Haven't we all felt this way?

One day while walking down the street a highly successful Human Resources Manager was tragically hit by a bus and she died. Her soul arrived up in heaven where she was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself.

"Welcome to Heaven," said St. Peter. "Before you get settled in though, it seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we've never once had a Human Resources Manager make it this far and we're not really sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," said the woman.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have higher orders. What we're going to do is let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose whichever one you want to spend an eternity in."

"Actually, I think I've made up my mind, I prefer to stay in Heaven", said the woman

"Sorry, we have rules..."

And with that St. Peter put the executive in an elevator and it went down-down-down to hell.

The doors opened and she found herself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf course. In the distance was a country club and standing in front of her were all her friends - fellow executives that she had worked with and they were well dressed in evening gowns and cheering for her. They ran up and kissed her on both cheeks and they talked about old times.
They played an excellent round of golf and that night went to the country club where she enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster dinner.

She met the Devil who was actually a really nice guy (kind of cute)and she had a great time telling jokes and dancing.

She was having such a good time that before she knew it, it was time to leave. Everybody shook her hand and waved goodbye as she got on the elevator.

The elevator went up-up-up and opened back up at the Pearly Gates and found St. Peter waiting for her.

"Now it's time to spend a day in heaven," he said. So she spent the next 24 hours lounging around on clouds and playing the harp and singing. She had great time and before she knew it her 24 hours were up and St. Peter came and got her.

"So, you've spent a day in hell and you've spent a day in heaven. Now you must choose your eternity,"

The woman paused for a second and then replied, "Well, I never thought I'd say this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a better time in Hell."

So St. Peter escorted her to the elevator and again she went down-down-down back to Hell.
When the doors of the elevator opened she found herself standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. She saw her friends were dressed in rags and were picking up the garbage and putting it in sacks.

The Devil came up to her and put his arm around her. "I don't understand," stammered the woman, "yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster and we danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland of garbage and all my friends look miserable."

The Devil looked at her smiled and said ...

"Yesterday we were recruiting you, today you're an Employee."

California - Day 5

• Well this ended up being the last day in CA. The meeting that was supposed to last all day was over by noon. So I called the travel agent to see if I could come home a day earlier, because I miss my sons (see comment on previous blog) and their mother.
• The journey from Alameda north to Sacramento was going to be tight time wise, so I had to go kind of fast sometimes (forgiveness was asked for any time a speed limit was broken by more than 10 MPH (which was a lot)
• At this tunnel outside of Oakland the traffic went from 4 lanes to 2 lanes so lost a lot of time waiting.
• The plane was supposed to leave at 1:45 PM, and as that time approached, I knew that in spite of my NASCAR type driving, I was not going to make it. So I started praying that if I was supposed to come home tonight the Lord would have to delay the take off of the plane.
• When I turned in my rental car, there was a problem with the receipt, so I had to go inside, where they were training someone new, which took more time.
• Finally got on the shuttle and the driver kept waiting and waiting to let more people get on.
• The United stop was the 3rd of 4 stops putting my farther behind.
• Got into the terminal at 2:10 PM, walked to the counter and asked what my options were because I had missed my flight and it was the last United flight out of there today.
• The guy looked at the computer screen and said, "It's just now starting to board"!! I said "PRAISE THE LORD!!!".
• I hurried down and made the flight with time to spare. I am writing this in Chicago waiting for the flight to Columbus. I told Angela this story and also said that if anything happens to me between now and the time I get home, it was definitely God's plan for me today!!
• It was a good week with making new friends, eating great food, and seeing some amazing sites, but glad to be home

