evening cup with M. J. Hamilton, Sr.

Christmas, New Year’s–The Hamiltons–Family Treasures…

As I reflect on the Christmas past, New Year’s Eve Past – and ponder the New Year ahead, I am careful not to wax religious or wane ideological in any context. I simply wanted to share the treasures to be found in our every day lives, no magic, no special event, certainly no ceremony or pomp to drive the occasion – Treasures…

Yes, we do indeed, spend a great deal of time on the interior home décor at Christmas-time; it’s a tradition that spans centuries in my Friend’s and my own families. We love the antique dolls and designs, and the memories those provide us are treasures of a childhood where love was known more than on Christmas Eve – it was the central focus of our lives and those that cared for us.

These small classics of 60 and 70 years ago – well, they could be treasured – but they’re not… They’re simply some of those simple things that allow us to live our memories – my Friend and I – as we build memories for our many young ones…

Mere hours before the children descend, we are pondering the dining room from this view:

More light on the area – you can quickly see why we liked the darker one

Yea, I know – but it’s a large area covering a ton of table tops, decorations, and the fixings of a super breakfast for when the young ones appear.

One of my favorites, guiding us around in the dark:

The doll that waves the light too and fro, allowing us to tip toe out of all the makings of a perfect tree, and all things perfectly organized.

Alas – Christmas morning – before the tide:

This hardly touches on everything – but it’s a tree decorated by dozens of hands – each little touch a bit of the feelings of the 3 year old, or the 50 year old, no difference – everyone chips in – and so the tree is the center of attraction – not the many gifts.

Alas – unearthing the day… In our home, we have learned that giving of gifts is not a Christmas tradition to relish each year – it is something that comes from the heart, and you give out of what you have to whomever you desire – whenever you can. This our children have learned well.

The youngest ones even, learn this lesson a little more each day.

Once the day is done – every bit of about 1.5 hours to thrashing the living room and cleaning it back up – we’re able to enjoy the company of all – and it is at this time when I hear, Dad, we want to do this, or Dad, we want to do that – and these things they want to do, you see – have nothing to do with gifts received, rather – just time together! This is the most incredible of Treasures in my lifetime – my children do appreciate a few electronics, or high-tech toys, many things they need, clothing and whatnot – no, but what they really want – is simply time with myself and their mother – and so our week is overwhelmed with the division of time across so many lives that we desire to spend so much time with.

My Friend is a deep Friend of 3 decades, and my wife – Margaret… In her is the heart that was and remains meant to treat every child, and I mean every single child, with the tender love and attention – a child needs and deserves. So – our children do know the true meaning of love. They also know how to vie for time with either of us – get that time, and then share that time, and in the course of a few days – we cover everyone, and we all meet for drinks, cake, pies, and just relaxation while we ponder the return to school, or work, or whatever our tasks may be.

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to relish in these Treasures. I miss my Pappy, and Christmas with Pappy is like none other, I have to say. We all talked about Pappy – we all lamented his passing, and worked through our grief and heavy hearts. In the end – singing songs we take back to memories of him – our lives – our Treasures.

You see – this time of year is time with family, friends, those we cherish and love. Not just Christmas. Not the pains of trying to find those special gifts for everyone. It’s a time of trying to find time for everyone – because we ‘are’ home and that is our focus.

Thank you for letting me share – Christmas with The Hamiltons… Treasures – Always…

This pic is one of my beautiful gems… I cannot classify any child as a gem over the other, and I never do – but I wanted to share this one:

She’s still so young, yet all grow’d up… I hate that.

Anyway – this is a very precious moment. A true eye for photography, she did get one of the badest to the bone Cannon cameras for Christmas – and yes, a week early because her travels have her away at Christmas – so – she’s visiting tonight – and as I reflect on my precious moments – I just wanted to share this beauty… I have been blessed.

Margaret and I have been richly blessed. When you realize that – you find your precious moments, every day, laying here, under there, just about everywhere you look – you find those precious moments. Well, I wanted to share this one.

Keep shining Katie-Bug… We love you – always…

To everyone else – may you find your precious moments – and capture them and enjoy them – even share them. They’re precious – and worth remembering – every day – all the days of your life.

Peace be with you all!

