It’s a New Year!

It’s time to update your bucket list and clean out your closet, let’s get ready for the new year! I get super excited each year around this time because to me, it is a fresh start on the year. New plans, new ideas, new baseball season, new concerts…but no matter what – it’s the same friends. I think each year helps me reflect on the friendships I have said goodbye to as well as the ones I have created, and those I have sustained.
With each goal that I set in 2012, and each milestone I reach to help me get to those goals, I know there is support from all of my friends and onlookers who encourage me to move forward.

This year is going to be one that is remembered! The prophecies say we won’t be standing around in a years time to even see 2020. The IRS says I won’t have any money by 2015 and if the current presidency keeps up their crazy stuff, we won’t have jobs either! But this year, 2012, will be the last year that the month, day & year line up numerically on the same day for almost 1,000-years! Ok only, 989…but still – non of you reading this post right now will be around to experience that again!
12/12/12 – the final-final….for a thousand years.

So make this year count! Cherish those friendships made, rekindle those relationships that are lost, agree to disagree and accept the fact that others have their opinion, too!

I like each new year because it is a time for reflection and planning….I hope you share this same enthusiasm!

The celebration of Christmas

The hussle & bustle that comes with Christmas is way over rated. Everybody spends all month “getting ready” and then on the 26th day – it’s over. Corporations do their end of year income sheets & find out how much money we spent at their stores in one month. Family’s travel back home, ornaments & lights are takin’ down, toys are played with – then forgot and a forest of pine tree’s ends up out by the garbage can in neighborhoods across the nation – and everybody goes back to “normal life.”

 

I think the celebration of “getting” has vastly overshadowed the celebration of “life” – which is really what Christmas is all about – the celebration of life. Starting a new life, bringing a new life into the world, and most of all our Savior Jesus Christ.

There is a lot of questions and debate as to when Jesus was actually born. Biblical scholars determine that it was late December or early January, however western civilization has adopted an ‘end of the year’ date more than the ‘start of a year’ date and thus we celebrate Christmas in late December.  It’s sad how the corporate empire of the retail stores in modern day civilization feeds off of this concept and take cruel & aggressive advantage of this time to push the last items on their inventory list to make room for the new years products, all the while promoting “Christmas Sales.”

 

This time of year should be a celebration of our Savior Jesus Christ and what he did for us sinners. Not a corporate cleanout of end of the year sales to increase profit margins during the final days of the year. Giving gifts came from Jesus Christ’s after birth baby shower, an event most people in modern civilization do before birth. Christmas, though festive, has takin’ a turn for the worse and the real reason for celebration is so far gone in most peoples mind that money hungry corporations will continue to profit of the ignorant thoughts of non-believers and weak-minded individuals.

 

Christmas is a time for celebration of life, gifts are given to mothers of new born children because of the celebration of life. When Christ was born of Mary in the winter-time, friends & family gathered around and they had a baby shower. Thirty-three years after he was born he died for your sins & mine. In today’s world we celebrate the life of Jesus Christ by giving gifts to each other on his birthday & call it CHRISTmas.

 

I challenge everybody to look deep inside your soul for the real meaning of Christmas & not buy a shit ton of gifts and feed into the evil ways of the corporate empire.

Instead, give a gift or two & celebrate life, in the name of Jesus Christ.

What does Veterans Day mean to you?

I think it is safe to say that for everybody, it is a day to remember. Some remember those who gave their life, the good times they had with their father or grandpa who served in the armed forces. Remembering those who sacrificed their life for freedom. Giving praise to those who stood up for what is right, looked fear straight in the eye and marched forth because of what they believed in.

Veterans Day to some is a completely different memory. A birthday, anniversary, or an “I remember when…” story. When I listen to service men talk on Veterans Day, they don’t talk about the bullets whizzing by their head, or the hunger they felt in the middle of the night when they were on a mission. They don’t talk about death, or shooting, bombing or air strikes…they talk about the comrodery and the friendships. I listen to drinking stories, countries they visited, pranks that were played, the stuff they had seen. I hear good memories about times they remembered when they where fighting for freedom.

I think everybody can learn from our Veterans and the strength they have. Our Veterans are proof that this great country no matter how ugly the situation is, will always remember the times that made of escape from the harsh reality of intense situations.
Take time today and thank a Veteran, visit a Veterans Memorial, or donate to a Veterans charity fund. Ask a Veteran to tell you a story they remember when they were in the service and see what comes out of an ex-military personnel or war combat veteran. You might be surprised!

