Thursday, September 27, 2007

I miss you

Carolyn - I love you and I miss you.
Daba

To the mountains...

My wife and I are headed up to Pinetop this weekend for hopefully a quiet, peaceful, restful weekend. We haven't been to the mountains since Memorial Day, so we are way overdue. I'm hoping we'll see some fall colors, and I can't wait to feel an air temperature below 60 degrees!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

1 down, 29 to go

Last night was my first of 30 Tuesday nights (trying) to learn Greek. Ouch. I now completely understand the cliche, "It's Greek to me." Because it really is. 24 letters, 7 vowels, diphtongs, double-consonants, soft breathing marks, hard breathing marks. (heavy sigh)

Monday, September 24, 2007

This Momentous Day

The story below was shared by one of our small group members last night. It is from a Dean Koontz book (I can't remember which one she said), and she has carried it with her for years:

Not one day in anyone's life is an uneventful day, no day without profound meaning, no matter how dull and boring it might seem, no matter whether you are a seamstress or a queen, a shoeshine boy or a movie star, a renowned philosopher or a Down's syndrome child.

Because in every day of ur life, there are opportunities to perform little kindnesses for others, both by conscious acts of will and unconcscious example.

Each smallest act of kindness - even just words of hope when they are needed, the remembrance of a birthday, a compliment that engenders a smile - reverberates across great distances and spans of time, affecting lives unknown to the one whose generous spirit was the source of this good echo, because kindness is passed on and grows each time it's passed, until a simple courtesy becomes an act of selfless courage years later and far away.

Likewise, each small meanness, each thoughtless expression of hatred, each envious and bitter act, regardless of how petty, can inspire others, and is therefore the seed that ultimately produces evil fruit, poisoning people whom you have never met and never will.

All human lives are so profoundly and intricately entwined - those dead, those living, those generations yet to come - that the fate of all is the fate of each, and the hope of humanity rests in every heart and in every pair of hands.

Therefore, after every failure, we are obliged to strive again for success, and when faced with the end of one thing, we must build something new and better in the ashes, just as from pain and grief, we must weave hope, for each of us is a thread critical to the strength - the very survival - of the human tapestry.

Every hour in every life contains such often-unrecognized potential to affect the world that the great days for which we, in our dissatisfaction, so often yearn are already with us; all great days and thrilling possibilities are combined always in THIS MOMENTOUS DAY!

Friday, September 21, 2007

Can't get enough of Who We Are

My son gave me this CD for my birthday, and I just cannot stop listening to it. It is phenomenal! Jason Wade (lead singer) has proven himself a very talented songwriter. "First Time" is the first release to radio, and it's getting a fair amount of playing time. However, I think the best songs are yet to be released.

Wade's lyrics are gut-wrenching and heart-pulling. In "Disarray" he sings about angels and demons, fact and fiction: "Someday I'm gonna find it/Wish I knew what I was looking for." In "Whatever It Takes," he sings about hurting someone he deeply loves: "I'll do whatever it takes/To turn this around/I know what's at stake/I know that I've let you down/And if you give me a chance/Believe that I can change/I'll keep us together/Whatever it takes." "Broken" is a ballad of pain and hope that is quickly becoming my favorite on the entire CD. "The Joke" offers an odd but moving look at suicide. And "Storm," a plea for help in the midst of a storm, is the finale that makes me hit the replay button:

If I could just see you
everything would be alright
If I'd see you
the darkness would turn to light

And I will walk on water
And you will catch me if I fall
And I will get lost into your eyes
Everything will be alright
Everything is alright

Here's my simple advice: GET THIS CD!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Check this out

Thanks to my blogging buddy Jeremy, check out this 3-minute video of Erik Mongrain by clicking on the post title above. If you like music, don't miss this.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Awake at 3:43am

You know, I never used to wake up in the middle of the night. Or, if I did, I was back to sleep before I even knew I was awake. And I can't really remember when this started, but it happens way too often now. And I'm home in my bed next to my wife. (Well, not right this minute because I'm typing on the downstairs computer...but you know what I mean.) I understand when I'm in a hotel room in an unfamiliar bed with unfamiliar lights and noises. But at home? Come on, what's the deal? Is this just an "I'm getting older thing?"

Am I thinking about too many things?

Am I still rushing too much, thinking too much about what I have to do today? (Which, by the way, is getting on another airplane and making another trip to LA this week...)

Am I turning the same things over and over and over in my head?

Is this a reflection of some restlessness in my soul?

Or is this just another ordinary moment?

(heavy sigh)

Sunday, September 16, 2007

And the winner is...

We have a new number 1! Yes, The Habit has topped In-N-Out as my favorite LA burger spot. The double teriyaki charburger with bacon and cheese edged out the double-double with gilled onions, primarily due to the subtle-but-tasty teriyaki flavor, and the bacon, of course. Bacon makes everything better. Plus, The Habit has several burger choices, including a BBQ Bacon Charburger and a plain charburger, all available on regular burger bun or grilled sourdough. Hmmm...now I think I need to determine the best Habit burger. But that might need to wait for a few trips as I think my body needs to recover from four straight days of burgers. I don't know how Morgan Spurlock could do it for 30 days...

