Around and Around He Goes!

It seems like I spent most of the day mowing. Well, I guess it was most of the day -- from around 2:00 until dark-thirty. I took one short 20 minute break to grab a bite of supper.

We have 4 acres. It takes a while to cover it with a mower -- even a good sized mower like I have (Toro EZCutter Z380). It was almost like swathing hay. The grass was over 12 inches high in some places. No, it's not all lawn. Most of it is in native pasture. The rains have been so good this year that it has really grown. I have to mow it to keep the undesirable grasses, weeds and cactus controlled. There's really not enough of it to graze. It's too dangerous to burn it. So, I mow. Usually once during the summer will do because it normally is dry for most of the summer and it doesn't grow. This year I have cut it twice and it will probably need to be cut at least one more time.

Seven hours on a mower gives you a lot of time to think. It reminds me of driving a tractor. You go round and round and your mind wanders. It's no big deal on the mower. I remember letting my mind drift while driving a tractor and waking up to find that I had plowed up a couple of hundred yards of cotton -- 8 rows of it! Not a good thing to do. Worse, I had to go back and plow it again to get the water furrows straight so that it could be irrigated later. Telling the farmer that I was working for was not fun. He took it well though. After the black cloud over his head dissipated, he just said, "That will teach you to let your mind wander."

All that time mowing I kept thinking that surely I would come up with some brilliant subject to post about. Sorry. All you get is an account of my mowing. How I love this exciting life I lead!

More on The Cattle Show

Over on Neal's Blog you will see some pictures that I took at the videoing of the Cattle Show segment that I mentioned in a post earlier this week. It should help you visualize the conditions that we were in a little better.

From there you might want to check out Abby The Dog's Blog. Neal is Abby's "master."

Developing Relationships in Business

Ranando suggested that he liked for me to write about my business, sales and such in his response to An Appeal. Today I was able to arrange something for a customer that was a good example of how-to-do-things right.

Late yesterday afternoon I received a call from a customer that had "tested the waters" with us but never really committed to doing much volume. The customer is a mid-sized cattle feeding operation in Kansas that employs an "in-house" veterinarian. It was the veterinarian who called.

They have a customer whose cattle often present management problems for the feeding company due to their origin. The service that we provide is one designed to help eliminate some of the types of problems they have been experiencing through pro-active diagnostics. Our service is a great fit to solve at least part of their difficulties. The veterinarian saw the possibilities but is having difficulty convincing the feeding company's senior management and their customer that the service will be beneficial and provide a significant return on their investment.

I asked for a little time to put something together that might help him to which he readily agreed. I then contacted one of my suppliers to explore some ideas. Together we saw an opportunity to provide them with a discounted pricing for our service on a "trial number" of tests. The idea was to show them the benefits in a fashion that was palatable to both the customer and to senior management at the feeding company. I then arranged a conference call for this afternoon that involved the veterinarian, my supplier and me. It went extremely well.

By acting as an advocate for my customer, I was able to position my company favorably with him. By involving the technical services of my supplier, I was able to increase credibility with my customer and bring into play resources that I would not have been able to provide independently. By setting up the "trial run" we are able to gather data for my supplier as well as for my customer. The veterinarian looks good to his management because he is able to arrange the trial at a discounted price that ultimately will benefit his company's largest customer. It became a win-win-win situation.

The other benefit the call provided was in the enhanced relationship that it created with my customer. What was a tenuous foothold with them, is now a much stronger relationship. The potential with this customer is fairly large. We are currently providing only a small number of tests for them. The trial that we are doing will be for 2,000 tests. The potential is for around 80,000+ tests per year. The benefits will flow to all parties involved.

I love it when these kinds of opportunities develop.

The Task List

In the morning when I wake
I like to spend some time
Discussing with the good Lord
What He has on His mind
For me to do today.
Sometimes it seems quite clear to me
The tasks He has at hand
For they come welling up within my head
And it is easy to understand
How they fit within His way.
But there are other times it seems
The direction is not so clear
So I know that I should expect
Some new things to appear.
That's when anticipation
Of adventure to be found
Leads me through the daily chores
That always come around.
It is that sense of expectation
That the Lord is standing by
Directing things within my day
That makes the time to fly.
And it's because I keep on looking
For the way His guiding hand
Shapes events in people's lives
Who in adversity must stand
That I can face each day with confidence
Within this world of strife
For He has called me to His purpose
And works good within my life.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." __Romans 8:28

The Cattle Show

Yesterday I spent an interesting afternoon at the taping of a television segment for RFD-TV. No, I am not in the segment, but a friend and fellow blogger, Neal Odom, was one of the guests on the show. The segment will air on The Cattle Show on August 7, 2007.

