....On the Course of Events Over Twenty One Years
My little boy is 21 today. So, that means, it was that long ago when I got to become a father, a biological dad. It's been a great time for me that, if I'm lucky, will never end.
The biggest life improvement by becoming a father was the motivation: the idea of improving myself was no longer theoretical. If I was going to avoid hurting and damaging my son, I had to become a better person, a better human.
The will to improve myself was strong. Why? Well, not only did I/do I care for him but there was the issue of "fairness." As I looked at the situation, I encouraged myself, even though I didn't know I was doing it at the time, to evaluate the justice: here was this little person who didn't ask to come into this crazy world and if I didn't alter my behaviors, my world view, he was going to get hurt. More than he should have to.
It's not an uncommon stance for most parents. And, I know I'm not that unusual for having gotten a lot out of the experience of being a parent. Some people get more, some less.
It was an awakening, though. For that, I'm quite grateful. In a spirited and cosmic way: I was opened up...to the love that was this child, this small person "made up...of molecules from the beginning of time." That's one of the things I said after he was born: "...from the beginning of time." What a concept. And he's mine.
George Moskoff, a 54 year old guy who wants to be like the Dalai Lama. www.theapgconsulting.com
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
How to engineer a Turnaround from Rosabeth Moss Kanter. Lord knows we could use one...http://bit.ly/co6G87
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
An audacious idea for philanthropist, funders: more transparency; accountability, and; authenticity. Is he nuts? http://bit.ly/9yzxu9
Micro-volunteerism: another source: Aardvark. Here's NPR's take on it. http://n.pr/jP0kY or go to http://vark.com
Friday, August 6, 2010
Fannie Mae got the contract to use $75B of Federal money to help homeowners avoid losing their homes. http://n.pr/cOnRQB
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
How Lucky Can A Guy Get on Father's Day
What A Lucky Guy Gets For Father's Day
Despite my present circumstances, I consider myself a very lucky guy.
My older son called me on Saturday, one day ahead, and wished me a "Happy Father's Day."
On Sunday morning, I talked to several male friends who are dads themselves and wished them a "Happy Father's Day." I also wrote about the guys at San Quentin -- with whom I
visited on Saturday night -- and the struggle they're all working on to be better dads.
On Sunday, besides having some success with the repairs on my kayak, I managed to pick up my car from "The Car Mart" -- where it sat on dispaly with its "For Sale" signs for the weeknd. The bike trip to pick it up went without incident; on Friday, by contrast, after leaving the car, I managed to challenge gravity and ended up doing an "endo" -- over the hanldebars on to some pavement.
TJ, my 31 year old son (from Patty's first marriage), called me to wish me a good day. We had a nice talk.
Last night, Father's Day, Alexander took me out for Chinese food and we took it to Spring Lake for a picnic where we could see the golden, steep hills and observe some turkey vultures looking for some food. Moo shu pork, orange chicken, pork fried rice: very nice.
Monday, June 14, 2010
I'm mountain biking: stole my son's bike and have been tuning it. Riding some crunchy trails at Annadel. No injuries.http://ping.fm/NPnTZ
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Day 3 Gallup New Mexico: We Get to Know the Begays
Lorraine, 79 years old, without much English, said she liked the shed we're building to store their personal belongings for the next few weeks. They will be in storage while a remodeling crew from Southwest Indian Foundation (SWIF) renovates their house, adds on a bedroom.
Harvey, her husband, and she, care for three grandchildren. The town of Gallup has only one bar that serves hard liquor. Curious. There are lots of families like this on the Reservation which is why this one was approved for this remodeling job.
I just found out today, Wednesday May 5th, that there is an agency, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), that provides clean, potable water for residents: 27,000 square miles of land to cover and 250,000 people to serve.
Eight high schoolers and two teachers are working hard to get the house ready. Plenty of demolition to take off old stucco, siding, roofing. New windows, a small bedroom addition.
