Lakes Of Trophy Club Hike And Bike Trail

Lakes Of Trophy Club Hike And Bike Trail

Wet Desert by Gary Hansen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I saw this book at Amazon for the Kindle for 99 cents and it had pretty good reviews. I decided what the heck it sounds interesting and I was not disappointed. From the very beginning this book kept my attention and I was looking for more time to read. If you have ever visited the Colorado River, Lake Powell or the Hoover Dam, this story will just come to life for you. I would recommend this book to those who like fast paced thriller books.



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Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

rating: 4 of 5 stars

I came across this book one day while listening to the end of a classroom presentation by one of the high school librarians in our local school district. Apparently this book was on a recommended reading list for our state's high school student. The plot summary sounded interesting so I decided to pick it up and read it.

Let's just say that I was hooked. I do not know that last time that I read a book this fast. I was done in 3 days, and yes I was still doing other things during the day.

It was interesting to read this book designed for adolescents about how life would change if a major event like a meteor hitting the moon changed life as we now know it. I believe that the author did a great job identifying many of the issues the teens and the public would go through if such and event occurred. I would only hope that all young people would be able to step up to the challenges as well as the three young characters in this book. I fear that many of our youth today would not deal as well as Miranda and her brothers.

I am looking forward to reading the follow-up book to this one about a young man in New York City during the same time period.

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Book Review - Creating Magic

You Too Can Create Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell

rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the best comprehensive business leadership books I have read in the last year. Lee Cockerell shares his experience as a leader at Disney on every topic from hiring, inspiring,training, leading with character and much more.

Most of us have probably visited a Disney resort in the past and remember some sort of magical moment we had on that trip. Now you can make the same type of "Magic" happen for your customers by using some of these tips and concepts shared directly from a true Disney leader.

This is one of those books that if you could truly implement a handful of the suggestions demonstrated here into your workplace you can lead your team to great results. This book is designed for leaders of people not just managers.

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Book Review - Tacos: 75 Authentic and Inspired Recipes

Tacos: 75 Authentic and Inspired Recipes by Mark Miller

Wow this is a fantastic cookbook. So far I have made three recipes out of it and they have been just stunning. I am a huge fan of the flavors of New Mexico and these recipes take me right to the heart of the food I enjoy from Taos and Santa Fe.

Mark Miller is an exceptional chef and his restaurant Coyote Cafe has a long reputation for excellence. I am very excited that he has been willing to share some ideas and techniques to energize my taste buds even though I am a long way from New Mexico.


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Book Review - The Closing of the American Border

The Closing of the American Border: Terrorism, Immigration, and Security Since 9/11 by Edward Alden

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I thought that this was a really good, solid book. I learned a great deal about American immigration policy, Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security. I think that we have forgotten how much life has changed since 9/11 in America, and that we have not fully realized the effects of those changes in our country today. It can be argued that we are safer as a nation, but what will the unintended consequences of our protection?



This book was well written and was easy to stay interested in. There were a few times where the author made the same points in multiple chapters, but this is a well written account of the policy issues that have been attempted in order to keep America safe after 9/11.


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Air Refueling Missions - Amazing Stuff

Now that I have explained how this opportunity came about, I would like to share an amazing experience to you that I was very fortunate to take part in this week. As part of the honorary commander program, I was able to participate in an Air Refueling Mission.

(Be sure to click on the pictures for larger images)

The Air Force uses the KC135 (same as a Boeing 707 airframe) as one of two primary air refueling aircraft. All of the air craft at Fairchild are the KC135. These planes are older than I am, and we know that is getting up there now. In fact most of the planes stationed at Fairchild were bought when Eisenhower was President.

The following excerpt from Wikipedia will provide you with a little more data about the aircraft much more concisely than I can to it.

The KC-135R has four turbofan engines, mounted under 35-degree swept wings, which power it to takeoffs at gross weights up to 322,500 pounds (146,300 kg). Nearly all internal fuel can be pumped through the tanker's flying boom, the KC-135's primary fuel transfer method. A special shuttlecock-shaped drogue, attached to and trailing behind the flying boom, may be used to refuel aircraft fitted with probes. A boom operator stationed in the rear of the aircraft controls the boom while lying prone. A cargo deck above the refueling system can hold a mixed load of passengers and cargo. Depending on fuel storage configuration, the KC-135 can carry up to 83,000 pounds (37,600 kg) of cargo.

After a morning briefing and safety demonstration we were transported by bus out to the tarmac. We would be flying in the flagship aircraft of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, recognizable by the nose art on the front of the aircraft. Each base is allowed to have one aircraft with this artwork, all other aircraft are no longer identified this way to save money and manpower.

Quickly after boarding we were rolling and ready for take off. Our flight plan that day was to take off westbound, turn and fly our first leg in a southwest vector and then torn each and fly eastbound across much of Washington and Idaho and a small tip of Montana. While in the air we would meet up with a C17 Cargo plan that would be on a training mission from McCord Air Force Base near Tacoma, WA.

Once we leveled off at 30,000 feet we were allowed to get up and explore the plane. Now this plane look nothing like a commercial airliner. The insides are only covered in a polyester/plastic material, wires are running along the ceiling and the seats that the maintenance group installed for us are comfortable but only temporary.

