It's the End of the World as We Know It.....and I Feel Fine!

I am an unapologetic believer in all things good.  I believe that the world was created by an extraordinary being.  I believe that good and bad things happen to us and around us for a reason.  I believe that mankind is inherently good, but we are capable of creating chaos and purposeful evil.

The beheading of innocent journalists, the kidnapping of young girls to marry off in the name of an incomprehensible religion, the downing of aircraft filled with unsuspecting passengers, inner city wars and attacks on the defenseless – pure evil.  Whether we like it or not, malevolence exists in this world.

Within our own borders we have a dysfunctional national government that would rather gridlock on principal than compromise for the good of the nation.  Our most recent election has given power to one party while the Commander in Chief is of the opposite.  The next two years do not look promising if congress is to get things done for the good of its citizens.  School shootings are on the rise.  Innocent child are targeted for reason only known by the perpetrator, who inevitably take their own lives when the damage is done.  We argue about the pros and cons of gun control; both with compelling reasons to support or not support the issues.  The legalization of marijuana, the growing concern to protect our borders, the heightened awareness of commutable deceases crossing over into our country; each of these beg the question – is society truly deteriorating right in front of us?

Debate for the sake of discussion must have two sides.  If we acknowledge that evil in our world does exist and that society appears to be tearing itself apart, we must also recognize that there is still plenty of good in this world and across our land.

Internationally, doctors, nurses and health care professionals enter into the most impoverished parts of the world to provide medical aid and comfort to the sick and infirm.  National and international organizations pool resources together to help others during natural disasters.  A police officer on patrol stops to provide a homeless man with a new pair of shoes and some cleans socks, walking him into a shoe store and paying for it out of his own pocket.  Social media websites highlight acts of generosity and kindness – The Ice Bucket Challenge, Breast Cancer Awareness events, animal rescue opportunities, and on and on – good still exists in this world.

All of this begs the question – Is it the end of the world?  Are we nearing self destruction or The Rapture?  Some would argue with me that yes, we are all heading towards Armageddon, but I disagree.  Sure, there is evil in this world.  Evil is now visible to us twenty four hours a day, thanks in large part to on-line access and expanding news outlets; but so is good.  It depends on where you’re looking.  My belief is that destruction of this world will not occur until ever last being has had the opportunity to hear the good news of the creator.  With all the evil in today’s world, there are far too many good people left with a purpose for doing the right thing.  What about you?  What are you doing to preserve this wonderfully created world in which we were all given the gift to live in?

A Common Man

When Humans and Pets Collide...

I’ve heard it said that the heart and soul of our pets dwells inside us as closely as our own flesh and blood.  There is something unique about a relationship that is established when we bring an animal into our homes, tend to its needs, care for it, love it and treat it like they’re a member of the family.

My family and I recently decided to relocate to West Texas for a job opportunity that was too good to pass up.  The only real problem with the move wasn't the logistics of getting everything moved over, it was what to do with the animals.  Our home consists of two dogs and four cats!  We had the option of hauling each of them in the cargo hold of an airplane, flying to Texas with them.  Let’s just say that was a very short-lived conversation between my wife and me!  I was ok with getting each of them carriers and having them fly on the plane to get them across country.  My wife was ok with it too as long as they could be in the cabin with us!  For her, she wants them to have all the creature comforts of life that we do.  I’m starting to understand that.  It’s taken me a while, but I’m finally beginning to realize that our pets truly are a part of us.

As I mentioned previously we have four cats and two dogs.  One of our cats has always struggled to get along with the rest of the pack.  She has a very unique personality – drinking from the faucet and not the water dish, licking herself incisively, refusing to play nice with the other animals, etc.  She was also one of the most loving cats I’ve ever seen as well.  Once you gained her trust she would come to you and insist you pet her.  She’d do her “kitty dance” in the closet and roll around trying to get you to reach down and pet her.  She was a handful to say the least!  Of the four cats we decided to put her up for adoption.  Our concern was that she’d really struggle with the move, and we determined that this particular cat would make an older couple of single person a great companion.  We also knew that she would do better in a home where she could be the queen all on her own.  The decision to put her up for adoption was extremely painful for us, though.  Not know exactly who she would be with was difficult to grasp.  There was a part of me that thought, “Come on Russ, she’s just a cat!”  The reality is that she is more than just a cat; she’s become a part of me and my family.  She IS family!  She’s a pain in the butt, she’s fussy, she’s messy, she’s temperamental………she’s us.  In the end I know she’ll probably be happier in another home, but we will always wonder about her.  We can’t help it; it’s our nature to be concerned for members of our family regardless of where they live.

