Saturday, December 31, 2011
Happy New Year 2012 to all Feliz Año Nuevo 2012 a todos.
Resolutions, promises, fresh start, start over’s or whatever you want to call it; it happens every New Year. I hope that one of the things on your list or one of your goals is to have a deeper relationship with Jesus. I am not talking about going to church more or reading and praying every day, though those things are very important and necessary. If your heart is seeking to run to God or to reconcile what once was with Him, you are not going to get it with a simple membership to a church nor are you going to get it by visiting occasionally to different places for "variety". You are not going to find it being religious. Chose God first in your heart and then chose a church family and be committed. Because isn't that what a healthy relationship thrives on? Commitment? Grow and learn together. That is my wish and prayer for all of you for 2012 and always. Happy New Year 2012 to all Feliz Año Nuevo 2012 a todos.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Her heart beat through him...
DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa couple married for 72 years died holding hands in a Des Moines hospital within 70 minutes of each other last week after a car accident that also injured another couple.
"They're very old-fashioned. They believed in marriage 'til death do you part," Dennis Yeager, the son of Gordon and Norma Yeager, told KCCI.com.
The accident that claimed Gordon, 94, and Norma Yeager, 90, happened Oct. 12, when the couple left their State Center home for a drive shortly after 8 a.m. At the intersection of Highway 30 and Jessup Avenue, just west of Marshalltown, Gordon pulled "away from the stop sign and failed to yield to a westbound vehicle," according to Sgt. Joel Ehler of the Iowa State Patrol.
The driver of the other car, Charles Clapsaddle, 64, of Marshalltown, was unable to stop to avoid a collision, Ehler said. Clapsaddle was treated and released from Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center, but his wife, Barbara, was reportedly transferred to Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A man who identified himself as their son, John, said in a comment published on a story on the Times-Republican website that his mother suffered internal bleeding and a broken neck.
“She is currently stable but remains in the critical care unit,” he wrote. “There will be a long road ahead for her recovery.
Ehler said Yeager was facing pending action by the Iowa Department of Transportation to have his license removed, but citing privacy concerns, said he could release no additional details on what prompted that action.
The Yeagers' children told KCCI.com that their parents never liked being apart ever since Norma Stock married Gordon Yeager on May 26, 1939, in State Center. And they were relieved that the couple was able to spend their last moments together at the intensive care unit of the Marshalltown hospital.
"They brought them in the same room in intensive care and put them together — and they were holding hands in ICU. They were not really responsive," Dennis Yeager told KCCI.com.
Gordon died at 3:38 p.m. surrounded by their family and holding hands with Norma.
"It was really strange, they were holding hands, and dad stopped breathing but I couldn't figure out what was going on because the heart monitor was still going," said Dennis Yeager. "But we were like, he isn't breathing. How does he still have a heart beat? The nurse checked and said that's because they were holding hands and it's going through them. Her heart was beating through him and picking it up."
Norma died at 4:48 p.m., according to KCCI.com.
"Neither one of them would've wanted to be without each other. I couldn't figure out how it was going to work," the Yeagers' daughter Donna Sheets told KCCI.com. "We were very blessed, honestly, that they went this way."
The Yeager’s children said the couple complemented each other.
"Anybody come over — she was the hostess with the mostess. ... The more she did, the more she smiled," Dennis Yeager told KCCI.com. "Dad would be the center of attention, like, 'Wheee look at me,' and mom was like 'get him away from me!' You know we even got a picture like that."
And even though they argued every now and them, "They just loved being together," he said.
"He said 'I have to stick around. I can't go until she does because I have to stay here for her and she would say the same thing,'" he said.
The couple reportedly were holding hands Tuesday at their funeral in their casket. Their family said the plan was to cremate them together and mix their ashes.
Msnbc.com staff, KCCI.com, and the Times-Republican contributed to this report.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44960859/ns/health-aging/
"They're very old-fashioned. They believed in marriage 'til death do you part," Dennis Yeager, the son of Gordon and Norma Yeager, told KCCI.com.
