Wow, three years and I have let this just wither on the vine. Well, a lot has happened in these last three years.
One: I have now struck off on my own. Roadwolf Design is officially my central focus (although has been always in the background plugging along, I can now devote more time to it). Not only that, but more ventures are coming soon.
Two: As I left my previous job of 12 years, I realized that life was just passing me by, that I was existing for security and complacency. This life is all that you get, so I wasn't going to let regret continue to weigh me down. Plus, I had moved in a direction that was no longer compatible with the stated mission of the organization. It became harder and harder to deal with the internal politics of a place that ran counter to everything that I believed in. So, better to cut my losses and leave on my terms. And the funny thing, everyone that really knows me sees that I have never been happier. Cristi has repeatedly said so.
Three: Last year was a tough one from a friendship standpoint. I personally lost three friends in my motorcycling community. One in a tragic accident that I was on hand to see. The second in a remote part of the country and third, the closest to me and my friends, to an illness. All this sharpened my decision to start living in the way that I had to finally come to grips with. Life is precious and all you have is the moment, and when you think of that, that moment is gone. I saw things differently after all that transpired last year.
Four: My kids are growing up fast. Where has the time gone? And they are developing their own personalities and characteristics. My daughter is always dancing and moving, to her own beat. Plus, she loves to read, which is awesome. My son is a thinker and builder, always trying to figure out how something works. Sometimes with not so good results.
Five: The future is unknown and being made everyday. I have some trepidation of what is coming for this year with having thrown away the safety net. Who knows what is coming? The only certainty right now is the uncertainty. But also the confidence and assurance that I will look back on this time and be glad that I started this new trail off of the main road. Taking the less illuminated road is never easy. Never has been.
I will keep this updated fairly regularly now, as I think it is a good marker of the progress.
Until then...
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Monday, May 28, 2012
This Memorial Day has me thinking...
About my dad who is no longer with me, having died of cancer 10 years ago next month. He served in the US Navy for almost 23 years. When he left the service in 1975, he started life anew in the civilian world. It was not kind to him. The corporate world proved to be his undoing as he fought for survival as a man in his forties starting over again. He went to college, got his degree and then moved the family twice before settling down for the scraps that the work world had for a man in his late fifties.
Still, in the end, he survived to see his son get married to a firebrand. If only he could have been alive to see his granddaughter and grandson. That would have made his day. Especially MacKinnon, he would have loved. I bet he would see a lot of me in him, his love of cars and all things that go boom!
But another thing that has me thinking...
The need for a Memorial Day at all... it just leaves me sad to think of the lives that are gone forever, fighting for lands in the sand and on a map. Violence on a the state scale... has always been, probably will always be. But still, it saddens me to think of the futility of it all when you think that men and women and national treasure are squandered so often, so cavalierly to in the end a pointless exercise in oneupsmanship. Backers of nationalism always point out that national defense is no vice. It is patriotism at it's zenith. I beg to differ. True patriotism is defined not in us versus them but in "us." The leaders of countries that are against our national interests (whatever those may be, and I assure you, so often those interests run counter to the American ideal) are often at odds with their populace. We do ourselves no favors by waging war against countries that in every chance they could get would love to sit down with American citizens and have a dialogue. Our American Exceptionalism and brio are akin to putting one's foot in the mouth. They are cancer to the global community and when they are finally purged from our psyche, either by our decline or by defeat in battle, we will be better off.
The sight of remembrances on this Memorial Day is a double edged sword. On one hand, it is fitting to pay homage to those that have died in their service to the country. But on the other hand, we are commemorating the larger picture of the use of force to establish the American Way, to bring empire to the world and to be the City on the Hill. Only this Hill is but a slight rise on the garbage heap of the 20th and 21st century of mass killings, secret killings and indefinite detentions all in the name of our freedom.
Pardon me if I don't partake in it all. My father and I disagreed on this vehemently towards the latter part of his years. But he also understood where I came from, as did I. I wonder what he would think ultimately about all this modern day Memorial Day remembrances, in light of what we are doing as a nation globally.
