I’d like to begin with a bit of personal history this morning. I was raised in the ELCA Lutheran Church. There are a few different “Synods”, sects/divisions/understandings – if you will, of the Lutheran Church. I then went to a United Methodist church, where I received further education, eventually going on to earn a B.A. in a weird triple major of psychology, sociology and business – (I was originally really interested in how religion, business and “work” interacts within people themselves and society in general).
So, while I am full of questions and doubts, that is the structure of my very understanding of the world. What I’d like to shallowly talk about today is “religion”.
What we are seeing in much of the political realm is not religions of faith, they are religions of control.
I say this knowing this is going to be offensive to many people. But there are times when the truth hurts, and I remember reading somewhere how the truth shall set us free.
Religion seems rife with the blind – those who will not see, will not hear, because they are desperate.
I feel for those taken in by people who have found a pulpit the fastest way to power and wealth. Folks searching for answers and hope will grasp at anything that seems to be a good solution.
I believe this is the prophecy of the age. Graham was right, and he knows it to this day.
Belief in God is a very humbling thing. It is the knowledge that you will never be “all that”. What’s worse is that when you think you are, you realize you have become an arrogant ass comparing your perfection on the flaws of others and completely ignoring that guy in the mirror.
Despite getting my degree from a Christian College and growing up in the church, I no longer go to church. I sometimes wonder if God isn’t welcome there all too often. Instead I find God in all that I see, in the trees and stars in the sky. I don’t know that there is a God, but I want to believe there is, and so I do. Be it Humanist or Christian, what really becomes important in my book is that we love our neighbor and ourselves, and give a big thanks to however all this beauty that surrounds us came to be.
Scottie once suggested I write things about my day, my life, what I’m doing (I think he was having trouble falling asleep.) So, I thought I’d tell you a bit about what my week has had going on and what I’ve been dealing with in my little world, what I’ve learned, etc. Get your coffee.
So, while much of the country has been experiencing the excitement of impending and departing hurricanes and tornados, I live in Michigan where life is a bit more sedate. Sometimes we get wind storms, but things aren’t nearly so entertaining as in other areas. I sort of like that. Life has a tendency to simply “go on” here even while we worry about those suffering things we can only imagine, often making much worse or much lighter about their experience.
I work in a metal fabrication business in the role of shop supervisor, which for me includes production supervisor, maintenance man, turret operator and laser operator, material handler, and if I use the jokes of my father I should include “Chief Bottle Washer”. We are a small business, so I have to fill multiple roles. Sometimes that is terrifying as my ignorance becomes glaringly obvious to anyone not already aware, but often I have very busy, often very frustrating days and I always walk out the door at the end of the day having way more left to do but also having learned a number of new things. That is a good day – when you can end your day and know you have learned something new and can look in the mirror knowing you did your best. In the words of my grandfather – a man who was abandoned on a farm at the age of 10 to work or die, who had only an 8th grade education yet was an accomplished millwright, carpenter and mechanic: Learn something new everyday. If you make it to bed and haven’t learned anything new that day, get back up.
One of the more fulfilling things I learned this week was how to change the reference point on the Y1 and Y2 of a break press. IE: makes it go from / to –, lol. The operators get really nervous when a 200ton break press comes down crooked. That one was actually about 3″ off level in a 12-foot run and made the machine inoperable. This required a change of encoders as well as doing gymnastics in the computer and a whole lot of math. I wasn’t too crazy about the computer part, but the rest was easy enough. I’d never done it though, and wow did it feel good to have that machine making perfect bends. I had to have a tech come in to teach me, but hey – so goes life.
I also spent part of my week wiring in lights on the ceiling. One thing you may not know about me is that when I was a kid I got zapped good by a damaged extension cord. Some 45 years later, I still think about that every time I do electrical work. What’s worse, the ceiling is WAY up there, and the lift moves slightly every time my fat ass does. Then my knees start to move slightly and after a while I need to come down and sit for a while. Go figure, a person afraid of heights and afraid of electric discharges is doing electrical work up high. What could go wrong? I do take extra pants to work with me, just in case. But, wow is it so much brighter in there where I put in the LED lighting! It makes me feel good to have conquered my fears long enough to accomplish that job.