If you are interested in what I do for a living, that is what Neal will be talking about. His company provides part of the technology that we utilize in the services that we sell to our customers.

The segment was filmed inside of a garage located at a small feedlot in the Texas Panhandle. It was interesting to me how they controlled camera angles and positioning of the participants in order to limit what was seen in the background. It was humorous to me that there were sacks of feed lying on the floor in direct line with the camera that were from a competing brand to one of the sponsors. Those sacks will not be seen in the final edited version.

I also found the tele-prompters to be interesting. The producer's 9-year old daughter sat on a bucket and ran the tele-prompter from a laptop which she held in her lap. The tele-prompter itself was a flat-panel LCD display mounted horizontally on the camera tri-pod. The image was reflected on a one-way mirror mounted at a 45 degree angle to the display so that it could be seen by the participants in the show. The camera shot through the one-way mirror that displayed the prompts. The effect was that the subjects looked directly into the camera and their eyes did not move as they read the prompts.

I was disappointed that they didn't have what I call the "clacker" that you see in old movies that marked the beginning and end of a scene being shot. You know, the thing that went "clack" when the director said to roll the film for a shot. The technician told me that it was used to synchronize the old sound-tracks with the video. Originally the sound was recorded separately from the video and the editors used the "clacker" as a point-of-reference to synchronize the sound track and the video. (Yeah, I know it's called a Clapper Board, but "clacker" seems to fit.)

It was fun and educational. I suspect that we will be doing some promo videos in the future with the company that did the filming -- Hot Shots Video Productions. Who knows, some of my poetry might even end up on one of their segments.

Looking for Balance

Incognito has asked a question in response to An Appeal that has taken a lot of thought on my part. Her question is, "...as a creative Soul, how do you balance the need to express that creativity with the need to make a living?"

The short answer is that I don't do it very well. My job and responsibilities as a father, husband, and now grandfather often take a toll on the creative energies. Add to that responsibilities with my church and community and the demands of home ownership and the number of hours in the day that are available for creative endeavors diminishes quickly. So, I squeeze it in where I can. I make it a priority where possible, but often it falls low enough on the list that it is a struggle to fit it in.

Blogging has helped me to release that creative energy on a regular basis. I often am composing posts in my head throughout the day. Then, when I have time, I basically "dump" them into written form. Our mind is an amazing thing. If we will let it work, there are many tasks that can run "in the background" while we continue to deal with the "gotta deal with it right now" stuff. It adds a new dimension to effectively and efficiently utilizing the time that we are given.

Once upon a long time ago, a college professor told me, "There's more than one way to skin a cat." (apologies to you cat lovers) It is a phrase that I had heard all of my life, but for some reason, it had a deep impact on me at the time. It basically had to do with career choices. I took it to mean that there are multiple ways to pursue our dreams and that the direct path is not always the best or the only one. I tried to put that idea into the context of God's word.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." __Psalm 37:4

This basically told me that I needed to have my priorities right. When that was done, he would grant to me the desires of my heart. At the time I didn't realize that he would also be shaping and refining the desires of my heart.

I dropped out of college to figure out who I was. I came to the realization that working to make a living that would just barely get me by was the pits. I felt strongly that God wanted me to do something with my music. I had written a few songs and wanted to become a star. So, I packed up and headed toward Austin, Texas, to try and break into the music scene via 6th Street. I went through College Station to visit a friend of mine on the way to Austin and he suggested that College Station was as good a place as Austin for pursuing music. He offered me a place to live and suggested that while I was there anyway, I should take a few classes at A&M. Smart guy. I don't know that I've ever properly thanked him for that advice.

I started playing music in one of the local hangouts. Some of the others that were making their way through A&M at the same time were Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keene -- both of whom have gone on to successful careers in the music business. I preceded Lyle Lovett on stage one night and have received a few pointers from Robert Earl Keene. I'm sure that neither of them would remember me.

