Rumor

Gun’s Quotes over the next several weeks will be “Throw-back” Gun’s Quotes. These are Gun’s Quotes that have been published on Facebook, but never got posted to Blogspot. To migrate them over, each week for the next several will be posts that were originally in the Facebook group.

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Rumor is of all pests the swiftest.”
-Virgil

In elementary school, people passed notes between each other about who they liked. In middle school, people made fun of whatever clique they weren't in. In high school, the news was who slept with who. In college, it was all about how plastered you were on Friday night, despite the fact that you “couldn't remember a thing,” but “it must have been awesome.” So now, being a gainfully employed member of the real-world, I could get away from all of the retarded gossip off of the grapevine, right?

Who am I kidding?

So this week I find out that one of my clients thinks that my company is trying to cheat them. (This is not the case, although I will be the first to admit that there has been some misunderstandings.) What’s worse is that this client is comprised of people who know me personally... I grew up with them. To add more on top of the pile, I find out about these accusations from a third-party... in other words, I find out via a rumor.

I just don’t understand why people can’t be straightforward with people. What is the great challenge about asking a question, seeking a clarification, or confronting a person or entity directly? What is so hard about keeping your mouth shut when you hear some gory news about somebody that you know? Since when was judging others and presuming someone else’s thoughts/motives/ideas an OK thing to do?

I can’t think of the number of times I have done something - ANYTHIING - only to hear about later from somebody else who heard that whatever it was that I had done had some ulterior motive that must have been meant to attack some person or group. I’ve never wanted to hurt or screw over anybody or anything. Why do people think I would start now?

So please, the next time you have a conversation and that conversation leads to the verbal beat-down of someone else’s character, stop and think for a minute about how likely it is that the rumor is true. After that, figure what business it is of yours to broadcast that rumor to all of your friends/co-workers.

I get to have an awkward conversation this week with my clients because of a rumor. I would have much rather been contacted directly to discuss this matter so that I had an opportunity to fix concerns. I hope that when you have issues with a person or a party, you choose to go the direct route, too.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Fishy Subject

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“I'm never having children with you again!”
-Katie Green

An introduction is in order.

Katie and I were RAs in Pickell Hall once upon a time back at my Alma Matar, Ferris State. When I was an RA, I had an aquarium in my room. Katie and I went to the store and I bought some fish for the aquarium and she helped pick them out. The fish were our "children."

Well, at the time, I was relatively new to aquariums and didn't fully understand which fish species would live with each other and which ones would, well, eat each other. I managed to pick out a variety of fish where my Tetras ate my Neons... all 5 of them.

When Katie heard that they had passed, she was, of course, devastated, and exclaimed the comment above to me regarding our future children.

...and may the record show that the fish I purchased after that all survived, even to this day.

Turns out it would have been OK if we had more children after all, Katie.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

The Adult You Have Become

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“What would the child you once were think of the adult you have become?”
-Mike Mertes

This week's Quote needs no explanation. Take the 5 minutes you usually take to read a Gun's Quote and instead ponder the question. Seriously... think it through and over in your head, then answer it.

If you feel so compelled, you may post your answers on the Gun's Quote Wall.

I hope everyone had a wonderful, blessed, safe, Easter.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

St. Patrick

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.”
-Old Irish Friendship Wish

There has been a real lack of Gun's Quotes with totally random, completely useless facts. On the occasion of St. Patrick's Day, however, there will be redemption:

1. On average, 22 gallons of beer are consumed per capita annually in the US.

2. The Missouri University of Science and Technology (MUST) is celebrating their 100th anniversary of their St. Pat's Celebration this year. They have always called their celebration, "The Best Ever."

3. A fraternity brother of mine helped start that celebration when he was going to school there in 1907. (St. Pat's was canceled in 1945 due to WWII, that's why this year is the 100th anniversary)

4. That same fraternity brother convinced the school to cancel school for St. Pat's by getting the entire student body to go on strike for the holiday in 1907. The University has recognized St. Pat's as a holiday ever since.