I don't think he would approve. It is often said that only the non-veteran favors entering into conflict because those that have seen war firsthand do not enter it lightly nor again.
Miss you Dad.
About my dad who is no longer with me, having died of cancer 10 years ago next month. He served in the US Navy for almost 23 years. When he left the service in 1975, he started life anew in the civilian world. It was not kind to him. The corporate world proved to be his undoing as he fought for survival as a man in his forties starting over again. He went to college, got his degree and then moved the family twice before settling down for the scraps that the work world had for a man in his late fifties.
Still, in the end, he survived to see his son get married to a firebrand. If only he could have been alive to see his granddaughter and grandson. That would have made his day. Especially MacKinnon, he would have loved. I bet he would see a lot of me in him, his love of cars and all things that go boom!
But another thing that has me thinking...
The need for a Memorial Day at all... it just leaves me sad to think of the lives that are gone forever, fighting for lands in the sand and on a map. Violence on a the state scale... has always been, probably will always be. But still, it saddens me to think of the futility of it all when you think that men and women and national treasure are squandered so often, so cavalierly to in the end a pointless exercise in oneupsmanship. Backers of nationalism always point out that national defense is no vice. It is patriotism at it's zenith. I beg to differ. True patriotism is defined not in us versus them but in "us." The leaders of countries that are against our national interests (whatever those may be, and I assure you, so often those interests run counter to the American ideal) are often at odds with their populace. We do ourselves no favors by waging war against countries that in every chance they could get would love to sit down with American citizens and have a dialogue. Our American Exceptionalism and brio are akin to putting one's foot in the mouth. They are cancer to the global community and when they are finally purged from our psyche, either by our decline or by defeat in battle, we will be better off.
The sight of remembrances on this Memorial Day is a double edged sword. On one hand, it is fitting to pay homage to those that have died in their service to the country. But on the other hand, we are commemorating the larger picture of the use of force to establish the American Way, to bring empire to the world and to be the City on the Hill. Only this Hill is but a slight rise on the garbage heap of the 20th and 21st century of mass killings, secret killings and indefinite detentions all in the name of our freedom.
Pardon me if I don't partake in it all. My father and I disagreed on this vehemently towards the latter part of his years. But he also understood where I came from, as did I. I wonder what he would think ultimately about all this modern day Memorial Day remembrances, in light of what we are doing as a nation globally.
I don't think he would approve. It is often said that only the non-veteran favors entering into conflict because those that have seen war firsthand do not enter it lightly nor again.
Miss you Dad.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The title says it all:
Usually I like to stir it up on Facebook with my conservative friends/frenemies, but this was too direct and in your face that it would more than likely tick them off. This article dovetails nicely with my own thoughts based on my own life observations. And I have found this to be pretty accurate. The thrust of the article states that low IQ and Conservative Ideology lead to prejudicial views of other classes of people.
Truer words have never been said.
While the article gives exceptions to the rule, it does correlate to what most people with an inkling of common sense and observational skills can tell you: you lead a sheltered life and aren't intellectually curious, you are more predisposed to be prejudiced and ignorant of other views in the world.
The rest of the story goes into much further depth here:
Link
What is really telling is that I used to be sort of like this many years ago, when I held to a religiously influenced conservative ideology. I outgrew it and most of those tendencies. I have, from time to time, recognized some of the leftovers of that period in my personality to this day. It is almost subconscious and insidious and I try to be cognizant of this mindset. But that I realize it is really a very important first step. I have found that as I search out new ways of thinking outside of the box, the less likely I am to harbor negative feelings and attitudes towards my fellow man (although my ire towards conservatives gets the better of me at times). But this is also kept in check because my thought on that mindset is that I used to be them and I understand the mentality.
All in all, a very interesting study in the article.
Truer words have never been said.
