Global Warming Continues to Wreak Havok in Northeast
Temperatures continued to rise on Tuesday July 21, 2009 to a sweltering 66 degrees Fahrenheit. There appears to be no end in site as the mercury climbs higher and higher during these hot summer months. Once again, air conditioners were left sitting idle while windows were thrown open for fresh air to penetrate and fill homes. The nights bring even more pain and suffering as temps dipped to a chilly 58 degrees on Saturday night. Residents of the northeast such as New York, Boston, and Philadelphia have been especially hard hit. Tempers are flaring and there seems to be unrest on the streets and in homes. We asked local residents of Downingtown PA how they were coping with the severity of global warming in their community.
“If my husband drags out the down comforter one more night, honestly I’m going to wring his neck. I’ve put that thing up at least a dozen times since May but he keeps going into the attic and pulling it out again,” says Kathy Creasy of Chester County. Others expressed concern about the elderly left in sweltering apartments with windows open, “I’m afraid if I leave the windows up, it might rain and blow water in on the carpet, I don’t understand why Obama doesn’t do something about it, after all, who’s looking out for the “little guy?” Tax dollars that usually go to buy fans for the poor and elderly during excessive heat waves are now being shifted to pay for neighborhood watches patrolling neighborhoods making sure that windows are closed in the event of a sudden unexpected rain shower.
Small business store owners complain that sales of sun tan oil and sun screen are showing record losses. “I look like an albino. Never before have I been so pale looking. Usually by now I have a dark rich, island tan.” says Clint Creasy and Jeremiah Wise who recently visited Wagon Town Water Park near Downingtown. “Usually our shower gets hot immediately but now it takes a full 10 minutes to warm up, especially with our windows up,” says Lee and Sara of Malvern Pa. who continue to use heating oil purchased at a discount from Venezuela.
Weather forecasters and scientists are at a loss for explanation but speculate that it may have something to do with the decrease use of ethanol as a gasoline additive which is decreasing our carbon footprint in the corn fields of Nebraska while expanding the ozone hole in the earth’s atmosphere near Al Gore’s modest ranch. The five day forcast calls for temperatures to remain the low 60’s. Obama has promised to appoint a new Weather Czar to review the situation.
The Stories We Weave
If you know me and most of you do, you’re well versed in my mantra of “what are you telling yourself?” and “Is this true?” In order to move forward with emotional happiness and stability in life, we must be willing to live in the present. We must be willing to re-frame the narrative we have each created for ourselves. This narrative is our story and it’s only our story. It’s not our mother’s, father’s, friend’s, boyfriend’s, husband’s, wife’s, or anyone else’s, it’s our personal story that we have created and scripted. This means that only you can change your story. No one, absolutely no one, can do that for you. We create this story (remember it’s our interpretation which may or may not be evidence based) and rehearse it enough in our thoughts and mind until it becomes true to us. It “feels” true. Just because it “feels” true, doesn’t make ti true. Familiar story lines go something like this; “I am not loved,” “He (she) is not capable of love,” “I’m insecure because my parent(s) never fully accepted me,” “When my needs are met, I’ll be happy,” “Isn’t it time that someone tried to meet my needs?” “They have hurt me,” “Their apology was not sincere.” And on it goes with an endless narrative built on faulty interpretations that causes one to spiral out of control and often destroys their personal happiness and the happiness of those around. This often alienates family members, friendships, and other vital partnerships. Can you step back and just consider the possibility that our narrative and self talk may not be based on fact or evidence? What if the things you “think you need” are really not going to solve your problems? How would re-framing your negative self talk provide a different alternative and perspective to viewing you current emotional distress?
Do You Avoid Conflict? Really?
What do we tell ourselves about resolving conflict? Often what I find is people tell themselves that “if I avoid the conflict, things will heal on their own.” “If I give it some more time, it will go away.” This is avoidance and avoidance will not resolve the problem. It may seem more comfortable for the time being, but ultimately results in prolonged emotional distress and issues. Other forms of conflict resolution include competing, accommodating, collaborating, and compromising.
Been to a Rodeo Lately?
So let’s talk some more about my trip out west. Had the exciting opportunity to attend a real live rodeo conducted by professional bull riders. Let’s see, where to begin….First of all, it’s a crash course in American patriotism. Warning to liberals, Rodeo’s could be dangerous to your politics. From the very get go, it’s all about apple pie, red white and blue, rugged individualism, rough riders, cattle, and talented horses. All this with country music playing as back drop, Alan Jackson, Alabama, Willie Nelson, and others. I was the only one in attendance of about 2000 spectators without my boots and cowboy hat. And I do mean the only one. The evening began with the polished announcer setting the stage for us to sing The Star Spangled Banner with the flag being wisp-ed around the arena by horse and rider no less, (and on a huge flat screen monitor as well). Sponsors were recognized on special banners (flags) held by cowgirls in white sequined pant suits galloping by on gorgeous cream colored horses. The bulls and horses bucked, the calves ran to only be wrestled to the dirt and tied up by human arm strength. Lot’s of testosterone in the air. It was a great family outing, I highly recommend it. Check out their website for the schedule. Buy a new pair of wranglers and have fun.