As I began to develop a sense of my musical self I began to think of next steps for pursuing such a career. It didn't take long for the realities of the music business to conflict with my pursuit of God's will for my life. He brought me to the realization that my plans did not fit His will for my life. I re-focused on getting a degree and a job.

During my Senior year in college I became engaged and ultimately married and had children. Music was pushed to the edges. It became therapeutic for me in many ways. It was my outlet and my escape. In time, it became an offering to God. That is what it is today. My musical outlet is through my church.

Writing music slowly evolved into poetry and prose. I have a couple of novels started, but not well developed. Poetry and song are very closely related. I have journaled at various times as an outlet. I call my entries "Random Thoughts." I have boxes full of notebooks and loose pages of things that I have written through the years. It is disorganized and probably rubbish. In the back of my mind however, something tells me not to throw it out. Perhaps my grand children will find a few gems in it someday.

Blogging has become my primary creative outlet. I have attempted to discipline myself to an entry per day. Sometimes there have been more, a few times I have missed. Some of it hopefully contains something of value to someone other than me, and some of it is done hurriedly because I am strapped for time. The best of it is inspired by God. Sometimes I look back over what I have written and think, "where did that come from?" Usually they are the better entries.

I don't know if I've answered your question, Incognito, but maybe I've given you some insight on where I find some level of balance. I strive to go where God leads. Any talent that I might have is a gift from Him. I pray that I will use it according to His will.

The Travesty of the Balkan War

There is a lengthy article over at American Thinker that should be required reading for all who are interested in the problems with face with Terrorism. In a nutshell, the article describes how the U.S. and Europe jumped in on the wrong side of the war in Kosovo. It describes how we labeled the Serbians as the agressors and supported the Islamic rebels in their fight against them. This thoroughly detailed article describes how the Serbians were labeled agressors when in fact their crime was to react strongly against the terrorism fomented by the Islamic jihadists supported by Albania. The treatment of the Serbian reaction to such terrorism is reminiscent of the press treatment of Israel in their fight against the Palestinians extremists. Please take the time to read the full article here:

http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/07/ending_the_balkan_quagmire_at.html

If you find it to be of interest and something the public needs to be aware of, link back to the original article in a post on your site. Let's spread the word. Thanks to 1389 Mobile Blog for bringing this to our attention. Please read his post on this.

Trouble and Worry

In response to An Appeal, Blazing Cat Fur asks, "What worries you most?" That one required a bit of introspection. I hope that I can do it justice.



It seems that everywhere you turn
The news is not-so-great.
The world seems to be setting up
To fly apart with hate.

The Middle East continues
In never-ending conflicts
That many think will never end
Until the Good Lord interdicts.

Europe and Asia seem to seethe
With terror and unrest.
Africa is so far gone it can't
Be saved by all the resources of the West.

Here in the United States of America
We're faced with crime and drugs
And it seems our inner cities
Are populated by petty thugs.

Morality is something that
Has fallen in decay
To the same failed thinking
Of the Nihilists in their day.

The bickering in Washington
Is enough to make one sick
And I don't think a complete turnover
Of Congress would even do the trick.

The terrorists are crossing
Our borders every day
Prepared to unleash jihad
Until they get their way.

The world my kids and grand kids face
Is one that's filled with gloom.
It makes me wonder sometimes
If they're headed for their doom.

But then I think of Jesus
And how He died upon that tree
And I know that it will be OK
Because we have been set free.


"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." __John 16:33

Timeless Words

Y'all jump on over to Abby The Dog's Blog and listen to the wonderful words of Red Skelton concerning the Pledge of Allegiance.

A Grand Role

This response to a question on An Appeal that was posed by Ranando has to do with grand parents. Ranando suggested that I tell something about my grand parents. I have done a couple of posts in the past about them here and here. I know that I will do more in the future. So, I think I will talk about the importance of grand parents in the lives of children and what it means to me in my new role as one.

I'm learning what it means to be a grandparent
Although I don't think I should be one.
In my mind I don't feel much different
Than back when I was about twenty-one.

