Humans spend their entire lives discontent.....
Eve wanted the fruit she could not have...
People want what their neighbors have....
Workers want to retire....
Retirees want to find something to do....
Losing teams want to win....
Winning teams fondly remember working hard to improve....
Kids want to grow up.....
Grown ups want to be kids....
I realized this today as I was looking for something to do. There were days where I went to work wanting to just sit or do something else and now I want to work. I've been driving Katie nuts with cleaning around the house in between my applications for work. Mostly, I just need to learn to be content and live well where I am and strive to improve.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Everything else takes a backburner...
Well, I was laid off from work this past Tuesday. I had spent a little more than 9 years at Lincoln Plating Company/Lincoln Industries, but proved to be expendable when it came down to the bottom-line.
When people at Lincoln Industries were first informed of the layoffs (over a week ago today), we were told that it was not our fault that 40-80 people would be let go and that LI wanted to preserve everyone's dignity. They rolled out their 6 catagories which you would be scored on...to determine if your score made you valuable enough for the company to keep through an economic downturn. In the end, it just seemed like a corporate, real-life version of "lifeboat." You know, "lifeboat"...the game you probably played in 1980s middle school. A boat sinks, there's one lifeboat that holds 5 people and there are 10 survivors and you have to decide who is worthy enough to go on the lifeboat. I quickly found out if I was worthy enough....
Plus, Lincoln Industries kept everything very hushed and secretive as the layoffs were happening. People were being quietly tapped on the shoulder with no advance notice. A quiet whisper of , "We need to see you regarding the Reduction In Force", or RIF in corporate acronym/jargon. After you were told and had to sit through a 15 minute review of all the paper work by our HR department, they would say, "We can arrange a time after hours to come gather your belongings." My response: if I've done nothing wrong, then I will collect my things now. Agreed. Then, you were quietly led to get a box, quietly led to your desk or area, someone stood there while you quietly packed the box, you were quietly escorted to the door (so I wouldn't cause an incident or become violent...even though I have no history of it in my entire 9 years there) and that was it. I did not feel like my dignity was left intact. Instead, I felt like I was part of a family trying to keep quiet a dirty family secret, like sending a teenage daughter to a home to have a baby or arranging for an abortion very quietly. What LI wanted to preserve was their dignity and did not give a rip about anyone else's.
Needless to say, the house we intended to buy is off now. We are now in a fight to prove I was laid off "legally" (or, prove to the sellers I did not take a voluntary severance or quit) so we can get our $1000 earnest money back. Ironically enough, I need to enlist the help of LI human resources, who failed to fill in a date on one of the letters in my "separation" packet. Wish me well on that.
The only blessings of this is that Katie and I had not closed on the house yet and we know that God has something better out there. He is not vindictive, we will learn something from this and we will be better of for it. Just read Job.
When people at Lincoln Industries were first informed of the layoffs (over a week ago today), we were told that it was not our fault that 40-80 people would be let go and that LI wanted to preserve everyone's dignity. They rolled out their 6 catagories which you would be scored on...to determine if your score made you valuable enough for the company to keep through an economic downturn. In the end, it just seemed like a corporate, real-life version of "lifeboat." You know, "lifeboat"...the game you probably played in 1980s middle school. A boat sinks, there's one lifeboat that holds 5 people and there are 10 survivors and you have to decide who is worthy enough to go on the lifeboat. I quickly found out if I was worthy enough....
Plus, Lincoln Industries kept everything very hushed and secretive as the layoffs were happening. People were being quietly tapped on the shoulder with no advance notice. A quiet whisper of , "We need to see you regarding the Reduction In Force", or RIF in corporate acronym/jargon. After you were told and had to sit through a 15 minute review of all the paper work by our HR department, they would say, "We can arrange a time after hours to come gather your belongings." My response: if I've done nothing wrong, then I will collect my things now. Agreed. Then, you were quietly led to get a box, quietly led to your desk or area, someone stood there while you quietly packed the box, you were quietly escorted to the door (so I wouldn't cause an incident or become violent...even though I have no history of it in my entire 9 years there) and that was it. I did not feel like my dignity was left intact. Instead, I felt like I was part of a family trying to keep quiet a dirty family secret, like sending a teenage daughter to a home to have a baby or arranging for an abortion very quietly. What LI wanted to preserve was their dignity and did not give a rip about anyone else's.
