Pride

I remember, as a child, hoisting the flag. At school. At my Aunt Mary Jo's house with my uncle Richie.

As I grew up, that childhood patriotism waned. I grew less wide eyed toward our government, toward the process, and more and more disappointed by the lack of education of the voters. The ambivalence. The closed mindedness.

Tonight, my adopted state went blue again. My home state went blue again. And my home state voted not only to overturn a previous law banning same sex marriages but also is looking like they will vote to allow same sex couples to marry.

As we drove home from dinner with my brother-in-law, I realized that I was suddenly feeling a patriotism that I had not felt since I was a child. Maybe I had never felt it at all. But listening to the election coverage was inspiring. And this has been added to the outside of our house.

Hamster Huey

I always thought this was funny "ha ha".

Now...well, now I understand. And I'm no longer sure it's funny "haha". I may just be funny "funny".

Timshel

I'm lying awake in a silent house far too late at night. My wife has passed out long ago, after putting each of the children to bed. Where was I? I selfishly disappeared to play hockey, my one night a week when I get a chance to pick up a stick and play instead of work.

There is such love in this house. I'm amazed at how this family has grown, the love that is shared and the time that is spent. I'm grateful for my parents and Hope's parents for sharing time with us here in Colorado. It makes them feel like they live far closer than the 2100 miles that separate us.

Emiko, Winslow, Gibson and I shared some time in the backyard tonight. Emiko proceeded to tackle me when I announced that I had to leave for hockey. Winslow then piled on and we all lay in the grass laughing. Gibson cuddled up close to where we were rolling about.

Their laughter and delight proceeded to keep me long after I had planned on climbing in the car. How do you choose to walk away from such moments? I can't. I revel in them. I memorize them. I choose to delay that departure to play for a moment longer. And I set them to a soundtrack....

I'm so very, very lucky.

Chick-fil-A

I do not know why I avoided this for so long. But I have. And I feel shame.

We live in a country where we can stand up and make our voice be heard. We are free to be on either side of the issue. We can teach and guide our children in our beliefs. We can do the same with a company, a school or a group we found. We can hang it all out there.

To this end, I applaud Chick-fil-A. Good for them for shutting down on Sunday, there is nothing wrong with that. They follow the belief system set out for them by the religion they subscribe to. They voiced an opinion that will gain them a certain following but will lose them a group of consumers as well. In a world that often hides behind the guise and anonymity of the internet (hmm...does the finger point at me here?), they truly put their money where their mouth is.

History will find Chick-fil-A wrong. In fact, on a certain level, history probably already has. That is the beauty of history. But their rote dedication to the instruction of their religion will become their downfall. 

The beauty of the human race is that we learn, we evolve, we study our past mistakes. Our forefathers dealt with social issues of their time, it is our turn to deal with the issues we are confronted with today

If you have time, read this CNN.com article by Sarah Aarthun. If not, know that there are plenty who are willing to stand in opposition of Chick-fil-a.

"But at the local level, Chick-fil-A is meeting resistance from city officials in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Philadelphia City Councilman James Kenney sent a letter to Cathy this week, telling the CEO in blunt terms to "take a hike and take your intolerance with you," and vowing to introduce a resolution at the next council meeting condemning the company.

"There is no place for this type of hate in our great City of Brotherly and Sisterly Affection," Kenney wrote.

San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee tweeted: "Closest #ChickFilA to San Francisco is 40 miles away & I strongly recommend that they not try to come any closer."

Mayor Emanuel, a Democrat, said this week that "Chick-fil-A's values are not Chicago values. They're not respectful of our residents, our neighbors and our family members."

And in Boston, where Chick-fil-A is considering opening a location, Mayor Thomas Menino, also a Democrat, made it clear the chain would not be welcome.

"I don't want an individual who will continue to advocate against people's rights. That's who I am and that's what Boston's all about," he said."

