Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Now this is not what I needed to see right before bed
Apparently the next big one is brewing just a few scant miles away from us in the Coachella Valley.
Having missed out on the last big one in Northridge in 1994 (I was away at college at the time), I can nevertheless say that I am not looking forward to this one. The Whittier one in 1987 generated enough pants-pooping terror to hold me over for a lifetime. At least with hurricanes, floods and tornadoes you get some warning to get out of bed, put some underpants on, get in the cellar and hold on tight through the ride. Earthquakes? Not so much.
Having missed out on the last big one in Northridge in 1994 (I was away at college at the time), I can nevertheless say that I am not looking forward to this one. The Whittier one in 1987 generated enough pants-pooping terror to hold me over for a lifetime. At least with hurricanes, floods and tornadoes you get some warning to get out of bed, put some underpants on, get in the cellar and hold on tight through the ride. Earthquakes? Not so much.
Trying to get started again...
I'm going to give it my best try to get it going again. The last few times I've tried I just sat at the keyboard, staring at the screen like some slack-jawed yokel. So I guess the best thing to do is just to post once a day at least and try to get some of that old inspiration back. We'll see.
RTS Online Classes
Yowie Zowie! Free online classes from RTS. You have to download iTunes, but hey nothings perfect.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
Minnesota in three words.
7 below zero.
Seriously I will beg, kick, holler and scream to keep my family in So Cal and its 75 degree winters.
Seriously I will beg, kick, holler and scream to keep my family in So Cal and its 75 degree winters.
Friday, February 10, 2006
The Sweetness a Millimeter Underneath
I really can't commend this story highly enough, not only does it pack an idealogical punch that needs to be promoted but it's just plain exquisite writing.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Waiting, and wishing and hoping and wanting.
Is that how the song goes? I'm not sure. For the past seven days I've been sitting at home feeling pretty useless waiting for a call from my old boss to let me know what branch I should go to to start my new career as a loan officer. As many know, I have been planning to move from my position as a recruiter to a LO for some time now...apparently for about the same amount of time the uppity-ups at my former/current employer have been discussing cutbacks. Anyway long story short - my position as a recruiter was eliminated just as I was about to make the jump, which wouldn't be a big deal execpt for the fact that they laid off 20% of the loan officers in the company at the same time...good times.
So I was called into the room and thanked for my year and a half of service and then given a box and a nice little severance package. Afterwards I was told by my boss that she had talked to HR about me and that though it may not be at the original location, I would still have the LO position waiting for me on Monday.
That was seven days ago with still no word as to where I'll be come Monday.
As for my future, I know that I will be OK, God will provide and he has blessed me with a network of buddies in recruiting who have been networking for me diligently and passing my resume around to various companies (I have one interview on Monday). It's amazing what having a recruiting position will do for the ol' confidence when it comes time to interview for a job. Give me a couple days to prepare and I can ace most interviews.
Though there are many positives about this situation (severance package which gives me time to explore my options, time to prepare for the baby, a chance to spend much-needed time with my family and aid in the homeschooling), there lies the kernel of disatisfaction and wounded pride. Though there were recruiters who were laid off who posessed skillz superior to mine, I still wonder...why me? Was it because I was an expedient choice with my move to the branch as sufficient reason? Was it because they eliminated most of the branches I recruited for?
...or was it because I just wasn't good enough?
When I asked they gave me an evasive asnwer which led me to consider this third option more than I'd have liked. I had always considered my success in recruiting as the source of the confidence I had in my ability to sell and work under a bonus/commission structure and therefore make the move to LO. What if I've been kidding myself in trying to make this move.
Thankfully, my confidence in my strengths outweigh these fleeting moments of doubt. God has also put a burning in my heart to make this transition for some time now, while that's not foolproof (Jer. 17:5-10), I'm still taking that as a sign that I'm moving in the right direction.
So I was called into the room and thanked for my year and a half of service and then given a box and a nice little severance package. Afterwards I was told by my boss that she had talked to HR about me and that though it may not be at the original location, I would still have the LO position waiting for me on Monday.
That was seven days ago with still no word as to where I'll be come Monday.
As for my future, I know that I will be OK, God will provide and he has blessed me with a network of buddies in recruiting who have been networking for me diligently and passing my resume around to various companies (I have one interview on Monday). It's amazing what having a recruiting position will do for the ol' confidence when it comes time to interview for a job. Give me a couple days to prepare and I can ace most interviews.
Though there are many positives about this situation (severance package which gives me time to explore my options, time to prepare for the baby, a chance to spend much-needed time with my family and aid in the homeschooling), there lies the kernel of disatisfaction and wounded pride. Though there were recruiters who were laid off who posessed skillz superior to mine, I still wonder...why me? Was it because I was an expedient choice with my move to the branch as sufficient reason? Was it because they eliminated most of the branches I recruited for?