After we leveled off I immediately gravitated forward to the cockpit. I of course am a bit on an aviation freak and I wanted to be able to watch the pilots fly the aircraft. I got to sit in the jump seat between the two pilots and listen, watch and learn about navigation and much more from them.

The skies were cloudy and I got a real feel for the challenge of flying in dense clouds and limited visibility.

After about 30 to 40 minutes into the flight we were approaching our rendezvous site with the C17. It was about 25 miles ahead of us, and we were playing chase. As we were approaching the aircraft, we were descending to 21,000 feet which will be our flight level for the refueling operations.

(More to Come......)

US Air Force - Serving America with Pride

Last May I was selected to serve as a part of the Honorary Commander program at Fairchild Air Force Base here in Spokane, WA. The mission of the Honorary Commander program is to pair community leaders with the commanders of the different Groups and Squadrons at the base, in an effort to keep the community informed about what is happening on base. We are very fortunate to have a wing commander here at Fairchild who believes that the base is part of the community and all the Airmen are a part of our community.

I was assigned to the Command Chief as my commander. The Command Chief is the top ranking enlisted personnel on the base. The highest percentage of personnel on a base are enlisted men and women, and they are given the responsibility to keep that base open and mission ready at all times. This has been a great assignment for me, as the Command Chief has a direct line into all the Groups on base. No matter if you are in the Operations Group, Maintenance Group, Mission Support Group or Med Group there are enlisted Airmen that report to the Command Chief.

This relationship has taught me so much about the amazing people that serve our country. The high level of expectation that is placed on each member of the team, and the absolute commitment of the team it takes to produce a successful mission. I have learned about the challenges our country faces as a nation in a war with terror, and I have learned what it means to be a "Warrior First."

Fairchild Air Force Base serves many different purposes. The 92nd Air Refueling Wing of which I am matched up with has as their primary mission the on-time delivery of air refueling to other aircraft. The slogan painted on the side of the hangar summarizes it well, "No One Kicks Ass Without Tanker Gas".

I am proud of out United States Armed Forces. They work very hard to defend out country and our freedom. I am especially proud of the United States Air Force and the men and women at Fairchild Air Force Base.

Back at it because Life Is Superfantastic

Do you want to know the best thing about having a personal blog is. You write when you feel like it. No buddy is paying you, it is just you thoughts and ideas that come in your head and you feel like expressing. Shortly after my last posting here, there were some changes at work that added some additional responsibilities and the need to accomplish more. Well I finally have that in balance a little more and some I am going to give this another shot.

I created the blog to share all those random things that came into my head that make me happy. There are many things that make my life "to blessed to be stressed". While work and family life is busy, it is a good busy. A positive busy. A busy that I am in control of and make the conscious decision to be busy with these activities in my life.

Thank you for checking back in after I had the extended period without any posts.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is a great day! A day to be Thankful for all the blessings in our life. To think of those things that make our life Super-Fantastic. Today is a special day for me as well. November 27, 1993 I made the best decision of my life. On that day I said "I DO" to my lovely bride of 15 years today.

The journey has been filled with many great adventures. She has always been there by my side, supporting me through all my endeavors. She has built for us a loving family, a happy home and keeps smiling through all of lifes little challenges.

Today, I am thankful that I found my soul mate in February of 1990 and that everyday has been blessed with her in my life since.

Gas Pump of Life

We have a choice between positive energy and negative energy. Positive energy is high octane fuel for the ride of your life while negative energy causes sludge to accumulate in your energy pipeline.

With high gas prices, I know that we are all used to going to the pump with the cheapest gas. Yes we could splurge and buy a tank of high octane gas for our car, but we pull up and fill up with good old regular gasoline. Our car survives on regular gas, it gets us from point a to point b, right.

This may work well for my car, but when it comes to my attitude I have to believe that I am worth the very best octane I can buy. (With a diesel car I understand high fuel cost :) ) My attitude is like that Lexus my friend owns, it requires high octane fuel or you void the warranty. If we can fill our life with positive energy, we will achieve more. We will find the extra spark to tackle a tough problem or to push that last bit to achieve the goal we set.

Sometimes we may need to add a fuel additive to our tank to clean out old deposits, but from now on, I AM BUYING THE HIGH OCTANE FUEL FOR LIFE.

Quote - Taking Action

Every day you've got to get up and play hard.
Jeff Immeit - Ceo: General Motors

This is one of my favorite quotes and I have it posted here above my desk. If we wake up early every day ready to "play hard" to go our and "do our best" then we can accomplish anything that we want to achieve. I believe that it is up to me to get up and make things happens. I make the choice every day to get out of bed and make every day a super-fantastic day.

A weekend of smiles!

This has been a very nice weekend, full of smiles and happiness.

On Saturday, I got to great all the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts who had qualified as a "Popcorn All Star" in this year's Trail's End popcorn sale. We had a special incentive for every boy who sold to 25 customers. The boys got a free ticket to the Eastern Washington football game. In addition they also got a special " Popcorn All Star" hat with the EWU logo on it.

