Halloween Connections

The 304th day of 2015 was Halloween 2015.  10/31/15 was a great day.  I love Halloween.  I love seeing all of the kids and connecting with Halloweens past.  I love watching my own kids connect with their friends with their costume themes and their plans for routes for maximum candy effectiveness.  And I love how, in Oaklyn, Halloween is a Community Connecting event, with merchants, families, friends, and neighbors all connecting in a fun day that turns into a fun evening! This year, with Halloween being on a Saturday, these connections were just that much stronger and I am going to bed tonight a happy guy.  HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Couch Connections

Day #303 (which is a palindrome) should have provided me with more energy than I had.  But, on 10/30/15, the cumulative effects of this week and, frankly, the whole month got to me.  I was not feeling peppy, so I rested.  And that is good.  And now I am going to connect with my bed, as I previously have connected to my couch......zzz.....

Divine Connections

I do not want to seem preachy on Day #302 of 2015, but the events of the evening of 10/29/15 warrant it.  I was driving home, feeling a bit melancholy because I had caused a problem at work that made people a lot of extra work and consternation.  I was rushing home, because I had organized an OMAYSC trip to a haunted hayride.  But wait, I messed up the bus contract and the buses were scheduled for tomorrow.  But I had kids, Police, a Councilperson, and other adults ready to chaperone...what were we going to do!?!?!?!?!?  As my friends and neighbors were gathering their vans and cars and as we were calculating the limit in each vehicle, a gift from God occurred (and, yes, I am serious, I believe that this is what it was).  An Oaklyn resident, who drives for a bus company, was driving to his home, and we connected with him and he and his fellow driver (who was five minutes away) agreed to arrange to work our event.  AMAZING.  I felt a true connection to my community, who were trying to figure out a solution, and then a connection to a benevolent force that would send me such a gift of two willing bus drivers with buses who would assist us.  And the evening was saved....thank the Lord!

Billboard Connections

On the 301st day of 2015, I think my connection thoughts are unique.  On both the commute to and from work on 10/28/15, the electronic billboards made me smile.  The messages they have like "Have a Great Day" and then "Bye Bye" or "Tomorrow's Another Day" just connect with me and have been speaking to me. I know these are probably easy for the marketing and communication majors to figure out what makes most commuters tick, but, the messages for the past few days have really been meaningful.  Yes, I know that is strange, but who said connections are always logical :-).  Goodnight All!

Flowery Connections

And with the end of the 4-0 victory by the Colls Middle School Navy FH Team, Alexa's Middle School career in FH has ended on 10/27/15.  And the 300th day of 2015 found the 8th graders feted with flowers.  Flowers are an indication of celebration and appreciation and I saw that they were also present at the High School FH Senior Game.  What a neat connection to make seeing pics of the 12th graders on the precipice of graduating and moving on to College, our 8th graders are on the precipice of High School.....time passes, a little too quickly, but I am trying to enjoy the ride!!

Connecting Through Conversation

10/26/2015 was Day #299 of 2015 and, being the 4th Monday of the month, the evening found me in the OMAYSC meeting at Boro Hall.  And, being October, it is a busy time for us so we had a meaty agenda and a really good meeting.  I realized, sitting there, how connected we all become when we are having good conversation and, yes, listening to each other.  Connecting to each other and connecting to the task at hand....and, with OMAYSC, connecting to the kids and the community.

Reforming Connections

I was the Liturgist at Church on the 298th Day (10/25/15) of 2015.  And, because of that, I read the bulletin with a sharper eye and I paid attention to the scripture texts and intros closer than usual as well.  I really connected to this verse: "You are like the clay in the potter's hands, and I am the potter."  We are re-formed and we can re-form our connections on a daily basis.  Just as the Church was reformed, so can we be.  I will move into the coming week thinking about my connections that need reforming and the ways in which I can be reformed.