...or was it because I just wasn't good enough?
When I asked they gave me an evasive asnwer which led me to consider this third option more than I'd have liked. I had always considered my success in recruiting as the source of the confidence I had in my ability to sell and work under a bonus/commission structure and therefore make the move to LO. What if I've been kidding myself in trying to make this move.
Thankfully, my confidence in my strengths outweigh these fleeting moments of doubt. God has also put a burning in my heart to make this transition for some time now, while that's not foolproof (Jer. 17:5-10), I'm still taking that as a sign that I'm moving in the right direction.
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Ya gotta kill the brain...ya just gotta
Apparently someone was tired of the same old "witch-go-splat from flying into front door" decoration and decided to class things up a bit. How better to do that than knitting characters and scenes from Romero's Dawn of the Dead out of yarn?
Heads, er, hats off to the Onion AV Blog for the link.
Heads, er, hats off to the Onion AV Blog for the link.
Images of the Father
As I was doing laundry, Cabes came upstairs to retrieve his big brother who was in the bathroom, umm, working some things out. Caleb, somewhat bewildered by the length of his brother's visit, knocks on the door and in his sweet baby voice says "How's it going in there chief?"
I nearly fell over laughing. It sounded like that could've come from my own mouth.
I nearly fell over laughing. It sounded like that could've come from my own mouth.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Friday, October 07, 2005
Please stop screaming at me...
Hilarious and actually a bit unnerving in it's ability to hit pretty close to home.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Python vs Gator
I know that this is a pretty gross story and some might even find it sad. But the 8 year old boy in me wishes that I could've been present to see it go down or, as the story reports, not go down.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Sure...why not
| Bands // Song Titles | |
| Choose a band/or artist and answer only in song TITLES by that band:: | Bob Dylan |
| Are you female or male:: | Mr. Tambourine Man |
| Describe yourself:: | Jokerman |
| How do some people feel about you:: | Idiot Wind |
| How do you feel about yourself:: | A Satisfied Mind |
| Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend:: | Desolation Row |
| Describe your current girlfriend/boyfriend:: | Covenant Woman |
| Describe where you want to be:: | Knockin' on Heaven's Door |
| Describe what you want to be:: | Man of Peace |
| Describe how you live:: | Blowin' in the Wind |
| Describe how you love:: | Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance |
| Share a few words of wisdom:: | The Times They Are A-Changing |
| Take this survey | Find more surveys You've been totally Bzoink*d | |
Thursday, September 15, 2005
News to warm your heart at night
Bushie is one step closer to having preemptive nuclear strike powers.
You are now excused to go change your underwear.
Now then, time to go build that fallout shelter I've always wanted.
You are now excused to go change your underwear.
Now then, time to go build that fallout shelter I've always wanted.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Thankful
(This got a bit rambly...forewarned)
Joyful news! John and Peggy, the couple from MS who are visiting our church, have reported that all of their family are safe and accounted for. In addition their home has sustained only minor damage. We are thankful for the good news even though we will miss the wonderful fellowship they have brought to our fellowship as they head home tomorrow. To John and Peggy, peace be with you.
Our God is a sustaining God, ready to uphold and reinforce His children when we are weak. For that I give thanks. This past Sunday I could barely find it in me to teach Sunday School. The news of the past two weeks in LA, the issues going on within my church, the worry and fear my sister now daily lives in after she witnessed the brutal murder of one of her coworkers at her job, and the uncertain future that awaits me at my job just really overwhelmed me. As I stood there, I felt absolutely no motivation, no drive whatsoever to deliver my lesson. So I continued to stand there slack-jawed for about 20-30 seconds (felt like minutes) in front of everyone before I asked for a congregation time of prayer. After the prayer I felt somewhat encouraged so I pressed on. About 20 minutes into it I started to get the flow and excitement back.
As I lay awake last night next to my sleeping wife, trying to go to sleep but going over all these things in my mind, I felt my unborn child wriggle and leap. I laid my cheek lightly on Karlene's tummy and felt the little wiggles and kicks. I wanted to stay right there forever, in the energy of that stillness, just like that. Just then a boatload of perspective walloped me over the head. In a world full of so much anger, uncertainty, impotence and injustice, we must not neglect the overwhelming, breathtaking beauty that surrounds us. Because its that beauty that gives us hope: a little peek behind the curtain revealing the divine age to come when everything will be put to rights. It's in the little things we take for granted.
