You fold it every time. Every single time.
Freddy is pretty much gone. He is back in Austin and New Year’s Eve is his last day at Second. I haven’t seen him much at all in the last week but that’s normal for the holiday season. This time it feels different because I know he is not going to be back after the holidays are over. There is always a chance he will find a job here but he is looking in Austin as a focus. I wish I could say I am happy for him but the whole situation was pretty much crap to begin with so there is really nothing to be happy about. I tried to tell him that he couldn’t leave until Gretchen got back in about 18 months now but he doesn’t listen very well.
I know some of you might not know the name “Freddy” and some of you do. Freddy has been one of my best friends for a long time now. He isn’t an old friend as such but he is one of the best friends that anyone could have bar none. I am going to miss him a lot. He taught me to play poker. He has been there when I needed him and I hope that I have been there for him. He is the world’s best babysitter and you would be hard pressed to find a more caring non-parent when it comes to kids.
Anyway Freddy will be missed around this house. Even my 22 month old asks where he is when she wakes up. He has been a fixture in the Potter home for a while now and every last one of us will miss him. He will be back around but it won’t be nearly often enough. I wish him blessings in all that he does and hope that God speaks through him every time he takes a pulpit. I just can’t help but wish that pulpit would be in Houston rather than somewhere else.
I am not going to go into a long post about the birth of Christ. There are enough of those entries all over the web. I am going to post one song, the lyrics, and let you all think about that instead.
Oi! To The World
The Vandals
Haji was a punk just like any other boy and
He never had no trouble until he started up his oi band,
Safe in the garage or singing in the tub.
`Til haji went to far and he plugged in at the pub
`Twas a cold Christmas eve when Trevor and the skins
Popped in for a pint and to nick a back of crisps
Trevor liked the music but not the unity
So he unwound haji’s turban and knocked him to his knees
If god came down on Christmas day
I know exactly what He’d say
He’d say “Oi to the punks and Oi to the skins
But Oi to the world and everybody wins!”
Haji was a bloody mess, he ran out thru the crowd
He said “we’ll meet again we are bloody but not unbowed”
Trevor called his bluff and told him where to meet Christmas day
On the roof down 20 oxford street
If God came down on Christmas day i know exactly what He’d say
He’d say “Oi to the punks and Oi to the skins
But Oi to the world and everybody wins!”
On the roof with the nunchucks Trevor broke a lot of bones
But Haji had a sword like that guy in Indiana Jones
Police sirens wailing, a bloody dying man
Haji was alone and abandoned his band
Trevor was there fading and still so full of hate
When the skins left him there and went down the fire escape
But then haji saw the north star shining more then ever
So he made a tourniquet from his turban saving Trevor
They rappelled down the roof with the rest of the turban
And went back to the pub where they bought each other bourbon
If God came down on Christmas day
I know exactly what He’d say
He’d say “Oi to the punks and Oi to the skins
But Oi to the world and everybody wins!”
That’s it folks. Have a Merry Christmas, don’t gorge yourselves, remember those less fortunate, and above all remember the reason for the season.
Well it is that time of year and for the first time in half a decade I am unemployed. Technically I have a job but it doesn’t start until Jan 8 which will be too late to pay rent. Yeah I was overestimating our finances for rent time. We didn’t spend a dime of our own on Christmas for the kids even. Just bills, food, and such. It sucks. To be honest I fight depression every year around this time and it’s really hard to keep my head up right now. Last time I was unemployed an angel sent me money and it helped. I have to go to various organizations and ask for help and while I shouldn’t feel this way I so don’t want to. It’s a blow to my pride. The last job loss wasn’t anything I did and as such I feel I should still be employed. The bastards as Veritas DGC fired me while my wife was in labor for God’s sake! I can only think it was the three days I asked to have off for the new baby. Yeah that’s right I asked for three days. Of course they get around all the federal labor laws since I am a contractor.
I am not having a good time of it right now. I cannot stomach this for much longer. I am headed back into webhosting because I know that industry. It’s not near as much money and we will have to change a few things but I have to get my confidence back. I am done in. I wish I could just give up to be completely honest. No music this time folks…
Much of this was still in place the last time I was on staff. This is a copy of my own work in concert with one or two other staffers. This was official staff protocol and it is very likely much of it remains.
