Stepping Up to the Challenge

Having been voted into second leadership position of the Takemi Dojo is a mixed blessing. This enables me some control as to whom can assume power of the Dojo’s leadership in the sense that only two official positions are approved by council. Obviously it becomes my responsibility to fulfill the obligations of the position even though such obligations are not defined in writing. What ever these obligations might be I take my position very seriously and as a result I cause myself a heightened level of stress that I am not accustom to. Further more I have become aware that my role is that of a public relations representative. The idea of mingling with the public and approaching people in hopes to recruit members and advance the agenda of the Dojo is uncomfortable for me. I am much more comfortable being a listener and guiding those seeking direction instead of taking control of the topic or subject manner. I am hoping that I find a happy middle ground and adapt to this new role.

Drama Among Guild Leaders?

Having waited until last night before taking my first action, I spoke to Lord Cougar regarding the Takemi Dojo and Syclya resigning. It was a surprise to him because my mention of this topic was the first word he had heard. He asked me for details but I felt it was best that he read the information that had already been posted on the forum. Later, as a result he ask me to make time for a formal meeting and then he directed me to the Forum for more details. Much to my surprise I discovered two more new issues that I believe are not coincidental with Syclya’s departure. The leader of the free crafters association had posted her tentative leave of absence from Phoenix Rising and her guild so that she might consider whether she might want to leave permanently. Then I discovered that Lord Cougar had just accepted the resignation of the leader of the Dominants guild. Following that, Lord Cougar posted a comment under the Dojo Meeting, and I quote “We're going to talk about why Ice(Syclya) felt she had to leave and I'm going to want some specific info.” Judging by his comment I believe that Cougar does not know why three different guild leaders have each left Phoenix Rising in the past 3 days, but I would guess that each situation is closely related. I dare say that we have more questions, then we have answers.

As the World Turns.

Sometimes you feel like you are watching a soap opera when you get involved in role play online. Approximately 3 months ago the Council of Phoenix Rising had appointed Syclya as new leader to the Dojo and Thalia as second. I remain at their side as quiet counsel as they deal with the public and political aspects of every day management of our guild. Syclya had confided in me with her personal feelings and frustrations over the past three months. The pressure seemed to have been coming from several angles and on a few occasions she has expressed her desire to step down. Last week during the Dojo meeting the warning signs had become openly visible when she asked for the members to pledge for her to stay or step down. Last night she broad caste a public shout declaring her departure from Phoenix Rising, despite the full support of the Dojo members in the meeting the week before. I spoke to Thalia and she confirmed that she was able to carry the burden while we awaited Phoenix Rising council to accept Syclya’s resignation and convene to discuss the future of the Dojo. Now I stop to consider my course of action because every time this situation rises I am called upon to declare what role I shall play in the future of the Dojo.

Observation of Behavior at Work

Over the years I have quietly watched the way my boss treats people when they are working for him and coming to ask questions. Now that the bosses daughter is working with us I am surprised to see the she does not know how to handle him. She is subjected to the same treatment and I can sense her frustration. She came in my office today and broached the subject, thus confirming my suspicion. Why can’t he trust that what she has to say is important? After all she is about to spend his money and we all know that he will have a lot to say about it when he sees the bill. Oddly enough, several minutes later she mentioned to me in passing that he had something urgent to finish but neither of us knew exactly what it was. It actually sounded like she was trying to make excuses for him. I have seen him behave this way in the past with many employees and on a daily basis with his family members. I sometimes think that his ultimate message is that you need to present things that are high priority. I would think that if you can consistently demonstrate to him that when you have something to say, that he can trust that it is important. That he trusts you to be brief and to the point. I would think he could mitigate the problem but he has never been able to express it in words like this. Perhaps it is pointless to try to change the behaviour of an adult who does not want to change.

11th Hour, 11th Day, 11th Month

Every year on November 11, Canadians pause in a silent moment of remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace. We honour those who fought for Canada in the First World War (1914-1918), the Second World War (1939-1945), and the Korean War (1950-1953), as well as those who have served since then. More than 1,500,000 Canadians have served our country in this way, and more than 100,000 have died. They gave their lives and their futures so that we may live in peace.

By remembering their service and their sacrifice, we recognize the tradition of freedom these men and women fought to preserve. They believed that their actions in the present would make a significant difference for the future, but it is up to us to ensure that their dream of peace is realized. On Remembrance Day, we acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country and acknowledge our responsibility to work for the peace they fought hard to achieve.

The above taken from Veterans Affairs Canada web site.


In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

1915 John McCrae (1872-1918)

November 11, Canadian Remembrance day

November 11, Canadian Remembrance day has significant meaning to me due to the heroic efforts of the men and woman who served this country in the second world war. During the second world war both my parents were living as children in Holland during the German occupation. Both my parents had similar memories as the Canadian army fought against German occupiers to regain freedom for the country of Holland. Several years after the war my fathers family immigrated to Canada and soon after my father joined the Canadian army. My father severed with the Canadian army for 9 years. During this time my parents were married and they had two children. My father choose to leave the military to be with family and soon I was the third child born. Had things been different during world war 2, this chain of events might not have occurred and thus I would not be here today to speak of it. Could I be so bold as to point out that all the military based actions of Canadian History has helped structure the country that I live in today. For all these actions of history, I must pause and give my respect to the people in the world who have served there country for the betterment of world society.

Overtime at Work.

Business has been slow for the past four months but suddenly a significant announcement from the government has coincided with a recent load of new work. Some of these new projects are on tight delivery dates and there is a delay on providing digital drawings. Construction has been proceeding with the use of sketch when necessary. Last night before I went home the boss asked me to start new revisions on a set of house plans, first thing in the morning despite the need for official jobs. I have been working on this large set of drawings, off and on for 19 months and they have nothing to do with the equipment that we manufacture in our shop. In fact these drawings are for the boss as he took up the torch for his son to coordinate the design and construction of his house. The foundation has been poured and a contractor has been lined up to begin roughing in the basement windows and structural walls. We worked on it all day and into the night because the contractor needs the drawing ready first thing in the morning. After we completed the work my boss called up the contractor who needed the drawing and discovered that the contractor has post pone the work until next week. Thus ends the sum of a frustrating and intensely long day, all for nothing. Well, maybe not for nothing since we have this drawing ready. This was one drawing of the set so I would not be surprised if we replay this day with the next drawing, some time in the future.

Shaving my Pubic Hair.

As per MsB’s request I finally picked up the clippers and began shaving my genital hair. I began by cutting my hair short with scissors in an attempt to reduce the work load on my electric shaver. Upon experimented with my beard trimmer the blade nicked and scratched my skin. I was sure there was a better tool for this length of hair so I chose to stop at the drug store and found a trimmer that provides a small amount of distance from the cutter blades. It has an attachment much like a comb but I was still cautious fearing that the soft crinkly skin of my scrotum could still get nipped in the blades. Stretching out my skin provided some improved safety but was still tedious and a slow process. Next I used my shaver for the final process but much to my surprise this was the easiest step. The electric shaver could not cut the longer hairs so after about an hour of shaving I gave up with the intention to finish up another time. Stroking the surface of my skin I feel what I called the porcupine effect. Those longer hairs that the shaver missed are sharp or pointy. The skin of my scrotum feels moist, cool and clammy. All in all the experience was somewhat unremarkable. Perhaps the stress from using cutting tools around my genitals had prevented my arousal during the experience. Aesthetically, it is an odd looking transition from the body hair on my tummy and legs to that of my genitals.