Thoughts on the book challenge

I've just finished my final book of the year to hit the goal Book and I set.

I enjoyed the book challenge this year and look forward to doing it again in 2009. We have slightly altered some of the rules, but, by and large, it will remain the same. This year we will assign each other a few books to read. We still have to have at least one epic book on the year. Mine will be Team of Rivals for 2009 and I'm getting a minor start on it now.

I am going to be a little better about choosing books this time around, though. I ended up reading some books I wish I could have back. "I May Not Get There With You" was written like an academic paper and focused on comparisons between MLK and Tupac. Half-way through it I wished I could just have a do-over. I also really did not enjoy "Catch-22," even though it is apparently widely regarded as a great book. Just not my style.

"Turning of the Tide" was great for 150 pages and then turned absolutely unbearable. The last 100 or 150 pages seemed like various random sports updates stapled to the back of the books with conclusions stating how it just shows that black players played in those various games. Entire chapters were just transcripts of interviews with people who really had nothing to add to the story. It's a shame because if that book ended on about page 150, it would have been one of my favorites of the year.

This year I am going to try to avoid many of the political books. I think the more I read about the Bush administration, the more generally angry I became and I kinda burned out my outrage switch. This year, any political books will be carefully chosen. Of course, I'm already compiling my list and a few are on there, but I'll at least try to mitigate them. Obama 2012!!!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2008

I really enjoyed "The World Without Us." I didn't expect it to be as interesting as it was. "'77," which was about the 1977 Broncos, was a really fun read. I also got intesely into "Bringing Down the House," which was about some MIT students who could count cards and took Vegas for millions.

I'm generally not a fiction reader, but I liked "Angels and Demons." Still, the book "jumped the shark" at the end, which disappointed me. That is usually why I don't read a lot of fiction. Still, the book was entertaining.

By far the best book was "Bearing the Cross" because I think I will take the lessons of the civil rights movement into the rest of life with me. Unbelievably great book. It was worth the time it took to read. I'm still amazed at the spying done on MLK and how much infighting made the struggle one that went up hill.

Barack Obama's two books were extremely good, although "Faith of My Fathers" was far superior and was in the discussion for favorite book of the year.

I enjoyed "the Great Derangement" very much. It was quite sarcastic and snarky, but also hilarious. The guy infiltrated the Hagee church (before his controvercial endorsement of McCain) and the 9/11 Truthers to show just how nuts many people can be and how impressionable as well.

"The Nine" was very interesting about the Supreme Court and how it functions behind the scenes. It confirmed my suspicion that the politics of a justice absolutely impact decisions about the hot-button issues of the times.

Finally, nothing made me laugh like "I am America and so Can You!" I read that one twice.

2009 LIST

Some of the books on my list for 2009:

Soldat
Team of Rivals
Southern Storm
Born Standing Up (Steve Martin)
Me of Little Faith (Lewis Black)
Stranger in a Strange Land
How to Rig an Election
The Express (About Ernie Davis)
Da Vinci Code
Seabiscuit
American Lion (Andrew Jackson)
Stories of blood and sweatsocks (Mankind)

As always, the list can change and I'm always open to suggestions. I am still awaiting my assignments from Book, so who knows where it will go. I'm just glad to be doing it again.

Holiday pictures

Here are some pictures from our Christmas party, from Christmas morning, and a few in between.

Happy Holidays

Grasping the End

My grandmother Ruth died early Saturday morning after a battle with cancer. As I posted a few weeks ago, I thought a lot of my grandmother and will miss her very much.

Her death, however, was more a relief, which feels wrong to say, so allow me to explain. This was my first adult experience with such a circumstance and I didn't know what to expect when she was diagnosed with cancer more than nine months ago. It feels wrong to say, but her battle with cancer had become so uncomfortable (and obviously so hopeless for recovery), that I even wished for her death on her behalf. She wanted it to end and said so when she could.

I used to wonder if I was robbed of my chance to say goodbye to my father, who was taken from us unexpectedly and instantly. But, after now experiencing the sadness of a prolonged and very uncomfortable and slow regression before death, I can honestly say that neither is preferable. Considering its an inevitability, preference might be the wrong word, but I think you get my meaning.

The end result remains the same because we all miss her and hate to lose her from our lives. However, because her fate was mapped out for us to see, my family has been more able to turn the expected end into a celebration of her life. I think the reason is that the actual loss was confronted as we came to accept the inevitable.

She is already sorely missed, and her influence in our lives has never been more deeply felt.

BOOK UPDATES

-- I've just finished "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman. It's a great book about what would happen to the world if humans disappeared overnight. It is an "imaginative" non-fiction in that it contemplates a hypothetical based on scientific facts. Very well done. It's just so interesting.

My reaction was more pronounced toward the delicate balance we walk even WITH us here. For example, our use of nuclear energy (even non-bomb atomic energy) produces some extremely nasty stuff and our disposal methods leave much to be desired. The book explains what happens to those materials and how they would escape, but it also illustrates how fine a line exists between "containment" of radioactive waste and "rampant cancer-causing plumes stretching for miles around."

Most unnerving is how plastics accumulate. The chain reactions that result from the most seemingly-mundane things (like plastic toys) are just plain bothersome. It's a real cringe-inducing experience. Try googling "North Pacific Gyre" sometime if you want specifics. (Hint: it's where our trash accumulates in the ocean.)

Also, after reading this book, I will not be living in Manhattan. Ever. Apparently 700+ pumps (many pumping against gravity) are all that separates that huge city from being a marsh. Big trouble can happen within an hour of loss of power. Yikes.

-- I finished my "epic" book of the year, "Bearing the Cross" by David Garrow. Amazing look at MLK and the civil rights movement. The turmoil, the hurdles, and the courage displayed were all painstakingly broken down.

I've said it before, but MLK, to me, is the greatest citizen this country has ever produced. King's deeds, more than any other personal experience or person I've known, inspire me toward spirituality. A reverend who took to the streets to assist in deed to eliminate the most shameful element of post-slavery America: Segregation.

Most illuminating were the lengths to which the government (even Kennedy) went to spy on King. He was a marked man, his every move was watched, and yet he was able to accomplish real change for the betterment of people. One of the best books I've read in a very long time.

Black Friday 2

Well, last year I spent Black Friday watching Colorado vs. Nebraska with Book and we had such a grand time documenting the experience via duelling-running-diaries that we did it again. Although, considering that Book and I debated whether I can call this season a disaster or not, it was probably a poor choice on my part. We brought the Fuzz along, so this should be fun.

To make matters worse, we chose Jackson's as the setting. Jackson's featured many tractors-full of Husker fans and even a Nebraska-themed "raffle" giving away various signs you might be a redneck. I should have known what lay ahead when I saw riding mowers with sidecars in the parking lot, but I plowed ahead anyway.

Must be time for some football! (Time stamp denotes official game time in the indicated quarter).

