Letter to a friend. 2 days from the election...

Since I've not written on my blog in months, you'd hardly know that the world is turning on its ear. Not from my perspective anyway. The financial market is in crisis, Tampa Bay nearly won the world series and lost to a team that hasn't won the WS since the year I was born. We're currently 2 days from what I think will be the defining moment in the next 50 years. Barack Obama looks like he is going to win the presidency of the United States, and I could not be more pleased. I have been tortured and torn these past 8 years by a president who in word agrees with what I hold dear, and in action defies it at every opportunity. I am horrified by the path we have taken and while I know that John McCain is not George W, I am convinced that his presidency would look far too similar to the current president's for me to ethically vote for him.

I have been spending my precious few moments of free time lately answering questions from friends and relatives regarding Obama's policies, his faith and his qualifications. Despite the fact that christians, and even pro-life christians like Sarah and myself are sprouting Obama signs in their yards, my parents along with many of my acquaintances are still having a great amount of trouble understanding my position on this election. I wish I had done a better job of staying on my blog, and by now my readers would understand my position, but I haven't and you'll have to settle for this.

Today, I wrote a coworker who is deeply effected by abortion, and cannot come to terms with voting pro-choice. It cannot change her vote. I know it can't. But it can explain my position I hope...

For your reading pleasure, my letter to Alma:

Good morning Alma,

I am just fine with the fact that you can't vote for Obama. It's your vote, and it's precious. I'd be happy to leave it at that, but after reading your comment that you can't understand how I could vote the way I do, I don't want you to see me as heartless or unfeeling. I am wrecked by this issue along with many others that divide our country. I'll do my best to answer the born alive issue, and my reasons for voting Obama 08.

The "Born alive" issue is a complex one. It is made to seem simple and black and white by people who are interested in making it a "one-two punch" against Barack Obama. I've heard it said that no christian can in good conscience vote for Obama. Rick Warren, who wrote the best selling book "The purpose-driven life" said at his church earlier this year that "If they (pro-lifers) think that life begins at conception, then that means that there are 40 million Americans who are not here [because they were aborted] that could have voted. They would call that a holocaust and for them it would be like if I'm Jewish and a Holocaust denier is running for office. I don't care how right he is on everything else, it's a deal breaker for me. I'm not going to vote for a Holocaust denier."

What Rick is saying is that like you, the issue is so strong that it's a deal breaker for him. I won't contest that, because it's how strongly you feel about the issue. It's how strongly Rick feels about it too... along with the vast majority of pro-life Americans. The problem I have with that quote is when Mr. Warren says "I don't care how right he is on everything else". For me, I do care. George W. Bush agrees with me on abortion, but has been wrong on almost everything else. He's disrupted entire countries, upended governments, sent countless soldiers to war and die based on shifty information and baseless claims. He's led his party and our nation in adopting policy that will give the government rights to monitor, detain and prosecute whoever they wish by simply naming them an "enemy combatant." He's spent billions of dollars in military spending to private companies like Haliburton who's last CEO was Dick Cheney. Oil, Military and big tax cuts for the rich... and all in the name of God. It doesn't matter what Bush's stance on abortion is on paper, abortion is still legal after his 8 years, and he's gotten so much more that he wanted.

John McCain is a hero. A US war hero. He loves his country, and while he's been involved in a few scandals over the years (the Keating 5 for example) I think he's an honorable man. He is not George W. Bush, but I don't think that he's going to change the way the country has been operating these past 8 years. I can't disagree as much as I do with Bush, and still vote for a man who is very likely to follow in our current president's footsteps.

As for Barack voting in the Illinois State senate on SB-1082:

On Obama's website, Barack points out that at the time he "voted against a bill containing language designed to protect infants who were "born alive" such legislation was on the books as Illinois State Law." It was already law. What the bill was proposing was that during abortions, a 2nd doctor should be present in the room to save the baby's life if something should go wrong with the abortion and the baby be born alive. Illinois already requires physicians to save the child's life if they're born during the procedure. He voted "present" regarding the bill that required the second physician in the room to step in if they thought the infant had a chance of surviving the abortion. The penalty for doctors who failed to save the child who wasn't successfully aborted was a class 3 felony.

