Sacrifice

I’m often confronted (daily, sometimes hourly) by a drive to work in or have a profession in music. More importantly playing music.

I miss so much the sights, the sounds and sometimes the (unfortunate) smells of the road. I miss performing. I want to do it with people who share the same passions I do.

Recently saw John Mark McMillan again, at the Jammin’ Java in Vienna, VA…again. I’ve really started digging into them as a band, and who they listen to, and who their friends are. They played with two groups called Theroyalroyal and Jude Moses. Both totally different. Both (as the bassist from Theroyalroyal put it) “a small piece in the worship conversation”. I really like that phrase. I like the motivation behind it. Or what I feel the motivation behind it is.

I want to be a part of that.

To the title of this post: I can’t decide if I’ve sacrificed my passion (music) for my current (and well paying) career in network engineering or if I’m sacrificing a selfish lust or want of that life to have a better life with my wife, and future family. I see plenty of people having both. I’m sure it’s difficult. I’m sure it’s not what it’s cracked up to be.

I just know I miss it. The timing and location is just a difficult thing for me. I’m so busy with work (sacrifice) and with my church, and all the other things of life, most importantly, time with my wife.

 

Lord, just tell me where to be.

Ides of March

BARBARA OLSON – Author of “Hell to Pay” – a book critical of Hillary Clinton, killed in the Pentagon bombing.

DARLENE NOVINGER – Former FBI operative, January 23rd, 2003. Novinger was known to hold sensitive information on the Clinton and Bush I administration’s drug operations. Her husband murdered March 1987 when she went public with initial reports. Her father died July 8, 1993 four hours after Darlene was a guest on the Tom Valentine show. Suffered retaliation after reporting discussions by government protected drug smuggler who described contacts with Vice President George Bush and his son, Jeb Bush.

DAN MULLONEY, a television news photographer who shot footage of the 1993 Branch Davidian siege.

CHARLES RUFF – White House Counsel and Clinton defense attorney during the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the impeachment trial. Of apparent natural causes.

JAMES MCDOUGAL – Clinton’s convicted Whitewater partner died of an apparent heart attack, while in solitary confinement. McDougal was a key witness in Kenneth Starr’s investigation.

MARY MAHONEY – A former White House intern was murdered July 6, 1997 at a Starbucks Coffee Shop in Georgetown. The murder happened during the pre-trial publicity surrounding the Paula Jones lawsuit days after Newsweek’s Mike Isakoff dropped hints that a former White House staffer was about to go public with her story of sexual harassment in the White House.

VINCENT FOSTER – Former White House counselor, and former colleague of Hillary Clinton at Little Rock’s Rose law firm. Foster was found dead July 20, 1993 of a gunshot to the head ruled a suicide. Rumours were that Foster and Hillary had an affair.

RON BROWN – Secretary of Commerce and former DNC Chairman. Reported to have died by impact in a plane crash. A pathologist close to the investigation reported to the Bob Grant Radio Show a hole in top of Brown’s skull resembling a gunshot wound. At the time of his death Brown was being investigated, and spoke publicly of his willingness to cut a deal with prosecutors.

C. VICTOR RAISER II – Former National finance Co-Chairman, Clinton for President Campaign and son MONTGOMERY RAISER died in a private plane crash in Alaska, July 30th,1992. Raiser was described as a major player in the Clinton organization by Dee Dee Meyers.

JEREMY “MIKE” BOORDA, President Clinton’s former Chief of Naval Operations allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest with a .38 caliber pistol on his front lawn in May 1996. The unauthorized wearing of valor pins was the alleged reasoning behind the suicide. By 1998 this reasoning was proved false after the Navy issued a report that said Boorda earned the right to wear the pins afterall.

PAUL TULLEY – Democrat National Committee Political Director found dead in a hotel room in Little Rock, Arkansas September 24, 1992, Described by Clinton as a “Dear friend and trusted advisor”.

ED WILLEY – Clinton fund raiser-found dead November 30, 1993 deep in the woods in Virginia of a gunshot wound to the head. Ruled a suicide, Willey died on the same day his wife Kathleen Willey claimed that Bill Clinton groped her in the oval office in the White House. Ed Willey was involved in several Clinton fund raising events.

