Trees for the Forest

It doesn't matter what industry, environment, work setting, job site or group of people you work with - if you work with them long enough, you start to use words that are common to the job you do. And if you work in this area long enough, the words become their own language. After awhile, you do not even notice that this language means nothing to anyone else, except the people typical to your environment.
     If you work long enough in the forest, you do not see the trees for what they are. They are all "trees". You do not see them for the pines, oaks, elms, maples, birches..... they are "just" trees. When someone new comes to work in your forest, you tell them to go over to that tree and do what ever you do.  Trouble is, when you come back, you have found that this new person went over to that tree, when you meant the other tree!  Now if you had taken two minutes to explain that you wanted the "pine" worked on and not the "maple" you would have saved both of you a lot of time and frustration!  The medical industry is the worst for this....  You walk into their world typically because you need help! (why else would you go there?) And before you know it, your head is spinning because these people in front of you are so lost in their environment and language, they do not even see that you have NO idea what they are saying. Then they get frustrated with you, think we are all idiots and they wonder how we even survive.....
     Trees for the forest. Next time someone walks into your forest, take the time to help them understand the difference in "trees" in your world. Explain the oaks and the elms. Help them to understand. Save yourself both some time. We have survived in the forest since the beginning of time. I don't think the trees have changed, I think we just have too many forests now.  James M. Swem

The Last Few Weeks....

1,062 days ago, my right foot was crushed by a tractor trailer. I was out of work 488 days. The company I had worked for wanted me to violate my doctors orders and come back to work before I was released. From their point of view, they gave me enough time for the family medical leave act and because they were a small company, they needed to fill my position. Less then two weeks I was going to be released back to work.I was told they "restructured".
     While looking for work I filed an online application and resume for a large engineering firm in the area, to work in their panel shop. As it worked out my next job was actually with a company I had worked with years prior in their panel shop. As they were running low on work, I got a phone call from the large engineering firm and they wanted to know if I was still interested in an interview? I took the interview and ended up with a job position one step higher than what I had interviewed for!
     54 days ago I lost my job. Terminated. Living in this great state of New York, I filed for unemployment as you are supposed to. With a few weeks delay, and many hours spent pushing number buttons on the phone, I was granted unemployment. As a prior service vet you get to check an extra box. A few weeks later, I got invited to one of there 'vets welcome, this is what we can help you with' blah blah blah seminars. They said if we had any questions we could stick around afterwards for some one on one questions. When it came time to leave, twenty some odd people fled like the ship was going down! I stuck around. I had questions. They had a few things that seemed interesting to me! Met a vet rep., gave him the brief 'here's what I am thinking, what can we do?',  made an appointment for a few days later and went in and talked with the man. Because I prefer to research my own questions, try and find the answers and see if my path is sound - I had come up with few answers, found a good path, but just could not find how to get form here to there, I put my stuff in a folder and off I went to see the man!
     During our meeting, he handed me two piles of paper on the "how to's" of getting from here to there, part A.  While we talked, the other vet rep was listening, stuck in his four cents worth and agreed i had a sound plan! But.....   I am mostly an electrician. Why not get some schooling for low voltage, LED, and solar applications??  Seems to be the next thing coming...  and with my background, maybe I could find a few grants and start my own business ??  Helping other vets??  AWESOME !!  Uncle Sam has monies to send me back to school. You have to be enrolled in a full time program. All of the low voltage, LED and solar programs are "certifications" - pay the money, take the course, pass the test, get the certification. Now you are qualified to do it! Fine. Not "full time" enrollment. So while both vet reps are whacking the shit out of their keyboards, trying to find the answers, somewhere in the back of my head, plan "C" was stirring up dust. How do we get from here to there?  The money uncle sam is offering will pay for "some" school.....  Last time I wanted to start my own business, one of the questions was, "how much business experience do you have?"  hmmmm  Our local community college offers a business course....  what if I go back to school and get a degree in business?  I leaned in behind my vet rep and said,'what if i go to OCC for business administration?'  The clouds parted, the angels sang and my vet rep was doing the end zone goal football slam down field dance right there in the office !!!   File for the government stuff online, go up to the college next week, talk to the Office of Veteran's Affairs up there and it looks like I will going back to college for a two year degree in Business Technology... Go figure? Whoda thunk it?

