It's about more than back to school sales...
Summer time is winding down. Three of my kids go back to school on Thursday. My eldest begins college on August 31. Even though I wait with baited breath in May for school to let out, I’m always ready for it to start again. But this year, it’s a little different. The many rites of passage various family members have achieved this year have overwhelmed me. And I’m struck by the thought that every time we do something, especially something with the family as a whole, it may be one of the last times. I’m treasuring impromptu moments together more. In all honesty, I will be glad to have my living room back, without listening to the Xbox or the tv while I’m working. But it’s coming home to me how quickly this is all going to be gone. The older I get--the more time passes, the quicker it seems to run by…it’s as if someone is turning the stem on my watch and making each hour go by in the space of what used to be 45 minutes….
In other news, I have expanded my independent contractor gig. I began doing property inspections last week. Hey, I can justify replacing my digital camera that got broken at VBS this way. The first inspection I did involved confirming some completed repair work in a small apartment complex that had been damaged in a fire. The second was supposed to have been a quickie—just verifying the existence of a vacant lot, taking some photos and notes on its condition. I was emailed an aerial photo with a nearby major intersection indicated and the lot circled. Unfortunately, ‘north’ was not labeled on the photo. I finally figured it out. It’s directly behind the brand new, shiny headquarters of our local Federal Bureau of Investigation. Just a shout out to you: it makes the FBI guys nervous when you park your big, red Suburban behind their building and walk away from it to take photos of the vacant lot across the street. Imagine that. The curb wasn’t red and there was no signage posted that prohibited parking and/or stopping. It’s even a little bit more dicey if you have forgotten your purse at home and have no photo id. The gentleman was quite nice (after he removed his hand from his holster) as I approached and explained to him what I was doing. Thankfully, my inspection orders and a business card were adequate. Otherwise, I might be writing this missive from some Federal holding facility. He did ask me to move my truck and park it across the way….I'm absolutely sure I'm on all kinds of watchlists now.
Our facility hosted a Tea Party Health Care Forum last week. I'm not much of a political animal. This reform, however, is chilling. It is absolutely NOT about healthcare. It's about socialism, about government control and about the beginning of the end of democracy and life in the U.S. as we know it. Please don't get involved in dissecting and defining the bill. They (you know, the big "they" that are trying to pass this) want you to do that. They want you to get so caught up in arguing the minutae of this that you end up validating it as a possibility. Urge your congressmen and senators to DEFEAT THIS BILL. Don't even try to examine the parts of it. Just chuck the whole thing out.
Finally, I’m gearing up for our annual Fall Retreat again. This year I am going to be careful of myself and not go on any adventures that may prevent me from being less than my best.
Please continue to pray for our facility after our flood damage and that insurance, property owners and managers will do the right thing.
For now, I’m out…
In other news, I have expanded my independent contractor gig. I began doing property inspections last week. Hey, I can justify replacing my digital camera that got broken at VBS this way. The first inspection I did involved confirming some completed repair work in a small apartment complex that had been damaged in a fire. The second was supposed to have been a quickie—just verifying the existence of a vacant lot, taking some photos and notes on its condition. I was emailed an aerial photo with a nearby major intersection indicated and the lot circled. Unfortunately, ‘north’ was not labeled on the photo. I finally figured it out. It’s directly behind the brand new, shiny headquarters of our local Federal Bureau of Investigation. Just a shout out to you: it makes the FBI guys nervous when you park your big, red Suburban behind their building and walk away from it to take photos of the vacant lot across the street. Imagine that. The curb wasn’t red and there was no signage posted that prohibited parking and/or stopping. It’s even a little bit more dicey if you have forgotten your purse at home and have no photo id. The gentleman was quite nice (after he removed his hand from his holster) as I approached and explained to him what I was doing. Thankfully, my inspection orders and a business card were adequate. Otherwise, I might be writing this missive from some Federal holding facility. He did ask me to move my truck and park it across the way….I'm absolutely sure I'm on all kinds of watchlists now.
Our facility hosted a Tea Party Health Care Forum last week. I'm not much of a political animal. This reform, however, is chilling. It is absolutely NOT about healthcare. It's about socialism, about government control and about the beginning of the end of democracy and life in the U.S. as we know it. Please don't get involved in dissecting and defining the bill. They (you know, the big "they" that are trying to pass this) want you to do that. They want you to get so caught up in arguing the minutae of this that you end up validating it as a possibility. Urge your congressmen and senators to DEFEAT THIS BILL. Don't even try to examine the parts of it. Just chuck the whole thing out.
Finally, I’m gearing up for our annual Fall Retreat again. This year I am going to be careful of myself and not go on any adventures that may prevent me from being less than my best.
Please continue to pray for our facility after our flood damage and that insurance, property owners and managers will do the right thing.
For now, I’m out…
Comments
I know what you mean about the kids growing up. About a month ago, my oldest took ME out to lunch FOR NO REASON AT ALL. Through the entire meal I kept waiting for him to drop some sort of bombshell, but nothing. He actually just wanted to take me out for a change.
Have a great day!