So help me understand this. Why would or how can God show so much restraint in the midst of all of the human suffering throughout history?

Abraham Lincoln held the Union together.

Franklin D. Roosevelt dug the country out of depression.

John F. Kennedy prevented nuclear holocaust.

Now, we will have the chance to watch history unfold. Will the two wars in the Middle East and the Recession on the verge of another Depression, define Barack Obama’s or will he control the course of history?

Perhaps it’s not the daunting task that is ahead of him that I eagerly await for him to take his place among the Great American Presidents. It’s the fact that someone like him has finally taken the oath of office and that for the first time as a father, I was able to look at my children and know that in America everything really is possible.

Well, almost everything, the Cubs have yet to win the World Series.

Driving through the treacherous city streets, I can’t help but think how maybe I’m trapped in a time warp, repeating the same eye gouging, wrist slitting commute. To keep sane, I began contemplating about things that I had no control over, like the vicious cycle that humanity seem to be imprisoned in.

What if we are all stuck in a time warp where events and things constantly repeat themselves and the reason why they seem different is because new actors and new props are put in but the over all plot or premise of  life remains constant.

Here are some examples:

1.  The Recession of 2008-? = The Great Depression of the 1930s: Both happened because of irresponsible lending and borrowing

2.  The Extremists’ call for a Holy War = The Crusade: Both are done blindly in the name of God

3.  War in the Middle East = War in the Middle East: I’m still scratching my head on this one

4.  Roman Gladiators = UFC (Mixed Martial Arts): More blood more excitement

5.  Russia’s Iron Curtain = Russia’s Energy Cloak: Totalitarianism at it’s best

6.  U.S.’s Vietnam War Quagmire = U.S.’s Iraq War Quagmire: Both under the guise of democracy building; there’s something to be said about the resolve of people fighting for their survival no matter how technologically inept they are

7.  The Plight of White Immigrants in the 1900s = The Plight of Mexican Immigrants in the 2000s: Same issues, same place, different race

8.  The Need for US Affirmative Action = The Need for French Affirmative Action: Same issues, same race, different time and place

I’m sure that there’s more, but these are the only things my limited knowledge can generate.

Obviously, we are not really trapped in a time warp. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that instead of the human race being stuck, we’ve actually moved forward and consequently we’ve forgotten and we haven’t learned.

The moment you get your new phone, you savagely open the box and eagerly put the sim card and battery on so that you can start experiencing the wonders of your new toy.

You ooooohhhhhh and aaaaahhhh for every new feature that you discover. With gleaming eyes, you excitedly show it off to your friends, family, and co-workers, and of course they will get envious.

To protect your new prized possession, you procure a carrying case that would properly house it. However, since your new phone is very special, Wal-mart will not have the right carrying case and you will end up ordering a special case online. And while it’s an inconvenience you really don’t mind because your phone is new and it deserves all your attention and understanding.

As days go by, you continue to fill your new phone with your contacts, more applications, daily schedules, and personal finance information.Your cell phone becomes an extension of you.

But when two to three months have passed and the newness of your phone has diminished, you will begin to see its imperfections and you will start assessing whether your phone is really right for you.

You will start to see that it cannot do some things that you want it to do, like power point presentation or good clear photographs. You tried your best to improve with more upgrades but since it wasn’t originally made to take excellent photographs, your phone still falls short of your expectations.

Now, you wish that you had waited and bought something else. You want to give it back or exchange it, but you can’t.

You can’t because you’ve gotten use to it and it has all your contacts and personal information. In addition, as a result of the many applications that you’ve installed, the phone has learned to accommodate almost all of your needs.

Also, giving up on your phone will cost you a pretty penny since you are locked in for a two year service contract and without a new contract, the cost of your replacement phone will be astronomical.

So with little or no option, you decide to keep your old phone. You bear with it and learn to appreciate it for what it is and not for what you want it to be because it still has many good qualities like keeping you entertain when you are bored.

Still, in the back of your mind, you know that there’s a phone that’s perfect for your needs. However, you know that deep down inside, when everything around you goes dark, you can use your old cell phone as a flashlight.

Relationships are like owning a cell phones.

The upside to this daily winter trek was the extended amount of time that I get to spend with my three school aged children, CJ, Smiley Face, and The Guy In The Middle. We’ve had many thought provoking and intriguing conversations during these snail paced voyages home.

We’ve talked about life, God, relationships, superpowers, and SpongeBob. But this post will not be about my conversations with my children. I will share these intellectual exchanges with you in the near future.

What I wanted to write about is an important anthropological study that I conducted one fine afternoon when we spent six hours on the road because of a snow storm that caught everyone by surprise.

On the third hour of our journey home, from my rearview mirror, I witnessed my youngest son looking out the window staring at the big snowflakes falling from the dark ominous sky. While in a state of daydream, CJ unconsciously searched his nose for a prize. When he was able to pull out a decent size bounty from his nose, he began to roll it on his thumb and index finger.

