Bart Shoaf

Tracked Systems Improve

I was aiming for 300,000 miles on my last vehicle before the Mini; that Dodge got to 297K before I had to trade it in on the Paceman. If I stay on track with my preventive maintenance, perhaps the Mini will last that long too. Working in Continuous Improvement, I help my company find smallContinue reading “Tracked Systems Improve”

Sweet Home Bass Section

The only instrument I ever played “successfully” was the handbell. As I acknowledge that many of us immediately think of the hilarious SNL “cowbell” skit, I must redirect all of us to think about the Christmas tune, “Carol of the Bells.” This may have been the most challenging piece in which I ever participated. HandbellContinue reading “Sweet Home Bass Section”

Higher Octane – Promise Keeper

This weekend, I took some much needed rest at the beach. Here’s a devotional I wrote during our church’s study of Galatians 3. Keep shiftin’. I traveled to DC years ago to the big Promise Keepers event, Stand in the Gap. Promise Keepers and Coach Mac made an impression on me. I saw men willingContinue reading “Higher Octane – Promise Keeper”

Workin’ for the FBI

Did the song pop into your mind? The Hollies had that great ballad decades ago, “Long Cool Woman.” I looked up the lyrics when the song played in my head thinking about this post and realized I didn’t know half of them. Did I ever know it was about bootleggers? Sorry, this story is notContinue reading “Workin’ for the FBI”

Shabbat Shalom

Sometimes I’m sleepy due to my sleep disorders, but other times sleep is not all that I need. Rest is a fleeting concept in America. I feel that I am the typical American in this respect: busy, trying to stay ahead, or more accurately, to keep up with this life. How will I get itContinue reading “Shabbat Shalom”

Lost at Seaside

One of the unexpected events of my life would be better told by one of my parents. But my mother is with the Lord, and my dad doesn’t need the stress. Remembering the stress of a past situation with a missing child, even for a few short minutes, can cause some parents’ blood pressure toContinue reading “Lost at Seaside”

I’m Seeing Red

When I was a graduate student in the 90s, my wife and I lived in a two-bedroom apartment in a row of duplexes with several other young couples. One couple across the street had two little girls, so our girls got together several times to play. These were the first people I remember who mentionedContinue reading “I’m Seeing Red”

Dov’è il mio Spazzolino?

Or in English, “Where is my toothbrush?” You may have been able to translate my title from Italian, and if so, I applaud you. Why am I blogging about the Italian language? And why the toothbrush? Read on. I’m about a month away from a 500-day streak on Duolingo’s Italian course. 500 is my goal,Continue reading “Dov’è il mio Spazzolino?”

Sleep Like a Baby?

Sleeping babies, in my humble opinion, are designed to be so cute that we adults will work hard not to disturb them. Peaceful sleep – sleep that they obviously need, and that is clearly helping them digest and feed the inner workings of their newly developing bodies — is critical for young life. We usedContinue reading “Sleep Like a Baby?”

Podcast Power

Since I got a smartphone with a touch screen about 10 years ago, I have enjoyed podcasts. When I was a kid, radios and recording devices were fascinating to me. I began recording myself reading aloud at about age 7. Radios of all eras, handheld and stand-alone, were audio channels into the outside world. IContinue reading “Podcast Power”