5. St. Patrick's Day this year was actually on March 15th. This is because Easter is so early this year that the Catholic Church moved the date back to avoid having St. Patrick's feast day during the Monday of Holy Week. (Most calendar-making companies didn't get the memo, though...)

6. St. Munchin is another famous Irish Saint. There is only one St. Munchin's church in the entire United States. It is located in Cameron, MO.

7. During St. Patrick's Day, St. Munchin's church puts on a single Irish Stew dinner for the whole community of Cameron. It is by far their largest fundraiser.

8. There are 33.7 million people living in the US that are of Irish decent.

9. Most live in Massachusetts.

10. St. Patrick was actually born in Britian. He moved to Ireland and brought with him the Christian Faith. He is credited with the conversion of the country, which is partially why he was canonized.

11. St. Patrick is often credited with driving snakes out of the country of Ireland. (You often see statues of him standing on top of, and crushing, a snake.) This is actually an urban legend! There are no snakes native to Ireland at all. (Snakes were probably a metaphor for the pagan religions of the country, which gradually disappeared while St. Patrick was planting the seeds of Christianity)

12. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Engineers.

13. There is no #5 in this list of facts.

14. You just scrolled up to check and see if #5 was there and it was. Just kidding.

So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Now you have something to talk about with your friends tomorrow while you are sitting around the bar and drinking green beer.

I hope everyone has a safe, happy St. Patrick's Day!

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Charity

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“If you haven't got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.”
-Bob Hope

I thought Bob Hope was a great guy. He was a talented comedian that could be funny without being shrewd, and he was a very self-giving person. You don't find many people like that in the world today.

Think about this: How many times do you find yourself in an argument - regardless of which side you are on - about being a giving or charitable person? I'm certain that you have co-workers, classmates, family members, or friends with whom you discuss the problems of the world with, and sometimes even find that the discussion gets a little heated. I mean, after all, when the discussion is about raising taxes to help the poor, getting rid of the welfare system so that lazy people get a job, or instituting universal healthcare so that poor people can get treated for diseases regardless of cost, arguments are bound to break out.

Then you have Bob Hope. Bob Hope very well may have argued any of the above topics, (and probably more) but regardless of his stances on anything, he didn't just talk... he DID. He flew overseas during the war to rally our troops when they needed a pick-me up, broadcast most of his radio shows from US air bases, and performed for military units 'round the world. There is no other person on the planet that can say that they spent 50 years with the US military doing nothing but encouraging and increasing morale with the men and women that defended our country from the Nazis, Communists, and Hussein. 50 years the man lived a life of service. 50 years.

I had a discussion this week with a group that was talking about charity. Be it supporting the troops, the destitute, the ill, or the ill-of-heart, there were definitely those people who were very uncomfortable about opening their wallet or spending their time in areas that needed time and money.

Nobody in this group takes a stance against poor people, the troops, or any other person for that matter that has a direct role in helping others. We all, however, have different opinions on how to solve the problems of poverty, illness, and suffering. My question to you is this: How much time do you spending arguing about it vs. doing something about it? How comfortable are you with putting your money where your mouth is? How much have you contributed to your 'cause'? How many times have you volunteered for those less fortunate than you? How comfortable are you with your amount of charity and giving?

Bob Hope said that if you haven't got any charity in your heart that you have the worst kind of heart trouble. If that describes you, then may I boldly suggest finding a charity, a service project, a soup kitchen, or any other worthy institution that gives help to those that need it, no matter what that help is. Remember that no matter how much you have, you will always have something to give.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Stupid

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Tis better to be thought stupid than to open your mouth and prove it.”
-Andy Wetzel

I think my best friend from high school, Andy, was quoting somebody else when he laid that one on me, but I'll give him the credit anyways.

So I graduated college in May, right? I went to the best school in the nation for the industry I serve, right? I'm all smart now, right?

