Um, yeah. I’ll believe it when I see it, Baz.

OK, I admit it, I’ve been rabid about the candidacy of Barack Obama.  Not because he’s the Messiah, but because (partly) the alternatives are so incredibly horrible.

Add the endorsement last Sunday of Gen. Colin Powell - a thinking Republican - and that of Michael Smerconish -a conservative Republican radio talk show host- and you can see why I’m bullish on this.

If I were to really lay off all election stuff, I’d not mention the incredibly racist comments of Comedian Rush Limbaugh over the weekend, Rep. Bachman’s (R-Mn) call for McCarthyesque “anti-American” test for all members of congress or how the state of Maine’s US Sentators asked McCain to stop the robocalling in their state.

Having said that, it feels like it’s time to move on to othe topics of interest.  Topics like…oh, let’s see….parenting, dating, kids, simplicity, productivity…you know…all those things I say in the little blurb to the right.

Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot.

OK, sorry.  That was absolutely last election-related, Tourette-like outburst.  Promise.

Monday - At work with a full blown pre-winter cold.  It’s the first one I’ve had in over a year.  Luckily, as I write this early Sunday morning, it only lasted the week.  I was able to beg off business travel for the week which would have taken me back to SLC on Friday.  Having a cold on top of a day trip (which always wipes me out) would have been too much.  I heard a bit of blow-back about it, but who cares.  I’ve been out sick 0 days in the past year. I worked all week anyway because of deadlines.

Tuesday - More sniffling and medicine head due to not getting to the pharmacy in time to buy the real Sudafed.  Instead, had to settle for the OTC-non-methamphetamine-precursor; the kind you can buy without showing your ID to the pharmacist.  It doesn’t work.  Finally got some real stuff and felt loads better.

Wednesday / Thursday - Not much different.  I picked up my new glasses - a slight change in prescription and major change in frames.  I haven’t got a picture made in these new frames yet, but think ‘Kieth Olberman.’  Justin, my 12-year-old-liberal-in-training, keeps calling me Kieth. :)  Began getting ready to attend a birthday BBQ for my son-in-law at his parent’s home in San Leandro in the East Bay (think south of Oakland) by phoning Bethany for gift ideas.  She gave me some good suggestions, but in the end, I went with my gut on this one - a book I saw at Borders in the Capitola Mall - ‘1001 Ways To Be Romantic!‘  Hey, I may not know a whole lot about successful marriages, but I do know how important romance can be in a new relationship (any stage of a relationship, actually).  I inscribed the following inside:

“David -

A little bit of romance makes up for a whole lot of dirty dishes.

Barry”

Friday - Made travel arrangements for my month end week in Salt Lake City (SLC).  Got a couple of non-stops to and from SLC so I can avoid the roller-coaster approach into Reno/Tahoe.  When I fly Southwest Airlines I’m usually routed SLC to Reno/Tahoe to San Jose.  I’ve never had any turbulence flying into San Jose.  I lose my nearly lose my lunch flying into Reno.  So this time I got lucky. Justin spent the night with his mom and I drove around deciding whether or not to see Oliver Stone’s new film, W.  Opted not to, mainly because a little voice inside told me to go home.  I’ve learned over the years to listen to this little alter-ego and I went home.   I went to bed at 9 -aided by a Trazedone - a script my family physician gave me to take when I haven’t slept well the week before- and slept pretty well. A bit of a hangover the following morning from the Trazedone, but it was Saturday and some strong Italian Roast took care of it.

Saturday - Picked up Justin and we drove to San Leandro for David’s BBQ.  In the past (for at least 15 years), whenever I’ve gathered at a ‘family’ function where my ex-wife and her side of the family have hosted the event, I’ve always felt out of place.  Kind of like a Liberal Democrat at a fundraiser for Conservative Republicans. There are reasons for this that extend outside (and may not have anything to do with) politics. Personal issues on both sides are at the core most likely, but I’ve tried over the years to just be myself and let the chips fall where they may.  I have to say that Bethany and David’s wedding was not only a turning point in my own life, but perhaps it has something to do with the increased ease that all demonstrate when I’m in the crowd. Or it could be that I’m way too obsessed with how other perceive me. You think?

Whatever…all I know is that it was good to see my daughter and new son-in-law, Ben, Crystal and Justin loves seeing them at any time.  Wanda and Joel -David’s parents- were terrific hosts and went to a lot of trouble the day a happy one for David.  I enjoyed being in their home.