     It has been a busy "last few weeks" !

Inspired By A Dream

This post was originally sent in an email format to a friend. While I sent it to the last email I have for this friend, I am not sure if it ever made it (as of this posting)

 While visiting a friends' house last evening, I was happy to discover that you lived next door! The house I was visiting had some older women living there and they were very in touch with nature and the energies around them. They knew you well and they knew your children. As we talked, they said that the kids were playing around back, with their kids and that if I wanted, you were probably around in the back, laying on a couch and I could go visit you.

As I came around back, it was great to see the kids, grown more now, playing, having fun with their friends!  You were laying down, very beautiful, very tired, in a very “southern bell” sort of dress. I paused to take in your beauty and to feel how good it felt to see you again. It has been a long time since we have been here, in this dream state….

            Time has weathered you some, but as your eyes opened, you caught my look….  your eyes said hello, but your mind met a moment of fear – wondering where your man was – were the kids safe? and there are the kids, playing just around the corner – of course they are safe….  do you see the size of the guy standing watch over them as mom sleeps? Your fear is gone. Your man is busy and un attending as usual. You smile! “Well there you are” you say. “It has been a long time,  glad you are back”

            You seem tired, too tired, and almost frail. I sit down next to you on the bed/couch and you come to life! We sure do bring each other to life – our life. Our parallel universe life that runs in time, on a different plane.

A hug, an embrace and almost…. a kiss. It is always…. almost!  Our minds seemed to cover time in an instant – the this and that of what has been going on…. but always there, and never asked – what happened to “us”?

Always thought, never asked.

            Reality brings you back, the worries the fears…. and yet I, as always, ride the universe a little more – less fear – no worry – you are beautiful!

So I fade off back out front, the kids do not notice as I wisp by – leaving my earth eating stride aside for the feet of a Cherokee to pass thru their space, un noticed, leaving them to the joy of the play and no worries of the man they never saw with mommy…

            Casual conversation with the women next door… they do not know your story, as gently I poke.

A daughter of theirs, and artist, a teen, and she flirts with my head as I flirt with her art. We dance, a game of circles… and slowly I fade off… not having unsettled the force – leaving all as found, and peaceful.

End Note: this should have been published in February of 2013 - just found that I never did publish it.....  March 2018

Freedom of Speech Freedom of Expression

At http://www.sweminator.com/sweminator_blog/2013/02/19/freedom-of-speech/  My brother put up a blog that is entitled "Freedom of Speech   Freedom of Expression"  As I hit that this morning, below is the reply that i left him. While he brings up a very good point about who can see what, I am not so smart. You will understand soon!


Hi,
My name is Jim Swem. I am 6’3″ naked, i range between 275 – 300 pounds, did seven years in the United States Army and was born circa 1963.

I burp, I fart, often don’t shave and typically only brush my teeth about 3 times a week.

Somewhere near the beginning of the end of my second marriage, we were working with a marriage counselor. During a conversation in session, I apparently spoke my mind. As we were leaving at the end of that session, I was asked to remain behind for a few minutes… Once it was just the shrink and I, he said to me,”you don’t sugar coat anything do you?” I told him very politely that no one has ever accused me of beating around the bush. Did I forget to mention I’m a Scorpio?

Politically Correct is tough. I have learned over the years to put a clutch on my tongue when it comes to swearing – I don’t need my kids dropping the “f” bomb at school. I ask of my friends that when the kids are around, that they do not cuss either.

I was raised with manors, common sense and the ability to think and work for and on my own. More often than not, this has cost me a few jobs. Even though on their application they require the ability to “work on ones own” when it comes down to it, they do not like that, nor do they like when you actually act on your own to get something done.

Freedom of speech…. FUCK YOU. !
Freedom of expression….. ::face the mirror:: flip yourself off. (thank you)

How about get your self a sense of freakin’ humor? That’s what we need more of. Nobody can take a joke any more. I’m driving down the road, checking out the guys hot chick, in the car next to me and the dude has to get all pissed off and flip me off. Now I gotta flip him off… how about just saying, yup, she’s hot, and keep on driving! Sense of humor.
How about as my boss, when you don’t like the way i am doing something, and i ask you how you would do it, instead of showing me sticks and mud, you don’t get all pissy when I tell you that just a few years ago they invented the wheel. It goes round and round and makes things work much smoother??