To top it off, I have worked extra hours at the office on a very high-profile project in order to gain extra attention and am trying my hardest to earn promotions quickly so that I don't have to do it later whenever I'm married, have kids, etc. (Should that ever occur...)

So when I was approached by the company trainer to put on a corporate-wide presentation on how zoning works, (Zoning is a topic in the HVAC field) I immediately saw an opportunity to gain exposure within the company and potentially climb another rung of the corporate ladder.

That presentation, broadcast over the internet to several other countries, mind you, was Monday. I felt like I did well. I felt I was articulate, threw in subtle but effective humor to keep my audience from falling asleep, and I think spoke intelligently about my topic...

...until I got back to the office.

What I didn't realize I did until my co-workers told me about it was refer to a DX Coil as a "Direct Exchange" Coil. Now, I know you don't care what that is, but what you should know is that I called it the wrong thing. DX stands for "Direct Expansion," not "Direct Exchange."

Big deal, right? Well, to put it in layman's terms, the mistake I made was equivalent to calling an apple a vegetable. It was a very elementary error that I had the pleasure of making in front of 200 people.

Oh yes... indeed I am very, VERY smart, and I just proved it to the entire world. :(

If I understand its definition correctly, I think I have been Godsmacked. It's what happens when you think you're all that, and then God's like, "uh, you definitely need to get knocked off your pedestal," and then He proceeds to do so.

In any case, I'm living, breathing, embarrassed proof that talking like you're smart, educated, up-and-coming, a big-deal, and more or less all-that is a one-way ticket back to reality.

Always watch what comes out of your mouth, and think very carefully about what you say. Don't just assume that you automatically know what you're talking about because you think you're smart. What you utter may prove otherwise.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Lawn Boy

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“I've got a thing for my Lawn Boy.”
-Steve Kozlen

An introduction is in order.

Steve is a guy that I work with at the office. Earlier this year, he bought a house, and was talking about how he was getting all pumped up about painting it, fixing it up, you know, making it his own.

Well, during the course of the conversation, like typical men, we started to discuss lawn equipment. You know, how big is your mower, does it have a hydrostat, etc., etc. (Yeah, I know... we're engineers...)

In the middle of the conversation, when we were all debating about which brand was the best, Steve blurts out, "I have a thing for my Lawn Boy," which made all of the rest of us do a double-take.

Apparently, Lawn Boy is a brand of mower. I was not aware of that at that time.

So Steve gets the glory this week. Congratulations, Steve. I hope your Lawn Boy will keep pullin’ for you for years to come.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

The Moment

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Plan for the future but live in the moment.”
-LLIC 2004

Have you ever dwelled on the past?

The answer is probably yes. There is undoubtedly something that you have done that you either very seriously regret or had such a blast with that you constantly think about how good it was.

The same is true for the future. Nobody really knows what's in store for us tomorrow, or the next day, next month, next year, etc. Yet, many people spend their days worrying about what the future has in store for them.

So the question that I have for you is: Why? Why is it that you spend so much time on the way things were? Why is it that we spend so much time on the way things will be? Granted, some people are really bad about it and others maybe recall things once or twice and that's it, but we're all guilty to some degree.

I'm about to give you the secret to being able to go through life without ever having to worry about either the past or the future. Ya'll need to sit down for this... it's profound:

You need to live in the present.

There are dozens of clichés for this. "Carpe diem." "Today is a gift, that is why it is called the present." Etc. Even so, I see so many people running around wondering what's going to happen to them or what has happened to them that nobody pays attention to the here and now.

The fact of the matter is that if you viewed today as the only day you had - that tomorrow was not a guarantee and that the past was irrelevant - you would never have to worry about the past or present again. Think about it. If you lived every single day to its fullest, where you went to bed knowing that you did everything you could with everything that you had, you couldn't regret it. Likewise, how could you fear your future if you knew that you were going to take each day at a time, handling your business, your friends, your family, and your lives with the full attention they deserve; not by spending your time worrying about the past or present.

