Yesterday afternoon I was called into my manager’s office and informed that my employment was being terminated effective immediately.  I was told that it was solely because the company needed to decrease the employee head count.

It’s not like I didn’t see this coming.

Until yesterday afternoon, I worked for a company that manufactured electronic inverters used to control industrial 3-phase A.C. motors.  I worked in the service department.  I was responsible for inspecting, troubleshooting,  and repairing inverters that came back for warranty.  About 18 months ago, we were acquired by a company in Finland.  Initially I thought it was a good thing.  I then soon realized that it probably wasn’t.  For one thing, the new company didn’t believe in doing it’s own aftermarket service.  At it’s facilities in Europe, all aftermarket service was outsourced to a third-party vendor.

It was soon announced that the new company would be building a new facility to replace the one we were currently in.  The lease was going to expire soon and the new company decided that it would be better to just build a whole new facility.  When the new facility was announced and the floor plans were revealed, I couldn’t help but notice that it lacked a service department.  When I brought this fact up to management, I was told not to worry.  I was told that the reason there was not a service department on the floor plan was because it had not yet been decided where exactly it would be placed.

There were other signs over the last twelve months that my services might no longer be needed.   I updated my resume and hoped for the best.  I figured that if I was to be let go, it would probably happen next month when the new facility was scheduled to open.  If for no other reason, I figured they would at least keep me until everything had been moved over to the new building.

It’s not all bad.  At least I’m eligible for unemployment insurance.  In the past when I have looked for a new job, it was always a hassle finding time to go to interviews.  That is no longer a problem.

I’ve also been meaning to organize my sock drawer.

I’ve always been impressed with the accidental hero, the person who just so happens to be in the right place at the right time and does something totally outside their normal frame of operation for the selfless betterment of others. Yesterday my brother Tim Rottman proved to be one of those special people.

My sister-in-law Stephanie wrote the following:

Today while out working, Tim was the first person to arrive at a house fire. When the neighbors told him that people were inside he broke the glass on their door with a brick and went inside. Once inside he successfully rescued …an elderly woman and a young boy. He then went on to rescue their scared German Shepherd who was hiding under the house. Then, he went back to work! I love this man!

My brother is not a firefighter. He’s not a former Navy SEAL. He’s not what I would call an adrenaline junkie. He’s a father and he’s a husband. He’s a son and he’s a brother. He’s a small business owner. He likes to watch Formula 1 racing and drink Guinness. He’s just a decent guy who saw smoke and wondered if people needed help. He went into a house that was on fire and crawled around in the smoke to save people he did not know.

There needs to be a word for people like him. The word “hero” just doesn’t seem to cut it.

A couple months ago, someone using the alias “Long Duck Dong” was coming here and leaving comments.  At the time I didn’t give too much thought to what he had to say.  I thought he was just some random weirdo that had accidentally stumbled onto my blog and for whatever reason, had decided to reward me with his unique brand of wisdom.

It turns out he wasn’t just some random weirdo.   Long Duck Dong is a twenty-something woman that lives in my hometown in California.  I’ve never met her.  She knows some of my relatives, and because of this fact, she knows who I am.

And now I know who she is.

She recently told one of my relatives that she had been coming to my blog and playing devil’s advocate by leaving comments.  I didn’t realize the term “devil’s advocate” meant pretending to be a racially insensitive male character from an 80’s movie while making a series of stupid comments.

In retrospect, I should have realized Long Duck Dong was more than just some random weirdo. On learning who she really is, I went back and re-read all of her comments.  In one of them, she wrote:

you have no clue what i know and how much, both on these random topics and the person posting them.

She’s implying that she knows things about me.  In another comment, she referred to knowing something about my brother.  I honestly don’t remember reading that one.  She of course was completely wrong and off-base.  She was implying things about my brother that are completely untrue.

She went on to tell one of my relatives that if they ever read some of the things I wrote here on my blog, they wouldn’t be very proud of me.  I’m not really sure what that even means.  I stand by everything I’ve ever written here.  I have nothing to be ashamed of.

I’m not the one hiding behind a goofy name.

My recent (and final) letter to The Herald-Mail received a response that was printed in today’s issue written by a man claiming to be from nearby West Virgina.  Not that I have any reason to doubt where he says he’s from.  Who would say they are from West Virginia unless they had to?  Plus, he is a Godly man and they don’t lie.  Unless it’s about taxes.  Anyway, here is the letter:

Jerry Falwell’s ‘flaw’ was that he hated sin

To the editor:

Mr. Rottman’s May 31 letter proclaiming the Rev. Jerry Falwell’s “flaw,” deserves a reply, if for no other reason than its attempted character assassination,.

Being exposed to the Rev. Falwell, from his humble beginnings in his ministry to his passing, he continually repeated over and over one sentence that, in my opinion, gives Mr. Rottman’s letter a bad name.

It is: “You love the sinner, but hate the sin.”

What this means is by paraphrasing, without the entire gist, one can mold the meaning favorable to one’s slant.

Whatever Mr. Rottman proclaims to be, it is very apparent in his first paragraph he is a liberal marching with those who hate toward Christianity and Christians. Biblically speaking, thanks to Adam and Eve, all of humanity, save for “I Am,” is flawed with sin.

Pastor John Miller is not a liar. Rev. Falwell’s virtues are not supposed and no honest person who knew him or his dedication to the service of the Lord could possibly say he made Christians “look bad.”

Even syndicated columnist Charley Reese in The Herald-Mail on June 2 acknowledges the virtues of the Rev. Falwell.

Those who read, study and know the Bible realize morally decadent nations and peoples are subject to judgments from God.

The actions of those who converged like vultures before the Rev. Falwell was even buried speaks volumes about the crowds who attack people when they no longer can defend themselves.

Phillip M. Snider

Martinsburg, W.Va.

Phillip is right about one thing – I am a liberal.  Debbie Schlussel even says so.

I don’t march with anyone though.  Especially those that hate Christians or Christianity.  I don’t hate Christians.  Far from it.

I hate bullies.  Even the ones that put the word reverend in front of their names.  Especially the ones that put the word reverend in front of their names.