As clever as the invention of pillow cases...

Coffee Shop Blues...

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:10:35 -0400

It’s 10:30 on a snowy Saturday morning, I’m sitting here in the Beans & Brews Coffeehouse while I wait for the tire shop to put on my snow tires. I’m sitting here enjoying a warm beverage and some time to myself.

The moment would be ideal if not for the nagging thought that the list of people in my life who are willing to “be there for me, unconditionally” continues to shrink.

You see in life you have friends, and you have friends. What’s that you say? I just used the same word twice? Yeah I suppose I did, however even if the word doesn’t change there is a clear distinction between the two groups.

I like the way Doc Holiday expressed it in the classic 1993 western “Tombstone”, when asked why he was risking his life to assist Wyatt Earp:

Turkey Creek Jack Johnson: Why you doin’ this, Doc?

Doc Holliday: Because Wyatt Earp is my friend.

Turkey Creek Jack Johnson: Friend? Hell, I got lots of friends.

Doc Holliday: …I don’t.

Doc understood that there was a distinction between those that were occasional friends or acquaintances, and those on a much shorter list that were really friends.

I referred to a list earlier, it’s not printed, laminated or final. Sometimes it’s long but more often than not its short, because hell, I’ve got lots of friends… and then again, I don’t.

"Soup…? It’s only 9:30."

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:41:55 -0400

“Soup…? It’s only 9:30.”

- Sarah Griener (Regarding Jon Howard’s breakfast choice)

Practice

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:01:02 -0400

I spent the last two days feeling more stressed out than I should have. An accumulation of small problems and moderate needs seemed to compound leaving me less composed than I would have liked. While the issues I was dealing with were not directly my own, I felt compelled to resolve them in an effort to assist my friends.

Hindsight provides clarity to examine the situation and pinpoint the changes I could have made to avoid feeling stressed. In the midst of answering panicked texts, phone calls, voice mails, and e-mails while attempting to resolve these issues, there were two calm individuals that I gained a deeper admiration for.

Both of these teachers, tempered by experience were able to see the big picture and understand a simple concept. It was either going to work out, or it wasn’t. It really was that simple, sure an ideal outcome existed and that was what I was working toward but if it didn’t happen the world wasn’t going to end. They also had the experience to know that things aren’t black and white and were willing to make phone calls to resolve situations as needed.

I don’t like feeling stressed out. Sometimes stress is a product of my own actions and sometimes it comes from my environment or my associations. I can’t always control if or when some new source of stress will present itself, I can however choose how to respond to it. These past few days served as practice, a compilation of mini battles I either won or lost with my natural instincts. I didn’t win all my battles staying calm and composed but with time I hope to win an increasing number of them.

"Where’s my super suit?"

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:24:42 -0400

“Where’s my super suit?”

- Abigail Sanders (Quoting “The Incredibles”

I Go To The Field

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:58:48 -0400

(Taken from http://thethinksithinks.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-got-to-field.html?showComment=1319694619370#c4125549042647345078 )

Today is one of those days where I walk into the library, knowing that I’m not going to be leaving this place till it closes at midnight.

To be honest I really don’t mind days like this.

I think there is something to be said about the fact that I’m okay with it.

I like working hard, I wish I didn’t get sidetracked, but I love the opportunity to focus for an extended period of time and see the fruits of my labor at the end of the day.

I remember how much I used to love working on the farm; bailing hay for 24 hours straight, seeing the sun creep over the hills, lighting the massive fields of alfalfa that you never knew were really there, simply following the headlights of your tractor all night, circle after circle, bail after bail, hour after hour. As we orbited the sprinkler line; time and time again, the sun was busy traveling around the earth, bringing it’s gift of sunrise and leaving with sunset where ever it roamed.

Morning radio news came on, jokes told way too loud and way too often about George W. Bush filled our tractor cabs. Mrs. Pelzer would come on our CB radios and kindly say, “Boys, you want some coffee or anything?” We’d all respond back sheepishly, voices cracking due to our sleep deprivation and the fact that we hadn’t spoke a word in the past 9 1/2 hours of darkness, “Yes ma’am.” We’d watch as her 5’ frame drove that two ton pickup truck right through the field, straight to the base of our tractor wheels, parking right in front of us, saying without words, “You boys aren’t driving another foot until you’ve had some food in you.” She’d hop out with four Tupperware boxes filled with last night’s leftovers, a thermos of coffee, and then always open up the tail gate for us to get at the water cooler and have a place to sit. “You boys look like you could use some sleep, is Joe working you too hard again?” She’d smile and we’d all laugh. Such a sweet old girl that Mrs. Pelzer. After we were done eating we’d help pick up the mess, sweep off the cornbread crumbs on the tailgate, say “thank you Mrs. Pelzer,” and wait for the same farewell speech that she gave every morning, “K boys, I’mma tell Joe to send you all home early, it ain’t right for boys as handsome as you to be spending all summer out in these fields instead of chasing around girls and gettin’ into some trouble. I’ll see you tomorrow boys.”