I recall the role grand parents had
In the shaping of my life and I think,
"What an awesome responsibility I have
To this beautiful child who will grow up in the blink

Of an eye to become a young woman
With children of her own someday."
And I wonder if I'm up to the task
And if she will think of me in the way

That I think of my own grand parents.
I was fortunate in my younger day
That my mother's parents lived nearby
And I spent many hours in their way

Although I doubt they considered it
An imposition on their time because
They always made themselves available
And would take me with them without pause

For reflection on how I might impair their day.
While on the other side I never knew my Father's dad
Because he was looking on from heaven
To make sure his kid's lives weren't too bad.

But my grandmother, though she lived far away
Was always happy to see us when we came
To visit her and she would keep us busy
Even though she didn't have much to her name

But lots of love for her family that was scattered.
And I think of how my own parents love to see
My kids and will go to the ends of the earth
To watch them in whatever they may be

Participating even though at times it meant
A very lengthy drive. But they were always there
Cheering them on and supporting their efforts.
Although they live quite far from here

My children's other grand parents also have
Deeply shaped their lives by showing them
They care by taking them places like fishing in Colorado
Or to the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham.

I think of all the memories that are deep inside of me
And how my life has been made richer by
The generations that have gone before and
I want to make a difference and will try

With all I am to be an inspiration to this
Child whose life is just at start.
I pray that she will know
That she has already captured my heart.

Hat or Cap?

It's time for another response to An Appeal. This one is to a question posed by Big White Hat -- "ball cap or hat?"

(Hat shown is a Resistol 100X Cattle Baron crease)

Boots are a virtual permanent part of my attire.

It's not because I consider myself a cowboy.

It's because I like them and because I've

Always worn them since I was a little boy.

They're good for stomping through whatever

Happens to be in the way and they provide

Protection for my shins if I happen to be

In a spot where something prickly is attacking my hide.

Most folks think that a hat is necessary

When there are boots upon the feet.

However, I think that the issue for most of us

Is what's practical rather than just neat.

It depends upon the occasion as to what sits on my head.

Sometimes it is a hat -- especially if I'm needing shade.

But most of the time it is a cap that covers up my dome.

I prefer a specific style and that it be U.S. made.

I like a low crown cap, not the traditional farmer style.

I don't like the high stiff front with mesh in the back

I prefer the soft cloth kind that fits close to my head

And in the backseat of my pickup truck I keep a stack.

There are times though when a cap just isn't quite

Dressed up enough you see, that's when the hat comes out

And sits on top of me. This time of year when it is hot

A straw hat is the thing that I wear about.

But in the winter months when it is cold my hat is made of felt.

I prefer a black one with a George Strait "Big Wells"crease.

But if one really wants to dress up nice there's nothing that beats white.

The bad thing is they dirty up and get smudges on with ease.

I guess the answer to the question is that cap or hat is a choice

That depends on the occasion for which I'm covering up my head.

Most of the time a cap's the thing that keeps my eyes in shade

But when I take a notion to I'll wear a hat instead!

The People, Not the Land

Thank you to those who responded to my Appeal. I will begin by responding to the question, "Why do you live where you do?" It was posed by both Rodney Olsen and Incognito.


What seems a simple question
Is actually quite complex;
It is one that each should give some thought
Although it might well vex.

The question is what led you
To the land where you now live?
What brought you to this wondrous place
That takes the time you give?

My answer starts with ancestors
Of hardy pioneer stock
Who came out west in earlier times
Than this in which we walk.

My roots reach out to Scotland
Through Georgia and Oklahoma
And from Virginia through Kentucky
And the Ozarks of Missouri.

Each branch eventually converging
In these Plains of endless view
Where to my young parents
Came me, brand spanking new.

I grew up here on these open plains
That stretch as far as eye can see.
I grew to love the emptiness
That made me feel so free.

But then I left and went to school
In a very different place.
It was down in Central Texas
Where I was just another face.

I missed the wind -- it never blew.
I felt smothered by the humidity.
And almost everyone I met
Had grown up in a city.

I felt pressed upon at every turn
Like sardines in a can.
I needed space to get away
Where I could breathe again.

And so upon my settling down
I came back to the plains
And started a family
In this land of infrequent rains.

Eventually, as time went by
My work made me to move
First to Kansas and then the city
Where I never found my groove.

From DFW to Nebraska
We packed our things once more.
Then finally back to Texas
We set foot on friendly shore.

We were home. All was well.
It felt right again you see.
We live here now because
It's where God means for us to be.

