Organs

Last night to you - morining for me - I experienced an unusual dream. Rather confusing actually but, with elements of astounding clarity. I copy this writing from notes I jotted before going to work.

Weird sense in a dream, a friend is struggling after an organ transplant [an e-mail yesterday said he was in trouble & his body is rejecting the new organ - PS the Dr's don't want him to know]. In this dream were many confusing elements and yet, one part is crystal clear, me giving im a hug saying "Get well soon buddy." I had a true sense of his presnece at that moment (1:30 am). My alarm kicks in at 1:40 am. I'm not sure if it was good bye or a cry for prayer for him. Like I said there were many confusing elements.

I pleaded for his life on the basis of friendship and what he brings to the table (of friendship). I know he'd be better off on the otherside [he has deep Christian beliefs] yet, I know here he'd enrich our lives. I miss my Big Sis daily for I can no longer share with her at the table of relationships [she got a rare cancer 5 years ago & passed away mere days later], therefore I pleaded all the more for my friend's life to be spared. (2:45 am)


This friend is a fine photographer of people. He sports a fuji EVF. His deep convictions have helped others straighten up just by living straight. I'm trying to get him to post some of his work on dA and other sites. I think others would be encouraged by his work. I'm calling a mutual friend shortly to find out if there is any change in his condition from yesterday.

HABITS

HABITS: it's a UPS thing that is applicable in a lot of areas. In this post I'll become sourcastic so if you're offended then stop reading or if you're an employer checking up on me - this is at times how I think - or if you are UPS then this is my spin on HABITS.


Every company seems to have its own culture and its own training program. UPS is no different. UPS takes pride in delivering your packages. UPS's only product is delivering your package whether it's next door (yes I've seen neighbors post packages to the place just down from them) or across the globe. UPS is your premier parcel delivery service. I am glad to be working for this outstanding company. Part of the reason why I like working for UPS is the opportunity for on going training and advancement within the organization. Granted the new hire turn over is close to 20% yet the retention of those who stay longer then a year is near 95%. I looked at builten board as I walked out yesterday so I know these numbers are true. Everyone who becomes employed by UPS goes through 'cornerstone training' this is a foundational week long training that lays the foundation of the UPS operations. The on going training is more of a review and maintance of that training while advancement or transfers will include new materials as needed.

HABITS

• Health: "know your body" be your best [eat healthy at home 'cus the vending machines are fast fixes of high frutose sugar]
  
• Athletic: "be your best" be at your best performance [ablity just do your job save your strength for other things - prior to this my saying is athleticism ain't just for jocks -but that's being prejudice so I won't mean it]
  
• Body: "Body mechanics, using ergonomic principels" know how your body works and use the Power Zone [don't mess up your body here, it ain't worth it so, use it wisely & it will last a life time]
  
• Inspect:"be aware of your immediate surroundings" know what you're getting into [make sure there are witnesses incase of incident {there were no witnesses when I fouled up my back}]
  
• Tools: "Use as intended" make sure you have what you need to do the job effectively [include a time piece just incase of incident -also helps to know how much longer before break]
  
• Safety: "and compliance: Comply with UPS and Gov' regulations" work with care & diligence [get help even if, we've got to look out for each other for ultimately managment is most intrested in the bottom line not in your bottom]
  

This is a fast catch on a broad subject. I write it here for I know that as a life style artistry is more then putting out good work with a spin on it. Artistry is a lifestyle that punctuates living dangerously at time - according to those who arn't artsy. Some of us do have lives outside of work or are working at other places or working on a cool hobby that is tentativily 'dangerous'.
By the way I've been told that safety is ultimately my responsiblity - "Hell no!" I replied in a hurry, "tell that to the fucker who hit me who thought it best to talk on his cell phone rather then to pay attention to where he was going." Ultimately our safety is in the hands of others, therefore safety is team work - that's the point of HABITS - safety.

KYMS Law

KYMS Law:
Keep Your Mouth Shut

It's simple. Everywhere I go I have the opportunity to present myself. Sometimes I say appropriate things while other times I say in-appropriate things. I hope I don't say anything in-appropriate during these next few posts. One of the things I want to do is to get away from giving out information.