Today is a home day, working on this mess that I’ve yet to find gnomes or elves or whoever is willing to come in at night while I’m sleeping and clean. I tackled the pantry today, and got tackled back! I’m blessed in that I have enough income to buy ahead and stock a pantry, and equally blessed with a poor memory about what is in my pantry. So, I have food that I now have to figure out if I can keep and use, or like numerous cake mixes I’ll likely have to throw out.
My next task is to sort my clothes for those that, uh, “shrunk in the laundry”. (Sigh!)
OK, you all know me well enough by now to know I didn’t drive you this far only to tell you about my boring life. I gotta make a crack about one of the things I feel so much more important than almost anything going on in our country right now: the coming presidential election. Don’t get me wrong, please. To paraphrase a comment I heard from Dave Ramsey, we are far more impacted in our daily lives, for the most part, by being conscientious about our own house than the White House. Even still, what you can do in your own home, in your own life, and what the freedom of your children will have is under attack by someone who should never have been in the White House, and MUST NEVER be again.
New things are often frightening, and when we don’t know something we are often apt to accept what is known over something new. But, when we KNOW that what has been is counter to a good outcome, we need to make a change. We may not know what Harris will do, but WE KNOW how devastatingly trump failed. We know how he lied, nearly destroyed democracy, stole, betrayed, and was DISLOYAL to everyone who put their trust and loyalty in him. Let him go.
Hugs to everyone – even those who disagree with me.
I’ve read too many recent reports of people being taken advantage of in their desperation. I just saw this most recent video from someone I have confidence to be truthful (he operates a well and septic service in the North Carolina area). Please take note and share the concern. Hugs. Randy
Tonight we will see a debate between Vice President hopefuls J.D.Vance and Tim Walz. I’m looking forward to it. I prefer Walz by far, but I’m not sure how in the mud he can get, and I understand Vance is quite good at that.
I recently spent the weekend with my parents. They don’t like Tim Walz. And they really don’t like Kamala Harris. Frankly, I have absolutely no idea why they like J.D.Vance and I’m absolutely baffled by their like for Trump. I can only presume that the only television station they get in is a fox news channel and they are brainwashed.
I recently saw an interesting video about Tim Walz. I did enjoy it, thought it very enlightening. So, attached is a short video to introduce the longer one if anyone is interested.
Tim Walz served our nation in the National Guard for 24 years.
Tim Walz was a public school educator.
Tim Walz served in Congress for 12 years.
Tim Walz served the people of Minnesota as Governor, and is in his second term as such.
J.D. Vance served in the Marines for 4 years as a journalist.
J.D. Vance wrote a book about being country.
J.D. Vance served in Congress, is in his second year. He has submitted no bills successfully, and those he did submit were done alone/without endorsement.
In short, Vance his less experience than Sarah Palin when she was tasked with the try as VP (another baffling GOP decision). He has less political experience than Donald Trump.
I believe Walz brings good solid background and general leadership experience. I believe Vance is someone Trump believes he can manipulate and order about.
A number of years ago I posted about my friend Tommy, but heard the below song and was reminded of him. Tommy grew up just down the road from me, and we played as kids. His parents were very nice and they always made me feel welcome. At that time, I don’t know what was more needed: the friendship I had with Tommy or the welcoming kindness of a home that made me feel good about myself.
As I grew out of Elementary School and into Middle School, Tommy and I continued to be friends. I admired Tommy, “looked up to him”, and that is in quotes because he was considerably smaller than I was. Tommy had a confidence in him that I didn’t. A level eye, a strong kindness and quick smile And he was cute! Yes, I was very attracted to Tommy. But, as luck would have it, Tommy was not only very not attracted to me but was already getting a lot of attention from the girls. We soon went our own ways when I made the mistake of hoping.
Come forward some forty odd years and I saw a garage sale in the neighborhood as I was coming home. I stopped and saw a few things I liked, then asked about a boy I once knew that lived there named Tommy. Well, foot in mouth, Tommy died a few months previous in a car accident. I continued after that day to look in on his mother and talk with her as she walked her dog in the neighborhood. I never knew if she was aware of my feelings for her son or if she ever wondered why she stopped seeing me come to her warm home.
And so I offer this memory and song to all who missed out on that hope like I did.
I still think of you, Tommy. Wish things could have been different. May your rest be peaceful.
Hello All. One of the things I find very important is to understand the history of a topic. I don’t understand 99.9999% of it, but I really think it’s important.
