We just came back from a weekend out of town. Tomorrow (Monday) is our 35th anniversary, so we spent the weekend in Northwest Kansas where we met and it all began. There was a bed and breakfast in the community and we stayed there, toured the town, reminisced, drove by places where we used to hang out, live, work, etc., and generally had a good time.
However, that place seemed to be a totally “other world” from what I now know. Always before when we would visit there for some reason, it seemed like a place that was inviting and comfortable. And although I felt comfortable and welcome there, it wasn’t quite the same as it had been before.
I don’t know what changed, but at the close of lunch with friends at a restaurant, I told my wife (quietly) that I was ready to go. As we left the restaurant, I told her that it was time to go home (meaning that I was ready to get back to where we live). I felt no “longing” to stay as the community receded in the rear-view mirror.
I may not be there yet, but one of these days I hope to be able to say the same things about going home to the place that Jesus is preparing for me. As the song says (I can’t remember its name), “There’s nothing to keep me here,” referring to making that final trip at death. The longer I live the more I understand that there really is nothing here that is so important that going home will have to wait.
All in all it was a great weekend of remembering, and sometimes forgetting what I should have remembered. We are blessed to have been able to do it and look forward to the next 35 years.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
A Sad Closing
So, the Crown Uptown Theater in Wichita is closing up. I read about that in today’s Wichita Eagle. That’s sad, but I can understand how, in this economy and with the death of Ted Morris some months ago how that could happen.
Mr. Morris was the driving force…creator, owner, and mover behind the Crown. His wife took over operations following his death, and said that she wanted to get out while she still had the money to pay bills, etc. She blamed the economy, but I suspect that they lost some customers due to Mr. Morris not being there any more. Others may not have bought seats figuring the performances somehow were not as good as before. I don’t think any of that would be true, but you know how illogical we consumers can be.
We weren’t regulars at the Crown, but we did attend from time to time and bought season tickets once or twice. Yes, it was somewhat pricey. One could easily spend a hundred dollars for a couple there in a night. But the live shows were, for the most part, well worth the money and the meals were usually good.
Not only is that one less venue for a night out, but it puts a number of people out of work in our community. I know we should be used to that by now, but I cringe a little each time I hear of layoffs here or closings there, knowing that there will be people filing for unemployment, hitting the streets (or the Internet) with a resume, or just wondering what to do next. I’ve been there, done that, and it isn’t fun.
I know they served alcohol there and some of their shows didn’t seem appropriate for my sense of “sensibility”. But to borrow a phrase from my brother, “You can’t sling a dead cat” without hitting a restaurant in Wichita that serves alcohol. One would have to eat at McDonalds or Burger King almost exclusively if one were to avoid the places that served alcohol. I don’t know about you, but I don’t care to try that.
One can also decide which shows to patronize and which to pass. That’s one reason we didn’t buy season tickets any more than we did. Some years the show line up didn’t have what we thought we wanted to see.
In any event, it’s a sadder day in this community because of the closing of the Crown. They worked hard there and it’s been a good run.
Mr. Morris was the driving force…creator, owner, and mover behind the Crown. His wife took over operations following his death, and said that she wanted to get out while she still had the money to pay bills, etc. She blamed the economy, but I suspect that they lost some customers due to Mr. Morris not being there any more. Others may not have bought seats figuring the performances somehow were not as good as before. I don’t think any of that would be true, but you know how illogical we consumers can be.
We weren’t regulars at the Crown, but we did attend from time to time and bought season tickets once or twice. Yes, it was somewhat pricey. One could easily spend a hundred dollars for a couple there in a night. But the live shows were, for the most part, well worth the money and the meals were usually good.
Not only is that one less venue for a night out, but it puts a number of people out of work in our community. I know we should be used to that by now, but I cringe a little each time I hear of layoffs here or closings there, knowing that there will be people filing for unemployment, hitting the streets (or the Internet) with a resume, or just wondering what to do next. I’ve been there, done that, and it isn’t fun.
I know they served alcohol there and some of their shows didn’t seem appropriate for my sense of “sensibility”. But to borrow a phrase from my brother, “You can’t sling a dead cat” without hitting a restaurant in Wichita that serves alcohol. One would have to eat at McDonalds or Burger King almost exclusively if one were to avoid the places that served alcohol. I don’t know about you, but I don’t care to try that.