Freedom of speech is such a relevant thing… where are your feet at this moment in time? What is your mind set when you read/hear something? Are you offended because your pissed the wife didn't do you this morning? Are you happy because she did?? Does the news of the loss of a child rip your heart out because you have lost two of your own? So where are your feet right now? Even as we read this, you have know way of seeing my facial expressions. Do you know if i am laughing at this while i write it, or am I pissed that you are a dumb ass?

The beauty of it all of is that we live in America. I can and am writing this for you to read. Next time someone asks to see ID when you are buying beer, ask them what country they woke up in this morning. Politely explain to them that you do not need papers to cross the lines in this country. If they still ask for ID, ask for their manager. If that person does not have the common manners to see that you are old enough not to use an acne Clearasil pad, and still wishes to see your ID, explain to them that the beauty of this country is our freedom. Wish them a nice day and walk off. Go to the local quickie mart and get your beer. Freedom of Speech AND Freedom of Expression all in one shot.

Have a Nice Day – he says with a smile !!

Good Morning Monday!

So I get this email from the brothers wife....  says I have a sign in, password and a link to a couple of web pages.....  blog sites.

Wait - I got a phone call from an old friend, Mom Sherwood. We have not talked in awhile so the usual blah blah blah's about the families.... Joan has taken a voice over course, has gotten her certification for voice overs and has seventy-five copies of demo cd's to be sent out  [first phone call of the day set up for 11:30am] While Mom and I are talking, a lonely little brain cell fires and remembers that Joan had co-authored a book. So I said hey, your book could be your first book on tape! Use your new skill and it is another application for your talent! Well there's an idea. But neither one of us know anything about this sort of thing. I told her I know a guy!

I send my brother a text - you working or goofing off? (you can't disturb these fancy writer folks) Says he's [grab's cell phone, clicks texts, references brothers text] says he's writing, what's up? I hit call contact. Blah blah blah, up to speed about Joan, some of the back story, and has he looked into any book on cd? As we are talking about books on cd and some of their merits and/or short comings, The wife says they are audio books..... (snooty authors wife) (hi Dee) ok - go back to the top of the page, read the first two lines then come back here!

Hey, how are ya? So now I am writing [grabs phone again, references text] oh i am a "contributor" (she thinks i can spell cause i'm the smart one in the herd) contributor... ouch. Hurts just thinking about it.

Typing..... 60 words a minute, isn't that the standard [right click over word with red line under it, select correct spelling,click] maybe 60 words a minute, but my 3xl hands can hit about 95 words a minute, with most of those spelled wrong, not for the lack of knowledge on how to spell, but have you seen the size of my hands? High school guidance counselor said "no gynecologist for you"  Typing...

[rolls wheel on mouse] [looks about this page] if the thingy's are being read right, looks like I have been here an.... never mind... it looks like a clock in the bottom right corner of this box and it is 2 pm somewhere - it's 9 am here! So about an hour, nah 45 minutes (forgot i made coffee, took a dump and started a load of laundry) and the counter thingy says 430 words - 440

preview ? no s@#) took me to the blog page.

First off, that background color has to go. Reading a letter on top of baby sh#$ brown???  eeewww

Top right corner says "here we will be looking at projects we have at hand" Your hands ain't big enough for this project !!!

And the font is tough to read (could be the background color, could be my eyes - needs to be a darker or thicker font) yuck, cold coffee.

Audio books. More to come. Research away! And a blog site linked to this blog, linked to my blog, linked to ( Joan needs a blog) seems the last few weeks I have had a trend of pimping friends... to eric's web site (eric needs a blog)

And the first thing i read this morning was Dee's blog about planning.... interesting, very interesting! Did I consult the universe? So now I know she can swing a hammer from Washington State and have it hit me in the head in Upstate NY....  Well played sister in law!

(Trees for the Forrest) Tomorrow - or later

Jim Swem Monday 18 February 2013