What's common between the Chevy Volt & the USS Enterprise ?

OK, admit it. You were sucked in by the catchy title! Now the we have that behind us, allow me to explain how an aircraft carrier turns nuclear power into mechanical propulsion. The act of nuclear fission creates heat. A LOT of heat ! That heat is used to superheat water into steam, driving a turbine generator, creating electricity. This huge, nearly inexhaustible electrical plant in turn drives massive electric motors. These turn the propellers in the water, propelling the giant ship forward.

Got it ? Nuclear power; heat; steam; turbine; electricity; electric motors; propulsion. Still with me ?

So what does all of this have to do with the Chevy Volt ? No, it's not nuclear-powered. Although the would be pretty cool. Like the aircraft carrier, it is entirely electric. The motors driving the wheels use locally stored & generated power to derive its propulsion.

You still don't get it ? It has a gas motor, you say ? Yes, you're right. But instead of using the gas motor to derive mechanical propulsion, it is used to generate electricity. To re-charge the batteries. Which provide electricity to the motors, powering the wheels ! Yes, you still need to plug it in to top off the batteries, but you don't stop driving when the batteries are depleted.

Got it ? Gas motor; generator; batteries; electric motors; propulsion ! How freaking cool is that ?

Unlike other hybrids, which may start off with gas, and then switch to electrical motors, or the Nissan Leaf (props to my buddy Mike & his wife Tammy, who were some of the first proud owners in Alberta !), which is entirely electric, the Chevy Volt is the only one capable of generating it's own electricity. Many vehicles use regenerative technologies, which convert the heat energy from braking back into electricity to charge the batteries. Bu this is highly wasteful, and yields very low results.

I admit it, I am a fan-boy. When the time comes, my next vehicle WILL be a Chevy Volt !

 

Working the Room

The Build Up

I spent the past weekend traveling on personal business. As readers following along will recall, I was in Kingston, ON celebrating my Father's life at a memorial reception. As the only representative of the Spencer family, it was my responsibility to greet the guests and accept their condolences.

Professional politicians often note that the key to any form of public event is to "stick to the message". At this particular event, I had a few key themes, which I felt like I was re-visiting over and over again. Everybody wanted to know the same things:

Where is your Mom ?

Unfortunately, Mom had a stroke which left her paralyzed on her right side. She had previously lost vision in her right eye, due to a macular degenerative disease, and she suffered near-complete aphasia, meaning she is only able to enunciate a few words. Needless to say, despite waiting two months for the Memorial Reception, Mom still isn't up to public events.

Where is your sister ?

Unfortunately, Robin's often hectic schedule at work precluded her joining us in Kingston. She works in a special educational facility, which deals with children who have suffered some form of abuse - emotion, physical or sexual. It's a crucial time of the school year for her kids, and she couldn't get away.

Where is your brother ?

Dave has felt bereft at the loss of his father, and felt he was unable to handle the additional emotional strain of attending Dad's Memorial Reception. He sends his love and gratitude to those who asked after him, and asks their understanding at this time.

Working the Room...

Difficult situations like these are best dealt with by having a plan. I made a point of assessing the questions I expected to hear about - "where is...", "why the delayed reception...", and "where is your father interred...". The st is a little bit of thinking on your feet.

I make a point of always starting with somebody you know. The sense of familiarity allows me to "try out" the answers to the questions, and see if the audience's responses are favorable. This gives me the ability to adjust the response if necessary.

It quickly became apparent that I had two distinct audiences - friends and family, and colleagues & co-workers. Each had to have answers tailored to their specific needs. Friends & family tend to be privy to more intimate family details, such as my marital status. Colleagues & co-workers are not. So it became important to decide how much detail to give each group.

The Moral of the Story ?

I cannot stress how much easier this difficult situation became had I not taken the opportunity to think about what message I wanted to share, as well as think about the kinds of questions people may have. There is an old proverb which makes up the tag-line of my email signature. It reads "A man who fails to plan, plans to fail !" .

The Passing of My Father

I am charged with delivering a short eulogy at Dad's Memorial Reception. I'm on board an early-morning flight to Ottawa, with just under four hours flight time to consider my Father's passing. How do I sum up my Father's lifetime in a few short words ?

The Eulogy

The Family Man

I have many fond memories of my Father - he was most importantly a family man. Despite being an accomplished educator and scientist, he never failed to make family time a priority. He was a devoted husband, and father of we three, Robin, David and myself, Mark.

Wherever Dad would go, we could guarantee at least one of the kids was with him. I remember going to the lab at McGill University, and Dad making a point of passing through the animal areas, so we could visit the albino bunnies and the mice. Little did I know...

He also loved sports and would often take us to the Forum in Montréal to watch Guy LaFleur and the Canadiens, or to Jarry Park to see an Expos double-header ! We all saw the late, great Gary Carter behind the plate !