So off we will go to Texas with two dogs and three cats, putting them in the limited space our SUV will allow.  We will stay in hotels and motels that accept animals.   We will make frequent stops so they can walk around, go to the bathroom, get some fresh air, and bark at strangers.  Some will come up and ask what our dog’s names our.  Others will take a wide path around our Puggle due to his consistent barking of “Hey, Hey, Hey, Whatcha doing?  Wanna play with me?  What’s your name?  Got any dogs of your own I can chase?”  Nonetheless, away we will go to West Texas as a family, humans and animals alike.  In the end, we will continue to make sacrifices everyday for our animals just like we do our children.  We will love them, nurture them, feed them, take them to the doctor when necessary, play with them, and provide them with a safe place they can call home.  After all, our animals are our family, right?

A Common Man  

Blog of a Common Man: Fly the Friendly Skies...

Blog of a Common Man: Fly the Friendly Skies...: Throughout my years I have flown countless times.  The first trip I can remember was flying with my dad and grandpa on, what seemed to ...

Fly the Friendly Skies...

Throughout my years I have flown countless times.  The first trip I can remember was flying with my dad and grandpa on, what seemed to be short flight in a small twin prop.  I can remember as I got older that our family rarely flew anywhere.  It seemed to me that flying was for the wealthy.  We were middle class, and flying to any destination was simply a luxury we couldn't afford.  On those rare occasions when my parents did pay for us to fly somewhere it was a big event.  I can remember my mom dressing up, my dad wearing a coat and tie, and my brother and I outfitted as if we were going to church.  Flying seemed to be a big deal for everyone.  The flight attendants were called stewardess back then, because all of them were women.  They did their best during the flight to cater to each and every passenger, regardless of where you sat or how fancy you dressed.  We were served full meals during the flight.  A full length movie played in the front of the cabin, and the flight was an adventure all within itself.  I used to get excited about flying.  The thrill and experience I had on those rare occasions to fly carried over for me into my adulthood.  And then, September 11, 2001 happened……….

Overnight everything changed in the airline industry.  The Department of Homeland Security was established and the Transportation Safety Administration, or TSA, was formed.  What used to be an exciting adventure became a dreadful experience.  As the years have progressed security has tighten, due in large part to continuing terrorist attempts on public transportation systems, including the airline industry.  Today, in order to board any flight in the United States you must do the following:

1.       Stand in a security line at the airport and show a photo ID and your boarding pass to a TSA agent.

2.       Once you've cleared the initial screening, you must remove everything out of your pockets, remove your jacket, remove your belt, remove your shoes, remove your jewelry, remove any liquids of 3 oz or less from your bag, and remove your laptop computer before feeding all of it through an x-ray machine.

3.       Next, you yourself will walk into another screening machine that scans you from head to toe, looking for anything you may try to bring into the boarding area or on the plane.  If something shoes up on your image, you will be patted down by another TSA agent and must be cleared before you can retrieve your belongings.

4.       At times TSA will randomly select someone, or their personal belongings, for an additional swab to detect explosive substances on your luggage or your person.

5.       Once you've made it to your gate you will need to show your boarding pass one last time before you are allowed on the plane.  On rare occasions TSA may chose your particular flight to once again check IDs against boarding passes and random bag checks.

I understand that the bottom line of Homeland Security and TSA are to achieve greater safety measures for all passengers flying in and out of the United States, but I must admit that at times common sense was thrown out the window and the pendulum has swung a full 180 degrees to the opposite side of how air travel experience used to be.

The airline industry as a whole has shifted too.  Gone are the free meals and full length movies on most flights, unless you’re willing to pay for it.  Ticket prices over the years have skyrocketed (literally).  It’s not uncommon for a couple to spend nearly $2,000 for a round trip ticket across the country.  Airline fees have climbed through the roof as well.  As an example, I recently flew home to Seattle, WA.  Here are my charges:

Round trip from Midland, TX to Seattle, WA - $1,093

Upgrade to a seat with more leg room - $69

Luggage cost for 2 bags - $60

Change fee to move my flight up to an earlier flight - $75

Snack box meal on the flight - $9

Wi-Fi while on the flight - $15

Movie entertainment player rental during the flight - $16

GRAND TOTAL: $1,337

Keep in mind, that’s for one person….