While the article gives exceptions to the rule, it does correlate to what most people with an inkling of common sense and observational skills can tell you: you lead a sheltered life and aren't intellectually curious, you are more predisposed to be prejudiced and ignorant of other views in the world.
The rest of the story goes into much further depth here:
Link
What is really telling is that I used to be sort of like this many years ago, when I held to a religiously influenced conservative ideology. I outgrew it and most of those tendencies. I have, from time to time, recognized some of the leftovers of that period in my personality to this day. It is almost subconscious and insidious and I try to be cognizant of this mindset. But that I realize it is really a very important first step. I have found that as I search out new ways of thinking outside of the box, the less likely I am to harbor negative feelings and attitudes towards my fellow man (although my ire towards conservatives gets the better of me at times). But this is also kept in check because my thought on that mindset is that I used to be them and I understand the mentality.
All in all, a very interesting study in the article.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
It's been a while, hasn't it...
A couple of years have come and gone since I last left some thoughts here on the Lair...
And a very interesting couple of years it has been...
1. Mainly, important decisions concerning the big picture have been undertaken... life changing ones and all for the better. When I am free to spill the beans, it will be a huge load off my chest.
2. MacKinnon Dax Parker and his big sister, Danica, are consuming more of my time, both in the good times and the bad. But in the end, this father thing is working out so far. Been the toughest thing that I have ever done. And having a son who loves his dad's love of motorcycling is pretty cool! I think I may have a fellow rider in the future. That would be a blast, tearing up the roads when he is old enough to ride (and only if he WANTS to).
3. Been really pouring on the extra work... making great strides in stretching my talents to bring in some really nice work. Thanks to some really fine people who have fished me this work, I can't thank them enough.
4. Some old legacy items in the brain have finally settled and are sorted through. Retrospection has helped me rethink the future and what needs to be done going forward... I have learned a lot about myself, especially these last 6 months. And I thank some key friends who have helped sort out these areas. They know who they are. And here is to some new ones.
5. Finally, I think that I need to spend more time here in the coming weeks, to share some thoughts and ideas about life, the big picture and even the small things, stuff like when it makes my day to see my son walking past me in the hall and does a big circle wave with one arm and says "Hello Dad-da!". From a two year old, no less.
Well, paying jobs require my full attention. Until next time....
Chris
And a very interesting couple of years it has been...
1. Mainly, important decisions concerning the big picture have been undertaken... life changing ones and all for the better. When I am free to spill the beans, it will be a huge load off my chest.
2. MacKinnon Dax Parker and his big sister, Danica, are consuming more of my time, both in the good times and the bad. But in the end, this father thing is working out so far. Been the toughest thing that I have ever done. And having a son who loves his dad's love of motorcycling is pretty cool! I think I may have a fellow rider in the future. That would be a blast, tearing up the roads when he is old enough to ride (and only if he WANTS to).
3. Been really pouring on the extra work... making great strides in stretching my talents to bring in some really nice work. Thanks to some really fine people who have fished me this work, I can't thank them enough.
4. Some old legacy items in the brain have finally settled and are sorted through. Retrospection has helped me rethink the future and what needs to be done going forward... I have learned a lot about myself, especially these last 6 months. And I thank some key friends who have helped sort out these areas. They know who they are. And here is to some new ones.
5. Finally, I think that I need to spend more time here in the coming weeks, to share some thoughts and ideas about life, the big picture and even the small things, stuff like when it makes my day to see my son walking past me in the hall and does a big circle wave with one arm and says "Hello Dad-da!". From a two year old, no less.
Well, paying jobs require my full attention. Until next time....
Chris
Sunday, July 4, 2010
July 4th... Independence Day and thoughts on America
Here it is... another run around the sun and another July 4th...
Found an interesting perspective on the America that so many Americans hold dear... from a Canadian. And I whole heartedly agree with his perspective:
www.ianwelsh.net/america-cannot-be-america-at-perpetual-war/
It would be a great day, more than just on the Fourth of July even, when citizens of the United States of America could adopt this perspective. Only then will the promise of America ring true to the rest of the world.