Connecting with Young Musicians

I spent the afternoon of the 297th Day of 2015 in the company of some amazing youth.  10/24/15 was the 70th celebration of United Nations Day.  Anna's choir got to sing in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center.  Joining her group were other amazing, talented youth who provided us with an amazing concert.  I felt especially connected when the Peabody Youth Orchestra performed a few pieces that I, myself, had performed when I was in High School and College.  It connected me back to a time when _I_ was a youth member of ensembles.  The fact that there are so many young people connecting to classical music gives me hope for the culture of future generations.  And it was fun to remember my performing times as well.  Sing (and Play) On!

Red Ribbon Week Connects

1023/15 was the kickoff to Red Ribbon Week 2015.  I was lucky to be able to leave work early on the 296th day of 2015 so I could get to the Red Ribbon Week Pep Rally and then, after a Colls M.S Field Hockey Game, get back to the School for the Red Ribbon Halloween Dance.  I love trying to connect with the students to promote a healthier and safe lifestyle.  I like seeing their smiling faces and I loved to hear the cheers for the students of the month in the Pep Rally that were just as loud as those for the athletes.  Hoping we can continue to make these connections and continue our positive promotions.

Sewn Together (Connected) Across the USA

10/22/15 was day #295 of 2015.  And my heart was filled this evening as my connecting moment (some days they just LEAP at me) occurred.  Anna was working on her Halloween costume and FaceTimed my mom, in CA, so she could get coaching on sewing buttons.  I loved seeing what the 21st Century technology allows.  Anna was connecting with my mom technologically, but there were more connections occurring and I cannot wait for my mom to come East to work with her in person on sewing projects.  When things are sewn together, they are connected.  And tonight, sewing connected my mom and my daughter.  <3

Postseason Connections

10/21/2015, Day #294 of 2015, and I have been reminded (thank you, FB) that, 35 years ago, the Phillies won their first Championship.  And I remember each game of that fateful World Series.  And I remember standing outside the Wyndham-Franklin waiting to see if we could get a glimpse of George Brett and the Royals.  And the thought of the Postseason takes me back to 1993 and attending so many of the games, in those Playoffs, with George Schafer and the fun we had.  Baseball playoffs connect me to the joyous times of the past, like the 2008, 2009, and 2010 seasons when I attended games in Citizen's Bank Park and the buzz and thrills of seeing a perfect game by Doc Halladay and being in the 5th row (thank you Dr. Kramer) when the Phils won their second Championship.  There is something special and connecting about the baseball playoffs and I love watching.  Even if most of the teams I have been rooting for have been losing....it's still fun and connecting to watch!

Connected to My Youth

"For it's hard, you will find
To be narrow of mind if you're young at heart"
On the 293rd Day of 2015, 10/20/2015, these were the lyrics playing as I pulled into the parking garage.  And I thought about how I have chosen to connect to my community here at home: The Little League, OMAYSC, work in the School, these are all things I love and enjoy and feel strongly about doing so that kids' lives can be better. And I think it is because, when working for the betterment of kids, I can connect to my own childhood and have fun, it was a simpler time then.  But, most importantly, I really connect to the lyrics.  Because we should all connect to the time when we were less narrow of mind, in our childhoods, when everything seemed possible and we saw the good in people and things and places.  I spent the evening, with Claudia, preparing for Red Ribbon Week, but it's a labor of love when you can connect to being young at heart!

Connecting to a Song

I did not get a lot of sleep this weekend, so the 292nd day started off with me a little dragging.  But the palindromic effect of 292 quickly turned the day better.  10/19/15 found me in front of the school, after dropoff, being smiled at by a friend's son.  His smile put me in a good mood.  Imagine how much better the mood was when my favorite song came on the radio on my way to work.  And I connected to that song and all the good memories it brought back.  And I sang loudly in my car - wondering what people were thinking around me, but not really caring.  Music set the tone for the rest of the day!