Service isn't the same either.  If you’re sitting in an exit row and the flight attendant asks you if you are willing and able to assist other passenger in the event that an evacuation of the plane is necessary, you must say “Yes” and nothing more.  You can’t nod your head; say “Sure,” or “Ok,” or “Absolutely.”  The only acceptable answer is “Yes.”  If you refuse to say “Yes” the attendant can remove you from your seat.   If you need to use the restroom while in flight and you’re seating in coach, you’re not allowed to use the restroom in the 1^st class cabin.  You must turn off your phone prior to flight, put away your laptop, and stow your carryon underneath the seat in front of you.  You cannot get up until the Captain says it’s safe enough to do so, and you must wear your seatbelt at all times.  Again, I understand all of these measures are supposed to be for our own safety, but the fun of flying is not there for me any longer.

So here I sit, waiting for another flight from one airport to another.  I’ve survived the security line and all its checkpoints,   and I pray TSA isn’t waiting at my gate to check me once again before I board.  I pray that the flight attendants are nice, that I have at least a reasonable amount of legroom (after all, I paid $69 for that luxury), and that the person sitting next to me doesn’t decide that they deserve the arm rest between us more than I do.

I know I’ll take countless more flights in my life before I’m no longer able, but I simply ask that common sense once again rule the day and the airline industry decides that service above profit is more important.

A Common Man

Decisions, Decisions...

Decisions, Decisions…

Life is all about making decisions.   No matter what we do every waking moment of our day, we make decisions.  When should I get up?  What should I wear?  What will I pack in my lunch for the day?  What will I try and get accomplished at work today?  Will I workout after I get home?  Will I run on the treadmill or on the road?  What will I have for dinner?  What will I watch on TV?  Will I work on the paper I keep putting off?  Decisions, decisions.

 For the past year or so I’ve been looking at a career change.  I’ve been working in the public sector for nearly 25 years.  I’ve felt a yearning to move into the private sector and look for work closer to my parents.  They aren’t getting any younger, and I have felt that I still have 12-15 more years of good work in me to be of value to an organization. 

The decision to move from public to private sector isn’t an easy one.  Many would argue that the public sector offers job security that the private sector cannot.  The reality is that the public sector is becoming less and less secure each and every day.  Defense budget cuts are affecting working conditions.  We are having to do more with less, and make sure we are justifying our existence.  If you’re not able to prove that your location is of worth to the department of defense mission, you’re likely to be shut down and forced to relocate – or even retire.

My decision to move into the private sector have to do with several factors; economics, opportunity, and adventure.  Economically the private sector offers more in compensation and benefits.  Relocation costs are extremely expense these days.  There are very few opportunities for relocation assistance in the public sector anymore.  Defense budget cuts just don’t allow for it.  On the other hand, bigger firms in the private sector can assist with moves, temporary housing and allowances, not to mention higher salary and yearend bonus incentives.

Job opportunities in the private sector are improving each year as our nation pulls itself out of the recession of 2008/2009.  Lean engineering, process improvement, change management and six sigma processes are gaining in popularity as more organizations begin to see the value in streamline operations.  Salaries are extremely competitive, and larger firms are able to entice top talent with top dollar pay and bonus options.

Finally, the adventure of moving to a new location, establishing a new residency, working along side new coworkers, making new friends, and having new neighbors can be exciting and refreshing.  Sometimes change can do a soul some good.

To me, my family is everything.  The decision to move from the public to the private sector can only work if my family is on board with it.  Every decision I make along the way - What salary should I ask for?, Is the new location a safe and secure one to raise a daughter and make my wife happy?, Is this a good time in my career to make a move?, etc.  All of these questions and the decisions I make along the way will help define the next 15 years of our lives.  I’d better make sure they’re the right decisions.

So I ask you, what decisions are you facing in the coming days, months, years?  How are you taking them on, my friend?

A Common Man

So, what is your Mission Statement?

The other day I attended a conference of entrepreneurs at the invitation of a good friend.  One of the guest speakers asked an interesting question…”What’s your mission statement?  What do you hope to achieve by entering into a small business?”  Now, I’m not looking to go into small business or finds ways to make extra money by selling products, but I was intrigued by the question, “What is your mission statement?”

When I normally think of mission statements, I relate them to large corporations.  At times I get them confused with a vision statement.  What I’ve learned over the years is that a mission statement is something that defines how you want to be perceived.  A vision statement is what you hope to accomplish over a set period of time, say five years or so.  Another difference I’ve noticed between the two is that a mission statement is normally short and to the point.  A vision statement can be fairly lengthy in some cases, including highlights or expected goals.

