Live from the third floor……

What’s a weekend, anyway

We sometimes sit and say

When the kids were younger

’twas a time to sit and play

Now the girls are older

Growing up so quickly

Weekends are just not the same

As they used to be

The representation of innocent passed

Replaced by responsibilities

Deadlines, rehearsals and commitments

“At this time we have to be there”

Oh, to slow it all down and go back in history

Alas we can’t, we must move forward

With eyes ahead on the road

For the future and its outlook are bright

Much opportunity it holds

Still, I miss the weekends

When you could just sit around for fun

I guess I’ll get a lot of that

When they put me in a home

It comes in many forms

Carried out in different ways

Feels good when you see it in action

Feels bad when it falls on you

Thankful for justice

Thankful for truth

Blessed with my second chances

Hoping you get yours too

Good morning sunrise, you sneaky devil you.

Some mornings you are welcome here,

but other days, we’re through.

I don’t mind you when I wake at home

and see my children sleeping

finding my way to the coffee machine

before I perform a mental roam.

But the days I hate you, yes despise is a good word,

is when you don’t get up with me because it’s not your turn.

You’re never there at 4am and rarely before five.

I’m left to struggle by myself with your colleague – Mr. Moon.

His rays are not as passionate and he really makes me sleepy.

Not sure what kind of friend he is, but I’d consider shaking

one who rides around in your shadows and tries to steal your glory.

Mr. Sun, I cannot tell you what to do, only how I feel, but I think

we’d get along much better if you chose to be in sync

with me for the early flights so I wouldn’t be so bitter.

Regardless, I say good morning today, as you see you start to glitter.

Boldly.

Sometimes you have to act with boldness. With authority. With swiftness. And that is not always easy, is it? There are moments in life where we are faced with a situation that must be addressed and the decision to act boldly or to slink away is very clear in our mind. The results of our action (or inaction) can have profound impacts on the rest of our day, week, month, our life even.

And so it was for me on a flight from Charlotte to Dallas about one week ago.

After getting settled into my seat a guy sat down next to me. Like I always do, I immediately went to Defense Level 5 to avoid conversation. When you fly every week for ten years, you learn that even a small conversation can erode into a time-wasting exercise of chest-thumping and self promotion. (Never on my end, of course).

Defense Level Five is the highest level, and come to think of it, the only level I go to, when working to avoid airplane conversations. It involves my iPhone, earbuds, the iPad, the USA Today and, if I size up the person as a potentially heavy conversationalist, I bring in the Kindle as well.

My offensive moves worked perfectly and the guy went to his earbuds (I’m sure as a counter move so he wouldn’t feel rejected).

Things were going well until somewhere over Alabama. From the corner of my eye I noticed this guy picking his nose. This raised my defenses to a new level – one that I didn’t even know existed.

I processed what was happening there in 5A and 5B. I deduced that if he wanted to pick his nose that was fine. Not my problem. Not my business. Not my finger.

BUT….
After getting whatever it was he was trying to capture, he began to roll his find between his fingers. Anyone who has ever had children knows that this move is a harbinger of “nothing good will come of this.”

As predicted, he then proceeded to flick his “find” across the floor towards my laptop bag!

And that was my moment: ACT BOLDLY or settle into my seat and dust his “stuff” off my bag after landing.

It was monumental really. I jumped into action. I removed my earbuds and it went like this:

ME: (waving hand to get his attention) Excuse me, could you not throw your picked boogers on my bag?”

HIM: (look of absolute shock and humiliation) Uh, yeah. Yeah, Sorry.

And that was the end of it. I acted boldly to head off what was surely going to be a very, very bad situation. Was it uncomfortable? Sure. But did it improve my life? Yes.

So, the next time someone is trying to flick something onto your laptop bag, or make you do something you don’t want to do, or maybe take something from you that they have no right to – ACT BOLDLY!

Too often in our lives we live with discontent.
We want something more – better this or greater that.
Then upon arriving at what we once viewed as great,
the next thing, it looks better, and it starts to agitate
our carnal desire for the next best (you fill in this blank).

I’ll issue a plea
from you to me,
a mea culpa if you’ll allow it.