Striving to be a Connector

On the 281st day of 2015 (10/18/15), we wrapped up the Fall 2015 Leadership Weekend.  As I reflect back on the past 48 hours, I realize that, liking connections so much, what I am striving to do every day is to be a connector.  Connecting people to each other, connecting people to resources to assist, connecting people with content (in the case of educational endeavors), and connecting WITH people. As I was searching for quotes to represent how I feel, I came upon this one and it is almost perfect.  i DO try to be a connector in students' lives, in the lives of my neighbors in my community, in my fellow church congregants, and even, sometimes, in my own family.  Connecting is important to me and being a connector is an aspiration!

(from 10/17/15) Leadership Connects

Leadership Connects. And the 290th day of 2015 was no exception. 10/17/15 was the marathon day for LW 2015 and I appreciated connecting with such a great group of campus student leaders. Also appreciated being part of such an amazing staff of facilitators. Great Day! Great Connections. Even if we did lose the Trivial Pursuit game in a card-v-card shootout......

(from 10/16/15) Connecting in the Wilderness

Day #289 of 2015, and the day took a different turn on 10/16/15. After a day of supporting day two of the rollout, I drove three hours to North Jersey's Camp Bernie. So, I guess you can say we are spending the Weekend at Bernie's!! Connections with the students on Leadership Weekend are always fun and plentiful!!! Looking forward to the weekend's events and connections. But first a good night sleep with fresh wilderness air!

Success Connects a Team

Day #288 of 2015 is 10/15/15.  288 is a great number, because it is 2 times 144!  And this day was not too gross (sorry) at all!  This was a day I will never forget.  My first Go-Live event as a part of an IT implementation team.  Not my last, I am sure, and maybe not even the biggest Go-Live event, but a landmark day for the team.  We had great success on this day and the success connected us all.  The entire team worked hard and shined together.  I feel very connected to this team of fine, smart, wonderful colleagues.  And I feel that the users of the system felt connected to us too.  We got "thank yous," and smiles, and I even got a hug.  I am tired and happy..... time for bed!  Day #2 of system tomorrow!

Anticipating Connections

So, here we are, 10/14/15 is the eve of our big project launch tomorrow.  The 287th day of 2015 was spent getting ready and crossing our fingers that all would point to a successful Go-Live tomorrow. And tomorrow will be a day of connecting to the many users in SRFS and across campus for whom this will be a big change.  I am waiting in excited anticipation, kind of like before Christmas or even before my wedding day.  As I told someone today, I think I am equal parts excited and anxious....but I am really looking forward to tomorrow.  Successful connections are anticipated....let's hope this comes true.  To sleep early tonight, it's a big day tomorrow.

Connected to a Hard Day's Work

I cannot tell you much about what happened on 10/13/2015.  I spent most of the 286th day in my office, in the basement of the Franklin Building.  I ate all three meals there, got in at 8:30AM and left at 10:30PM.  I did enjoy listening to the MLB Playoffs on my computer, but most of the day was spent in front of my computer, performing tasks for our upcoming project Go-Live.  It connected me to the goal, it connected to me to my co-workers, it connected me to the project.....maybe too much. So, now, I am going to connect to my bed, so I can get up early tomorrow and do it all over again.  I am not so sure about it being the best part of the day....but, it's part of my day this week!  Onward and Upward!

Connecting to Support

10/12/15, Day #285, was a day of depending on networks.  And not of the computer kind.  We ran into our first big roadblock in our project, but a network of team members worked on it all day and we will soon be back on track!  Then I spent the evening working with a network of supportive colleagues to assist a student who is struggling.  I love the networks I have at Penn.  They supplement the ones I have in my community, in my Church, in my Family.....  Networks, by design, are filled with connections....maybe it's why I like so much to be a part of strong ones.