(Read the article)
Burl Ives - You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch
Jim Carrey - You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch
Yes `tis so disgusting that it needs to different versions of You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch…
K5 Local News (Seattle, Washington)
SEA-TAC Airport - All 15 Christmas trees inside the terminal at Sea-Tac have been removed in response to a complaint by a rabbi.A local rabbi wanted to install an 8-foot menorah and have a public lighting ceremony. He threatened to sue if the menorah wasn’t put up, and gave a two-day deadline to remove the trees.
This is not even the ACLU. This is just a rabid rabbi who has his panties in a bunch. Chanukah is not even a major Jewish holiday as such. Western Jews place a bit of importance on it because of the Christian holiday at the same that is an important holiday. But this is just ludicrous. To threaten to sue an airport, or any entity, because they won’t put up something for your specific religion is just totally insane. This is not an issue of fairness. It is a false idea of fairness the has permeated our society. It is Christmas time throughout the world. I am happy the Jews have a minor holiday to celebrate but that doesn’t mean that anyone, who is not Jewish, should be forced to recognize their holiday. And yes that means even if the someone is a public or government entity.
Sea-Tac public affairs manager Terri-Ann Betancourt said the trees that adorn the Sea-Tac upper and lower levels may not properly represent all cultures.
She said that since this is their busiest time of year and they don’t have time to add a fair representation of all cultures, her department decided to take down all of the decorations, review their policies, and decide if they need to make a change for next year.
So of course Sea-Tac gave in to the demand of “Do things my way or I will sue” and made a statement about “representing all cultures” which is just double speak for the false idea of fairness. This is the same false idea that has given rise to news reporting being reduced to giving zealots from both sides of an issue equal time and figuring the truth is somewhere in the middle. We are not called to recognize any culture. We are not called to give equal time to every lunatic. It is not necessary under the Constitution to give anyone equal time or space for holiday decorations. Sea-Tac simply caved in and took down what decoration they did have. The rabbi has succeeded in insuring that no-one’s spirits will be lifted by pretty decorations during what could be a long stay in an airport or a brief respite from a long flight. He is the Grinch incarnate. If we can’t be inclusive of his wants then we can’t have anything. I have a four year old who tries this same sort of selfishness every day and spends a good amount of time in time-out for this behavior.
“You know, our focus is on customer service, getting our passengers through the airport, and we thought if we could take the trees down and avoid litigation because we don’t want to littigate with this individual, we want to reach some kind of solution,” Betancourt said. “But that is going to take some thoughtful discussion and we would like to have time to have that thoughtful discussion.”
Until then, no Christmas decor at Sea-Tac.
The same decorations have been put up for at least 10 years, she added.
They want to avoid litigation with this person. What a wonderful holiday sentiment. Just take down all the holiday cheer represented in the decoration to satisfy a spoiled brat. Congratulations to this rabbi. You have proved that you practice a Judaism devoid of love. Judaism devoid of love for humankind is not much different fro Islam to be honest. I guess the Western ideal of lawsuits above human kindness and love has permeated even the Jews to the point where some will try to push their beliefs on everyone at the expense of holiday kindness and cheer. It is a sad day for Judaism and I sincerely hope the Jews at whatever temple this rabbi is associated with react in a manner that is akin to putting my four year old in time-out. It is just sad to see a grown man use the legal system as a stick with which to swing at those who are trying to be spirited in this time of giving and love.
If God came down on Christmas day I know exactly what he’d say…(obscure reference to my favorite Christmas song that will be posted later this season)
So we left for the hospital about 0100 on Monday morning headed for Christus Saint Catherine which is mere miles from the house. A short conversation and I decided to go to Memorial/Hermann because the very nice Christus chain does not allow VBACs. It is just their policy. We got to Hermann and Michelle’s contractions were about two minutes apart. Now you would think that we just made it in time but you would be wrong. The contractions slowed and labor eventually wasn’t progressing at all. Contractions were down to about 6 minutes and dilation had not progressed.
Morning came slowly and Michelle and I slept some. No-one gave us grief about having planned a homebirth and chickening out. No-one was concerned about any of that. They were supportive of Michelle’s decision to have a VBAC and were very nice to us both. When it looked like the labor was going to degrade they said that two options remained and that was Pitocin or a C-Section. The attending, as there were lots of residents in and out, said that she would start the Pit. slowly and ramp it up only as necessary. Michelle opted for an epidural at this point. They didn’t even ask me to leave the room which was awesome. They gave her the epidural and left to let it take effect. When they came back to start the Pit. an exam showed Michelle was ready. They came in ten minutes later and started having her push. It was less than ten minutes until Aisling was born.
