Como teama?

As previously noted in the blog-o-sphere by yours truly, Dianne and I do not do Halloween...So why do I have two seasonally relevant postings?

Well, I was reminded this week, that while Chris was growing up his favorite "holiday" activity was punkin' carvin'...

He used to take great joy in going to King Soopers and climbing into the pumpkin bin to capture the biggest best shaped pumpkin for carving.

He would grind me to no end until said pumpkin was acquired and then the carving could begin.

I would "gut" the pumpkin and carve a rudimentary jack-o-lantern....which caused two things to happen...

1. Chris would be amazed at the gore of pulling out the pumpkins innards (brains).


2. Post carving - He would proudly examine his "JACK O' LEONARD"...

That's right...you know how kids sometime pronounce word and sayings as they hear them so to Chris - Jack O'Lantern = Jack O'Leonard

As Chris got older and more mobile, he would buy his own pumpkin and gut and carve it by himself.

As the gutting began, he would choke and wretch, but complete the task with much better carvings than I had ever done...he is an artist after all....

This practise continued through his college years and guess what?...He is still at it and getting better every year...See what the McCain campaign volunteer did this week:

As time goes on, the more things change...the more things stay the same....

This one's for you "Pug's"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH Be Afraid..Be Very Afraid!

As most of you know, Dianne and I do not celebrate Halloween and have not forever for Dianne and for over 22 years for me....

Since we have been married our tradition is to take it to the DL and bunker in our bedroom early for a picnic and quiet night.

In our new neighborhood, there are very few young families and therefore few "tricksters" and "treaters".



Seriously, what is frightening to us is the direction our country is headed. Most of you received an e-mail that had Billy Graham's prayer for our nation that we feel is on target.

I am also concerned about the growing sentiment that the liberal agenda is more proper and compassionate. That the more fortunate are not doing enough for the poor.

This thinking ignores the truth about the level of charitable giving that our country and government does is multiples of any other country.

It also ignores the compassion that our government has shown to the downtrodden, persecuted, ailing and under-represented poor and afflicted of this world.

And yes, we pay for that out of our tax dollars and our tax rate is still lower than all European countries who give less.

I find it extremely disingenuous for those that have yet to make a dent in this world to criticize those that have.

I was once part of a younger generation that felt "we" knew more than our parents, and had a more worldly sense because of our education and sensitivity.

In retrospect, we had no clue of the extreme sacrifice that the "Greatest Generation" made to save the world, protect Christian values, and post war, make daily sacrifices to make sure we had a roof over our head; food to eat; clothes to wear; schools to go to while believing that we would achieve more that they could.

I owe much of my success to those that went before me and sacrificed much for my "potential".

I can never thank them enough, except to try to provide the same clearing for the next generations....

Dianne and I pray that we are living this every day.

I will climb off of my soap box now...but I feel that I have earned the right..and this is my blog!

Remember... "Character Trumps Good Intentions"

Out....

Coaching Week

This was a week of coaching at work....
Not just the day to day leading of my team, but real coaching on Leadership which is my passion.

On Tuesday, I gave a two hour presentation on "Equipping Others" to 8 young Store Directors from Central Texas who are working with their Regional Director of Development to gain advanced leadership skills.

They invited me about 6 months ago and I developed a new presentation to give them my perspective.
It was fun for me and the feedback that I got from the Regional Director was "you hit a home run!"

Thursday and Friday were my training to be a trainer in our Corporate Development program for leaders called "Leader as Coach". I began my sessions about 6 months ago and really liked it, so I volunteered to become certified as a"coach of coaches".

The sessions are led by one of our consultants Kelly Freeman and his partner Rick Jernigan. Kelly has been an Executive coach for H-E-B for many years. I started working with him in 2003.
I enjoyed these two days immensely and because we were short of help, I got to coach on my own Friday...the "training wheels" came off early.

I am doing two sessions next week with another group so I can really get my schwerve on.....

Weather is great here this time of year....so I am out of the home office to go look at the outside and catch a couple of football games this afternoon....
Out

Didn't See That Coming......

What a week in the financial markets!!....

Pay attention as this is history being made that you can tell your grandchildren about.....

We are like everyone else in that our retirement and investment portfolios look like Bonnie and Clyde's 33 Ford Roadster..."Shot Full of Holes"


Dianne and I are not worried because our hope is not on this world... but on the Lord's covenant word. He has promised to supply our needs....

"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:19

We await with great expectation what the Lord is going to do....It is going to be awesome....
You know I was looking for a reason to work until I'm 80!
Still waiting for Tom, Chris and Mike to send notification that they are in the "Mullet Challenge"...
I'm Out.......

Earn Cash!

It is a beautiful fall day in S.A. Cool mornings and warm days...between now and May is the best weather for us here in South Texas.

It is time for my annual fall challenge to Chris; Ryan (birthday boy); Mike; and this year I am inviting Tom...

The challenge is to "go counter fashion" and grow your own mullet hair style for a $500 prize.

The rules are simple:
Mullet must be real - (no extensions)
Mullet must be validated by me personally
Mullet stays on your gourd until I release your hair style....

So giddy-yup you Joe Dirt wanne be's...Let me know if you are going to step up and back in time...

Remember, I have pictures of all of you in the late 80's and early 90's with some very impressive mullets...

I'm Out