Unleash My Creativity...and my dog

Working a full time job really curtails my creativity. I get ideas driving into work and while at work, but, by the time I get home, I'm too tired to implement anything. I thought this picture of my dog was very symbolic. The tree represents your job and the tether is your responsibilities that keep you tied to your job. The more responsibilities the more you are wrapped around that job until you have little room to move. This of course, does not apply to "jobs" that you love to do. When I worked for myself, I was happiest. The key is to keep your financial responsibilities to a minimum and this will loosen that tether which gives you more space to be creative or inventive. There is a lot to be said to simplifying your life. Your mortgage, car payments, big cell phone bill...these things move you closer and closer to that tree. Maybe it's because I am closing in on 50 that I am looking at things differently. How many talented and creative people are tethered to that tree and in turn are not following their true calling or at least taking a few steps in that direction?

I had the same job for almost 20 years. Went to work everydayworking 60+ hours a week and still struggled with bills. Once in awhile you have to make big changes in your life. Take a chance. If you don't, then you cannot complain about your current situation. I took a chance, it was a great experience, it was a financial hit, but I knew that when I did it. You can either sit in the stands and watch or jump in and start playing the game! I was tired of watching. I'm back in the stands for now, but plan on putting my jersey back on soon.

- Sean

The Yankees, nobody else...

I have thought about it and I have come to the determination that the New York Yankees should be the only baseball team, period.  Why? Because, they are the only team that I support. I do not support the other 29 teams, therefore they should not be allowed to play baseball, wear their uniforms and certainly not be able to hold the World Series Championship trophy. I think if any of these other teams continue playing baseball, they should be arrested. They should be treated as criminals.  The Yankees are the only true baseball team.

Well, I will admit that this is America and we pride ourselves on this being a “free” country, so I will, reluctantly allow the other teams to play baseball. BUT, they cannot wear their team uniforms and DEFINTELY not be able to compete for or hold the championship trophy.

After some more thought, the Constitution does allow for freedom of expression. So, I guess we can allow the other teams to not only play baseball, I guess they can wear their uniforms too. But that’s as far as it goes, no further. Only the Yankees can compete and win the championship trophy, just the Yankees.

Hmm, there seems to be a flaw in my thinking.  Without those other teams being able to compete for the championship trophy, the Yankees cannot really compete for it either and actually win it. And technically, the other baseball teams ARE baseball teams. They just wear different uniforms and I have heard of players on the teams change uniforms from time to time. So, some of the Yankees may have played for other teams and vice versa. 

With that said, the only way this whole baseball thing works is if every team is allowed to play the game, wear their uniforms and be able to equally compete for the trophy.

I’m still going to root for the Yankees, nobody can change that.

- Sean

Police work, a necessary evil?...

The essence of  Police work is  treacherous. Especially in high crime areas. Police Officers are injected into the worst situations in any city or town on a daily basis.  Just like a fireman is more likely to be burned by fire, Police are more likely to be injured or killed or cause someone else to be hurt or killed. How many of these fatal shootings are justified? They will always focus on the innocent lives that were taken as opposed to the dangerous criminals that create the situation which force Police to take a life. If you were never a Police Officer or never have been behind the scenes to see what an Officer does on a daily basis then you can theorize all you want. Officers make life or death decisions in a matter of fractions of seconds. They don't have days or months to ponder over a situation like posters on FB. Keep in mind that they are human beings and do a difficult job that not everyone will or can do. Enforcing laws that many don't agree with but don't have much choice. Because of these hard choices Officers are REQUIRED to make in the heat of a dangerous situation, they are not treated the same as a criminal who would plan out and carry out a murder and they shouldn't be. Why? because we are requiring these people to place themselves in deadly situations with only what's hanging off of their belt and expected to remedy whatever situation is occurring with the least amount of damage. If you were wronged by someone in law enforcement, I am truly sorry, it happens, maybe more so than it should. But as my Mom always told me that life was unfair and you can make all the laws you want and stomp your feet all you want. As long as there are bad people out there, there will be a need for Police. And as long as Police continue to be human beings and not robots, they will make mistakes.  Stay safe.

- Sean

General lee speaking...

I wanted to comment on this movement to get rid of the Confederate Flag and those opposed to this flag have used the tragedy of the church shooting as their platform.  My first observation is that every time there is a tragedy such as this, there is this faction of people that use the period of time when emotions are high to forward their political agenda. During the fall-out of such a tragedy, people are not using logical and rational thinking. We instead react with our gut and lash out at some inanimate object. “It’s the gun’s fault!”….”It’s the flag’s fault!” Irrational, right?

My second observation is that this is a slippery slope, this political correctness movement. This direction that we are starting to move toward to, for lack of a better term, whitewash our history in order to make it more palatable for everyone. The obvious problem with this is summed up in George Santayana’s quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”. I, myself love history and have learned that what we were taught in school is already a very, whitewashed version of history. Thanks to the History Channel, we are learning more and more of how things actually occurred and why. Those of you who oppose the Confederate flag may want to research history and learn of its true meaning then and now. 

I personally am not attached to this particular flag, having been born and raised in Connecticut and consider myself a true New Englander. But my short stint in Tennessee, I have made many friends in the South. As I see it today, the flag represents Southern Pride and Southern History, not slavery. Much to my chagrin, there was also slavery all over New England. Here in the Northeast we look back at the Whaling industry and how it boosted the economy of New England.  Connecticut became one of the richest states because of the gun industry. Today, whaling is a swear word and guns are not far behind. Our history is our history. Some good, some bad. We as a society can redefine symbols. The “Victory sign” for example, or is it the “Peace sign”? Instead of deleting history, how about we redefine our future.

- Sean