Connecting Through Teamwork

The 284th day of 2015 started VERY early.  10/11/15 was a key day in my work-project's conversion weekend.  And it was an awesome (albeit early) morning.  We all gathered together as a team and we all were working together towards a common goal.  We had been connecting all weekend via emails and texts and updates, but, this morning, we connected in a tangible, personal way.  We cheered each other's successes, we assisted with each other's concerns, and we got done so early, I could still make Alexa's second game in her Field Hockey tournament.  I love watching Alexa in her team sports.  She also connects, tangibly, to her teammates and it is quite similar to the successes we had this morning. Now, in this game, they did not win, so it was not as successful as they had hoped, but the way the team played together, THAT was a connecting success.

Weddings Connect

On 10/10/15, Sarah and I attended our 4th wedding of the year.  The 283rd day of 2015's wedding was an amazing event filled with family, fun, and friends in a bucolic farm setting.  It was beautiful and we had a lot of fun!  Driving home, I reflected, with Sarah, how all of our weddings this year have been connected to Penn.  The various parts of our Penn lives....Penn Band, Nursing, Dining Services, and back to Penn Band!  But all connected to Penn, and that makes sense given how central Penn has been (and still is central now) to our own lives.  But then I also thought about weddings in general and how connecting they are.  The obvious connection of the two people setting off on their journey together, but also friends and family coming together in celebration.  Some rekindling connections, some making new ones, but all connecting....and in celebration together!

Bowling for Connections

Well, what did Steinbeck say about the best laid plans of Mice and Men?  On the 282nd day (bound to be a good one, it's palindromic), my project at work hit some key milestones and the conversion nd preparation for our Go-Live is well on its way.  But the connections on 10/9/15 were REALLY felt in the evening when we had another Old First Church Youth Group gathering.  Although we planned to do a flashlight corn maze, Mother Nature had other ideas, so we hit the bowling alley.  It was fun to see the kids bowling, connecting with each other, building new friendships and strengthening others. Although it was not what we planned, the evening was fun and connection filled.

Feeling Older, but Still Connected

Day #281 was another day of deadlines, at work.  And, all deadlines completed, I can go to bed early on the evening of 10/8/2015.  Going to bed before 10PM because I feel creaky and sore, tired and exhausted.  I kinda feel old today, physically.  But also mentally as I was wondering "how do these youngsters at work think they can....," well, the details are immaterial.  But it was a "hey you kids get off my lawn" kind of moment in my mind and I have been realizing that I am no longer the youngish employee.  I am the grizzled veteran who needs to mentor and assist.  Needs to be there for advising, not just the students, but sometimes younger staff as well.  And that makes me think of all the people, in my work-life, who have helped me along the way, given ME advice, told me when to "get off their lawn" and straighten up.  I like how I can connect to those who mentored me, and maybe I will figure out how to be a good mentor and adviser to others as well.....Lord Willing.  But, for tonight, with no home work, I will sleep.  zzzzzzzz

Our Connected Town

Day #278, 10/7/2015, was a busy, busy day.  Busy at work, busy at home, busy in the community. But the late afternoon/early evening was consumed with a meeting in the OPS School and then the OPS Music Program Outdoor Picnic Concert.  In both instances, I continue to be struck with what a wonderful community Oaklyn is.  And I appreciate how the school (OPS) is a major central figure in this community.  Whether it be educating our children, providing some musical interludes. providing spaces for recreational activities, or being the host location for many of our community events and parades, the School really is the central connecting point for our town.  I am glad to be so involved in this place and so happy for the connections fostered there for me and my family.

Parenting Connects

The First Tuesday of the month is usually the PTA Meeting in Oaklyn.  And, the 279th day of 2015 was no exception.  On the evening of 10/6/2015, a bunch of parents connected in the OPS Library. And although we did not always agree on the means to do it, we were all there so that the students and teachers of OPS have the best that we can arrange.  It is great, in my opinion, to see how many of the parents of this small town want to come out and make the lives of their kids and their school better.  And, by doing so, connections are made, laughter is heard, and life is good.

