Bless your heart

Another expression I tend to use/abuse:

Not exactly sure where this one came from, but many moons ago, my family picked up the phrase “Bless your heart”. While I am sure it started out as well meaning, it has morphed into something you say when making comments about someone else. According to the Urban Dictionary, it literally means:

1. a phrase used by Southern women to excuse themselves for speaking ill of someone else. “She’s as ugly as a mud-fence, bless her heart”
2. an expression of sympathy or pity “Well, bless your heart, that must have been terrible”

Down here, some folk tend to use it as a left-handed insult or to call someone stupid (usually offered up after someone gives their unwanted opinion). As the youngest of 3 boys, I am always getting advice from my older siblings on how to run my life (gee, how did I ever make it to 50 without their sage wisdom?), and my response is typically along the line of “Reeeally? Gee, thanks! Bless your heart!”. Needless to say, I expect to hear that expression several times next week on our boat ride. My bride has forbade me from using that expression but it will be hard to keep it from slipping out occasionally.

Slowly, we’re getting ready. ½ packed, up & out early for short run, going to get a haircut, last minute supplies. The day down here is perfect. Low 50’s. Clear skies. Windy. It is this kind of weather that makes one love the outdoors in Texas (forget about those August afternoons). I am truly grateful for these days as it tends to make all of my troubles minor/insignificant.

Keep those you love close, and seize the day!

Preparing for liftoff

Life’s way too short to sit around complaining about it. It’s been another one of those weeks that seems to fly by. Once again I find myself facing a mountain of projects/chores with little time to get them all done, but, even with this kind of intensity, I’d rather be fully engaged in stead of being bored.

I’m trying to get ready for our little boat ride next week. A week long cruise and I have not yet begun to pack. Should I be worried? Ok, I've been taking care of the logistics (dog, paper, etc.), but trying to decide what to carry on the trip for me is an exercise in wardrobe coordination. Since this is a cruise in the Gulf, I am figuring to take a lot of tropical attire (shorts, sandals, Hawaiian shirts). There are a couple of formal dinners, so I am hauling my suit, but don’t expect it to see much use. Now, I'll admit I ain’t much of a shopper, but I did head out last weekend to pick up some supplies and scored a few nice Hawaiian shirts at Kohl’s for next-to-nothing (off season deals). Since we are traveling with my brothers & parents, I decided to go back and pick up shirts for my dad & my brothers so we match (how’s that for geeky?). My brother already bought us all matching guayabera shirts for dinner (the wedding party wore these shirts during his son’s wedding in Puerto Rico last summer), so we will probably look like we just arrived from Cuba. I'm really looking forward to the trip. As with all of my major road trips, things tend to get a wee bit hectic before we leave, but once we step off, the trip goes on autopilot and I can begin to relax and enjoy the adventure.

Chance favors the prepared mind.

Fortune cookie

From a recent fortune cookie epistle.

We are taught by every person we meet.

It’s funny how some of life’s simpler observations are profound. I find that saying very true. Every day gives us an opportunity to meet new people and learn new things (kinda like being back in kindergarten).

Happy Veteran's Day

To all of the men & women who have served or are still serving, you have my undying gratitude. From my perspective as a tanker, I truly appreciate the sacrifices that these great men & women have made to protect my ass, our country and our way of life. Countless days/nights/weeks/months/years away from family & friends, serving in distant lands, working in extreme conditions, placing your life in harms way to protect or defend a country. No mere words that I can put forth will ever express my appreciation for what these soldiers have done. It was my privilege to have served alongside some of the finest men & women in the world and I salute their sacrifices.

Please remember them in your thoughts & prayers.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Semper Fi!

From an old tanker, Happy Birthday to the Few & the Proud.

Good night, Chesty Puller, wherever you are!

Great. Wonderful. Best Day of My Life.

Ever notice that life is full of sayings? We all tend to gravitate towards certain expressions & sayings to make a point, express our opinion, share some humor, or close a conversation. I noticed that, over the decades, I have gathered a few of my own. Some I picked up by accident, others I have shamelessly stolen & usurped for my own evil purpose.

