I am at work, but I am not being very productive today. so I have decided to put down a quick post to pass some time while I take a short break from working and annoying those that work with me. Today, I think I have been more productive in that vein than in real productive work. I kid, I kid. Today has been productive, just like every day. :)
As I have thought about things since my last post, quite a bit has happened. The President has announced he is pulling troops out of Afganistan. New York passed a law legalizing marriage between to people of the same gender. The Casey Anthony Trial has captivated Florida and probably the nation. We have seen debates between Republicans vying for the nomination. We have seen doomsday scenarios related to teh debt ceiling. We have seen Blagovich get convicted. We have seen Ron Artest change his name to Metta World Peace (my favorite thing that has happend since my last post). Interesting times.
I listened to the radio today and they were discussing why it appears the Republicans are focusing so much energy on social issues. it seems to me they could gain some traction if they focused on economic or domestic issues that are clearly causing people angst. Unemployment is not much better. The real estate market sucks, but, instead, the focus of much of teh rebpublican rhetoric is on gay marriage, I guess I don't get it. I know that I am probably simplifying it quite a bit, but that seems to be much of the sound bites and headlines (I realize, of course, that forming an opinion on soundbites and headlines is likely one of the most uninformed ways to form said opinion).
In any event, these are clearly interesting times. A lot is changing in our country and our world. The question is where do we go from here? where does the nation go? where do the people go? Where does teh world go? In some ways, it is easy to be optimistic because people clearly still care for other people. On the other hand, we are becoming so attached to our things, our computers, our stuff that we have lost, in many ways, the ability to effectively communicate. Hell, look at me, I am writing this on a computer to who ever reads it, but I have never had this conversation with a friend of mine.
We are reduced to 140 character sentences or status updates about how we are doing, what we are reading, and why we are sad or happy. I know this is a rambling essay on a myriad of things, but, I hope, it raises some interesting questions.
Where are we going? How do we get there? Is this going to end well?
Questions that I dont' think many people have an answer to.
Please remember, this is just what I think...
As always, be easy
-cp
It is what the title says, it is simply what I think. nothing more and nothing less.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
A story
All that we hear these days is about all of the reasons things can't be done. I don't know who to talk to. I don't know where to go. If I go, nobody will help me. I don't know what I want to do. I don't have the money. I don't know where to get the money. I can't, i won't, I don't.... Every reason that people come up with is complete bull shit.
In 1941, a boy was born to a 16 year old mother in St. Louis City. They had very little money. The boy's grandfather would have nothing to do with the boy's mother because of the pregnancy. The father was a successful man, but the boy, his brother, and mother received nothing from him..
The boy grew up near what is now the Central West End. He, his mother, and his little brother lived in a very small house on the corner of Pendleton and Easton (what is now Martin Luther King Drive). They had very little. The boy's father lived in the neighborhood, but he provided little support (either financial or otherwise). The mother did what she could with what she had, but they had very little.
The boy was very smart, though he often hid it so his friends would not know he liked school. As the boy grew, he did well in school even as many of his friends did poorly or did not even try to study and learn. At 13, the boy began going to a local pool hall (as approved by his mother). He learned to shoot pool and became quite good. The boy began gambling to earn some extra money for the family and for himself.
As he grew up, he continued to do well in school even though his friends became involved in drugs, alcohol, or other behavior that made school, at best, secondary to them. After the boy graduated, he joined the air force. He was in until he was allowed to be discharged early due to a significant health problem with his mother. When he came back, he had nothing. He had a diploma, but nothing else. he had no money and no real prospects..
He continued shooting pool for extra money and, eventually was hired by the United States Postal Service as a mail man. He delivered mail for some time, but he knew and believed he could do more with his life. Finally, at the age of about 25 began going to Forest Park Community College. When he started he had no idea what he was going to do. He looked at the many brochures and decided he wanted to be a doctor. He did not know how to become a doctor, but he figured he had to take a lot of science classes, so he did. He went everyday, he studied, and he completed the 2 years at Forest Park. He had no idea if he was taking the necessary classes. He did well, but he had to figure out what to do next.