I experienced it again tonight during a game of poker (Hold 'em of course) with my brothers in law (whom I also am privledged to call my dear friends). It was during one of those make-no-sense moments when sheer goofiness just takes over and shared laughter fills the air. How wonderful are those moments and how sad that they are truly so rare.
Its also in the satisfaction you get after a day's hard work where even though you're tired and maybe even frustrated, you have that wonderful feeling that you accomplished something, you did something well.
Yes, life is hard. Sin sucks indeed. But blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. To paraphrase Phillip Yancey, "Life is hard, God is merciful, and the age to come is sure". Those three things we can take to the bank, and in the meanwhile be sure to fully indulge yourself in those fleeting but amazing foretastes of the resurrection to come.
Joyful news! John and Peggy, the couple from MS who are visiting our church, have reported that all of their family are safe and accounted for. In addition their home has sustained only minor damage. We are thankful for the good news even though we will miss the wonderful fellowship they have brought to our fellowship as they head home tomorrow. To John and Peggy, peace be with you.
Our God is a sustaining God, ready to uphold and reinforce His children when we are weak. For that I give thanks. This past Sunday I could barely find it in me to teach Sunday School. The news of the past two weeks in LA, the issues going on within my church, the worry and fear my sister now daily lives in after she witnessed the brutal murder of one of her coworkers at her job, and the uncertain future that awaits me at my job just really overwhelmed me. As I stood there, I felt absolutely no motivation, no drive whatsoever to deliver my lesson. So I continued to stand there slack-jawed for about 20-30 seconds (felt like minutes) in front of everyone before I asked for a congregation time of prayer. After the prayer I felt somewhat encouraged so I pressed on. About 20 minutes into it I started to get the flow and excitement back.
As I lay awake last night next to my sleeping wife, trying to go to sleep but going over all these things in my mind, I felt my unborn child wriggle and leap. I laid my cheek lightly on Karlene's tummy and felt the little wiggles and kicks. I wanted to stay right there forever, in the energy of that stillness, just like that. Just then a boatload of perspective walloped me over the head. In a world full of so much anger, uncertainty, impotence and injustice, we must not neglect the overwhelming, breathtaking beauty that surrounds us. Because its that beauty that gives us hope: a little peek behind the curtain revealing the divine age to come when everything will be put to rights. It's in the little things we take for granted.
I experienced it again tonight during a game of poker (Hold 'em of course) with my brothers in law (whom I also am privledged to call my dear friends). It was during one of those make-no-sense moments when sheer goofiness just takes over and shared laughter fills the air. How wonderful are those moments and how sad that they are truly so rare.
Its also in the satisfaction you get after a day's hard work where even though you're tired and maybe even frustrated, you have that wonderful feeling that you accomplished something, you did something well.
Yes, life is hard. Sin sucks indeed. But blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. To paraphrase Phillip Yancey, "Life is hard, God is merciful, and the age to come is sure". Those three things we can take to the bank, and in the meanwhile be sure to fully indulge yourself in those fleeting but amazing foretastes of the resurrection to come.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Devastation
"Or who shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,
when I made clouds its garment
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
and prescribed limits for it
and set bars and doors,
and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?
- Job 38:8-11
It's really hard to get a handle on the widespread death and destruction in LA and MS all the way over here in sunny CA. You hear about the streets flooded with water mingled with sewage and vermin not to mention the bodies of those who have perished. When the flood waters recede whole swaths of roads, bridges and highways will have been washed away making traveling to work pretty near impossible. Now throw in the looting and gunfire and you have a land that is going to be uninhabitable for some time to come.
We have a couple visiting from MS who have been attending our church for a couple of months now while the wife takes care of her ailing mother in CA. Thay have been unable to get in touch with their family back there and they are worried sick as you can imagine.
I know it goes without saying or asking but please continue to intercede for the couple at my church (Peggy and John) as well as all the people affected down there and that God will bring good from this terrible tragedy speedily.
when it burst out from the womb,
when I made clouds its garment
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
and prescribed limits for it
and set bars and doors,
and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?
- Job 38:8-11
It's really hard to get a handle on the widespread death and destruction in LA and MS all the way over here in sunny CA. You hear about the streets flooded with water mingled with sewage and vermin not to mention the bodies of those who have perished. When the flood waters recede whole swaths of roads, bridges and highways will have been washed away making traveling to work pretty near impossible. Now throw in the looting and gunfire and you have a land that is going to be uninhabitable for some time to come.
We have a couple visiting from MS who have been attending our church for a couple of months now while the wife takes care of her ailing mother in CA. Thay have been unable to get in touch with their family back there and they are worried sick as you can imagine.
I know it goes without saying or asking but please continue to intercede for the couple at my church (Peggy and John) as well as all the people affected down there and that God will bring good from this terrible tragedy speedily.
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