Michael Buble–Jennifer Hamilton–Here’s looking at you kid…

Okay… Around 2PM this afternoon my oldest, Jenny – pings me and asks a really simple request: can you go to JR’s and get a signed CD or book by Michael Buble?

Well… Foremost, I’ve never heard of Michael Buble… however, when I mentioned it to co-workers, oh, yea! This guy is really good – a TON of people have heard of him… Why haven’t I? No clue… I’m just old.

Second avenue of troubles – it’s a signing that starts in Manhattan at 4PM and I’m in Brooklyn Heights at that time – and usually until 6PM – so this isn’t going to work.

Well, I dig in and find out more… JR’s is a huge complex off a back road behind the Mayor’s home and City Hall in Manhattan – just across from 1 Centre St. Well, okay, I work here a lot too – so I know the area.

So – I set out to get this autograph from a signer I’ve never heard of – let alone listened to.

It’s pouring down rain!!! NO NO NO – but yes, it is!

I’m there by 4PM – there are not 50 people and a 30 minute line – there are over 350 people and a SUPER DOOPER LINE.

So – I settle in… I’m soaking wet. But I’m here – I’m going to see this through.

A security officer comes up to me in line and asked where my wrist band was? Wrist band? I don’t wear no stinking’ wrist band. What wrist band? Well, you has to go in to door #6 up there (past the 300+ people) and 1) purchase some Michael Buble stuff, 2) get a wrist band that allows you to stay in line so you can get in and get his autograph.

Narly… This is ominous… I’ve never done anything like this. So – here I am – already in line – and hell, I’ve gotta lose my spot and from what I could tell later? Dozens of spots…. But that’s okay – I’m in this for the duration…

So – I go in to #6 – buy a book – buy his latest CD – get TWO wrist bands – and back to the end of the line…. DAMN IT WAS A LONG LINE – and it was raining and I was soaked!!!

Alas – some time later – rain has let up… I’m actually drying up a little… I’m escorted in and advised on the proper picture taking rules, where one must stand, etc. etc. etc.

As I entered the 2nd floor, I saw Mr. Buble for the first time across the room – a vast expanse of CD box displays for any genre you could imagine – and I see easily 100+ people still ahead of me. But – I’m inside, warm and drying out.

As I made my way around… I had no clue what I’d say… So I simply fumbled with trying to get a picture here or there – which I did – see below:

And another…

This is the young man – signing away – and I must say – no more pleasant a man have I met.

He was intrigued that I’m from MI, I work for the City of New York, and my oldest daughter – of 10 children, mind you – in Podunk Alabama – talked me into this signing effort today – with a man I’ve never heard of.

Well… He truly was genuine and and decent young man – the few moments I had in his presence.

The signatures? Well, for non other than my oldest – Jennifer – so – in Mr. Boble’s finest pen – we have:

This includes the opening page of his book – which – standing outside and beginning to read – I must confess, I like it a lot.

And his latest CD – both to Jennifer.

Alas – my evening cup is complete… I’ve enjoyed a cold brewskie – and I’m settling down with other matters work-related and that demand my attention for the evening.

To my #1 child: You are welcome dear lady – wish I could have brought you here, stood you in the rain and let you travail for the signing you desired. But… I’ll settle for 2nd best and do it for you gladly.

Thanksgiving 2011–The Hamiltons… Moments in time…

Today is one of those days, with a family as large as ours, when we usually get all of the family together – for the Thanksgiving dinner.

We have ten (10) children spread around the Eastern US – and it’s not always easy to get everyone home each year. In fact, it’s rare that we have everyone here – but everyone is here in heart and thoughts.

This evening, we took a stroll down memory lane – and I have to confess, it was memorable.

The classic below is something you generally cannot enjoy often in Michigan – if at all when you work the hours that I do – but I was able to enjoy it with children and my best Friend – remembering those days less hectic; Friday, Saturday and even Sunday road racing around the back roads where the cops rarely patrolled, and in those days – if they did – they rarely bothered us.

This pristine ‘79 WS6 TA is a rare and true beauty. Under the hood – she’s pretty stock, but tooling around you can feel the lope to the little above stock camshaft in her:

Original cowl induction 409ci, just under 300hp – pretty stock – but pretty stout too.