Take for example, the title of today’s diatribe: “Great. Wonderful. Best Day of My Life.” Actually, my brother started that one many years ago and I have adopted it as my standard response when I greet people. I use this reply whenever asked “How are you doing? Or How have you been?” The typical response has been “Good” or “OK” or “Can’t Complain”, but I’ve always felt those were throw away responses, used as a generic reply to others when you either don’t want to engage in conversation or they really don’t want to hear about your problems. Honestly, how many people want to hear about the kid’s latest escapades or how gassy the dog is getting or how your hemorrhoids are (by the way, should that be singular or plural?). A long while ago, I adopted my current reply as a response to any queries and it has sparked many interesting conversations. People are not typically expecting such an answer and it usually gives them pause when they hear it. It usually generates a smile or laugh from most as they may not believe me. Trust me, this is not a line for me. I try to live that mantra and am more than willing to explain it to those that ask. The origin of that line comes from my older brother who, after listening to an NPR show about some guy in prison on death row, came to the conclusion that, in spite of all of his troubles/problems, his day –to-day life is way much better that this guy. So, from that inspiration sprung our expression. To me, it actually started as a corny line, but I have made it a cornerstone of my day. I actually believe in that expression, even when sometimes challenged (Is it really the best day? What about your wedding day? or Graduation? or the Birth of your son?) True. I consider each of those days was tremendous and memorable, but every day beyond those that I am upright and healthy I consider a blessing and I am grateful for. When I look at what I have, I am healthy, I have a good job (ok, it has its ups & downs), I have a good home, a great wife, smart kid, loyal (but old) dog. Everything else is relative. Given the problems we face today, life ain’t too bad. As Terri has stated many times: Life’s Good. (Thanks again for the cup!)

A few other favorite expressions I have gathered (or shamelessly stolen) over the years that I tend to use ad nauseam:

• Life’s Hard. Get a Helmet. – credit Terri
• Chance favor’s the prepared mind. – think Steven Segal
• Go ahead. Make my day. – timeless advice from Clint
• Cowboy up.
• It’s time to put your big boy pants on.
• Never drink downstream from the herd.
• Life’s short. Play hard.
• Every man dies, but not every man lives.
• Never give up! Never surrender!
• If you ain't the lead dog on the sled team, the view never changes....

Moving at the speed of dark

Damn, it’s getting hard to keep up with everything. Ever since I hit the tarmac last week, I've been buried at the office & home. Was trying to manage a mountain of work at the office (endless task) when my son e-mailed me late Wednesday asking if I was going to the game in College Station last weekend as he and his girlfriend might come down from Austin. Honestly, given all of the projects and problems I was juggling, I was not even considering it, but since this was the first time we have seen them since he started school in August and we would not see him again until Thanksgiving, there was no question about us going to the game. Had to spend a day and a half trying to negotiate a slot on the RV lot ($125 thankyouverymuch) along with coordinating handoff of the parking pass with a woman in Baytown (I’ve done military maneuvers less complicated). On top of that, my trailer was not even prepped for a road trip, so it was a truly “seat-of-your-pants” excursion. In spite of all of the obstacles, we were able to pull this trip together on short notice and get to College Station for the game and spend the evening with our son. It was great to see him and his girlfriend for the weekend. I may be biased, but I feel think that they make a great couple and may eventually get hitched, but, since they are both juniors in college, that is putting the cart before the horse. Spent the weekend with them as well as the rest of my family and was totally exhausted by the time we got home on Sunday. I like to clean up my trailer before I put it back in the storage yard, so it was late Sunday before I was finally done. By the time I got done, it was well past 1600 and I was looking at a long week at the office.

Now this week has been a serious challenge for me. All of my buyers were in training all week which left me not only in charge but doing all of the grunt work. I am not complaining, but it was hectic at times. Needless to say, I was not as civil or patient with some of the nebulous requests that we handle on a daily basis. The nice part is that I know how to do this and kinda like getting my hands dirty in the operations. There are times I would rather stay out of the political side of the business and handle the normal day-to-day tasks, but that is not what is always expected of my role.

It’s been a hell of a week. After all of the election pandemonium, a long week of handing orders, I am off on the road again. Heading off to Dallas tomorrow for another supplier audit, but, thankfully, this is a short one day hop. Will be back on Tuesday to deal with the normal chaos.

Boat ride coming up! The frau & have a serious road trip coming up in a week that we are trying to get ready for. My parents have organized a cruise for us as well as both of my brothers & their wives. We are going to spend a week on a big boat with my family and I'm not exactly sure how we are going to survive.

Life’s tough, Get a helmet.