FIRST QUARTER

14:25 -- CU's first possession ends in a 68-yard TD pass to TE Geer. Color me shocked. Once again, the Buffs are trying to reel me in. I'm not yet fooled (yet) because I know the Buff defense stinks. Still, nice start.

7-0 CU

11:07 -- After forcing a punt, CU goes 80-yards in two plays for another TD. Demitrius Sumler rumbles 36 yards untouched to give CU a 14-point lead. I know he was untouched because he was standing when he reached the endzone. That's the farthest Sumler has run without falling down since the IHOP opened near his dorm. I guess what I'm saying is if Sumler goes 36 yards, maybe NU's defense can keep the Buffs' hopes alive!

CU capitalizes by kicking a squib kick and handing the Huskers wonderful field position.
14-0 CU

5:46 -- Nebraska scores when its TE failed to drop a pass because of sun glare. He was so alone, the sun was CU's only defense. NU celebrates with a mass-release of red balloons. State of the art stadiums and jumbo trons may be the new thing, but the locals apparently remain puzzled by the mystery of floating rubber.

This seem like a good time to mention that the Jackson's Husker fans cheer wildly for every first down. It must really stink to have nothing else to look forward to in life but wind and corn stalks. These folks haven't been this happy since they successfully welded a sidecar onto a riding mower.

The broadcast just showed a tractor of some sort shooting grain of some sort into another truck on a dreary day as it transitioned to commercial. "Visit Nebraska, where tractor rides and boredom happen." I'm bitter.

14-7 CU

4:04 -- After a CU three-and-out, Nebraska scores on one play. I knew it would happen, but I was hoping CU could hold the lead for an entire quarter. Apparently #47 for CU is the nephew of one Tony Lilly because of his unique ability to squander the angle with his special lack of speed. I think he was 10 yards behind the TE 25 yards down the field. (For those not "in the know" about Mr. Lilly, he's the Bronco safety who can be seen on NFL films chasing at least four different Redskin receivers from no closer than 10 yards away in SB XXII).

14-14 tie (that was quick)

Above: The only time Tony Lilly has ever touched Art Monk (It must be in the end zone).

1:56 -- Cody Hawkins has a pass deflected by one Husker and picked by another. NU has the ball in the red zone. Uh oh. I openly wonder how the heck that happens and Book lays down the truth. "That's what happens when your QB is 5-7." My response? (bleep).

SECOND QUARTER

12:14 -- Nebraska kicks a field goal.

17-14 NU.

9:05 -- After a great kickoff return by Josh Smith of CU, the Buffs proceed to go gimmicky and bring in the running QB (Hansen). This leads to my pounding on the table and becoming essentially combative. Hansen (the running QB with no arm) proceeds to run two straight QB draws (who knew?). Cody comes back in to get the first down on third-and-long and then each QB takes a turn at being sacked. CU has been experimenting with QB rotation this year and it makes me crazy.

CU's 5-of-16 kicker who was run out of Laramie for incompetence manages to tie the game leading to Book and Fuzz being subjected to my all-time frustration rant. The kicker must possess pictures of a naked Dan Hawkins flirting with a bunch of rodeo clowns. There is no other reason for him to be the starting kicker. I mean, this guy missed (MISSED!!!) an XP in OT to give UVA a victory over UW a few years back. I guess he isn't all bad.

A two-minute drive has accomplished 15 yards and, against all odds, three points. I'm officially upset.

(By the way, the QB-rotation-during-a-game-to-keep-them-off-balance trick has NEVER worked in the history of humanity. Dan Hawkins, we need to have a talk. If I were the AD, any coach I hire would have only one rule -- If you ever rotate QBs in any one game, you are FIRED!!!! I don't ask for much.)

17-17 tie (against all odds, the kick was good).

DO NOT TRY THIS ON YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM!!!

6:04 -- Book and Fuzz are still talking me down from my epic rant regarding QB shuffles. I think I'm making surrounding patrons uncomfortable. (Does no one remember when the Broncos shuffled Shawn Moore and Tommy Maddox? Anyone? )

2:03 -- Nebraska finishes a textbook long, grinding drive. They used the same QB for the duration and he never got tired. Like a tractor cutting through tall grass, the Huskers would not be denied.

24-17 NU.

2:00 -- Nebraska accidentally recovered an onside kick when their short kick hit #32 for CU right in the face. Nebraska is looking to end it right here.

1:11 -- A stroke of luck! Nebraska lines up for what would be a long field goal, but the snapper flips the ball over his head to the kicker, who is awaiting the blind-pitch. A CU player intercepts it and takes it to the house for an improbable TD right before the half. Amazing play. CU managed to tie the game without taking a snap on offense for what seems like days.

24-24 tie at the half.

THIRD QUARTER

9:49 -- Nebraska took more than 5 minutes to march the length of the field and take the lead with a field goal. It feels like forever since CU was on offense. This is what you get for taunting the football Gods with blasphemous QB rotations.

27-24 NU

5:39 -- CU responds with a nice drive of its own that includes some huge third-down conversions. Sumler rumbles for another TD. Someone get that man some pancakes!

31-27 CU

1:31 -- Nebraska is marching down the field slowly again. The Buff defense has got to be spent. Nebraska now holds a 64-26 advantage in offensive snaps and a 34-12 time-of-possession advantage. Somehow, CU still leads.

FOURTH QUARTER

12:45 - 8:55 -- After a long march, Nebraska fumbles on the Buff 5. Unfortunately, CU manages four plays before punting again. I am now being restrained by Book and Fuzz. NU gets the punt and starts at the CU 25. This is asking an awful lot from a defense that has been on the field all game. Still, CU holds the Huskers to another FG.

31-30 CU (inconceivably)

8:03 -- CU gets the ball back. They have learned their lesson with alternating QBs, but they run two-straight QB draws with the one who can't run. I give up. Book says "isn't that Hansen in at QB now just to test my tolerance for rapid blood-pressure spikes. "No, I guess that's still Cody... I wonder why they ran it with him twice. Oh well." That was mean.

An improbable third-and-long conversion prompts Book to state that the Buffs have entered the "twilight zone" where everything goes right for them. I stare a hole through him.

4:43 -- CU punts and Nebraska will have another shot at winning the game against a CU defense as punch drunk as Gerry Cooney in a 1980s title fight. This should be nerve-wracking. (On a side note, the announcer just said that Nebraska needs a point to tie. Chew on that one for awhile).

2:28 -- After Nebraska gutted CU's defense to get into easy scoring range, CU comes up with an improbable sack at the CU 40, setting up a fourth-and-twenty-five with the game on the line. Looks like CU holds on. At this point, Book decides to say we should do this every year since it's a good luck charm now that CU has won.

1:43 -- A Nebraska fan shouts "NOOOOOOOO!!!!" as the kicker lines up for a 57-yard field goal. The 57-yarder goes through with about 4 yards to spare and Jackson's erupts. I again stare a hole through Book. I then beat him over the head with my chair... in my mind.

