Worth of Time

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Hey Kids,

Having a job. It’s a weird concept really. Most of us exchange our time for money. It’s the only way many of us have learned to survive. Without a job, we lose everything.IMG_6020

I’ve been thinking if the money I get is really worth my most precious commodity, time. I look at my paycheck and get the feeling that it is not. And what really bothers me is that no matter what someone is willing to give me for that time, they are obviously reselling my effort for a higher price.

I hate feeling like I’m getting worked over.

I want to establish my own value.

Maybe I’m nuts on this subject, but if I’m right it’ll be worth it. If I’m wrong, I’ll be exactly where I am today.

Are you getting your worth?

 

Day 126

Love at Next Sight

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Hey Kids,

I fell in love today.

My new love?

Huntsville, Utah.4th-of-july-at-texas

In the midst of a Hell’s Hot Saturday, we decided to hop on the bike and head up into the middle of the mountains to the little town in the middle of a lake (on a peninsula). And in the middle of this town is a restaurant that sells pieces of heaven called Texas Barbeque (speaking of Hell’s Hot) in the middle of tall shade trees, large lawns, and historic buildings.

IMG_20150627_132229We sat outside under the tall shade trees, systematically trying every part of our Texas Sampler. The heat of the day disappeared with the cool breezes weaving their way to our table. We thought it couldn’t get any better. Then,

The store next store sells shakes. Need I really explain anything beyond that?

Huntsville is my new favorite place.

Again.

I’ve been before. But every time I go there, it’s like I fall in love all over again.

And I’m sure I will again.

 

Day 124

Friday Lessons

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Hey Kids,

A few things I learned today.IMG_20141121_144604_601-1

1) I finished watching “Apocalypse Now”. I’ve been needing and wanting to see the movie since it’s such a referred to and iconic movie. It sucked. I don’t get that time back in my life.

2) Vegetarians apparently live longer than meat eaters. Without bacon, it wouldn’t be worth it.

3) “Gay Marriage” was declared legal and to be recognized in all 50 states. Although I’m happy for those I know to whom this means something, the world didn’t end and it seems no different than yesterday. The battles and the war is over on this social argument. Let’s all move along now.

It’s been a big Friday.

 

Day 126

200 Mile Therapy

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Hey Kids,

The job has been disappointing and stressful as a managerial decision has been made to appease a few, upsetting the many. It’s difficult to console the ones felt slighted by policy shift. It’s difficult to listen to an employee who feels that their work efforts and ownership in their workspace has been nullified in order to satisfy a check box.

Difficult especially because I agree with them. IMG_20150606_161116_861

So to let off some of that built up frustration, I loaded onto the bike and put a little over 200 miles behind me this afternoon.

The hot temps of the daytime melted away the worries, even if temporarily, and the evening shadows cooled the soul.

The sticky bug guts on my arm will require a shower then I’m ready to get back to it tomorrow.

 

Day 122

Immortality

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Hey Kids,

A man once in our neighborhood poured a section of concrete. He wanted to fill in the small useless 3×3 patch of mowing strip between his driveway and his neighbor’s. As a kid, I could not resist the fresh smooth wet concrete to etch my name into eternity.

Finding a pointy stick a little smaller than a pencil, I left my mark.

The next day, I revisited. I hoped to admire my handy work and foray into permanent history.

My name was gone. Erased and concealed in the hardened, smooth slab.

“Are you the one that marked up my driveway?” The voice called out from the open garage. My neighbor emerged from the shadows.

“Um, no sir.” I said and then reinforced my innocence by running off. My name carved in stone had lasted only a few moments after I had left it.

A Roman soldier had better luck.

The unknown sentry on a construction project stepped on wet mortar, leaving his signature with the bottom of his shoes. No neighbor erased his effort.

Years later, archeologists found them. 2000 year old foot prints. Immortality achieved.

You never know who history will choose.

 

Day 121

It’s On You

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Hey Kids,

It’s on you.