One can also decide which shows to patronize and which to pass. That’s one reason we didn’t buy season tickets any more than we did. Some years the show line up didn’t have what we thought we wanted to see.
In any event, it’s a sadder day in this community because of the closing of the Crown. They worked hard there and it’s been a good run.
Friday, June 19, 2009
My Soapbox (Again)
As I understand it, statistically, about 2/3 of all Social Security disability benefit applications are initially denied for one reason or another. Of those who go ahead with the appeal process, about 2/3 are subsequently approved. Oh, another statistic. The normal backlog of disability claims is up to about 500 days, twice what it was several years ago.
Does this sound like your government doing all it can to serve you? Or does this sound like bureaucracy that is broken, yet going through the motions?
One more thing. Do you realize that this has been going on for years? This isn’t a recent thing. And those who are in charge have known about this problem for a long, long time and have yet to do anything to substantially change and improve the system.
I don’t often get on my soapbox in this blog, but this is worth mentioning. I don’t know if you’ve applied for disability benefits or if you will; but if you do, understand you have an uphill climb ahead. It’s no wonder that there are lawyers out there who advertise on TV saying that they can help you navigate the disability claims process. They’re probably needed in many cases so the ordinary person won’t make some error that will permanently bar them from the claims process.
I know the process needs to be strict enough to weed out those who would abuse the system. But isn’t there a way to do that, yet get the people who have need the benefits that they have coming to them? I don’t know the answer to that, but would hope that someone somehow would find out.
Does this sound like your government doing all it can to serve you? Or does this sound like bureaucracy that is broken, yet going through the motions?
One more thing. Do you realize that this has been going on for years? This isn’t a recent thing. And those who are in charge have known about this problem for a long, long time and have yet to do anything to substantially change and improve the system.
I don’t often get on my soapbox in this blog, but this is worth mentioning. I don’t know if you’ve applied for disability benefits or if you will; but if you do, understand you have an uphill climb ahead. It’s no wonder that there are lawyers out there who advertise on TV saying that they can help you navigate the disability claims process. They’re probably needed in many cases so the ordinary person won’t make some error that will permanently bar them from the claims process.
I know the process needs to be strict enough to weed out those who would abuse the system. But isn’t there a way to do that, yet get the people who have need the benefits that they have coming to them? I don’t know the answer to that, but would hope that someone somehow would find out.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Deeds Follow
I’m not sure what to make of those of you who never blog because you can’t find anything about which to write. Several times in the past few days I’ve run across something that prompts a thought that it might make for a good blog entry. Now, I’ll admit that when I actually sit down to write, that thought doesn’t seem nearly as good as it did when I first thought about it, but who’s counting.
I’ll not give you the specifics, but this past week at work I ran across a situation where the professional who installed an item knew at the time that he was installing it incorrectly (because of what it was, he HAD to have known), yet he installed it anyway and tried to cover what he did. This wasn’t just any yokel from down the street. If I told you the name of the plumbing and heating contractor that did this, you folks in the immediate Wichita area would know right away who it was.
In any event, I contacted the general contractor who did our building and let loose with one of my “not acceptable” speeches. The general contractor generously provided a man to contact the offending company, stay with the repairs, and make sure that they were done as they should have been done. They will even improve the installation with things not in the original plan at no cost to me.
I guess that’s OK, but that doesn’t change my perception of this plumbing/heating contractor as someone who just doesn’t give a rip. And it’s not just this incident, but others I’ve encountered over time that have solidified that perception in my mind. I’d not use him at my home if he would be the last heating guy in Wichita. I’d sooner shiver in a cold house than to use him. OK, well maybe not THAT, but close.
Why do people do things like that? What drives them to cut corners, do shoddy work, and cheat on something that should be done correctly? Is it greed? Stupidity? Ignorance? Laziness? I don’t know the answer to that, and I suspect it’s not quite that simple and easy. Nevertheless, it’s a pain in the rear to have to go back later on and fix what should have been done right the first time.
I know I’m not perfect. I know I’ve cut corners. I know I’ve been lazy. And I know that I’ve been stupid. Those times, however, were I believe few and far between. I was always taught to do it right and do my best, especially if someone else was paying for the service. By and large, I think I’ve tried to live that way.
