Filed under: Countdown
Saturday, March 29th
Well, we can sure tell the election is “around the bend”. I got a call today from the Merced Associated Democrats offering to allow me to participate in their “Candidate’s Night”. I was excited and honored in the same breath! Then they told me the date…April 24th at 7:15 pm! That is right in the middle of a very important trip to Washington DC. I’ll be back there with a group of people representing Merced County on a variety of topics, and there is NO WAY I can jeopardize that trip. I asked if I can have someone else attend and make a prepared statement for me, and they said they will get back to me…
Filed under: Countdown
ABC 30 has invited me to participate in a side-by-side guide, with website links and a 5 minute filmed presentation statement. It will be interesting to see who participates and how much success the idea has. I’ve noticed that there is not a lot of activity on my website or the blog and I wonder why?
Filed under: Countdown
Thursday, March 27th
I had a chance tonight to meet with a very diverse group of individuals representing the California Central Valley Journey for Justice. They were kind enouhg to invite me to their meeting and group discussion. I was impressed that a diverse group of concerned citizens was meeting regularly to discuss news topics and their local impact. The article discussed suggested that corporate America plays a significant role in the global warming crisis. There was a healthy discussion of the topic and possible ideas or recommendations to help alleviate some of the problems. What I learned tonight was that challenging work adds meaning to our lives. It is important to balance our jobs and family lives with some long term work that is out of our usual sphere of influence.
We need to remember to HAVE FUN! While we all feel the need for structure and stability, we must remember to not take ourselves too seriously. My wife is real good at that. I’ll come home talking about the great accomplishments of the day, and she’ll point to our grand son and say – “That’s great, but now you are on ‘diaper duty’”. He’ll look at me, with a fully loaded diaper and smile and laugh! It’s at that moment that I remember that happiness is our true destiny.
Filed under: Countdown
Tuesday, March 25th
Yep! I’ve got a cold, and it’s sucking all of the energy out of me. That’s enough feeling sorry for myself. It’s time to talk about the future: As we build this “non toxic” political infrastructure I’m always discussing, it seems to me that it needs to include a communication process that people are willing to use: one they don’t find intimidating or threatening. By that, I mean that if you have a problem with they way government works or you are unhappy with the system, there should be a means to communicate to the existing leadership in an environment where you feel you are being “heard without being judged”. If you are shy, poor, uneducated, undocumented, or just not “system savvy”, there is no real way to get your point across. We need to insure against “arbitrary leadership” (people that THINK they know what the problem is and how to resolve it) by building new pathways of communication.
Filed under: Countdown
Monday, March 24th , 2008
A lack of sleep has made me groggy. I think I’m catching cold on top of everything else! Sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to be everything for everyone. It’s been said that the best “leaders” are “servants”. I am here to serve, but we must choose wisely when we allocate our time.
Filed under: Countdown
It’s Easter Sunday and my father is in the Hospital. We will be traveling out of town to see him. I hope you and your family are healthy and enjoying the day together.
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Integrity is the characteristic that is essential in a “non toxic” campaign. Voters must be wholeheartedly convinced of the candidate’s integrity. Today we will be taking a day off to take my wife’s family to San Francisco for a double-birthday celebration, stay tuned as the election nears!
Filed under: Countdown
If you want to feel the real intensity of life, share generously with others. I find myself sleeping so much better at night, and enjoying the company of friends and family more than ever. As we share, we leave a legacy of promise for the future…one day at a time!
Filed under: Countdown
One of my favorite ways to relax is to listen to jazz music. I realized that our community is very similar to a group of jazz musicians: All are dependent upon the environment, yet each person performs as an individual. Together they create a sound that is both original and moving. As the music flows, each performer enhances the product resulting in a benefit to all…
