Dukes Pokes Points on Life

WHAT?!!!

2008-02-28T21:25:00.000-08:00

I went to Winter Jam 2008 down at the Ford Center with my son. Some of the groups were Mercy Me, New Song, Barlow Girl, & Skillet. It was a lot of fun and Mercy Me is one of my favorite groups but I must be getting older because the music seems to be a lot louder now than when I went to a concert years ago as a college student. Small price to pay when your son tells you, "Thanks Dad! I'm glad you came." I have a great memory to share with my son, now if I can just get me hearing back.

Pat On The Back

2008-02-26T18:41:00.000-08:00

Have to brag and yell from the rooftops. A coworker and I were asked to complete a project that had never been done in the 100 year history of our company. It took a lot of long, hard hours but we FINISHED it today. It will set a standard for us to follow in the years to come. Next year will be easier now that we have this initial year under our belt. It just feels good to complete something of this magnitude. I couldn't have done it without the hard work from one of my employees, the support of my boss, and especially the support of my family.

Overused

2008-02-22T14:37:00.000-08:00

You know a movie catch phrase has been overused when your 9 year old daughter puts her hand on her chest and says (in a dramatic voice) "You complete me!". I'm sure there are worse ones but come on.

Cards With the Kids

2008-02-20T15:02:00.000-08:00

Nothing better after a long day at work than an intense game of "Old Maid" with my younger kids. Nothing funnier than to see your young daughter do the "Cabbage Patch" after she beats ol' dad.

The BIG Question

2008-02-13T06:13:00.000-08:00

This is a special day for me! It was exactly 20 years ago today that I asked Shelley to be my wife. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. God has truly blessed our marriage (20 years this coming October) and family (4 wonderful children). The words of this song from Steven Curtis Chapman says it all. This is for you Shelley.

I WILL BE HERE

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
And the sun does no appear
I will be here
If in the dark
We lose sight of love
Hold my hand and have no fear
'Cause I will be here

I will be here
When you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin'
Through the winning, losing and trying
We'll be together
Cause I will be here

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
And the future is unclear
I will be here
As sure as seasons were made for change
Our lifetimes were made for these years
So, I will be here

I will be here
So you can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we're older
I will hold you
And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things
You mean to me
I will be here

I will be true
To the promise I have made
To you and to the One
Who gave you to me

Just as sure as seasons were made for change
Our lifetimes were made for these years
So I will be here
We'll be together
'Cause I will be here
I will be here

Can't wait to see what the next 20 years hold.
Love you Sweets!

Great Blog

2008-02-11T16:30:00.000-08:00

There is a blog that I go to every couple of days that has really impacted my life. It is a blog written by a friend of my wife and I. This person recently lost her 5 year old daughter to cancer. For a little over two years she and her husband would write all the highs and lows from the first diagnosis, to thinking things were getting better, to ending up burying their precious little one. What is inspirational is that even when she feels very flawed, her faith in God is unwavering. I really encourage you if you get a chance, visit www.caringbridge.org/ok/annajane. You'll be glad you did.

Super Bowl Commercials

2008-02-06T17:21:00.000-08:00

I didn't think the commercials were near as good as previous years but I did like one or two.
My favorite was the Bud Light where the guy could breathe fire and his allergies got the better of him.

On a side note, this was one of the better Super Bowls in a long time.

What's Important to Kids

2008-02-04T17:05:00.000-08:00

As I was watching my son and daughter play their respective basketball games this weekend I was reminded what it meant to me to have my parents there to watch me play. In this busy, hectic life where we are on the go constantly, we need to remember that all our kids really want from us is our time.

I cherish the time I spent with my parents and now I cherish the time I spend with my kids. Nobody ever says "I wish I had spent less time with my kids."

My challenge to whoever reads this is that if you have kids make sure they are your "get to" not your "have to".

Rough Day

2008-01-30T15:17:00.000-08:00

I had one of those days where anything that can go wrong did. I'm sure others have had days like that before. I have a verse a day calendar and today's is quite appropriate for today and refreshing.

It's from I Peter 4:12-13 "Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner."

Don't you have something that gives you peace on a rough day?

Great Guide for the Bosses in Life

2008-01-28T18:49:00.000-08:00

This is a verse that I try to live by to help me to become a better manager.

"A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.
Good-tempered leaders invigorate lifes; they're spring rain and sunshine."
(Proverbs 16: 10 & 15)

I've had my share of good bosses and bad bosses and I have learned something from each one.
To me a good boss is someone is a mentor. Someone who challenges you to recognize the full potential you have and to help you rise in self-confidence. Someone who is firm when they need to be and affirming the next.

Any good lessons you have learned?

Busy Schedule

2008-01-24T15:30:00.000-08:00

As I was reflecting on all of the things that I have to do this week (work, school, family, church) I realized that I could easily feel overwhelmed. One quote that helps me get thru is from that great sage, John Wayne.

He said, "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway."

Have a great day!

Texting

2008-01-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

I would appreciate it if someone could help me to understand "texting". As a father of teenagers I have both witnessed and heard stories about the excessive texting by teenagers. To me, if you want to talk to someone, just call them. It's quicker and your main point in the conversation is understood better because tone and cadence of you voice convey your true emotions in the conversation. Written text is not able to do that and can often be misunderstood.

When I asked my son about this he said "Well the kids don't want to disturb the classroom." PROBLEM! Shouldn't they be concentrating on schoolwork and not on who is wearing what? I almost feel like people texting are trying to hide something because then nobody will hear what you are talking about.

I would love to hear someone's take on this and help me understand the fascination with texting.

The Duke

2008-01-19T06:05:00.000-08:00

I thought I would explain why John Wayne is one of my favorite actors. While there are alot of things that he did in his personal life that I wouldn't do, there are a couple of things that I admire. The first one is his loyalty. In the books that I have read on him it has been said that he was always there to help his friends. I think we all need to have a friend that we can count on even when things are tough.

The second thing is how he was on the big screen. A person who always tried to right a wrong. He stood up for the downtrodden. Most of the movies today have what is called "antiheroes". People you could hate one moment and love the next. Sometimes it's just nice to not have to live in those shades of gray.

I try to live in a way that people know what kind of man I am and not have to guess. My father was a man of integrity and I see that in the John Wayne movies. Two of my favorite John Wayne movies are Chisum and the Quiet Man. The Quiet Man has to be his best nonwestern movie.

Just a little window into why The Duke is one of my favorites.

Cowboys on the Road

2008-01-16T11:24:00.000-08:00

They just can't buy a break. My OSU Cowboys basketball team just can't seem to win on the road. Maybe Coach Sutton needs to have the players hypnotized into thinking they're playing at home.

Oh Well! GO POKES!

Kids and Politics

2008-01-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

It saddens me that the kids of today do not have the respect for our government officials as the generations before had. While we don't always agree with what someone in politics does there still should be some respect for them as a human being. I have heard kids in Middle School recently "slam" President Bush's character and when asked why they can't give a reason except what has been told to them in the media or parents.

I believe it is our responsibility to inform and educate the next generation but not make the decision for them. Kids watch our actions just as much as they hear our words. (Kind of a heavy subject but that was what was on my mind today.)