Fuzz then intentionally piles on by pointing out that CU has avoided turnovers to this point.

33-31 NU

1:24 -- Another tipped pass is picked off and, this time, returned for a TD. Fuzz is now very proud of himself and takes full credit for the pick-6. It's deserved. I am now thinking of beating the riding mower traffic out of the establishment. The mass-clicking of overalls into place signals the coming rush for the door.

40-31 NU FINAL

Just for the record, I think there is NO WAY FSU (Book's favorite team) could EVER give up 70 points to Florida. How's that for a reverse jinx?

Well, at least I didn't get trampled at the mall by crazy Black Friday shoppers. Rather, I subjected myself to a herd of Buffalo trampling my heart.

A Special Thanks

On this Thanksgiving, I would like to give a special thanks to my Grandmother, D. Ruth McCarthy (seen above at he introduction to Jacob).



She is on our minds today because this will surely be her final Thanksgiving if not her final days. She has been battling a rather aggressive cancer for the past nine months and her days have turned, unfortunately, less and less comfortable.

She and my mom have always been the most sweet and loving people I've known in my life. She has 6 children, 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, and she has made a positive, loving and meaningful impact on all 40 of us. She exudes a caring spirit dispenses only sage advice and unconditional love.


It was just a few months ago that she saw my office for the first time. My mom brought grandma over on a whim. I happened do be free at the time and was delighted to have her see my office. I was very moved by how much it meant to her to see my office. She smiled joyfully and clasped her hands in front of her as she gazed around. She still has a talent for making us all feel special.



Last weekend, while we were on our way to do some Christmas shopping, Jacob voiced his preference from the back seat. "Go see gramma Roo-s?" he asked. We altered our course and had a nice visit. It appears that Jacob was on to something because that day was one of the very few comfortable days she has had since. As we said our good-byes, Jacob offered his head to her for a good-bye kiss.

We are all just so grateful to have her influence, her love and her support in our lives. She will be in our thoughts and the focus of our thanks on this Thanksgiving.



Me and Grandma on Turkey Day a few years ago.

Moving On

Now that the election is over, I can finally focus my attention and passions on other things. After a few days of withdrawal from national polls and the horse-race of daily election news, I've decided to take inventory of what I have to look forward to in the post-election world.

It's almost like I've been away for a few months. My focus now turns to my wonderful little family, hobbies that were placed on the back burner and to the long-term project that inspired this blog.

I have always made time for Jacob and that won't change. However, now that Saturdays and Thursday evenings are open once again, I will enjoy more of my off-time with my special little guy. We've been playing a lot lately, and I have been reading to him more.

I look forward to reclaiming Saturday as our day together. Until canvassing took most of my Saturdays, that was our day to visit family, go on errands and just do things together to give Jen a break. He has noticed my enhanced availability already, which is nice.

As for hobbies, I am back to the book challenge just in time. I am now past the half-way point of "Bearing the Cross." After that book, I will then try to plow through "Angels and Demons," "Da Vinci Code" and "The World Without Us" before the new year. I managed to go from way ahead of pace to barely on pace to finish during the campaign push.

I missed my non-political reading, and jumping back into it has been great.

Finally, I'm starting to consider focusing my efforts toward organizing the thoughts I have thus-far expressed and shaping future posts to create a book, as was my original intention for the blog.

Now that I have something from which to draw, I think it'll be easier. I welcome all ideas or discussion topics.

Euphoria

Check out the 3:19 mark of this one.



Check out the 1:04 mark.



Reaction at Dr. King's Atlanta church.

YES!!!!

I volunteered all day today. My day started at 4:45 a.m. and ended after the polls closed. I can't stop watching history tonight and I'm not even tired.

I am just so happy that this has happened. I chose to watch the returns with my family. Specifically, I wanted to watch with Jacob because I think he has such a stake in the future.

I have so many thoughts, but I'll just boil them down to a select few. First, I can't help but think that the paradigm of an entire generation has shifted. No one will ever be able to convince any young child of today that race matters a hill of beans when measuring ability. It just won't happen. They will always be able to remember when a black man was elected president. I cannot think of a better or more healing tonic for racial relations in the future.

I have never felt like I owned a piece of a campaign like this before. Our Loveland team worked hard all day and impressed me with its real passion. Anyone who doubts this was a grass-roots effort didn't see the campaign office buzz on any given night, work night or not.

Finally, I just want to say...

YES!!!!!

A phone call from Barack

Tonight, I was on a conference call with Barack Obama.

My Loveland team was one of thousands of neighborhood teams from across the nation to be in on a call from Senator Obama so he could express his thanks (live) and give us all a pep talk for the final stretch.

We are in full Get Out The Vote (GOTV) mode for the campaign nationwide and we've been putting in long hours. Today was an especially tough day for me because I was scheduled for the whole day and happen to be sick. The shifts are busy, but between-shift time can lull. We all did our jobs and talked as usual about the things that inspire us to give of our time.

We had a successful day from our staging location and we surpassed our goals. Our volunteers are always energetic, but I think we were all feeling the strains of the final push. Then, toward the end of the final shift, I got the call from our field organizers that we could call in to hear live from Senator Obama himself.

Our whole operation stopped when I was overheard saying into my phone, "You mean, WE get to talk to Barack Obama?!?!?" She gave us the call-in number and our office re-energized.

We set up a speakerphone and called in promptly 15 minutes early. Campaign manager David Plouffe came on and dazzled us with statistics. He said our organization was unprecedented in American political history and that what we are doing has surpassed theory and become an enormous reality. Then, he proved it with numbers.

• 13.3 million direct contacts with registered voters (contacts... not calls made or doors knocked, but actual human contacts);
• 1.9 million new voters registered (folks, tell me how that isn't the election right there?);
• Well over 1 million GOTV shifts worked in the last 2 weeks;
• A new 500,000-voter registration drive in North Carolina alone (NC previously had more Republicans registered than Dems);
• A new 25,000-voter registration advantage in Colorado;

These are just a few of the statistics that amazed us.

Senator Obama took the call just after landing in Missouri and moments before speaking at a Rally in Springfield, MO. He started by saying "I am proud of all of you," and calling us the "lifeblood of the operation." He credited us with helping turn states blue that haven't been that way in decades.

He said we've "stunned the country" with our efforts and our ground game and encouraged us to push through because "we can't let history slip through our hands."

Clearly, the man is inspiring, and he rallied the troops. We are all re-energized for the final push and we are ready to celebrate together after another long, but fulfilling, day of volunteering on Tuesday night.

The Final Countdown

I actually look forward to November 5, 2008. One way or the other, the election will be over (hopefully), and my life will go back to normal. This will be one less thing to juggle.