Anyone who's been [through driver's ed] and in an auto accident will know this - Keep Your Mouth Shut - even if you know for certian that you're at fault. By KYMS you do not admit guilt rather you may veer guilt away from yourself nor do you imply guilt thus you may save yourself grief, cash, & other [I'm not inciting that you lie or try to get out of it or other implied actions].

The same thing applies to any accident. Last week I strained my back at work. I'll admit it was early, I thought I was ready for the day yet when I lifted an over 70lb'er my back gave way - amnitomical failure. Ouch! In the processing of the incident report I addmitted I know I have back problems [side note: don't work manual labor with known back problems] I'm screwed now. Simple as that, I addmitted to having prior back problems & I'm paying for it. This morning when I reported to work I was sent home for the company's insurance people said -he can't work until he gets a full release for duty- simple well not quite so.


The fact is by keeping my mouth shut I might be working today instead of griping about it. I might also be able to tote around my full camera kit to hit some of the awsome snow highlights of this morning. Yes, it's mid March & it is a full winter [with warning] snow storm in the SLC area.

Snow-ing Spring Time

Spring right? My calander says March 13. Isn't this spring, right?
In some cases yes, not this past week while I watched 4 inches pile upon my car outside. (side note: I moved to the valley a couple of weeks ago) Imaging the snow in the mountains.
I spent the weekend also relaxing the back. Today, I had phyical therapy - the physio said I pulled one of the stabalizer muscels in my lower back. Stetching and exercizes are his perscription.
I checked the weight of my camera bag on a bathroom scale - an est. 12 lbs - wow its' within the other dr's order of not lifing 15lbs. I took it to church & shot the baptisims for the month. My church does not use a heated pool - shocking isn't it. I'll post those images elsewhere. I doubt for dA they are appropriate for this art site.

age related

Several people can't figure out how old I am, some days niether can I. This weak I feel really old so when a friend e-mailed me this link age quiz... I followed it & felt better.

You Are 23 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

Nervous

Walking outside last night, I pasted a vehicle that'd been parked for several hours. Getting into my own, I noticed a guy sitting in that vehicle. I got really nervous as I drove off. "What if's" ran rampant through my head for the next couple of hours. When I returned he wasn't there. I paid close attention to my appartment locks - no scratches - hew! flipping on the lights, everything was there.
As I headed back out the same vehicle pulled in and a young lady whom I recognized as a neighbor stepped out. My cause for alarm nullified itself.
Yet the question remains - what if someone is watching the appartments to get to know our schedules to - you know knockoff an easy grab.
The thing I'm most nervous about is someone snaking my laptop & other hardware. I've had irreplaceable stuff stolen before - going through my library a Dr. Zuess book is missing "Oh the Places You'll Go" my (late) Big-Sis gave it to me eons ago as I was in missions. Little did she know of the places I'd go... that book however may be lurking in another trunk not at this location.
The point of the matter is... yeah I'm nervous - I haven't off site backed up for a while. This is not an invitation for hackers to hack me - that's just as illegal as outright theft of physical property.

values

I've moved into the library - my new appartment. after having friends haul all my books (24 cases), I've decided to go the oppisite way for the day. Instead of looking at my books I'm looking at some of my old gear. Gear that's been handed down via storage shed to storage shed.
Surfing for estimated values this morning - the last snow resting on the ground - I see that my typewriter is worth more then my camera. Aughast!
I have an old Underwood #5 in excellent condition (1900-1920's). It has minor box rubbings from all the boxes it's been in in the past. I also have an old mamiya C33 TLR (late 1960's). The TLR is in near perfect condition - dirty because I've used it as a mantle display.
One of the guys who helped me is getting married soon. I think I'll push a couple of rolls of film through the Mami and see if the baffles are still light tight, then use it for portraits on his big day.
I could use a few tips on using the TLR.

blog blog blog

Blogs, seems like every where I turn there is another set of 'friends' wanting me to check out the latest and greatest blog. I think I've grouped booked marked all of mine. Let's see blogspot, MySpace, Xanga, Yahoo 360, and uh I know there is one more out there. Wait, it's not really a blog more of an on-line journal that accompanies deviantArt. I want to let everyone know there is more to life then reading blogs or writing them to be posted on to the different sites. If anyone knows of software that will let me write one idea and post to many sites please for the sake of my sanity please let me know. By the way I use Mozilla 1.7


B

Talent

eye for perspective to see
eye for an ear to hear
a heart for God to do with what you got

Moving this week, I purposely set ob jects of question out at my new place. When the guys who'd help me we had sometime to wait. These guys would help me move the bulk of my books & furnature. I've already moved the "stuff." Indeed questions were asked. (Hey, it's a first, others who've visited haven't asked or questioned anything.) One picked up an old journal - a journal of sketches of travels past, "you have a lot of hidden talent."