The accident that claimed Gordon, 94, and Norma Yeager, 90, happened Oct. 12, when the couple left their State Center home for a drive shortly after 8 a.m. At the intersection of Highway 30 and Jessup Avenue, just west of Marshalltown, Gordon pulled "away from the stop sign and failed to yield to a westbound vehicle," according to Sgt. Joel Ehler of the Iowa State Patrol.
The driver of the other car, Charles Clapsaddle, 64, of Marshalltown, was unable to stop to avoid a collision, Ehler said. Clapsaddle was treated and released from Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center, but his wife, Barbara, was reportedly transferred to Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A man who identified himself as their son, John, said in a comment published on a story on the Times-Republican website that his mother suffered internal bleeding and a broken neck.
“She is currently stable but remains in the critical care unit,” he wrote. “There will be a long road ahead for her recovery.
Ehler said Yeager was facing pending action by the Iowa Department of Transportation to have his license removed, but citing privacy concerns, said he could release no additional details on what prompted that action.
The Yeagers' children told KCCI.com that their parents never liked being apart ever since Norma Stock married Gordon Yeager on May 26, 1939, in State Center. And they were relieved that the couple was able to spend their last moments together at the intensive care unit of the Marshalltown hospital.
"They brought them in the same room in intensive care and put them together — and they were holding hands in ICU. They were not really responsive," Dennis Yeager told KCCI.com.
Gordon died at 3:38 p.m. surrounded by their family and holding hands with Norma.
"It was really strange, they were holding hands, and dad stopped breathing but I couldn't figure out what was going on because the heart monitor was still going," said Dennis Yeager. "But we were like, he isn't breathing. How does he still have a heart beat? The nurse checked and said that's because they were holding hands and it's going through them. Her heart was beating through him and picking it up."
Norma died at 4:48 p.m., according to KCCI.com.
"Neither one of them would've wanted to be without each other. I couldn't figure out how it was going to work," the Yeagers' daughter Donna Sheets told KCCI.com. "We were very blessed, honestly, that they went this way."
The Yeager’s children said the couple complemented each other.
"Anybody come over — she was the hostess with the mostess. ... The more she did, the more she smiled," Dennis Yeager told KCCI.com. "Dad would be the center of attention, like, 'Wheee look at me,' and mom was like 'get him away from me!' You know we even got a picture like that."
And even though they argued every now and them, "They just loved being together," he said.
"He said 'I have to stick around. I can't go until she does because I have to stay here for her and she would say the same thing,'" he said.
The couple reportedly were holding hands Tuesday at their funeral in their casket. Their family said the plan was to cremate them together and mix their ashes.
Msnbc.com staff, KCCI.com, and the Times-Republican contributed to this report.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44960859/ns/health-aging/
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Unappreciated
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a work-a-holic. I will stay extra hours to complete a project or meet a deadline.
I was very angry with my boss because he came to me yesterday inquiring why I was not done with a particular project. I proceeded to tell him the steps of my project and he looked as me as if it was the first I have ever work on a project like this. He was also wondering why the help he got me was not working fast. That has nothing to do with me. I can only account for how I work. Moreover, I have almost years of experience and can do the job blindfold. The situation is that it is a large bulk of work. The only way of doing it is trudging through it until it gets done.
Now if this was the only thing I had to do I may accept his concern. However, I have so many other things to do as well as follow up, date entry and a pile of reports I need to complete that he has piled on my desk.
I actually cried when he placed more work on my desk. He laughed thinking I was joking. I was not at all joking. I stated right then and there as well as emailed him that I am extremely overwhelmed with the amount of work I had to do and with the load I had to catch up. It is as if I am always in catching up mode.
Well as I was explaining to him (in my seeing the glass half-full attitude), that I was happy that we had less than a 1/4 left of work to finish for the project, he looked at me in awe. He wanted to know what was taking so long. I said all that I already mentioned and added that my work can only go as fast as my hands type and that is pretty fast. I had to look away and started to cry. I literally cried from 5pm until 10pm that I walk out of that office.
