Sign Your Work

Several years ago I found myself lying in a hospital bed recovering from heart bypass surgery.  There were bandages on my legs that needed changing regularly.  The bandages were necessary because during bypass surgery the doctor takes veins from another part of your body, in this case my legs, and uses them to make a detour around the blocked area in the arteries.  My particular situation involved five blocked arteries, and I think there are only a total of six in a human heart, so I pretty much managed to ruin almost all of mine with thirty years of bad habits.  But - that’s another story.  This story is about why I believe everyone should “sign” their work.  How I came to believe this has to do with the nurse that came in every evening to change those bandages on my legs.  He was fairly young, but had a steady manner and confidence about him that assured me I was in good hands.  After unwrapping and then wrapping my legs again in a firm, neat covering of sterile bandages he would take out a small black marker pen and sign his name right on the front of my leg just below the knee.  It piqued my curiosity, and after the second or third time I asked him why he did that.  He answered without hesitation. “It keeps me from getting lazy and careless.”  He went on to say that by signing his name to the dressings he was taking responsibility for his work, and holding himself accountable for his actions. 
Now, honestly, how often do you hear THAT these days?  It seems like all too often we just hear excuses…”I can’t…I don’t…  I won’t…it’s too hard…too early…too late…the sun got in my eyes.”  You get the idea.  If everyone would assume responsibility for their own actions and words the world would probably be a much better place, for several reasons.  Not the least of them being maybe everybody would try a little harder, or measure their words more carefully. 
I am not saying that everybody’s “work” must be flawless.  Some have abilities and talents that others don’t.  But everyone has the ability to try their best.  I was walking in Art Alley recently (in downtown Rapid City between 6th and 7th Streets) and amidst all of the graffiti I was able to find a little bit of art – including this:

OK, so it’s not a masterpiece.  But I like it.  And it’s a lot better than anything I could do.  Notice it is signed.  I think that took a certain amount of courage.  Any time we identify ourselves with something we do or create, we open ourselves up to scrutiny and possible criticism.  But it should be worth the risk.  People will respect and appreciate the fact that you’re not someone who is quick to place blame or make excuses. 

By the way, this whole “sign your work” idea should not be only about physical things.  You can’t sign something you say or some action you take, but you can be open, honest and sincere about it.  Just do the best you can, and be prepared to take responsibility for the results. That’s all anyone can ask.  Regardless of the outcome, you can take pride in the result as long as you put forth your best effort.  And if things don’t work out the way you planned or hoped they would, don’t try to make it the fault of someone or something else.  Wayne Dyer said,  "All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you."  So, try to be good at what you do.  And sign your work.

Roger O'Dea  02/24/2012

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The Good Old Days - Then and Now

I have been thinking lately about the "good old days."  About how much fun we had.  And about how it's too bad that anyone under 50 years old totally missed out on all those cool things we experienced in our youth.  Yeah, we were cool alright.  I mean really cool, as in bad, which was actually good.  Let me put it into more familiar terms.  I'll use Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a redneck..." theme as a common reference to help make my point.  (If you are under 50 - stick around.  I have a few things to say about your good old days).

If you knew someone whose name was Penrod, you might be over 50.

If you put out wooden sawhorses to block Main Street on Halloween, you might be over 50.

If you snuck out of the house late at night and took your parent's car for a joyride, you might be over 50.

If you got the game Operation for Christmas (and your tree was decorated with tinsel made out of aluminum), you might be over 50.

If the junior high and high school dances had actual live bands, you might be over 50.

If you went over to your friend's house to listen to records, you might be over 50.

If your dad let you sit on his lap while he was driving and help steer the car, you might be over 50.

If you traveled 200 miles one summer to visit a friend who had moved...and hitchhiked all the way there and back, you might be over 50.

If everybody on your 5th grade basketball team wore the same outfit (white t-shirts and shorts) and had the same haircut, you might be over 50.

 

And...if you wore a leisure suit to work, you might be over 50.

If you haven't guessed by now, all of those things come from my personal experience.  But, I'm pretty sure there are others, many others, who know exactly what I'm talking about. 

Now - for those of you under 50, the truth is that you really haven't had it so bad.  Just think of all the cool things you have.  Like iPods and Smartphones.  Skyrim and Call of Duty.  Snowboards and mountain bikes.  The list is endless.  And the list is different for each individual person.  So, there really are no "good old days."  Because, whether you are a child of the sixties or a product of the eighties, and whatever fads and fashions you've experienced...they are all part of what brought you to where you are now.  And, as Ziggy Marley sings, "These be the good old days." 

Oh, one more thing - does anybody know when and why 'streaking' and 'mooning' just sort of died out?  Never mind.  I guess we should just be thankful that they did.  Streaking and mooning.  Wow.  What were we thinking?  Definetely not cool.