Needless to say, the house we intended to buy is off now. We are now in a fight to prove I was laid off "legally" (or, prove to the sellers I did not take a voluntary severance or quit) so we can get our $1000 earnest money back. Ironically enough, I need to enlist the help of LI human resources, who failed to fill in a date on one of the letters in my "separation" packet. Wish me well on that.
The only blessings of this is that Katie and I had not closed on the house yet and we know that God has something better out there. He is not vindictive, we will learn something from this and we will be better of for it. Just read Job.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
2009 Varsity and JV are Up and Running...
Well, we started out well yesterday. Defense and goal keeping looked strong. If there had been better footing (the field was very dirty and muddy -- super slippery), we probably could have put a few more in the back of the net. But, we'll take a 6-1 loss to the defending state champs. Almost all of their scores were on transition. We only allowed 1 goal from a settled defense. In fact, they didn't even score until 7:30min into the game. Then , there was the second game. I'm not sure if we were tired or we ate too much for lunch, but it was ugly. A lot of penalties, not enough ground balls and not enough shots on goal.
JV was encouraging to watch. We have a few diamonds in the rough who will be very good once they get their stick mechanics down. They lost 4-3, but I did a count and we had 5 kids on the field who had never even played an actual lacrosse game - either no expereince or old Lincoln Parks and Rec experience. JV will be good in a few weeks.
I am tyring to heavily emphasize playing boldly, with dignity and class and to the best of our ability on to the team. We received very good compliments from all of our opponents yesterday, saying that we played tough, but with class -- just as important as a "W". I'm really trying to impress my Christian life on to the team through example and actions. Just trying to remember the words of St. Francis -- preach the gospel and use words if necessary.
Later.
JV was encouraging to watch. We have a few diamonds in the rough who will be very good once they get their stick mechanics down. They lost 4-3, but I did a count and we had 5 kids on the field who had never even played an actual lacrosse game - either no expereince or old Lincoln Parks and Rec experience. JV will be good in a few weeks.
I am tyring to heavily emphasize playing boldly, with dignity and class and to the best of our ability on to the team. We received very good compliments from all of our opponents yesterday, saying that we played tough, but with class -- just as important as a "W". I'm really trying to impress my Christian life on to the team through example and actions. Just trying to remember the words of St. Francis -- preach the gospel and use words if necessary.
Later.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
It's Been a While
Well, we're half way through summer and it just doesn't seem like it. Living in Nebraska, days are supposed to be in the upper 90's and humid with not much rain during a given week starting in mid-June. So far, it has stayed in the upper 80's (sometimes 70's) and has rained A LOT! This is a good thing, since the Husker State tends to be pretty dry, but there has got to be a good balance. Anyway....
We're still adjusting to Katie working as an RN in a local ICU. She has training and orientation for critical care until early September, so we're still dealing with a schedule which varies each week. Once Kate is all done, she will go to a night schedule (it was her choice). I am dealing with hearing stories about traumas - ugh. But, it is fun to see how much Katie loves what she does.
The kids have been in a day camp all summer and have loved it. They're gotten to goto Memorial Stadium here in Lincoln, see the baseball park where Nebr and our local single A baseball team play, been to the US Roller Skating Museum and Hall of Fame (yes, one does exist) and have been taking swimming lessons among many others things.
My geezer lacrosse team - the Omaha Rhinos West - wrapped up their season this past Saturday in Kansas City. We had a double header and technically lost both. For the first, we forfeited to Wichita because half our team was 30 minutes late due to road construction. But, they still wanted to play once we got there and we beat them. What do they say about moral victories? We were pretty much ticked so it gave us motivation.
I also gearing up to resume theology at my church this Saturday. A few have mentioned that they miss my "unique" perspective, i.e. reformed theology at a dispensational bible church. But, everyone has been kind and there haven't been any nasty debates.
I am also gearing up for Lincoln Lacrosse's fall season.
That's catching everyone one up.
We're still adjusting to Katie working as an RN in a local ICU. She has training and orientation for critical care until early September, so we're still dealing with a schedule which varies each week. Once Kate is all done, she will go to a night schedule (it was her choice). I am dealing with hearing stories about traumas - ugh. But, it is fun to see how much Katie loves what she does.
The kids have been in a day camp all summer and have loved it. They're gotten to goto Memorial Stadium here in Lincoln, see the baseball park where Nebr and our local single A baseball team play, been to the US Roller Skating Museum and Hall of Fame (yes, one does exist) and have been taking swimming lessons among many others things.