Election years are always a bit prickly. Even more so when you are involved deeply in a campaign. We all tend to lose our objectivity a little, but the beliefs are genuinely held. I know I've gotten into my share of arguments, especially over the dangerous and misleading e-mails circulating. My policy has been to respond to every one I receive and I have done so. But, once the election is over, it's time to rally together.

I will be volunteering on Saturday and again on Election Day. After that, it will all be over. So I asked myself, what do I want to do when it's over? My routine will be all out of whack, that's for sure. No more obsessive checking of polls, political talk shows or review of new advertisements hitting the airwaves.

I am very happy to have been involved in the political process and I would make the same decision all over again. If Obama loses, I will never do this again, but it's been great to be a small volunteer part of a large operation.

My time is going to include a LOT more Jen and Jacob time. I will get back on my 24-book challenge pace (still working on "Bearing the Cross"). Blood pressure will return to normal. Most important, I will be able to devote more time to my family, both immediate and removed.

Most important, however, will be the latter. I must tend to some family matters. My mom had both of her knees replaced, which has already proven to be a blessing for her. It was a very difficult surgery and the rehab will continue for the foreseeable future. We have all been trying our best to help her, and we will continue to do so. Now that the worst is over, it has been great to watch her mobility improve and her spirits rise.

My grandmother has also been very sick. She is in the fight of her life and we are all very worried about her.

All of these family issues are ultimately most important. The juggling has not been easy, so I will be glad when the election is over. But, I'm sure I will also miss the distraction it has given me.

I think my next long post may have to be about the surreal experience of turning from a visitor at my own family reunions while living on the other side of the nation to being intimately involved in family goings-on and crisis management. It's been a paradigm shift without a clutch.

Any thoughts or prayers for my grandmother and my mother are appreciated.

Ants Marching

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/20/mccain-camp-looking-for-way-to-win-without-colorado/#more-25677

The article I linked here states as follows:

While Iowa, New Mexico and Colorado are still officially listed as McCain target states, two top strategists and advisers tell CNN that the situation in those states looks increasingly bleak. Iowa and New Mexico always have been viewed as difficult races, but the similar assessment of Colorado reflects a dramatic shift for a campaign that had long counted on the state.

"Gone," was the word one top McCain insider used to describe those three states.

This source said while the polls in Colorado remain close, he and most others in the operation were of the opinion that the Obama campaign and its allies have a far superior ground/turnout operation and "most of us have a hard time counting on Colorado." (emphasis added)

The Fuzz, Baggs and I have been knocking on doors, making phone calls and generally pushing the Colorado campaign by taking our places in the long line of ants marching for change all across the state. Indeed, the Obama campaign has ants like us marching all across the country.

We are enthusiastic, motivated, energized and we can FEEL it. Reading this article made me smile today because when enough of us little ants combine forces, we can move mountains.

This article represented acknowledgment by the McCain campaign that our efforts have been effective. We have made a difference.

Now, more than 3 million individuals have contributed an average of $86.00 each to produce the most formidable campaign treasure chest in US political history. That treasure has been matched by sweat and shoe-leather to produce a grass-roots movement to the White House.

Still, this is no time to let up. I will be canvassing each weekend and working the entire day as a staging location coordinator on election day. We will not be denied!

B.S. delivered to my answering machine

I received the following robo-call yesterday.

"Hello. I'm calling for John McCain and the RNC because you need to know that Barack Obama has worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers, whose organization bombed the U.S. Capitol, the pentagon, a judge's home and killed Americans. And Democrats will enact an extreme leftist agenda if they take control of Washington. Barack Obama and his Democratic allies lack the judgment to lead our country. This call was paid for by McCain-Palin 2008 and the Republican National Committee."

Now... I hardly know where to start. First off, I don't want that crap on my answering machine. It's a distraction issue, a wedge issue and a distortion. Anyone who pays attention knows why this "association" is a complete non-issue. But, the point I want to make is that this illustrates exactly what it looks like when a party is completely out of ideas.

I have been making phone calls and knocking on doors for the Obama campaign and our instructions are to emphasize the positive. If allowed to engage in conversation we are asked to relay a personal story of ours in the context of Obama's policies. My story is about my mom and my son. I talk about how my mom has been failed by our health care system and had to wait four years to have her knees replaced and now has a bowed femur as a result of a "pre-existing condition." I talk about how my son deserves to have a chance at an education. I talk about how Jacob's generation doesn't deserve to have to pay down George W. Bush's debt and that we need to reign in the budget. I also talk about how we need to reject the immoral policy of pre-emption and torture in our nation because I don't want Jacob sent into an unnecessary war or to be the victim of retaliation torture. Although the next president won't have Jacob to throw into a war, the very idea of pre-emption must end, and this is a step in that direction.

What do the Republicans offer? Associations. Accusations. Angry Mobs. Cries of anti-Americanism. Robo-smear calls. Rallies that apparently include torches and pitch-forks at the gate. I have also received the kinds of e-mails that give me chills.

Why is that all they offer? Because the party is out of ideas. For six years, they held all levers of government, and have held the presidency and it's veto pen for eight years. Only two of those years did the run-away train have a brake. We have been in a political standstill for two years while Democrats get vetoed into oblivion and Bush gets stonewalled. All will remain frozen until we have a new president.

The campaign has gotten negative. There is no doubt about it. And both sides have done some things they wish they could have back. But, only one side has displayed ugliness that could actually inspire violence.

When people in a crowd shout "terrorist," or "kill him," or "off with his head," or "treason," a speaker has an obligation to stop and set the record straight. McCain has done that, but Palin has not. It is disgusting.

This robo-call is just another attempt to whip up the emotions and fears of the populace. Look at the focus. Bill Ayers. Leftists. They aren't dumb enough to outright say communist like Senator McCarthy back in the 50s, but the same fear triggers are being pulled.

The RNC called tonight to talk to Jen and ask if they could count on her support. Her answer was just "no."

It's time to say no to appeals to fear. Ever since I announced on this blog that I would support Barack Obama, I said it's time to reject fear and embrace hope. The polls indicate that, by and large, the people are not convinced that a Kevin-Bacon-like association matters one bit when the 401K statement comes in the mail.

I respond to every hate-e-mail I receive and I always will. I am not shy about engaging anyone who wants to make these appeals to fear. In fact, as we get closer to the election, I'm almost looking for a fight.

It won't work this time!

Time for Jacob Pictures

It's been awhile since I posted some cool Jacob pics. Enjoy!

Jacob and Mom

Jacob and Dad

Wearing Mom's boots

I Voted

I don't get a sticker this year, but I don't have to stand in line either. I received my ballot a day or so ago and I took time to read up on the issues. I talked through the issues with Jen and voted via mail-in ballot this evening.

It feels good.

This is my first time using the mail-in ballot, and I don't think I will do it any other way again. It's really the way to go.

We are lucky in this nation that we have the right to vote and I encourage everyone to do his or her duty by being an informed voter.