The students are finding meaning and satisfaction in working to help others.
Today, Thursday, will be our last day of work. Going to treat the kids to the Grand Canyon tomorrow and maybe get home in time for Mother's Day.
Harvey, her husband, and she, care for three grandchildren. The town of Gallup has only one bar that serves hard liquor. Curious. There are lots of families like this on the Reservation which is why this one was approved for this remodeling job.
I just found out today, Wednesday May 5th, that there is an agency, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), that provides clean, potable water for residents: 27,000 square miles of land to cover and 250,000 people to serve.
Eight high schoolers and two teachers are working hard to get the house ready. Plenty of demolition to take off old stucco, siding, roofing. New windows, a small bedroom addition.
The students are finding meaning and satisfaction in working to help others.
Today, Thursday, will be our last day of work. Going to treat the kids to the Grand Canyon tomorrow and maybe get home in time for Mother's Day.
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Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Day 1: The Trip to Gallup and Back
Day 1: 666 miles from 95472 to Kingman, Arizona. They don't recycle here. Pity. It doesn't pay, though, with all this land.
I drove most of the time. 11 hours. Ethan drove for a little while but a CHP pulled out and it gave us both an adrenaline rush. Let's say he's ticket challenged and I don't want to see him get any more. (Gotta get him to a track!)
Beautiful vistas here. Lousy coffee at the Super 8. Good thing we all have low expectations of Super 8.
Rest Stops closed yesterday in both California and Arizona: how to save some money.
334 miles today to get to Gallup, NM; no one's up at 8am. Oy. I've already done my "things," some stretching, synced my iPod Touch (which I just got last week and really like thank you....so much cleaner and easier than my Blackberry).
I'm thankful for a good car with good seats: thank you Swedes and Volvo: injured my back two weeks ago and these long times in the car are...challenging. Feel old sometimes.
I'm wondering how much gas we're burning to get to the Navajo Land so that we can help them fix some houses that have been neglected. And, for those who are reading this, this is me being positive and grateful. I am.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Oy: Finally getting out the invitations for this event in July. Community Building: the way to be.
http://ping.fm/3YsO8
http://ping.fm/3YsO8
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Quail Don't Know About DST
Sometimes...It Takes Me a Minute...
This morning, I was peering over the top of my monitor to the gentle slope above my house. The quail were quietly and peacefully eating the seed I had spread yesterday.
Occasionally irritated by a scrub jay, they would return to their feeding. I looked at the clock: they were late: it was 10:45am. Hmm, what's going on?
Yes, they normally come around 9:30am but...quail don't know about Daylight Savings Time. I had forgotten about the clock change. Bully for them.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
I Had a Dream
Good morning,
I had a dream this morning before I woke. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with Community Building so I wanted to share it.
In the dream, I'm an observer of a presentation by a company that reviews high tech products. The Vice President of the tech-review company was making a presentation to one of its clients. (I have no idea what they did but, somehow, I was invited to participate.)
After some brief remarks standing, the VP sits down in a comfy chair -- obviously one that she has transported there -- and begins "emptying" in traditional CB methods. She talks about a woman who stuck out her tongue in defiance. Then, she proceeds to tell us that she was scared to come here today; she didn't know what to expect and thought she might not be received well.
She's almost in a reclining position as she's speaking; her feet are on an ottoman. And, all eyes are riveted on her. I hear someone close to me start crying; the cryer has obviously been moved and is touched by what the VP is saying.
I'm incredulous: I look at the VP speaking and I think "I have to share this with my CB friends....there's a company out there that practices CB methods: authentic communications...and...they make money doing this..."
I focus back on the situation, leaving the daydream within the dream, and I now hear 20 children -- of all colors and sizes -- singing. Other observers are being moved to tears, too. I peek through a lot of bodies to see the children: they're happy.
Somehow, I understand that this is what they do: they, even the children, review high-tech products and build community. That's what they do in their company. And, then, they take that "show" to their clients who subscribe to their services.