Long ago before I picked up my camera as I do today, I picked up a sketch book. A sketch book given by my grandfather's sister. She had a sketch book with an image I took of an obscure scuplture in a far away land. Her sketch, my photo, jolted me into sketching. Quick, simple, capturing the essence of the moment. Several of you became recpients of this work years later with my personalized postcards. Today I use the camera to get the moment.


Long before my BS in Speech Communication came to be, I worked for ACMNP . I spoke about the wonders of GOD with the visitors of the park I worked in. The study that went into it, the practice, the blunders all of it I remember. Fear of Public Speaking is rated as stronger then the fear of death. However for me walking in front of a group is the dreaded fear which breaks me into a cold sweat. Yet to speak in front of that same group I am at home with.


Langauge, I can't learn it from a book. Yet in a country given a couple of weeks I'll have learned enough to get around.


Talents, what is in my tool bag? My tool bucket/bag (I have both) what tools aren't? The hammers are beat to death, while the fine finishing saw is not used so often but is well cared for and sharp.


God/Jesus (Matthew 25:14-30) says what talents have you used that I gave you? What talents have I used? I could list those I've used this week easily, while I'd be a while to list those I haven't. My sketches are a reflection of a talent I've used regularly in concept but, not exact per se. I use visulization and placement concept of sketching daily.


I could go on how Christ also says those who have will be given more. I could go on how Christ also says those who don't use will loose. I therefore propose that one talent used will grow into other talents.

rules

Rules
Rules

Spoken or unspoken are everywhere. Every aspect of my life has 'em.
a good definition of 'rules' I learned [not in the exact wording] is 4 parted

• recognizable
  
• expressable
  
• challenagble
  
• consequential
  

Draining on the evening [at church] I knew the road home would be bad, yet I'd committed to someone that I'd take her home. The problem is she lives 10 miles the exact oppisite of where I do, so I'd drive an extra 20 miles before beginning my 25 mile trek home. Glancing outside, a spit of snow hitting the valley, I could see it socked in up the canyon leading to PC. I began to ask around, 'can you take so&so home?' no came around so many times I felt more trapped then those spun out on I-80. One reply came across as an insult, "You shouldn't take her home anyways, it's a bad idea - you know." Ah **** I hit the RUCKING NO DATING RULE of this church. A rule which can be expressed this way

1. no one on one until acknowledged by leadership
   
2. see #1
   
3. you may challenge #1
   
4. others will say things to you or behind you back
   

I let it alone. I just didn't want to take her home. I saw no reason to challenge this unspoken leader in the church. 1) she isn't on staff 2) she may be very active & have much referent power given by others - only because she's around & 3) I've been head to head with her on other issues, it ain't worth my breath [so I'll vent on-line]. I have ZERO interest in the one I would take home. She wouldn't have asked for the ride unless we were friends anyways. I know to much about her past to want to bring that into a relationship. I found her. I asked for her to find another route home. I grabed another cup of coffee. I'd need it on the way up.

I have my own rules.

Stepping Out

Stepping out into the dark cold of the early morning bound for shift work, I pull down my hoodie, steel toe boots scrape along. I feel and look like I should be a rapper in the hood. Instead I try not to slip on the iced parking lot of my low rent condo in Park City. I prefer country over rock, rock over rap, rap over hip-hop, while blues and jazz rule the heap of my musical preferences. Today, however, like everyday, my ears will be filled with machinery running, buzzers, and rock blairing from a co-worker's radio. I don't mind it. The music cuts the noise while passing time faster. I make a living with day labor. My dream job (today) would be as a photog on a mission - much like what Scott Harrison does with Mercy Ships. That would be my dream again. Today, however, I pull off my steel toes for the day, lay the hoodie over a chair, and look at what I can do to promote the little photog I do.

test

this is a test of the e-mail posting method

can I do it?

it will be deleted at a later date