The World As I See It

The World As I See It:
Through Television From My Childhood
by Scott Lofgreen
　
　
I. Sesame Street
II. Gilligans Island
III. The Brady Bunch
IV. The Cosby Show
V. Scooby Doo

I. The Sesame Street taught me that people or whatever they were, were all different shapes and sizes, colors, and it didn't matter. It didn't matter to anyone. Tall, short, black, white, brown, deaf, blind, male, female, thin or fat, we are all people and no one was better than another.
II. Gilligans Island taught me that people were different. Not everyone was a movie star, nor was everyone smart. Not everyone was rich and not everyone could be the leader. Some people were humble and some people were goofy, but it didn't matter, because people everywhere were decent, nice people. They all did different things in life and sometimes they didn't hang out together because their interests were diffferent, but in the end everyone had a place. It was ok, to be different and not conform just to fit in.
III. The Brady's were a large family and they stuck with each other no matter what. Were the Bradys rich? I don't know. Were they well to do, sure. The house was big, they had a house keeper and the kids had braces so they had some money. Also they were able to take vacations, but did they have money? That we will never know and that is the way people should live. What I mean to say is some people have money and they want the world to see it and to know it. Other people have money and no one knows it by the way they live. I am not against people having money and having nice things, I just think if a person has to flaunt it, they are very insecure and usually not very nice. Something is wrong with rich mean people.
IV. The Cosby's were another large family and they were another picture of a happy family that I can relate to. Again the question is were they rich? I believe that they were because of a few things. One of those things is that both parents worked and had good jobs, jobs which most people associate with making money. Another of those things is an episode where the kids asked if they were rich and Mr. Cosby said we (meaning mom and dad) are rich, you (meaning the kids) aren't. This is a funny but true way I think life is, or should be. Kids shouldn't be handed the world on a platter just because mom and dad worked hard. It is fine if parents want to give their kids things or make their lives better, but kids need to work and earn too.
V. Scooby Doo also had a group of people trying to get along, everyone with their own strengths and weaknesses, but they were accepted for who and what they were, and never made to conform or become like someone else because that other persons way was better. It is also ok to be good at what you do and do it well, no matter what your age.

Today we hear all kinds of things about being politically correct and make sure that we never say or do anything to offend someone, but then someone else due to some other rule or exception is allowed to break this made up rule. I get sick trying to figure it all out and keep it straight. What I have learned is simple: Treat other people wether they are tall or short, fat or skinny, black or white, male or female, the same way that I want to be treated, with respect and honesty. When I see a person, I am not stupid. I can see what color their skin is, just the same way I can see what car they drive, what clothes they wear, how they style and color their hair. I can accept that they are different from me and be ok with that. I can see that some people like to smoke, some like to drink, some like to read books, and some like to be the center of attention. Some people would rather sit alone in a corner and some in front of a computer or television. Some people would love to live in the open outdoors and some hate being away from the hustle of the city. We can all have different likes and still be friends and be respectful to each other and allow for our differences. I have learned that family is important. Some people have large families and some have small. Some people may have surrogate families including neighbors, friends or workers, but we all are looking for a family to accept us and be loyal to us. A family is a place where we can be ourselves without worry, we can let our guard down. People seem to be the most comfortable and the happiest at this time. I have also learned to work hard and if I have or have not, it doesn't matter nor will it dictate the way I behave or treat others. Sure I want to be able to provide for my needs as well as my family, but I don't need to have a billion dollars and 15 houses with 3 cars in each garage to be happy. Simple needs make for less stress and less stress makes for a happier home.
I don't know why I wrote this. Just listening to some people complain about our country and how it kind of sucks and racisism and all the talk about illegal aliens and a "black president." It amazed me to hear so much about equality and how we are all people and find that so many people still dont get it or understand it. It seems so logical to me. I am a person. You are a person. Nice to meet you.

Not doing my job here.....

My wife says I don't blog enough!! I know, I know, I don't. I can admit it. Sometimes it just seems so overwhelming to me to have to sit down and think of something to say, and then find the time to devote to writing it. Then, I don't write for a while and then there is too much to say, and I have to figure out what I want to omit in my update....... It is a vicious cycle. I will try to update. You all need to remember that in real life, I tend to be a storyteller and include ALL the details, so this is really hard for me. lol (feel sorry for me here) I am writing this the same way I would tell it to you if you were standing in front of me usually. The only difference is every once in a while I will delete paragraphs. (be thankful because I am shortening the story) LOL.

Once upon a time, there was this guy.......
The END

How about that? Short and sweet. J/K

Things I can update about.....my job, my family, my church calling. I will leave the family updates to my wife, cause she does such a good job at it. If you don't know it, she is listed as one of the blogs I check. I bet you can pick which one it is!! She is much better at blogging than I am and she is also a good story teller. She make me laugh reading the updates so I am sure you would enjoy them also. So that leaves me with my work and my church calling.

