The Launch Pad: January 2007

Dig

Dig

We all have a sickness
that cleverly attaches and multiplies
No matter how we try
We all have someone that digs at us
at least we dig each other.

So what/who digs at you.............

Negative vs Positive

Just starting to comment on what is going on right now I am torn. I always said the good and the bad would get equal air time here but I am cautious of the eyes that might read this. The fact remains that there is a lot of negative energy around me at the moment.

I suppose that I want to look back at this time (or for those close to me that might want to look back at what was going on with George in 2007) and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have principles. I am a man of character and I will not be walked over. There have been so many times in my life when I have taken the high road and simply backed down. I don't know if I can back down now because I will not be a victim.

I will not be a victim. I will not be strong armed. I will not be pushed around. I will live each and every day doing the right thing and I will never walk over others to advance. I will promote what is right and never let someone promote a personal agenda on my watch.

There might be negative energy around me, but I can certainly live my life in a positive way. Life is too short. I choose the positive.

Looking Forward

Just about one down and eleven more to go.

I've been thinking about this since last week and I think I have figured out what I have been feeling since the start of the year but could not put my finger on. I have felt down in a winter blues kinda way - not a lot but just a little. Sure there are some things on the horizon very near term that are concerning......very concerning, but that has only been part of it for me.

Days come and go and they flow into the months. And the months give way to years slowly but surely.

Time passes.
I age.
I grow.
Life happens.

No matter how much I think that "a new year" does not really affect me, as time marches forward it cannot help but magnify the life I live. There are the natural questions of life and achievement that come up. After all, the only way I grow is through looking inward. So as a new year enters, that process just has to happen as I look forward to the months ahead. So what if I don't care for the emptiness of resolutions, there is something new ahead of me and I can't help but to find a way to get my arms around it.

So as 2007 has started I can accept that it is ok for me to wonder what the year will bring. It's ok for me to wonder where I will be a year later. It's ok for me to be concerned that hopes, dreams and goals might be unrealized. It's ok for me to anxious. It's ok for me to anticipate all the good things in the year to come that I could never imagine. It is ok for me to think here I am AGAIN. It is ok to wonder will I be here AGAIN next year. It's ok seek growth out of my everyday stable routine. It is ok to want MORE.

What will be will be. I now see that it's just my way of expressing anticipation of......well of who knows what. It's human to do this. It is completely natural to do this at the beginning of the year.

I accept this, embrace it, and look forward to what God will bring tonight, tomorrow, next week, next month, this year, next year and for the rest of my life.

Daniela

That smile made my day today.

True North

I can't seem to move away from the thoughts I been having on my direction. Where am I going personally and is it truly a fulfilling future that is ahead of me. I think I might have been a bit naive in my youth to think that I was special. I have always reached out to do extraordinary things. I wanted to be a leader. Most of all I really think that George thought that he would not fall into a routine common life. Common was somehow bad.

Taking a step back this week I am not sure if I can live up to that image I had in my head. This could be a path towards a professional destiny unfulfilled. BUT, maybe I am measuring my success in the wrong manner. I'm not sure. But I do know that those that achieve great things take great risk. Somehow I need to find my true north again and take the risk needed to advance myself personally AND professionally. This is about more than my 9 to 5 - it stretches into my personal life and how I live my day to day. Hmmph. Where do I begin?

All said, I somehow need to live in the moment and enjoy where I am. Why am I still up? What have I been doing for the last 4 hours?

Positive Energy

The gears are turning and things are changing in my world.

Big news today - this is one time where I wish nobody read this so I could just vent. All said I am left thinking about one thing, positive energy. It's so hard to surround ourselves with positive energy and keep that in our lives. Family, work, friends - it's all so much sweeter when the negatives are minimal or not there at all.

One person, one thing can completely change the energy and the vibe of life. The fun goes away. A person's presence becomes draining and a weight. As I have said, I don't know how this thing call life ends, but I do know that it will always change.

And then change again.

And change yet again.

And so now I wait for the change. It's coming sooner that I would like.

Happy Birthday JT

Cycles

I'm in this cycle right now that is kinda odd for me. I am usually 100 mph but things have been slow recently. I work. I run at lunch or after work. I cook dinner. I go to bed. I do it all over again.

Strange for the guy that wanders the house until 2 AM or so randomly doing nothing. But here I am. In this cycle. Not sure if it is the short days or the cold weather that we have been having here in Houston. But as sure as all things in life are, it will change or shift somehow and something new will be introduced and there will be a new cycle.

Just keep your focus.

Peekaboo

What's for Dinner

Catching up on a few:

Seared Scallops on Spinach Risotto

Honey Glazed Pork Chop
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Red Cabbage

Italian Sausage
Linguini and Home Made Meat Sauce

He Said, She Said: Time to Go

He Said: Hey time to get up, I think I need to be going now.

She Said: I don't want to go. I want to stay right here with you.

Can you say that again?

I want to stay right here with you and hold your hand.

Lucky Number 13 & 14

Dive flows 13 and 14 completed today. Finally got my diving exit under control on the second jump today. Keeping my head up made the world of difference in helping my arch. Next go round I just need more negative input from my legs and work on actually flying the exit to control my heading.

I am Jack's inflamed sense of rejection

This quote from Fight Club says everything for me today. I am mad. I am disgusted.

I have to live on the same planet for 365 days with the most horrible educational institution (including their fans and alums) claiming a National Championship. I hate this. I hate them.

This is the first thing that came to mind as I woke today.
I can't watch Sports Center for the next week because of them.
I have a headache.
I missed a red light on the way to work because of them.
They are the axis of evil.
Somewhere a baby is crying because of them.
They cause global warming.
There would be peace in the Middle East if they would go away.

There is only one thing that can correct this and I have to wait until next fall for it. But for now:

Auburn - 27
National Champions - 17
War Damn Eagle!

What's for Dinner

Shrimp Scampi on Fresh Linguini

I'm Normally Stable But......

Seems like I have been on the go so much since October that this weekend is .....it's ......it's nice. No travel. No planes. No beds other than my own. My home, my bed, my schedule. Not much at all going on this weekend which is odd in a way to journal. It was simply normal. Last night was dinner with Greg at Bossa. It was good to catch up with him. After that I met John for a sec but I just was not into staying out. Somehow bed sounded a LOT more appealing.

Today was a Saturday that I have not had in a long while. Again, it was normal. I spent the morning with the kids at the hospital and just relaxed the balance of the day taking care of my errands. A famous friend of mine says that my life is so stable. I think I like it that way for now.

Hopefully I can get unstable out the door of a Twin Otter tomorrow!