Forecast for this this week…Ok, let me look into my crystal ball….channeling Carnac….ok, it’s clear now…just what I thought…..can’t see a thing.

Here’s one my favorite quotes from this election season.  It comes from Fareed Zakaria of both CNN and Newsweek Magazine.

“Can we now admit the obvious? Sarah Palin is utterly unqualified to be vice president. She is a feisty, charismatic politician who has done some good things in Alaska. But she has never spent a day thinking about any important national or international issue, and this is a hell of a time to start.”

Click here to read the entire column in Newsweek.

As I sat in the dental hygienist’s chair and tried to answer questions with my entire mouth anesthetized (offered verbal gibberish in staccato fashion), I was moved to near tears when she said:

“As a single parent, you’re really ‘on-24-7,’ aren’t you?  It must take its toll on you.”

The tears that blurred my vision were immediate. She may have thought they were due to the sharp, pointy scalars she was employing to remove some subgingival calculi, but I knew where they originated. They came from the deepest center of my being - the one that’s securely guarded by layers of emotional Kevlar.

In the five years since I became a single-parent with full custody of my now 12-year old son, the number of people who really get what it means to be in this position have been few. I think it was the sudden recognition of this spot-on understanding that allowed me to let down my guard and simply feel that it’s OK to acknowledge that it’s a tough journey.

Part of this journey is balancing the demands of my job with the responsibilities at home. It’s a common issue faced by all single parents who must work to support their children and still be an effective parent.

In my job, I travel about two to three times per month for a couple of days at a time. Limited travel can work in my situation, but anything more that a three times a month is a hardship for both me and him.

I have minimal local support.  I’m a good 40 miles from my nearest adult child and all three of them are busy leading their own lives. I’ve made few friends in the past five years, most of which is a function of my self-preservation modus operandi I fall into.

I’ve been burned too many times in relationships and, as a result, allow only a few into the inner sanctum of my life.  Protecting my son is paramount; and it often regulates my own social interactions. Add to that my introverted nature and I can very easily become insulated and hermit-like.

But a hermit, I don’t want to be.  It’s not healthy for me or for him. And so I’m getting comfortable with the idea of venturing out of my comfort-zone and into the unknown.

Anyone have a map?

A new post category that will, as the name so obviously describes, recap my week.

I had a great conversation with an old friend on Saturday.  Bob Adams was in my first wedding and he and Jennifer were married not long after.  If memory serves, I returned the favor. I recall from my wedding, Bob’s tuxedo was just fine, but his shoes were of different heel heights and by the end of the day his back was killing him.  (I’d nearly forgotten about that!) He’s now the pastor of a church north of San Francisco. It was great to hear from him and I hope we keep in touch.

The work-week began as most do, bustling each morning to get Justin off to school on on campus as close and I can to 8a. He can’t be on campus before 8 and I have to be in my office by 8 - some twelve miles south on Highway 1.  It’s been a challenge to accomplish both, but one my boss is understanding about thus far.  Read the rest of this entry

When I taught college courses in written communications, public speaking, and job interviewing skills, multitasking was a popular buzzword.

Every resume sample I critiqued proudly boasted the applicant’s ability to multitask - to efficiently work toward completing multiple tasks at once.

It sounds great -but unfortunately- it’s a myth and neuroscience researchers at MIT back up this claim with hard data.

Research shows that instead of concentrating on multiple tasks, the ‘executive system’ of the brain allow us to switch between tasks in rapid succession thereby giving us the impression of multitasking. Read the rest of this entry

No commentary necessary.  (Click Here to read the complete article in The Economist.)

Forget the Barbie from Alaska for a moment. If she weren’t already a scary enough reason to vote Democratic, let’s recall some of the finer points of John McCain’s ‘economic practices.’

It’s golly-gosh- you-betcha embarrassing that he publicly covered the late Sam Cooke by admitting that he “don’t know much about economics” but to have such a public mess as the Keating Five in his past and to claim that he is the guy to lead us out of the financial crisis?

Give me a freakin’ break. It’s referred to as McCain’s $120 Mistake. Ooops.
(If you can’t view this video, please click here.)

If you needed another credible reason to reject the McCain-Palin bid for leadership of this nation, look no further than this:

The health care benefits you already pay for through employer paycheck deductions will be taxed and you’ll take home less money than you do today.

Please watch this 15-20 second video…. Read the rest of this entry