I now wonder what else this contractor did at my workplace that is not up to snuff and that I will find one of these days. kind of makes one just a wee bit nervous. Thankfully, he is NOT working on our new facility in Derby. Someone else has that bid.
It really is true that our deeds follow us. I wonder why so many seem to have trouble believing that.
I’ll not give you the specifics, but this past week at work I ran across a situation where the professional who installed an item knew at the time that he was installing it incorrectly (because of what it was, he HAD to have known), yet he installed it anyway and tried to cover what he did. This wasn’t just any yokel from down the street. If I told you the name of the plumbing and heating contractor that did this, you folks in the immediate Wichita area would know right away who it was.
In any event, I contacted the general contractor who did our building and let loose with one of my “not acceptable” speeches. The general contractor generously provided a man to contact the offending company, stay with the repairs, and make sure that they were done as they should have been done. They will even improve the installation with things not in the original plan at no cost to me.
I guess that’s OK, but that doesn’t change my perception of this plumbing/heating contractor as someone who just doesn’t give a rip. And it’s not just this incident, but others I’ve encountered over time that have solidified that perception in my mind. I’d not use him at my home if he would be the last heating guy in Wichita. I’d sooner shiver in a cold house than to use him. OK, well maybe not THAT, but close.
Why do people do things like that? What drives them to cut corners, do shoddy work, and cheat on something that should be done correctly? Is it greed? Stupidity? Ignorance? Laziness? I don’t know the answer to that, and I suspect it’s not quite that simple and easy. Nevertheless, it’s a pain in the rear to have to go back later on and fix what should have been done right the first time.
I know I’m not perfect. I know I’ve cut corners. I know I’ve been lazy. And I know that I’ve been stupid. Those times, however, were I believe few and far between. I was always taught to do it right and do my best, especially if someone else was paying for the service. By and large, I think I’ve tried to live that way.
I now wonder what else this contractor did at my workplace that is not up to snuff and that I will find one of these days. kind of makes one just a wee bit nervous. Thankfully, he is NOT working on our new facility in Derby. Someone else has that bid.
It really is true that our deeds follow us. I wonder why so many seem to have trouble believing that.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Some Days
Sometimes, when one begins to complain about the weather, it pays to see what other people are dealing with weather-wise. The forecast for tomorrow (for the South Pole) is a high of 40 below with a chance of snow and overcast. The wind chill is expected to be about 86 below. Now, something like that immediately causes one to pause and be thankful for what seem to be the small things in life.
Today was OK for me regarding weather, but work was a bummer. It seems things are breaking faster than we can repair them. I know the building is only a year and a half old, but this is getting ridiculous. Part of the problem, as I found out today, is contractors that do a shoddy job and try to cover it up. It works for awhile, then something happens and everything goes down the tubes.
On a better note, we have a new housekeeper who seems to be doing a good job. She garnered three compliments today from different people, and seemed to pick up on the job rather quickly.
Now, before you go off and say, “It’s just a housekeeping job. How hard can that be?” I need to tell you that this is in a nursing home, and the job is not menial, not mundane, and certainly not for those unwilling to work or who don’t know how to take direction. The State of Kansas and CMS (Medicare and Medicaid) regulate nursing homes to the nth degree, including housekeepers. It’s not for the person with a casual or cavalier attitude toward work.
Tomorrow is Friday. That’s always good. Hopefully, things will sort of come together tomorrow at work and the weekend will be pleasant.
Today was OK for me regarding weather, but work was a bummer. It seems things are breaking faster than we can repair them. I know the building is only a year and a half old, but this is getting ridiculous. Part of the problem, as I found out today, is contractors that do a shoddy job and try to cover it up. It works for awhile, then something happens and everything goes down the tubes.
On a better note, we have a new housekeeper who seems to be doing a good job. She garnered three compliments today from different people, and seemed to pick up on the job rather quickly.
Now, before you go off and say, “It’s just a housekeeping job. How hard can that be?” I need to tell you that this is in a nursing home, and the job is not menial, not mundane, and certainly not for those unwilling to work or who don’t know how to take direction. The State of Kansas and CMS (Medicare and Medicaid) regulate nursing homes to the nth degree, including housekeepers. It’s not for the person with a casual or cavalier attitude toward work.
