Christ In Christmas

I saw a post about Christ in Christmas. So many places of business opt for “Season’s Greetings.” While there are a couple other celebrations happening in December, let’s be honest....it’s CHRISTMAS the retail world is recognizing, if not celebrating. I’ve got friends who are Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and Bahai. I will wish them a Merry Christmas in the best tradition of Christian welcome and fellowship. I’m pretty sure they will know where I’m coming from and what I hope for them. And, I’m pretty sure they won’t feel I’ve tried to discriminate or convert them. Have a Merry Christmas!

I transported a very lightly sick 94 year man to the hospital today. He was as clear minded as anytime in his life. We chatted the entire 20 minutes or so to the hospital, telling about his career and education and asking me, very specifically, "What did you go to school for, is it what you ended up doing for a career, and would you do it again." A great conversation and a reminder to NEVER discount our older population. They are people with full lives and conversations to have. By the way, to answer his question: Radio and Television Broadcasting, Paramedic in the field and education, yes...in a heart beat.

No App For You!

I’ve got two problems:
1. I insist on my blog utilizing proper grammar and language. This means I have to actually type, on my phone, squinting. Without voice-to-text. This leads to #2;

2. There is no (free) app for publishing on Blogspot. Since you’re reading this, and can ONLY be reading this because you care about it, then I clearly am not making money from the blog, whose sum could pay for an app.

Sigh. First World tech woes.

The Fictional City of Raleigh-Durham

Raleigh-Durham #3 on America's Most Frugal Cities list

http://wr.al/1BC9r

Katy Kisses

Katy Kisses...

FUQUAY-VARINA, NC - You were the most popular guy in my class, but you never wanted to go out with me.

He has black eyes, is made of tan material and is wearing a red striped shirt and no pants. School officials say they have had an officer doing this since the 80s and have never had an incident. Glaze says he had never been kissed before. 

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said, "There is something just strange about this, and I think it's one of the reasons why Mueller's investigation has to continue and why our investigation has to continue."

President Trump tweeted, "Great job by law enforcement and all concerned!"

Christopher Walken commented, "I like cats a lot. I've always liked cats. They're great company. When they eat, they always leave a little bit at the bottom of the bowl. A dog will polish the bowl, but a cat always leaves a little bit. It's like an offering."

UPDATE AT 11

Gays in Scouting

Unfortunately, it is complex. BSA is a private organization that was founded prior to any public outing of gay and lesbian lifestyles. As well, it was founded during a time of conservative religious practice, and has integrated a duty to God over the century plus of its existence.

This doesn't exclude to idea of changing with the times. BSA has updated and modified many aspects of its program over the years to keep up with current national evolutions and generations. Some examples would include advanced leader training, on par with Fortune 500 corporate programs, that teach leaders differences in learning between generations, understanding teaching and learning styles, and methods of communication and conflict resolution. Youth program has added leadership training paralleling the adult training, but also has kept pace with technology and diversity related to religion and culture.

Protection of youth has undertaken significant renovation with mandatory and aggressive training on recognizing bullying, sexual harassment, and child abuse.

The complexity doesn't stem from whether or not BSA wants to be teaching hate or not. I don't believe at all it's a question of inclusiveness vs hate. When an organizations constituent body is predominantly composed of mainstream religious organizations, then, yes, the question of including gay and lesbian scouts and leaders does become complex to the survival of the organization. An organization that is private but behaves, and is perceived, as public.

The complexity of the issue is understanding the monumental shift in direction the group would have to move toward. Many charter organizations would disband units, devastating enrollment. While the general public may support a drop in the ban, and they are a beneficiary of the program, they do not represent the membership. Delaying will give the BSA board an opportunity to determine what direction its membership wants to go, not just the public and special interest groups.

Should they (us, since I am a scout leader) open up to gay and lesbian? I don't know. Should Apple include Windows 8 with its computers? Should we go to Mars? Should priests be married? Should we pull out of the Middle East?

I think the very act of considering this kind if change in ideology within the BSA is recognition that they (we) take our mission seriously: preparing boys (and girls in three of our programs) to be leaders and contributors to society. Should we include ALL boys and girls, men and women, regardless of sexual orientation? Sorry, gotta pass on my decision for the moment, because it's a complex issue that I don't take lightly.