Republicans Bill Sponsor and Rick Winkle, who proposed and supported the "born alive" bill disagree with the accusation that Obama supports infanticide. They both stated in interviews that no one who voted against the measure, republican or democrat did it because they support killing infants.

The Chicago Tribune reported:

“Obama said that had he been in the US Senate two years ago, he would have voted for the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, even though he voted against a state version of the proposal. The federal version was approved; the state version was not. Both measures required that if a fetus survived an abortion procedure, it must be considered a person. Backers argued it was necessary to protect a fetus if it showed signs of life after being separated from its mother…the difference between the state and federal versions, Obama explained, was that the state measure lacked the federal language clarifying that the act would not be used to undermine Roe vs. Wade.” [Chicago Tribune, 10/4/04]

Obama was just one of many state senators that would have supported the Federal version of this bill (which passed) but didn't support the state level version (which didn't) which would have had much different applications.

I DO care how much Obama has right. He's wrong on abortion, plain and simple, and he'll be no friend to the pro-life movement. But we as pro-lifers need to make the decisions that will slow and eventually stop abortion. Not rely on a law to do the very "human" things that need to be done to support pregnant teens. We need to set up programs through our local churches to help these girls care for their babies after they're born. Do you know how many pro-life organizations there are in the US alone that help pregnant women make the decision to keep their babies? Over 3,000. But there are only a handful of organizations that help young mothers once they've had those babies. We need to change our hearts.

In closing, please know that I hold you in the highest regard, and respect you very much. I am happy you're voting, even though it will counterbalance my own. I know that you've prayerfully considered what to do, and that you're voting on principal, which is ultimately important. You obviously love your country and fellow man, and I am proud to know you.

Be blessed on Tuesday. I'm proud to be your fellow citizen.

James

Funny picture I found online...

First Adult Cayman shirt!!!

Here are some pics sent to me from the girl who purchased the first "Cayman" adult shirt! Very cool to see my stuff out there...

I'll be sure to post any pics I get here when they come in...

Hint, hint Tammy... :)

Shoes are finished!

This is the 100th anniversary of Converse this year, and here's my tribute.

They is finished I declare!

Jim VanHorn

I didn't mention it on the exact day, but Jim VanHorn passed away a year ago April 22nd.

I was a wreck this year. I hope it hurts less next year.

I listened to alot of ACDC and that made it better...

For those of you who knew him, please join me in remembering our brave and loyal friend.

Turning the lights on

So I decided to give my blog a brighter look. It's minimalistic, but clean.

Things are going well. I leave tomorrow evening for Chicago! I can't wait to see my precious wife and son. I've missed them so.

I've definitely used the time to focus and create. I'm very excited about where the clothing line seems to be headed. I finished the shoes, and I'll have pics up soon.

Work's been decent. I'm still uncomfortable with my current situation, but who knows? Everything could change in one decision by the right person. So I'm praying for that to happen. If the right person decides to move me to a different job, it could happen immediately. That's how it seems to work around here. Stall, stall, stall... change now.

Kiah's growing in leaps and bounds. His phone conversations are starting to make sense. (Alot of talk about trains and fish and kitties) He now says "I love you" clear as a bell when saying goodbye!

Well, I best get back to what I was doing...

Peace

Sorry

The pics aren't showing up in the post below... my apologies.

I am attaching them here in hopes you will see them.

Dumb blogger.