We got a few videos shot too – taking William – 8 1/2 now – for one of his more memorable rides – this one he’ll remember. In MI you have to be over 12’ tall and I think – 800lbs – before you’re allowed to ride in the front seat – well, William isn’t quite there – but he’s so small – you could not have seen him anyway – and sure enough – taking a left – twice while tooling around – we turned right in front of Meridian Twp’s finest – out on their patrols – all was great

Sitting as big as he could in the passenger seat – he was in hog heaven tooling around. That’s the one that holds the key to one half of my heart – the other is only 3 1/2 and she’s precious too.

I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday – hopefully you’re getting a long weekend – Peace be with you – thanks for the emails and calls – I sincerely appreciate the following.

Carolee Heynen, Microsoft Solution Provider, Solution Architect, Partner, Geek…

I noticed that one of my associates has picked up the bug and is about to start writing – I CANNOT WAIT!!! DAMNIT MAN !!! I’ve been waiting a long time for this!

Follow her here – Carolee Heynen

She has deep knowledge in the User Interface / User Experience Space. A MSU Graduate, long-time web content management solution architect – she’s homed in on doing what she loves the most – UI’s – and not just UI’s – UI’s with passion, attitude and a TKO from hell. Sorry – didn’t know how else to describe it.

We both work for a small MSFT Partner out of Grand Rapids, MI called Sclera Design / Sclera Hosting and Managed Services. Also, Sclera has a niche corporation called Sclera Dynamics – where we’re introducing custom web parts, solutions and UI component code (layouts, masters, CSS for SPS 2010) – marketing to the SharePoint 2010 market space.

While I aspire to the Microsoft SharePoint master (believe me, it’s not trivial: you must have all four (4) of the SPS 2010 certifications under your belt – your small corporation must have 19.8K for mentoring, tutoring, and finally – the interviewing processes – to get you to Master); she aspires to being one of the best in UI/UX – all in SharePoint 2010 – Foundation or Server – it doesn’t matter – her artistic work comes alive for both editions.

Together, in just over 3.5 years, we have deployed over 150 commercial sites (private, academic, corporate and government). We’ve done sites / solutions that have only 500MB’s of data to sites that host over 35TB’s of data (yes, that’s terabytes – trillions dude/dudette). We’ve had a little experience with SharePoint (BIG SMILE).

Please join me in welcoming her to the world of blogging. I’ve tried to teach her – keep it simple / stupid – write matter of fact, include everything, screen shots, step-by-steps – the works – not like the many other bloggers that draw a big picture and deliver squat for details. (I know, I know… I’m about to start posting the multi-tenancy stuff.) A pain-point for me – SPS 2010 and Multi-tenancy… In the early days a couple years ago I found a few blogs out there that described it very well – but not a damn one demonstrated soup-to-nuts delivery. Well, we’ve deployed MT Farms with 7,500 tenants and only 3 WFE’s and 1 App Host – and they scream – it’s truly amazing how efficient MSFT has gotten this technology – and yes, I’ll be blogging these step-by-steps very soon. Not only do we have the book releasing soon, we’re committed to taking on the blogging like we should – and our community of readers is our life-line of support in this field of work. We appreciate the many readers, writers, and supporters we’ve been able to work with the past several years

I’m looking forward to Carolee’s posts. You can follow mine on my personal blog at Mike H – Another Geek in Need….

Here’s to looking at you kid… Go get ‘em…

October Winter Blast in 2011 – Not to be forgotten soon… 2011 Snow Storm East Coast…

As I reflect on the many things I want to write about tonight – I’m mindful of my trip back to New York City this weekend – I usually drive out on a Saturday – getting in late Saturday nights – and work for a couple weeks on-site. I work double-time during my two (2) weeks on-site, and I’m a week or two (2) off-site to follow. This is great for our client, and great for me.

Now, this weekend – we are a day after the 20th anniversary of the Perfect Storm (1992/October 28) – you remember, the movie made later with George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg made several years later. Well, that was quite the true story, and that perfect storm was a hurricane bearing down on the eastern shore.

Saturday – 29th. October 2011 – The Perfect Storm culminated once again, this time a simple confluence of cold/warm air and a righteous / beast of a snow storm that slammed the Eastern Shore again. I drove through this – leaving later in the day, knowing the storm was hitting earlier in the day – I was shooting to miss the worst of it. Well, in some respects I did, but I saw a mess on the way – roll overs, roll offs, you name it – it happen. Philadelphia reported on the I95 corridor a vehicle slid off one side down to the other – killing the two (2) in that vehicle, and causing a 30+ vehicle pile up that was a true mess.

