Life's small blessings.

You can sit in staff meetings all day and think you are doing something important. You make policies that impact large parts of the population, and you can talk about change and impact till you are blue.

But what matters most, what has the largest impact, is sitting down and see your child on stage performing.

What more is there than the complete joy that brings.

Northway Church at it again. What should one think

Some time back I had an issue with Northway Church, and it seems they still don't get it, or maybe it's me who doesn't get it?

I am not a fan of the "Mega Church", I don't believe they can serve the community as the Church was intended to serve. Show me I am wrong and I might change my mind, I do have an open mind. So take that as a challenge if you will.

I went to an old link that led to another link that led to another, until I came across this link.

Screen shot over there on the right. You may or may not be able to see the part that bothers me immensely. Should say insults all of us living here in the Notrtheast. The add states in part "..the Northeast, one of the most unchurched areas of the United States"! Really!

We here in the Northeast are one of the nations most unchurched area's. prove it to me, give me the data if you make a claim like that.

Maybe they meant to say One of the most non Mega Church area's of the United States. That would be accurate. We have many many great and wonderful Churches here in the Northeast and I can personally attest to the fact that just about every single person I know goes to a Church!

Well Northway, back up the facts if you will.

Reality vs Capability

Over the many years I have been on this planet, I have done quite a few DIY projects. Having lived n a farm we didn't call them DIY projects, they were simply chores that needed to be done!

However, my latest DIY project that was placed on my burner by powers other than myself, is not a simple one, and might possibly be out of my capability.

However, I wonder if it is out of my skill set or just that I am not feeling capable due to having done so many and not really looking forward to another. It is a question I have been asking myself. Thus the project has not been started yet.

Well, it is a bathroom, a complete overhaul and more. She wants, a whirlpool tub where there is now a stand up shower, a towel warmer where is not one now, tile floor with an under tile heated to keep the toes warm in winter. She wants a tile wall in the tub area, all three walls, and a window to the outside where there is not a window right now!

This is no light project. It will take all my skills and combine them in one large project. Everything in this I have done before save the window, so it is matter of breaking it down to small bits I suppose.

I picked up the tub, and the tiles. So, all I need now is the motivation to get started. I have to tear out the shower and all the sheet rock, and then get to the plumbing so I can redirect it to eh new tub shower solution. Cut out the window and get one in there while the walls are exposed, then get the tub in.

After the tub I suppose re-sheet rock the walls that will be challenging, hope it woks out with the window in plumbing, and then tile. Final step paint. Mind you this not that large of a bathroom, so it will be tight working space as well.

Well, another week or two to get in the mood should do it. As Fall is arriving that makes it a bit better I suppose.

My overall issue with this is simple I suppose. I am not getting any younger and my time is becoming more valuable to me. Do I want to spend it fighting to install a new bathroom, or enjoying the time with my family?

Lately I have been feeling quite mortal, don't know why, but not liking the feeling. Going through another round of tests to determine a certain illness, several years ago we did this and to no avail. So, we make a go at it again this year, and hope for the best. Was it Paul in the Bible who appealed to God for release of his illness. We aren't told what the illness is, but there is speculation.

We have our burdens to bear, and I know there are others out there with burdens I can not imagine. However I am feeling a bit down with this illness, and it is taking it's toll. Wearing me down over the past several years. Seems to be sapping my strength.

Babies

My son is no longer a baby being seven now, well, according to his math seven and one half! However over the weekend I got to visit with a little baby, and it was a delight.

It has been many years since I had a little baby in my arms, and it felt good, well actually it felt really good. They are warm cuddly and so fragile. truth be told I did not hold the baby over the weekend, I was making a rudder for my boat and had lots of chemicals all over me, so I did not want to pass any potential danger on to the baby.

I did hold the baby a week earlier while in NYC, and that was nice. I wanted to hold her when she was over this weekend, but I could smell the chemicals on me. and could not risk it. It was very nice to have company, but not just any company, but family. Though she is not family by blood she is family just the same. To see her so happily married, and with a baby, it was a heart warming experience.