Remember, he had no mentor, no parental figure to help him, he had nothing but himself. After those 2 years, still poor, still just hanging on, he talked to some people at Forest Park and he determined he needed to keep going to school. Since he lived in St. Louis, and that was all he really knew, he applied for admission to St. Louis University. He was accepted and he began classes. He entered the pre-med program, even though, he may have been the most unorthodox member of that program he continued to excel. He did not have the advantage of a family name. He did not have the advantage of any information other than what he could find out on his own.
In addition to those hurdles, this was the late 60s / early 70s and he was Black. Maybe now that is not as large of a hurdle, but then it still mattered. He entered SLU and he was able to finish those final two years and obtain his degree. In 1970, he got married to a Masters Candidate at St. Louis University. She was a smart girl from Minnesota (guess what, she was white -- who would guess coming from Minnesota). In 1971, this presented even different problems for both of them. He, and they, perseevered. During his senior year, he applied for admission to medical school. He was admitted.
Finally, in 1975, he graduated from SLU Medical School and reached his goal of getting M.D. After graduation, the boy (now a man), his wife, and new son went to Baltimore for the boy's residency. He completed the residency and moved the family to Superior, Wisconsin. The remained there until 1985 when he moved his family back to St. Louis. He worked primarily as an Emergency Room Physician during the bulk of his career. This boy is my father.
He taught me more about perservence, personal responsibility, and accountability than anybody else. He and my mother never let my brother or I make excuses for our conduct or situation.
I understand (as much as anybody who represents indigent clients) that situations and circumstnaces can make everybody's life difficult. It can feel impossible to do what you need to do. it can feel impossible to succeed and get what others have or feel. In reality, those are excuses. I know and understand it might be very hard. Quit bullshitting around and get it done. My father had no advantages, and, in fact had more disadvantages than people do now. He figured it out.
Now my Mom and Dad live in Florida. They are retired. and when I go visit him (and probably when my brother vists him) he often talks about how he never thought he would be sitting on a patio of a home in Florida that is near a golf course and the beach, drinking scotch, smoking a cigar. When he was growing up, he could not even attempt to dream about what he accomplished. He had a thousand reasons not to go to Forest Park, SLU, or SLU Medical School, but instead of focusing on the reasons he couldn't do it, he just did it.
Happy Father's Day, Dad.
Yes it was before 5 in the morning when I wrote the first draft b/c Lincoln likes to wake up very early. He is happy and healthy (just like Lily and Lucy) and that is all that really matters, even though I have been up since 330.
Be Easy and remember it is just what I think.
-cp
In 1941, a boy was born to a 16 year old mother in St. Louis City. They had very little money. The boy's grandfather would have nothing to do with the boy's mother because of the pregnancy. The father was a successful man, but the boy, his brother, and mother received nothing from him..
The boy grew up near what is now the Central West End. He, his mother, and his little brother lived in a very small house on the corner of Pendleton and Easton (what is now Martin Luther King Drive). They had very little. The boy's father lived in the neighborhood, but he provided little support (either financial or otherwise). The mother did what she could with what she had, but they had very little.
The boy was very smart, though he often hid it so his friends would not know he liked school. As the boy grew, he did well in school even as many of his friends did poorly or did not even try to study and learn. At 13, the boy began going to a local pool hall (as approved by his mother). He learned to shoot pool and became quite good. The boy began gambling to earn some extra money for the family and for himself.
As he grew up, he continued to do well in school even though his friends became involved in drugs, alcohol, or other behavior that made school, at best, secondary to them. After the boy graduated, he joined the air force. He was in until he was allowed to be discharged early due to a significant health problem with his mother. When he came back, he had nothing. He had a diploma, but nothing else. he had no money and no real prospects..