This type of storm dumps the heaviest of snow on the ground – it’s a huge rainstorm – that freezes enough to be snow – but is massively heavier than most snow storms – and the outcome of this one is catastrophic. New Jersey, Connecticut and Up State New York are all suffering heavily from this. We have overhead clouds that is helping a little tonight – but we’re into night #2 and potentially two (2) to three (3) more days of no power for hundreds of thousands of people. New reports totalled 4 million plus without power Saturday night.

Well, these people have no power, no heat, and there are many elderly stuck in this. You have to understand the geographic of Up State New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut – these are areas where many elderly are retired and living with all they have – and they’re without power tonight.

I do not expect this blog to surface that quickly in the SEO engines – but I pray these people are smiled upon with blessings beyond my imagination – they truly need help – heat, food, and just prayer.

Thank you for reading this one… Remember, what little we do each day – for one single person – comes back to us – sometimes single, sometimes ten fold, sometimes a hundred fold – but no matter – what we give comes back – always. Pray for those that are in need – they truly are in need.

Evening Cup… With M. J. Hamilton – Technology – the Game I Love…

My last post… I hope the last on here… Shares just a little more of the life I am living through.

Married to my absolute best Friend… Ten (10) children, and five (5) grand children… We have so much life to share and live… I could not imagine a life without her. Well, I could not imagine losing my best Friend – Pappy – and I’ll leave it at that.

I’m still knee deep (neck deep???) in some of the most fascinating technology stacks and I’m having a blast. This has been my saving grace/blessing during my time of grief. So – now that we have that out of the way!!!

SharePoint 2012… I cannot chat about that – but I am FINALLY – going to deploy excerpts of our book, SharePoint for Hosting Service Providers, Multi-Tenancy in Spades…

We’ve been working on this several months, and I’m returning to the machine and cranking out the pages.

However, I have wanted to blog on this – so I’m going to begin posting some of my work so you can realize the real power of managing millions of sites, in a SharePoint Farm. Yes, translates – millions of sites – in a single Farm.

Thanks for hanging with me… Check my Blog – it’s releasing soon.

For now – I have some Office Web Apps issues to resolve – and yes, I’ll blog those too…

Mourning, The Mourning Tree, Time to move On… Robert (Pappy) James, Remembering

It has taken a few months I guess, to get to that point where I can talk about a loss in my soul so great – I thought I could never face it and deal with it. Alas, time heals all wounds? Not really… But as my best man (T) shared… It does become more easy to deal with. You never forget. The emotions never change. But time… Days… Months… Time… Does enable you to continue working and grow beyond the pain that is unspeakable. But before I proceed… Pap, I miss you so much… I really do… I know you’re in a better place… But I miss you old man… I truly do…

It took a few months… My work has been sharp, more on point than ever… My focus sharp… My time with other people, including my wife and children, quality time, never a hint of the underlying hole in my soul. So… What opened the faucet that allows my feelings to flow once again? How does it just get to a point where you can get beyond losing someone so close to you – so deeply entrenched in your heart – that it rips your heart out: how do you just pick up and get going again?

For all of us – it’s going to be different. For me – it was unusual, and simple, profound. I have not gotten over my loss… I have simply learned something new, neat…

In a 99 cents Chinese store in South Brooklyn, I see the small plants that I swear the leaves look like marijuana leaves. In fact, I’m certain they’re meant to at least look this way.

Yet, the complex, and intriguing tangle of roots on this plant fascinated me.

I asked the woman behind the counter to explain the type of plant – and so began quite the elaborate history of – the Mourning Tree – from China. It was fascinating.

All said – mourning… How long do we mourn? I mean, how long could I remain operationally solid – if I did not get beyond this moment? Well… Probably a very long time.

The Mourning Tree… I found this a refreshing experience… I found that my Pappy is not mourning – he’s at rest. He does not want me to continue in life, mourning.

The mourning tree- as simple as it initially looked? Is really interesting. A complex / interwoven set of roots – 5 times the size of the initial plant – remember these are small – and yet the roots look like it could grow into a huge tree. Well, they do!