They’re your dreams. No one really cares, at least not enough to do the actual work it takes for them to come true. They shouldn’t. They have their own. Want your dreams to be realized? It’s on you.

Some people will encourage you; the people who really care about you. They’ll hope you succeed. They’ll want you to succeed. They’ll do what they can, when they can. You can count on their support but they can’t do the work for you. It’s on you.

Some people will listen to you. They’re all talk. They’ll wish you well but give no allowance or you to succeed. In fact, they can hinder you. They’ll never consider the time you need to work essential and will interrupt at their convenience. They might ask for credentials of progress, asking for statistics, especially when the progress is obviously slow and painful. Statistics is for comparing. The work is not statistics. Dreams are not made by comparing. These people can’t help you but. It’s on you.

Some people will root against you. Some will be open about it, most are not. They will tell you discouraging information, tell you how hard your dreams are to accomplish. They’ll try to tell you it’s OK to quit, at least you tried. Screw ‘em. You need to avoid these people. Even if they’re family. You don’t need them. You don’t want them. And by all means, don’t listen to them. But still, It’s on you.

Dream. Dream big. No reason to keep it small. Dream for the stars.

Now, do the work.

It’s on you.

 

Day 120

Freely Walking

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Hey Kids,

Walking in step is something in which I have always had my struggles.

It’s not that I don’t want to, at times I desperately long for that ability, but I just can’t.

I was raised in a belief system that requires line-stepping, but I was also raised with a core belief that nothing is more valuable than individual freedom.image9

I have always lived in the city, but always surrounded by and drawn to wide open spaces.

I’ve always had a job that paid by the hour, yet always been empowered and expected to think on my feet, to improvise, and to “make it work”.

I’m a blue collar man working within a white collar institution.

I’ve led my crews by allowing my staff to show me the better ways.

Alas, I feel like I have finally been trapped in the corner I feared.

Do I now forcibly walk in step? Or do I defend my individualism?

I already know what way my spirit will demand.

I pray I have the strength to know and do what’s right for all.

 

Day 119

Father’s Day 2015

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father_s-day-picturesHey Kids,

Father’s Day.

A day set aside to celebrate those dad’s out there.

I spent today visiting with my dad. We didn’t talk too much about being a dad but we didn’t have to. Spending time together kind of says it for us.

I saw the building projects he’s working on, we reminisced of our time shared in Alaska, and I hung out with him at the grill while he cooked hamburgers and hotdogs.

I brought him a new fishing rod- a hint that we should go fishing soon. He seemed pleased.

My dad has taught me a lot through the years. The most important being the importance of work, sucking it up, and getting it done.

And don’t be a cry baby about it.

I don’t have anything profound to sum it all up, but it’s Father’s Day dad; I hope you had a good one and I hope we share a fair amount more of them in the future.

 

Day 118

Filling the Longest Day

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Hey Kids,

Is it exciting or depressing that the longest day of the year is upon us this weekend?

It’s exciting that we can enjoy more daylight. The warm weather is finally here to stay.

And yet depressing because starting next week every day will be getting shorter.

Sunset on the Longest Day 2014

Sunset on the Longest Day 2014

Last year, I fulfilled a wish I had. To fish from sun-up to sun-down on the longest day of the year. I fished from my Kayak the entire day, caught some fish, and even caught a tagged fish that scored me a new rod from the marina.

This year, I’ll be spending it on Father’s day, of which I will speak more tomorrow.

The important thing to do, is that each day is as long as it should be. And it’s not really the hours the sun remains above the horizons that matters; it’s what you do with it.

Last year I won a rod and fulfilled a wish. This year I’ll visit someone who made so much of my life possible- my dad. I’ll travel across some great country and spend time with my favorite woman and travel companion.

The time I get up and the time I go to bed don’t change much anyway. Why do I even care how long the sun’s up? I guess listening to myself, I shouldn’t. It’s just a thing, just a day. Just fill it with good stuff and move on. I’ll do that.

Now let’s get this ol’ earth tipping the other way and give some of this sunshine back to them southern folk.

 

Day 117