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Hell's Angels - The Road To Spearfish

HELL'S ANGELS TO HOLD 2012 RUN IN SPEARFISH

This recent headline in the Black Hills Pioneer newspaper has caused a certain amount of wailing, panic and gnashing of teeth in our local communities.  Most comments I have heard and seen, including some hysterical facebook posts, have been less than positive about the development, to put it mildly.  Apparently some people remember those 60s and 70s exploitation movies about the murderous invading motorcycle gangs, corrupting youth and abusing old people while systematically destroying the town.

But before we get too carried away let's look at some past newspaper reports from around the country...

LACONIA - The 2011 World Run of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club has come and gone with authorities reporting no accidents, no incidents and, at least in the City on the Lakes, no arrests of club members or affiliates.

MISSOULA - Other than a few minor dustups, Missoula's Friday night engagement with the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club passed without any notable alarms or felonious thuggery.  "We're on vacation.  We didn't come all this way to get arrested, we came here to have a good time," said one biker from Omaha, Neb. 

CODY - Despite busy Friday and Saturday nights that saw large crowds in downtown Cody and at the Park County Fair in Powell, there were no arrests involving Hell's Angels members.

CARLTON - Hell's Angels members left Carlton County on Sunday after what's being called one of their most uneventful summer rallies.

You see, it may not be as big of a deal as you think.  It probably depends on whether you see them as charity volunteers helping serve at the community soup kitchen Thanksgiving dinner...

  

Or as mother rapers and father stabbers whose main purpose is to look mean and cause trouble...

My only experience with any Hell's Angels in recent memory was a couple of years ago in Deadwood during the Sturgis Rally.  Two members of the club (I think the patch on their vests said San Pedro Chapter) stopped me on the street and asked if I would take their picture in front of Saloon No. 10.  The one who handed me his camera was wearing long baggy houndstooth shorts with a "Life is Good" t-shirt and pale yellow high-top Converse sneakers.  He did have a lot of tatoos but, still, not really what one would call a menacing figure.  Actually, I've seen mountain bikers around here dressed pretty much the same way.

Let's not panic.  The Run will be close to the time of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and we may not even notice a bunch of Hell's Angels in town.  But...in the interest of fairness, and in an attempt to cover both sides of the arguement, I offer the following news article:

CHINO VALLEY - Authorities in Arizona arrested more than two dozen members of the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang in August after a shootout wounded five people in the small community of Chino Valley, north of Prescott.

So, I guess it won't hurt to be a little more careful and alert around that time.  You, know, just in case.

 

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Looking Back Down the Road - A Short List

There's always a lot of talk this time of year about making resolutions for the new year.  They are usually the same every year.  Exercise more, lose weight, quit smoking, build a flux capacitor and travel into the future, you know...the usual stuff.  Then there are those "lists" you see everywhere.  Best, Worst, Most, Coolest, Hottest, Funniest.  You get the picture.  Well, this is another list.  My selections for the highlights, and lowlights, of 2011.  And everything you see here is my own opinion based on nothing more than the way I feel at this moment.  How's that for objective?  Not very.  But  let's get on with it anyway.

Best Movie:  Cowboys Vs. Aliens

 

This movie was just mindless shoot 'em up action-packed pure hollywood entertainment, as long as you left your logic and intellect in a drawer.  As evidence please note the "authentic" pioneer woman shown above...complete with a layered hair style, perfect painted-on eyebrows, and just the right amount of red lipstick.  Oh, and the pistol slung across her hip is also a nice touch.  I will admit, though, I kind of like her style. Don't see too many women with this look standing in the checkout line at Walmart. 

Worst Movie:  Cowboys vs. Aliens

This movie was just mindless shoot 'em up action-packed pure hollywood entertainment, as long as you left your logic and intellect in a drawer.  hmmm...didn't I just say that?  Guess it applies either way.

Best Movie I Didn't See:  The Artist

Sure hope it plays somewhere in our area.  Looks like a great movie.

Best Book:  Radio Shangi La (Lisa Napoli)

A great read about a subject that interests me and that I have some history with.

Best New Music:  Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong

Very cool album.  Give it a listen.

Top 10 Fails:  From our friends at icanhascheezburger.com 

1st Place - U.S. Congress

2nd Place - Westboro Baptist Church

3rd Place - Kim Kardashian

4th Place - Rebecca Black

5th Place - Charlie Sheen

6th Place - Muhammar Gaddafi

7th Place - Casey Anthony

8th Place - Jerry Sandusky

9th Place - Lindsay Lohan

10th Place - Anthony Weiner

I think they pretty much got it right.

Most Ridiculous Warning Label:

Best Win: Again from the good folks at icanhascheezburger.com
A tie .....

Best Day:  Any day when I can travel a few short miles and enjoy views like this....

Wishing you the best and brightest for 2012...and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

There's still time.

There's still time for you to make Christmas a little brighter for someone this year.  A wonderful way to do that is by being an angel.  I'm sure you've seen an "Angel Tree" during your shopping trips each holiday season...