Most of the people in this group are either in high school or college. Those two institutions are setup to prepare you for the "real world." May I just say that even though preparation for your livelihood is important, enjoying your life now, and participating fully in the things you can participate fully in will ensure that when you enter that real world, you won't regret the one you left.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote

Mad World

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
'Cos I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World”
-Gary Jules

You probably recognize the above quote. It is an excerpt from a song. Specifically, it's "Mad World," usually associated with the movie "Donnie Darko." If you haven't heard the song, then you should listen to it really quick. It's awesome.
Link to the song:
http://www.youtube.com/wat​ch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4&feature=r​elated
Full lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/ly​rics/tearsforfears/madworl​d.html

A week or two ago I heard a kid talk about what was going on in his life. He was depressed. He decided he needed to talk to a group about it, so he did. It was one of those rare glimpses into a person's life. You know, where they just don't hold back and throw it all out there for all to see and hear and absorb. Conversations started. A lot of people discussed a lot of things in their lives that they probably wouldn't say in a typical day.

The biggest comment I heard in the discussion was not how life is precious... it was not "we care about you," or "we'll help you through this" or any of that, although those are all good, kind things that were (and should be) said.

No, the biggest comment that I heard was that it was a shame nobody cares about how anybody feels.

As "Mad World" suggests, we all have a routine that we all stick to religiously, and whoever breaks the routine is made to feel ashamed. It's just so much easier to go through life without asking questions, isn't it? I mean, seriously, if you were to ask somebody how their day was going, and they said anything other than, "Good," you would just be like, "Oh, I'm sorry," and walk off. You wouldn't ask why; you wouldn't know if that was appropriate. Likewise, if they said, "Great," you would just be like, "Awesome," and you wouldn't ask why their day was great. That's just as bad. You've done it dozens of times. So have I.

The fact of the matter is you don't work with co-workers. You don't learn with classmates. You aren't related to loved ones. No, you work with, learn with, and are related to PEOPLE. PEOPLE that have real feelings, real problems, real joys, real needs, real stories. In our busy daily lives, we often forget that the ones surrounding us have a life, too.

I hope that everyone in this group realizes that I am a safe person to talk to about their lives, whatever that discussion may be. I don't judge, I won't condemn, and I just want to be able to share with you the joys and sorrows of life. I want to help when you need help. I want to celebrate when you want to celebrate. I want to be a REAL friend.

I throw that out there because I want you to know that if this crazy guy who runs a Facebook group that fills up your inbox on a late Sunday night cares, then so, too, do other people who surround you.

Please share your lives. You only get one of them, and nobody benefits from running around in this Mad World but never stopping to just simply live.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Burning Down the Apartment

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“It is preferable that the fire stay inside the fireplace.”
-Me

I like to put funny quotes on here of crazy and silly things people say when they are being goofy and (occasionally) dumb. Now I admit, everybody does dumb things every great once and a while, and to really be fair, I should quote myself when I do dumb things, too.

So you guys are really in for a treat this week, because my blunder was so comical that I can't help but make fun of my own sorry self.

I have a fireplace. I use it a lot. This weekend, it was cold, and I wanted a fire. So, I made one. The firewood had gotten wet with some rain and snow we had recently, so the fire was pretty pathetic. Being a man, I, of course, decided I needed a bigger fire. (Insert Tim Allen grunt here)

So, logically, I threw more stuff in the fireplace.

“Hmm,” I think. “That's a little better.”
(Fire grows)
“That's a pretty big fire.”
(Fire starts roaring up the chimney)
“I wonder if that fire is too big...?”
(Fire settles)
“Oh my God!!!”

When the firelogs started settling, there were so many of them in there that they felt they were a little too tight and, therefore, decided to depart from their assigned combustion area.

I ran into my kitchen and starting filling cups with water and dumping them on the 2nd fire I now had going in my apartment; namely the one inconveniently placed on my living room floor. The smoke detector started screaming its head off, ashes were flying all over the place, and smoke filled the room. I flung my deck door open so that the smoke could get out, dumped more water on that 2nd fire, and about that time, the fireplace regurgitated a 2nd load. Sigh.