New shoes

My Converse All-Stars are announcing their retirement today... They've seen alot in the past two and a half years, and while they were my first pair of Chuck Taylors... they will not be my last. Case in point, I've already purchased their replacements. As before, I will be coloring on my shoes, but this time I have been encouraged to send pictures to Converse, and see if they'll use the design. This sounds very exciting to me and I have determined to do so. While the last design I used on my shoes was sparadic and haphazard, this time I am putting a great deal of thought and planning into what I want them to look like. I've begun work on one of them, and here's what I have so far... The "Fire Circle" is a design I've been using throughout my work, and you can actually purchase several articles of clothing with it off my cafepress.com webstore. The design itself began as a tattoo idea for the upper center of my back, and based on my growing love for the design, it may still become that. In some ways, I feel the circle still needs some perfecting, but the imperfect qualities it has have grown on me... I may not change them at all. Hmmm... Anyway. I still have a week before I see Sarah and Kiah again. I've been missing them terribly these last two weeks. Three weeks is too long. I have determined that now. I've been able to be very productive, but screw productivity! I miss my family! I would much rather have one of our hectic "can't get a thing done because Kiah won't stop being clingy and breaking stuff when he's not being clingy" days than these incredibly productive lonely ones... our bed seems like a mattress without her... Work's been good, but frustrating. We're still hurtling toward a cliff this summer, and nothing's been done on the management side to slow our hurtle... :) I hope I'm wrong... but I don't think I am. Well, that's it for now. Love and peace to you all. P.S. Feel free to stop by HollyCross and have a look around. We appreciate your support!

Rooftop thoughts and high brow tomfoolery.

So Sarah and Kiah are in Chicago for a few weeks, and I've got some time on my hands. And it won't wash off.

I cleaned a disgusting window in our upstairs bedroom/apartmentish room which has a small roof below it. So now, my super clean window allows me access to the roof, on which I have placed a folding chair, and I now have a lovely place to sit in the evening and look out over the fields. It's really quite relaxing, and I enjoy my little fortress of solitude. Well, it's not particularly solitary, as Ezra realized he can throw tennis balls at me while I sit, but when he's not harassing me, it's very "solitudary."

I watched the Lady in the Water the other day, and couldn't have been more impressed. I'm an M. Night fan (except for Signs which was a total piece of crap) but I had heard that the Lady in the Water was supposed to be a flop.

It was touching, funny, suspenseful and refreshing... everything I had hoped, and nothing I disliked. Totally ownable.

I met with my HR manager this week to discuss my recent issues at work, and I think things are really going to improve. He and I have a great repoire, and I enjoy talking with him a great deal. They've decided to add to my title here, and give me responsibility over the public areas of the hotel in addition to the rooms. I've already been assuming responsibility over them for awhile now, but they finally decided to make it official, and back me. Up till now, I've just had my housekeepers clean whatever I saw was dirty, and other people "didn't have time for."

I hope to have another location or two added to our department shortly, and a pay raise for the added responsibilities is in the works. I hope it's big. We'll see.

For my birthday, I got the money for a Nintendo DS, which I have found to be highly enjoyable. Being such a flitabout person, I find portable gaming systems to be so much more enjoyable than a TV bound one. Although, the Nintendo Wii is a fantastic idea, and Sarah and I hope to have one someday.

I purchased a game called Trauma Center: Under the Knife, where you operate on people who have been infected by a Bio-terrorism virus that adapts and changes. The DS has two screens, and the bottom one is a touch screen that uses a stylus. In Trauma Center, you use your stylus to scalpel, stitch and suction your way to greatness. It's a blast!

I also got Professor Layton and the Curious Village, which is a fantastically well designed, well drawn mystery puzzle game. It's deep and engrossing, challenging but fun. The in game videos are beautiful and keep the game interesting, and the music is repetative but pleasant. I beat it in a week, but you can save your favorite puzzles to do again, and new puzzles are available for download weekly.

Well, that's it for now. I'll keep you posted on new developments. I'm creating a Cayman t-shirt tonight for a friend of Kristen's! My first adult design for sale! Very exciting.

Adios!

6 months of silence...

Yeah, so as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted...

It's been a crazy last few months. Lack of broadband, and excess of thought requiring tasks have led to a profound amount of silence on my blog. It's amazing how much of my writing stems from random thoughts, and the wish to inflict them on my family and friends on a whim. Remove the ease of jumping on the computer and shooting off a rant/thought/ramble, and you get 6 months of silence.

I've missed it though. Especially the responses and conversation with friends that writing here spawns. Reading over the past few years here, I see conversations with friends we've lost to death and distance. And friends we haven't lost at all.

The moves, the jobs, the pains and joys... it's been a great couple years, and I've been honored to spend it with such fine people.

