Jim's Blog

You know, I have always been an, "On the fence guy... a go along, get along guy but there is one thing I believe in. America! While I'm not perfect I believe that I should, could and would do my best to protect the RED, WHITE, and BLUE.  If I move to a different country then I'm expected to follow the rules.  If you want to live here in the US then do it properly and have patients.  If something is wrong in someone's country then they should affect change.  Be the change.  Vote!  Stand up for what you believe in.  You may not be the affect of change but you could be the start.  Just as our forefathers did they started a change.  Now, the change says no vacancy.  Why? because of the acts of malicious people who don't like us because we are different.  Not everyone is the same or is going to agree but this is my country and I believe in what we have here.  I may have disagreements with somethings in this country but I still love...

I didn't know Master Sargent Zaniewski.  My dad was his old commander when they served together.  everyone, my dad included would call him "MSg Z" or just "Z."  I had only met him once but I could tell that he was the NCO's NCO (Non-commissioned Officer).  He was the crusty type of guy that you would see in the military movies.  The hard shell of a man that stood up to anyone and could walk through a hail of bullets in the middle of a fire fight.  He had the demeanor of, "Don't worry Sir, I'll take care of it" He was a guy that the Army had gotten a hold of and refined him to the best of their abilities but he still had the roughness of a Non-commissioned Officer. The only difference that I saw was that he had a soft center.  His wife Amy made sure of that. she ensured that he stayed in touch with humanity and kept a gentle side.  Master Sargent Andrew Zaniewski succumbed to his illness on January 21, 2019 after a long battle with cancer....

I would like to give a shout out to the campus grounds keepers.  I come on to campus and I am in awe of how well the grounds are kept.  The layout is wonderful and beautifully organized.  every spring they design the OU logo in a floral pattern and when it's in bloom the color bursts throughout the court yard.  I used to think some of the military bases that I had been to were well kept but those pale in comparison to the grounds here at OU.  The manicuring that is done throughout the University is just...superb.  Those folks that maintain the grounds don't get any credit for what they do.  I wish the students could see what I see.  Hard work and dedication to a job and a place that give back to the students, the city of Norman, and the state of Oklahoma.  Its the labor forces as a whole that provide a lot for everyone and yet their hard work goes unnoticed and underpaid if you ask me.  We should all take some time to think of the blood...