I was able to extinguish both fires with just water and without the police or fire department becoming involved; however, I did have to take the next hour and a half to vacuum everything to get the thin layer of soot off of all my stuff. The carpet also took one for the team, getting a nice singe in 3 places while the tiles in front of the fire place got too hot and became discolored. Looks like I'll owe my landlord a little more than just rent this month.

In any case, nobody was hurt, no fire trucks showed up, and other than carpet, tiles, and my ego, no property was damaged.

So there you go, ladies and gentlemen. As proper penance for quoting all the crazy things you say and do, I must humbly and honestly throw my stupidity out there for all of you to make fun of for a week. Enjoy.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Aiming at Nothing

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“When you aim at nothing, you will always hit your target.”
-Curtis Martin

I had the pleasure of talking with some awesome teenagers this weekend about their "Goliaths."

You know about David and Goliath, right? Big tough man, little dinky kid. Little dinky kid defeats big tough man with slingshot?

Make no mistake... David was a little afraid of Goliath. In fact, if people would have worn pants back in those days, he probably would have wet them.

Unlike the other Israelites, though, David, volunteered to attack Goliath. You see, the people were so afraid of Goliath that they cowered away from him. Instead of standing up against their enemy, the Israelites would have rather ducked their heads to avoid the severe beating that they just KNEW they would get if they tried to defend their homeland. Instead of fighting off the intruders, the Israelites simply put up with their oppression.

These teens discussed with me some of their Goliaths. They have some struggles that they are dealing with right now that seem like there is nothing that can be done to fix them. Some are dealing with broken families, some are dealing with stress, some are dealing with relationship and purity issues, some are dealing with grades.

I smiled when I heard some of these issues. I recalled when I was in high school and many of the above listed items were on my list of "Things I will never be able to fix."

...but the simple fact of the matter is that if you never try, they will always be issues. As the quote suggests, if you never try to fix the problems that affect you today, they will never be fixed. It doesn't mean your troubles and concerns will go away overnight, but it does mean that you have to start today if you want to fix them.

All of us have something in our lives that we are dealing with that seems impossible to fix. Addictions. Illness. Broken relationships. The challenge is to be like David... to be the guy that will stand up and proudly declare "NO MORE!" and then do something about it. The hardest step is the first one, my friends.

So my challenge to you is to make that first step. Risk falling on your face. Risk the potential embarrassment. Risk the humility. You may fail several times, but if you never start, you will never win.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Victory!

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Don't quit when you're tired; quit when you've won.”
-LLIC 2003

We've all heard some iteration of the above quote ever since we were children. Some remark made by our dads, our grandpas, or (usually) some other masculine figure. Not that moms don't push us to victory despite our fatigue, it's just that I typically hear the above quote around sporting events, and that's typically a dad thing.

I just got back from New York, New York. I met up with several other or my friends and professors from my HVAC class only a short year ago. We all landed on Manhattan island to do one thing: Accept our award.

You see, Jeremy Saddison, Ryan Larson, Chad Gydeson, and I were on the same senior design team in school. Our team submitted our design to an organization known as ASHRAE (American Society for Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers) where it was judged against other designs from other universities from around the world. We had to design a heating/cooling/ventilatio​n system for a biopharmaceutical research facility on Manhattan island.

On Manhattan island this weekend, my team was crowned #1.

We talked a little bit about what got us there. The 2, 3, and yes, sometimes even 4 or 5 AM nights where we worked and designed and drew and then started all over again because we didn't like it. We talked about the times when we were stressing pretty bad. We talked about the times when our teachers were earning our disdain. In the end, though, when we were all tired, stressed out, and ready to kill each other, we took the extra step to do what we all knew needed to be done. We didn't quit when we were tired.

We quit when we won. :)

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Compliment and Encouragement

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Remember that everyone appreciates a sincere compliment and words of encouragement.” (Paraphrased)
-LLIC 2005

So I had a flight to Dallas today and I made two boo boos...