Flying for Dummy’s
Like I said yesterday, it’s been a while since I’ve flown. Traveling without having a stroke or cussing someone out in the airport requires a system and much practice. If you get out of practice, look out. So, here are some Do’s and Don’ts that will hopefully make flying easier for you on your next trip. Get ready to adjust your expectations (lower) and you’ll be fine. Expect only to arrive alive and hopefully you will.
Do realize that you will be treated and spoken to as cattle the moment you arrive at the airport. If flying out of Philadelphia, remember that you will be yelled and screamed at to get in line, stay in line, and remove all clothes (belts, shoes, jackets, etc) and for God’s sake take your computer out of the bag to lay flat on the conveyor belt. Don’t forget your clear plastic bags. If you try and carry on a tube of toothpaste or over 3 ounces of hair gel it will be confiscated and tossed in the trash for the TSA agents to take home and sell. Arrive at the airport early and realize that you will routinely wait in security lines for approximately 30 minutes on a good day. On a bad day, anticipate 1 hour. Forget about speaking to a live person at the ticket counter unless of course you are placed under arrest for loitering as you try and search for a live person. It’s all about Kiosks now.
Don’t expect your flight to arrive at your destination or leave on time. Don’t expect to board the plane if you are 1 minute late and the cabin door has closed. Don’t expect any type of customer service unless you pay for it. This includes baggage handling, a soft drink, chips, sandwiches, pillows, or economy seats with 5 blessed extra inches of leg room (a deal at $30). Don’t expect your checked luggage to arrive when you do.
Isn’t traveling fun? If you adjust your expectations, you’ll do fine.
The (un) Friendly Skies Part I
I recently flew from Philadelphia to Rapid City S. Dakota. I don’t fly much anymore so it was a real eye opener for me. During my career with Wyeth, I’ve traveled quite extensively including trips to Asia, Europe, Korea, and many other countries during family vacations including India. I’ve flown first class, business class and of course the cattle class sitting in coach with my knees resting on my chin. I can honestly say the worst airlines in terms of customer service are those that are American owned and operated. The US airline’s offer poor service, lack of attention, rudeness, and incessant chattering of the flight attendants about their personal lives (which can easily be overheard) demonstrates a general lack on interest in making your flight comfortable. I know there are exceptions and I realize that US airlines have a good safety record. I’m sure there were heroes on the flight which landed in the Hudson River. But is it so difficult to offer cordial, polite, service as well? Poor service (lost bags, discontinuation of in-flight refreshments etc) has grown increasingly worse as the years have gone by. So have the profits and economics of the US owned airlines. See any connection?
What I Did on My Summer Vacation
Just returned from a sun filled, real western ranch vacation with real people no less. I had a chance to talk with real people who live in the so-called “fly-over” part of the country between the nutty west coast and the wacky east coast. These are the people that make the country work. They are self reliant and don’t depend on government to make things work for them. No whiners here in Wyoming. They provide the food that we city slickers put on the table. And oh yes, they cut down trees so that we can build our fancy homes and houses.
Kathy’s cousin has a ranch near the Black Hills of S. Dakota just across the state line in Wyoming. Sprawling prairies, tall Ponderosa Pines reaching upward from rocky soil, black hills, mountain goats, antelope, deer, wild turkeys and elk. All this is about 50 miles from Mt. Rushmore and Devil’s Tower. We rode horses and four wheelers until our rear ends were chapped. But I don’t mind stretching my hemorrhoids with a work out riding one of God’s greatest creatures, the horse, slowly winding up through beautiful canyons of fragrant sage grass, wild flowers, alfalfa and blue skies. We gathered eggs from the hen house, roasted a pig, shot prairie dogs (who actually harm the land and cattle) and hiked along the creek that runs through 5000 acres of seemingly untouched land. All this land is taken care of and treated like a well tended garden by …you guessed it, the environmental haters, global warmers, and polluters known as humans.