Dad wanted to make sure that each one of us kids grew up to be capable and strong. He wanted us to learn how to be self-reliant, and independent: teaching us all how to use power tools, to fish, and to read and think for ourselves. We all have fond memories Dad reading to us almost every single night at bed-time !

The Arts

Dad instilled that love of reading in all of us, and he had a wide variety of tastes. If he wasn't reading Nature or Cell (his industry rags, as he called them !), he could often be caught reading the latest Ruth Rendell mystery novel, or the exploits of Rumpole of the Bailey. Dad could happily wile away an afternoon doing the NY Times Sunday Crossword - in pen !

Our father had a great love of music. He would often sit reading in his favorite chair in the living room, his feet up on a battered leather footstool that he loved so, reading & listening to music. His major love was jazz, and we grew up listening to Louis Armstrong, Dizzie Gillespie, and Sam Cooke. Dad loved the chanteuses, Lena Horne's "Stormy Weather" being amongst his favorites. And of course he had a quirky side - a jazz violinist named Stephan Grapelli would often be heard as well.

That love of music was passed down to us children. Robin and David became accomplished musicians in their own right, David on guitar, and Robin on... Well, just about anything. Dad was especially proud of her talents on the French horn. Me, I pounded out the notes to the theme song for the Muppet Show on a saxophone until Dad suggested it was high time I read some more ! But, like Dad, I love to listen to Jazz and the Blues greats.


As children, our parents wanted us to be as well-rounded as possible. We were fortunate to participate in an Art School, that was offered by McGill to its staff & their family members. Robin & David both recall being taught to paint by A. Y. Jackson ! Dad kept every one of our artistic expressions, and I was delighted when Dad started sending me snippets & treasures over the years.

We children each took different paths, and Dad did everything he could to encourage us: Robin followed in Dad's footsteps to become an educator; Dad helped David launch his own small business; and I into my career in Information Technology. He always encouraged us to be the best we could be, no matter what we chose to do !

Politics

Dad was a keen supporter of the democratic process. He and my mother instilled in us children that it is a right and a privilege to vote, and that we had a responsibility to exercise that right at every single opportunity. I can recall my parents attending political rallies, including the great Party Conventions. We had a stuffed elephant in our living room, decorated with campaign pins bearing the names Turner, Clark, Mulroney, Chrétien, and Trudeau.

Travel

Dad was often asked to be a guest lecturer at symposia around the world. He travelled throughout Canada and the US, and was thrilled when he was invited to speak in China in the 1980s. His work took him to Southeast Asia and Europe frequently, although Robin was most jealous of his trips to sunnier climes like Florida and California !

I had the extreme good fortune to join Dad on a trip to Australia, which quickly morphed into a trip around the globe that spanned some two months ! We dutifully sent photos and souvenirs home along the way, although Mom was somewhat miffed that we neglected to throw in a brief note explaining what treasures she was receiving ! Dad and I became quite close on that trip, and it was on a bus-tour of the Australian outback that he forever became "Phreddie". It was a pet name that stuck for the rest of his life.

Family vacations allowed Mom & Dad to explore North America, often taking long car trips to Nova Scotia, PEI, and to a rented cottage in Vermont. We children have many happy memories summering by the beach at the ocean, or by a lake in a cottage in New Hampshire or Peterborough. We would fish and swim and canoe, often taking Dad's big red station wagon on sight-seeing jaunts down back-country roads.

Family History

Dad also wanted to keep his family history alive. Being an only child who emigrated to Canada in 1950, I think Dad felt very distant from his parents. We are fortunate that Dad took an interest in genealogy, and passed down copies of birth, death and marriage certificates from England, many dating back to the early 1800's ! As you see in some of the pictures we chose for today's Reception, my father enjoyed his family life in England as well.

The Friend

Dad had a wit and a charm that made everybody want to be around him. My parents were fond of hosting dinner parties at the house. Whether it was the twice-annual dinner party for his lab, or inviting close family friends for a BBQ, my parents loved to entertain. There are plenty of family stories about Mom making salad in a big green garbage bag (it was the only vessel large enough !), or of our beloved cat Ralphie making off with the joint of lamb and Dad being forced to order pizza !

It seemed there was always a huge cast of friends around, everyone pitching in & helping eachother. They say it takes a Community to raise children - and my parents exemplified that statement ! Growing up in Montreal & Kingston, it always seemed that my parents were surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Career

My father earned many accolades over the course of his career. He retired after being the Head of the Department of Biochemistry at Queen's University for more than twenty years. Having been awarded Professor Emeritus status, Dad hung around Queen's for years, often lunching with his cronies - the Grumblers. He was most proud when he was designated as a member of the Royal Society of Canada, while Robin was thrilled at being mentioned in Canada's "Who's Who" !

I have often explained to people about some of Dad's research. I was proud of his contributions to the "Gene Machine", while Dad used to love to tell my children about how some of his research contributed to the creation of soft-serve ice cream. Personally, I thought his research into why frogs don't get infections, despite being injured and living an places teeming with bacteria, was fascinating ! The implications towards helping to find cures for infectious diseases, possibly including HIV or even cancer is awe-inspiring !