1. I forgot to lookup this week's quote so that I could post it exactly. (hence the paraphrase)
2. I forgot to get tip cash.

What's tip cash? I'm not sure if that's its official name, but to me, tip cash is what I carry in my pocket when I travel so that I can slip a dollar to the bus driver who carries me from the parking lot to my car, and vice versa, and who also helps me with my bags.

So, I had to apologize to my drivers this time around because I couldn't give them tip money. It made me recall a story when I got this really awesome lady who was my bus driver at KCI. (KC's Airport) This gal helped with my bags, and then told us stories about the city on our way from the terminal to the parking lot. Very friendly, very welcoming, and just one of those people who you instantly knew had a warm heart.

I managed to forget my tip money that particular week, too.

So, at the end of our journey, I told the lady I sincerely appreciated her stories and warm, friendly attitude, and said that I was sorry for not being able to give her a dollar for helping with my bag.

She told me that it didn't matter. She said my words of appreciation and thanks meant more to her than a tip. Aawwwwww... :)

Simple story, but it should ring home. "Please" and "Thank You" go a very long way. Politeness, in our word today, is a lost art, so it is only more valuable when the few who use it do.

Find a compliment to give somebody this week, and make sure you give it, even if they already know you appreciate them. It will make their day. It will make yours, too.

...Oh and by the way, it'll be worth more than a dollar.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Five Traits

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Remember: There are five undeniable traits that each and every person you meet holds:
1. They're afraid of something.
2. They love something.
3. They've lost something.
4. They're dreaming of something.
5. They've been hurt by something.”
-Unknown

The Iowa Caucus is behind us, New Hampshire is right around the corner. Whether you like it or not, it is official: We are in an election year. God help us all.

Don't stop reading. I'm not using Gun's Quotes as a forum to preach my political views, so you can all relax. Rather, I am noting something that tends to happen every single time this four-year cycle rolls around, and something that I want to call your attention to because you are guilty of it, too. It is called: Cynicism.

Simply put, cynicism is the general distrust of somebody else's integrity or motives. It's the belief that everyone does whatever they do for some ulterior motive. Everyone is out to get you.

I am constantly appalled by what candidates have to say when somebody puts a microphone in front of them. Democrats accuse corporations of gouging the poor of what little money they have, and accuse the rich of stealing from whomever they can. Republicans accuse the government of acting like "Big Brother," and overtaxing its citizens only to waste money on some $10,000 toilet seat, or other ludicrous thing. Democrats attack Democrats and Republicans attack Republicans while vying for the enamored "Primary" votes that are so critical early on in everyone's respective campaigns.

It's no wonder everyone thinks the country is so screwed up: If we spend even 5 minutes listening to this garbage you might start believe that the people we walk next to daily want to blind-side us, too.

Does everyone here think that everyone here wants to somehow hurt, rob, or otherwise screw everyone here?

The next time you think that somebody, like your boss, your family, your pastor, your worst enemy, your Representative or Senator, and yes, even your President, lives solely to make your life miserable, think about the fact that that person has the five traits. Think about the fact that you do, too.

Everyone here is a human being. We have fears. We have love. We have sorrow. We have dreams. We have pain. These things are universal, human traits. Just what exactly is it that makes you think that everyone else around you doesn't have them? What makes you think that someone you see on TV, or even a stranger, is some cold-hearted, merciless traitor waiting to take you down? Is that what you are? Do you live to live off others? So why do you think other people do?

Cynicism is dividing this nation and pitting neighbor against neighbor. It turns would-be friends into strangers, or worse, enemies. It causes fear, anxiety, sometimes even hatred and anger. Worst of all, it simply keeps people from being happy.

If you don't want to intentionally hurt someone, then I hope after reading this week's quote that you at least consider the fact that the people you meet in the future don't want to, either. Give the people you meet tomorrow a chance. Maybe you'll even make a friend.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!