that other guy’s thoughts

somebody needs to save me because I just baked a batch of cookies and they were delicious.

I know it’s not the typical holiday celebration, but I thought it fitting considering the timing.

I just received word that Mike Burke, my old Boy Scout Troop Scoutmaster, died on Saturday after a long fight with diabetes.

He was there from the day I joined the Boy Scouts at 10-years-old, through the day I had my Eagle Court of Honor. Eight years of my life I spent going to weekly meetings and monthly campouts. I learned how to make a fire, perform CPR, navigate with a compass, swim, canoe, cook, clean, and lead others, but that was all secondary. The real point of scouting is to become something better than yourself. Mike was the Sherpa on that journey, for myself and countless other young men.

He told off-color jokes and stories of campouts past. He helped us grow, helped us learn, helped us transition from boys at play, to men at work. He imparted wisdom, a quality sorely missing in most children’s journey. For all this and more, he will be missed. He lived the scout law, and made sure his boys did too. We opened or closed every meaning by reciting the motto, oath, slogan, or law. Because of this, I remember it to this very day, almost six full years since leaving the scouts.

A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

Aaron Sorkin must spend a fortune on stamps, because he just mailed in a giant turd sandwich in place of Episode 17 of Studio 60.

Maybe he’s just banking good material since the show got cancelled. It’s the only plausible explanation I’ve got. He’s simply to talented of a writer to be so crappy.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to rewatch season 4 of the West Wing to restore my faith in television.

I got some flack for complaining about my promotion a couple weeks ago. So lest you all think I’m a too much of a chronic complainer, I give you this little nugget of personal neurosis.

About once a month, ever since I started working 2 years ago, I’m struck by how awesomely unfair my life is, in my favor. I’ll look at my paycheck and think, “Holy Crap, they’re paying me how much?” I get paid handsomely for a job I would likely do for minimum wage. Objectively, yes, If Cessna only paid me $5.15 / hour, I would go someplace else. However, if engineering jobs, on the whole, only paid minimum wage, I’d still do it. That’s how much I enjoy what I do.

It’s a gift really. I have been blessed with a passion and talent that have allowed me to work in a field in which the work is diverse, in demand, and well-compensated. Obviously, a lot hard work went into getting this far, as seen by my many years of complaining about school, but hard work isn’t always enough to live the dream. Having a passion for airplanes, and a logical mind to understand them, that is a gift for which I really should be grateful.

A 50-year old dyed-blonde with nose stud trying to sell me “product” for 15 straight minutes while she cuts my hair. She was nice and friendly, but seriously, know your audience.

I’m a 23-year old dude in a ratty t-shirt and shorts. I got a haircut because it was $10 Tuesday and I happened to be walking by your business on my way into Sears to buy parts for my gas trimmer. Do you honestly think I’m buying a $19 bottle of gel?

Returning to my roots, I shall be camping until next Wednesday. If you need to contact me, too bad.

I have little to say on the occasion of Rev. Jerry Falwell’s death. Except to say this: the man brought out the lesser attributes of both faith and politics.

Prosecutor says firing came after her complaint about treatment

Once again, Phil Kline proves that he is everything that’s wrong with the Republican party.

At least he’s only screwing the taxpayers of Johnson County, not the entire state of Kansas.

Promotion.

Well, not a real promotion. I do the exact same job as before; I just get more money and a marginally better title. It’s not a promotion for doing my job well. It’s a promotion because I’ve worked here for 2 years, and at that point it becomes an insult to call your employees “associate engineers.” So you drop the “associate” and throw them a bit more scratch.

Of course the real insulting thing is working next to an “Engineering Specialist” who makes twice what I do for doing the exact same job at a less productive rate. Experience surely makes him valuable, probably more valuable than me, but twice as valuable? No freaking way.

But I suppose that is the inherent irony of the modern workplace. It’s impossible to be totally fair. When you get a raise one day, it becomes clear that the work you did the day before was compensated less that what you’ll do today, even though the quality is identical. Either you were unfairly underpaid yesterday or you’re being unfairly overpaid today. That’s the nature of the beast.

Maybe it’s an impossible ideal so we just do the best we can. Maybe the whole concept of “fairness” has no place in business. Maybe I’m just picking a fight because with Mo’ Money comes Mo’ Problems.

Today there is a TFR around McConnell AFB, because el presidente is flying in to see (and be seen) at Greensburg. If the winds are right, that might put Air Force One’s approach or departure path right over my house.

I have no idea what to do with this information.

Update (2:09 p.m.): Marine One just flew right over my house.