Hope

16 years old....all hope lost. Too young to lose hope, yet here was this young man, hopeless and full of despair. How do we let these young people get there? Why do we, as a society, fail to recognize and come to the aid of these young, hopeless kids? Where is our compassion?
I am reluctantly linking this page to a story of Jeff Weise, the young man that was the suicidal murderer in last weeks shooting rampage. There is an animated video that he posted last October. DIDN'T ANYONE NOTICE????? It escapes me how we let stuff like this happen, when all of the signs are there. This young person was evidently in need of help long ago. What about his parents? Friends? Are there really that many that just never get reached? It is a sad comentary of our world.

"Butterfly on Lantana"

"Butterfly on Lantana" 3" x 3", Watercolor on paper, Framed

Someone asked if I could draw also. I love doing tiny paintings and sketches of things. This was my first attempt at a butterfly. I took the picture in my garden last Spring, and painted it from that. My Artwork link shows this along with other tiny paintings. I also have some larger ones on the site as well. I have some ideas for some very large works in my head....I just need to get around to do them. I'll post them as I complete them.

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Prayers

"Prayers" 14" x 18", Acrylic on Canvas
Scott Windrum has a unique ministry. He plays guitar and sings as he delivers powerful words of encouragement to the congregation. Last night, as he ministered in song, I got an idea for a painting, which I entitled "Prayers". I put in his CD and listened again today as I painted this work. Thanks, Scott, for the encouraging words. I really appreciate your ministry.
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A Company Without a Soul

I hate Bank One. Maybe I should say, I hate the the corporate philosophy of Bank One. It's all about the bottom line. People don't really matter. Situations don't matter....logic overrules the heart or soul. They keep people that don't belong there and fire or pressure good ones out. I know that everyone is under pressure by higher-ups to perform.... I know, I was on commission. I didn't need pressure from my supervisor to perform. I had pressure from my creditors to perform. I needed HELP from my company that I gave so much to, not pressure. When the company made announcements of having to cut territory, I stepped up to the plate and tried to make the transition more palatable for me, easier for the company, and best for the customers. I knew it was going to be hard to make it with 80% of my territory taken from me. I knew it would take time to ramp-up commissions.
In the meantime, my dad was dying, we were forced out of our apartment (that's another long story) by some moronic apartment managers who couldn't think beyond the present moment, we bought a house and had to wait a month after closing to move, so we rented a house temporarily for 30 days....having to move twice in 30 days is extremely difficult. I went to my company and asked for a raise in my draw, which I was summarily denied. I could understand if I was a new employee with no track record... or if I had performed poorly in the past, but I was one of the better producers with a proven track record. I honestly believe that a little help financially from my company would have made me a more viable player. I could have at least paid my bills and had more ability to concentrate on my job.
The Bank One Corporation has no soul. It is full of rules to make things "fair" for everyone, which only makes things very unfair. No one is willing to bend the rules to keep a drowning person from sinking. Things got progressively worse for me all last year, which eventually led to me quitting on September 30. It was better for me being unemployed.
Things with Bank One didn't end there. They contested my unemployment insurance claim, which was affirmed in my favor by a decision by Texas Workforce Commission. Then they appealed the decision and got a telephone hearing granted which led to the re-affirmation of TWC's original decision. A letter from Bank One's third party advocate (fancy name for bully shark barracuda attorneys) promptly followed with a plea for the TWC appeals tribunal to reverse their decision. I got a letter from TWC on Thursday reaffirming their decision AGAIN, but with ANOTHER opportunity for their bully shark barracuda attorneys to appeal, and consequently, charge more to the corporation...and ultimately, the customer.
Again: I QUIT ON SEPTEMBER 30th! TWC paid me a TOTAL of $3900 in unemployment insurance benefits. Bank One pays this through insurance premiums. It's not like it costs them the whole $3900. This is almost 6 months later and they are still hanging on, ignoring the cost of their bully shark barracuda attorneys and fighting a $3900 unemployment claim. I would guess, and this is just a guess, that the cost of the bully shark barracuda attorneys is more than $3900. (Do you ever wonder what all those "service fees" pay for?)The Bank One Corporation has no soul. Their logic goes beyond reason because no one wants to go outside the rules. I'm glad I am not working for that company anymore.
Enough of that rant.

Pauly the Rat

Update:
Situation resolved. 'nuff said.

Too funny

Thanks Amy. Diary of a Dog, Diary of a Cat

Everyday Choices

There are some things that just don't make a lot of sense. I was taking a back way to school today and ran across this intersection. Blew my mind. But I got to thinking....aren't I faced with this dilemna every day? "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof leads to death." Prov. 14:12, and "I set before you today life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live." Deut. 30:19. Sometimes the clear choice really isn't that clear. The signs say to go left, and another says to go right. Without all the information and discernment, the obvious choice may be clouded or confused by different signs. If we take the time to examine all of the information and ask God for direction, we can be sure He will tell us which way to go.

"Sunday"

"Sunday" Acrylic on canvas, framed, 16" x 20"
I don't usually do abstract art, but I thought this was kindof cool. It actually is my first full sized work with acrylics on canvas. I have done some smaller studies, but I finally got in "the zone" last week and created this. I got a nice frame and hung it in my office, and it makes my whole office look different.
There is a real deep, emotional and intimate feeling I get when I paint. I can't explain it, but it is better than any high I can think of. I can't beleive that when I was younger, I used to think I had to smoke pot to be able to paint...My artwork from that period reflects my stifled thought patterns. I can't even think of getting high or even having a glass of wine now before I paint. Somehow it would destroy the purity of it. I am so very thankful for this talent I have. I can no longer take it for granted. I know part of my purpose is to paint, and I love it.

Spring Fever

I am definitely feeling crazy. There is a restlessness in me that surfaces from time to time. I think it comes after a period of boredom. School has me a little overwhelmed, my job is still at a standstill, and there's too many temptations to go find something more fun to do than study all the time. The weather has been just right to get out to the golf course too, and I finally just gave in yesterday and put my clubs in the trunk. Spring is officially here now! I was out at the driving range the other day....it was beautiful...65 degrees, sunny, the ground was a little wet, so we didn't actually get out on the course. Nevertheless, it was nice to get out there and hit some solid drives again. I feel the extra inch or so around my middle though. Time to get that off so I can swing a little better.
OK...I guess it's Spring Fever.