Rozworld’s WebLog

We’re topped out on snow with 59 inches total this winter and that was before the latest blizzard hit us today with another 9 inches! Our average is around 40 inches in a season. It seems like we either get no snow all winter or we really get dumped on. It was kind of nice because I got to work from home today and not go out in this. School was closed also. Please, weather gods, no more snow!

They say time flies when you’re having fun. This is true but I also think time is getting shorter as I age. Perhaps the mind begins to skip more as it ages. Regardless of this I do know it has been a wonderful last 10 years. That’s how long my wife and I have been married. We celebrated our 10 year anniversary last week with a dinner out on the town. We had the same idea this year for gifts and we purchased the gifts at the same store not knowing either one of us had went there. It was so funny. I’m glad I married you sweetie!

When asked why [He] the old Greek philosopher, Diogenes, would not sit down and take a rest, Diogenes answered, ‘If I were running in the stadium, why should I slow my pace when approaching the goal? Ought I not rather put on speed?”

This is how I want to be when I get to that stage of life.

For Spring break vacation we stayed one night at the Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells. We met Beth and Teddy, Jake, Jamie and Maddy and Jamie’s sister Misty and her family. We had a great time on the unlimited water slides and other activities. The kids really had a ball too! Rosalind was able go down many of the bigger water slides including “The Tornado”. Which included a 12 foot drop on a raft. We also had a nice birthday party for Jake and Jamie’s nephew Matthew.

My only real complaint was that the Great Wolf Lodge has a problem with their billing system because they over-charged Beth on her room by $50. However, in their defense they did correct the billing error after it was pointed out at the desk that our rooms were identical but the price was different. Hmm. I think they need to look at that problem a little closer.

We stayed another night on our own at another water park. We stayed at Wilderness Lodge in the Dells. This one was over-crowded, not as clean, but much cheaper. What it gives up in quality it makes up with quantity, with 3 large water parks spread over a 1/2 mile connected through lodges and cat-walks. We ended up not even swimming at this one but Rosalind and I did have fun at the arcade and in the Laser tag maze.

Matthew’s 7th Birthday, with Maddy, Roz, Ted and Matthew.	In front of Paul Bunyan’s
Rosalind	Teddy
Teddy and Rosalind	Teddy and Rosalind

I have only recently started to realize the power of praise and encouragement. I am not talking about unfounded praise or praising for praising sake but recognizing a deep seated need in all humans to be validated by those around them. At work we are encouraged to recognize fellow employees. For years we had the “Star Buck” program where every employee was given a book of coupons to give out to other employees during a course of the year. You could write a note on the back of the star buck and send it to anyone you wanted. Each star buck was worth 20 dollars and at the end of the year you could redeem them for real cash. Smart companies know that happy workers are the ones who put in the most effort at their job. It’s a feedback loop. In the family, I believe that children need the most encouragement. Kids want to show their parents that they can contribute to the collective value of the home environment. Parents might get discouraged by continually doling out really heartfelt praise and not getting anything in return in terms of feedback but I think patience is what’s needed. It will pay off in the long run. I got praise from all sides of my family when I was young. My Grandma on my mother’s side was not the most beloved person by some but no one can argue that she was an advocate for me or what she believed was right for me. When I, at the age of ~10, told her the answer to the question of what was the conversion ratio of pounds to kilograms, she said, “That’s right, you’re really smart, you can be anything you want, you could be a scientist.” While working in the garden this last weekend it just occurred to me why in the world I have always remembered this. Now, I didn’t go into science as a career but that’s besides the point. Maybe some day I will.