Character Enhancement

"You can tell the character of every man
when you see how he receives praise.”

~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca

I'm not real good at this one.  I tend to deflect compliments.  Got any tips?

Whiny Cheese

When I hear someone whining I often like to sarcastically ask them if they want some cheese with that "whine". Here are a few quotes that some will find motivational while others will find them cheesy:

"There are no 'new truths' and no 'secrets to success'. What we lack is the ability, desire and discipline to accept and live up to the truths we know. Instead we like to pretend that being successful is a secret others are keeping from us, or that it is really really hard so that we have lots of excuses for not achieving it."

“Few people will turn to themselves to take responsibility for their results until they have exhausted all opportunities to blame someone else."

“The real danger with whining is that whining only prolongs the problem.”

So, let there be no whine.  Remind me -- when I do whine -- to knock it off!

Teton Backside

Today we drove over the hill to see the other side of the mountain.  You see, every morning my ritual includes looking out our picture window at the Grand Teton as I'm doing my daily weigh-in on the Wii Fit.  Whether I'm looking at the front-side or the back-side of it is a relative perception.  At any rate, we ventured through Jackson Hole into Grand Teton National Park today to see some of Tara and I's old stomping grounds.  There are a few more pictures available in my online album at http://picasaweb.google.com/tonyderricott.  We also saw a grizzly bear.  See if you can spot it in the distance beyond the binocular ladies.

Corner Cutters

I find myself bothered by foot traffic that doesn't obey walking rules.  For example:

1. Walk on the sidewalk.
2. Walk on the right side of the sidewalk; especially if you're reading, texting, or otherwise not paying attention to oncoming foot traffic.
3. Walk through the right-side of the double-doors, even if you think someone else isn't coming.

What am I missing?  Am I the only one that's bothered?  Is it me or is it them?  

I either need to understand "them"; be converted to "their" ways; or take a step back, breathe, and feel peace.

Blogupational Therapy

I was thinking today about how much I enjoy blogging every night.  Many of the ideas that come into my head during the day perplex me.  When I'm able to put them down on "paper" at night they go into a different part of my brain.  Eventually they almost always become lesser problems.  It's like Blogger.com is my sounding wall.  That's not to diminish the thoughts that some of you share at times.  I'm certainly grateful for those.  I don't expect to post my cares for the world to answer for me but good friends are always welcome, too.  I'm sure a psychologist could elaborate and use fancier terms.  I know that "blogupational" isn't even a word.  If you know what it means then it doesn't matter, though.  I know what I'm talking about.  Do you?

Tie Guys

On campus there is an employee dress code:

"

BYU-Idaho Dress and Grooming Standards for Employees

---

Employees occupy a position of role model for students at BYU-Idaho. As role models, a higher and more formal dress and grooming standard is expected of employees when on campus than is expected of students. Specifically:

1. Male employees are expected to wear a shirt and tie with dress slacks. Jeans are not appropriate professional attire. In areas where shirts, ties, and dress slacks are not suitable for the work environment, the department chair or director, in consultation with the vice president, will determine satisfactory attire, including the wearing of uniforms where appropriate. Extreme or immodest clothing styles are also unacceptable.

Male employees are expected to maintain a clean and well-cared-for appearance. Hairstyles should be neat, avoiding extreme styles or colors, and trimmed above the collar and the ear. Sideburns should not extend below the earlobe or onto the cheek. Men are expected to be clean shaven; beards are not acceptable. Mustaches, if worn, should be neatly trimmed and may not extend beyond or below the corners of the mouth. Earrings and other body piercing are unacceptable. Shoes should be worn in all public campus areas."

I think it's funny to walk across campus and be perceived and greeted differently by fellow tie-wearers.

I do enjoy wearing a tie, though.  I think it makes me behave better.  I also wear a white shirt on Fridays; opposite to the way most people look forward to "Casual Friday".  Tara and I go to the temple on Friday evenings.  So it's a good excuse to dress up another notch.

I also enjoy wearing a shirt with a pocket in it because it's a good place for my phone, notepad, and pencil.  I don't have a pocket protector.  I'm a new-age nerd; we don't use protectors.

Inoperable Tendencies

I found out today that my dad has inoperable cancer.  I'm already dealing with my mom's failing health due to a stroke she suffered a few months ago.  The word "inoperable" seems to strike me from both meanings:

1. Not functioning; inoperative.

As in: It is difficult for me to function with the weight of this news on my mind.

2. Unsuitable for a surgical procedure

As in: I know that no operation on either Dad or Mom is going to help.

I poked around on the Internet looking for resources that could help me learn more.  While this booklet I found was meant for teens I found a lot of the information in it helpful.  I'm posting a link to it here as much for me to refer back to as to share with others:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/When-Your-Parent-Has-Cancer-Guide-for-Teens/PDF

There are also a number of thoughts I came upon at http://homeinsteaders.org/category/death/ that inspire me.  One of my favorites at this moment is:

“Death is more universal than life;
everyone dies but not everyone lives.”