Yes! I stayed anyway. I do not run away from hard work and I do what it takes to get it done. Yet, they do not see what I do. I have so much work it is ridiculous. I have so much work that you can create a new position to tackle a third of the work that I do and this person will be busy all day.
I also take trips to the post office to ensure that my postage and packaging is done correctly. That way I will not run into the issue of getting a returned package. I thought taking that extra step to get the job done was honored. Instead, I get disappointed looks. It really makes me feel unappreciated.
I love my job. I would not change it unless GOD sends me into a different direction. In the meantime, I stay put. The funny this is that everyone has suggestion on how I can do my job better or faster but no one is willing to stay and do the grunt work with me. Well, almost no one. One of my co-workers from a completely and unrelated department, stayed with me one evening until 8pm copying over 500 pieces of documents. You know what that means. Filing all of those 500 pieces of documentation.
I have had a helper as I mentioned assigned to me by my superior. She is a great help but she works so slow. I have to help her to speedy up the portion she is assigned to do. By herself, she only stuffed less than 50 envelops. When I helped her, we did over 300. On my own, I do about 100 to 150. This defeats the whole purpose of getting a helper to relieve me to do the other multiple projects I need to get done.
I have a great boss. He does listen to me. However, he sometimes does not get it. He really does not get it. I do not know how much harder I can work. I am just one person. For the record, he was not nasty at all. He is always very respectful and careful with his words. He is as I am; frustrated because we really want and more so need to have things done yesterday. I know that he shares, to a certain extent my frustration. There are things, however, that can only do in the office. Therefore, I have to pull away from whatever is "priority" to handle it. In most cases it a phone call with an inquiry that is very important to handle. One phone call can take about 15 minutes to solve. This is not including the follow up calls. So multiply that to a minimum of 5 calls. It is usually more. This would be a minimum of 25 minutes. Let us add to the list of things I am responsible. On the other hand, let us not.
The whole gist of this bog is that I do not mind at all being overworked and underpaid. I enjoy my work. I do not like being misunderstood or worse, unappreciated.
I was very angry with my boss because he came to me yesterday inquiring why I was not done with a particular project. I proceeded to tell him the steps of my project and he looked as me as if it was the first I have ever work on a project like this. He was also wondering why the help he got me was not working fast. That has nothing to do with me. I can only account for how I work. Moreover, I have almost years of experience and can do the job blindfold. The situation is that it is a large bulk of work. The only way of doing it is trudging through it until it gets done.
Now if this was the only thing I had to do I may accept his concern. However, I have so many other things to do as well as follow up, date entry and a pile of reports I need to complete that he has piled on my desk.
I actually cried when he placed more work on my desk. He laughed thinking I was joking. I was not at all joking. I stated right then and there as well as emailed him that I am extremely overwhelmed with the amount of work I had to do and with the load I had to catch up. It is as if I am always in catching up mode.
Well as I was explaining to him (in my seeing the glass half-full attitude), that I was happy that we had less than a 1/4 left of work to finish for the project, he looked at me in awe. He wanted to know what was taking so long. I said all that I already mentioned and added that my work can only go as fast as my hands type and that is pretty fast. I had to look away and started to cry. I literally cried from 5pm until 10pm that I walk out of that office.
Yes! I stayed anyway. I do not run away from hard work and I do what it takes to get it done. Yet, they do not see what I do. I have so much work it is ridiculous. I have so much work that you can create a new position to tackle a third of the work that I do and this person will be busy all day.
I also take trips to the post office to ensure that my postage and packaging is done correctly. That way I will not run into the issue of getting a returned package. I thought taking that extra step to get the job done was honored. Instead, I get disappointed looks. It really makes me feel unappreciated.
I love my job. I would not change it unless GOD sends me into a different direction. In the meantime, I stay put. The funny this is that everyone has suggestion on how I can do my job better or faster but no one is willing to stay and do the grunt work with me. Well, almost no one. One of my co-workers from a completely and unrelated department, stayed with me one evening until 8pm copying over 500 pieces of documents. You know what that means. Filing all of those 500 pieces of documentation.