Actually, if I were king for a day, I’d have live FOX news coverage (ok CNN too) interview my wife’s cousin Doug. Doug along with his wife owns and runs a log mill in Hulett Wyoming called BearLodge. He could explain to all the dopes out there and loony tree huggers about the real environmentalists and how they work to save trees and forests in a responsible way. They are people like Doug Mills who treats the forest with respect and prunes them so they are more productive and less likely to be overcrowded and flare up in flames by lightning strikes. Not because some government agency is telling them to do so, but because they understand the importance of preserving and tending God’s creation. Proper, responsible, logging produces more trees, healthier trees that are more productive as well as increases available grazing land for their sheep and cattle. People like Doug who started his own wood “pellet” manufacturing facility on site where tons of saw dust are recycled and packaged that could be sent around the world to help heat homes in the winter. Nothing is wasted. And what’s more, it didn’t require government mandates to make it happen. It was good common sense and a spirit of entrepreneurship and capitalism that drives the men and women like Doug and Dena. It’s a family affair too. Their 2 boys and a girl (below ages 12) have been fully trained to run the mill if they needed to. They load carts, run the machines, sweep up, and bag pellets (I hope OSHA doesn’t find out) and also milk the cows. The government so-called environmentalists who have little experience in actually saving and growing trees are clueless when it comes to responsible forestry. All they know is what some pin headed professor in our liberal schools tell them or what they read from a book. My suggestion is for them to ask people like Doug, his parents, and Dena’s parents who have been doing this for many many years and who know how to grow everything from garden vegetables to Pondersa Pines.
But all this is symptomatic of what is going on in Washington today. From the President on down to the cabinet appointments, not a single person there has ever held a real job. They are all policy wonks and life long politicians educated at liberal northeast universities and have held government jobs their entire career. They need to meet and hear people like the Mill’s family explain a few things about life.
More about our trip to the Rodeo later.
Another King is Dead
I guess I’ll join in the fray and write about MJ ‘s untimely death. Or is it really so untimely? How long would one realistically expect to live considering the toxic milieu of opiates and anesthetics allegedly floating in his blood stream? All this is very familiar for those who where around when Elvis met a similar demise. For those of you still in the womb in 1976 (or was it 1977), not so familiar. I remember the news reports streaming day and night. Long lines and throngs of neurotic fans converged in front of draped ironed gates at Graceland in Memphis. Constant TV coverage erupted. I remember reading at the time that a nurse slipped a note to his physician who was seeing another patient with encrypted abbreviations that read, ” EP DOA in ER”. He knew immediately what had happened. Another “king” goes down with analgesics and sleeping pills coursing through his veins. And now “Neverland” will be “Foreverland” as throngs of worshipers will make the pilgrimage to the sprawling memorial built by the king himself. A modern day “Graceland.” Twitter, Facebook, text messages, cable 24/7 coverage makes this ceremony even more memorable as we watch the teddy bears, ribbons, and candles erected in front of the iron gates of Neverland.
So you think you’re a leader?
How would those under your leadership answer these questions? Does your group support one another, and camaraderie is visible? Does the group feel encouraged to bring up new ideas and take risks? Do they trust senior leadership to tell the truth? Are we strong enough to give up ideas that no longer work? Are you proud of what has been accomplished? Are managers available and approachable? Is there a process for decision making? Are people aware of how decisions are made? Are you in the “weeds” or are you being strategic in your thinking? Just some thoughts on a hot June afternoon as I listen to Willie Nelson and Ray Price.
Dog Food
Several news reports in our area as well as national news have identified inhumane, squalor, filth, and cruel boarding conditions of some kennels. Animal rights groups have been calling for more government oversight (which tax payers are responsible for) to monitor and close down these flea and disease infested kennels. Now that Cyprus (Cyper, Girl, Cat) has passed into the eternal heavenlies, we are pet-less. Kathy and I have agreed to remain pet-less for the near future (I’d like to one day have a talking exotic bird but that discussion can wait for now). I’m not a big dog lover however we once had a chocolate lab when we lived in Virginia so we’ve done the “dog thing.” It was fun while it lasted but didn’t work out. I’m convinced that if “Hunter” as he was called, was allowed 24 hours alone and unfettered in our house, he could have chewed the frame down to the ground. Nothing but saw dust and a few bricks would remain. Anyway, while I’m not neurotic about pets, (some insist on having multiple dogs and cats), I do try and take care of plant and animal life around me. Everyone who knows me, knows that I tried to get the boys to take Cyper out in the country and leave her multiple times. Right.
For the life of me, I cannot understand why these pet loving people that care enough about their dog or cat and pay good money to board them, would leave their beloved pet in one of these filthy kennels. I remember we once had to board Hunter for a week while we went on vacation. I went in, checked out the place myself looking for the comforts of home. I asked to see the cage, the running area, asked about the food etc etc. If I am this attentive, and I don’t even belong to PETA, why are these pet loving neurotics leaving their dogs and cats in kennels without checking the place out? Does it take government or citizen tax dollars to enforce healthy living conditions? The right thing to do is to check the place out and walk out, take your business somewhere elsewhere if living conditions are poor. Hello. Those types of establishments will go out of business if people walk. The condemned kennels they’re showing on TV that are so despicable would readily be recognized as cruel and inhumane the minute you drove onto the property, rolled down your car window, and took a good deep breath. Smell the air? By the way, Hunter still got “kennel cough” and had to be treated with antibiotics.
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