Facebook Generation

If my parents had a facebook page, I would surely except an invitation from them. It would be another way of communicating with them. If you asked me this question back when I was in junior high, my answer would be much different. I think if I would have had facebook back then, it would have been trouble! My daughter, who is 13 has a facebook account, and we are her friends, this was part of the deal so she could have one. I feel monitoring her account is very important, just as monitoring who she hanging out with or where she is going.
I do notice that kids who have grown up with facebook, and text messaging have a hard time with caring on conversation face to face. When my daughter has a friend over they spend half the time facebooking or text messaging. Now while I find this to be rude, their generation finds this acceptable, almost mandatory. I often think I was lucky to not have this growing up, although it would have been easier to find the keggers on Friday and Saturday nights, it would not had been as challenging and you were forced to actually seek out information and talk to new people.
Technology is great, my wife and I share a facebook account, which is rarely used. It is nice to see what are old friends are up to, and pictures of their families. Facebook does play a part in my life, it just does not control it.

Super Bowl Saturday

I enjoy the Super Bowl game for one reason, it is the only game of the year that my family sits down and watches together. I have often thought that having a game of this magnitude on a Sunday is kind of silly. Why wouldn't they have it on a Saturday. I think more people would travel, more business at the local taverns, more food sold at restaurants, just plain more money to be made. Not to mention the whole not feeling all that great at work on the following Monday; if they had it on Saturday, people would have a day to recover, so they would be more productive starting out the week. Although I do recognize that it would be taking business away from establishments on the Sunday, I think more people would be out and about Saturday to more than make up for it.

Favorite quote (week 3)

"What Descartes did was a good step. You have added much several ways, and especially in taking the colours of thin plates into philosophical consideration. If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."  Quoted by Issac Newton 1676

The part that stands out to me the most is "If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."  I have always been a leader, and have always looked at every person around me as a giant who has made me a leader.  You can not win a war with just a captain.
It was just this past year that this quote has been inbeded in to my way of life.  My best friend Justin, wife (Karen) was diagnosed with a rare cancer.  They had a 1 year old son, when they found out.  It came as a shock, because she is a very healthy woman.  What I saw them go through, mentally, physically, and financially is enough to bring anyone down to rock bottom.  I watched day by day, week by week, month by month, as their strength as a family grew to beat this cancer.  They taught me who I want to be as a husband, a father, and a friend. "If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."

As for Karen, she kicked the cancers Butt!!!

Reine Marie Tupper (Dube`)

This name represents a large part of who I am today.  She was and always will be my Grandmother and Guardian angel.
She met my Grandpa when he was in the air force, World War 2.  She was born and raised in Quebec, Canada, and had 19 brother and sisters.  When she moved to Rochester, MN with my grandpa, she did not know how to speak much english, and he did not know much french.  She was a very courageous and strong young woman.
One of my favorite memories of my Grandma is her artistic abilities.  The countless hours of sitting in her art studio, at a park, in the woods, at a lake, any where that inspired art, watching her paint, or her teaching me (at least trying).  The smell of the fresh cut canvas, stretched on the easel; combined with the smell of the oil paints squeezed out on her painting palette, can be compared to the smell of freshly cut grass.  Watching her paint was such a mystery, I used to wonder how she did it, how could she see what she was looking at and put it on a canvas so perfectly, and with such grace.
I am not huge fan of art, nor am I any good at it, however I find myself standing in art galleries often trying to catch the scent of a freshly painted oil painting to give me a picture of my Grandma.
R.I.P. Grandma 

Lots of work to be done!

I am back, my wife and I have been in the Southern Caribbean for the last week.  It has been a planned trip for a long time, so when I decided to come back to school I knew it was going to be a lot of catch up.
I took an extra day off so I can get all caught up on work.  We had very limited Internet, however I was able to do some reading (in-between the Margarita's)!  I have a plan on how to get all caught up, and this is my first step, looking forward at trying to start this essay!

Why I am going to College

It started because I was turned down for a job promotion (because of not having a degree).  My wife, Tiffini, who is in school for her Masters, loves school and is very good at it, she has always wanted me to go back.  With another chance at getting a promotion, I decided these were good enough reasons to sign up for some classes and see how it goes.

Since I have started this process my reasons for going back to school have blossomed into much more.  I do believe this is going to make me a better man, I do believe this is going to make me a better role model for my kids, nieces and nephews.  Most importantly I am allowing to prove to myself that I do have what it takes to go to College and get a Degree.  Who knows maybe keep going to a four year!