I can plant one (1) or many… They grow, and they keep ever present in one’s mind – mourning…

Pappy… I love you… I miss you… I will always mourn… It does not go away… It may become less difficult in time, but it never goes away… Love is a powerful thing… Friendship is priceless… Best Friends? Once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky. Me? I was blessed, I’ve had several, and they’re best Friends beyond this life.

I miss you old man… Always…

The Power of the Mind – We can do whatever we place our mind’s to do…

I was reading something today by a local writer, and some tidbits jumped out at me that I thought I’d share.

A footnote: For years I have worked by the motto – you reap what you sow; what goes around comes around; further, if you want to be successful, you associate with those that are successful; if you want to be rich, then associate with those that are – and learn what it takes.

Those are like 1/100% of what you’d really read in books speaking to all context.

Now… Some things to leave you with:

•      Beliefs influence perception;
•      Perception structures reality;
•      Reality suggests possibilities;
•      Possibilities generate choices;
•      Choices initiate actions;
•      Actions affect outcomes;
•      Awareness facilitates change…

Upon reading this, I was reminded – quite profoundly – of things I’ve read and known for decades.

How do I lose focus on these key, core elements of our integrity / fiber / who we are?

As the winds of change challenge you – I hope you find these few building blocks – short statements – of value.

Have a great week…

Yes Dad… YES!!! – Precious Moments – What do we leave behind…

This week – as I get to do every few weeks – I had some special time with a couple of the boys, and one chore this week was the repair of Alex’s moped.

Yes Dad – YES!!! This high-five and the bear hug was long past due, and much appreciated.

Alex and I had just finished repairing his only real means of transportation. Granted, he’s only 17 and finishing his senior year in high school this year… Unlike many of his peers – we cannot afford to buy him a car… So – he’s made due for well over a year now – with a ‘okay’ moped that is somewhat dependable.

A few months ago he discovered an issue wherein it was leaking fuel from an overflow rubber hose, and inspecting closer, I found that even after rebuilding the carburetor – I could not fix the root problem. Please forgive me – but this is not a really expensive moped – and rebuilding this carburetor was akin to making chicken salad out of chicken sh.. – well, you get the picture.

So – we replaced some parts – worked roughly 20 minutes or more – and voila!!!! We had it running like brand new money – and his high-five just made my life – that day

Alas… These precious moments are something I cannot really share in a blog – however, I can share – what we leave behind is the single, most important thing we can be contemplating each/every day of our lives.

I have been faced with health issues three (3) times in my life where my life had a 13-18% recovery point in a 6-12 month window. I have had this experience three (3) times – in twenty (20) years now. At the young age of 31 – my wife and best Friend and I accepted the unconscionable – we accepted it – and moved forward – and Lord willing – I’ll continue to be able to share this story.

I have battled cancer, the surgery – the works. With my oldest turning 31 3 days ago, #2 30 today, and so many lives at home waiting for me to come home every week/weekend… I have so much life to live – and these little things in life – well, that’s living. I would love to repair 30 more mopeds, if I could get such a high-five after each one (1)

Those precious moments… What do we leave behind??? Well, I just wanted to share this because I know there are 10′s of 1,000′s out there that struggle with their schedule at work and stress over the time they want to spend at home vs. the time they get to spend at home.

I manage over two (2) dozen people, and I know what it is to work very hard. I’m learning what it is to work more smart (more on that in another post); most important, I have learned – whatever time you have – just enjoy that time. Do not bemoan the time you are in the field… Do not bemoan the time you ‘think’ you should be home. When home, just live – live and enjoy that time and life. It is, all you’re going to get. Do not bemoan it – enjoy it – and remember… It’s what we leave behind that is most important. What my children will remember is that I love them; I support them; in what little time I do get with them? It is the most righteous and solid time – even if it’s only an hour here, four (4) hours there – whatever it is – it is.

What do we leave behind? From the heart comes all that you are. Enjoy that life – live it in all that you do – and do not bemoan being a workaholic; do not bemoan things you ‘think’ are sapping your life. Focus on those things that help you balance your life – but remember – it is what you leave behind that’s the most important. Not any single other thing – just what you leave behind.

When I leave – I leave behind a fantastic group of children that will forever know – I love them!!!

Those are the precious moments… that is what you leave behind.

Peace be with you…