Behind the Times

Well it is summertime, and swimming lesson time, and new boss time, so needless to say I am BEHIND THE TIMES! Sorry I haven't been posting. Here is a summary of the happenings in my life in the past few weeks. . .

My co-worker that worked in the office next door to me was RIF'd a couple of weeks ago (Reduction in Force) shortly after he and his new boss filled a new position--the new person was to start on Monday, and Del was RIF'd on the Friday before the new person started. Isn't this illegal? He is actually very happy. One of my staff spoke to him and he is doing well--relieved--and taking a vacation as we speak before he starts back on the job hunt. Seems to me they did a pretty crappy thing, but if he's happy then I'm happy for him.

This leads up to the trust issue. For me, there is none at work, because, I too have a new boss. I actually really like her, but she used to work for our Chief Operating Officer, who just happens to be the boss of the new boss that fired my friend. Seems he likes to clean house a little bit. Well, my friend and I have both been there 13 years. . . so this is scary to me. Are they going to wait until the audit is done and fire me? Are they going to rig the audit so I get a bad wrap? Who knows--as you can tell there's no trust. AND, my friend's new boss is also our new VP of Information Technology--as a result, I'm doing very little on the internet at work--not that I abused it by any means before, but I'm only going to places that are for work. NO trust.

Another reason I haven't been posting is we have been Crazy Busy at home--and away I might add. Kory's class reunion was the weekend of the 20th, then we had swimming lessons at night last week, while in the meantime I had to get the camper ready for another camping trip. So. . . .last week was out of the question. We camped this last weekend--very nice weather--so it was worth the work--and being away from the computer, phone and laundry was very very nice. So, this week we have swimming lessons again every night, but Kory gave me the night off. What have I done? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! And it was a nice little luxury for a change. I watched tv and now am on the internet--and in a few short minutes I'm going to bed!!!

In the meantime, I'm hoping for a job change, as I received a phone call today from my new boss--my old boss left me with a big Medicare Cost Report mess--and I'm the only one who knows how to fix it because the gal who was supposed to take over this report from me a year ago never took a class and dumped it on our laps 2 days before it was due because she had to go on vacation. ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME???? My butt would have been busted for that.

Can you tell I need to vent tonight? I know not every job is great, and if I find a new job it could be just as bad. . . I should be thankful I have a job. . . so. . . off I go to work again tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Letters From My Father

Today, Father's Day, Mom came out with a small stack of letters that were given to her by Dad's cousin, John Lawson. Dad wrote these letters after he enlisted with the army during WWII. Most of them were written from Camp Gruber in Oklahoma, but there is one from England and a few from Germany. There is one letter--very worn and torn so you can't read much of it--that has his location crossed out by one of the Army Examiners--pretty interesting. John and Dad were really close--like brothers--and they were both in WWII. Here is an excerpt from one of his letters. . .

June 9, 1945
Auerbach, Germany

Well it looks like maybe I'll be over here a while now, as our division has been picked for the Army of Occupation, they had a pretty big write up in the Stars & Stripes about the division and all it had done, it told about St, Lo and the breakthrough that our division made, and also about the German counter attack at Mortain where our battalion was cut off for six days and it took two regiments to fight their way up that hill and two of us came out alive, I was in two explosions, both of them by a German A.T. mine which hold approximately 11 & a half pounds of T.N.T. I was riding on the hood of the jeep when the first one blew up and about ten feet away when the second one went off. The thing that pissed me off about that deal is that we had sweated out all six days together every time one of us went out we all went out, the Army also lost two of the bravest wireman they ever had too. I guess it sounds like I am bragging or looking for sympathy but I just wanted to get it off my chest & I know that you have seen enough war to understand how I feel, thanks a lot for the warning though just the same-boy those bastards have a hell of a lot of concussion to them, my wound wasn't very bad but the reason I got back so far and stayed as long as I did in the hopsital was because I had what they call shock or technically psychoneurosis I never told Mom that I had that also becuase they would think I might be off my nut, I guess maybe I am a little bit, I damn near cracked up when we were bombed by our own planes thats why I said what I did about them, well I'm glad I got that off my chest to someone who won't think I am blowing.

I will send you a picture of myself, in this letter. It was taken after the war ended over here, noticed the crease in the pants, I am really a sharp character now.


It was so nice on this Father's Day to have a small piece of my dad to think about and learn about. Most of this is stuff I didn't know. It was heart-wrenching and yet wonderful to see his handwriting and know that a part of him lives on.

Happy Father's Day Dad. . . I love you and miss you and think about you every day.

Gone Fishing

I went to the lake to catch a fish

In hopes to reel him in.

I put on my worm and cast it out

Now the waiting will begin.

I felt a tug on my line

So I started to pull him in

A picture was taken of me and my fish

And my face was one big grin.

We went camping last weekend--it was a little cold and kinda rainy, but we still had fun. Here are the girls with their catches--Syd's first fish! Of course she wanted to take it home and keep it. She named it Twinkle. I think she still thinks that Twinkle is living in the bucket we had her in. That's what she told the girl at Build-a-Bear tonight. I'm afraid of what will happen when we take that bucket out and it's empty. Oh well! The Spongebob pole caught most of the fish this weekend.

The Best Day of My Life

I started cleaning my office a little bit today for 2 reasons--1) I will be changing offices soon--actually moving to a different building, and 2) my new boss is meeting with me on Monday for most of the day, so I don't want her to see how messy this can get. Plus, it's good to clean messes once in a while, huh?

Anyway, while cleaning my office, I found this printout that I used to have hanging in my old office--it's from Chicken Soup for the Soul. It's something I need to stick to my mirror and read every day. . .

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever!

There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today;but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate!

Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.

I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts; The morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know. Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has given me. I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and His Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.

And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almight for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!

By Gregory M. Lousig-Nont, Ph.D.