JERRY PARKS – Head of Clinton’s gubernatorial security team in Little Rock. Gunned down in his car at a deserted intersection outside Little Rock. Parks’ son said his father was building a dossier on Clinton. He allegedly threatened to reveal this information. After he died the files were mysteriously removed from his house

JAMES BUNCH – Died from a gunshot wound. Reported to have a black book of people containing names of influential people who visited prostitutes in Texas and Arkansas.

JAMES WILSON – Was found dead by hanging May 18, 1993. Was reported to have ties to Whitewater.

KATHY FERGUSON – Ex-wife of Arkansas Trooper Danny Ferguson died in May,1994 was found dead in her living room with a gunshot wound to her head. It was ruled a suicide even though there were several packed suitcases, as if she was going somewhere. Danny Ferguson was a co-defendant along with Bill Clinton in the Paula Corbin Jones lawsuit. She was reported a possible corroborating witness for Paula Jones case.

BILL SHELTON – Arkansas state Trooper and Fiancee of Kathy Ferguson.Critical of the suicide ruling of his fiancee, he was found dead in June, 1994 of a gunshot wound also ruled a suicide at the grave site of his fiancee.

GANDY BAUGH – Attorney for Clinton friend Dan Lassater died by falling out a window of a tall building January, 1991. His client was a convicted drug distributor.

FLORENCE MARTIN – Accountant subcontractor for the CIA related to the Barry Seal Mena Airport drug smuggling case. Dead of three gunshot wounds.

SUZANNE COLEMAN – Reportedly had an affair with Clinton when he was Arkansas Attorney General. Died of a gunshot wound to back of head, ruled a suicide, was pregnant at the time her death.

PAULA GROBER – Clinton’s speech interpreter for the deaf from 1978 until her death December 9, 1992. She died in a one car accident.

DANNY CASOLARO – Investigative reporter, investigating Mena airport and Arkansas Development Finance Authority. Found dead with slit his wrists in the middle of his investigation.

PAUL WILCHER – Attorney investigating corruption at Mena Airport with Casolaro and the 1980 “October Surprise” was found dead on a toilet June 22, 1993 in his Washington DC Apartment. Had delivered report to Janet Reno 3 weeks before his death.

JON PARNELL WALKER – Whitewater Investigator for Resolution Trust Corporation. Fell to his death from his Arlington, Virginia apartment balcony August 15, 1993. Was investigating Morgan Guarantee scandal.

BARBARA WISE – Commerce Department Staffer, worked closely with Ron Brown and John Huang. Cause of death unknown. Died November 29, 1996. Her bruised nude body was found locked in her office at the Department of Commerce.

CHARLES MEISSNER – Assistant Secretary of Commerce who gave John Huang special security clearance, died shortly thereafter in a small plane crash.

DR.STANLEY HEARD – Chair National Chiropractic Heath Care Advisory committee died with his attorney.

STEVE DICKSON – Died in a small plane crash. Heard, in addition to serving on Clinton’s advisory council personally treated Clinton’s mother, stepfather and brother.

BARRY SEAL – Drug running pilot out of Mena, Arkansas. Death was no accident.

JOHNNY LAWHORN Jr. – Mechanic, found a check made out to Clinton in the trunk of a car left in his repair shop. Died when his car hit a utility pole.

STANLEY MUGGINS – Suicide. Investigated Madison Guarantee. His report was never released.

HERSHELL FRIDAY – Attorney and Clinton fund raiser died March 1, 1994 when his plane exploded.

KEVIN IVES and DON HENRY – Known as “The boys on the track” case. Reports say the boys may have stumbled upon the Mena Arkansas Airport Drug operation. This controversial case where initial report of death was due to falling asleep on railroad track. Later reports claim the two had been slain before being placed on the tracks. Many people linked to the case died (see below) before their testimony could come before a Grand Jury.

THE FOLLOWING SIX PERSONS HAD INFORMATION ON THE IVES/HENRY CASE:

KEITH CONEY – Died when his motorcycle slammed into the back of a truck in July, 1988.
KEITH McMASKLE – Died, stabbed 113 times, November 1988.
GREGORY COLLINS – Died from a gunshot wound, January 1989.
JEFF RHODES – He was shot, mutilated and found burned in a trash dump in April 1989.
JAMES MILAN -  Found decapitated-Coroner ruled death due to natural causes.
JORDAN KETTLESON – Was found shot to death in the front seat of his pickup truck in June 1990.
RICHARD WINTERS – Winters was a suspect in the Ives/Henry deaths. Was killed in set-up robbery in July 1989.