He continued shooting pool for extra money and, eventually was hired by the United States Postal Service as a mail man. He delivered mail for some time, but he knew and believed he could do more with his life. Finally, at the age of about 25 began going to Forest Park Community College. When he started he had no idea what he was going to do. He looked at the many brochures and decided he wanted to be a doctor. He did not know how to become a doctor, but he figured he had to take a lot of science classes, so he did. He went everyday, he studied, and he completed the 2 years at Forest Park. He had no idea if he was taking the necessary classes. He did well, but he had to figure out what to do next.
Remember, he had no mentor, no parental figure to help him, he had nothing but himself. After those 2 years, still poor, still just hanging on, he talked to some people at Forest Park and he determined he needed to keep going to school. Since he lived in St. Louis, and that was all he really knew, he applied for admission to St. Louis University. He was accepted and he began classes. He entered the pre-med program, even though, he may have been the most unorthodox member of that program he continued to excel. He did not have the advantage of a family name. He did not have the advantage of any information other than what he could find out on his own.
In addition to those hurdles, this was the late 60s / early 70s and he was Black. Maybe now that is not as large of a hurdle, but then it still mattered. He entered SLU and he was able to finish those final two years and obtain his degree. In 1970, he got married to a Masters Candidate at St. Louis University. She was a smart girl from Minnesota (guess what, she was white -- who would guess coming from Minnesota). In 1971, this presented even different problems for both of them. He, and they, perseevered. During his senior year, he applied for admission to medical school. He was admitted.
Finally, in 1975, he graduated from SLU Medical School and reached his goal of getting M.D. After graduation, the boy (now a man), his wife, and new son went to Baltimore for the boy's residency. He completed the residency and moved the family to Superior, Wisconsin. The remained there until 1985 when he moved his family back to St. Louis. He worked primarily as an Emergency Room Physician during the bulk of his career. This boy is my father.
He taught me more about perservence, personal responsibility, and accountability than anybody else. He and my mother never let my brother or I make excuses for our conduct or situation.
I understand (as much as anybody who represents indigent clients) that situations and circumstnaces can make everybody's life difficult. It can feel impossible to do what you need to do. it can feel impossible to succeed and get what others have or feel. In reality, those are excuses. I know and understand it might be very hard. Quit bullshitting around and get it done. My father had no advantages, and, in fact had more disadvantages than people do now. He figured it out.
Now my Mom and Dad live in Florida. They are retired. and when I go visit him (and probably when my brother vists him) he often talks about how he never thought he would be sitting on a patio of a home in Florida that is near a golf course and the beach, drinking scotch, smoking a cigar. When he was growing up, he could not even attempt to dream about what he accomplished. He had a thousand reasons not to go to Forest Park, SLU, or SLU Medical School, but instead of focusing on the reasons he couldn't do it, he just did it.
Happy Father's Day, Dad.
Yes it was before 5 in the morning when I wrote the first draft b/c Lincoln likes to wake up very early. He is happy and healthy (just like Lily and Lucy) and that is all that really matters, even though I have been up since 330.
Be Easy and remember it is just what I think.
-cp
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Saturday Morning
Its Saturday, June 11. I got clipped yesterday. I decided a few months ago that it was time. One of my very good friends was clipped last summer and told me it wasn't too bad. Of course, he over did it in the days following and was out of commission longer than he should have been.
At 2:30 yesterday, a urologist did things to me that I never thought somebody would do to me. In the end, the procedure was not too bad. It hurt, but it was not debilitating. I got home about 4:00. The night was okay. The pain was a dull ache just below my stomach. I was prescribed Tylenol with Codeine, though I have only taken one of the 10 pills. I have found that regular Tylenol is working just fine. I should be up and running by Monday. I can't exercise for a week (no running or lifting weights), but I should be walking okay. Today, I am still walking rather slowly and gingerly. The hardest part is the kids always want to be picked up (I can't do that until Monday/Tuesday). Also, they like climbing on me, which often results in kids stepping or hitting my man land. Of course, that would be VERY BAD, so they can't really climb on me either.