...and, just like me, walked past without taking much notice.  It's not that we don't want to help.  Maybe you are like us and have your favorite charities that you donate to every year.  Or it's just that there are so many requests for help that you don't know which to choose, and wonder if it will really make a difference anyway.  Plus, it's so hard to choose.  I spent a lot of time this year looking at the cards on the trees before making my choices.   Some were for the usual toys...Transformers and Legos for boys, Dora and Barbie for girls.  But others made more of an impression on me.  Like the 11 year old girl whose tag said art supplies, or the 7 year old boy who was asking only for a pair of gloves.

So, if you can find the time today, and if you can find it in your heart, stop at that Angel Tree and look at the tags.  You may find one that touches you in a way that will make you want to spend a little extra this year on someone you don't know. It doesn't have to be much, $10 will go a long way in this situation.  Some of my earliest memories are of the wonderful holiday celebrations in our family.  There was a time when we didn't have a lot, but my parents always managed to give us "Christmas."

So, even if it's not a shiny new tricycle or rocking horse, I'm sure any small gift that you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Another idea is to make a donation to your local Humane Society.  Our furry friends could use a little help this time of year also.

Oh, and one more thing...consider sending out a Christmas Letter this year.  Not a full color, computer-printed letter.  I'm talking about a hand-written letter to someone who might not expect it.  Just to let them know that you think about them from time to time and that you are all right. If there's not time, surprise them with a phone call.  Who wouldn't be delighted with a call from an old friend or long lost relative?

Whatever you decide to do...act quickly...the hour is getting late.

We're going down the wrong road.

Recent headlines...

*A Miami mom was arrested and charged with trying to sell her 8-month-old son for $7,000.

*Police are looking for a woman who used pepper spray to keep rival shoppers away from merchandise she wanted.

*A donation-collecting volunteer jingled all the way to jail Saturday after police arrested him for allegedly stealing hundreds of dollars from Salvation Army kettles.

*A Detroit man was arrested for allowing his 9-year-old daughter to drive him around while he was drunk.

*Another "mysterious" flash mob of youths struck a Philadelphia Sears Store on Thursday afternoon stealing thousands of dollars of merchandise in a matter of minutes.

And these types of incidents are not limited to urban areas.  We've seen headlines announcing all manner of terrible things right here in our own small cities and towns.   So what's going on?  Bad things have happened throughout history, and there will always be bad people doing bad things. But, doesn't it seem that there is an overwhelming amount of awful news these days?  Is it because society tolerates it?  Are we becoming immune? Or, is it because so many more children are growing up without being taught simple basic values and responsibility?  It seems that I encounter more people in various situations that are just...angry.  Have you noticed that?  What are they mad at?  Do you wonder what happened in their lives to make so many people so unhappy?  

I know what makes me mad these days...politics.  Not enough to make me go out and pepper spray somebody at Walmart or organize a flash mob, but pretty mad just the same.  It's especially bad at the federal level.  You would think that with three-and-half million people in this country we could find a couple hundred of them capable of running the country efficiently, decently and honestly.  But, as John Belushi used to so eloquently say "....nooooo!"  Some of you will argue "But not my guy.  He's the good one."  Well I have news for you.  He's not.  If he was we wouldn't be in this mess.  They're all bums, and we should throw them all out and start over while there's still time.  Need some evidence?  Here's another headline...

*Congress has ignored efficiency recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services that would save $9 billion annually.  

And it's not just the elected officials.  Too many federal employees are stealing our money also.  Example...

*A recent audit revealed that employees of the Department of Agriculture diverted millions of dollars to personal purchases through their government-issued credit cards.

Maybe it's because they see their senator or congressman/woman getting away with it so they want a piece of the action.  Whatever the reason, I think we can all agree that it's getting out of control.

I've tried to avoid politics in these posts.  But I just couldn't hold it in any longer.  

Whew! I feel better.  Guess I'll call off that flash mob.  For now anyway.



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Slippery Roads Ahead

Okay, I'm glad it happened.  It should have happened sooner.  I've been waiting for a long time for it to happen.  I didn't want it to happen, but it was inevitable.  And now...finally...a snowstorm.  It's actually a relief to me that winter has arrived in all it's glory. Even as Mother Nature was teasing me and I was enjoying the warm weather that lingered so late in the season, I knew that winter was coming.  It was like an upcoming dentist appointment.  I tried not to think about it, but knew the day would arrive.  The feeling of pending doom would not go away.  But now there's a foot of snow on the ground and the roads are icy. So the tooth has been pulled and the cavity filled, but I'll still be a little sore for a while.  And even though I don't like winter, I don't really feel all that bad.  With all of the cold and dreary days and nights ahead, there is still beauty to be found.  Even in the bleakest of landscapes it's there. We just need to look for it.

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