 

ANDREW BREITBART – Died of “natural causes” on March 1, 2012. He had planned on releasing damning footage of President Obama during his college years with very dangerous people (Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn). This comes as a shock as he was quoted saying “wait ’til they see what happens March 1st” referring to his release of said video.

Barack Obama sucks, But That’s OK

I didn’t write this (found it in the comments section of a blog) but it full-on makes my day, my point, and I agree with roughly all of it.

“Hello America,

let me reintroduce myself; my name is Barry Obama, er Barry Soeto, er Barack Hussein Obama.

I was born illegitimate, to a polygamist Arab/African Muslim father who abandoned and ignored me, raised by a single mom who neglected me, then raised and educated as an Indonesian Muslim, adopted by an Indonesian Muslim step-father who abandoned and ignored me. But That’s OK.

While in Indonesia I studied the Koran as required by law, attended Islamic services, discovered the Islamic call as the sweetest sound in the world, and wrote a paper stating that one day I would be president’, and I was very lonely
and isolated. But That’s OK.

I then went through another divorce, relocated to Hawaii, was abandoned by my mother, raised by a typical white racist Grandmother I threw under the bus, and an atheist communist Grandfather. But That’s OK.

I somehow managed to attend a small elite private high school in Hawaii, where I played basketball as a 6’2” Black kid with such a bad attitude and drug habit that I never started a single game, and I can’t release my application forms, records or transcripts from there. But That’s OK.

I attended some colleges, where I also can’t release my applications, records or transcripts, or really explain where/how I got the money and scholarships to attend. But That’s OK.

I attended Harvard Law school, made Law Review President, although I’ll never know how much of the selection was racial preference, and it is odd that I never wrote or published a single Law Review article. But That’s OK.

When I moved to Chicago, I needed to join a Christian church, so I chose the Black Liberation Theology Rev Wright church, where I attended 20 years, and referred to Rev Wright as my spiritual advisor, but never realized that he practiced Black Liberation politics, ranted against America and Jews, and honored Louis Farrakan. But That’s OK.

I’ve never had a real private sector job, but I did Community Organize’, although some criticize that I never achieved a single victory or worthwhile success as an organizer or actually helped anyone, and some point out that Chicago neighborhoods and schools deteriorated dramatically under my watch. But That’s OK.

I entered politics within the Chicago Daly political machine, and somehow in 20 years within the machine, I never learned of, blew the whistle on, or exposed a single dirty deal or dirty pol. But That’s OK.

Of course, I did kind of have to cheat and steal to get my first State Senate seat, by getting all opponents disqualified on really obscure technicalities, and took a lot of heat for denying voters a fair Democratic choice. But That’s OK.

And, in the so many years of the IL State Senate, I never did author substantial bills, and I was criticized for avoiding stands by voting present 130 times. But That’s OK.

I then ran for US Senate, although I did go back on my promise to IL voters that I would complete the whole 6 years, and not seek higher office, and, I did ditch my Senate responsibilities, and campaign 24/7 for POTUS from the start,
and the other Senators did ignore, snub and even make fun of my arrogance. But That’s OK.

And the Pelosi/Reid/Obama Dem Congress I joined did become the lowest rated Congress in US history with a 9% approval rating, and we did take an inherited record high DOW, sub 4% unemployment, and 52 straight months of economic growth, and turn it into the greatest recession in 80 years, the greatest DOW drop since 1930, 10% unemployment, and the banking/financial systems we oversaw did crash and fail. But That’s OK.

And my Dem Congress did pass ALL the TARP’s, all the bailouts, all the failed pork-stims, and we have averaged $1.105 Trillion deficits, contrasted with the previous Republican Congress average $105 billion deficits. But That’s OK.

Now, as POTUS, I have been dissed and spurned by other couries I hoped to influence, I have been caught bowing to Muslim leaders, AlQ/Taliban are not loving me for pandering as I expected, and the US military cadets did sleep through my warmongering Commander in Chief speech. But That’s OK.

And I have failed to pass the socialist healthcare, illegal alien amnesty, open borders, Union forced choice card-check, cap and Tax massive punitive taxes on the rich’ bills I wanted, and the Nobel Prize those 5 drunken leftist Danes
gave me while I was waging and escalating 2 wars I promised to withdraw from was a little embarrassing. But That’s OK.