My Family Armed Service History
• Two Cousin’s – Currently Serving
• Uncle – WW II
• Grandpa – WW I
• Great Uncle WW I

Power to Seniors

The Straight Ahead Big Band played for the Golden Umbrella’s “Power to Seniors” Celebrity Soup Kitchen fund raising event and had a blast! Each year the 18 piece big band donates our time to entertain and support the “Power to Seniors” program.
This is a spectacular event that happens each year to help raise funds for seniors who have a hard time paying their utility bills in the winter. I think it is sad that city agencies feel the need to charge high prices to seniors for their utilities. Isn’t their a senior discount for power bills? We are talking about senior citizens who have worked their whole life, are on a fixed income, are not working anymore, and probably have medical bills stacking up so they can keep their blood flowing regular and their stress levels at a minimum. These poor seniors get their power turned off because they simply cannot afford to pay the bills.
So I tip my hat to the Golden Umbrella, who does an outstanding job day in and day out helping those seniors in need. Serving the elder community so that they too can live a happy and fun filled life. Like my grandma says, “If your not happy, It’s not worth doing” I enjoy playing the big band charts from the 1930′s and 1940′s for those seniors at the Soup Kitchen because they light up every time they hear a song that strikes a happy memory from their time.
Their time back in World War II was tough….but music got them through it. My grand parents tell me story’s of how bad it was during the depression….I hear through the great vine that today’s times will become worse than it was in the 1940′s.
If it does get worse and I do get old, I hope their is a jazz band that will entertain me as I sit and eat warm soup on a cold winter day and that the community will pull together as it does now to help those less unfortunate.

Baseball in Arizona

7 games in five days…that is what the Oregon Outlaws played when I traveled with them down to the MABL Arizona World Series. They won their division in 2009 and have been back each year since trying to get another ring. I have to admit, it’s more than just winning that Jostens ring…it is the experience and the thrill of playing baseball on the most beautiful ball fields on the west coast, It’s about playing ball in the Major League Baseball Spring Training Facilities with my teammates and friends from Portland, and it was a fantastic!
I think there are about seven Major League teams who spend spring training in Arizona and each have a stadium in the Phoenix area. (Scottsdale, Goodyear, Maryvale, Tempe) Each stadium is surrounded by 10 auxiliary ball fields, 8 bullpens, 4 batting cages and the hot summer sun. It was like being in a dream…a dream about a land far far away…a land full of baseball fields. We snagged the wild card spot in the playoffs, and got beat 3-2 in the first playoff game. The next day I jumped in the car with my girlfriend and drove the miserable 13 hour drive home to Northern California from Phoenix Arizona. It wasn’t all that bad….as soon as we were out of the Arizona desert heat!
While I was in Arizona I watched the Phoenix Coyotes, the National Hockey League team in Arizona. I have to admit it was a little weird seeing hockey played in the middle of the desert. When you are in the hockey stadium, it’s a little chilly, as soon as you leave the arena and go outside, a heatwave of 90 hits you smack in the face. You can tell many of the Phoenix residents root for the other teams, because when the Coyote’s get scored on the arena goes nuts! What ever happened to rooting for your home team? I guess Phoenix isn’t that crazy about their Coyotes, or they just attend their games to watch the other teams around the NHL. I guess that’s what they get for putting a hockey team in the middle of the land of baseball fields!

Best of the West Ribb Cook Off!

Last weekend I got a chance to visit Reno, Nevada were they have the Best of the West Ribb Cook Out! I stuffed my face with championship ribbs all day! THey had some of the best, most tender pork ribbs you could ever imagine! And the sauces & seasonings…oh man, it makes my mouth water just thinking about it!
While I was at the ribb cook off, I walked around & meet a few art vendors that have some incredible art! I met Lawrene with the “The Glass Connection” and she has some incredible stained glass pieces that would light up any room with color on a sunny day! We also ran into Hue from “Metal Souls” who makes figures out of nuts, bolts, screws and metal piping – very interesting. Their were a few metal fabricators who made outdoor sculptures for your yard, as well.

After I stuffed my face with ribbs, I headed downtown to see a Baseball game with the Reno Aces, AAA affiliate for the Diamondbacks. I saw Brett Butler and was able to get his attention long enough to get his autograph on a baseball. I remember watching him at Candlestick when I was younger and it was such a treat to shake the hand of a future Hall of Fame Baseball player.

Best of the West Rib Cook Off in Reno, Nevada

Illegal Aliens

The other day I was talking to a friend of mine who works for the Federal Justice Department about illegals and immigration. He told me he would forward me an email that he received that will put it in perspective for everybody to understand the issue. Here is the email he sent:

JOE vs. JOSE
You have two families: “Joe Legal” and “Jose Illegal”. Both families have two parents, two children, and live in California . Joe Legal works in construction, has a Social Security Number and makes $25.00 per hour with taxes deducted. Jose Illegal also works in construction, has NO Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash “under the table”.

Ready? Now pay attention…

Joe Legal: $25.00 per hour x 40 hours = $1000.00 per week, or $52,000.00 per year. Now take 30% away for state and federal tax; Joe Legal now has $31,231.00.

Jose Illegal: $15.00 per hour x 40 hours = $600.00 per week, or $31,200.0 0 per year. Jose Illegal pays no taxes. Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays medical and dental insurance with limited coverage for his family at $600.00 per month, or $7,200.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $24,031.00.