~ A. Sachs

So, I find myself thinking that -- while I know everything happens for a reason -- I need a few crutches like those mentioned above to get me through this time.

48 Plus

Delmar & Sharon Derricott were married April 19, 1962.  


Happy 48th Anniversary, Dad & Mom!  


Make every moment count.

Penguin Power?

“Courage is a special kind of knowledge:

the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared

and how not to fear what ought no to be feared.”

~ David Ben-Gurion

I like this thought because it again talks about balance.  I have to continually (or is it "continuously") remind myself of these types of thoughts so that I can keep 'er between the buoys; keep the plates spinning; keep an even keel...

It's human nature to either not try or to -- as the picture suggests -- try then flee.  It's the spiritual nature of taking these things seriously that we ought to strive for.  So, what would you do if you were the penguin?

Shameful Tendencies

“Unless you’re ashamed of yourself now and then,

you’re not honest.”

~ William Faulkner

While I wholeheartedly agree with this thought I also believe that a person can be too ashamed to the point of weakness.  Like anything in life, this too requires balance.  

I was ashamed today, though, when I realized that a computer had been stolen from a classroom in one of my buildings.  However, I'm not ashamed to say that I finally saw Avatar.  I wonder what percent of the public has actually seen it before me.

Touching Numbers

While the Dow touched 11000 today...

I touched 179. 

May it continue to rise as I continue to fall.

DISCLAIMER: This photo is not an actual photograph of me, though my belly does poke out about that far. ===>

Confucian Superiority

“The superior man is distressed
by the limitations of his ability;
he is not distressed by the fact
that men do not recognize
the ability that he has.”

~ Confucius

I take this to mean "superior" to the distressed state he might otherwise be in; rather than "superior" to any others.

Almighty Wanting

We watched "Bruce Almighty" tonight.  Here's one of my favorite lines near the end of the movie:

Bruce: There were so many. I just gave them all what they want.

God: Yeah. But since when does anyone have a clue about what they want?

Which reminds me of one of my favorite lyrics from a Rolling Stones song:

You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get what you need


So, I just want what's best for me.  How about you?

Lotsa Letters

I don't mention this to be boastful.  It's just documentation, Holmes.  The other day I became a MCDST.  That's a Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician.  To become one requires taking 2 tests.  I'd taken the first of the two a couple of years ago to become a MCP.  That's a Microsoft Certified Professional.  Before those I had become certified as CompTIA (that's Computer Technology Industry Association) A+ followed by Network+.  These are even above and beyond my college degrees.   It's confusing even to me.  What's more, I'm working on becoming an ACSP next.  That's an Apple Certified Support Professional.  After that I'll work on an HP cert., a Dell cert., and another Microsoft cert.; this time MCAS (Microsoft Certified Application Specialist).  So, for the listy-type people, here's the rundown:

What I Am:

• AAS
• BA
• MEd
• A+
• Network+
• MCP
• MCDST

What I Wanna Be:

• ACSP
• MCAS
• HPCST
• DCST
• PhD

OK?

Rock Salutations

While I was looking for something to right about on today's daily musing I came across one of my favorite songs (For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). I know the lyrics to the song probably have some sort of evil meaning. However, part of the article at Wikipedia claims that:

"The title and central lyric of the song are based on an ancient salute used by Roman prisoners to be executed in the Colosseum, "Ave, Caesar, morituri te salutant" ("Hail Caesar, we who are about to die, salute you.")."

I like to think the song means, "Go do good, with power!"; kind of a weird mix of AC/DC, Nike, and Spencer W. Kimball.  But I'm weird like that.  Do you think it's a stretch or are you with me?

Take a listen, if you please.

Hair Bands

Okay, somebody tell me why there are so many hair bands around campus at BYU-Idaho.

Lest you get confused, I'm talking about the little rubbery-bandy-ponytail-holder things, not the 80s metalheads; although that would be interesting to see a bunch of them around campus!

Regardless (or is it irregardless?) do the things fall off the girls' heads as they're jogging?  Are they careless litterers?  What other reason(s) could there be?

In the meantime, "Rock on!"

Instant Enmity?

We spent a few days in Utah.  I realized at one point in traffic that I wrongly judge other drivers if they don't conform to my perspective of the "right" way to obey traffic laws.  I read a quote today that doesn't hit this thought exactly but it comes close:

“Failing to forgive someone is like drinking poison every day and expecting the other person to die.”

I'm recommitting myself here and now to give even drivers the benefit of the doubt.  It's going to take some work.  But, like Tara said, recognition is the first step.