An Old Cowboy's Advice

A great friend of mine sent this to me recently - thought I'd post it here to share...

An Old Cowboy's Advice
- Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
- Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.
- Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
- A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
- Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
- Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
- Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
- Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
- It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
- You cannot unsay a cruel word.
- Every path has a few puddles.
- When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
- The best sermons are lived, not preached.
- Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
- Don't judge folks by their relatives.
- Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
- Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back ,you'll enjoy it a second time.
- Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
- Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
- If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
- Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
- The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
- Always drink upstream from the herd.
- Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
- Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it backin.
- If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
- Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

A Sad Day

Doesn't seem like it's been two years already, but alas, time keeps marching on.

Just taking a moment to remember and reflect - we miss you Mom!

Barbara Ann entered the world on February 27, 1925 born to Blanche and John. Throughout her early years, she was a spirited youth, exuberant and prone to mischief. From waking her baby sister Phyllis up at midnight convincing her it was time to dress for school to climbing out her bedroom window to go dancing at Diamond hall, she always met life on her own terms!

She met Ramon in the early 40’s, but was not convinced of love at first sight. He was tenacious in pursuing her, going to great lengths to prove his unwavering love for her. His perseverance finally paid off and Barbara realized what a wonderful man she had for life. They were united in marriage on September 14, 1946, and were inseparable from that day on, sharing 56 extraordinary years together.

Barb and Ray spent the next years raising three children – Judy, Patti and Greg. With such wonderful role models for parents, reared in a warm and nurturing home, they grew to be happy adults taking loving partners of their own. Judy & Bob, and Patti & Tom provided Barb and Ray with four amazing grand children – Kevin and Sara and Matthew and Sandy. The grandchildren were loved and spoiled with Grandma and Grandpa’s time and attention and will forever treasure the precious bonds they have with them. Greg and Kristine had the dubious distinction of introducing the beloved grand-dog Harley who will surely miss the special treats Grandma offered him.

Barbara was uniquely unselfish in her dedication to family, community and church and was a long time member of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. Along with tending her family, she took great satisfaction in volunteer activities. From being a Den Mother for Greg over several years to offering her time and talents at church, she continuously demonstrated what it meant to be a true Christian and friend. Of all her accomplishments, she most enjoyed her years as a volunteer in the surgical family waiting room at the former Butterworth Hospital. While performing her duties there, she came to be loved by patients and doctors alike. While pouring hot beverages for anxious family members waiting through their loved ones’ surgeries, she also poured out her compassion, comfort, and encouragement.

Barbara had a zest for life and an appetite for adventure, always making everyone that she interacted with feel at ease with her warm smile and outgoing personality. She loved to travel, taking many cruises and visiting interesting destinations over the years. She had a particular fondness for a city called Las Vegas which provided her with an unending source of amusement and entertainment. If luck be a lady, her name was Barbara!

Barbara will be deeply missed and fondly remembered in love by her family, friends and the community. But it is certain that she would not want us to grieve, but rather celebrate her life well lived and loved. There is a thought that provides one perspective of her years: “Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne in one hand, chocolate in the other, totally worn out and content exclaiming WOW - What a ride!”

Return of my Ramblings

Well as you can see, this is my first post in quite some time. To be honest, I forgot I started this blog (been busy with lots of family stuff lately). In any case, I've dusted off my old home page (www.sharkjet.net) and this blog. Over the coming weeks I plan to do more in both places. Nothing fancy, just something to occupy all my free time - oh yeah - that's right, I don't have any free time!! Ah well, I'll do what I can (and I promise, more of these posts will actually be interesting and have a point).

C ya!

Another Post - Finally!!!

Well, nothing like waiting 6 months to post to your blog. This is turning out to be a disastrous endeavor. Oh well.

In any case, I am at least including a picture of our new house. Mostly cause I want to see if photobucket really works. So here it goes - our new house...




That's all for now - too busy to write more :(

Remembering

It's been 2 years since Dad passed away. In some ways it seems like just yesterday, in others it seems much longer. I wanted to share the memorial we wrote for him...

As a final tribute to Dr. Ramon B. Lang, we have created a look back at some highlights of his life from both a personal and business perspective…

DR. RAMON B. LANG:
AN EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP

Every business or field of endeavor has a front-runner, or leader. Some of these individuals become highly visible while others remain obscure. Their influence may only impact one individual or an entire population.

Dr, Ramon B. Lang, M.D. was one of these individuals, a leader, a visionary. His accomplishments, while sometimes obscure, have affected the lives or every person in the United States, at one time or another.

Dr. Lang was born in the small town of Waverly Georgia. As he used to joke, "If you blinked as you drive through the town, you'd miss it." Young Ramon Lang assumed leadership early in his life, his father died when Ramon was only seven. His mother soon moved the family to Jacksonville, Florida, where they remained for a year before moving to settle in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Soon after moving to Grand Rapids, Ramon took the initiative to find a job. While still in elementary school, Ramon began delivering newspapers for the now defunct Grand Rapids Herald, which meant delivering papers as early as four o'clock in the morning. Ramon retained the job with the Herald through high school.