Day 3 & Day 4

• Day 3 went very well, met with the team all day, helping them work on their ability to work together as a team. There seems to be some interpersonal issues, that surfaced, but the team was very honest and dealt with them well.
• We went to dinner at a restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf. Small place but good food, had shrimp & crab stuffed ravioli. Too full for dessert!
• Day 4 was supposed to conclude early, but several issues came up that kept the team there until after 5:00 PM. They all left and headed back to Fairfield, 2 hour drive.
• I finally got some free time. So I took the famous 17 mile drive down the coast. Saw lots of very pretty coast and ocean scenes, but it was kinda cold. Afterwards I drove down to Carmel and walked around downtown. It was a lot like downtown Granville, only more expensive and less people speaking English. Walked by lots of people speaking different language, but I remained calm, got Angela a present and made my way back to the hotel.
• Did not see anyone famous.
• Finally got to check my work email and had 46 emails!! Spent almost rest of evening getting caught up.
• Tomorrow I drive to Alameda, CA for meetings and then back to Sacramento for a 6:00 AM flight home on Friday.
• Cannot wait to see my baby doll!!!!!!!

Califormia Day #2

• The 2nd day started by meeting the Fairfield, CA plant staff and touring the the facility. They make bars (Zone and Glucerna primarily). It is the smallest of all the plants in our division with only 200 people.
• After leaving the plant, I stopped at the Jelly Belly jelly bean factory which is right across the street from the Abbott plant. Did not have the time to take the tour, but went into the visitors center and bought some jelly beans, Angela does like them so I can share her part if it anyone is interested.
• Then drove about 2 hours southwest to Monterrey, CA right on the ocean. My room has a partial view. I guess there was famous old book written about Cannery Row here, but if I read it I forgot it.
• The whole group went to dinner at a seafood place on the ocean and they made me order the lobster, it also came with shrimp and scallops, so I was very happy we had to walk a little to get back to where we parked. IT WAS VERY GOOD!

California - Day #1 - random thoughts

Yesterday was a very long day. Flying from Columbus to Chicago to Sacramento (6 hours in the air) then drive 1 hour to Fairfield, CA, UGH!

• Heard church was great, thanks to Billy for teaching for me, hope someone remembered to turn the coffee pots off.
• Never have flown into this part of California before, the airport is about 10 miles from civilization, completely surrounded by farms and fields, very pretty though.
• Traffic was nuts even at 6:00 PM local time (9:00 PM in O-H-I-O). 3 lanes each way going about 75 MPH both ways on I-80. Rental car is a little Ford Focus and it was doing about all it could to keep up.
• Hate that i missed the Browns game, it figures, the game I miss is when they score 51 points! Brady who?
• Sat next to guy with a Michigan shirt on the flight, made sure they kept sharp objects away from him.
• Very nice room, has a "comfort" bed so you can dial in the firmness you want, almost made up for not having my baby doll (Angela, if you did not know) sleeping next to me. Missing her already, but Brandon came home so I am sure she will be busy today, anyway.
• Getting ready to go to the Plant today, will have a day #2 report later.
  

POWERFUL!!! (must pause music player on right)

Random update 9/4/2007

What a weekend, it was great but very busy.

• On Saturday we had our CONNECT group over for a tailgate party to celebrate the beginning of football season. It was a GREAT day, supposed to last until 4:00 PM but went on until after 8:00 PM. We had a lot of fun with cornhole, eating, talking, and eating again. Angela made a Buckeye cheesecake that was gone by the end of the day to tell you how good it was.
• Good day = All OSU fans, Bad day = Mississippi State fan (DD) and Michigan fan (SH).
• Sunday was also very good. Drason shared from his mission trip with the church to Maine, class was good as well. Had a family thing rest of the day with perfect weather, and more good food.
• Monday, another great day. Went to Swappers Day, think "Deliverance" yard sales, and you will get the picture. Went with Brandon, Blake, and John. Blake bought a semi-auto shotgun after taking up a collection from all present. We found a food booth that sells turkey legs that were HUGE!
• Last night Angela and I tried a new restaurant, The Grill, in the north end of town. Was really good and not too expensive. Came home and watched the Indians beat the Twins again.
• Today I found out Amanda had quit her job and was seeking God's new direction in her life. Prayt that God will their family's needs. (I think she could fill in for Dr. Phil when he is on vacation, but we will see.)
• Leaving for Chicago tonight for a couple of days
• Brandon and Corey may be moving out this week to their house in Columbus for school, so we might be empty nesters, until they come home again. They are growing up tooooooooooo fast. But I am very proud of all 3 boys. (so DO NOT do anything that not make me proud of you)
• No Boys will be Boys updates, yet, that I know of!

wish this was my little girl!