My Question for today: Why are Republicans and Democrats so unable to come together in our values?
I would begin with the thought that idealization of the extreme has garnered a ‘squeeky wheel’ effect. This chart from the Republican Party in New Mexico clearly shows how shallow and truly dishonest the rhetoric has become. It is purposely vague and a divisive solicitation of reactions rather than thought.
Are we as Democrats against Parental Rights? Or, are we as Democrats against the raiding of our libraries and learning institutions by “parents” making sweeping decisions about the information and education for everyone else’s parents? Again, or are we Democrats against allowing the “religious” extremists to thrust their will into another parent’s child’s decision to develop and exercise their own genuine identity? Can we argue about a parent’s right to take their child to a book reading performed by a so-called “drag queen”? Or… what?
Do we as Democrats disagree with a voter i.d. out of hand, or are we against the use of hurdles and known socioeconomic devices to deny those with fewer resources their right to vote?
Do we as Democrats disagree with the Constitution or are we in disagreement with the proliferation of guns that kill our children and want reasonable safeguards emplaced? Do we believe that our children’s right to life supplants the right of unstable people owning guns? Wasn’t it Trump who was cheered by his followers after saying he would be able to suspend the constitution?
Do we as Democrats disagree with legal immigration or are we in disagreement with throwing children into cages, removing them from their parents AND THEN LOSING THEM!! (yes, that happened under Trump), or other such cruelty against those hoping for a better life for themselves and their children? I personally think the “border issue” is a distraction they don’t want to solve. Also, have you ever noticed that the vehemence for these “immigrants” always seems to be around those of color? We get immigrants from all over the world.
Shall I go on? The Democrats have repeatedly shown we are more fiscally responsible with the budget, have consistently shown we want ALL to pay their fair share of taxes INCLUDING the very wealthy (gasp!), have consistently shown we are more willing to financially and structurally support prenatal and neonatal care for both the mother and the child. We are also consistently showing much greater concern for the well being of the baby through to adulthood in nutrition, health care, education and opportunities. We are simply not willing to force life where it is not wanted by the parent, or forcing the parent to continue a pregnancy that is fundamentally unhealthy and dangerous. Democrats have consistently shown that regulation of businesses is important because it keeps the trains from derailing and costing billions of dollars, keeps the rivers from burning and destroying land, and unlike the dipshit Michigan Republican governor that thought it wise to use the very polluted Detroit River for the drinking water for Flint – we are against costing countless people their homes and lives so that businesses can pollute freely.
The simple fact is that the very powerful do not want us knowing the truth, thinking rationally on a topic, realizing that we are being kept in the dark and fed bullshit by those wanting us to disagree and fight over scraps under the table. Remember: Republicans don’t understand why those with college educations, who are trained to look beyond base statements, vote against them – and Donald Trump “loves the uneducated” who he can manipulate with innuendo and emotional malarkey.
Well, such is my opinion this morning. Hugs everyone.
I had a very uncomfortable moment today at work. One of those confrontations at the cross-roads of life for one young man.
My painful, often unpleasant and almost always unappreciated calling is as a shop supervisor. I sit between the owner and the employee, constantly called upon to wrestle one or the other. If I do my job right, things go smoothly. And, for such a small word, “if” carries a great deal of weight.
Today, while off site purchasing needed supplies, I get a call that a very unhappy employee, who has been working part time through a workman’s comp’ claim, wanted to see me. I hustled back to work and was immediately confronted by this worker and his mother. And, Momma Bear was pissed, seeking to take out her protective instincts for her little cub on that big nasty supervisor… That little cub who is 34 years old, mind you.
I greeted them warmly and invited them to have a seat at the conference table in the outer office where I would have witnesses. Just in case, ya know? And then Momma Bear let loose with accusations and demands to know why her little “Furry” one hasn’t been getting paid from us and is getting only a pittance, her general phrase – Scottie doesn’t like me to swear here – from the workman’s comp’ insurance. She went on to tell me I should be ashamed of myself, who did I think I was, etc.
I slowly lifted my hand with one finger raised, interrupting her rant. “Furry’s” eyes got quite large at that. Perhaps it’s not wise to interrupt Momma Bear.