Maintaining his gaze outside, he kept rolling his booty for a good two to three minutes and then without hesitation he flicked it. I tried to follow the trajectory of his dark brown greenish pellet but I was unsuccessful in doing so.

I then decided to see if I could catch other people from the other cars dig fervently in their nostrils. Unaware that they were being studied, drivers, bored and frustrated out of their minds because of the snow storm, instinctively attacked their noses. Most used their pinkies and pointers but some also used their thumbs and middle fingers.

Obviously, I wasn’t interested in their tools of choice. I was more interested on how people disposed their, for lack of better word, boogers. I discovered and concluded that there are three types of booger pickers.

The first type is the pick-and-flick. This person usually would pick his or her nose and then indiscriminately flick the booger or boogers. Now this could be potentially dangerous because the projectile could hit and injure somebody’s eye. Pick-and-Flick person could also leave an unsightly decoration on the windshield, the dashboard, or the side windows. At home, you will know if a person you live with is a flicker when you see random booger stuck to your walls or floors.

The second type is the pick-and-wipe. This person picks his or her nose and then immediately wipes the booger off with a tissue but most often, the bottom of the driver seat is used as the default storage. One can usually tell if when a pick-and-wiper is present because that person’s dwelling place has evidence of booger streaked across the walls or furniture.

The third type is the pick-and-roll. This person picks his or her nose and then as in prayer and meditation, deliberately rolls the booger in between his fingers. When the pick-and-roller achieves the desired booger shape, he or she then either flicks or drops the spherical shape of boogers carelessly. Little dark oval shape boogers lying on the floor usually suggests that a pick-and-roller is present in the premises.

Now the next step to my study is to determine whether there’s a correlation between booger disposal and human behavior or temperament.

Of course if I limit my study only with my five children and my wife and I, I will be able to give you a definitive conclusion whether booger disposal is an extension of human personality. But in order for my study to be accepted by the scientific community, I will need to increase the number of my subjects.

Who knows, I may even discover that booger picking transcends across cultural barrier thus proving that we are all brothers and with this profound realization, we may achieve world peace, especially in the Middle East.

In conclusion, hindsight being 20/20, I’m thankful for the rush hour snow storms in Chicago. With another one coming this Friday, I may find the cure for cancer and if I don’t, at least I’ll have more conversations with my kids.

In his younger years, he was more reserved and more reluctant in showing his emotions. Now the quiet man with very few words has transformed to a person who tells a lot of jokes and comments on every single thing worth commenting.

He used to be the man who always volunteered to buy more ice when there was a party so that he didn’t have to mingle with the guest. Now he strategically sits at a spot where he can see and speak with everyone during family gatherings.

He used to be the man without any hobby except falling sleep in front of the television but now his basement is bursting with hobbies. He has learned how to play the piano, the guitar, and the saxophone.

Perhaps if his life was different, if he made different choices, in his youth, he could have been the man that he is now. But a son’s perception is often different from a father’s reality.

Dad chose to play it safe. He chose stability over risk and rewards. He chose integrity over financial bounty. And when things became difficult, he stood his ground.

Some may say that with his great intellect, he could have achieved more. He could have been a president of a multi-national bank. He could have had a bigger house. He could be traveling the world, but instead, he still works because that’s all he has ever done.

Every time I look at him, I would often find myself staring at him and wanting to ask him if he thinks he has lived a successful and fulfilling life. But whenever I’m on the verge of opening my mouth to ask my question, I would hesitate and then turn away.

Maybe I really don’t want to ask him because deep down inside I already know his answer. I’m sure as I go through my own choices and challenges his answer will come to me because even during the time of my own solitude I hear his voice.

I have always heard him. And as time continues to add its weight on my shoulders my father’s voice has grown louder.

I will never be like my father and I will never follow in his footsteps because he has never been in front of me. All this time, he has been in his right place, which is right behind me and I’m sure with him constantly whispering behind my ears, his voice will never grow faint.

He wants a guitar, toy cars, and some sponge bob dvds.

The only thing that I did not really look forward to was standing in a long line, but as luck would have it, the mall wasn’t crowded at all and the line was short. I guess even Santa was experiencing an economic downturn.

While in line, my wife and I were deciding if we should order the picture packages that they were selling. We really didn’t want to because they were pretty pricey. We were just going to have CJ talk to Santa, take a quick picture, which you were allowed to do, and be on our way. But, we felt bad. It’s the holidays and everyone is trying to make an extra buck. So, we decided to buy the cheapest package.

When it was CJ’s turn, and as soon as one of the elves opened the rope gate and Santa motioned for him to come closer, CJ sprinted towards Santa. They both said hi to each other. Santa picked up CJ and he gently placed my son on his lap.

I stayed close to the action so that I can hear their conversation but far enough so that I wont be in the picture. I wanted to confirm that CJ wanted a guitar and toy cars for Christmas.

CJ waited in anticipation for Santa’s question. At home, CJ would just blurt out what wants, but outside and in other people’s homes, he is usually well behaved. So, he waited for Santa to open the lines of communication. And then it happened.