World Clock - Click HERE

Check this out! Ron & Angela both sent me this link

click the title above

Boys will be boys #5

A couple of Sundays ago, after we ate lunch, the boys went to Big Lots and bought some assorted water toys for the yard, a blow up swimming pool, 2 slip and slide things, etc. They played with them in the back yard with some neighbor kids.

Came home that night from church and everything was in the front yard with a hand made sign "Park Trails Public Pool" next to the blow up pool.

A little later, Angela just happened to be talking to a neighbor and the neighbor mentioned how much fun the boys had sliding into the pool. Angela had quizzical looks (as you could imagine) and the neighbor went on to tell her what happened.

Sunday night when we were at church, the boys took the slip and slide, put it on the stairs inside the house, put the blow up pool outside the front door, covered themselves with Palmolive dish washing liquid, and slide from the top of our stairs, out the door and into the pool!!!!!!!

Not only that, they videotaped it! I have not seen it, but they showed it to Angela and she about had a heart attack.

Apparently it was the talk of the neighborhood, with cars honking, neighbors stopping by for the show, etc.

I cannot wait to have grand kids and tell them all the interesting things there fathers did growing up!

And by the way, if anyone knows of anything our boys have done that we should know about, please let us know before we see the video!!!

Just catching up

Wow, I did not realize it was 7/11/2007 since I last updated my blog. At least I am not as bad as Pastor Dear, 6/25/2007 last update. I thought when Pastor Shawn got here his life would be easier? Sure DD is keeping him busy!!

Here is what happened since last update:

• Went to Chicago for 2 days worth of meeting, tried to fly back on the 6:15 AM flight, but flight was delayed 4 hours, so what else is new? almost always happens to me.
• Signed up to take a cruise with the family the week before Christmas, never been on one, but have wanted to for a long time. Found a great deal to the Western Caribbean for 5 nights
• Angela's sister Tammy had the great(?) idea to have a wiener roast last Saturday night! It was only about 85 outside, but she thought it would be fun? What was funny is she came to our house to cool down! Ended up being fine, cooled off very nicely when the sun started going down.
• Tammy got the twins and Brooklyn BB guns so they were entertained the whole time shooting empty coke cans
• Had the Salyer family reunion on Sunday (that was why we left church early, nothing wrong Pastor Shawn, it had nothing to do with the songs written in 15 sharps). Had a good time, Angela had to work, so she left early, I don't think she enjoys buffets of food, cooked by unknown people, sitting out on picnic tables on a hot day, too much.
• Brandon & Corey organized the family softball game and their team won
• My brother Jim and family came. Could not believe my nephew, Nathan, lost about 100 pounds! Looked like a different kid, much better.
• Having a great week at work, nice to get up, go to work, come home, eat Angela's food, for a change. Start traveling again next week to VA and then MI at the end of the month. Do I need a tetanus shot before crossing the Michigan border?

travel woes

I flew from Columbus yesterday through Chicago and on to Phoenix.