So on Saturday, I got to work with two other staff members and our trails end representative to pass out hats at the football game. We got to meet all the kids who were top sellers an talk to them about the popcorn sale, it was a great time.

Also on Saturday we had some good friends from our Soccer Team move in just down the street. Tammy and Jasmine helped them move, but because I was working the football game I was not able to help with the moving. I was able to come home and make some great chili and feed the whole crew as my contribution to the group. Everyone was tired and definitely did not want to cook after a day of moving, so I was very happy to help. You can check out the recipe for this great chili recipe at http://yackelsyummies.livejournal.com/

On Sunday, Jasmine and I decided to beat the weather and get the Christmas lights out on the front of the house. We like to put lights on all the leading edges of the house, but with our house design there is one area that you just have to get up on the roof to do. Inevitably it snows before I get out and get it done and then we have trouble getting them out safely. We added some new lights this year that led snowflakes. We think that they are going to look great.

We will wait until the Friday after Thanksgiving, but we are ready to start the holiday celebration.

The Dog Fight

I just started reading a book this evening called The Energy Bus, which you will soon see reviewed in full here. It is a great, fast read and is all about making life full of positive energy, aka being super-fantastic. I am just loving this book because it reinforces so much of what I believe and try to model in my life every day. It is recharging my batteries and reminding me that we each have the key to make decisions to make life Super-Fantastic.

A man goes to the village to visit the wise man and he says to the wise man. "I fell like ther are two dogs inside me. One dog is this positive, loving, kind and gentle dog and then I have this angy, mean-spirited, and negative dog and they fight all the time. I don't know which is going to win." the wise man thinks for a moment and he says, "I know which is going to win. The one you fee the most, so feed the positive dog."

This just reminds me that everyone has these two dogs and they are constantly in conflict. The way we chose to respond chooses which dog is going to win. If we think about the positive and develop a vision of where we want to go, the positive dog will win. Feed your Positive Dog a good meal every day.

Book Review - Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Don Tapscott

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a very thought provoking book, and has many great observations and predictions of where we will be going in the future. My biggest challenge with this book is that I was hoping for a little bit more of a road map of how to implement the theory into the work place.

After listening to the book for a while, I started to get some ideas of ways to build collaboration within my own work space, but now I need to search out and learn how to use some of these technologies. The part near the end of the book about older people just needing to get out and experiment with social networks, blogs, you tube, wikis and other collaborative spots on the web is where I am going to get started.

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Peter Pan - Christian Youth Theater Spokane

We went to a production of Peter Pan this evening at the Bing Crosby theater in Spokane, WA. Jasmine sings in the Spokane Children's Choir with a young girl who got a roll in the play as one of the Lost Boys chorus.

I thought that the group did a great job with the production and they put together a very nice production. We had seen this show at the Coeur d'Alene summer theater just two years ago, and their production of it was amazing, so I was a little nervous that this one would be hard to sit through. It was not!

There was this one young man in the pirate chorus who could do the funniest things with his face. He was constantly doing something, but everything was appropriate with what was going on around him.

If you live in Spokane there are still three more productions this weekend. Life is Super-Fantastic when you can go to youth theater to this quality right here in Spokane

Book Review - The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family

The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family: A Leadership Fable About Restoring Sanity To The Most Important Organization In Your Life by Patrick Lencioni

rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thought that this was an excellent book on how to strengthen your family and business with a similar type approach. As business leaders we need to strengthen our families as well to be able to reach our full potential. This book does a great job of taking a business consulting approach and applying it to ones family.

Most interesting to me from this book is the discussion of core values. I have fallen into the trap of having a long list of "Core Values". I like the way Lencioni describes values into 4 categories of values.

I also like the concept of the Rallying Cry, and can think back to times when I have provided a clear singular goal to a team and that was the focus. Our best results were in times like these. Along with this I appreciate the recognition of Defining Objectives and Standard Objectives under the Rallying Cry.

Great book, I highly recommend it. It is a very quick read.


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A Superfantastic Moment - My New Drivers Liscence

Well I had to go and get a new drivers license yesterday. There is not much that is great about the drivers license office, in fact I could share many of my rants about that place, but there was something that made be extremely happy. The man behind the counter checked my vision, still not problem without any glasses, that is pretty great. He then reviewed "my stats" hazel eyes, 5' 11" , brown hair (another pretty good thing that it is not gray) but then he got to weight.

This is where the super fantastic part comes in. I actually got to give him a lower weight, without fibbing than I had on my drivers license from 5 years ago. I believe that the average American gains somewhere between 1.5 and 2 pounds a year as they get older. I could have gone up as much as 10 pounds.

So I was pretty stoked and thought to myself that " Life is Super-Fantastic".

Quotes

You can have power over people as long as you don't take everything away from them.
But when you've robbed a man of everything , he's no longer in your power.

The Hamburger: A History

The Hamburger: A History by Josh Ozersky

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Well this was a good history of how the fast food hamburger evolved in America. I thought that the information was helpful, but I felt like the author tried to write at a higher writing level than is necessary when you are writing about a patty of meat. This book has spurred an interest to read more about some of these business and cultural developments.


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