Now I'm free to drive people to the polls, volunteer for the last-minute push and become a zombie as the returns come in on November 4. Our moment is now.

Random thoughts

... Jacob has begun saying "John McCain hurt eye." When he was 1, he tried to look into a shampoo bottle and got it in his eye. He cried and said "Shampoo acky, hurt eye." To communicate danger, we sometimes say things like "no cord, hurt eye." On his own, probably because we talk politics around here a lot, he has started saying "John McCain, hurt eye." He pays attention, I guess.

... Yet more Wall Street problems. What's the difference between a totally free market and trickle-down economics? Nothing. They are both fabrications of the mind with no basis in the real world. What a scam. Think about this for a minute. Rich people convinced us that if we make them even more wealthy, they would actually give some of that back! Hilarious! Yet all those golden parachutes keep opening like clockwork. (I just got an image of Bill Gates re-paving my street).

... I went canvassing this weekend. Knocked on 60+ doors. No luck on most of the first half, but I actually think we made a small impact on the second half. This is how elections are won... with boots on the ground.

... My mom's birthday was today and we took her out to dinner. She will get her knees replaced in one week. Keep her in your thoughts. It'll be a long road back to health for her, but she really needs this done.

... Gotta love sports. The Broncos are a fun team to watch on offense. I have proper expectations based on their crappy defense, so I get to enjoy the fireworks with no need to fret over long playoff runs. Time to enjoy gaudy statistics! CU still looks a year away and Virginia is rebuilding, so my focus is on the NFL this time around.

... On the schadenfreude side of sports, Nebraska got beat 52-17 at home, which always makes me smile. If that wasn't enough, the Cubs lost 3-games-to-none in the first round of the playoffs when expectations were just crazy considering history. All of my friends and I take a sick joy in pain felt by each other in sports. I don't think anything tops the heartbreak the Northsiders inflict on their fans, though. It never gets old.

... I'm currently reading "Bearing the Cross," and it's a great book. I think I'm going to finish my 24-book challenge with "Angels and Demons," "The Da Vinci Code" and "Stranger in a Strange land." Next year Book and I will start out with "Southern Storm" about General Sherman's decimation of much of the South. Book and I have a morbid fascination of "drunk uncle Billy" (If you see a picture of him, you'll know why we call him that) and his rampage through Georgia.

... I keep getting calls at my office from homeowners who are desperate to avoid foreclosure and it's heartbreaking. They are all upside-down on their homes and facing financial ruin. I really feel for them. Although there is little I can actually do for them most of the time, I always try to point them toward some (hopefully) helpful options. Times are tough and people are absolutely feeling it. My phone is a testament to that.

Love of my life

Jen is my best friend in the world. She's a great mom and a wonderful wife. I am very proud of her, which is probably pretty evident. She works hard and has earned everything she has achieved.

Any description I could give of my feelings for her have probably been covered through music, poetry and literature before. Obviously, all of those descriptions of affection apply and I love her deeply. Instead, I would rather describe her enormous strength to give a glimpse of what she looks like through my eyes.

Jen is a rock. She embodies the phrase "calm, cool and collected" in the face of any obstacle because of her strength of character. Her pillars are made of honesty, industriousness and commitment to family. And she displays those traits continuously.

I appreciate that Jen will level with me and I know she will only say what is true. But, her honesty also comes through clearly when she drops a point of view as circumstances change. She is the opposite of an ideologue and takes genuine account of logic and reality. In short, she is intellectually honest and thoughtful.

I will never forget her absolute refusal to cut corners while working at KFC, and her calculation of work hours down to the minute. The last thing she would ever do would be to cheat anyone out of even a minute of work time.

Such deeds earn trust, but her insistence on not wasting time makes her career climb her own masterpiece. Obviously, that trait is beneficial to a career, but Jen works just as hard at home as she does for work.

Jen plans for Jacob's future and directs her efforts at home toward his better development and growth. We are lucky that Jen has the ability to work from home where she can be with Jacob. And, Jacob is lucky that that his time is spent every day with someone who is dedicated to his interests and plans his upbringing in a way to maximize his opportunities.

I do not mean to limit her traits, which are many. She is also a dreamer, creative and kind. But, I seek to express the traits that only someone who sits in my seat could see.

She is my dream girl and always will be.

The Front Lines

Well, I'm full into volunteer mode. I probably do not spend the time I should, or even the time I have verbally committed to, but I now make phone calls and canvass every week. I even got my first war wound (a bee sting... clearly sent by a McCain supporter).

The view from the front lines of a political campaign is difficult to interpret.

On one hand, I see a unique enthusiasm and the mechanisms of the political process churning from inside -- with people working together for a common purpose. On the other hand, dealing with a populace that pays attention on the shallowest of levels is an exercise in herding cats and hair-pulling.

Last week I experienced a very successful phone bank session that led to a few very enlightening conversations and (maybe) one voter convinced to leave the fence for the Obama yard. One can never be sure, of course, but this is a unique process and I have been thrust into some fascinating discussions.

On the other hand, I was also told by another person not to call back because "no son of a bitch who won't salute the flag or our troops should ever be president." After almost two years of campaigning, vetting like no human not running for president could ever experience, and constant scrutiny, some people just can't separate the fear from the truth.

As interesting as the experience has been, this whole political process has also been maddening. My fury over the indiscretions of the past 8 years is well known. My frustration is explaining to people who pay casual attention exactly why this is so important to me.

My sense of urgency has been patronized at times and I have had to bite my tongue more often than I'd like. Nothing bothers me more than the belittling of concerns based on fundamental matters.

But, the end result is what matters. Even though many people vote as they do for the wrong reasons ("he sounds Muslim" or "I just always vote [fill in party]"), the vote is what matters. Our job, on the front line, is to attempt to educate a sometimes-resistant and easily-distracted population that really doesn't have the time to scrutinize beyond sound-bytes or misleading commercials.

Like I said, it's a beautiful process, very rewarding, absolutely maddening... and very confusing. If that makes sense.

This campaign means everything to me because of fundamental beliefs I have about how our country should conduct itself. I fear that my view is simply not an accurate reflection of exactly who we are. What if we are torturers? What if we are fiscally reckless? What if we don't believe in that which was once inalienable? What if we really don't need evidence to use our power?

Before I entertain answers to those hypotheticals, I'm going to try to persuade my community. My job is to convey the importance during a conversation that usually lasts 30 seconds. No one said it would be easy.

But, never give up on hope without a fight.

Proud no matter what

Jacob just climbed on my back. That was fun. He's my little buddy.... now, where was I?

The last few weeks have been interesting. We tried to enroll Jacob in preschool. Poor little guy lasted only two-and-a-half days. He was just too overwhelmed. From all the fallout of the experiment, all the stress and all the tears (and there were many), I can say without question that I will always be proud of my boy.

I know that. I believe that will continue. The challenge? To make sure Jacob always knows that.

