Graduation Day?

Graduation. Is it all its cracked up to be? Graduation is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that "individuality" is the key to success. How ironic.

In real life, isn't graduation an everyday experience. Graduating from the process every day is what life is all about. In today's world with the economy the way it is, which one of our classmates should receive a bad grade. Are we to expect the CEO's of the big important companies to be our mentors and follow their lead, or are we suppose to use the ole saying, let the blind lead the blind? It seems that they have received the "F" grade in the class today. Does it seem crazy that as a leader of your business you would go in front of congress and say to the whole world, "Hey, I don't know how to run my company properly, can you give my company some money to hold us over?" I think that is called "stupidity." Henry Ford stated that "A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business." Now what do you think he would say about the CEO that is running his company now.

I like the saying, "life is a bowl of cherries." The other part of that is "so why am I in the pits." I would say that you shouldn't want to avoid the pits. Pits are actually seeds. So going through the life process, "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant." Robert Louis Stevenson. Seize the opportunities that surround you and do all this by six to be home for dinner.

I liken the path of life to walking in the snow. I found a nice little poem that echoes the thought, "The future lies before you like a field of driven snow, Be careful how you tread it, for every step will show. - Author Unknown

As I have been in the game called "life" now for many years and have been through many different experiences, I surely wouldn't call myself a barnstormer, but I have been in front many times leading the people that were in trusted in my care.

I have led soldiers into many different experiences to include minor skirmishes in Somalia (another story). I have led civilians to be the best that they could possibly be. I am not done by any means. I would say that the great Ralph Waldo Emerson puts it best when he says, "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is not path and leave a trail." This is my intention. I may need to leave bread crumbs though as the road that I choose isn't always my inital destination.

Where is that? Your destination? That will be my next blog addition.

Survey

WOW, what a bargain. Nobody wanted me for President? Wonder why.

Saturday Night is All Right

Well, It is Saturday night, 10:30 in the evening and I am still at work. Yep, I have gathered some comp time during these late nights. Normally my end of shift is 8 p.m. I will probably be here until midnight tonight. I have added another 19 hours to my enormous amount of Comp Time to date. I have a total of 242 hours credited, added 10 from last pay period. Grand total = 271. Now is that a little ridiculous or what. That is almost 7 weeks worth of vacation. It sure seems that they would find someone else who wants to get paid and work some hours.

I haven't been incredibly busy during these hours, it is just that it is away from the home. Carol doesn't reap the benefits while I am at the office. I suppose when I am able to spend time with her for 3, 4, or 5 weeks, which might drive her crazy, she might then reap the benefits.

Well, guess what? No, you didn't guess. Wrong answer!! Today I turned in my final project of my masters program. Monday is my last official day in the program. I really can't believe it. Sometimes it seemed as though there would never be an end and now I am there. I know at least two people that feel my pain.

I am sure I will find something that will pre-occupy my time once I am finished. It seems that this year is filled with milestones. Passing through the 25th anniversary, finishing my degree, and now looking for a new job which isn't much of a milestone. I will tell those that were praying for a particular job that the job did not pan out. Now it is a matter of finding what will ultimately be a longer visit. I suppose if I had the opportunity to make a choice, I would pick one of two places. I have always told people that if I were to get a job in the Savannah area I would stay and retire. The second option would be that of San Antonio, Texas.

Savannah because of the rich culture that is exhibited there. San Antonio because there is quite a bit to do there. Also I would be close to great friends that also want to settle down in this area. I have made friends along the way, well at least two, and I could pick either location for settling down.

Of course I was looking at a job in Illinois which would have been an ideal spot for a bit of time. I love being in the Chicago land area. That is the job that did not come to fruition. I could have used a little bit of help from the man upstairs but I guess he has another mission for me somewhere. As humans, we get too impatient waiting on those particular missions.

Well, I suppose if it is to be, it will be.