This CNN.com article by Sarah Aarthun as well.

"The Jim Henson Co., whose Jim Henson's Creature Shop toys have been served up in Chick-fil-A's meals for kids, announced last week that it would no longer associate itself with the chain.
 
"The Jim Henson Co. has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over 50 years and we have notified Chick-fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors,” the company said on its Facebook page."

We are making progress. Too slow at times but despite the resistance, we are moving forward.

Presidential Race

This will be blunt:

Seth --

This isn't hyperbole or exaggeration:

If we don't win this election, it will be because we didn't close the spending gap when we could.

Because right now we're seeing that voters have a choice between two very different men.

And the only way someone like Mitt Romney -- who's asking Americans to put him in charge of their taxes while refusing to come clean about his own, who wants to repeal Obamacare, end Medicare as we know it and give more tax breaks to billionaires who don't need them -- defeats someone like Barack Obama, is if the other side spends us into oblivion.

Tomorrow is the most urgent fundraising deadline of this campaign so far. Will you make a donation of $3 or more today to make sure we can keep this close over the last 100 days?

It's already starting on TVs and radios in swing states, and it's not going to stop.

In the last two weeks of this month, Romney and his allies had an almost 2:1 spending advantage in Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Virginia -- and that could be the election right there.

We've got more than 2.4 million grassroots donors building this the right way.

But we're running out of time to close the money gap when it really matters.

Please donate $3 today, and help make sure our message can get through to as many voters as Mitt Romney's does:

https://donate.barackobama.com/July-Deadline

Barack and I honestly wish we could thank everyone who contributes to this campaign personally. You're our second family, you know.

Thanks,

Joe

Mr. Vice-President,

This, too, will be blunt.

It is offensive to me that you put financing this coming election on my shoulders. I will do my duty and talk about my political views, get out and vote, and push others to do the same. I'm working my ass off over here. Two jobs to help keep my family clothed, fed, housed, educated and all else. If I had money left over after that, I'd consider giving it to you. But I'd also consider giving it to other organizations who likely need it far more than you do, especially if you lose this election.

Your job, besides helping steer this great country, is to make yourself electable. Or, as it may be, re-electable. Do not insinuate that if YOU lose this election, it is because I didn't open my wallet. Get out there and tell us why we need to re-elect you and the President. Win over our hearts. Win over our votes.

I am a loyal supporter. But your message makes me feel more like an offended supporter.

Seth Mukai

Fire

 Below are photos coming in from friends and family. 

My brother-in-law, Sam, is stationed in the Colorado Springs. He has been able to watch the smoke from the Waldo Canyon fire for the past few days.

The view from his deck:

View from Sam's deck

Waldo Canyon fire coming over the ridge

Evac time

 Sam was evacuated late last night.

Another friend, Joe, in the Springs was evacuated a while ago. The fire has been tearing through his neighborhood and we are hoping that his family's house is spared.

A fire started yesterday just west of Boulder. Auntie Molly is currently digging fire line in Boulder today. They are hoping to keep the fire out of Boulder proper. We are hoping the weather cooperates.

Another friend is also working the fire in Boulder. Sterling is an assistant chief for one of the outlying communities but everyone seems to have been pulled in.

Molly's view at the Flagstaff Fire

Thoughts, prayers, positive vibes...whatever we can send their way. The folks here in Colorado need it.

Smock

This may very well be the original strip that sold me on Calvin and Hobbes. It is undoubtedly one of my favorites out of the hilarity that made up the entire strip. It is a standout. One that I can always picture in my mind's eye. One that still makes me laugh.

They will always be our baby

I saw this this morning. It will be me with Emiko and Winslow.

Which reminded me of this from 2 years ago.


They will always be my babies.