She’d drive away in a cloud of dust and we’d sit around waiting till she was out of sight. We’d lean on the tractor of whoever brought the tops for that day, roll our cigarettes, smoke them, roll up another for our next break, finish our coffee, and start back up. We had started from the widest parts of the fields each day, the first pass always being the biggest circle, moving in, with each pass getting smaller and smaller, by the end of a field the circles were only about the size of a horse corral. In fields as big as these, I would often forget that I was out there with two to four other guys; it was nice when the passes became smaller and you could see a familiar face in the tractor passing by. Sometimes we’d even wave at each other. It was such a comfort to know that you weren’t alone in that dark field.

Falling in and out of sleep for the next few hours, blaring EAGLE 106.5 classic rock to keep me from falling into dreamland, we would finally call it a day when the last bail tied, fell to the ground. The thump of the bail hitting the earth and the relieving pressure on the tractor was like the weight of the world falling off a troubled man’s shoulders. It was the fields way of saying, “I’ve given you all I have my friend. Don’t forget me though. Before long you will need me again, by then I will be tall, and ready to give you all I have once again. Always come back, for I will always be here.”

I learn from the fields. I learn from the hours that pass. I learn from the light that says, “I am here again, I may leave for a short while, but I will never forsake you.”

(I thought this was well written and it made me nostalgic for my time working the alfalfa harvest during high school)

Thank You...

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:06:30 -0400

It’s been a busy morning, filled with running errands and fighting for parking. I received an e-mail this morning that indicated there was a rapidly approaching deadline for one of my errands.

In preparation for an upcoming PRSSA event I needed to purchase a few restaurant gift cards as “Thank You’s” for our presenters. The only problem is that the school issued credit card I was using needed to be returned before noon and I needed to get to class. If you were not aware most restaurants don’t open until 11:00 am.

I knew that the P.F. Changs was not yet open but when I saw a waiter walking toward the store front I caught his attention to plead my case. It would have been very simple to turn me away or tell me to wait until they opened, instead I was invited into the restaurant and offered a drink while the manager came up to assist me with my gift card purchases.

I’ve worked in the food service industry and I know that it is often times hard to remain cheerful or friendly. I wan’t to applaud both this server and manager from the Orem Utah location. I don’t know whether or not they were in compliance with corporate policy or if they were making an exception to help me out. What I do know is that they were kind, respectful, and exercised emotional intelligence to assess my needs and help me out.

Thank You P.F. Changs

"Brett once ate a puzzle piece and the man in the yellow hat had to take him to the hospital"

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 01:35:22 -0400

“Brett once ate a puzzle piece and the man in the yellow hat had to take him to the hospital”

- Marshall Sanders (During a conversation about Brett Chambers & his love of adventure)

Gratitude

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 01:57:45 -0400

The mentality behind gratitude is that you place more value on what you have than on what you don’t. As a college student with a family and a mortgage its easy to get caught up thinking about the things I don’t have, or the things I wish I had, or even the security that would come from a surplus. Thoughts like that however quickly lead to stress and anxiety.

Serenity comes from recognizing the things I value the most came without a price tag. My earlier statement could just as easily be seen as a positive when viewed with a grateful mindset. I am a college student, this implies that I have the opportunity to further my education. I have a family, this means that there are people who love me and push me to succeed. I have a mortgage, this tells me that I have a roof over my head and a place to call home.

Do I get caught up in materialism? Or wish that I could by my wife and kids everything they might want? Sure I do thats human nature, but I’m grounded by the recognition that my needs are met and quite a few of my wants as well.

"Are you sure you don’t want me to install it for you?"

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 02:10:56 -0400

“Are you sure you don’t want me to install it for you?”

- Refrigerator Deliveryman (After we declined letting him plug it in)

Those cold and timid souls...

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:31:04 -0400

We brought a group of 17 students to the PRSSA National Conference all the way from Utah Valley University. During the conference we had the chance to listen to amazing presenters, and to network with peers and future colleagues. An unintended fringe benefit was the unofficial study of small group dynamics that took place during our week-long visit to Orlando.