The thing that you so fiercely chase,
sitting on the horizon,
comes with loads of issues too,
just not visible on the face.

I’ve learned it the hard way.
I hope you don’t have to,
that being content with what you have
isn’t cured when you accrue.

Rather, that itch is scratched when you work to cut through
what society is telling you.

So choose to eschew the “next best thing”
and work with what you’ve got.

For what we have in lieu of “this” is no greater than “that.”

What’s your family’s tradition?
Many will ask
When they’re prepping to start a big turkey bask

Or they’re cutting out snowflakes
to hang on the tree
And they ask what we do, comparatively

Ham
Turkey
Duck
Duck
Turkey
Ham

That tradition that everyone wants as discussion
for me represents a root of frustration

I handle my family with the mentality
that you’d often find with the friendly gypsies

Meeting the expectations
of previous generations
is a losing competition

That motivation to try and measure up
Leads to sadness, disappointment and an empty cup

I want to establish the thought for my family
that newness and your way is creativity

Not to be bogged down by the way it was done
Rather establish your way with respect and God’s direction

I can’t recreate the life of the past
Even though it was wonderful and I wouldn’t have passed

But here I now sit and I want to establish
baselines, trends, communications made specifically
for my family and my kids so that when they grow older

They’re free to be them, make decisions, live bolder!

You’ve got to be kidding

That’s what I say

While staring blankly at the screen in front of me

Once again I owe money to my friends at the service

The IRS, that is, “pals” that make us nervous

Where people fight overhauls made for simplicity

And force us to duke it out with Turbo Tax infantry

Would it really be that hard

To draft up a new code

Or adopt a nice flat tax that throws us a rope

Instead we spend hours and dollars and sweat

To find out Uncle Sam isn’t done with us yet

Well here’s the deal – that saga’s behind me

And on April 18th of this year, we will be working tax free***

***Writer’s note: April 18th of 2013 is considered to be the date that you have worked off your taxes for the new year and you now begin working for yourself.

Why did I do it?

Why did I make this happen?

What made me choose to step into dissatisfaction?

Thought making a purchase like this might be fun.

Instead it has caused me to sit in the sun

and stare rather blankly questioning my motivation.

The big buy has caused me to lose so much sleeping

and supplemented my life with a continual beating.

Of pocketbook, happiness, all my free time

I am lacking those now due to this idea of mine.

What to do now, not sure I know.

What I do know is that I am missing some dough.

Full of sadness, depression and massive regret,

thanks to the purchase of our remodeled ranch.

“So you get to travel for work?”
That’s what they often say
When they ask and find out
that I travel almost every day

“I bet you have fun!”
Always part of the discussions
But usually left out is this little tidbit:
The lack of sleep is causing convulsions

“What’s the best place you’ve stayed?” They usually ask
Thinking “Man, Matt must be rolling like Frampton.”
It was not by a pool in the sun I did bask
But rather a dated Wisconsin Hampton

The pillows too tall
The showers too cold
The wash cloths are small
And covered with mold

I’ve run out of toothpaste
I’ve run out of shampoo
And the stuff that’s “complementary”
Smells just like cow poo.

Look, I can’t complain, I’ve got a great job
But being away from my family those days
Is not the best or ideal situation
Especially when my morning is filled with delays

Extra work is required when you’re gone from home
Spending extra time on the phone
Catching up with those people for whom you care most
While knowing you’re missing a chance to be close

Eating out, gaining weight
That’s the fun of it too
Sitting around, sucking down a Jamba Juice or two
Not sure why the coffee cake at Starbucks taste better
When I’m stressed, tired and wearing a “slightly tight sweater”

I won’t go on and lament, what would be the point
‘Cuz I do get to dine at some pretty fine joints
I see lots of friends all over this nation
See the sights and listen to great local stations

I do miss my family, I do miss my friends
I wish that I could be more deliberate with them
And I hate the bright light coming in through the peep-hole
And I’d never use that rarely washed bedroll
That they place at the end, at the foot of the bed
Like I’d even come close to laying my head

So in closing I’ll say, yes I do travel for work
The best thing that comes from it? The great mileage perks!