Guns

Growing up, our parents were fairly reticent when it came to letting us play with toy guns. The upside/downside of being born to hippie parents (Mom resembles this comment...Dad probably resents it). We were allowed squirt guns and a handful of cap guns and I have a memory of Dad cutting a toy gun out of a piece of wood with a jig saw but that was pretty much it. BB guns were out of the question. I bought a slingshot that was confiscated on parental grounds. Anything that looked real was out of the question.

Fast forward to high school...

I started dating Hope our junior year. There is a story I like to tell about our first official date.

I arrived at her house in my silver diesel Rabbit. I knocked on the door to the mud room and heard Skip bellow out, "C'mon in." His voice dwarfed the noise made by what sounded like a very vicious and angry dog. I opened the door and stepped into the mudroom and then knocked on the next door which led to a small passageway between the kitchen and the living room. Again came a bellow, "C'mon in." This, again, over the noise of what sounded to be a dog well past the foaming at the mouth stage.

I cracked the door and was met first by an Aussie Shepherd with teeth bared. He did not like me. He never liked me.... After I assessed his posture and decided it was only a 50/50 chance he wouldn't bite me, I stepped past and was met with the sight of the entire Winslow family sitting in the living room watching a black and white cowboys and Indians movie. I did not have time to ascertain whether it was the movie that was black and white or the television as the entire family had a veritable arsenal in their hands. And they were dry firing at the tv.

I was now in fight or flight mode. These were the people my parents had warned me about. These were the things I was not supposed to do. The first thought that passed through my mind was whether or not I could make it back out to the Rabbit, light up the glow plugs, fire up the engine and be well down the road before one of said guns was loaded and trained on me. Keep in mind that a diesel Rabbit posted a 0-60 acceleration time of  something like 18 seconds. With a tailwind. Down a hill. A very steep, steep hill that more resembles a cliff. With a bobsled crew pushing from the back.

I decided that I likely would not survive past warming up the glow plugs. Which, yes, means I decided to fight.

Skip was sitting in an arm chair across the room. Hope and Barb bookended Sam and Steve on a crowded couch. Skip boomed out, "Make room on the couch for Seth, boys." The two boys pushed further toward their mother leaving me a sliver to sit between them and Hope. I stepped into the living room while dragging a dog that had latched itself on to my Achilles tendon.

I sank into the sofa next to Hope. The dog moved from my flank to directly in front of me. Ears back. Eyes on only me. Growling. Skip looked over and announced, "We are shooting the bad guys." He then leaned back and lifted a leg, a' la someone about to fart, reached under the seat cushion and pulled out a beautiful silver plated, pearl handled revolver. He checked it. Spun it in his hand like a cowboy so the handle faced me and asked, "Do you know how to make sure it is safe?"

I shook my head no.

Skip proceeded to show me how to clear each chamber, handed to me, watched me as I cleared the weapon and, satisfied, said, "Now shoot the bad guys!".

I aimed somewhere in the vicinity of the television, cocked the hammer, closed my eyes and slowly squeezed the trigger, fully expecting a massive explosion, a rapid retreat to my car, the search for enough spare change to somehow pay for a tv that just exploded because of something I screwed up.

"Click"

I opened my eyes. The television was still in one piece. Everyone else was merrily firing away at the tv. No one had noticed the hippie child on the couch afraid of dry firing a gun. I had not wet my pants in public. The dog was still staring at me with burning eyes. I had passed my first test.

Oh the ways in which I am going to screw with Emiko's first date....

Connections, Part Deux: Heroes

It's a rare occasion that we get to spend time with true heroes. Or that we are even connected to them, however remotely.

Almost a year ago, I posted this message in my blog. Seven days shy of that anniversary, I'm reading about Louis Nolting again. The son of the buyer for our top shop, he was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross.

You can read all about it here as there is no description I can offer that even comes close to the tale you are going to read.

Shame on you

What is the purpose of government? I am here to suggest that the purpose of government is to look out for those who can not look out for themselves. As individuals, we can not always rise to meet the challenges that strike at our core. Which is why we rely on our government to respond for us as a collective.