And we Dems did take GM from it’s bond and share holders and give it to the Unions, and bail out or Wall Street friends, and I have accumulated a $1.4 Trillion deficit, am on track to doubling the national debt in 5 years, tripling it in my 8 years, we Dems have increased Federal spending 35%, I have overseen the loss of 10 million jobs, and our pork-stim bills did fail. But That’s OK.

And I did put my credibility and power one the line and got disrespected and rejected by the Olympic Committee, the Global Warming Committee, and the voters of PA, NJ, and even MA. But That’s OK.

And me and my advisors have caused an incredible drop in Dem credibility, trust, and influence, while giving Republicans a truly incredible boost and national recovery, and it is unusual that Dems are switching parties and
retiring in record numbers, and I have likely damaged the Democrat party for a generation. But That’s OK.

And we Dems did fail, despite having an entire year of overwhelming majority power, to produce a workable, sellable Health Care bill, and we have been exposed and tainted for some incredibly corrupt backroom payoffs to politicians, health care interests, trial lawyers, Unions, Pharmacy companies, AARP, AMA, etc. yet still failing even to cheat, lie and sell out successfully. But That’s OK.

I have lost about 35% popularity, to the lowest 1 year POTUS ratings ever, my Dem congress is the lowest rated Congress ever, our Dem Speaker was the lowest rated Speaker in US history, and our Dem Senate Majority leader is polling 30%
in his home state, and far lower nationally. But That’s OK.

So, Americans can relax, knowing the state of the Obama Land is OK.”

Can we all just agree to vote this numb-nuts out of office for good so he can go down as THE LARGEST disgrace this country has ever seen in the White House? Thank you.

Steve Jobs

Last night changed everything. It also changed nothing.

I was preparing to watch one of my favorite artists, Future Of Forestry perform at a church in Harrisonburg. I got a “News Alert” on my iPhone stating that Jobs had passed.

Gosh, you know, I just can’t tell you how odd it was to feel such sadness over a man I’d never met, passing away.

(Now there are the labels, “Apple fan boy”, etc, etc. I don’t care what you call me, all I know is I like what I like, and I’ve liked it for years, even before Apple was “a big deal” — I’ll just say that I’ve been a major fan of Apple since their stock was well under $100/share. — the sadness I feel for Jobs’ death is real, and necessary)

What does his death mean to me? Well, my father and I were texting this morning about his death, and he said “I’m sad too. Last of the great innovators.” That is incredibly true. Innovation is dead. Literally.

He was the last of the true innovative few. The Silicon Valley Titans.

What it really means…he’s human. We’re all human. It’s undeniable truth that our world holds no power. A man with his success and the means to attempt and pay for any medical research and procedure, passed away. No amount of money. No amount of power. No amount of influence will save you from becoming dirt.

What is there for us here?

 

“Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.” – C.S. Lewis

The truth is…

“Beware what you wish for.”

I know you’ve probably heard that a hundred (and a half) times. I know I have. Probably thousands. That phrase caries such a heavy truth.

For over ten years I’ve been in IT. Shoot, if you really want to get into it, I started fixing computers (for money, not just cause I could) for people since I was 13. I had an ad in the paper (that my parents put in for me) to fix computers. My parents chauffeured me around town and waited while I fixed client’s machines. It was nuts. I didn’t charge a ton, because lets be honest, I was a 13-year-old kid. No real experience, but I was doing it, and people were satisfied.

Since then I’ve held many IT-related positions. I’ve been on retainer with many local business for IT support (when they need it most). I’ve been a telephone/telecom engineer, systems admin, network engineer, and now most recently a Senior Network Engineer.

I have the hunger to thrive. To climb the ladder, to move beyond where I am. I don’t know if its that after a few years I lose the satisfaction I have in my positions, but I just feel deep down that I can do more. I can be better. I can manage more.

Well, as I’ve already written in previous posts, my wife and I have moved to Winchester. To be with our families, and also because I now have a new job.

I have to say that I wasn’t aware of how ambitious my request was when applying for this job. It’s not that I didn’t have the experience, or that I didn’t understand the position. It’s just that understanding is different from undertaking. I’ve been with Buccaneer for just over a month now. I’ve been to Des Moins, IA already. I’ve traveled to MD a couple of times. I’m also now working with project managers to smooth out and plan for a proposal for a project in the United Kingdom.

