A man I know...

I know this guy, and by most standards of today's world some would say he is not a "successfull" man. His clothes are worn and some are used, he gets his hair cut @ home (usually while a child is watching), his shoes are scuffed, his vehicles are quite used. This man has done something for the past 20 years that most in America can't do for 7. His job history is spotty at best, but when the time called for it he volunteered to serve his country. His habits are not the best, but they are legal. His physique is not work-out tuned, but he never complains about being really sick. His children won't be going to a big-name university but they are the smartest kids in their whole damn neighborhood. He didn't do all the right things while his oldest was growing up but I dare say she is the most well-rounded mature 18 year old I have every met ( I am 39 so I have met a few).
No folks this guy might not win some TV contest or be on the nightly news for his endeavors, he might have to rob Peter to pay Paul some weeks, but he has maintained a marriage for 20 years (how many men can say that shit???!!?? ), and he has raised/is raising 3 beautiful girls to be smart, savvy, moral (yea I said morals, anybody remember those). HE PROUDLY SERVED in the United States Marine Corps (The Proud/The Few not just an advertising gimmick, I have been there with them too, The Proud/The Few really applies)..
So I have been guilty in the past of judging this man by his wallett and his ambition, but when it really comes down to it..I admire him very much, this man is my brother-in-law John Evans and I AM DAMN PROUD TO KNOW HIM...

So the next time YOU find yourself judging (and knowing that I am probably the only one to read this) stop and really think about it. Just because we don't have all the things that are supposed to be important in this life..some of us are rich beyond measure. And remember "Life isn't having what you want, it is wanting what you have".

Just went through the fires of Hell here at work. Boss tried to strong arm me into filing some silly-workman's comp paperwork over a very minor accident at work that I volunteered to handle myself on my own terms. Pre-existing condition and she wanted to flex her Power and make it into wayyyyy worse than it was..It ended up with me turning in a resignation, then getting a very private phonecall from the CEO and then me getting my job back...Well the local boss turned it into her own private celebration as she thinks she was the one to get the CEO involved but in reality it was the guys I work with who went to bat for me and in spite of her pitiful attempts to be a "Bad-ass" and to flex her muscles etc...she is headed for a nice suprise...More later..Oh by the way my wonderful wife of 5 years (the one that matter's not the first) stood by me the whole time and if I had walked away from my job (pretty kick ass job at that) she was in my corner the whole time...What is it with power that corrupts our poor human psyche??? Some people equate a job title at work as real power and they do not realize that respect, leadership, and true power to influence is an earned reward and does not get issued with a paycheck or a corner office or a fancy business card.....Later all..

What if?

Funny thing, living in Great state of Georgia (in which we have the weekly lottery) I am often tempted to stop by the local Quickie Mart and pick up lottery tickets from time to time. Now I am not talking about alot of $$ just a couple of bucks when the Jackpot is real high. So we entered a discussion at my workplace about how we would spend the winnings and how we would spend our time. My response is always the same, I really wouldn't care about what I could or could not buy or where I could travel to (5 years in the U.S. Navy cured my traveling jones), what I would most enjoy is letting the money build up in the bank and to spend everyday just hanging out with my kids. Taking them to school, eating lunch, staying long lazy summer days at the pool or the beach. Just to be there full time with them would be worth more than any ol' Jackpot. Having the financial security to never have to leave them for 40+ hours a week would be so nice. Now I know what some people might say.." It only 40 hours, my career is too important, I need the interaction with adults...etc..blah blah blah. Look at the state of our youth in our country and tell me parents ACTUALLY spend enough time with their kids..NOT>>>> As a person whose childhood was marked by the early death of both my parents (different times but too soon never the less) I have learned to relish the thought of hanging with my kids, now wouldn't that be sweet? So I try to always keep them in my thoughts when I am planning my time off, and I try to make plenty of time for just being us and for being together..All for now!

Just one man's words

Not real sure about starting this but having an outlet to put thoughts/experiences into words for others to see has always appealed to me. I want to share my joy of raising my kids, the addiction to motorcycles and the concerns I have for the future of earth and most notably the future of the world my kids will live in. Well here goes.....