“So, CJ what do you want me to bring you for Christmas,” Santa asked with a little ho ho ho.

He waited for a good second to answer Santa’s question. When he was ready to respond his eyes sparkled and like he always does when he is talking, his hands began to speak too.

“I want a sweater and a new pair of shoes,” he answered without hesitation as he pointed to his brown tan slip on shoes.

I thought I heard him wrong and it seemed as though that Santa also thought that he heard CJ wrong because he repeated his question. CJ responded the same way. He pointed at his sweater and his shoes and said that he wanted a new sweater and a new pair of shoes.

My son didn’t want any toys from Santa. Perhaps since he knows that we were going to buy him toys he figured that he whould ask Santa for something different. Or maybe since he is aware that he has been naughty lately, he realizes that Santa might not give him toys so he decided to ask Santa for something that is a need and not a want.

CJ’s Christmas request to Santa baffled me and my wife. I have heard teenagers ask for clothes for Christmas but I have never heard any child below ten yeards old ask for a clothing apparel.

My son has always been a precoscious child. He always amazes me with the things that he says and does. This one certainly takes the cake. I’ve asked him why he asked for a sweater and shoes, hoping that he might enlighten my confusion. Of course, he gave me a typical CJ response whenever I ask him to justify his words and actions.

“I want it.”

My wife and I already bought CJ’s guitar and toys but it looks like we need to go back to the store and get him a new sweater and a new pair of shoes.

Now, I wait anxiously until Christmas Eve when he opens all his gifts. I want to see whether he will really appreciate Santa’s gifts or will he just chuck in the corner and concentrate on blasting his electric guitar.

We shall see…

1. Our school is going through a re-certification process and I have been preparing oodles and oodles of data.

2. I have been busy with my great American novel. I have been working on this novel for the past couple of years and it wasn’t until recently when my students decided to go through the journey with me that I tackled my novel with renewed vigor. Aside from writing my novel, my 8th grade students are also writing their own. Two days ago we celebrated a landmark. The majority of my students reached the 17,000 words challenge and by January 5th, we all hope to have 57,000 words.

3. Lastly, it has been more fun hanging out with my family after work and during the weekends. We’ve been watching a lot of movies on our makeshift home theater.

So there you have it. I promise I will be back into full swing again when everything settles down. By the way, thank you to all my blogging friends who have sent me e-mails and well wishes.

How can I make this perfectly clear? Turn off the lights when you are finished. Now because you haven’t heeded my request our basement will be in the Dark Ages.

Don’t let the water run while you’re brushing your teeth or doing number two, and stop taking 30-45 minute showers. Now that you’ve disregarded my plea, water will be rationed.

Why do you need to open the fridge again after you just opened it 5 minutes ago? Now that you obviously can’t control yourself, I will put a chain around the fridge and the key will only be given to the members of the family who do not abuse their privileges.

Park the car in the drive way when you come home so that it will not sit over night on the street and get ticketed. Now that you’ve forgotten again, I will stop paying your car insurance so that you will not be able to drive your car until you pay the ticket.

Put a way your stuff and don’t leave it lying around all over the place so that your mother won’t get aggravated. Now that you seem not to care, everything that is yours that is lying around the house will be donated or taken to the pawnshop.

Geeeeeeeez, thank God, parents are wired to love their children unconditionally. If we weren’t, our species would’ve gone extinct thousands of years ago.

photo by kelvisdelrio.com

Life is like writing. If one chooses to live in an Active Voice, one’s life will be more vigorous and lively. In contrast, if one chooses to live in Passive Voice, one will definitely feel helpless and controlled.

At work, because of my administrative position, I conduct myself in an Active Voice. I develop and implement new programs. I sustain and manage existing programs. I also continue to support and train our teachers.

At home, the picture is a little bit different. I wish I could be more in an Active Voice mode. It’s strange sometimes how at work, I can easily take charge and be in control, but at home, I tend to be more reactive rather than proactive. There are only a few things that I’m consistently proactive about at home, and these are nagging and annoying my children, and bugging my wife for some “sumthin-sumthin.”

I also wish that I could be more in an Active Voice mode when it comes to my many passions in life. I would love to finish my novel but I keep putting it off. I would love to finally receive my Doctoral in Education, which I will again re-start this coming April but every time I get near the date, I change my mind.

What’s my excuse? I have none! Simply put, I just get lazy. It’s easy to be lazy. It’s more difficult to live a full and active life.

I suppose someday, when I finally learn how to live consistently in an Active Voice, I can also teach my students how to live in an Active Mode. So before that time comes, I hope that YOU are not as lazy as I am and that YOU are living your life in an Active Voice.

Don’t be a lazy bum like me, Carpe Diem!

*************************

By the way, I’m proud and honored to announce that Kelly has interviewed me for her She-Power Men Series at She-Power. If you have some time to kill, why don’t you hop on over to Kelly’s site and read the interview.

photo by BlueBuddies