Rumblings from a scout leader.

Firefighters Shot and Killed

This news was just posted by the AP: "Four volunteer firefighters responding to a pre-dawn house fire were shot Monday morning, two fatally, leading to a shootout in suburban Rochester, N.Y., police said."


What the hell???


My response is likely to be a bit impulsive, but this hits as close to home as the Newtown shootings. I've been a paramedic for over 25 years. I've been cussed at, assaulted, ignored, shoved, spit at, thanked, hugged, and given gifts. I never felt I needed a gun.


Perhaps I have too romantic a view of healthcare. I have paramedic friends in a neighboring city, call it the city of medicine, who are issued body armor to protect them from shooters. But when has it become necessary to fear going to the movies, a mall, school, and trying to help the public?


There are many opinions on gun control. What are we looking to do? Disarm America? Disarm the bad guys, or the crazy ones, or the desperate ones? Hey, maybe if EVERYONE carried a sidearm we wouldn't have this problem.


How have we protected ourselves so effectively against terrorists, but not from ourselves?


I would argue I'd rather feel at risk of a terrorist attack than some random act of violence while responding to HELP people.


Maybe I'll have something more to say later, but for now I'm just sickened. I'll appreciate my family's Christmas a lot more this year, as countless families oer the past 8 days have had theirs ruined...forever.

Why I Say "Merry Christmas"

I read a blog today that didn't ruffle nor offend me. But, it did do what I think it intended to do...got me thinking, again, (I am, after all writing my blog of the year!),  about my choice of salutations during the time of year that contains the Christian celebration of Christmas, the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, and the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa. All respectable celebrations. And although I'm not a much of a theologian, and only an amateur historian, I understand they are very different types of celebrations.

The Celebration of Lights commemorates the re-dedication of the holy temple in Jerusalem, around 164 BCE. While definitely important, it is not their top-ranked Jewish holiday.

Kwanzaa was developed as a way to celebrate the African culture, whether living in Africa or abroad. It is not a religious holiday, but an important cultural one.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth their God's son, Jesus Christ, whom was/is widely believed to be God on earth. It is, to most Christians, the second most important Christian celebration, with Easter being the most important.

All of these are important events. But, one would hold a higher place in any religion, faith, or culture, regardless of it's roots. The birth of its "founder."

The blog I read suggests it is more inclusive, doesn't hurt a thing, and is actually being more Christian by virtue of "love thy neighbor" to say "Happy Holidays."

I don't think I agree with that assessment. If I don't say Feliz Navidad, am I being exclusive?

Saying "Merry Christmas" for a Christian is offering the warmest Christian expression one can offer during the Christmas celebration (I don't say Christmas season, because that's an ad company's creation).

Saying "Merry Christmas" also is a mechanism for the public proclaimation of Christian faith, as required by the faith.

At the college I teach at we have "holiday" parties. It includes a Christmas tree. No, doesn't make me think, "Hey, it REALLY IS a Christmas party!" I wouldn't begrudge the display of a Menorah (although I think it may or may not be lit, depending on when Hanukkah falls), nor would I be opposed to the display of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

The point is, Happy Holidays is a great way to greet someone. It is, in fact, inclusive. But I dont think it's exclusive for me to pass an African-American on the street and be greeted with "Happy Kwanzaa." I think I would actually feel honored. I don't celebrate Kwanzaa, but someone who does thinks enough of a stranger to wish them well in a way that they respect and understand.

So, "Merry Christmas!" I'm not out to exclude anyone, but rather to wish you the best in a way I understand. I don't understand Kwanzaa or Hanukkah enough to feel comfortable expressing warm wishes based on their tenents. I certainly wish them the best, but I think I'll stick with a salutation I understand, and hope they understand that I'm being cordial.

Holding Hands

Several years ago, while walking hand in hand with Ben, I said, "You know, Ben, one day you won't want to hold hands with me."
His response, "Oh, no, that'll never happen!"
"Yea, it will. But it'll be OK."

Last night, walking out of Target side by side, I commented to Ben, now 12 1/2, "You notice you're not holding my hand?" He just smiled. "What did I say it would be?" "You said it would be OK."

Bitter-sweet.