The experience did give reason for contemplation, though. It made me think back to my upbringing and how I somehow developed a capacity to categorize too many things as failure.

That got me thinking... why does such a thought even have to be suppressed? Shouldn't it never even creep into one's mind when applied to a child? Obviously, my toddler is not a failure for not being ready to start school at the age of 2. My concern is that at some point I may be tempted to apply that term too loosely... like dad seemed to.

A brief history: My dad's shoes will always have room in the toes. All of my abilities could never quite fill them. I've learned to accept that. I did well in school, he performed spectacularly (Boettcher scholar, member of AOA in medical school, and on and on).

Now, for the part that only three people in the world can really understand: Dad was very difficult to please when report cards were issued. So difficult to please (at least early on) that I was never quite sure it could be done.

I do not mention this to complain or play the victim. The point is, I woke up. So, his method was effective for me in that I took the challenge (sometimes in a vain effort to "show him") and traveled the path he advocated. It also taught me to steam over an A-minus when I was .002 away from my first college 4.0.

The question I am left to contemplate is complicated. Dad drove me to achieve, even if it was sometimes accompanied by some misery, hard feelings and stress. Mom made sure we were as loved as anyone could be. Does one work without the other? I say no.

Without mom's constant reminders that dad didn't mean to make us feel that inadequate (he often forgot to get to that part), I'm sure I would have probably lashed out.

After the lessons were taught, however, dad did a complete 180. To my shock, he didn't care one bit about my law school grades. You could have knocked me over with a deep breath when he told me not to sweat over a B-minus.

So, the point? I'm going to have to be careful. Left alone, I will bend toward being a hard-ass on grades. I will have to remember the time my academic tormentor shed his mask and told me to chill. Apparently, even hard-asses can be reformed.

Sometimes, even examples that produce results don't need to be followed by the letter.

In her lifetime

I was there when history was made.

I was at Mile High Stadium 45 years to the day after Dr. King described his dream.

Sitting behind me was an elderly black woman from California and her family. Her and her husband both wore handicap stickers and labored to get to their seats in the fifth and very top level of Invesco Field at Mile High.

We talked about her love of the Golden State Warriors, a team she has followed for decades. Although she said she is from Oakland, she assured me, while sitting seven sections from a giant Bronco logo, that she never roots for the Raiders.

We also discussed the moment. She explained with a special joy how much it meant to her to see the first African American candidate for president formally accept that nomination. She didn't say it explicitly, but I interpreted in her excitement a wonderment that she could experience such a moment in her lifetime. The fact that her and her husband, both handicapped, chose to cram themselves in the fifth level of a football stadium hundreds of miles from home expressed that meaning.

She was in her seat nearly as early as I was (about 1:30 p.m.) and enjoyed the entire event. Her few times leaving her seat were labored and assisted by her granddaughter and a cane.

When Barack Obama spoke, her smile only grew. Every applause line inspired an enthusiastic "That's Right" from behind me. And, when Obama hit a special chord, she would raise her hand, fingers spread, close her eyes, shake her head and say "Mmmmm Hmmmmm."

My time at Invesco Field at Mile High was filled with live music performances by Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow and more. I heard speeches from a Nobel-peace-prize-winning former vice president (Al Gore), a father of the civil rights movement (John Lewis), Governors from around the nation (Virginia, New Mexico, Colorado and others), and Representatives and Senators from around this nation. I saw emotion unique to any event I have ever attended. I saw a fireworks display and pageantry that blew my mind. And, I saw a speech that many describe as the best acceptance speech ever given by a prevailing party candidate.

I was present at a proud and historic moment in our nation's history. But, for some reason, my most vivid memory is the jovial old lady who sat behind me and lit the stage with her joy.

Short Update

... Jacob starts preschool in a few weeks. We bought him some school clothes on Saturday because there are some restrictions on what he cannot wear to school (specifically anything superhero). Jen and I have been talking a lot about this step and we both think it will help him. The school is Montessori and the method seems designed to teach him how to learn on his own.

Still, we will miss him being home as much.

... Also on Saturday I picked up my ticket for Barack Obama's big speech at Invesco Field at Mile High. It seems my volunteering efforts paid off and I got two "all-star" tickets. Baggs will be joining me for what promises to be a memorable evening. We can't wait.

... I miss playing chess regularly and am considering getting back to regular play (i.e. once a week). I prefer playing with friends, but will probably end up playing online more often. I've had some bad experiences playing strangers online (mostly, I seem to run into folks with no manners).

... Just finished reading Friday Night Lights this weekend. Very good book. One of the reasons I left journalism, and sports journalism in particular, was the rabid nature of some fans. I always considered Texas a particularly "unique" place, so this book really only served to confirm that whatever case of over-zealous behaviour I may have seen would only be a bigger problem there. You know what they say about Texas... everything is bigger. Apparently, even obsessions are bigger in Texas.

... My fantasy football draft is coming up on Aug. 23. Get ready for some banter. It's on!

Put up or shut up

Big and important things are happening at home and in life. I had a great weekend that led to a call to action.

I had a nice weekend with Jacob while Jen went camping with her family. She got a break, I got some Jacob time. We played and had a good time. Chris was in town and we grilled and video-gamed like the old days.

While he was here, Chris (the cloth) got engaged in Rocky Mountain National Park. Before that grand event, the Fuzz, the Book, the Cloth and I won the World Cup with China on Wold Cup 2006 for the PS2. I'm not certain which event made Chris more happy. Ok that's a joke, but it was probably closer than you'd think. We celebrated like we won the Super Bowl and loved every bit of it. We had a gathering and met the future Mrs. Cloth and all was well last weekend.

Once playtime was over, however, it was time for me to get to make good on a pledge I made. I decided to take a more active roll in the Obama campaign. Part of the reason is that I had resolved to do that. The other part is that I can be bought for DNC speech tickets. The campaign allows for "all-star" seating for those who pledge to volunteer for two shifts on behalf of the campaign before August 14. This ingenious plan just bought the campaign a large number of free work hours to further distance Obama's lead over McCain in organization and enthusiasm.

Tonight, I registered my first shift. I made 73 phone calls at a phone bank. It was fun. The people are a tight-knit group and it was surprisingly easy and fun to talk to strangers on the phone, especially when they showed enthusiasm for the campaign.

Next up, I will register voters in town at the Sculpture Show here in town. That will make two shifts, and a shot at DNC speech tickets. But, thing is, I won't stop working. Although attendance at the speech will be one of the highlights of my life, it's not my only motivation.

There are 90 days until the election and this is important enough to fight for. I live in a swing state (for once) and can't wait to help tip the balance. When I doubt whether I have the time, I think of Jacob. Our current course will lead to "public" schools and universities priced like private schools (and thus less available to middle class folks like us). Climate change is something Jacob's generation will have to deal with in a way we don't understand now unless something changes.