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

It's Burger Week

I knew it would happen on one of these trips to LA, but this is the week: Burger week. What's that, you say? Well, it's when I do some very informal but critical judging of burgers from our normal eating spots in LA. So, final results will come in a couple of days, but here are the standings so far:

  1. In-N-Out Burger: Still at the top - it's hard to beat the double-double with grilled onions...
  2. Malibu Inn - The "Famous Malibu Inn Burger" with cheese and bacon is a surprising second, but seriously, everything here is good...
  3. Wendy's - The Bacon Cheeseburger combo still rates in the top 5...
Tomorrow...The Habit. It has serious potential to knock In-N-Out from the top spot.
(I think I need to do this with tacos, too...)

Monday, September 10, 2007

An Engineering Marvel

Yeah, I know, I just posted about being in LA - but you have to check this out! I found this brochure in my rental car and was amazed at what was happening (or happened, actually) with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Here's a summary from the brochure with pictures following. This is amazing...

A section of roadway—approximately the length of a football field—has been constructed on a moveable support system south of the bridge. After the bridge has been closed to traffic, the original section of roadway will be demolished and the debris removed. Tracks will then be laid across the lower deck and the new structure will be rolled into position.

When the bridge reopens to traffic, motorists will probably not notice any visible difference. However, they will be driving on a seismically upgraded roadway that will eventually connect to the bridge’s new East Span, currently under construction.

This work is part of the Bay Bridge Seismic Safety Projects to strengthen the bridge.


Their goal was to demolish and insert the new section over Labor Day weekend. Not only did they succeed, they were 11 hours ahead of schedule! Check out the entire brochure and the press release for more info.

(I guess it's the engineer in me that's impressed by stuff like this...)

Back in LA...

I'm back in LA this week. But the weather is gorgeous - again! Breezy, clear, 69 degrees (it's 97 in Tucson right now), and my room is looking out at a golf course with mountains in the background. Ahhh... So at least if I have to be away, this ain't so bad...

Friday, September 7, 2007

My New Obsession

No, it's not coffee.
(Those of you who know me better know I do not like coffee.)

No, it's not hot chocolate.
(Although there's absolutely nothing wrong with hot chocolate.)

Nope, not the hot caramel apple cider, either.
(Except at Christmas).

It's the whole-milk Tazo chai tea latte.

Did you just hear the angels sing, too?

According to the Starbucks beverage details, experience "the flavors of India in this steamed Tazo® blend of rare black teas, milk, exotic spices and comforting vanilla." Yeah, it's not a health drink by any stretch - that's why I called it an "obsession." Why am I so late at discovering these things?

I'm about T-minus 70 minutes from holding one in my hand, letting the smooth flavors touch my lips and soak my soul with warmth.

Go ahead. Go get one, too. You know you want one.

I'll be at the Starbucks on University by UofA. See you there...

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Real Power by Janet Hagberg

Last night, I finished reading Real Power by Janet Hagberg. When I first started it, it struck me as a little cheesy and superficial. But, in the end, I think she had some real nuggets in there and it had a lot more depth than I expected.

She defined six stages of personal power. For each, she talked about what they look like, how to move beyond that stage to the next, traps that keep us from moving on, and how to manage people and bosses at the different levels. She also had chapters specifically about the differences (generally) between women and men and power. The six stages are:
  1. Powerlessness - totally dependent on others

  2. Power by Association - apprentice stage, lots of learning, spreading your wings

  3. Power by Achievement - Independent, making things happen, being rewarded

  4. Power by Reflection - Beginning to understand your true self, what's important to you

  5. Power by Purpose - Living beyond yourself to a higher purpose in life

  6. Power by Wisdom - Hard to describe

Not surprisingly, she argued that most of corporate America is stuck in stage 3. In many ways, this is our society's definition of success. Note how the first three are primarily about what is external, and the last three are mostly internal.

In the last chapter, Leading from Your Soul, she declared, "Leading from your soul involves things like meaning, passion, calling, courage, wholeness, vulnerability, spirituality, and community." She then listed the following suggestions to develop "soul" leadership:
  • Be accountable

  • Assess your leadership journey

  • Practice vulnerability

  • Play without feeding your addictions

  • Experience solitude regularly

  • Try one new artistic endeavor

  • Travel as far from home as possible

After those she lists six more that require deeper commitment but can lead to inner healing and life transformation:

  • Take your spirituality seriously

  • Find a mentor on the fringe

  • Find peace and intimacy in your relationships without avoiding conflict

  • Embrace your shadows and childhood wounds

  • Discover your passion

  • Accept your calling

In the end, I think this book was a worthwhile read and would recommend it to anyone who is genuinely seeking to live a richer life.