Jose Illegal has full medical and dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a cost of $0..00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal makes too much money and is not eligible for food stamps or welfare. Joe Legal pays $500.00 per month for food, or $6,000.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $18,031.00.

Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for food stamps and welfare. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays rent of $1,200.00 per month, or $14,400.00 per year. Joe Legal now has 9,631 .00.

Jose Illegal receives a $500.00 per month federal rent subsidy. Jose Illegal pays out that $500.00 per month, or $6,000.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $ 31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays $200.00 per month, or $2,400.00 for insurance. Joe Legal now has $7,231.00.

Jose Illegal says, “We don’t need no stinkin’ insurance!” and still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal has to make his $7,231.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, etc.

Jose Illegal has to make his $31,200.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, and what he sends out of the country every month..

Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work.

Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family.

Joe Legal’s and Jose Illegal’s children both attend the same school. Joe Legal pays for his children’s lunches while Jose Illegal’s children get a government sponsored lunch. Jose Illegal’s children have an after school ESL program. Joe Legal’s children go home.

Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same police and fire services, but Joe paid for them and Jose did not pay.

Do you get it, now?
If you vote for or support any politician that supports illegal aliens…
We need to keep this going–we need to make changes ASAP!
You are part of the problem!

Extreme Health Weekend

On October 1 & 2, 2011, Extreme Health Weekend will occur along the Lake Redding Park, Caldwell Park, Sacramento River Trail, Elks Club complex, Turtle Bay Exploration Park, Sundial Bridge, and Shasta and Keswick Dam areas in beautiful Redding, California.

People of all ages may participate in nutritional and physical fitness activities including walking, running, biking, dancing, work-shops and so much more. This will be one whole weekend were you can go to get educated on a variety of health and fitness activities from local gyms, personal trainers and current athletes.

The United Way of Northern California www.norcalunitedway.org is putting on this event in an effort to raise funds for the agency’s of Northern California United Way. This will be one weekend were you can participate in everything from running and weightlifting to biking. There will be clinics on various sports including lacrosse, baseball, disc golf and of course Zumba. So what are you waiting for!? Put down that hamburger, get off the couch and get active!

The Simple Getaway

The refreshing feel of the water covering my body, submerged in silence before I surface. As I wipe the wetness from my face and look around at my friends and the boat sitting in the cove we found. I start to smile, Yes, this happens every weekend over the summer. Hanging out with friends on the lake as the hot summer sun beats down on me all day long.

My Mom used spend months at a time on her houseboat literally live on the lake for 60-70 days. As a young man I remember my Mother always saying “If you come out to the houseboat, bring ice & beer” Apparently you go through a lot of ice when it is 100 degrees outside. Before she got a houseboat we would load up the ski boat and go camping for months at a time on Trinity Lake. Each day we would be on the lake sitting back with our sunglasses on soaking up the sun wake boarding, swimming, floating and laughing.

Reflecting back on those sweltering day’s on the lake, my Mother taught me to relax and enjoy the day. Like the Zack Brown song says, “…only worry in the world is if the tide is going to reach my chair…”

So here I sit in my low rider lounge chair with a cold one in my hand and my feet in the water watching the waves crash beneath me. I am relaxed & happy without a worry in the world or a care in site.

Lake Shasta

Successful Project Management

The two most important components are the Scope Definition and the Work Breakdown Structure, or WBS, for controlling and managing a successful project. These two components will be used throughout your entire project to ensure that all your work gets completed. They will act as control mechanisms throughout the project to ensure the success of the project.

Every project starts with a Scope Statement. The Scope Definition then elaborates this Scope Statement on. The Scope Definition divides the Scope Statement into major deliverables. These major deliverables are then broken down into the WBS. The WBS is a complete checklist of all the work that must be done so the project can be completed successfully. High-level categories of work are broken down into activities or tasks. Activities or tasks are then further broken down so you can assign a reasonable level of work effort to each activity or task. Many project management professionals use the 80-hour rule.

You can then apply resources, dates, and cost and assign an estimate to your activities or tasks once you have created the WBS. Some of the more common estimating techniques are Analogous (Top Down), Delphi (Bottom Up), and Program Evaluation and Review Technique (P.E.R.T.). Project management models utilize these estimating techniques to improve the accuracy of initial work effort estimates to shrink the variance gap between baselines and actual schedule and cost.

A Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) has various names, but all with the same purpose: to clarify and link resources to the Scope Definition and WBS. It is important to determine the level of involvement and responsibility of that work by each resource as roles and responsibilities are assigned to various work assignments on the project. For example, both the Project Sponsor and the Project Manager are responsible for the projects success, but at different levels. These levels may be defined by who actually does the work, who has input, who is informed, and who approves or signs off on that work.

In plain English; Each individual must sign off and take responsibility for their part in the project. Each project sector must start when scheduled, finish on time and stay within budget.