Sometimes you have to just take the plunge. Sometimes it's all worth it. I don't want to wake up on November 5, 2008 wondering if I could have done anything more. I have signed up to be a leader of a team locally and it involves time commitment.

For Barack Obama, for Jacob and for the good of our country, I will do this. But, we all need to do our part in other ways as well.

I no longer come home from work for lunch to save on the emissions from the car. That saves 10 miles a day. 50 miles a week. It's a smaller carbon footprint, even if slightly so. Jen signed us up to purchase wind-generated power from out of state. We pay a small extra fee, but our house no longer pulls from a generator that burns coal. These are very small steps, but steps nonetheless.

My phone calls are a small step. But I'm not alone, and we recruited more volunteers tonight. The world becomes a better place when we work for it. I don't know if my efforts will dent anything, but it makes me feel good that I'm not the only one pushing for change.

Anyone who wants to volunteer can contact me and help influence the world through local action. Just post a comment here or give me a call. I'm in recruitment mode.

It's time to put up or shut up.

Dapper young man

Jacob got a haircut today. He was in need of one desperately. He has been playing with his trains this evening and I got a few action shots. I also have a few pre-haircut shots. I'm contemplating a few new ideas for coming blog posts, but I'm not sure how it's going to be. For now, I'm keeping with the relaxation theme of this weekend and posting some great pics of Jacob.

Before Haircut
Before Haircut... and into trouble

After Haircut, playing with trains

Dapper young man

Choo Choo!

Jacob and Dad

How Mr. Rocca led to my participation in a Book challenge

Book and I decided to try to read 24 books this year. It's been a fun project. I just finished number 15 tonight. Pursuing this goal got me thinking about a time when I didn't read much.

Way back in the summer of my eighth-grade year, the first teacher to really believe in me (Mr. Rocca) suggested that I go into the honors program for 9th grade. The only catch was that I would have to read 3 books over the summer and write reports on each of them.

Like a lazy bum, I spent most of my summer dreading the assignment and reading nothing. I tried to finish one book with less than a month before classes for high school would begin. I actually took the easy road and simply called the school and changed my schedule to be in regular English class instead of AP.

Problem solved.

I reveled in those last few weeks of summer... and spent the rest of my high school career regretting the decision and trying to make up for it. In fact, for awhile, I even developed a bit of a complex toward AP.

All because I was too lazy to do what many people do for FUN over the course of an entire summer. The "regular class" allowed me to read some very good books and I really ate those books up. I was determined to make the very most out of the class. After all, education is what you make of it.

Even after college, I still didn't read much for pleasure. I did it occasionally, but not often. Of course, I read all my assignments in college, so to do more was just too repetitive.

During the three years between my graduation from CU and my entrance into law school, I only read a few books, but they were extremely meaningful to me. "A Brave New World," by Aldous Huxley struck me particularly. It's concept of "Soma" inspired me to learn German.

I describe the book as similar to George Orwell's book 1984 if that book were about social interactions as opposed to politics.

Soma was a pill that put people into a catatonic, but satisfied state. The description reminded me of exactly how I must look when I watch TV. Jen had recommended the book, so I told her of a plan to see if I could learn a new language with the time I would otherwise have spent watching television. That became a bit of an obsession, but that's another story. Law school was on the horizon and I needed an excuse to escape distraction, so giving up cable was the obvious choice.

Needless to say, I did very little pleasure reading in law school. My eyeballs would have probably shut down. I like to read, but my eyes aren't made of steel and I was anal about reading my assignments.

For about a year after I experienced the bar exam, I avoided all unnecessary reading. (Seriously, that exam is life-alteratingly crappy... it's effects linger and I will never take it again, so let's say I won't be leaving the state anytime soon).

Once the post-bar shock wore off, my path was finally clear. I now can't read enough. This book challenge has been just that, but it has been fun and definitely worth it (even if I've had to suffer through a few badly-chosen books).

My final thought, though, goes back to Mr. Rocca. I "woke up" school-wise in 8th grade. Partly, that was his doing. When my submission for a writing contest was a tongue-in-cheek critique of the awful school lunch food just to be funny and goof around, he went out of his way to find me.

He found me after school in a common area and said how he had specifically looked for my paper thinking it would be a contender for the prize. He said he wished I had taken it seriously and expressed actual disappointment that I did not.

Mr. Rocca had an Afro hairstyle and was often the butt of jokes as a result. His positive approach and Mr. Rogers sweaters were also fodder for middle-school students. But, Mr. Rocca walked the walk. He also required payment of $0.10 per use of the word "ain't."

When I showed up to school wearing a Bart Simpson T-shirt that said "Underachiever and Proud of it," he pulled me aside. Again, he did not take me to task harshly. He said that he would not require me to turn it inside out as some schools had at the time, but that he was disappointed that I would choose to identify myself that way. My protests were heard, but he simply stated that I had a choice about which direction to take and that choices set a direction.

In all honesty, I was actually just a really big fan of the Simpsons and I still do not believe I had internalized it, but his message struck me. And, I could really see the very genuine concern in his eyes. Both his Simpsons critique and his disappointment regarding my writing assignment remain as vivid as if I were watching him live on television right now.

I am not even sure of his first name anymore (it's been almost 20 years), but I want to thank Mr. Rocca for believing in me, for being honest and for leveling with me.

He is one of many who have helped me put on my boots. Sometimes all it takes is acceptance of an outstretched hand. I wish I could find him today so I can thank him. Time to run a google search.

I was lucky to have had his influence just as I learned how to listen.

You are invited

We will be hosting a Barack Obama Unite for Change House Party on Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at our house. If you need directions, just get a hold of either of us. We will be providing food for all who show up, so come hungry.

The purpose of the gathering is to organize local support. An Obama campaign organizer will be here and he will provide any information you may desire to get involved, volunteer, spread the word or just get fired up.

It's all about grass roots efforts, and we are glad to get involved. We hope to have 20 people show up. If you plan to show up, please RSVP to us or on the comments section of this post to let us know.

This is an important election, and it's time to get involved. Please join our family for this fun and important gathering. We hope to see many people there!

Yours,


Joe, Jen and Jacob

Weekend with Jacob

My dad died four years ago tonight. Right near Father's Day. For the past three Father's Days, I've had a little distraction to keep me thinking positive during that holiday.

I will always be a little sad on Father's Day, and I'll never forget going through that first Father's Day after dad died in shock just a day or two before the funeral. But, ever since 2006, I have enjoyed the holiday as the daddy and it's nice.

This year Jen and I took Jacob to the zoo. He loved watching the monkeys. We had a nice relaxing day (as much as possible for a trip to the zoo on a holiday weekend). We got to see a Tiger come right up to the window. Jacob was fascinated, and a little scared. That was Saturday. On Sunday, I just relaxed and played with the little guy.

