Who's the Man?

So I found myself captivated and mouth hanging wide open at times watching the circus media discuss the debate last night. This is not must see TV. I know it is sad that these are the best 2 people we have to choose from to elect for President. But, thanks to us, this it people. CNN is here to help though. They had "alleged educated" people telling us eye blinks, posture and gestures determined who won a debate. Indirectly telling us who not to vote for. Wink Wink err blink blink. Seriously?

      But, politicians are not really at fault. Stay with me. They are all just players in the same game I've seen for the near 25 years that I could vote. The rules don't seem to apply to them after they get a taste or view from the high horse. I hate to be cynical, but as far as I can see it doesn't matter about one's affiliation, left, right, conservative, liberal it's sadly all about power and lying to yourself (and others occasionally) you are doing what's right for the country. Then you are assimilated by the system. Systems of government are broken and it's always going to be the next generation to fix it, or on the next guys watch.

We are not easy people to govern either. We don't want to be disciplined anymore. Never mind being told the hard truth. We love to be led. Just look at the marketing we are constantly exposed to. We need it all (cars, drugs, homes, bling, tech, spend it) to be better people. Buy this, buy that, why should we expect our leaders to be less American? I'm not exempt, I've craved (crave) what "The Jones" had, drove, where they lived, vacationed, dined, wore and what they did for a living, schools, to get ahead and be successful. Win win win. Never being satisfied. 

      If you want to make a difference this election (truth be told the powers that be hope otherwise) get out and vote. Even if your guy doesn't win, you win. We have more freedoms in this country because young men fight and die or have died for those rights. Freedom that other countries would kill for and have killed to prevent. But, Our country barely averages much over 30% voter turnout. That always chaps me a bit. Plus, you can bet that smart mouth at your office didn't even know where they were supposed to go vote or says "what does it matter, nothing is going to change?" Or when they bandwagon bash the candidates and our country. Please vote and if you don't, keep your pie hole shut. #savebigbird #elmorocks

       I'm circling back to my point..hang in there. What we have become in this culture when an election comes around seems childish in my mind. Embarrassing. The fit throwing, mud slinging is usually to cover the weak ideas and policies a candidate has to attempt to be elected. Or just the opposite. A new common sense ideas and personal discipline touting candidates are shot down by lobbyists for corporations who's stock price will decline if they get into power. Or they seem too wholesome and TMZ camps out and destroys them.

       We have totally forgotten in many cases the one man that can help us all and wants to freely. He makes the impossible, possible.You know who it is. No it's not Donald Trump. If you don't know him I'd like to tell you about him sometime. He has been shunned, made fun of and is the one leader that deserves your allegiance. I'm learning to let him lead and guide my life more. I may not always like it, but not abiding only causes havoc in my life. I'd love to see us shift our mindset and that 30% ask what does God want us to do? Because in the end that is "the man" that matters in this and every race. If we treated others the way he told us to, what kind of country would we have then? Vote for God..This message was paid for by the Cross.

Chicken Fried Kids

I haven't blogged in forever..shame shame I know. I just finished vacuuming the dust from the key board. I just had to post my 2 cents (MY OPINION, and Observation) regarding "Chick-en-gate". How embarrassing it would be to explain this anger and hate from both sides to children in the History books. It sounds like we're not far from rioting, sit ins, and molitov cocktails. Seriously? Have we not learned anything from the past? The people on both sides of this are doing the exact thing they accuse the other of doing. Judging. Last time I checked, there is only going to be one doing the judging in the end, regardless of your religious affiliation or how you interpret the bible with how you live. It's going to happen whether you want it to or not. As a Christian I am striving to Love "as I go" and not "Judge as I go".

An interesting observation regarding the Christian "sit in" for Chicken yesterday.
http://thefatherbrown.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/chick-fil-a-and-my-sanctification/

I'm not perfect and never will be. But, I'd like to say;  For those who aren't Christians and see this behavior or receive this judgemental anger? I can see why there is such a disconnect from religion or Christianity. My apologies for the venom you have received. It's not supposed to be that way. I'd welcome you pulling up a chair next to me at services this week or anytime.

ON A REFRESHING SIDE NOTE:
I am proud to know one lucky 8 yr.old. A fellow student of my daughters Mayson and Emma at Breckinridge Elementary deserves to have her light shine brightly for such a wonderful honor. I am so excited  for her and her family! This was posted today on the Fayette County Schools' Facebook page. Of course in the spirit of Hate these days, the first response on the site criticized FCPS for posting anything about Michelle Obama. Ahh..breath in, breath out..Showing Love...woosah...woosah..
You may not know her, but you are probably parents', teachers, or can at least remember being 8 years old and what this experience would have meant to you. YEAH MYKA. Have a great time!

