Merry Christmas, no PC here....

It doesn't matter where I work... your workplace is probably just the same.... "Happy Holiday". Bull... Merry Christmas!! I am so tired of being "politically correct"... and what does this have to do with politics? They say prayers in Congress... the President ends speeches with "God Bless the United States of America"... aren't they the politicians?

It isn't political correctness.... it's pain in the ass whiners that they are "offended" when they hear "Merry Christmas". The same low life's that think we must all do things their way. Such as using their terminology when there is talk about the Holiday Party (Christmas Party)... when we set up a holiday tree (Christmas tree) in the office and what about those holiday decorations (Christmas lights, Christmas wreaths, nativity sets (oops, can't do that).

Everyone wants to take December 25th off from work.... isn't that Christmas Day?

Everyone goes Christmas shopping and hopes to receive Christmas presents?

Why do I get a 1000 holiday catalogs only in December? Why not send them to me in July when we celebrate the 4th of July.... can I say that or does that offend illegal aliens? I've never gotten a Hickory Farms catalog for Labor Day.... isn't that a holiday?

Do you go out and spend an 100's of dollars on Memorial day gifts for your kids? I'll bet you only buy them lots of gifts at Christmas... not for "holiday".

Why is it that the less than 10% of Americans that celebrate Christmas are forced to be "PC" for the few that are offended? I'm offended I get crap for saying Merry Christmas. Once when I said Merry Christmas to a girl in my office, she said "I'm Jewish". I think I said Merry Christmas, not what faith are you? By the way, my brother in law is Jewish and I get him a Christmas present every year and guess what, I just receive a package from him in the mail, a Christmas present for my family. No wonder he is my favorite Jewish brother-in-law. For the record, I am not Jewish and I have sent him a Happy Hanukkah card before, was that PC?

Should we be offended that we celebrate Black History month in February, after all, I'm not black... but I am brown, I held my hand next to a piece of paper and could tell I really wasn't white. Should we be offended there is a Secretaries Day in April.... oh crap, was that PC? I guess there is no more Secretaries Day, there is now an Administrative Professionals Day. What the hell is that? I work in the Budget and Administrative division of my organization, does that mean those of us in Administration should celebrate? What separates the Administrative Professionals from the Administrative non-professionals (are they only armatures?).

Today took the cake... I stopped by the office and found that a manager had someone move a holiday decoration so it wasn't offensive. It was a series of 14 separate blocks of wood that had been carved into letters, tastefully paint in an antiqued kind of way that would have really fit my taste in decorations. Someone had mistakenly arranged the 14 letters so they spelled out Merry Christmas. That just couldn't be and the 2 words had to be put in separate cubicles so no one would be offended. Oh gag me with a spoon.

It is about time we stand up and get offended over whom ever these people are that are offended just because they don't like something, Merry Christmas or anything else. get over it and agree to disagree. I hope every one of those PC people are planning on working on December 25th, they have no reason to take the day off...

Merry Christmas to all... and don't forget the most important thing which is the reason for the season.

This rant is over

No where to turn too...

I am so frustrated today I can't stand it... and it's getting worse. Like a runaway train, I can't find the drive, the method nor do I feel I have the ability to slow the train down, let alone the ability to stop it.

I have made mistakes in that I have let some seemingly small things go in favor of what were seen by me as "bigger picture" things... and now all the small things have come together as a massive energy and emotional drain sucking the life out of me. A person in an important place (rather than an important person) has taken a stance that has attacked my integrity and character... is not there to help, but to protect them-self, and is causing an ungodly amount of stress.

I think I might have even mentally justified to myself today why I should have been able to trade places with my friend Mike... he was such a good guy, caring, loving family (one that he loved and loved him back), and he lost his battle with cancer. I feel like I am living a life full of a different kind of cancer. Indifference... intollerence... finger pointing... unforgiveness... me, me, me. I am surrounded by the attitude of "I'll tell you what's wrong, do it my way or else" people. If it isn't perfect, you're wrong so don't look to me for help, but I'll certainly give you my opinion and feelings about how screwed up you are. I am having trouble climbing out of this hole and it continues to get deeper.

I need someones hand, not those willing to dig the hole deeper. I need help climbing out, not someone to keep pointing out how I screwed up. I need a real friend and have none... none that really seem to care. It's all artificial and no one really seems to care, or be interested in helping one get back up. I can't be like Nike all the time.

Too many demands... who cares?

I started to write about how to sustain motivation despite the surrounding negativism. The the negativity got to me! Does any one really care? Do people really want support or opinions?

I am beginning to believe nobody cares. As Kirk Weisler might say... they just point out the poo! (Check out: http://dogpoopinitiative.com/). Art Williams said, "all you can do is all you can do". I ask.... but who cares if all they really want to do is complain?