I don't know where to begin if I am to update you on my life now. Suffice it to say that I have moved back to my "hometown" as it were, and I am still working in hotels. I am working for the best hotel in the area, as I wouldn't have it any other way, and while the road has been a bumpy one, I am happy that we have done this move. I miss my mountains, and the sunshine, but being near family has been as priceless as advertised. Sarah and I are both looking forward to building our own life in our own home, but have enjoyed the closeness and hospitality that my family has provided by letting us stay with them until we find our feet.

I have recently solidified a past dream of mine, one that involves drawing designs on clothing. I have made several half-hearted attempts in the past to see it to fruition, but I have a really good feeling about this time. I am planning to begin an actual clothing line under the moniker "Hollycross", which is a previous design of mine which first appeared on this blog.

My first work under the label was this onesie, made for a wonderful little girl, born to dear friends of ours. I have named the pattern "Cayman" after her, and I have been pleased to see it very well received. I have been taking orders via email, and hope to soon have a website up and running where I can begin to fill orders as well. I must find a good way to produce what is needed, before I get in over my head... but it's great to see a demand.

Once I know more, I'll fill you in. Again, it's good to be back in the blogosphere... I missed you.

Move to Ohio, and the first few weeks here...

So I haven't been near a high speed connection lately, and thus, have not been writing.

Sarah and I have made the move to Ohio from Colorado. It's been a short fuse, high-impact couple of weeks. We came down to the end of my training at the Hilton, and at the same time, our lease on the apartment came up. I had been in contact with a wonderful hotel in northwest Ohio for several months, and while they hadn't offered me a job yet, we were confident that after all the discussions I'd had with the upper management, and our all around positive-ness about me working there, they would be very likely to offer me a great job once they got to meet me. And if not, I'm very confident that I could get a job elsewhere.

Moving out seemed to be the best path. Mainly, getting to be with family, and having access to Chicago and our family and friends there. The only real tie to Colorado Springs was our fantastic church and the great friends we've made there. I enjoyed the Hilton, but the money just didn't seem to be there for what was going to be required of me. I turned down two offers in the last month, and it just didn't seem to be coming together. It was nice to be wanted, but it didn't turn out that they wanted to spend what we would need to stay. After all, we were figuring in what it would take to buy a house, settle down, and still be able to come visit family more... all in all, we ended up deciding to make the move out here.

My hotel was really cool about it. My GM even set up a free night's stay in the Omaha Hilton on our trip here. (BEAUTIFUL hotel, by the way...) The restaurants staff threw me a going away costume party, and the hotel as a whole signed a photo of the hotel for me to keep. It's a neat way to remember everybody, and I hope to soon be hanging it in an office.

Our small group in Colorado Springs threw us a going away party as well. It was awesome! They even took up a collection that enabled us to replace the tires on the Civic before the move. They were much needed, and I felt alot more secure taking them on the trip. We are going to miss everyone at the Vineyard soooooo much! We definitely made some friends for life there, and I truly hope to see them all again soon. Perhaps on vacation. :)

The trip out was anything but uneventful, and included getting a bit lost in Omaha, and a blown tire in Iowa (thanks to the rib of some unfortunate road-killed animal). I ended up getting the tire repaired in Iowa and replaced the next day in Illinois. I highly recommend Discount Tire. They are really nice, and totally took care of everything.

Upon arriving in Illinois, we loaded up our Budget rental truck (Awesome value!!! Very good truck.) with what we had left in Illinois several years before, and rested a day before heading on to Ohio. (So good to have the grill back!!!)

When we got to Ohio, we unloaded a bit into my parents' house. Mom, dad and the boys cleared a "suite" for us as the boys surrendered their room and its adjoining toy/junk room. We have Kiah all set up there, and he's been sleeping quite well. We took the rest of the stuff to a storage place, and honestly, it doesn't even fill a 10x10!

Returning the truck was an ordeal, as the Budget rental place in Toledo that we were supposed to return it to had closed two weeks before... Would've been nice had they told us... but after a bit of wandering around, and some angry calls on my part to Budget, we dropped it off at a different location.