Frequently the need to make decisions regarding where to get food or how to spend our free time were met with statements such as “I don’t care”, or “I’m OK with wherever”. However there were always dominant voices that eventually seemed to steer the direction of the group. It’s been said that you can’t please everyone and so inevitably complaints would arise regarding the plans that got made.

My observation from our tiny paradigm of humanity is that if you let others speak for you, you lose the right to complain about what is said.

I recognize that mild apathy and casual indifference are often times avoidance techniques for decision making. Fear that a decision might be seen as unpopular can stifle a group and force inaction. So here is to the risk takers and the decision makers, those willing to risk ridicule in order to procure action. For those of you letting others do the talking now is your time to rise up and bring your voice. Whether your comments are welcome or not, whether you sway a decision or not, your place will no longer be among those too scared to voice their thoughts yet willing to complain about what is said for them.

Distance...

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:52:23 -0400

It’s one thing missing you from the other side of the country where the logistics of a quick visit are impractical. It’s another to be within a few miles but separated by responsibility.

"Home is wherever I’m with you…"

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:59:26 -0400

“Home is wherever I’m with you…”

- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Asking the hard questions

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 03:35:11 -0400

During my freshman year of high school as an eager young student interested in computers, technology, and the internet I developed an interesting quirk. I sought out any and all website URL’s that I could find. Whenever I would find an address I would write it down in a notebook that I carried around. I would search through computer magazines and spam e-mail messages, the content of the web pages mattered very little to me. Before too long I had almost filled that notebook with these random URL’s. I would proudly display them to my friends saying “look I have the website for X or for Y”. Since the internet had not yet lost its novelty factor they would marvel along with me at the hundreds of addresses I had collected. In my mind I was laying the groundwork for success by chasing after this one aspect of a technology I did not really understand.

I’ve often wished for the chance to return to that time, to give my younger self a bit of direction with which to channel that desire. Clearly I thought that what I was doing was important, I was so busy working hard in one direction that I failed to ask if the work I was doing had value.

Often times we encounter those around us who are willing to work hard but who are also either ignorant or unable to recognize how a lack of direction limits the effectiveness of their efforts. Just like myself as a freshman, proper direction would have applied my efforts more constructively.

Consider an introspective look and ask yourself the following questions:

Is what I am doing important?

Am I adding or creating value?

Can I quantify my results?

The benefits of time, age, and experience have provided me with a lens with which to view my activities and to ask the important questions, and yet repeatedly I still fall into the trap of equating hard work with effective work. Consistent self evaluation is a simple key to success for those willing to honestly assess themselves.

Honesty from a 3 year old

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:45:49 -0400

Lanette Sanders: Abigail, why is Jude crying?

Abigail Sanders: I hit him...

"Marshallito!!!!"

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:35:30 -0400

“Marshallito!!!!”

- Henry Cervera (Every few minutes during the 2011 PRSSA National Conference)

"I hate you…"

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:28:53 -0400

“I hate you…”

- Laurie Neff (After Cori Fox gloated about having two quotes on my blog)

Weird

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:50:33 -0400

Marshall Sanders: That was weird

Cori Fox: Thats ok, weird stands out

Marshall Sanders: ...Cori Fox, Stands out

(Conversation at the Waffle House)

PRSSA National Conference Day 5

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:47:19 -0400

The conference officially came to a close this morning with a farewell breakfast and closing remarks. It really is a bummer having tis experience come to an end.

As far as the Orlando experience went for the UVU crew, I played the part of chauffeur. I took a group of students over to Universal Studios in the morning and then another group closer to noon. I helped Henry Cervera chase after a lost debit card before making a pick up from Universal Studios. I then returned to the hotel for a quick nap until it was time to pick up the last group. It was fun driving a massive 15 passenger van in an unfamiliar city (I’m actually serious even though that sentence sounds sarcastic).

We regrouped and enjoyed a dip in the pool and then went out to dinner as a group to the local Waffle House. The food was great, the quality was amazing, and the staff was so friendly.

It is sad sitting here in the hotel lobby writing this knowing that our time together as a group is coming to an end. Its neat to see how a group of relative strangers come together to learn and grow. These people around me don’t realize it but I see them as my friends, my peers, and my colleagues I’m excited to see the amzing careers that are waiting for each of them.

"Henry bamboozled me…"

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:38:35 -0400

“Henry bamboozled me…”

- Bryan Welch (After Henry Cervera convinced Bryan he had to go on a wild goose chase with us.)

"It was like the night before Christmas…"

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:55:53 -0400

“It was like the night before Christmas…”

- Cori Fox (Describing her anticipation for Harry Potter World)