Merry Christmas

I just wanted to tell everyone Merry Christmas. Well... and Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends.

MAVERICK PRIDE

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt

April 23, 1910

The Mavericks lost to Tularosa 35 - 0 today, but aside from the agony of defeat that I am sure you are feeling right now, in the long run you are champions. Yes this is a cold comfort I am sure, but you are great. The last game did not end like we wanted it to, but I.. WE are proud of you. It is not an easy task to win as much as you did, and you are to be congratulated. Your spirit of team pride carries on with the whole town of Lordsburg. "Winning isn't everything," that is a phrase you will hear, but don't think it a meaningless saying. Many wars were won after a number of lost battles. Just look at the big picture, and you will see that this is true even here. Did you gain from this season, and did you learn something? This was a defining moment, that shows character, and in a defining moment either you define the moment or the moment defines you. In the face of defeat, did you try? Did you do all you could do? Just getting there showed you tried, and I am sure you did all you could do. It is possible to make NO mistakes, and still fall short. In defeat did you show the character of a champion? That is what you are. You left here champions, our champions, to face another town's champions. When you return you will still be our champions. Don't forget that. To try and fail does not define a loser, that is a trait revealed in the character and attitude of the one who fell. Are you going to let it make you a loser? That is up to you.You went there a champion, and even though you fell short, a champion you will remain. The lion may one day fall, but if he does fall, he fell a lion. Trophies are great, but in the end it is what is in your heart that you take with you.

Thankful

I have been thinking that I have left my blog alone for quite some time, and need to update. Things here are going good. We are getting ready for thanksgiving, and Christmas. It has been a pretty good year for the most part. We are blessed.

I am thankful for my family. Those that are still here, and those that have gone on. I am thankful for my health and my infirmities, one showing my strength, and the other making me stronger. I am thankful for my job, and the living it has provided for me and my family. I am thankful for my house, and my home. I am thankful for my freedom, and the blood that paid for it. I am thankful for my soul and for the blood that paid for it. I am thankful for a ton of little things that make my life easy, and for a ton of things that make my life hard. I am thankful every minute (nearly every minute), that I am alive, and thankful that I live (a separate thing entirely). I am thankful for a loving wife, and the understanding that she has. I am thankful every day that she is with me and stands by me. She supports me in the good and the bad that happens. I know I am not perfect. I am to hell and gone from perfect, but she bolsters me, supports me, and keeps my in check. Thank you Patti.

I imagine that I will spend the rest of my life working to pay off the foibles in my life, and if that is my lot, so be it. I may live from month to month, but in a larger sense (a BIG picture sense) I am rich. My life could not be any better, and I am thankful.

It is my prayer that all of you are as blessed and thankful too.

Veterans Day 11-11-09

The Mansions of the Lord

-

To fallen soldiers let us sing
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord
-
No more bleeding, no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
Just divine embrace, eternal light
In the Mansions of the Lord.
-
Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard though the angels sleep
On through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord.

-

Remembering those who have served, and those who have sacrificed on the battlefields and on the home front.

Thank you

Patti

Day after day I must face a world of strangers
Where I don't belong, I'm not that strong
It's nice to know that there's someone I can turn to
Who will always care, you're always there

When there's no getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you

So many times when the city seems to be without a friendly face
A lonely place
It's nice to know that you'll be there if I need you
And you'll always smile, it's all worthwhile

When there's no getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you

Touch me and I end up singing
Troubles seem to up and disappear
You touch me with the love you're bringing
I can't really lose when you're near

If all my friends have forgotten half their promises
They're not unkind, just hard to find
One look at you and I know that I could learn to live
Without the rest, I found the best

When there's no getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you

Deer of Higher Learning

WNMU has apparently gotten some unofficial mascots. A herd of deer were outside the PD building as I was leaving my class this evening. It was quite a surprise! At least with them hanging out on campus I won't be hitting them on the highway.

One Love

One Love! One Heart!

Let's get together and feel all right.

Hear the children cryin' (One Love!);

Hear the children cryin' (One Heart!),

Sayin': give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;

Sayin': let's get together and feel all right.

....

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One Love!);

There is one question I'd really love to ask (One Heart!):

Is there a place for the hopeless sinner,

Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs?

One Love! What about the one heart? One Heart!

What about - ? Let's get together and feel all right!

....

As it was in the beginning (One Love!);

So shall it be in the end (One Heart!),

All right!

Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;

Let's get together and feel all right.

....

One more thing!

Let's get together to fight this Holy Armagiddyon (One Love!),

So when the Man comes there will be no, no doom (One Song!).

Have pity on those whose chances grows t'inner;

There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation.

Sayin': One Love!

What about the One Heart? (One Heart!)

What about the - ? Let's get together and feel all right.

....

I'm pleadin' to mankind! (One Love!);

Oh, Lord!

(One Heart) Wo-ooh!

Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;

Let's get together and feel all right.

Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;

Let's get together and feel all right.

....

More and more I am liking Bob Marley.