It's happening again

I work for a place that spent over, from what I heard, a million dollars on a machine to make a unique product. The problem is that this machine is down a lot and we have to work weekends to make up for the loss of production. How many Sundays will we have to work until this problem is solved? I wonder if it will be solved.

My co-workers are feeling the despair I have felt for a very long time--the feeling that this project will fail. There are problems all around. Approximately 20 per cent of everything we make is out of specifications. We have to air freight parts to our customers so they can have them before we shut them down.

All around this a bleak situation. Part of me thinks that it has to come together, because it is supposed to.

I think back to something I learned about three years ago; "chaos is normal." We think we can create order but we can't. Everything around falls apart or is falling apart. Happiness is found we accept the normalcy of chaos and move from there.

I accept the chaos that is happening at work, but I don't want it to control all aspects of my life either. I don't want to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week. I want my weekends and time at home. This is not too much to expect.

Easter

The funny thing about Easter Sunday is that I did not go to church. I was there at Palm Sunday and assisted because no one else was there to do it. Maundy Thursday was a Fellowship Dinner. It was really good! There is just something about making Holy Communion a real supper. I think it brings a deeper understanding of the Last Supper and what Jesus was doing to the community of believers that was there. Good Friday I wasn't going to assist, but no one else was there and Pastor Mark didn't assign anyone to do it. I wore black jeans and burgundy shirt and tennis shoes. What does one wear to a crucifixion anyway? So, I attended all the services of Holy Week, but Easter Sunday when everyone shows up, I wasn't there.

Spring 4

The temperature here got up to 78 Fahrenheit Degrees. I was really excited and happy about that. We had a cookout, and ate hot dogs and brats outside on the deck. I raked along the fence line and under the Rhododendrons, and picked up the yard as well. I set out the hammock and we flew the flags, the Stars and Stripes in the front yard and the Grand Union/Union Jack in the backyard.

It was a great way to celebrate the warm Spring weather in early Spring.

Spring Two

I am working on a Press Release for the Step It Up campaign that is happening here in Holland. My Pastor has an unique sense of humor, and wants to create a slogan based on TULIP, the 5 points of Calvinism. I like Calvinists; I do not care for Calvinism. The five points are:

Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance/Preservation of the Saints

We are working on our own version of this. He has seen a writing gift in me and is encouraging me to write news articles and press releases for our congregation.

If you believe in an election of the damned, the reprobate, then you see no problems in TULIP. If you believe that God wants all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth then you might have a problem with TULIP.

The Step It Up campaign is a nationwide rally to stop Global Warming. Al Gore started it. You know the former Vice President. He served with Bill Clinton, Hillary's husband. You have to remember him. I know, most of you have short attention spans, but you can remember more than eight years ago, can't you? The film is called An Inconvenient Truth. Al Gore was doing his Power Point slide presentations around the world when a documentary director thought it would make a great film. An Inconvenient Truth won The Academy Award for Best Documentary.

Well maybe all you homophobes didn't watch it because Ellen DeGeneres hosted it. That is just sad if you did. So what is she is a lesbian? There have been lesbians since before Sappho wrote her poetry. How did I get on this subject?

Oh yeah, Al Gore at the Academy Awards. There is a seriousness about Global Warming and we should do something about it. So here in the Tulip City we are, and a group of Lutherans are making it happen, and we aren't homophobes either.

First Day of Spring

A cold and wet raining morning is how Spring welcomed us today. The pour down hard for about two hours. No thunder just the heavy wet drops falling thick all around us.

Then in the afternoon it stopped and the outside smelled like a nursery. I love that smell; it is the scent of green life and healty soil.

The days are now longer than the nights and perhaps all the winter depression will finally fade away. I haven't felt very depressed this winter, just tired. The time changing early didn't help much either.

Spring is finally here. It is a good reason to celebrate!

Wine Drinking

Last night I drank a whole bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. I gave the younger two boys a bath.

Before that, my eldest son and I went for a walk to Barnes and Noble. I did not buy anything, but found something I can put on my birthday list. My Mom always asks me for birthday gift ideas for myself. This has been an ongoing tradition since my early childhood days. Sometimes I think it would be really funny if I asked her for a cap gun, Tonka Truck, and a G.I. Joe.

My wife says that if anyone reads these blogs they will think I am an alcoholic. Well I hope it gets some attention. Please, if you ever do read this, don't think I am in this for attention. I am doing it as an ongoing writing exercise. If I don't write often I will lose my edge and my writing will weaken.

The younger boys are participating in a Pine Wood Derby. I am glad that I finished their cars. They should make it to the end of the track. I don't think they will win, but they should have fun. Unfortunately, I won't be there. I have to work tomorrow.

No no no...I won't say where I work. I don't talk about that. Shhhh.


Church Newsletter Deadline is coming up. One of my fellow council members strongly suggested I submit the devotion I gave on Tuesday in the Newsletter. I want to expand it slightly.

Anyway, the wife seems impatient and wants her turn at the computer again.

Council Tonight

I am tired and feel like I could sleep right now. I went for a walk. Is my life boring or what?

I am preparing my devotion and report tonight.

I really have nothing even slightly interesting to post.