Christmas Eve, Eve (Two days before Christmas)

Willie and his friends have been doing a service project this school year as part of a class. They have been knitting snow hats (yes, knitting -- not with needles but hoops). After 10 weeks or so, and a few hats given to relatives and friends, we ended up with 19 that looked great. It just so happens that a couple in our ward serve as missionaries in an inner-city mission. They told us about the needs of some of the folks in their mission, so we added some stretchy gloves to each hat to make nice gifts for 19 lucky people. I think Willie will probably continue knitting hats as part his Eagle Scout project. He is ready to start that once he completes the paper work.

A few hours all to myself . . .

It's Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve (three days before Christmas). Willie and Karl have gone over to the church to shoot some hoops, and I am in my very warm, comfortable home all by myself. This almost never happens. I am going to get my Christmas gifts for the chillins organized and wrapped and enjoy a Diet COKE and a little Christmas background music.

(I am taking a vacation day!)

Meeting-O-Meter

I spent most of my day in a boring meeting --- arrggg! I have been to my share of meetings over the years. Some time ago I made a "meeting-o-meter" (kind of like an applause meter on old time television shows) to assess each meeting's relevance. The meter ranged from Wow! to Snooze! The secretaries in the office got so they looked forward to my spin on the meter. Well, today's meeting didn't even register. We educators (at the administration level at least) spend so much time in meetings. Like most meetings, not much to show for the 4 hours of time except a few handouts that I will probably never look at again. I will try to update my bog when I attend one of those "Wow" meetings. I'm due for one of those any day now.

P.S. Just 10 days until Christmas!

Always a comeback . . .

I know Haley beat me to this, but I couldn't resist. Just when Max Hall thinks he's put the "U" and faithful followers in their place, there is always a comeback!

I think there's also a Max Hall Hates Me Fan Club. The poor kid.

My personal mantra is this --

Do your work --

Do your job --

Watch what you say --

Definitely, better words to live by.

Basketball Playoffs!

The Hunter Hawks are going to the junior high basketball playoffs! Yes! They play Churchill Junior on Thursday. I think the boys are pretty excited -- the son and the dad. It's one step closer to the NCAA championship!

Thank you for serving our country . . .

It's December 7, 2009, the sixty-eighth anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. To those who have served, are currently serving, and will serve to preserve the freedoms we are so blessed to expereince each day, I salute you!

Something else to think about . . .

The Cab Ride
So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'.

'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry.. I'm on my way to a hospice'.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. 'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered..

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?

Something to think about . . .

I have served on all kinds of interview committees and have a collection of notes on what to do/say and what not to do/say in an interview. For those who are looking at trying out for something or preparing to look for a job, you may want to draw from just a few of my observations to be ready to do your best:

• Always have a resume with you or something to show what you’ve done and what you’re like
• Be confident, but not too confident
• Don’t focus on your years of experience or lack thereof – try to keep your interviewers guessing your age and your experience
• Never take your cell phone to an interview, and if you do, hope that it never goes off during the interview – it will disrupt everything
• Convey your passion but don’t get too emotional about it – no tears, please
• Know the skills you need for the position you seek and know how to describe them
• Convey your willingness to learn what’s required for the present and the future
• Dress appropriate to the position – this may take some investigating on your part – it’s okay to ask what the appropriate dress for the interview is
• Be clean and neat in appearance – smell good, wear washed and pressed clothing
• Avoid wearing things that may cause interviewers to make judgments about you – posts, piercings, too much make-up, CTR ring, crucifix jewelry, Sponge Bob neckties, . . .
• Be happy, cordial, smile, and say “thank you” –

Another attempt at NABLOPOMO?

Since I failed miserably at NABLOPOMO in November, I am going to give it my best effort for the month of December. Are you ready?

NOVEMBER was a very good (but busy) month.

• Willie ended football and started basketball. his basketball team is doing pretty well they are 4-1, and he is having mostly great games. He also had his second episode with strep throat since school started. (I guess it's time for tonsils to come out.)
• Karl had a lot to do in school -- he is doing very well competing with the "younger" students. No students come close to his grade in his computer class, and he is holding his own in the two bio-manufacturing classes he's taking. The Friday "business seminar" has only an attendance requirement, but it has been very eye-opening and beneficial in hearing first-hand a broader perspective of the world of work.
• We've had a lot going on at home and work. Karl has nearly completed painting the entire main floor of our house -- just the bathrooms and the main (metal) interior/exterior doors to go. It's been a huge project and not sure that we will ever get to all the touch-ups, but it looks and feels very nice.
• Thanksgiving was very good but tiring, but I spent many hours with Mom helping her get things ready for the big day and the big dinner. We crammed 41 people into her little house. It was pretty tight and cozy. I really enjoyed the days off (the luxury of being an educator).
• I love my work -- it is a little crazy now and again, but I am so blessed to do what I do. No day is ever like another -- there is always an issue to resolve -- things to do for kids and the adults who counsel and teach them.
• Utah basketball is underway -- as you know, I love the basketball!

The best part of each week in any month is always Sunday afternoon when my family gets together. Never in my younger years did I ever think I would be preparing Sunday dinner for nine! It's pretty amazing and very exciting to say the least to have everyone home on Sunday. Sometimes I just sit and watch -- mostly I take care of Elliott (he always sits by me for dinner) and then Wyatt (I usually feed him his solid food after dinner) --- and then we just hang out --