Myka Smith-Jackson, a rising third-grader at Breckinridge Elementary, who is one of 54 children first lady Michelle Obama will congratulate on their creative recipes in the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge. As Kentucky’s representative, 8-year-old Myka is invited to tour the White House vegetable garden Aug. 20 and 

attend a Kids’ State Dinner, where some of the winning recipes will be served. Myka’s contest entry was a curry chicken salad wrap with a fruit smoothie and strawberries on the side. Other top recipes included a teriyaki salmon wrap, a garden chicken pizza and vegan Sloppy Joes. More than 1,200 children ages 8 to 12 entered the contest, which sought nutritious dishes covering each of the four food groups. In late August, the recipes will be posted as a free downloadable cookbook with nutritional analyses, photos and drawings. It will be available at letsmove.gov, USDA.gov and Ed.gov.

Stuff I've been up to lately

My last post related to a current status of "being out of the media". I've been off the radar since before Christmas in the media business. I left LEX18 after 7+ years in August to go to work for a local Digital agency in town. We parted ways after a little over 100 days. So I've had some time to kill thanks to contractual obligations shall we say. Plus, I'm seriously entertaining staying out of the media world as a vocation in the next half of my life. I'm enjoying being Mr. Mom to Mayson (7) and Emma (6) and working on projects around the house. It's keeping me busy, the wife very happy and have found some skills that have surprised me. My Grandfather, Joe Metcalfe is a carpenter by trade, and has built everything I can think of. Even worked on construction of Cinderella's castle at Disney World. So as my Dad has indicated I may have inherited some of these genes. I am also going to get my Real Estate license this year as well. I love to help people, that's the part of the Media world I miss. Being a resource or partner with my clients and seeing their plans and business' become more successful. I have always enjoyed Houses. Their construction, design, old historic homes, new ones, architecture and so on. I may even want to build one myself one day. I wanted to share some of my projects on this post and will likely be adding an ETSY store in the near future. So if you see anything you like, or need a project completed let me know at 859-312-8069 or nealmetcalfe@gmail.com.

9'x9' Book case I custom built in 3' sections and assembled in my garage. Constructed of MDF, Beadboard backing and trimmed with 3" Crown and Base cap. Cost for custom build will depend on materials, finish, size and my availability. $15 per hour plus materials cost.

These are Wood Planter boxes. They are designed to place a plastic planter or liner in them. Spruce or Whitewood material and trimmed with 2.5" trim at the top and 1.5" on the bottom. I've made over a dozen of these in White and Black. The emblem is a stock birch wood emblem from Lowe's or Home Depot and can be customized. (1 emblem per box). 

-I can do a 12"x12" $45 each

or the pair pictured below are 16"x16" $55 each. 

Tufted Ottoman. 40"x36" wood frame and Fabric /upholstery/Tufting

done by my wife Christy. We can build if you provide the upholstery.

Starting at $195 and up depending on extra materials needed and feet desired. 

Workbenches for my shop. I couldn't find exactly what I wanted so I made some simple tables for the space.. All made from Oak plywood (finished the tops with Mission stain), 1/2" plywood, 1"x3" boards, and 2"x4"'s and added a drawer & casters for easy moving. I also made them to suit my height (6') (higher than counter height) for ease of use. 

A deck coffee table. Similar to teak slat type of table. The 36"x 24" table is made from reclaimed wood I found and finished with black enamel paint and sanded to look old. 

The Deck boxes are simple deck boards cut to size and screwed to the deck. They have plastic liners to hold the potting mix and flowers soon with holes drilled for draining.

Lots of new things going on in my life so far in 2012..Where to begin...I'm officially out of the media business for the first time since 1988. My last venture wasn't a good fit, and decided that I take some time to do some other things I've always wanted to do; spend more time with my kids, carpentry work (look for my work on ETSY, and Pinterest very soon) and obtaining my real estate license soon. We have officially adopted Emma. She is a 6 year old that has been with us since December of 2009. We are very blessed to be her forever family. Mayson loves being a big sister and being the only one allowed to pick on her!! I'm officially getting paid back in spades and my Mom and Dad just chuckle at all the stories I pass along. I never knew 2 girls could be so messy and downright gross. Christy and I are going on our first mission trip together to visit Bolivia via our church; Crossroads Christian Church this month. We sponsor two kids there (since last year)  through Compassion International and will hopefully get to visit with them. Prayers go out to all of you and if you can't get your wife, husband or significant other to build your project contact me!