Hello, World!

I know, it's been awhile. Boy, when I take time off, I take time off! It's crossed my mind to blog a few times, but I just couldn't settle on one topic. So much going on. So I finally decided, why settle on one topic?!
I have a question. What's the difference between Partly Sunny and Mostly Cloudy? By the same token (and you HAD to know this was coming), what's the difference between Mostly Sunny and Partly Cloudy? To me, each pair seems pretty synonymous. I mean really, is there some teeny-tiny, minuscule detail that separates the definition of those two descriptions? I don't know that the average person would be aware of this difference. Personally, I'd stick with the more positive of the two, Partly Sunny or Mostly Sunny...unless of course, we've waited WEEKS for a good rain. Then I'd go with Mostly Cloudy or Partly Cloudy. I'm just saying.

My Mary Kay director asked me to make a list of any women in my life that I'd be willing to call just to let them know that I was a new MK Consultant, ask them if they already had/needed a MK Consultant, and see if they wanted to try any of our latest products. So, I spent one evening last week writing down names. I'm not sure how many names she was expecting, maybe a dozen or two. She was speechless and maybe even stopped breathing for a few seconds when I handed her a list of 137 names. She said that she has active, successful consultants in her unit that don't have that many customers. Granted, not all of my 137 names will become customers. I know that some of them already have a consultant, or at least they used to. And I'm sure that there are still others that prefer a different brand name. But still, it gives me a great place to start.

My latest mantra:
With every day that you do something in support of your goals, regardless of the effort expended, you make progress. With every day that you don't, you fall behind. Which do you prefer?

I think of this with respect to my goals concerning diet, exercise, bible reading, household chores, my MK business, and savings. Every.Baby.Step. Moves me closer to my goals. So, why not accomplish even just one little baby step every day. Granted, bigger steps will get me there faster. But the point is, doing nothing is NEVER the right answer. Do something. Anything!

I'm upset with Jeff again. He pulled another stunt that I simply have no patience for. He knows I'm disappointed. I hate to use that word when describing another person, but in this instance, it fits. Instead of arguing with me and turning it around so that it's my fault (which he's VERY good at), he actually looked remorseful. I didn't even know how to react to that, it was so uncharacteristic of him. He didn't apologize to my face, but did via voicemail several hours after I confronted him. He even said that he'd try to rectify the situation. I don't know if I believe that. I'm for sure not holding my breath. But honestly, it was refreshing to hear that response rather than what I was expecting from him. Then again, Jeff is a master manipulator. One of the best. So, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it was all an act so that I'd stop yelling at him. That's my boy!

I think it's safe to say that my 20-year class reunion was a success. Thank God! I know I had a good time. And I've had several positive comments from classmates. We had a mixer Friday night at the K of C. I expected a dozen or so people. We had 18 classmates and many of them brought dates! We made a lot of noise and had a really good time. Then Saturday, we had 32 classmates (57 people with guests) signed up to come. Two of our classmates didn't make it. But three that hadn't signed up came after dinner. Excellent food. Silly prizes. Hours of 80's hair band music and dancing (aka aerobics). Then while several went to the 'after party', I went back to the hotel and totally chilled out. Good times.

Another local teenager was killed in a car accident this week. His name is Seth Coy. He graduated from W'ton in '08, I think. He was most recently playing for East Tennessee State University. He was a real likable guy and a crowd favorite, according to everything I've read about him. He was driving from college in TN to his home in IN. Initial reports indicate that he hydroplaned, flipped his vehicle twice, was ejected from his car, and landed in the median. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Another 19-year-old gone too soon. Another funeral with far more young people than old people.

I'm taking the night off.

I've been staring at this screen for a few minutes. And I've decided that I really don't have anything to share. I mean, I probably do. But I'm tired and ready for bed. Perhaps I'll write something tomorrow night... after a long Monday at the office and a visit to the funeral home.

Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope. Endure in affliction. Persevere in prayer.

Losing Young People

I hate it when young people die. When older people die, it's somewhat expected. It's sad, but still...not completely out of the realm of believability. When sick people die, it's still sad. But it's not a shock.

But when young people die, other young people start to feel mortal. Maybe that's not such a bad thing. But it is sad. And it's a shock to their psyche.

