Month: September 2009

What Can Be Learned From a 3×5 Card?

Had a problem today with my leaf blower. The choke lever would not stay on the off position. It kept flopping back to the on position killing the engine. I attempted to take the thing apart. Looking, as if I knew what I was doing, for the problem. Well clearly I’m not wired for gas engine service and I could not fix the issue using a phillips head and some elbow grease. I certainly didn’t want to take it to the hardware store. Lots of time without my trusty friend and I’m sure a price tag no one would enjoy.

There has to be a better way…

Then it hit me. “OH YES!!!” Why do things need to be so hard. Why do I always look for the “blue sky” solution when the grass roots one will do just fine? I walked myself into the house and grabbed a single 3×5 card. I folded it in half, then half again and once more so it was small, tight wedge. I crammed the folded card between the choke lever and the side of the blower and tada… problem fixed!!

Sitting back and looking at a beautifully manicured lawn *cough, cough*… What can be learned from this? Most times the K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid) mantra applies and this is no exception. I took one index card worth less then 1 cent and fixed a problem the hardware store would of gladly charged me $40 just to look at…

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best ones.

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2 Daughters Singing – Don’t Stop Believin’

amy and the other girl sing
Image by ankatank via Flickr

Today I was traveling to a church service activity with my 2 oldest daughters Madeline and Clara. There are many times in my life that I have been filled with pride and just overwhelmed with the love that only a father can have for their children and today was one. Sorry for all my friends who do not have kids yet, this may not mean as much to you, but it I’m sure it applies somewhere.

Traveling down highway 41, Madeline grabs her iPod and hands one ear piece to Clara, placing the other in her own ear and says “I’ll sing the first verse, you sing the other.” I really had no idea what I was in for and I really wish I could have bottled the emotion, it was so amazing. They both broke into Journey’s Don’t Stop Believn’ as featured on a new show on Fox called Glee.

Clara lead off with the first verse and Madeline the second. With each verse hearing their tender voices the tears just started streaming down my face. Again this is totally a dad thing and maybe so hard to understand. This was just one of a fathers precious moments. Verse after verse they sung, as sweet as could be. The heart, soul and tender innocence that was put into their rendition was amazing .

If there was any doubt, I love being a dad!

Just a small town girl, livin’ in a lonely world

She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit

He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere

A singer in a smoky room

The smell of wine and cheap perfume

For a smile they can share the night

It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard

Their shadows searching in the nights

Streetlights, people, living just to find emotion

Hiding, somewhere in the nights

Working hard to get my fill,

Everybody wants a thrill

Payin’ anything to roll the dice

Just one more time

Some will win, some will lose

Some are born to sing the blues

Oh, the movie never ends

It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard

Their shadows searching in the night

Streetlights, people, living just to find emotion

Hiding, somewhere in the nights

Don’t stop believin’

Hold on to that feelin’

Streetlight, people

Don’t stop believin’

Hold on…

Streetlight, people

Don’t stop believin’

Hold on to that feelin’

Streetlight, people ohhhhhh…..

Don’t Stop!

-written by Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry and Neal Schon

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TommyLog – August 28 – BEST BUY

Sorry I have been away so long. Lots happening. I was on the road this week to a place that had very limited connectivity and zero AT&T service. Oh boy did that cause issues but thats another whole video all together. Enjoy this and back on track soon kiddies.