Halloween

It's raining. Pretty steady. The boys don't seem to upset that they're not going out getting candy. I'm sitting here in my costume, though. It's still early, so maybe we'll have more than our neighbor's not-quite-four-year-old come by.

9 Year Old Honesty

So Ben asked Alex not to say where he'd been, just waiting for a visitor to arrive. But, Alex felt that if he didn't tell me, he'd be lying. I told him that he could keep Ben's secret, no problem...but Alex stomped off saying, "I'm just trying to be honest!"

Maybe he'll think that when he's 16??

Headache Final Test

Went camping this weekend with the Cub Scouts. Temperatures ranged from 80 to 35, with a weak low pressure front passing through. No headache!


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Weather Or Not Migraines

Been having a headache everyday the last three days. The barometer has been up and down like a pogo-stick.

Twice it's been resolved with Sudafed and Tylenol, but two others required Imitrex and Advil. At least they resolve very quickly.


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Recently

This weekend brought along a couple of headaches. We've had unusually warm and clear than suddenly cold and wet weather.

I have medicine to try and combat weather headaches, but it's side effects are more uncomfortable than the benefits.

I can't really tell if this gluten free diet is helping or not. My psoriasis seems to be flaring up, though.

How much wheat or rye is too much? A sandwich? Chip dip?


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Wendy's (thumbs up) and Taco Bell (thumbs down)

Baked potato with bacon and cheese with a bowl of chili both tastes good and is filling. Tacos, while constructed with a pitifully small amount of ingredients, barely qualifying it as a taco, is wheat free, as well. But I think I'll get take-out from a real Mexican restaurant, and enjoy the wheat free meal.


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Good-byes

The past two weeks have been a roller coaster. Our semester started with a rush to orient new students, order supplies before our budget gets cut, a Cub Scout trip, and the death of my second mom.

I'm terrible for sending Christmas Cards, or letters, or just plain calling. It doesn't mean you're not on my mind...my mind is just scattered.

This part is probably an entry all by itself, but it dovetails with this entry. My 81 year old dad, who acts like a 30 year old, went with us to the USS Yorktown on our Cub Scout trip. While with him in the Medal of Honor museum is when I heard about Mom Lahnstein's passing. It made the rest of the time with my dad that much more special. As much as I hate to admit it, he won't outlive me. I'll have to face life without him one day.

For now, I wouldn't trade a minute I spend with him for all the money in the world. You just don't know when you'll get that call.


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Pardon Me While I Ramble

I don't know, I'm just listening to music and thinking about the paths chosen in my life.

Sometimes I find myself wondering what if...what If I'd chosen path A instead of path B?

I'm not unhappy, disappointed, or the least ashamed of who and where I am. Miley Cyrus gets bad press, but she's right in her song, it's not the destination, it's the climb.

I have many joys, some sadness, and a few regrets.

I love my wife. My two boys are my right and left arms, my job is awesome, and I found out that God is looking after me on His own, wisdom filled, way.

I reconnected with my dad a number of years ago after he and my mom went through a nasty divorce. We're best friends as well as father and son. It took having my own sons to realize how proud a dad can be. I'm not special, but my dad is proud of me. That's worth everything.

I have some really good friends. Their friendship is unconditional.

Sometimes I wish I had handled parts of my life differently. Maybe I didn't know how at the time. Can I revisit those parts and handle it another way? Don't know. I wouldn't trade what I have, or how I got here. But, if I was offered a chance to change anything, I'd seek out those from my life who I may have alienated, scared off, or rejected, and try to talk about it.

I really believe (nothing earth shattering here), that we become different people as we gain life experiences.

Don't know how to reach out to the people included above, or if they even want that. But, if you're reading this, and you think you're one, let's have a cup of coffee. Let's talk.

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It Must Be Working

Well, I just looked at me headache journal. Seven headaches since Thanksgiving. That's less than what I was having per month!

I'm loving this!! I had no idea how great it is without headaches. They were as much a part of my life as rush hour traffic.

Folks, do yourselves a favor, kick caffeine. You'll realize how much you DON'T need it!


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Need A Sweet Snack?

Both plain and peanut M&Ms are gluten free. Crunchy M&Ms, though, are not.


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Brownies!

Trader Joe's has a gluten free brownie mix that tastes great! It also doubles as chocolate chip cookie mix, if you add chips.


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