My son lost a friend today. His name was Dustin Ash. He was in an accident with a semi and possibly one other car. All I know is what Jeff told me... that Dustin and his girlfriend were driving home from Holiday World. They were in an accident with a semi. Dustin was killed and his girlfriend was air-lifted to somewhere. But she's going to survive. I don't know how the accident happened, who is at fault, or how the other people are.

I just know that when Jeff called me, he was completely shocked and upset...and I couldn't help but cry for this kid I only met a couple of times. I was mostly crying because my son's heart was breaking and he was feeling a little less invincible. But I was also imagining how Dustin's family was feeling and how scared everyone must have been during the accident. And then of course, it crossed my mind that I could lose Jeff just that quickly.

Today, the only thing that I see that's remotely positive about this event is how it brings Dustin's friends together. Jeff spent the evening with friends, telling stories and reminiscing, laughing and probably crying. I'm so glad he had friends to be with, since I was out of town for the evening.

Losing young people... just sucks. I know, it's not eloquent. But it seemed appropriate. It's teen-speak anyway.

My First Pedicure

I had a first today. I am 38 year old and today, this afternoon, I had my very first pedicure ever. And let me tell you what an absolute indulgence this was.

Wendy, the lady responsible for my newly painted nails... both finger and toe, had me sit in this comfortable chair that gave me a really nice back massage.

Then, my feet were pampered more than they've been in YEARS. They were dipped into warm, sudsy water with those water jets that caressed my feet and calves. Ahhhh. That alone was simply lovely.

Then after a bit of trimming and filing and cuticle removing, Wendy gave me the most amazing massage from the knees down with the softest, most luxurious lotion I've ever felt.

Then Wendy painted my toenails a gorgeous glittery reddish pink color. I think it was called Hot Tamale. It's not exactly the color I thought I was getting. But it's growing on me.

THEN I got these really sexy, disposable flip-flop type slippers. In pink! These allowed me to walk away from the oh-so-lovely massage chair and foot spa so that I could get to the table where my fingernails were going to be done to match my toenails.

I'm telling you, I feel so...girlie.

Chapter 1

-- this is from my book without a title that I told you about here. The names may change between now and actual publication. But this is currently the first chapter.


"Drew, let's go! We're gonna be late." That boy spends more time in the bathroom than anyone I know. Always primping and flexing and popping zits in the mirror. You'd think he'd eventually get tired of looking at himself. Too bad there isn't a profession out there where a person could get paid to stare at himself in the mirror all day.

"Drew, come on! What's taking you so long?" I said again, hoping to get some sort of response from my 17-year-old son.

"A work of art is a time-consuming process," he yells from somewhere upstairs.

"Then you should get up earlier. Or be prepared to walk to school." I mumbled that last part under my breath. I knew it would only pick a fight. I need to work harder at holding my tongue. That's what I always tell the boy anyway. I am really losing my patience with this kid. And it's making me a horrible parent.

I wonder how many other people notice.

"Why don't you just leave? I can get myself to school," he replies.

Uh-huh, sure you can. "Drew, we've talked about this a dozen times. You are NOT to drive that car without insurance."

"What's the big deal?" he yells from upstairs. "I'll be really careful. Nothing will happen. I promise."

"I believe you to be intelligent and to have many talents, but I question your ability to accurately predict the future." I've learned that kissing his butt and stroking his ego are the best ways to get him to fight fairly.

"But Mom, no one's gonna know. I promise." Now he's just whining.

"If you're going to start promising things, you should stick with the things you actually have control over. Being on the road, in a parking lot, with other people and vehicles is not an environment you can control."

Surprisingly, no witty retort with attitude. It must be my lucky day.

"Is this conversation keeping you from getting ready?" That was subtle, right?

"YES!" Well, that's what I get for trying to talk to the boy before he's had breakfast.

"Then the conversation is over. You have two minutes. After that, you're on your own." I wasn't all that worried about him driving his car uninsured. I removed the battery last weekend after I saw that the mileage miraculously jumped 78 miles over night when no one in our household had driven it.