My goal was to cook some special food items, but I ended up with simple grilled steak and over roasted potatoes, and with corn so prevalent this time of year I picked up a few ears. but, i was busy with the boat repair so I didn't put as much effort in to the meal as I should have, still it was nice, informal and enjoyable.

The older I get it seems to more I need babies around, it is a good feeling to know that the next generations are carrying on, and taking our place.

NYC and Babies

This past Wednesday I had an opportunity to head to our NYC office and spend the day. This would be the first time I have been to the NYC branch office and was prepared to take full advantage.

Having been to NYC many times, I know how to get around, and whats where at least the major sites, and a few others I have discovered over the years. Like last year wandering around Chelsea pier looking for the Food network studios, only to discover that the Studio is not on the actual pier! My bad. but I did find the studios and the market Emeril is always talking about on his show. Story for another day.

Anyway, I leave town on the earliest train I can manage as the ride is about 2.5 hours to get to NYC. The day was going to be very nice weather wise, and I was planning to get in as much city time as possible.

Hurried out of Pen Station and hit 7th ave running almost, and headed east. It took me a good 20 minuets to walk the total of 12 blocks or more to the office. I had an idea where the office was but not exactly. However having used Google Map I was pretty sure where it was and what it looked like. I arrived and did my thing for the morning hours and then came lunch time.

I had a specific idea in mind for lunch but it changed slightly. I wanted to find a specific food vendor that was recently given a nice write up on a very popular food blog. Well, I did try to make to that one, but didn't, so I ended up in the raw oyster bar in Grand central. I had always wanted to go there and try the oysters as well as the stew.

It was nice being there, I was there once before long ago, and did not indulge in the raw oysters. Not knowing one oyster from another, I asked my server, and he brought me a tray of six, two each from a different selection. I really liked to one set, so I ordered a few more. well by the time I was done with a Belgium draft, the oysters and the stew, I was shocked at the total cost. It was a nice lunch but that nice!

Back at the office and being that it was very quiet there I did what I set out do, I left to go see a friend who lives on the lower West side of Manhattan. I don't feel right caller her friend though. When people ask how I know her and what the relationship is I simply say "my daughter". She is not in the biological sense, but I feel as though she is. She was a kid whom my wife and I took under our wind back when she was very young and have tried to watch out for ever since.

We watcher her go through her teens, I taught her to drive, we supported her while she was deployed to Iraq, she did care for my boy when he was born. I remember meeting her for the first time and knew she was special and that she would achieve great things. She recently finished her degree in Criminology at John Jay, but right now she is doing the most important work she can do.

She is a stay home mom. She and her husband have a beautiful baby girl, about 4.5 months old. well, my aim was to go take her to dinner, so I took a subway across town and met her at her apartment. Her husband wasn't sure he could get out of work and join us, so we decided to hangout in the apartment and enjoy the baby, and wait to see if he could join us.

As soon as as I arrive she handed off the baby to me, and what a little bundle of joy. She was happy laughing smiling and bouncing. I bouncer her on my knee and she would giggle. when I stopped she would move best she could to mimic the bounce, so I had to keep bouncing her. However after her bottle, bouncing stopped, I learned that lesson long ago with my son! you don't bounce a baby after they have had a bottle, you just don't.

I was not remotely hungry, so we didn't go out to eat, we talked about drinks but I was not in the mood. I was content to be with my daughter and her baby, I felt like a grandpa with the baby on my knee. it was the best moment I have had in a long time. It made all the trouble dealing with the city worth it. For those few hours I was content. It was like the feeling you get after a really really good meal, a full belly and a contentment. it was like that but so much better. To see her so happy with her baby and husband, and see that little bundle of joy, it was a moment forever etched in my mind now. One of those moments you know when it is happening that it is special.

Well, my time was up, I needed to get back to the train station and catch the last train back home. Well there was one more later but much too late for me. As it was I would not be home much before midnight, and had a long trek back to Pen Station and then the train ride back home as well. We bade farewell but not without making a firm commitment to see each other more often. In that, she committed to coming up and spending an afternoon for a cookout Labor day weekend in two weeks.

We are letting life get ahead of us and not spending the time seeing each other we would like to. her baby is 41/2 months old and that was the first time I saw her. We both agreed that is unacceptable, and will not allow that to happen again.