It's not the open spaces
Or the wind that ever blows
That makes this Panhandle
The place where our heart grows,

It's the people. It's the family.
It's the friendly open hand
Of the folks that are life's blessing.
It's the people, not the land.

An Appeal

I have a request for you my readers. In the comments to this post, please ask me questions about anything that you would like -- with a couple of ground rules:

1. Keep it clean.
2. Nothing personal.
3. The choice to answer is at my discretion.

What I'm looking for are things to write about. I know that this is probably a little unorthodox and I'm taking a chance that there will be no comments, but I thought it worth a try. For some reason, I find it easy to comment on other's posts but often have a difficult time coming up with something to write about.

So, this is an appeal to you for subjects about which to write.

I don't know if any of you remember the Glen Campbell show or the Mac Davis show, but one of the things that always impressed me was when they let the audience provide subjects for a song which they would then compose on the spot. When it seems appropriate, I will answer the question with a poem. There may be some subjects that require prose, but I will do my best to be poetic. No promises about the quality though!

A Dog's Perspective

OK, folks. Everybody needs to check out Abby the Dog's posts from yesterday. She has some interesting items concerning the English language as well as her usual wit and wisdom.

But As For Me...

The excerpt below is from Patrick Henry's address to the Continental Congress in 1775. It seemed appropriate during this time as we face the War on Terror.

"If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard (read Islamic Extremist) shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?

Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.

Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

Our Congress needs to hear this message. We must be resolute in our fight.

Have a happy 4th!

Only One

In the heart of man
Lies deep desire
For something greater
Than himself.

Through timeless age
Man has sought
The source
Whom he calls God.

For some belief
Fell on the things
Of earth
They saw about.

They worshipped trees
And rocks
And hills
And even animals.

Others built
With their own hands
The gods
To which they prayed.

All of them
Sought to please
And to appease
By gift and sacrifice.

They could not see
That God was there
Among them --
Seeking.

He spoke to His chosen few
Who sometimes listened
But often
Turned away.

He continued seeking
Until in love
He came to live
Among them.

Still, even many
Among His chosen
Did not recognize Him
Because He was not as they expected.

They despised Him
Because
He upended
Their world.

So they killed Him
And put Him in a grave
But He did not stay
For He had overcome.

Since that time
There have been others
Who would say that
He was wrong.

They claim to be prophets
With special knowlege
That made them the same
As Him.

But their bones
Still lie moldering
In a grave
Somewhere.

Only One
Has overcome
This world
And death.

Only One
Ever claimed
To be
God.

Only One
Can save
Us from
Ourselves.

Throughout the ages
Man sought God.
Throughout the ages
God sought man.

Only
Jesus
Can
Save.

Passion

When one is passionate
About his job
It isn't necessarily work.

When one is passionate
About a hobby or talent
He contributes to his art.

When one is passionate
About a cause
He can make a difference.

When one is passionate
About God
He can change the world.

Stalemate

Congress has come to a standstill
And that's a good thing for us.
'Cause if they can't pass any bills
There will be less for us to cuss.

If they can maintain the status quo
In which nothing ever gets passed,
We the people might soon decide
That we don't feel quite so harassed

And will grant a more favorable rating.
They don't seem to get the message
That the best thing to do is nothing.
Instead of trying for passage

Of bills we the people deplore.
If by some quirk of the numbers
A bill makes it to the President
He might just make use of his powers

And veto it. And that is to our advantage.
So, as we look toward the next election date
For the office of President we need to consider
Our best result might be to maintain the stalemate.

How Dumb Are You?

I found this on Hillbilly White Trash.




I don't know. I guess I'm a sucker for these games.

Sweet Iced Tea

Sweet iced tea
Is my drink of choice.
I want it brewed,
Not instant.

It needs to be cold!
If it is fresh brewed,
I like a glass full of ice
Then add tea and stir it

So the ice will melt
And cool it.
It's even better
Refrigerated.

Some folks think
That tea should be hot.
They speak of Old Grey
And other varieties.

And while I don't mind
A hot cup on occasion,
I still prefer it iced
And very sweet.

Sweet iced tea
And cornbread
And beans
Speak country --

Southern country.
Nothing cools you quicker
Than an ice cold glass
Of sweet iced tea.