As a youngster, Ramon progressed as an achiever and leader. He was an eager high school athlete, demonstrating his skill and determination as a member of the Ottawa Hills wrestling team. His hard work and dedication to be the best earned him All-State honors in his junior year. His hopes to repeat those accolades during his senior year were dashed when he broke his arm while practicing for the state tournament, rendering him a spectator for the remainder of the season.

As a young man, Ramon had a vision for his future based on a need to do something that would challenge him as an individual. As his vision grew in intensity and clarity, he realized that beyond the personal challenge, he had a deep desire to choose a profession that would help others. The strength and conviction of his internal energy drove him to refine what it was that he really wanted to do in life.

He set out on a journey without a map to study, no guidebooks to read and no pictures to view. He focused only on the endless possibilities that lay ahead of him in order to create and discover his future, his vision. Ray enrolled and graduated from Grand Rapids Junior College. Being a student and leader, Ray had several jobs while attending school. He worked at the General Motors factory in the plywood division, and was a stock boy and cashier at the A& P grocery store. In one instance, while working at the grocery store, Ray checked out a customer so rapidly that he literally burned up the cash register. When asked what management did concerning the occurrence, he stated, "They just bought me a new one".

Ray's vision was like a window into the world of tomorrow. While most people just talked about doing things they've never done before, Ray was already doing them. After graduation from GRJC, Ray enlisted in the army and was placed in the medical unit. During this time his youthful vision continued to become clarified. In his younger days, Ray had aspirations of becoming a bus driver. Instead, he was now driving trucks through narrow, perilous mountain roads in Europe during the height of World War II. As he maneuvered through the treacherous mountains, Ray learned how important leadership and competency were, along with life's requirement to make decisions under conditions of extreme uncertainty. These experiences while Ramon was in the army ignited the fires of leadership within him. His leadership prevailed. After serving three and one half years in the medical unit, his interest in medicine and saving lives led him to apply to the University of Michigan Medical School. Ray had decided to follow in his father's footsteps and pursue a career as a doctor.

Ray's tenacity for achievement became apparent after receiving a letter of rejection from the University of Michigan. The school cited the lack of credits for rejection. This was unacceptable to him, so he compiled all the pertinent information available and made a trip to Ann Arbor. Not only was he tenacious, he was persistent. Ramon waited an entire day in the same chair for his opportunity to discuss his position with the admissions dean. One week later, Ramon was enrolled in the medical school at U of M and subsequently graduated in 1951.

Dr. Lang served his four-year residency at Butterworth Hospital, providing him with a career exploration opportunity. Originally Ray's aspirations were in general surgery, however, he switched to the OB-GYN program. Why? Because a co-resident friend wanted to pursue general surgery and there were no openings, so Ray reconsidered and switched to the OB-GYN program. Little did Ray know at the time that his decision to convert to an OB-GYN physician would have far reaching effects, which would eventually lead him to assisting the less fortunate Medicade recipients of Kent county. Upon completing his residency, Dr. Lang went into private practice until he retired in 1988. Even after retiring from his private practice, Dr. Lang served as the clinical chief supervisor of OB-GYN for Spectrum Health where he would often take twelve and twenty-four hour shifts several times a week on the OB floor. By the time Ray retired completely from Spectrum Health in October of 2002, he had delivered over 11,000 new babies into the world!

Dr. Lang's professional background, besides being exemplary, was also diversified. His expertise and perpetual leadership involved him in many other endeavors including:

· Member of the Courtesy Staff at: Blodqett, St. Mary's, and Ferguson's Hospitals.

· Senior Deputy Medical Examiner of Kent County since 1968.

· Associate Professor at Michigan State University.(Instructing medical school students.)

· Adjunct Professor, Grand Valley State University, Biology.

· Red Cross, Emergency childbirth class instructor.

· Lieutenant, Enforcement Division - Kent County Traffic Squad.

Dr. Lang displayed leadership in every aspect of his life. His intelligence was unquestionably highly regarded and his experience was often sought out as an educator and role model. So many of Dr. Lang's traits overlap that it is difficult to dissect each characteristic. Dr. Lang's credentials, experience and achievements say it all. He was a man among men. His traits of understanding, kindness and compassion weren't limited to patients or peers.

Dr. Lang was the epitome of humanity; his personable character enriched everyone he came into contact with, as he exuded motivation and confidence while being a highly respected achiever and leader.

Even after many years as a medical examiner, Dr. Lang would still become emotional when the cadaver he had to work on was only a child.