Found an interesting perspective on the America that so many Americans hold dear... from a Canadian. And I whole heartedly agree with his perspective:
www.ianwelsh.net/america-cannot-be-america-at-perpetual-war/
It would be a great day, more than just on the Fourth of July even, when citizens of the United States of America could adopt this perspective. Only then will the promise of America ring true to the rest of the world.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Rules of the Road...
Okay... vent time (and this is really only therapy for me...)
Rules of the road:
1. Turn Signals, use 'em SC drivers. It's not that hard. If I can use my left hand to clutch, right hand to activate the front brake, my left foot to shift, and right foot to activate the rear brake AND STILL use my turn signal, you really have no excuse. Come on.
2. The left lane is for passing, not for cruising. If you are in the left lane, you'd better be passing a vehicle to your right. Slower traffic keep right, you know, like the rest of the civilized world has mastered. Flash to pass, get it?
3. Look both ways before making a move, the life you save may not be just your own. Especially look out for the guy in your rear left quarter panel who is trying to get home to his family.
4. Put the cell phone, the makeup, the Quarter Pounder, and the "Kid in your lap?!" down where they belong and just... wait for it... DRIVE!
5. Just because someone does not take up their whole lane does that make it an engraved invitation for you to come over and give them a closer look at 65 mph. That lane is legally mine bud.
6. Seat belts. Use them. It's the law. I really don't care to be hit by your body-turned-projectile. Nuff said.
Well, that is it. All is well now.
Good Evening and Good Luck.
Rules of the road:
1. Turn Signals, use 'em SC drivers. It's not that hard. If I can use my left hand to clutch, right hand to activate the front brake, my left foot to shift, and right foot to activate the rear brake AND STILL use my turn signal, you really have no excuse. Come on.
2. The left lane is for passing, not for cruising. If you are in the left lane, you'd better be passing a vehicle to your right. Slower traffic keep right, you know, like the rest of the civilized world has mastered. Flash to pass, get it?
3. Look both ways before making a move, the life you save may not be just your own. Especially look out for the guy in your rear left quarter panel who is trying to get home to his family.
4. Put the cell phone, the makeup, the Quarter Pounder, and the "Kid in your lap?!" down where they belong and just... wait for it... DRIVE!
5. Just because someone does not take up their whole lane does that make it an engraved invitation for you to come over and give them a closer look at 65 mph. That lane is legally mine bud.
6. Seat belts. Use them. It's the law. I really don't care to be hit by your body-turned-projectile. Nuff said.
Well, that is it. All is well now.
Good Evening and Good Luck.
Monday, July 27, 2009
I wish I could vote for this man if he were to run for office
Last week I heard Rick Steves interviewed on GritTV and was thoroughly impressed with his stories and anecdotes about his travels around the world, reporting for PBS.
Well, I just got this clip of him and his short take on our American Empire and how we are perceived by the rest of the world. I highly recommend watching it and hearing what he is saying.
I can relate as I come from another country where I still have relatives living there. Some of what he says rings true in my family's view of America and what we have become know the world over for. I could say more, but I will let Rick speak for me, far more eloquently. As an aside, he is reputed considering running for a U.S. Representative district seat in Washington state. If only we could have a more open minded candidate for office here in South Carolina (Unlike Bob Inglis or our two Senators DeMint or Graham).
Well, I just got this clip of him and his short take on our American Empire and how we are perceived by the rest of the world. I highly recommend watching it and hearing what he is saying.
I can relate as I come from another country where I still have relatives living there. Some of what he says rings true in my family's view of America and what we have become know the world over for. I could say more, but I will let Rick speak for me, far more eloquently. As an aside, he is reputed considering running for a U.S. Representative district seat in Washington state. If only we could have a more open minded candidate for office here in South Carolina (Unlike Bob Inglis or our two Senators DeMint or Graham).
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