The toughest part, though, is watching my poor wife handle all three of them. Normally, it is okay, but the youngest has a cold and slept (I use that word very loosely) very poorly last night. Coupled with the oldest suffering from exhaustion, which makes her a maniac and it is hard watching her have to deal with all of that. It will be okay, but today is going to be tough.
If the oldest can maintain some behavior, I will take her to the birthday party that is scheduled today. If she can't maintain, then I will be delivering a present to the party, but without the oldest.
On a different note, I have been watching the Palin email reporting. I saw a tweet from Ashton Kutchar (I know!!) suggesting he was not happy with the media's focus on those emails. I must say I completely agree. I know she is a characture of herself. She is so out there that it is unbelievably difficult to feel any empathy or sympathy (I forget which) for her. She is not a very likable person. Saying that, though, she should not have to have the national media pouring over her emails just because she is who she is. I don't remember the media trying to get the emails for other politicians (at least not to this degree or not related to a specific issue ie Matt Blunt in MO). This seems like a witch hunt (no pun intended). Of course, it would not surprise me if the Republicans are behind it so she does not run for President and mess up what ever chance they have to unseat Obama. I don't think they will be able to do it anyway, but Palin surely can't.
Finally, how about those Cardinals!! First place (even though they got shellacked yesterday by the Bewers) and they fighting for the best record in MLB. Who saw that coming????
I hope everybody has a great weekend. I will be posting again soon. It has been unbelievably busy and home and work, which is good, but makes writing difficult.
Comments, complaints, criticisms are always welcome. Please let me know what you think.
As always, this is just what I think.
Be Easy
-cp
At 2:30 yesterday, a urologist did things to me that I never thought somebody would do to me. In the end, the procedure was not too bad. It hurt, but it was not debilitating. I got home about 4:00. The night was okay. The pain was a dull ache just below my stomach. I was prescribed Tylenol with Codeine, though I have only taken one of the 10 pills. I have found that regular Tylenol is working just fine. I should be up and running by Monday. I can't exercise for a week (no running or lifting weights), but I should be walking okay. Today, I am still walking rather slowly and gingerly. The hardest part is the kids always want to be picked up (I can't do that until Monday/Tuesday). Also, they like climbing on me, which often results in kids stepping or hitting my man land. Of course, that would be VERY BAD, so they can't really climb on me either.
The toughest part, though, is watching my poor wife handle all three of them. Normally, it is okay, but the youngest has a cold and slept (I use that word very loosely) very poorly last night. Coupled with the oldest suffering from exhaustion, which makes her a maniac and it is hard watching her have to deal with all of that. It will be okay, but today is going to be tough.
If the oldest can maintain some behavior, I will take her to the birthday party that is scheduled today. If she can't maintain, then I will be delivering a present to the party, but without the oldest.
On a different note, I have been watching the Palin email reporting. I saw a tweet from Ashton Kutchar (I know!!) suggesting he was not happy with the media's focus on those emails. I must say I completely agree. I know she is a characture of herself. She is so out there that it is unbelievably difficult to feel any empathy or sympathy (I forget which) for her. She is not a very likable person. Saying that, though, she should not have to have the national media pouring over her emails just because she is who she is. I don't remember the media trying to get the emails for other politicians (at least not to this degree or not related to a specific issue ie Matt Blunt in MO). This seems like a witch hunt (no pun intended). Of course, it would not surprise me if the Republicans are behind it so she does not run for President and mess up what ever chance they have to unseat Obama. I don't think they will be able to do it anyway, but Palin surely can't.
Finally, how about those Cardinals!! First place (even though they got shellacked yesterday by the Bewers) and they fighting for the best record in MLB. Who saw that coming????
I hope everybody has a great weekend. I will be posting again soon. It has been unbelievably busy and home and work, which is good, but makes writing difficult.
Comments, complaints, criticisms are always welcome. Please let me know what you think.
As always, this is just what I think.