Tonight, I took some pictures of us after a particularly rough game of "ball." "Ball" really has no rules. We just play with the ball. The one's with him in red are from tonight.

Jacob makes Father's Day special.

"He's calling us home"

I have been walking on air all day today.

I can't explain how happy it makes me to know now that Barack Obama will run his next election to become our nation's president. I don't even refer to him as the Democratic nominee because he is more than a Democrat. He is the best candidate I have known in my lifetime and the most inspirational political figure I have experienced. Obama transcends party affiliation. He is simply an American running for president.

Do yourself a favor and watch the speech here in its entirety. If you do not feel compelled to strive for a higher standard after watching this speech, you need to check your pulse.

Someone told me not long ago that Barack Obama is calling us home. I wasn't sure what that meant at first, but I have figured it out. He is calling us to our better selves. He is calling us back to our roots and to our highest principals.

No more torture, no more preemptive wars, no more lies. There was a time when we considered ourselves better than all that. There was a time when we stood in the face of fear and maintained all that made us good. There was a time when we never compromised our principals.

Barack Obama reminds us that we have not gone anywhere and that we can once again recall that spirit and be that beacon on the hill. I talked to a new acquaintance I met on Facebook.com. He lives in Canada and, from our conversation, indicated that the rest of the world has been waiting for us to come home as well.

I was proud to tell him to just be patient because we are on our way back!

I am also so very proud to know that little people like me have made this campaign a success. Me, some of my friends and family, and countless others out there have teamed up to neutralize the very rich in this nation. We, the little people, more than 1.5 million strong, have contributed to his campaign.

For once, the masses have forced the establishment to listen. I could not be more satisfied. In a way, I feel like I own a small piece of this movement along with millions of others from all walks of life. Overwhelmingly, Obama donors give less than $200.00. I own 1/1.5m th of the campaign (give or take) and I cherish it.

After so many years talking about doom and fear, it's nice to be told what is possible. It's nice to be held to a higher standard.

Life just feels good today.

Memorial Day

I have a bunch of pictures on my hard drive. When the computer goes to screen-saver mode, I enjoy watching family photos from way back flash across my screen. On this Memorial Day, those pictures were particularly helpful as a reminder of all the family members who I miss so much.

Dean E. Findley (pictured right)

My grandfather served in the Pacific on the USS Brown in World War II. My most vivid memories of my grandfather was an interview I conducted with him in his basement for a class project.

My assignment for history class was to interview a WWII veteran if any were living in my family. I did not know it at the time, but I was lucky to get the interview when I did. He died in 1993, and I did the interview with him either that same year or 1992. I had never asked him about his service until that assignment, and I will always be grateful to my then-teacher for assigning the task.

He talked about his most vivid memories, including when he was "down below" at the same time a torpedo hit the ship. Obviously, the torpedo was a dud or I might not be here. He told about the looks on the faces of his shipmates when he came back "top side." I remember him saying that they looked at him like he was a ghost.

He talked as openly for my project as he ever had about anything, and I will always treasure the memory. Without that assignment, I might never have created such a memory. I can still see him sitting in the very dim basement and answering my questions one at a time. I did not feel like he particularly enjoyed talking about his experience, but he answered all my questions and remained patient.

The diary he kept during the war has now been transcribed and published. It sits on my bookshelf at work.

I also remember that he taught me how to drive. When I misjudged the turn-radius on the Suburban near the old dog track and went into a shallow ditch, he calmly said, "OK, now put it in reverse."

Eddie and Mollie Renz

My great-grandparents, pictured above with me in 1978, were a few of the many native Germans who lived in Russia and later migrated to this part of Colorado. Eddie loved to paint, and his paintings decorate every wall on my dad's side of the family. Three of his paintings hang in my office at work, and I type this post under one of his larger paintings.

Eddie was a train engineer and painted in his spare time. He sold many paintings and tried to teach me, my brother and many of our cousins how. He also played a mean accordion and loved a good polka.

I interviewed Mollie for an article I published in the high school newspaper about Loveland's history before the Civil Rights movement. She was my first-hand source about the existence of signs threatening blacks not to "let the sun set on you in Loveland." She was a remarkable person who survived the Great Depression. She told me she "never spent a dime." And, she really didn't. Anytime she found a dime, it went into a jar. At the end of the year, that jar went to the bank.

When I first learned how to drive, I went to pick her up for a visit to show off my skills. I inadvertently turned without the necessary green arrow and nearly got us both killed. She scolded me and I felt horrible. But, satisfied that it was a mistake of nerves, she promised not to tell anyone. She then let me drive her home at the end of the visit and told me not to worry because she trusted I would get her home safe.

She knitted all the time and donated her handiwork to the needy and to her eventual Great-great-grandchildren. When Jen and I brought Jacob home from the hospital, he wore a little hat and blanket she made for my eventual child before I had even met Jen.

Jen took a strong liking to my great-grandmother. We were both very honored to have her at the wedding and we both miss her today. Jen never got to meet Eddie, but I know she would have loved his unique sense of humor.

John McCarthy (pictured below giving my mother away to marriage)

Grandpa "Man," as he was known, was a veteran of the CIA and the Air Force. I interviewed him for an article I did for a special Veterans Day issue of the Longmont Daily Times-Call. He was in the room as a Captain for one of the very first attempts to negotiate with Ho Chi Mihn before US involvement in Vietnam escalated.

My mother told innumerable stories about his Christmas cheer, his playful nature, and his stern mannerisms regarding dating. I did not often visit him because of distance, but every phone call ended with advice that I "stand closer to my razor." Phone calls were always enjoyable because he stressed the importance of cheerfulness in life.

He showed me a telegram he received from President Kennedy for his performance at Patterson Air Base during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He also showed me a "pen gun" that was used in the 50s.

When we were kids, he made sure we knew he was the "King of the Leprechauns," and kept us on the lookout for them in his yard.

Dad

To most others he was Dr. Findley, but he was always just Dad to me. I've already written about all the accomplishments, so I'll just focus today on the little memories I cherish. He's the one who most insisted that I take the time to visit family members and to maintain those relationships.

I remember endless baseball, lacrosse, football, soccer and basketball games together.

I remember going to get a twist cone after every little league game I played, his shouts from the sidelines when I played soccer, and more games of catch in the backyard than I can count.

When I was very young, we played as if some of my action figures would be swimming around his rocking chair as he watched Wall Street Week. He took me to get autographs of players from different teams at training camps in San Diego, Virginia and Denver.

He watched the Muppet Show with me and, I think, enjoyed it every bit as much as I did. He played video games with me, watched movies with me and even quizzed me on which composer created which masterpiece of classical music.

He left us entirely too early.

This list is not exhaustive, but I had a special relationship with everyone described here. I spent much of today thinking about how each one of them contributed to the world and, more specifically, to my life.

I miss them all terribly, but I rejoice in their memories. I also look forward to teaching Jacob about each of them and the lessons they taught me.