1. Flight was delayed leaving Columbus almost an hour due to the storm. Hasn't rained in almost a month, but when I am trying to fly out of town it storms
2. Flight leaving Chicago delayed 30 mins before boarding
3. Once boarding finally started we had to wait in the 90 degree, at least, Jetway, while the crew got a 95 year woman on her last leg settled in her seat.
4. As I was getting on I heard a yipping dog, I had a bad experience with dogs and planes once. I sat next to a lady with a dog that yipped for 4 hours!! She kept giving it these pills to relax it, she ended up giving it about 10 pills before it quieted down, hope the dog was OK.
5. Back to the story,
6. I am sitting right behind the elderly woman, the man who had the dog was the son-in-law of the elderly woman listed above, and he was sitting across the aisle from me, in the middle seat. The man between him and me was allergic to dogs and was making a BIG STINK about it.
7. Then a family gets on the plane, grandma, grandpa, mom and 2 little boys, all sitting apart from each other. Grandma sits next to me, grandpa was putting his crane in the overhead bin when he accidentally whacked the guy who was complaining about the dog, in the side of the head!!!
8. The guy gets even more upset, so now the flight attendant gets involved and musical chairs begins.
9. The guy with the dog switches places with grandma, so he is sitting on my right in the middle, with his wife, daughter of the old lady, right in front of him, dog under seat in front of him.
10. Grandma gets moved next to the guy complaining about the dog and getting hit in the head, and grandpa is now sitting right in front of her.
11. NOW the plane gets delayed for 2 hours on the runway due to a storm in Chicago! (see #1 above)
12. Finally, the plane takes off but only after the pilot comes back and checks the old lady out, I think he was seriously thinking about asking her to get off the plane, she looked that bad. Daughter got medicine and gave her some and she settled down.
13. Finally take off, dog is fine, old lady asleep, chair all the way back in my lap, bad guy finally calmed down, when 2 hours into a 3 hour flight the guy with the dog, gets out his cell phone and calls someone in Phoenix telling them they will be late!
14. Flight attendants come from both directions telling the guy he just broke federal law and telling him to turn it off. He does turn it off, claims ignorance and flight lands without a problem.
15. Get bag pretty quick, get to rental car fine, look at display on the car and it 8:00 PM and still 98 degrees outside!
16. Today coming back from the plant it was 109! Don't care if it is dry heat or not, 109 is HOT!
17. Gotta be an easier way to make a living!

The Bridge Builder

by Will Allen Dromgoole

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near,
"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide-
Why build you a bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

This is my hope and prayer that I can be a bridge builder for my sons.

Some of the things they think are "old fashioned" today, are really the bridges we built based on the times we crossed the turbulent river.

Boys will be Boys #4

Tyler and Rachel were driving today from his Grandmother's house in Morehead, KY here today, when he spotted 2 puppy dogs on the side of the road. Being the good Christian boy he is, he stopped and picked them up. So now we have 2 more dogs, Tyler and Rachel for the week, so we have a house full.

Corey and Jeremiah also fell in love with the dogs, and noticed they had lots of ticks and burrs on them. Corey had the idea that after they took the tics off the dogs, they would burn them in a small coffee can. Things were going well until the fire went out and Corey had the bright idea to add GASOLINE to the embers!!! As I was screaming "No, Corey it will catch fire" you guessed the fire went from the coffee can up the gas pouring out into the gas can itself and started burning. Well Corey threw the can down (close to the house) as Tyler grabbed the hose and Corey tried to hook the hose up to the faucet, as everyone else took off running. Finally, the hose was hooked up and the fire was doused with only a small ring of burnt grass around the coffee can and a melted gas can to show for the excitement.

As Corey was telling Brandon the story, it reminded him of a time in Jackson, TN where he and his friend Will had a similar problem, but that time some of the gas got on the house and caught it in fire! (Sorry Donna and Lewis, I had not heard this story before). They got the fire out before much damage, but Brandon noted that there is still a mark on the house today!

boys will be boys #3

Banjo = $200

Decoys of woodland creatures = $100

Enjoying the warm sumer night with your friends = PRICELESS

Boys will be Boys #2

Had a GREAT Fathers day! Tyler called from Memphis early in the AM, Brandon gave me his present before he left for Napoleon, Ohio, and Corey slept on the couch all afternoon while I paid bills and balanced the checkbook!