My geezer lacrosse team - the Omaha Rhinos West - wrapped up their season this past Saturday in Kansas City. We had a double header and technically lost both. For the first, we forfeited to Wichita because half our team was 30 minutes late due to road construction. But, they still wanted to play once we got there and we beat them. What do they say about moral victories? We were pretty much ticked so it gave us motivation.
I also gearing up to resume theology at my church this Saturday. A few have mentioned that they miss my "unique" perspective, i.e. reformed theology at a dispensational bible church. But, everyone has been kind and there haven't been any nasty debates.
I am also gearing up for Lincoln Lacrosse's fall season.
That's catching everyone one up.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Nope - No lacrosse in this one
Well, yesterday was a busy day. It was father's day (I have a 9 year old daughter and a 6 year old son) and it was my son's birthday. He was pretty excited -- woke up at 7am (on a Sunday) to announce to me that, "Dad, I'm six today!" He was really excited for the gifts he got (a lot of Transformers and Indiana Jones Legos) and to eat out at a restaurant where they would sing to him. He specifically told Katie that he wanted that and he picked Red Robin.
It was a fairly good father's day, too. My in-laws were over and we gave him a handmade bean bag toss game. Or, "cornhole", as it is called in Indiana apparently. Yeeahhh, we'll leave it at that. The bean bag toss game was fun.
Well, we'll catch you up on lacrosse stuff later.
It was a fairly good father's day, too. My in-laws were over and we gave him a handmade bean bag toss game. Or, "cornhole", as it is called in Indiana apparently. Yeeahhh, we'll leave it at that. The bean bag toss game was fun.
Well, we'll catch you up on lacrosse stuff later.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
I'm Old and Rusty
Well, I played in my first Omaha Rhinos "West" game today (I haven't played an official game of lacrosse since at Purdue 14 years ago!). Two things: I can confirm that I am almost 33 years old now and that I need to re-learn the game from a player's perspective. I've spent the last three years coaching, but now realize all of the little things I can pass on which I see during a game - defensive slides, offensive players off of the ball cutting in to the goal, etc.
And, the Lincoln Lacrosse season wraps up tomorrow (June 9th). We play our first varsity game and we are hosting. I have a good feeling about this one.
And, my wife starts her new job at Bryan LGH West trauma tomorrow. We are both very excited - she is going to be a great nurse.
I'll have another update after our game tomorrow!
And, the Lincoln Lacrosse season wraps up tomorrow (June 9th). We play our first varsity game and we are hosting. I have a good feeling about this one.
And, my wife starts her new job at Bryan LGH West trauma tomorrow. We are both very excited - she is going to be a great nurse.
I'll have another update after our game tomorrow!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Now What...?!
Well, two more practices, one more game and Lincoln Lacrosse is off until Sept. 15th for a short fall season. Also, Lincoln schools are out and my kids looking forward to day camp with LOTS of field trips and activities all summer. Plus, my wife is fresh out of UNMC nursing school with her BSN and a new certificate from the state of Nebraska. I liken it to the tornadoes which recently came through central Nebraska -- you see the storm coming, weather it and then it is all over. What do I do now? Sure, I will play ball with the Omaha Rhinos West team until late July (that should be fun in upper 90s Nebraska heat!), but then what? I've spent the last three plus years of my life with the goal of getting my wife through school and it's done. But...now what? Catch up my theology which has lagged? Work on my individual stick skills?....wait, I'm a denfenseman...never mind. Go back to school myself? Only time will tell.
Season recap: Mark Churchill and I went in with a simple goal - teach 16-18 guys NCAA-rules lacrosse (for the most part). Half the team had been through a local parks and rec program (more similar to the women's game) and the other half had never caught a ball or touched a stick. So, even though we are sitting at 0-10 with 1 more game to go, I can still announce: mission accomplished. We now have a team that can play zone defense, knows how to set up and run a 222 offense, executes man-ball (most of the time) and even knows how to set a pick! So, mission accomplished!
Season recap: Mark Churchill and I went in with a simple goal - teach 16-18 guys NCAA-rules lacrosse (for the most part). Half the team had been through a local parks and rec program (more similar to the women's game) and the other half had never caught a ball or touched a stick. So, even though we are sitting at 0-10 with 1 more game to go, I can still announce: mission accomplished. We now have a team that can play zone defense, knows how to set up and run a 222 offense, executes man-ball (most of the time) and even knows how to set a pick! So, mission accomplished!
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