Government supports a police force to protect its citizens. Fire departments to protect citizens from danger. First responders to respond to tragedy. National guard to respond to disaster. Military force to protect the nation from danger.

North Carolina passed an initiative that amends the state constitution to make civil unions illegal. The STATE CONSTITUTION. This bypasses a law that was already in effect that made civil unions illegal. Apparently that wasn't good enough. This is a law that in 20 years will be overturned. Why? It isn't a party line thing. The split was age. The older generations are against civil unions. The younger generations have realized that homophobia is the next civil rights battle ground. But the thing that hurts the most is that the same people who stood with MLK on civil rights for African Americans are now drawing a line in the sand and stating that their religious doctrines say that homosexuality is a sin. Shame on you for not seeing the hypocrisy in this. Shame on you for not standing up for your brothers and sisters who are now fighting a civil rights battle. Shame on your for not realizing the bible says many things and that you must cull the items which no longer make sense in our world.

Closer to home, here in Colorado, the GOP effectively blocked a civil unions bill by preventing any debate on the floor which, in turn, prevents an up-down vote on the bill itself. At some point, you people need to realize you are standing on the wrong side of history. While homophobia will never disappear, the tide is turning as you age yourselves out of the way. I only hope that you realize how wrong you are, the legacy you are leaving in your wake and at some point either step aside or concede that your younger generation will overturn your shameful decisions. Shame on you, House Speaker Frank McNulty, for keeping this from a vote. Your fear should not prevent the rest of Colorado from making a decision. Your fear should not prevent the government from creating a stance for those who have been bullied, derided, abused and discriminated against. Shame on you for forgetting that government is created to protect those in the minority, those who need the support and protection of a larger entity, those who are simply looking for the same rights afforded to their fellow citizens.

Finally...shame on me. Shame on me for not lending a more active voice. Shame on me for not taking the time to stand shoulder to shoulder with others who stood in support at our state Capitol. Shame on me for not setting an example to my children that we must be more politically active.

With that, I climb down from my soap box.

Anniversary

Most of the time, I hope Anthony is off riding endless singletrack. Or taking another wonderful picture. Or still sponsored by a bike company AND a beer company.

All of the time, I miss him.

Class Act

I've been going to Avalanche games for years now. About 10 years ago, our friend moved her seats from the lower bowl up to the club level. Our server, Paul, soon became a friend and we look forward to seeing him just as much as we do seeing the game. 

Paul's late wife, a Denver City Councilwoman passed away a year ago yesterday. Paul came over to the seats and sat and talked with me for quite some time before the game got underway. I think yesterday was a tough day for him but it felt good to sit with an old friend and chat. He is planning a bicycling holiday this summer, taking a train west and then riding north along the Pacific coast before cutting back toward home and Colorado.

Paul is unlike most other servers. He is outgoing, loves life, extremely personable and always quick with a smile. He runs tabs for all his customers rather than taking a credit card at the start of the game. He'd rather treat us all like respectable adults rather than being suspicious of everyone.

Last night, a random patron just to the right of us walked out on the tab. When Paul came to settle up with our row, he found the guy was missing. As we settled our tab, one of my friends looked at me and asked if it would be appropriate for us to cover the walkouts tab. I told him to ask Paul and my friend proceeded to cover the drinks for the walkout.

My friend had no idea of the significance of last night to Paul. The anniversary. The grief. Or the fact that my friend made a tough day much brighter.

I want to grow up to be like him.

I love this game, part trois

I've just been served. Thank you, Mr. Baldwin.


And this.

And finally:


I am more than happy to take a drubbing on this one!

I love this game part deux

What other professional sport is putting gay rights advocacy front and center? Is it just that I really only follow hockey that I see this? Or is the sport I love so much really this cutting edge?

 

Read this.