Retirement

In his retirement, Dad was a devoted husband, looking after Mom himself after she fell and broke her hip. Dad would walk up the hill from their beautiful home on Ken Woods Circle to Bennet's to do the shopping, and go to the post-office or drug store. Dad could always be counted on to bring home a small parcel of treats - he was remarkably fond of Ferrero-Rocher chocolates ! After his passing, we found many caches of chocolates and nuts spread throughout his room.

Illness

My father battled his illness over the years with quiet dignity. It started with his stroke, which occurred late at night one fateful Christmas Day. I still recall wondering why there was an ambulance at the house... The stoke triggered his Parkinson's disease, which relentlessly stole Dad's strength. Despite still having all of his mental faculties, he suffered from a loss of control over his body. Until finally, in February, Dad ended the fight.

Gratitude

On behalf of my Mother, Madge, my sister, Robin, and my brother, David, I'd like to offer our gratitude for coming today. Many of you have traveled far to mark Dad's passing, and we appreciate your continued love & support.

Today we bid a loving farewell to Dr John Hedley Spencer. A caring son, loving husband, devoted father and loyal friend. While we will all miss him, there is a sense of peace that we associate with the end of his suffering. If you please, and the moment moves you, raise a glass and join us in celebrating the life of my father.

 

And the Light Goes On !

Its been some time since I posted last. As many know I have gone through some upheaval in my personal life - something I WON'T be discussing here ! Needless to say, I became very introspective, and more than a little self-indulgent ! But then I had an epiphany (which I  promptly cleaned up !) ...

I decided it was time to get my head out of my rumpus-room, and get on with my life ! I had spent 6 months ignoring the world, and wallowing in self-denial. Those of you who know me personally know I don't DO self-pity very well, so it manifest itself in my ignoring the world around me. I didn't want to be "that guy" - the guy who went out partying and hitting on 24-year-old cocktail waitresses ! Somebody who my children couldn't be proud of !

And so I sat at my kitchen table, staring at a box of my father's things. It had remained unopened for weeks because I couldn't bring myself to deal with it. To face the fact that my father had passed away. It had almost become a game... "I'll open it AFTER I get the laundry done." was becoming a common excuse for me.

And then, like a lightbulb turning on, I came to realize that I couldn't hide from life altogether. That the world was going to pass me by as I stayed stuck in my own little world ! Instead of living day by day, I wanted to make plans. A budget and goals suddenly became very important to me. I started wanting to get my house in order.

And then I decided I should set more goals. A close friend of mine had always impressed upon me the value of setting professional goals. It was an annual exercise, one that we would discuss at length. I am a huge fan of setting S.M.A.R.T. goals - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relative & Time-based. 

Specific means they are clear and concise. Like saying "I want to lose 20 pounds". Measurable means  that you can track how you are doing, like "Yay ! I have already lost 5 pounds." A goal has to be attainable - no sense saying I want to lose 150 pounds, when you only weigh 160 ! Relative just means it is something that is important to you. And perhaps it should support others of your goals - like saying "I want to take up roller-blading.", which would help support a weight-loss goal. And finally, You need to set a deadline for achieving your goal. Otherwise, you'll always have an out for not getting your goal done.

On my fridge are a pair of big Post-It notes. They are the written record of my goals. I put them there, so I see them every single day, as a reminder of what I want to achieve. Equally as important is the supporting Post-It notes which have specific actions on how I think I can achieve my goals - making healthier eating choices, and walking to & from work every day.

And so,  I have set myself a group of goals - some short term, like getting my tax receipts scanned & itemized before the end of the month. Others are longer-term, like attaining a certification before Christmas. They are both personal and professional in nature. It is the first major step towards my feeling happy & contented with my life. 

And shouldn't that be everybody's goal ?

My own goals are pretty straight-forward:

1. I want to get my weight back under 200 pounds by September first.
1. By walking to work & back every day
2. By making healthier eating choices
3. By eliminating one meal a day
2. I want to build my Financial Plan by May 31st
1. By setting a personal budget which saves at least 10% every month
2. By setting up an investment portfolio with the bank
3. I want to have my Separation Agreement in place by August 3rd, 2012
1. By negotiating the terms with Lynn
2. By getting a lawyer to draft it up for us & signing the document 
4. I want to get my Corporate tax info to the accountant by the May long weekend
1. By completing the scanning of all the receipts 
2. By packaging everything up & emailing it all to him
5. I want to attain two new Professional Designations by Christmas
1. ITIL 3.0 & TOGAF 9
2. By taking the courses and challenging the exams.
6. I want to start my BLOG back up & publish something new each week 
1. By diligently writing on Saturday morning

What are YOUR goals, and more importantly, what are you doing to achieve your goals ?

The opinions expressed are purely those of the author. Opinions are like noses - everyone has one, and they are entitled to it !