Dr. Lang did not accept stagnation or complacency, from the time he challenged his rejection to medical school through his retirement, with equal commitment, Dr. Lang was always eager to undertake a new challenge.

Although Dr. Ramon Lang had always set his sights high, he was able to extol leadership in every area he became involved in. A prime example of this came in 1967 when he embarked on one of his most ambitious endeavors.

The Grand Rapids metropolitan area was growing, and with that growth came a larger population and more problems. The extent of travel and use of the automobile was expanding, along with the problems associated with additional traffic and vehicles. Car accidents were increasing, as were their severity. Dr. Lang, along with two colleagues, realized this increasing problem, and set out to address the situation.

Originally the doctors became immediately involved in accident scene first aid by responding to police dispatches. Eventually the physicians established a training program for police and emergency personnel, hence, EMT's, or Emergency Medical Technicians, evolved. The doctors initiated a program that trained students in every facet of emergency first aid. The technicians acquired skills ranging from bandaging a cut finger to applying intravenous fluids and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Their meager program evolved from begging, borrowing and stealing necessary equipment to adequately train the new personnel. The program grew in professionalism, intensity and popularity. No longer was this a "fly by night" first aid program. Public grants helped acquire sophisticated equipment and further the training, which eventually drew interest from all parts of the country. Soon EMT training programs were offered through accredited college programs nation wide. Locally, the programs have evolved and changed, but this first response on site emergency attention began with Dr. Lang's vision.

Even though expectations of leaders are abnormally high, it must be realized we are all human, capable of error.

While every leader like Dr. Lang faces many moments of truth, he was always on the lookout for teachable moments; those moments in time when people's consciousness could be influenced. These are the mistakes and failures that occur and we learn from them. As life continues we become involved in certain aspects that regardless of our endeavors do not meet expectations of others or ourselves. We do, however, face the reality that life is full of trials and tribulations. As with Dr. Lang, there were times of despair, and the need to make a noble struggle. He redefined a setback as a learning experience; "Learn from our mistakes, that's what life is all about" he would say.


Dr. Lang stressed these points to his students, as well as any individual ready and willing to encounter a fascinating conversation with this pioneer and leader.

Some of Dr. Lang's other achievements and personable traits are as follows:

· Founding member of the Thoracic Surgeons Association, 1967-1968.
· Chairman of the OB-GYN Department, Butterworth Hospital, mid 1960's

· Member of the Emergency Room Physicians, 1970 to present.

· Instrumental member in the initiation of the E-Unit program in Kent County.

· Medical Director for the E.M.T. training program in Kent County form 1967 through 1989
· Member of the American College of OB-GYN.

· Member of the Central Association of OB-GYN(this position is limited to only 500 members nationwide).

· Diplomat of the American Board of OB-GYN, from 1965 through present
· (Which is a board certification, residency program).

· Former Member, Board of Directors, Cherry Street Clinic.

· Married to wife Barbara Ann for 56 years.

· Three wonderful children; Judy, Patti, and Greg.

· All around great guy, award extended through this author.

Ramon Lang will be deeply missed and fondly remembered in love by his family, friends and the community he served tirelessly for so many years. May we all be so fortunate to learn and live by his example!

Too Much Going On!!!

Well for those of you who wondered if I'd ever post anything again (all one of you), the answer is a resounding Yes!. Granted it has been busy as all get out the last couple of months, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The house is progressing splendidly. The dry wall is all up and they are mudding & taping as I type this. My adventure in running cable ended a couple weeks ago, the true test postponed until early January when I terminate all the cables and see if this stuff all really works.

I have resolved to try and post at least once a month until we get into the new house, and hopefully more frequently after that.

That's it for this update, short & sweet, just like Dad always taught :)

-- Later

End of Summer

Well I had to do at least one post in August. While it is the end of Summer (or seems like it anyway) here in Michigan, I really haven't had too much time to enjoy the bit of warm weather we've had of late. That's due to the new house construction. They finally broke ground on 8/13 and the foundation is in ready for back filling and the basement floor slabs. Still on target for a January '05 move in. Keep your fingers crossed that we stay on schedule (and sell our current house!!).

See you in September!

Ramblings of a Busy Guy

I feel obligated to post something now that I've created this blog. So here it is.

On a slightly more "meaty" note, my wife & I will be building a house soon. We're finally getting the plans locked in and should break ground in the next couple of weeks. I'm sure the construction of this behemoth will be the topic of numerous posts to come over the next 26 weeks or so. Stay tuned if you're so inclined.

Well, I've fulfilled my obligation to post, so now it's back to the daily grind.

Later...

My First Blog

Wow! I've been in the technology industry for over 20 years and I'm just getting around to creating my first blog. Well, better late than never.

Not really knowing what to do, I did what any self-respecting geek would do, Googled on blog and off I went.

I have no idea how often I'll throw stuff out here, but hey, if your bored, check it out once in a while.

Later....