That's how it is sometimes, we let the ones we love go along in life and try to stay connected but it becomes lost somewhere. Granted there are many miles between us, but we should not let that be an issue unless we let it. The good news is we see this potentially happening, so we are going to ensure that we don't lose each other in living life to it's fullest.

It was good day in NYC.

Statue of Liberty

Earlier this year when we had visitors from Germany, we spent a few day in NYC. As part of that trip we decided to go see the Statue. I am an early person, and would have preferred we get there as soon as possible and get the sight seeing in early, but sometimes I am not the one in charge!

We did make our way there eventually and take the ferry out. What we were not prepared for was the security nightmare! Nightmare in that it was evident that the security there did not have any experience at it, and best I can describe was they were bumbling at it.

At the ferry we had to take off our shoes, go through a metal detector, and bags searched. It took well over an hour to get thought it, and it was not what I would have considered crowded.

Then after arriving at Liberty island we again had to be pat down, metal detectors shoes, off the whole works. I guess that was in case we swam to the boat and climbed aboard while it was in motion or something.

We waited in a line that crawled, seems they were only letting one or two people in at a time. When we got to a huge tent they had setup at the entrance, we were handed a plastic card. Then at the end of the line we handed the card to a security person. I tempted fate and my life by asking her what the card was for? From what I could see she swiped it in a machine then put it in a plastic bin. That bin was picked up and sent back to the entrance to hand to people again that were getting in line. It did not contain any personal information and I could only see it as a count card.

My question gained me a severe glance and a curt response "security purposes" and so I truly tempted fate and asked again. This time I got a full on stern look, and a very nasty response, "what business is it of yours"! I started to retort, but my company held me back as they did want to see the Statue after having come all this way.

We went to see the White House earlier that week, and the security methods were simple quick, and courteous. Whereas going to the Statue was a nightmare security wise. It was very clear the security personal were under trained and over badged with false authority.

Last time I was at the Statue was back in the mid 80's before 911, and all that, and I remember it was a breeze. We also were allowed in the crown back then, and I recall having to bend over to look out the crown. This time, no crown, not even allowed in the actual Statue but the pedestal only. They had a glass ceiling so we could look up into the Statue.

All in all the experience was not a pleasant one, and I was discouraged thorough the whole thing. What have we allowed ourselves to come to. We allow ourselves to be treated as if we are criminals when visiting our treasured landmarks. Why are we allowing this?

We need to do something to change it, to gain our freedom back again. We are giving up too much in the name of terrorism. I have sent a letter to my Congresscritters and voiced my discouragement with the Statue trip. How can such a treasure be reduced to such a mess. It was one of the worst security experiences I have ever had. Let alone having had it here in the US!

A political year begins.

This year began normal enough, same old routine plan a few trips go to work, etc etc. However chance conversations and chance meetings made it a slightly different year.

We planned to have family visit for a few weeks from oversees. My wife's brother and a female friend. My bother-in-law is not one for warm climates, so taking him to the Dominican was out, and he didn't like the sound of Florida either. In the Northeast that leaves few option for the month or March.

So, it was mutually agreed to go to Delaware in March! the upside, not too many tourist will be there, and the downside, well, the water is still quite cold, and most businesses are closed. Season has not begun quite yet.

One weekend day I am doing yard work or some such thing, and my neighbor drives by and stops to chat. So I mention we are heading to Delaware soon, and might pop over to Washington to see the Lincoln memorial and whatever other sites are there to be seen. I have never been to Washington, so it would be nice. He asked for my email, and I pass it along to him having no idea why, just being neighborly I guess.

Several days later I get an email from my Congress Critter, and along with that email is an invitation to tour the White House! I call the guy who sent the email and we work out all the details, he wants names SSN numbers, I tell him the guests are not US citizens so no SNN numbers no problem he says he needs passport numbers.

We pass a few emails back and forth and I receive a final email confirming our date and time for the tour. Naturally I see my neighbor again one day and thank him for the extension. He says no problem, he is well connected he was a consultant for many years for a local Congressman who well, didn't get re-elected due to some misbehavior on his part. He said it was his pleasure for helping him out from time to time with house issues he bought our friends house, and seemed nice so I didn't mind popping over and helping with minor issues. His garage door opener stopped working for instance and I knew the previous owners, they are still friends, so I knew the trick to get it working right again.