Be Easy
-cp
Thursday, June 2, 2011
5:00 Again
Its 5:37 AM on June 2. I failed in my quest to write 30 blogs in 30 days. Frankly, I ran out of time. 3 kids keep you really freaking busy. I still wanted to do it, and I am disappointed, particularly because I did not write last week when the family was gone. Yes, it was just me from last Tuesday - Saturday. Needless to say, I had no idea how to fill my time. The house was very quiet with no kids and no wife.
On Saturday, I went to MN to finish the trip with the family. We saw a game at Target Field (Twins). Nice park, but the concourses were too narrow in the outfield.
On another note, Shaw retired yesterday. I only mention this because I have watched him play basketball since I was in college. I always was a Shaq fan and I never understood those that did not like him. I suppose you could think he was over the top, but he was one person who acted like they were actually having fun.
On a more serious note, I was in trial this week and talking to one of the deputies. During our conversation, we discussed the young people and what is happening to our society. It stemmed from a recent sentencing (it hit the papers) where an 18 year old received 175 years for a home invasion / murder. Obviously, a big boy crime.
The deputy made the point that people in general (black, white, etc) need to stop blaming other people or things, or events for their behavior. It is time to take responsibility for our actions. This was in response to the comments of another person who indicated that historical events played a role in the crime.
I think I read a lot. I think I am some what progressive. I, as much as anybody, believe in helping those people who need it. I do not, though, believe we should help the capable forever. At some point, don't people have to take responsibility for their actions? At some point, don't people have to pull themselves up and do something? I know how hard it is. I have represnted indigent people for almost ten years in one capacity or another. I know how difficult it can be to pull yourself up and make things better. I also know it is not impossible. Over the next few weeks, this blog will be discussing my ideas and thoughts on how real change can occur, what needs to happen to make it possible, and whether it is possible.
I see what is happening in our city (St. Louis) and I hear what happens in other cities. Something needs to change. The fundamental question is simply, can it?
Remember, this is only what I think.
On a more positive note, I mentioned Target Field. We also went to the racetrack in MN (Horse racing). My oldest daughter, who was terrified of horses last year, rode a pony. She had ridden one last October, but this time she did it with no help. She always loved horses from far away, but now she is starting to love them from up close.
Have a great day.
-cp
On Saturday, I went to MN to finish the trip with the family. We saw a game at Target Field (Twins). Nice park, but the concourses were too narrow in the outfield.
On another note, Shaw retired yesterday. I only mention this because I have watched him play basketball since I was in college. I always was a Shaq fan and I never understood those that did not like him. I suppose you could think he was over the top, but he was one person who acted like they were actually having fun.
On a more serious note, I was in trial this week and talking to one of the deputies. During our conversation, we discussed the young people and what is happening to our society. It stemmed from a recent sentencing (it hit the papers) where an 18 year old received 175 years for a home invasion / murder. Obviously, a big boy crime.
The deputy made the point that people in general (black, white, etc) need to stop blaming other people or things, or events for their behavior. It is time to take responsibility for our actions. This was in response to the comments of another person who indicated that historical events played a role in the crime.
I think I read a lot. I think I am some what progressive. I, as much as anybody, believe in helping those people who need it. I do not, though, believe we should help the capable forever. At some point, don't people have to take responsibility for their actions? At some point, don't people have to pull themselves up and do something? I know how hard it is. I have represnted indigent people for almost ten years in one capacity or another. I know how difficult it can be to pull yourself up and make things better. I also know it is not impossible. Over the next few weeks, this blog will be discussing my ideas and thoughts on how real change can occur, what needs to happen to make it possible, and whether it is possible.
I see what is happening in our city (St. Louis) and I hear what happens in other cities. Something needs to change. The fundamental question is simply, can it?
Remember, this is only what I think.
On a more positive note, I mentioned Target Field. We also went to the racetrack in MN (Horse racing). My oldest daughter, who was terrified of horses last year, rode a pony. She had ridden one last October, but this time she did it with no help. She always loved horses from far away, but now she is starting to love them from up close.
Have a great day.
-cp
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