We relaxed and took a deep breath and I took pics and video. I wandered out as soon as everything was in hand to feed my monkey and when I came back Michelle told me they wanted to take the baby to the nursery for an hour to bathe and measure her. If you know us we are opposed to new babies being out of their parents sight. We frankly don’t trust hospital staff. Michelle told them that we would talk about when I got back. I got back and went to the head. While I was indisposed they came back and told Michelle they had changed their mind about it and would do everything in the room with us. I didn’t even have to explain our position to them. We were very happy.
While all this was happening, and yes I am going in a non-sequential order here, I was reading my blackberry to keep myself sane. Michelle’s grandparents came up and visited for a bit. While they were there I saw an email I wasn’t supposed to see. It was an email from my boss telling my team I was no longer employed. Yes I was fired while my wife was in labor. It felt like getting kicked in the gut to be quite honest and damn near ruined the birth of my daughter. But by the time all was said and done it was a distant bad memory.
Once in postpartum we had no more difficulty. They accepted our choice not to vaccinate without a question. They were fine with not giving Vitamin K and the lotion in the eyes. We didn’t argue about the PKU test because it is mandated by law and while we would technically be exempt if we chose to do so it is best to pick your battles and it is a test not a medication. So we allowed that.
The only hiccup was a nurse of some sort wanting to take the baby about 0300 and weigh her. I explained it wasn’t happening. She tried all the usual excuses including telling us the scales couldn’t be taken out of the nursery. Of course they can and of course they were.
The day was relaxing as much as being in the hospital can be. They told us we could go home at 1430. At 1530 we found out they hadn’t even contacted the doctor to discharge Michelle. He was in surgery and I was annoyed. At 1630 I took everything to the car. The over-cheerful nurse told me it was “almost” time. I told her that it frankly didn’t matter that when I got back we were going home. Oddly enough they found someone to discharge Michelle by the time I got back and there was no more grief. We walked out, denying the wheelchair, and headed home.
And that my dear friends is the mostly non-eventful story of the birth of Aisling Renee Potter.
I shouldn’t be happy about this but I am jumping for joy. I find it hard to show the Phelps crowd any Christian love. They are so full of hate the baser part of me says they are deserving of nothing but hate in return. I know this goes against Christian teachings but I cannot help it. I pray about it but it doesn’t change my feelings. This is Phelps’ sick crowd getting what they deserve in just world:
So I should have posted this yesterday. Oh well I didn’t get to it. It was a busy day.
Aisling (ASH-ling) Renee
Born: Dec 4, 2006 14:08
Weight: 7 lbs 7.2 oz
Length: 19″
10 fingers, 10 toes, in groups of 5 at the end of the proper appendages!
I will post the almost non-eventful birth story later tonight or tomorrow. And some more pics. I have a migraine right now and Sinead is screaming.
I slip up. I am wrong. These are true statements. Something I have come to learn is that being wrong is how you get to right. I am not afraid to be wrong just as I am not afraid to be sure. Both of those are important but also dangerous. One can be too willing to be sure, err, and fall smack into arrogance. One can be too willing to be wrong and simply be blow with the wind. One cannot be afraid and stand strong. One can be assured that they are both right and wrong on many things and live happily.
Take it for what it is.
Austin, missed shows, denied passions. Responsibility, fatherhood, work, Christianity. Some days it’s all overwhelming and right wrong it gets to that point sometimes. ’nuff said.
UPDATE
I WAS WRONG.
I was completely wrong.
I am leaving the original post so that the world can see my mistake because I made one and was called on the mistake. I went after staff with too much vigor and too little trust. Not that those things have not been earned by some staff but the staff member I accused in this post made a mistake and did not intend to mislead the members. I was wrong about I’ddie and as such offer a sincere apology. If he wants me to redact this entry further then I will but I would prefer to leave it up so that my mistake is visible and reminds me, and hopefully others, that everything is not always as it seems.
I have to say I am happy to be wrong. I am happy to see staff correct what amounts to simple mistakes even after I have accused them of lying. It was gracious and a good thing to do. Below the fold is a record of my mistake. I am putting it there because it is no longer true. What you read if you click more was a mistake made by a staff member and my overreaction. The onus is on me for this one. I put my foot in it and didn’t pull it out. I have been proved wrong and I can’t say I have been happier in recent times to have been proven wrong.
(Read the article)
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