The burdens of public service...

Being in public service, I hear from all types. Everyone has a complaint. Everyone has suffered discrimination. There's always someone else to blame.

I've been dealing with one particular individual who believes he was terminated from his employment because he requested a new pair of prescription safety glasses. Long story short, there is no merit to his case. Real reason for his termination: he was insubordinate and refused, on several occasions, to discontinue the wearing of his dark, tinted glasses during nightime hours.

I wrote him a letter a couple of months ago when this all started and told him the following:

"Your original discrimination complaint to us, as well as the follow up documents you have recently faxed to me, are confusing and disjointed. There are very few, if any, complete sentences or thoughts. They are extremely difficult to read, and in what appears to be an attempt to give some type of a legal “feel” to those documents, you have created a morass of confusion to the point that it is impossible to determine whether or not you engaged in any activity protected by the ADOSH Act."

He sent me another letter the other day. I've reproduced it in its entirety below. Everything is as it appears in the original, including grammar, punctuation, etc. The only thing I've changed is to add "XXXXXX" in place of actual names, except my own.

Division of Occupational Safety and Health Retaliation : Discrimination :
P.O. Box 19070 Wrongful Termination:
Phoenix, Arizona 85005 – 070 XXXXXXXXXXXX.
Attention : Darren Perkins Date 7 / 14 / 2009
Fax #602-542-1614

Discrimination : Retaliation : OSHA : ADOSH : Complaint # 08-63 ; . { Both : }
Under the Freedom Act to Request Informatio Per Appeal Case # 08-63 ; .
This is a Formal Request Under this Freedom Act ; To Request All Information ; .
Be advised these Requests have been made before ; . Until now this act was brought to my attention ; .
Per : XXXXXXXXXXX ; Also advised of prior Requests and is aware ; . {Misleading }
I am Requesting All Information Per Appeal Case # 08-63 { But Limited to None : } ; .
The Event this Information is not Disclosed ; This could be grounds { With Holding and Concealing
Information : } ; Be Advised and Placed on Notice : ,. To Deal in Good Faith : .
This Protection Act to with hold names and Reports Should Not Apply Do to the Fact and the
Nature of the Corruption Involved in this Case that you are {Aware : } { Darren Perkins } .
My Request was that you Not Be Involved Period { Darren Perkins } XXXXXX. is aware ; .
Accordingly and in a Fashionable Manner ; . If these Requests are Not Granted ;
They will go to the Next Level ; . Be advised { Darren Perkins } ; Deal in Good Faith ; .
Pending Request for Informa6tion Per Appeal Case # 08-63 ; .
Making this Clear : This could be Grounds for Fraud and Racketeering { Criminal Division : } ; .
{ Requesting information Be sent within Next 15 Days Send ASAP : } ; .
{ Leave to Amend : } ; .


Concerns and Copies to :

XXXXXXXXXXX
Fax # XXX – XXX – XXXX
XXXXXXX : This Request for Information has been made again ; Thank You ; I am Standing By
Waiting to Move Forward to the Next Level ; . Please be advised and Placed on Notice ; .

My Contact Information is :
XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Tucson, AZ 85741
Phone # 602-XXX-XXXX
Standing By Waiting ; .

I love my job. Sigh....

Hurst Family Reunion

This year, Carey was in charge. A big thanks to Bethany Park for tipping us off to the Zion's Ponderosa Ranch and Resort in southern Utah, just outside Zion's National Park.

Dallas: Master Chef

The pool area. Kids had a blast!


Kamryn loved the pool.


Dylan and cousins in the Virgin River, Zion's NP.

Kamryn made a friend with a Famous Amos cookie.

My girls

East Rim trail, through Echo Canyon. What was supposed to be a 10 mile hike ended up being about 15 due to a couple of wrong turns. It was incredibly beautiful, but the lesson learned: Don't go for a wilderness hike without a map. (click on photo for a larger version and note Dallas just left of center. I'm glad he came hiking with me and his uncles.)

Stake Youth Trek

About three weeks ago (time flies), Carey and I were honored to participate in our stake's youth trek as a ma a pa. I won't take the time to recount all of the details and wonderful experiences, but will mention a few things that make me grateful to have participated. In no particular order:

• Having both of my boys participating. Dallas went as a big brother to the Crump (older) family, and Dylan as a son in the Pottle (younger) family. Although we didn't have opportunities to interact with them much, I am grateful they both made the decision to go.
• Sharing a common experience with the Beeson's, the McLean's, the LaMunyon's and Jarret Sharp.
• Being with my Stake President, fellow counselor and other stake and ward staff and friends. I am only as good as the people I surround myself with and for four days, I was surrounded by the best.
  
• Walking.
• The Sabbath. I love being outdoors and I love Sunday meetings. Combining the two is icing on the cake.
  
• And last, but certainly not least, having 14 wonderful youth as our "children" for four days. They were awesome! They loved each other, they helped each other, they had fun together and they made their ma and pa proud.
  

Our stake's youth are amazing.