political Science, so if you wish to discuss any of those, you are more then welcome.

I have done research on several topics including, Nathan B. Forrest, James Madison, and the Cherokee Indian Removal. I am currently working on a concept of Religious Capitalism as it pertains to the Constitution and Separation of Church and State. Most of my Political Science work as been with the law, and the Constitution.

Lastly, I hope you all check out my photos and let me know what you think.