Lets start with the job. I have worked at Sun Devil Auto now for almost 3 months. It is still a good job. Last month, the man that hired me came out to my store and told the manager that he was taking me out to lunch. I was all like....ok. Sure. (Am I getting fired? Am I being promoted? What did I do? Maybe I really screwed something up....what was it?) Long story short, (no I didn't delete anything here) he said, "I want you to know that we have to let some people in the company go, but that isn't you. I don't want you to worry about your job." He then went on to tell me that he thought I was doing a good job and he had only heard good things about me. He did tell me that I was going to have to start sharing my time between stores. I would work M,W,F at one store and T,TH at another store. Neither store was making enough money to have a full time employee there but they were making enough to need more than what they have. So basically for the last month I have be giving someone a day off at each store, but I also have been learning a lot. Each store is run differently, and I get the opportunity to see these different ways and can form my own opinions on how I want to run my store when I get it. This last week I was asked to help give days off at yet another store and again see more differences. I like this ability to see and learn the different approaches but I miss the stability of knowing where my "home" store is and building relationships with my regular customers. I now have regular customers at 3 different stores! I really like being able to help people and I think the customers can see that I truly like helping them and I think that makes a difference. A couple of weeks ago, the man who hired my (who btw is named Dan) showed up at the store I was working at just because and while he was there told me to thank my dad for sending me to apply to work for them. What a neat complement! He then said twords the end of the month we would get together and talk about my permenant salary. (That hasn't happened yet, but I suspect it may happen on Tuesday.)
Today at work, I swear I had multiple "crazy" customers. People on the phone just asking random questions and other people needing me to be "his homie" (I think that is how to spell it.) Today was busy and then with everything else that went on, I just get overwhelmed trying to think how to tell you without going overboard. Suffice it to say, I think I was phone shopped by the company ( to make sure I am doing my job the way they want me to ) at least 3 different times in 1 hour. It was funny. Trust me, and I will just leave it at that.

My church calling is still as Sunday School President. I got things straightened out shortly after I took over, got every class organized as it was supposed to be, got them all teachers, and it was good.....for about 2 weeks. Then one of the teachers that I had inhereted was no longer going to be a teacher because she had a new calling and it was going to be to difficult for her to do them both, so I told her not to worry, I would cover it for her. I got another teacher for her and again things were good for a couple of months. If you are not familiar with the Mormon church, the church is run by volunteers. No one is paid to do this and we are given callings to do certain things, like be teachers or run the Sunday School. Well, from time to time, someone in a different area will need help and call someone to their area and usually that means the give up the first calling to accept the second. Well that happened about 1 month ago again, so I need to find a new teacher. One of the teachers that I already have, informs me that she only has 2 boys in her class and they would really rather be in another class because they feel uncomfortable being all alone. So I combine the 2 classes together and move the one teacher over to teach the other class. (I am so smart, I think.) Problem solved. Last week I am told "oh and by the way, we are taking 2 more people from you." So now I am back to looking for help again. It is a never ending process sometimes. I think I know what I am going to do, but I have to run it by the bishop first and get approval. We shall see.

So anyways, I think that is enough for now. If you made it this far, wow. I am impressed, you must really want to know, and I thank you for your interest. Feel free to give me heck if you want to, but I really will try to post more so they can be shorter posts!! (I don't have any idea what happened to the camera, but if it turns up and I can find the cable to download the pics to the pc, I will get somemore on here, one way or the other. Hey, I have 6 kids remember?!? lol )

Better late than never...update

It has been a while since I updated and so I thought I would take a minute to do so. The last week of June, I decided that I was gonna start really trying to get my automotive job. I don't know exactly why I was limiting myself to Dealerships, (actually I do.....it is my teachers fault) but I figured since they weren't calling, it was time to give up on them. I mentioned to a few people that I was going to go start hitting the other places and got a few suggestions. I had chosen a few that I was going to start with and mentioned to my parents that I was going to try Sun Devil Auto, where dad takes all the cars for the mission. I asked who I should talk to etc. and advise, but then my dad happened to go in to the building before I got there and mentioned to them that I was looking for work. It just so happened that they were looking for someone, so Randy the manager told my dad to have me stop in that day to fill out an app. I left after I got the message and went to the store. This was a Tuesday. On Wednesday, I got a call from the man in the corporate office that does the hiring, and we met for an interview. I was offered the job and asked to start the next day. Thursday, the 26th of June, I started my new job. It has turned out to be the job. It was what I wanted. It wasn't too big, or too small. It wasn't all the stuff I worried it would be (different than in Minnesota) and it really was about the perfect fit for me, exactly what I wanted. Here it is, over a month later and I still feel this way about the job. I really can settle here and lay down some roots. I am able to use most of the skills that I learned in Minnesota at this job, so it seems as if I was training for it.
We, my family and I, are getting back on our feet again, and it wont be long before we can pay down some debt and wont have to live off of the maxed out credit cards. We really are grateful for the blessings we have been given with the support of our loved ones around us. I am very grateful for my wife, for the infinite amount of patience she has shown me and for the unwavering support she has given and will always give. I truly am blessed in many ways and I do have a great family both immediate and extended. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes to all. Take care.