On our first full day in Ohio, the hotel I've been looking into called me for an interview. The ops director asked me if I could come in sometime. When I said absolutely, he asked if a half hour from then was good! Why yes! The interview went well, and set up a second interview the following Monday. The second interview was with the Director of the property and the human resources director. We had a great time, and really enjoyed the discussion. Many good things came from it, and while we were completely unable to determine where I would be best used at the hotel (they're even considering me for sales/marketing! Must be my sparkling personality:) we did establish that we all want to work together. I left in high spirits.

The following day, I dropped off thank you cards to the three folks who took the time to speak with me. (A practice I've adapted. It seems to be an extra sign of hospitality, and shows gratefulness.) I took Kiah along. (Good to get cute kid brownie points!) The scheme worked perfectly, and everyone ooohd and ahhhhh'd at Kiah. It was all good.

Funny Story: To purchase the thank you notes, I stopped in at a local drug store. At the counter I was informed that unfortunately, they did not accept credit cards. Alright... well, I didn't have any cash, so where was I to find a place that did accept cards? "Well," said the cashier, "You should just charge it, and come in and pay it later." Matter of fact-like. Now I don't know about the rest of you, but I have never "charged" anything to myself before. I've worked with a business account to charge stuff at Kinkos, but the idea of simply coming back later to pay is an odd one to me. All the same, minutes later I walked out with a little yellow receipt with my signature on it, and I now owe them about $8. We are truly in a different land!

Today I heard back from the hotel, and I am to come in on Monday or Tuesday to solidify things. Something that will make Sarah and I very happy. We need $. However, we're staying rent free, and just got my last check from work... so while we need your prayers, we have high hopes that we'll soon be in a much better situation.

In addition to the above, it should also be noted that my Grammie Hutchins, now 91, is staying at my parents house as well. She is a joy, and is constantly reading and learning and talking. I hope to be half as lucid and amazing at her age. The boys have been awesome, and very helpful. We've been playing football at every available moment. Mom and dad have been great, and are extremely busy all the time. The whole family is gone from early morning until late afternoon every day. For me, not working is odd enough, but to be alone at someone else's home adds to it considerably. It has been nothing short of WONDERFUL to spend the time with Sarah and Kiah. I love them so.

Well, that's all I've got in me now. I love and miss you all. Hope to be back to write soon.

Jim/James

18 degrees of Jim and Sarah

So we went up to Pikes Peak earlier this week. The temperature at the top was 18˚. Brisk.

We had a great time, so here's a few pics to share. Peace!

Also included are a few pics of Sarah's birthday...

Gore wins Nobel Peace Prize

Yes. Yes. Yes. We are indeed moving to Ohio.
(Or Ohia as they say in many parts of that fine land.)

Sarah and I have been working on plans to rejoin our family in the Midwest for quite some time. We didn't want to say anything because we didn't want anyone to get their hopes all up in case it didn't work out, but now we have solid enough ground to stand on, and we are going to be moving on October 31st!

About seven months ago, I opened talks with a hotel in northwest Ohio, near my dad's hometown of Archbold. We hit it off immediately, and after several long calls, and after they checked out my references, they let me know that they would be looking for a way to fit me into their future. They simply didn't have anything yet. I have kept in contact, and we've continued to build our relationship.

At the same time, things at the Antlers have been winding down. I've been coming to the end of my "training" and as such, was expecting an offer. About 2 months ago, I was moved to the front desk to "temporarily" help out while they found a new asst. front office manager. Soon after I began my second stint at the front desk, they offered me the job. I turned it down. Partially because of the money offered, but mostly because I hate that department, and would not want to be miserable every day. It's the one place in the hotel I don't like working... complaints all night long... etc. (Ask Sarah...)

Needless to say, I'm still there, "helping out." A few weeks ago, the assistant restaurant manager left for Pittsburg, and that opened her position up. When she left, they decided to restructure her job into an assistant restaurants manager with responsibility over all beverage in the hotel. Alot of work. Especially in the beginning because our beverage control is pretty lousy right now. I was interested in the job, and it had alot of benefits, but like I said, alot of work. After several interviews and several days of getting approval on the offer from corporate, they offered me her job two days ago. But before we get to our decision regarding that job, let's step back a few weeks.