Tomorrow is Friday. That’s always good. Hopefully, things will sort of come together tomorrow at work and the weekend will be pleasant.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
The Week That Was
I’ve been a little slow to write recently. A lot has happened in the past seven days, much of it not good. You all are aware that Wichita is now going through the death of Dr. George Tiller. That has affected everyone here regardless of what side of the abortion debate one is on, or if one even has a side. I know that all murders should probably rate this same kind of condemnation and coverage, but the fact is that they don’t. Some are just more high profile than others and this is one of those.
Our church is changing its name beginning June 1. That is exciting for us as it helps usher in other plans for the future as well. I enjoy where we worship and fellowship and am thankful God brought us to that place.
I am having issues with one of my employees at work, and will have to deal with that next week. I never enjoy having to do these kinds of things even though I have managed other people for many years. Contrary to the Dilbert comic strip where Catbert, evil Human Resources Director, enjoys torturing employees, for me anyway it’s never a pleasant thing or something I look forward to. I’ll be glad when the day is done on Monday.
I need to prepare a Bible class for this summer session. I’m teaching only one topic, but will give the lesson four times as we rotate through four adult classes. My topic is “Washing the Disciples’ Feet.” All summer we are devoting classes to stories and topics in the Bible having to do with water. I felt almost uniquely qualified to teach this class as I probably am the only one of the list of teachers who has ever actually done this as part of a religious observance. I don’t know if the church of my heritage still practices this or not…Wayne, maybe you can help enlighten me on that (also, Wayne, if you have any thoughts, ideas, resources etc. on the subject that you could share, I’d like to hear them)…but I will always be grateful for the lessons it taught me, even at the young age I was when I participated.
I’m not sure that there is any specific and strict command out of Scripture that tells us we need to literally wash one-another’s feet, but to do that in a proper and dignified occasion is indeed a great symbol of our call to serve, which is specific.
And while we’re on the subject, I wish sometimes we would practice the act of kneeling before our God and Maker from time to time. Again, there is no specific command, I think, but we sometimes are so “casual” in approaching our God in prayer and worship. Somehow, I don’t think we’ll stand in awe of Him as the song says, but rather I think we’ll be face down prostrate on the ground for a time until His gentle hand helps us up. Kneeling helps us have a more clear understanding, I think, of that eternal moment.
Today we’ll spend much of the day in Central Kansas at a birthday celebration. We’ll be leaving momentarily, so I need to sign off. Have a good weekend.
Our church is changing its name beginning June 1. That is exciting for us as it helps usher in other plans for the future as well. I enjoy where we worship and fellowship and am thankful God brought us to that place.
I am having issues with one of my employees at work, and will have to deal with that next week. I never enjoy having to do these kinds of things even though I have managed other people for many years. Contrary to the Dilbert comic strip where Catbert, evil Human Resources Director, enjoys torturing employees, for me anyway it’s never a pleasant thing or something I look forward to. I’ll be glad when the day is done on Monday.
I need to prepare a Bible class for this summer session. I’m teaching only one topic, but will give the lesson four times as we rotate through four adult classes. My topic is “Washing the Disciples’ Feet.” All summer we are devoting classes to stories and topics in the Bible having to do with water. I felt almost uniquely qualified to teach this class as I probably am the only one of the list of teachers who has ever actually done this as part of a religious observance. I don’t know if the church of my heritage still practices this or not…Wayne, maybe you can help enlighten me on that (also, Wayne, if you have any thoughts, ideas, resources etc. on the subject that you could share, I’d like to hear them)…but I will always be grateful for the lessons it taught me, even at the young age I was when I participated.
I’m not sure that there is any specific and strict command out of Scripture that tells us we need to literally wash one-another’s feet, but to do that in a proper and dignified occasion is indeed a great symbol of our call to serve, which is specific.
And while we’re on the subject, I wish sometimes we would practice the act of kneeling before our God and Maker from time to time. Again, there is no specific command, I think, but we sometimes are so “casual” in approaching our God in prayer and worship. Somehow, I don’t think we’ll stand in awe of Him as the song says, but rather I think we’ll be face down prostrate on the ground for a time until His gentle hand helps us up. Kneeling helps us have a more clear understanding, I think, of that eternal moment.
Today we’ll spend much of the day in Central Kansas at a birthday celebration. We’ll be leaving momentarily, so I need to sign off. Have a good weekend.
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