• Kids talk back... have an answer for everything.
• Employees only want to do what they want to do.... what does it matter what their Job is.
• Referees at youth sporting events are always wrong... just listen to the fans.
• Kids with lots of energy are presumed to have ADD.... maybe they are acting their age.
• Few will do anything for you.... unless there is something in it for them.

Does anything really matter? Who really cares?

Parents of youth athletes.... get a grip! Coaches.... train for success

I have no idea what I am going to write about... there are tons of thought swirling in my head.

I keep thinking of the mother of a 4-6 year old I heard laying into a coach at 202 Recreation Center (street hockey) because her kid was playing defense and was not up front playing center - after all "he was the best player on the team". There was no doubt in that her kid was the best, all you had to do it listen. My gosh lady, these are 4-6 year old trying to lean the game of hockey! Some of us might not understand that style... the one where you just let one kid do it all and the others watch. At this level, I think teaching team work is more important that putting the ball in the net. Why do they keep score anyway?

The there was the mother at Olympia watching her Johnny play ice hockey... these kids we bantams... I guess 14 or 15 year olds. All we kept hearing was "hit em Johnny... hit em. Come on Johnny, don't take that, hit em harder... hit em Johnny" That went on and on. Well, finally someone on the other team got tired of her dear Johnny "hittin' em".... he drove Johnny into the boards... actually a good check that Johnny never saw coming. Now I know why there is glass around the rink... it is all that kept little Johnny's mother from going onto the ice. She came out of the stands and hit the boards almost as hard as Johnny did... visions of revenge in her eyes... she wanted that other kid. OMG, if you could have heard what she said to him... she wanted to rip his eyes out for hitting poor Johnny.

Then there are the coaches that are there for the ride... when my son asked a coach a question once (actually an assistant coach), rather than supporting him and "coaching him", the snide remark was "what, do you think you are going to the NHL"? Odds are his line of thought means Ryan has a long road and steep odds to make it to the NHL.... but if he ever does, I know I will personally call that coach and tell him.... well, you figure it out. I think our jobs as coaches and parents is to support and help our kids reach for the stars. If they make it, cool. If they fall short, even way short, but had a great ride trying to get there, that's OK too. Just think if everyone listened to the naysayers... we'd all be losers too.

If you have not seen the movie Goal... that's OK, get it for your youth athlete and make sure they see it, and then see it again. Let them know that whether it is sports, academics or business.... they can if they try. Then get them Miracle and and make sure they hear Herb's line when he says (likely paraphrased here) "I can't promise you we will be the best team in Lake Placid, but I will guarantee you we will be the best conditioned". For any chance of success, it will take work, and more work and then work some more. Support the kids in what ever they want to do or try.... never say they can't.

Bridgwood Belivers... it makes you think

A friend, Mike Bridgwood has been fighting non-Hodgkin lymphoma and is in serious condition. He and his wonderful family needs our prayers and thoughts as they go through this terrible time. It was just over a year ago I lost another dear friend, Mary Conser, after her battle with that horrendous disease.

I guess I felt it while Mary was in the midst of her battle, but it did not manifest itself until I began having conversations with Mike and reading the many journal entries and e-mails we have exchanged. What is really important in life? As sick as Mike was, he tried to take the time every day he could to write to us all in his journal and and by sending personal e-mails. Mike is a devout bible reading Christan that corrected us when we suggest he "keep the faith" during his battle, he would remind us instead to "spread the faith". Mike's words of wisdom were an inspiration to us all... I know I really appreciated him taking the time for "us" and keeping everyone up to date with his journal. He constantly reminded us what was important in life.

We sat at one of Chris's little league games talking. Mike shared his realization of what was important to him. Mike is a believer of... first and foremost, his love and belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.... his belief in family, especially his wife followed closely by his and their children... he believed in praying for others... his belief in doing the right thing... his belief in helping others... his belief in sharing and thanking those that are there for you.... his belief that earthly possessions really mean so little compared to an eternal life with God... his new found belief of not getting stressed over the little things that really don't matter.... his belief we should all be reading the bible and learning from it.... and the hopes that we all become believers.

I think inside we all know that. Unfortunately, we don't take the time to live it, many of us don't. Life should be fun, exciting, loving, friendly and a whole lot more. Mike reminded me of that. Getting there will be the tough part.

We had silicone bracelets made with "Bridgwood Believers" engraved. I haven't taken my bracelet off since the day they arrived. No only was the bracelet a way of providing some financial help to Mike, but it serves as a constant reminder of what a Bridgwood Believer is. What matters in life and what we should focus on. Read Mike journal (the link is at the bottom of the blog page), think about what is important..... forgive, forget and tell someone you love them!