Together, we are Connected

Day #278 was not a normal day.  I have to admit, I spent much of the morning and early afternoon of 10/5/2015 anxious, worried, and angry.  Thankfully, the threat did not materialize (on Penn's or any other campus) today and I was much more relaxed in the afternoon.  The evening found me connected to people I love and appreciate.  First at a rehearsal with the Penn Band and then, at home, doing math homework with my kid and hanging with the family.  I love being together with the people I care about.  Because togetherness accentuates our connections and improves my mood.

Connections Matter, People Matter

It has been a busy weekend on social media and, as the 277th day of 2015 progressed, I was both heartened (is that a word) and disheartened by opinions and posts of my FB connections.  But, on 10/4/2015, I was most struck by my brother-in-laws post in response to his feelings about these past few days.  He is on a crusade to make sure that people in his life, whether they be close or just acquaintances, MATTER!  And, people DO matter.  When we use our daily connections, our daily interactions, to let people know that they matter, maybe it will provide some healing in this society, in this world.  Because, no matter what your opinions are on the "solutions" to these issues that face us these days, I hope we can all agree that people are feeling damaged and this is contributing majorly to these problems.  People who feel that they matter, who feel that they are connected, treat others better.  Maybe if we all reach out, across all aspects of our lives, and smile more, hold the door, say thank you, write a note, hug those we love, talk to someone who seems estranged, reach out to repair relationships - MAYBE the world can become a better place.  I cannot see how it could make things worse.  So, I too will be reacting to these events with a loving, caring, giving, connecting attitude.  I pray that you can all do this too and I pray for healing in this nation and the world.

Connecting with Civility

Strangely enough, 10/3/2015, the 276th day of 2015, was another Saturday where there was no soccer, no activities.  Last week it was the Pope and, this weekend it was the hurricane that wasn't (but DID bring a lot of rain).  So we caught up on errands, work (I have a lot of it), and College Football on TV.  And I spent a bit of time on FB, discussing, with my friends and their friends, issues facing society today.  Mainly in regard to the shooting at UCC on Oregon, but also Planned Parenthood and voter disenfranchisement.  And what I realized is, we will always have hard issues facing us.  We will not always agree on these issues.  BUT, what we CAN agree on, is that we will connect and discuss them civilly.  In the face of some pretty hateful comments, I think I stayed the course and respectfully disagreed and showed data for my viewpoints.  This led some folks to disengage, and that is a shame, because when we are disconnected in our disagreements, there can be no progress.  But, in a few cases, differing viewpoints were given the respect they deserved from both sides of the arguments.  Did we agree in the end.  No, probably not, but the civil connection and discourse hopefully helped us grow.  Would that this also be true on the national (and international) political stage.

Connections Grow Up

We spent the evening of the 275th day of 2015 back in school.  Because 10/2/2015 was the first OMAYSC Gym Night of the school year.  And it was great to see the kids stream in to the gym (all 85! of them) and connect with their friends.  Early attendees coming out to greet their classmates with a high five or a hug.  And I could not help but stop and think as I no longer have some of the youngest kids in the group.  I saw counselors that used to be the excited fourth graders connect with fourth graders that used to be babies in the strollers during dropoff.  Just another reminder of the passage of time and the fact that my years with kids in this amazing school are limited.  After a lunch today with college friends that also reminded me of my own growing up, it was a nice connection.

25+ Years of Connections

Day #274 - another long and productive day at work.  I hear it rained a lot during the day, but I, in the basement, would not know!  But the nicest part of 10/1/15 (and I knew it'd be a good day because 10/1 is a palindrome) was the Annual 25 Year Club Dinner at Houston Hall.  It is great to see the connection that all of my colleagues have with the place where we work.  It was great to see my friends hitting this 25-year milestone and their smiles and pride.  It was great to connect with fellow long-timers who I have not seen in a while and sharing our long-time Penn lives.  And it was really great to sit with co-workers with whom I have worked for a while, and hearing some of their stories for the first time.  A night of connections and great ones at that!  (BTW, 29 years and counting for me!)