“Pardon me ma’am”, I quietly said into the ringing wide-eyed silence, “Your “Furry” is over 18 and is the employee. You are here to support your son, and I am good with that, but unless you are his lawyer I can’t talk to you about his employment.” To be honest, I don’t know if that is the law or not, but it sounded good. “Now, “Furry”, what can I do for you today,” I asked.
He told me about not getting a check, getting only a little from the insurance company but not enough to cover his needs. I then, quietly reached over and picked up that bus with one hand, grabbed “Furry’s” collar with the other, and chucked him directly under said bus!
“Furry”, I said, “I have documentation from your doctor clearing you for work 3-days per week, 8 hours per day, with a list of physical restrictions. I have allowed you to set your own schedule on that, right?” He agreed. “And, in the last 5-weeks, you have logged a total of 6.75 hours,” I said, looking directly into Momma Bear’s eyes.
Ok. Fair warning, as this is still fresh for me. I don’t imagine this post flows right, but here goes:
As a man well into my 50’s, I should not allow myself to feel the same bullying I felt in childhood. I shouldn’t allow the blather of others to live within my soul, my thoughts, to change my outlook, to destroy my peace. But I did. I most certainly did.
Recently, in partnership with another employee, I was given the task of wiring in an actuator control switch. I was looking forward to this task because I have little experience with this type of electronics and wiring, and the person I was to be working with had a lot of experience but his age was making the physical work difficult. A great pairing, I thought.
He ordered the components and designed the support structure while I assembled the structuring and then attempted to follow his written directions on the wiring. I told him I didn’t understand his wiring diagram but I’d do my best and let him know if I had problems. Yep, I had problems.
This older man entered back into the project angry. Ok, he is always angry. But, I called him back into it because I had done the best I could, the very best I could, but I was at a loss. So, I left everything open, labeled, easily changed. His first words were “Why in the hell did you do it like that?”
Ok, I’m new at this. How would you have done it. Grumpily, he tells me. Cool, information! I can use this in the future! Then, he grumpily complains about how I’ve done it again.
And again. And again. And again. And again. He complains about my multimeter, which is owned by the shop, not me, and is the only one I have available. Why did you buy this meter? This is a stupid design. Anyone who uses a meter like this shouldn’t be using a meter. Why did you leave so little wire where this gets connected? (He ordered the wire, and I used every bit of it as best as able). You should have left more. Dammit, this is horrible, why’d you leave this so short? You should have left more….
Outwardly I stood quiet, but, inside sat a little boy who couldn’t hold a flashlight right or grab a 7/16 box end wrench fast enough. I tell you now, when I realized I had put my hands in my pockets I ripped them out so fast I’m surprised I didn’t start a friction fire!
This type of stuff continued, repeatedly continued. I’d done the best I could with what I had available. I’d done the best I could to understand his diagram. I’d done the best I fucking well could!….. and all I could do was hold back the scream that it was all unfair and swallow my own anger as he let his flow. I needed to get this component wired and get this machine working again. I needed his help.
I’m a grown-assed man well into my 50’s, why am I suddenly that little boy again? Why am I so incapable of lifting my head? Why am I so hurt by someone so much smaller than I am? Why did I allow myself to be so abused?
Wiring complete, machine put back together. I trained the operators, watched them operate the machine successfully, then quietly collected my tools and went home. On the way home another driver passed me on the highway as I was changing lanes. He was speeding, nearly hit me – I could have reached out my window and changed his radio station! Then he sped away on the highway, and I was pissed! Finally, I was pissed!! I’d had enough this day and dammit someone was going to pay! I chased that guy for two miles at over 90 miles an hour before I realized that – a: I was never going to catch him in my little car. And, b: I needed to forgive that man or I was going to end up in an accident or jail or both.
Many years ago I stumbled upon a little blog that talked about a lot of stuff. I read his offered story, read his posts, then one day I commented. See, I liked how he signed off on his posts with “hugs”. We became grand friends, this virtual hugger and me, and I learned how incredibly important hugs were to him, and to my surprise, to me. To receive them, and to give.
Of course, I know this is a sad, angry, lonely, pathetic old man. I know this is just how he is, and I’ll never see him different. But. I also “know” he spoke to me that way because I was no good. I “know” I was horrible at my job. I “know” I’m dumb. I “know” I had no business trying to do that wiring job. I “know”… I “know”… Yeah, I “know”.
Scottie's Playtime 