I do know that there is a line being drawn in the sand. That history will look back on us, right now, and judge who was on which side of that line. We look back on the Mason-Dixon line. The Emancipation Proclamation. Suffrage and the 19th Amendment. The Holocaust. Rosa Parks and Montgomery. Four students in Greensboro. Harvey Milk.

I stand proudly on my side of the line. I will gladly be judged by the test of history.

"And though it's only my opinion

I may be right or wrong

You'll find them both

In the Grand Canyon

At sundown."

-Dylan

I love this game

All Questions are Rhetorical

In memoriam of Michael James Lachat

It's been a rough start of the year. Last night, after finishing up an ECHL game, we got news that one of our good friends lost his brother.

Rocket, our hearts go out to you. I am going to borrow your words as they are far superior to anything I may say.

He was born May 15th 1957 at 3:50pm. The doctors told our Mom & Dad he would not survive & they had an emergency Baptism for him on May 17th. In my Mother's distraught state she told the nurse the wrong name -- He was suppose to be James Michael & he was officially Michael James. He survived 6 months & then the doctors told my folks he wouldn't function well, if at all after age 16. Well as always he thumbed his nose at that prediction & 4 mos shy of his 55th birthday at around 11:30am on Jan 28th, God invited Michael James Lachat to heaven for a family get together with our Mom & Pop, aunts & uncles, grandma & nana, grandfathers & great grandmother. I will miss him everyday but know they're all having the time of their lives breaking bread. I love you Mike.

You are a wonderful man, Joe.

In memoriam of Earl Baldwin

I began receiving several emails from my brother Nick yesterday, by way of my mother.

They wanted that one of my best friend's grandfather had passed away. The more I read about him in the articles from the Bangor Daily News, the more I wished I had met him long ago. 

It's belated but thank you for your wonderful grandson, for the stories I have yet to hear about you and for your service, both public and during World War II.

Godspeed, Mr. Baldwin.

Life hits hard

"It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."

Life hits hard. It hits unexpectedly. It can throw you off your game, make your eyes water, make your knees buckle.

Everything started around Christmas. One of our employees lost her mother to a sudden brain aneurysm. She collapsed during an epic powder day. Then one of the owner's father had a sudden grand mal seizure out of the blue, something that never happened before. The doctors have been struggling to get the proper drug cocktail for him so he was in the hospital for days. An uncle, a man I think of before every hockey game I work, suddenly took ill and has been hospitalized off and on over the past few weeks. The initial scare was cancer but it turned out to gall stones. The initial operation took care of the pain temporarily but he was then hit with an infection and another gall stone attack. My father-in-law has been dealing with an ankle problem that can only be rectified with surgery. At best, he would be in a wheelchair for 2 months after the surgery and then a soft cast for 2 more months. The concern is that since he is in his 70's, surgery could be a challenge and the semi-worst case is that he would lose his foot.

Couple all of this with the news I got yesterday from my parents.

My mom and dad sold their Rialta with plans to buy an SUV and travel trailer. I have been looking for the appropriate tow vehicle for the past month or so. We were getting ready to purchase a truck when the call came in that we needed to hold off on any purchases until other things were figured out.

My father explained that Mom had been feeling short of breath. They finally went in and found that fluid had built up around her lung, essentially collapsing her lung. And then they found cancer cells in that fluid. So she was now scheduled for a bone scan to determine if anything else was going on and that she would need to start a low dose chemo treatment.

This all made me feel like my knees were going to buckle. My eyes were already watering from the sting. Dad was doing all the talking because Mom just wasn't in a place to talk right then.

During her first battle with cancer, she always listened to the soundtrack from Braveheart. It was music that lifted her spirits and set her mind on fighting the cancer that had grown inside her. She has still never seen the movie. She doesn't need to...she fought that battle in her head over and over and over.

Mom, I don't know what words can help. All I keep coming back to is this: "Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

My Mom is a fighter. She will get her feet under her and she will walk forward into this with her head high. And all her family and friends will be walking by her side to help her fight this next battle.