I awoke. My cat wanted breakfast and was waiting over me, wanting to get in her early morning "rubs." The image of the children singing is still vivid in my head. I must do something related to community building today.
Thanks for reading.
George
I had a dream this morning before I woke. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with Community Building so I wanted to share it.
In the dream, I'm an observer of a presentation by a company that reviews high tech products. The Vice President of the tech-review company was making a presentation to one of its clients. (I have no idea what they did but, somehow, I was invited to participate.)
After some brief remarks standing, the VP sits down in a comfy chair -- obviously one that she has transported there -- and begins "emptying" in traditional CB methods. She talks about a woman who stuck out her tongue in defiance. Then, she proceeds to tell us that she was scared to come here today; she didn't know what to expect and thought she might not be received well.
She's almost in a reclining position as she's speaking; her feet are on an ottoman. And, all eyes are riveted on her. I hear someone close to me start crying; the cryer has obviously been moved and is touched by what the VP is saying.
I'm incredulous: I look at the VP speaking and I think "I have to share this with my CB friends....there's a company out there that practices CB methods: authentic communications...and...they make money doing this..."
I focus back on the situation, leaving the daydream within the dream, and I now hear 20 children -- of all colors and sizes -- singing. Other observers are being moved to tears, too. I peek through a lot of bodies to see the children: they're happy.
Somehow, I understand that this is what they do: they, even the children, review high-tech products and build community. That's what they do in their company. And, then, they take that "show" to their clients who subscribe to their services.
I awoke. My cat wanted breakfast and was waiting over me, wanting to get in her early morning "rubs." The image of the children singing is still vivid in my head. I must do something related to community building today.
Thanks for reading.
George
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Without Inspiration
In the Absence
What do I write about when there's no inspiration to write?
Some would tell me to "shut up" if I've got nothing to say. But, this situation provides an interesting place to study: where can inspiration be located in the brain? Well, without the cerebellum, that little regulator down below, the question wouldn't matter: I couldn't move my fingers, beat my heart, or run my lungs.
I'm sick and been in bed all day. Napping, watching movies, TV shows on Netflix and...there's almost no way for me to summon up any energy to write about something important. So, this is what I get: the doldrums.
So, is inspiration located somewhere in the pre-frontal cortex, something we share with other organisms? Have you ever seen those videos of ravens curling themselves up and rolling down a hill in the snow? I'd call that inspired.
I've got a movie playing on the other screen: Anthony Hopkins playing an old man who set land speed records on a motorcycle: it's good for distraction. And, my eyes aren't quite working right -- yes, I've cleaned my glasses -- so I've come to not mind that things are fuzzy; must be the sickness or comes along with the doldrums.
So, maybe tomorrow, things will be different. Perhaps, I'll be visited by a little visitor that helps needy people just like me: inspiration.
What do I write about when there's no inspiration to write?
Some would tell me to "shut up" if I've got nothing to say. But, this situation provides an interesting place to study: where can inspiration be located in the brain? Well, without the cerebellum, that little regulator down below, the question wouldn't matter: I couldn't move my fingers, beat my heart, or run my lungs.
I'm sick and been in bed all day. Napping, watching movies, TV shows on Netflix and...there's almost no way for me to summon up any energy to write about something important. So, this is what I get: the doldrums.
So, is inspiration located somewhere in the pre-frontal cortex, something we share with other organisms? Have you ever seen those videos of ravens curling themselves up and rolling down a hill in the snow? I'd call that inspired.
I've got a movie playing on the other screen: Anthony Hopkins playing an old man who set land speed records on a motorcycle: it's good for distraction. And, my eyes aren't quite working right -- yes, I've cleaned my glasses -- so I've come to not mind that things are fuzzy; must be the sickness or comes along with the doldrums.
So, maybe tomorrow, things will be different. Perhaps, I'll be visited by a little visitor that helps needy people just like me: inspiration.
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