I’m always amazed at what opportunities are placed at my feet. When I have the courage to dream, stand up, and put one foot in front of the other, doors are opened, my life is changed, and I really get to see and experience new things.

God is good, folks. I’ve never felt that God just gives us experience or success, but that we must be looking, and dreaming, and in conversation with Him, considering and using the gifts and messages He’s given us.

I wouldn’t be here without Him. That’s the truth.

-jw

Quick conversation…

Just had a quick conversation with the security officer here at work. I don’t really know this man, but he remembered my name after the first time I talked to him. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t remembered his…

We talked for a few minutes about it being the weekend, and we got to the part about our plans and and I said, I wanted it to be a relaxing weekend free from obligations etc, etc. You know what he said?

He said, “I’m going to spend my time in faith, and pray for this storm. That it doesn’t hurt no one else. That it moves on, that it won’t cause any more harm than it’s already caused…especially in this economy”

I smiled, and then he said “Maybe it’s just naivety, but maybe if I come together with people and pray, that thing will just turn out to sea”

I said, that’s not naivety, that’s faith.

These are the moments in life that I smile about. The little moments, when I’m not a network engineer. I’m not in Warrenton. I’m not Jonathan. I’m a child of God, and so was our security guard.

Time, location, position, etc. make no difference in those little moments.

Good day…

 

-jw

I’m a pirate!

…Okay. So I haven’t written a thing since July 30th. Kind of makes sense in a way, the IAJW network has been down, and so have all the other blogs that are hosted on it.

Just this week I got it back up and running, and faster than before, and more secure than before. Anyway, the last you’d heard I was working for the Harris Corporation in a data center in Harrisonburg, VA.

This is no longer the case.

My wife and I have moved to Winchester (where she was born and raised, and where I lived for 9 years) to be closer to our families, and to get me closer to my new employment. I’m now a Senior Network Engineer for Buccaneer Computer Systems and Service Inc. (www.bcssi.com) assigned to two contracts. It involves a great deal of time, process, project and personnel management.  I find myself privileged to be working where I am, in the position I am, with the people here. As the company name says, we’re pirates, and it’s an awesome environment (which means I could wear shorts and t-shirt to work if I wanted to, generally don’t though).

So it’s been a real change. A welcome one, mind you. It’s hard to say what lies ahead. I don’t really know.

We’ve rented out our home in Massanutten. We just recently signed a lease on a duplex in downtown Winchester (W. Piccadilly). We will get to move in by the 15th of September. We can’t wait.

Well that’s the update for now. I know say it often (but I THINK I mean it this time) but, check in for updates. I hope to be writing more, and more often.

Thanks, and God bless.

-jw

All Good Things…

So a lot has happened since May.

I left JMU to work for Harris Corporation. To give the details a wide berth, we’ll just say it wasn’t the right fit for me. I will be starting a new job on August 8th. Now because of a new job, we’re moving. Moving back to Winchester. We’re nervous, excited, a little sad (to be leaving some very awesome people behind in Harrisonburg).

Marriage is going well. My wife is the greatest.

The band I am in, About Sound, changed our name to Maple Union, which was the name of the band the lead singer was in before getting AS together. We started recording…which sucks now that I’m moving, but I still want to be somewhat involved in that.

Anyway. I’m at work right now. 8:48pm. Kinda irritated. Mostly because I don’t wanna be  here.

So see ya!

-jw

The return…

I left last Tuesday on a trip from one side of our nation, to the other.

44 hours, is A LOT OF DRIVING! We did it in three days. We arrived in  Tacoma, WA (right off the campus of University of Puget Sound) on Thursday evening around midnight.

I have much to share and think about after visiting the Pacific Northwest. I have much to think about leaving my best friend out here as well…

My flight leaves Sea-Tac at 11:15am tomorrow.

Just over 12 hours from now I’ll be heading back home. To my home. To my family. Mostly, to my wife. I can sleep soundly again.

Been one heck of a trip. Glad I came. Glad I’m going home.

goodnight,

-jw

BROad Trip East2West 2011!

A bittersweet journey starts tomorrow.

I’m driving from the right coast to the left coast with my best friend who is moving along with his wife to Tacoma, WA.

Harrisonburg, VA —to—> Tacoma, WA. Long freaking drive. 44 hours I believe. Holy moley.

11 hours of driving / day.

get some.

 

Updates daily. (maybe hourly…maybe even more often…)

 

-jw