Mom, there is a whole army ready to go to war with you.

Today is a big day. My uncle is in for surgery to have his gall bladder removed. My father-in-law is meeting with the doctors to make a decision about his ankle. My Mom is in for a bone scan to see what we are up against.

I wish all of us luck.

It's not about your politics

(Credit: Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

It's not about your politics, it's about being part of a team. As a team, you either live together or die alone.

Tim Thomas decided to forgo a celebration at the White House for last year's Stanley Cup victory.  I initially felt that it is his prerogative to decline an invitation from the President. Thomas' team released several statements about how it was not a mandatory event, that it was his choice, that it was his politics.

And then I read Thomas' horseshit Facebook post which he didn't have the chutzpah to post before his teammates and his general manager had to begin fielding questions regarding his noticeable absence.

Thomas' message: "I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People. This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government. Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL. This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT" 

Really? It isn't the Democrats and it isn't the Republicans? At least try being honest. It is about Obama. Admit it. Have the balls to admit it! Of course you have the right to decline the invitation to the White House. We all do. But this was your opportunity to voice your opinion about what is going on in your country with the man America elected President. You could have taken the time to talk to him quietly about your view of politics in Washington. You could have posted to Facebook that while you don't agree with politics in Washington, you took the opportunity to express any of your concerns with the President of the United States. But rather than standing up with your teammates, you stood up alone.

As my father so aptly put it, if Thomas can't see past the politics to celebrate as a team, how will he feel about teammates who have alternative political views? How will they feel about laying down to block a shot for him? How about trying to slow down a forward crashing the net?

Tim Thomas, you have disgraced the nation. You have disgraced the American jersey you wore in the Olympics. You have disappointed me. I shared in New England's excitement when the Bruins finally won the Stanley Cup last year. Now, I will never be able to root for a team you play for. 

Finally, your actions took the spotlight away from a team that deserved to celebrate their victory. You are the black sheep that sullied that party. You have to live with being "that guy." You really do stand alone.

MLK

MLK's birthday has always been a big thing with my mother. There was always a cake. There was always a discussion at the dinner table that night. There was always a great deal of respect for a man I know only through what history has told me.

Mom's message to us last night was that Paul McCartney had written Blackbird to honor and commemorate the struggles of black American's in the sixties. I had no idea.

Over the years, I have learned more about the man himself. His horseplay, his friends, the men and women who stood by his side in the face of such incredible adversity. Each generation has their heroes; this year, I found myself wondering who would take MLK's lead and walk us forward into our next American chapter. Whether it is eradicating homophobia, xenophobia, poverty, religious intolerance or any of the other major social issues we face on a daily basis, who will follow MLK's lead?

Winslow was already asleep when I arrived home last night. Emiko and I sat at the dinner table at talked about MLK. About how it was an important man's birthday. About how he struggled to make things right in a world where there was injustice, where some people were being "mean" to others. I struggled to find the right words to frame for her 3 year old intellect how MLK helped correct the course of history.

After we spoke, Emi turned to Hope and said, "Mommy, it is Martin Luther King's birthday today. Can we have cake?" My mother will be so proud.

He would have been 83 this year.

New Year, new focus

I'm not much for New Year's resolutions.

(says the guy who gave up soda a few new years ago)

I have a few close friends who are giving up alcohol. Tobacco. Other vices. But I could not think of something I could do to join them.

And then I thought of our kitchen. How Hope cooks there every night. How she cleans it up every night. (During the hockey season) How she does all of this after putting the kids to bed.

I have been coasting since Winslow was born. Hope has been home full time taking care of everything while I breeze in and out, relying on her to maintain our household. Too much has been on her shoulders.

So, my plan is to make sure I lead the charge on maintaining a clean kitchen.

(one final thought...this picture was taken when we first purchased the house...boy, those two plants have not fared well!)