• Tyler called today and said he was doing laundry recently and saw smoke coming from his clothes dryer! Seems like the clothes he was wearing while rebuilding his car were soaked with gasoline. Well the washer did not remove all of the gas and it spread to the other clothes, so when he put them in the dryer they caught fire! Luckily he was right there and was able to put out the fire before it spread.
• Still waiting on my Fathers Day present from Corey and Tyler. Corey said it was on the way but it was "complicated". (Found out today that "complicated" was a cash flow issue = too much cash out, not enough cash in), but I think they are in Columbus right now getting it.
• Brandon was bought a new TV and sold his old one to Corey and his old Wii to me. Has basement set up like a theater to watch it. Brandon has his paps wheeling and dealing genes in him. Pap would be proud.
• Both Brandon and Corey are doing very well in softball right now, Corey finally got moved to the outfield where his speed is a big plus. I am amazed at how fast my boys can run, I was never as fast as they are!

Neon is fading quickly, engine almost gone, needs to be replaced, but would cost more than I paid for the car. #1 prayer request = figure out what to do about a new car. Hate to buy a new car, but need something reliable. Tyler is going to try to work his car magic on it like he did on his car. Really have nothing to lose.

FINALLY, working in Columbus after 2 weeks in Chicago. Traveling is OK, but I miss sleeping next to my wonderful wife! She is much softer and sweeter than any hotel room will ever be! Glad to be home, unlike some people I know, I enjoy home cooking more then eating out!

I am thankful for a wife that loves to cook for her husband and family. Right now she is in bed reading her recipes preparing for Tyler's visit next week.

Pray for our CONNECT group, we have had a couple of visitors the last couple of weeks, one very strange one and one very nice one. Summer is a hard time for people with young kids due to sports, and vacations, but pray that remember their class cares for them and misses them when they are gone.

That's all for now, good night, and God Bless!

Boys will be boys

• Sitting in a hotel room in Chicago watching the Cavs trying to play basketball. They are losing by 5 points going into the 4th quarter
• Tyler rebuilt the engine on his car last weekend! That boy amazes me with his know how and willingness to do things I would never dream of doing. Replaced a few parts and got it back together and the car runs fine.
• Corey fell asleep on the couch last week so Brandon thought he would be funny, so he put hot sauce on Corey's lips, guess it about burned him up!!
• Angela got Brandon back by putting the same hot sauce on his taco, he took a bite of it and almost threw up.
• Brandon and Corey had this great idea to help do the landscaping on our front yard, but Angela is having a hard time getting them to finish the job. They did a good job of clearing the old stuff out, but need to build a retaining wall before we can plant the new stuff.
• Thats all for now!

Amazing Computer Animation

Hit Pause button (II) on Music Player at right for this to work correctly

Memorial Day

How easy it is to just enjoy the great weather and the day off of work, without really remembering what Memorial Day is all about.

I have to admit that our family has been very lucky in that no relative, that I know of, has paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

BUT that does not relieve me of the obligation to stop and say a special prayer this weekend for all of those families who have lost love ones defending our country!

We are very blessed to live in a country where men and women have always been willing to take the fight to the enemy and defend all of us, even those that do not agree with them.

I think there are 2 things that make our country great:

• Freedom of Religion, for each to search out and understand how God is reaching down to us, just like our salvation, where we are free to choose to follow Christ.
• Freedom of Speech, many people confuse their freedom to speak with my freedom to listen! Everyone in this country has the right to say whatever they want to, but we also have the right to listen or not to listen! Sometimes this causes people to say and do things that are the opposite of what I believe (think Rosie), but our troops are still dieing today to protect that right!

So make sure you stop this weekend, visit the grave of a loved one who has passed on, and say a prayer for them, their family, and then pray for our troops, and our leaders. They need it, they are under all kinds of attacks; spiritual and physical.

GOD BLESS THE USA!

Ballad of the Average Joe

To the tune of "Somewhere over the Rainbow"....

Somewhere under the radar
Out of sight

I’ll be quietly working
Away from the lime light

Somewhere under the radar
It just feels right

Too much noise and attention
Is a future not so bright

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
That average Joes will go as far as EE’s

Without the pain and suffering
That visibility can bring,

That’s where you’ll find me.
Somewhere under the radar

Try as I might
Life in the safe zone can be

Soaring at your own new height.