After turning down the FD job, Sarah and I got thinking seriously about moving to Ohio. Our thinking was that if the Antlers wasn't going to work out, and our lease on our apartment was up in October, we may as well make things work elsewhere. Near family. So we continued our research into the home market (which is great in Ohio!) and the job market there. The hotel in Ohio still had nothing, but vowed to look harder into positions that might work. Moving to Ohio without a job lined up wasn't impossible, because we can live rent free for a short time with my family in their farmhouse, but wasn't preferable at the time.

We decided then to plan for two contingencies. One of moving to Ohio and making things work with my family until we can buy our own house, and one of staying here, taking an Antlers job, and waiting till the Ohio job opened. We began praying heavily for answers regarding which path to take, and our small group began praying for the same. Around that time, in my personal prayer time, I became impressed with a specific number. A salary number, that would be the sign we were looking for in whether to stay or go. It was concrete, reasonable, and would enable us to be comfortable with either decision. If the Antlers offered me a job at that number or above, we stay until something opens up, if not, we head back to Ohio and figure things out. I've never had anything quite like this happen in my prayer life before. Usually God gives me a blank piece of paper and crayons, not a sheet with lines on it, but as we were asking for direction, He obliged in this case and gave us some.

Now moving also depended on having the money to do so, and since we didn't have it, we were viewing that also as "doors" God would need to open for us to go. In the last two weeks, over $1000 has come out of the woodwork, and we were able to get the moving truck at a fifth our expected price! My parents' advice was to move forward and God would shut the doors if it wasn't the right move. Well, the doors have been flying open, but the offer still hadn't been made. So we waited.

I think that waiting period was what was hardest on Sarah. Planning for two very different contingencies is difficult to wrap one's head around. We waited and prayed, and packed and planned, and the offer from the Antlers came on the same day a call from the hotel in Ohio came.

Actually, I called them to check in, and the HR director told me of a job opening that he thought I'd be great for. It's a general managership of the hotel's restaurant! The operations director is out on vacation, but once he gets back, we would start talks regarding that position.

So now we had an option. Something to go on, but still hadn't heard from the Antlers. My pastor was asking hard questions in the week before, like "What if they offer right below the number you think is right? What if your 'number' is just a ballpark?" That sort of thing. And I had to admit, it bothered me a bit. But I decided that the provision for us to move was twofold. It would depend on the Antlers failing to offer above the number, and us having the money to move. If they shot just short, and we didn't get the dough... well then, we'd stay. So I headed into work after getting the call from Ohio ready for anything.

The offer was low. I mean real low. Shocking even to me low. Not what I expected. Apparently, they felt they were really offering me something because the offer was approximately 10% of my current income. But it wasn't even up to what the last person in the job made, which with all the increased duties I expected them to excel her salary. But they didn't, and after talking to the management, they really expected me to fall over myself to say yes. They still have the utmost confidence in me. Obviously, if they keep offering me jobs... but it just isn't where we need to be if we're going to stay here. So I gave them my notice, and we're heading back to Ohio. We have the money to move. Jessica is flying out to help with the move and baby. We have tons of friends here to help with the lifting. And our family can help us with the transition.

The job offer isn't final out there, but I have faith that the hand that opened all these doors so far, is the hand in control of whether the job opens up or something else comes available. On the practical side, it makes alot of sense to leave when our lease is up, and Sarah mentioned that once we're out there, the hotel will feel a great deal better about making offers. With me still out here, and my hotel having an offer pending, they've probably been nervous.

So here goes. Another step of faith. But this one is stepping back to family, friends and a life we want for Kiah. I couldn't be more excited. Thank you all for your continued prayers and thoughts as we continue living as un-normal a life as possible! We love and appreciate you.

Poetry-shmoetry.

A poem I wrote a ways back for a friend. I like it, and so should you.

If you were an egg,
I'd tell you a yolk.

If you were Al Pacino,
I'd buy you some coke.

If you were a racecar,
I'd spell you both ways.

If you were an old friend,
I'd miss you all day.

-by me.