As I began the drive home from the conference I began thinking about my own mission statement.  What would I put down that would clearly define how I wanted my life to be perceived?  Would it be connected to my creator, my wife, my family, myself - the things I’m passionate about?  It was an interesting dynamic to think about what my mission statement would say about me if I had it hanging up in my home or my office.

After a lot of pondering I determined that I would want my mission statement to be no more than a sentence or two, defining what I wanted to portray in my daily life.  Since my religion, my family and friends, and my own values mean more to me than anything else I came up with this:

Be True to Him (my creator)

Be True to Them (family, friends, all I come in contact with)

Be True to Myself

Ok, so it turned out to be three sentences rather than one or two, and some could argue it could be mistaken as a vision as opposed to a mission statement, but I like it as it is.  It’s simply and really does define who I am.

So, I ask you…what is your Mission Statement?

A Common Man

The Heat of the Moment...

Competition is a funny thing.  It can bring the best and the worst out of a person.

I used to pride myself on the fact that I was never tossed from a game as either a player or a coach.  I had my moments when an official would warn me, but I was never tossed.

That all changed this past summer…  I was helping out with my son’s adult baseball team.  We were playing a rival, and someone we really wanted to beat.  This was the first year that my son’s team had come together, so they were still working out the mechanics of who played where, batting line up, etc.  My role was to provide some leadership and help with the decisions on the field.  I guess you could say I was acting as the head coach, but I hadn’t officially been named that this soon into the summer season.

Unfortunately during the summer months quality umpires are hard to come by.  Most of those in the region are either umpiring at the Little League, Babe Ruth or Legion levels, or hang up their chest protectors until next spring when high school baseball begins again.  On this day we had the unfortunate displeasure of getting two of the worst umpires I’ve ever had to share the field with.  Now, it may sound like I was bias from the start, but I did give both of them the benefit of the doubt and assumed they’d umpire a good game.

You could tell from the beginning that we were in for a long day with these two.  The strike zone was anything but, and the field umpire was too lazy to run to a bag and make an accurate call.  On several occasions both teams complained that the calls being made by both umpires were wrong.  What was supposed to be a ball was called a strike.  What was supposed to be a strike was called a ball.  What was supposed to be an out was called safe.  What was called safe was supposed to be an out.  It went on like this for six solid innings.  Probably the worst umpiring I’ve ever been a part of.

Late in the game our team was down a run, with the tying run at first and our big hitter at the plate.  We had one out and their pitcher was beginning to tire.  I was coaching 3^rd base.  We put on a hit and run, and both our guys executed it perfectly.  Our big hitter got the hit, and the base runner got a great jump on the pitch.  He rounded second and came hard at third.  The hitter passed 1^st and headed for second.  The opposite team decided to try and gun down our lead runner.  Our runner had great speed and easily slid into 3^rd, way ahead of the tag.  Of course, the field umpire (who hadn’t moved off the first base line) called him out at third.  He wasn’t anywhere near the paly and made a terrible called based on a bad angle.  I exploded!!  I looked at the home plate umpire and asked for help.  He told me he didn’t see the play and couldn’t overturn the call.  The other team was amazed as well.  They thought our guy was safe by a mile.  I ran out to the field umpire and asked him to explain how he could have possibly made the call when he wasn’t even close to it.  He told me I was not to question his decision, that the field was his to call as he chose, and that if I didn’t go back to the coach’s box he’d toss me from the game.  At that point he made the biggest mistake he could have; he bumped me with his chest.

There’s a basic rule that players, coaches and umpires follow – keep your hands and your body to yourself.  Unfortunately this guy failed to follow the rule and I lost it.  I think I was more surprised that this guy would actually bump me than I was by his ridiculous rant about it being his field.  I said a few things I probably shouldn’t have, and of course knew I would get tossed for the first time in my baseball playing and coaching career.  True to form, he used his authority and promptly tossed me from the game.  This has stuck with me ever since it happened.  In fact, I haven’t been back on the field since the incident.  It’s been too hard to forget.  I will be back, I just need some time to get over the fact that I let someone else push me that far.