I have had a helper as I mentioned assigned to me by my superior. She is a great help but she works so slow. I have to help her to speedy up the portion she is assigned to do. By herself, she only stuffed less than 50 envelops. When I helped her, we did over 300. On my own, I do about 100 to 150. This defeats the whole purpose of getting a helper to relieve me to do the other multiple projects I need to get done.
I have a great boss. He does listen to me. However, he sometimes does not get it. He really does not get it. I do not know how much harder I can work. I am just one person. For the record, he was not nasty at all. He is always very respectful and careful with his words. He is as I am; frustrated because we really want and more so need to have things done yesterday. I know that he shares, to a certain extent my frustration. There are things, however, that can only do in the office. Therefore, I have to pull away from whatever is "priority" to handle it. In most cases it a phone call with an inquiry that is very important to handle. One phone call can take about 15 minutes to solve. This is not including the follow up calls. So multiply that to a minimum of 5 calls. It is usually more. This would be a minimum of 25 minutes. Let us add to the list of things I am responsible. On the other hand, let us not.
The whole gist of this bog is that I do not mind at all being overworked and underpaid. I enjoy my work. I do not like being misunderstood or worse, unappreciated.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Full circle... full circle, revisited
I was commenting to a friend a few weeks ago that about each decade and/or landmark birthday I become much more reflective on my journey in life. I also contemplate on this road trip when impacting things, awesome or adverse, affect my course. It is a moment where you need to stop and re-read your directions, look at the map again, stop at a gasoline station to for help or reprogram your GPS to reroute the trip. Yes, there are always stops and bumps, twists and turns and bridges to cross.
The "Full circle... full circle" blog was originally written in January of 2005. I reposted it in December of 2008. Here we are right dab smack in the middle of January 2011 and I am found with it again:
Now if you look back and you find yourself in the same place... do something about it. (However, what if you are tired of doing something about it. Why doesn't anyone else do something? I read my friend Debb's blog and read her reflection on Jesus’ anguish at the Garden of Gethsemane. His closest to His heart were not present for Him when He needed them most. He literally had to face death on His own. Job stated that he came to this world with nothing and he will leave this world with nothing. The Lord knows how we feel). No need or time or place to feel sorry for yourself EVER... Look back and (be) able to say "YES! I made it and look how high I have climbed" then great. "Full circle... full circle…”
What if I climbed and tripped and I fall to the valley. What if I became scared and hid in the nook of a cliff? What if I cannot take another step because I have no more strength? What if I do not want to fight the good fight? What if I do not want to run the race?
Would it be so bad to travel half way round the circle? Then that would be a journey lost.
The "Full circle... full circle" blog was originally written in January of 2005. I reposted it in December of 2008. Here we are right dab smack in the middle of January 2011 and I am found with it again:
Now if you look back and you find yourself in the same place... do something about it. (However, what if you are tired of doing something about it. Why doesn't anyone else do something? I read my friend Debb's blog and read her reflection on Jesus’ anguish at the Garden of Gethsemane. His closest to His heart were not present for Him when He needed them most. He literally had to face death on His own. Job stated that he came to this world with nothing and he will leave this world with nothing. The Lord knows how we feel). No need or time or place to feel sorry for yourself EVER... Look back and (be) able to say "YES! I made it and look how high I have climbed" then great. "Full circle... full circle…”
Funny how life comes to a full circle... how at a point in time you (were) so hurt by the most unexpected... People who called themselves friend do to you horrible and uncompassionate things. (Sometimes not so horrible but questionable. Makes you distrust simple "good" intentions). You think you are never going to heal let alone get up from the beat down they gave you (or secrets they kept). We have to be honest. There are moments that hurt so bad that you really think you are never going to (get over it). You feel like that kick in your gut will remain forever. Nevertheless, the saying holds true. Time does heal all wounds. Isn't that amazing?
What if I climbed and tripped and I fall to the valley. What if I became scared and hid in the nook of a cliff? What if I cannot take another step because I have no more strength? What if I do not want to fight the good fight? What if I do not want to run the race?
Would it be so bad to travel half way round the circle? Then that would be a journey lost.
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