He said he was a Naval Commander retired, and now is enjoying retirement, but you can see through that guise. He clearly loves his politics and the roll he plays there. The Congressman he supported was Republican and he insists he is as well. However he off handedly mentions he is considering a fund raiser for Sen. Clinton later that year, and if I am interested he will extend an invite.

Anyway, we head to Delaware, and on the designated day we head on up to Washington. We had an ambitious plan for the day, but by the time we got to Washington we barely had time to get to The White House at our designated time. We rushed to get there then rushed to get to the right gate to check in, only to discover that the time frame is pretty flexible. At the gate I was amazed at what appeared to be lack of security. We gave our names and went into a tent to pass through a metal detector, and followed a path and we were suddenly in the White House. that was it. However I suppose that the appearance of light security is a sign of expert security and those who know how security is done right. Unlike visiting the Statue of Liberty, that is another story!

The tour was self paced and self guided, but in each room were staff whom you could ask most any question regarding the room. The tour was nice, short, but all the same very impressive to be in the White House. In the same building each and every President lived in. That in itself was aw inspiring. No camera's allowed unfortunately.

After the tour we easily found a nice pub type place to have a good lunch. As it was snowing, and the weather was clearly turning, we decided to see the Lincoln Memorial only and then head home. Well, never having been to Washington before, and not knowing where things were it was a challenge. My wife, son and I walked to where we thought the memorial was, passing the Vietnam Memorial on the way. That was aw inspiring as well, and we did make it to the Lincoln Memorial. by now it was blustery wintery snowing hard and cold. We could not find her brother and guest had no idea where they were, they had the car and the heat, and were not answering the cell phone.

So we stayed at the memorial until finally they called us. I walked to the car, then dropped them off so they could see the memorial and circled the square a few times not having luck parking but enjoying the warmth. By now it was getting late snow was heavy and we were downtown Washington on a weekday with heavy snow. I suspected that did not bode well to get out of town easily!

We all finally were together in the car, it was 3-4 ish and I could see the mass exodus begin for the end of the work day. However we drove past the Capitol building and could not resist a stop for a photo opportunity. We did get some great photos of the Capitol building with snow coming down. they look great, however, the commute nightmare began.

Getting out of Washington was no easy affair!

There was a little event getting to Washington as well. We had to head up through Delaware to get to the bridge to Washington, and the drive was longer than we expected. My brother-in-law being from Germany and wanting to drive, well, when we blew past the police car with the radar gun, it was a no brainer as they say that were going to be pulled over.

The officer was too funny. She asked for his Lic, and we told her it was German. Well, she came back to the car after a few min. and informed us how smart she was that she figured out all by herself it was a German Lic. we had to hold back laughing. Then, she asked if he knew how fast he was driving, to which he retorted, "maybe 85", she almost lost it then, and said well, we were clocked at 95 and even if we were doing 85, the limit was 55! then she did something odd, she looked over at me in the passenger seat and asked why I was not driving! I said then I would be getting the ticket! She did not respond very well to that remark, we were trying hard to lighten a tense situation, but she was not seeing the humor there.

My wife and the female friend were in the back seat glaring at us as well. It was getting hot in that car I can tell you. So, we offered our apologies and thanked her, but she was not done. She proceeded to explain more about the ticket as she then thought for some reason as people do sometimes that if she spoke slowly and over pronounced the words my German friend would better understand her! It was quite comical. His handle on the English language puts mine to shame. However the moment of almost complete loss of control came when she handed him the ticket and said it would be a $260 fine.

My brother-in-law not knowing the rules here in the US, pulled out his wallet and started counting cash and tried to hand it to her! I thought at that moment we were surely all going to jail with her. To her credit she gently pushed the hand he was holding out to her back and said no, he didn't understand he has to mail it in. She then very clearly and slowly explained as if to a child how to mail it in money order form etc etc. It was a long speech. Thus the reason we were rushing when we did arrive in Washington for the scheduled tour.