I get why Seattle Seahawk’s Richard Sherman went off during an interview right after the NFC Championship game in Seattle last Sunday.  Here’s a guy who pours everything he’s got into the sport he loves the most.  He’s intelligent, plays clean, and works to be the best at his position.  After he deflected the pass that was intended for Michael Crabtree of the San Francisco 49ers, it sealed the victory for the Seahawks and guaranteed them a trip to the Super Bowl.  After the play Sherman went up to Crabtree, patted him on the butt, told him “Hell of a game!,” extended his hand out for a shake, and repeated, “Hell of a game!”  Instead of Crabtree taking the handed extended to him he shoved Sherman in the helmet and walked to the sideline.  After the game a reporter asked Sherman about the incident.  Of course with the emotion of the moment, the game saving play, and the fact that Crabtree said a few disparaging remarks in the off season about him, Richard Sherman exclaimed that he was the best and should not have been tested.  He also said that Crabtree was a mediocre receiver.

So maybe Richard Sherman crossed the line with his comments after the game.  Maybe I crossed the line when I got chest-bumped by the umpire last summer.  What I know for a fact is that when you’re passionate about what you do and what you believe in you’ll do anything to defend your team and your reputation.  Richard Sherman is being thought of as a “thug” because of his comments.  I was looked at as a ranting coach while I was being tossed off the baseball diamond.  That doesn’t mean I was wrong about my feelings.  It also doesn’t mean that Richard Sherman was incorrect about how he felt either.  What it means is that during the heat of the moment passion can lend itself to extreme emotion, both for better and for worse.  To be perfectly honest, I will take 11 Richard Sherman’s who want to be the best at their position any day of the week.  I will also continue to coach with passion and look for fairness every time I step foot on a baseball field.

A Common Man

Don't Run with Scissors, You'll Poke Your Eye Out!

My mom was never one to say goofy things like, “Don’t run with scissors in your hands,” or “Chew your food 20 times before you swallow!”  No, my mom has always been fairly down to earth.  She’s one of the most humble people I’ve ever known.

My mom started off as a California girl.  She was born in Culver City and lived there for a short time until she moved to Colorado, then eventually settled in New Mexico.  She met my dad in college.  They married, had me and set roots down in the small town of Tucumcari.  A few years later we moved to Albuquerque, and if not for a brief move to El Paso, it’s safe to say that my mom is a true Albuquerque gal.

My mom taught me independence.  She taught me, through example, how to survive when no one else was around to help out.  She taught me how to cook, do laundry, iron, and maintain a clean house.  She taught me the importance of church.  She taught me how to love.

One of the things that I cherish the most about my mom is her sensitivity to others.  Like me, she can be stubborn if she’s being pushed in a direction or path she doesn’t want to head down, but all in all she loves with her whole heart. 

One of the fondest memories I have of my mom was when I was twelve years old.  We had taken a family inner tubing trip to the Sandia Mountains.  My brother and I were climbing up the hill as far as we could go, then slide down as fast as possible.  I came up with the bright idea of daisy-chaining a group of us down the mountain.  I took the lead, and with 7 others interlocked together, we flew down the mountain with lightening speed.  As we were coming close to the bottom we started to veer to the right where a grove of trees sat.  I stuck out my leg to stop us from running into the tree, but the tree trunk was stronger and than my leg and it was my femur that suffered during the impact.  I can remember blacking out briefly, then gently sliding down the rest of the way to the bottom.  My mom knew right away that my leg was broken.  I wanted to stand up but she told me to lie there and wait for my dad to get the car.  I’m not sure how they got me into the back seat, but I do remember the ride to the hospital and my mom cradling my head and reassuring me that everything was going to be all right.  I also remember her talking with the doctor, trying to figure out how bad the break was, how long I’d be in the hospital, when could I have visitors, etc.  I stayed in the hospital for 30 days.  During that time she came to see me every day.  She brought me magazines to read, treats to share with my roommate, and keep me up to date on everything that was going on outside the hospital.

When I was finally released and ready to go home I was put in a body cast.  I would be stuck in that thing for six more weeks!  When we got home I found out that my mom had completely redecorated my room.  She painted the walls, put up cool wallpaper, rearranged the furniture and made it a special place to come home to.  She really put a lot of effort into making sure my homecoming was a joyous one.

You see, the thing I will always remember about my mom is her compassion to do for others.  She lives selflessly, and asks little in return for all the love and support she gives.  My mom is not only one of the most humble people I know, she’s also the strongest and the most independent.  I blessed to have her as my mom.  Her advice today is genuine and comes from the heart.  Thanks for always being there, mom!

A Common Man