I keep telling myself that I need to avoid doing things for Drew, but that's exactly what I was doing. He was upstairs doing God-knows-what, putting more effort into arguing with me than getting ready for school. And I was in the kitchen grabbing him breakfast-to-go and stacking his books so that he could easily grab them as he was passing through. Anything to avoid an outburst. That was my constant goal. Then of course, there is the prayer I am constantly saying in my head.

Finally, with no time to spare, he comes bounding down the stairs dressed in black jeans with strategically located holes and a black T-shirt that says, "You'll do." His brown, wavy hair is perfectly messed up. His shoes are untied. His belt, which is obviously not there to hold up his pants, is long enough to hit his knees. And everyone was going to see the flash of orange plaid that was his boxers as they peaked out above the jeans that weren't pulled up to his waist.

"Drew, is that shirt appropriate for school?" I had to start somewhere. I picked the slogan on the T-shirt.

"It has sleeves, no holes or rips, and doesn't reference alcohol, drugs, violence, or sex. What's your problem with it?"

"I think it's a little suggestive. Don't you?"

"Yeah right, whatever." The teenager's answer to everything.

I didn't really have time for this argument. If the school deemed it inappropriate, they'd deal with it...probably with a large strip of duct tape and a phone call to me at work.

And yes, shame on me for not addressing the problem directly. But I didn't want to get into a shouting match so early in the morning. So, I handed him is books and the breakfast burrito I had just heated up in the microwave, the latter of which he dropped into the wastebasket on the way out of the house, and we were on our way.

Ides of July

I was wondering if there was only an Ides of March or if the Ides was representative of the 15th and could be said about all months.

Well, neither is true.

According to Wikipedia, and they know EVERYTHING, there is an Ides of March, Ides of May, Ides of July, and Ides of October.

According to InfoPlease.com, the Ides occurs on the 13th in the other eight months. Also, the 1st of each month was known as the Kalends. The 7th of each of those same months above was known as Nones. For the other eight months, Nones occurs on the 5th. The remaining, unnamed days of the month were identified by counting backwards from the Kalends, Nones, or the Ides. For example, March 3rd would be referred to as V Nones (the fifth day before Nones, where Nones counts as one of the 5 days).

So, there you have it. In case you were wondering.

So Many Rules

I really like today's motivational words:

Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer the goal. -Elbert Hubbard

In an effort to read my bible cover to cover, I'm reading a handful of chapters every day. I started at the beginning and am just wading my way through one book, one chapter, one verse at a time.

Today, I finished the Book of Leviticus. I don't mind saying, it's not my favorite book. Lots of rules. Lots of very specific processes. Don't get me wrong, I know we need rules and routines. But these rules were about how to choose a particular animal for each kind of sacrifice, knowing what to with all of the parts of each of those animals so as to praise God worthily, and understanding the difference between being 'clean' versus 'unclean'.

I've never sacrificed an animal as reparation for my sins, nor have I had to ask my priest to do so on my behalf. Because of Jesus, I don't have to. You know what makes me? Blessed!

Jesus' sacrifice on the cross replaced all of those burnt offerings and cereal offerings and sin offerings and communion sacrifices. Once for all. He died one time...to pay for all of our sins. He saved us all. We simply have to accept that gift. Thank you, thank you, Lord!

Now bring on Numbers!

Three's a Charm!

I'm going to be a Mary Kay consultant...again!

The first time I was a consultant, it was 1994. I was active duty and a single mom. So, I was in it for the money. But I was also active duty and working in the computer field...meaning I was surrounded by mostly men. So, I was in it for the girl-time too. I enjoyed it, but didn't really take it serious enough, devote enough time to it, or truly believe that I could make a living selling cosmetics. I did it at my own pace and enjoyed it. Once I was out of the service and both working and going to school full time...still as a single parent, I pretty much let my Mary Kay go by the wayside.

Once I moved back to Indiana in '99, it didn't take me long to jump back into it again. I was a little more serious this time. I had a bigger inventory, held more classes, made more money, and treated it more like a business. And I was pretty good at it. Actually, I was really good at it. I am not shy and I'm not afraid to speak in front of a group. So, it was going well... until I was laid off from my full-time job and had to rely on my MK income. I worked my tush off and did really well...mostly. But I also got bad checks, bogus credit card numbers, and last-minute cancellations. And because my livelihood was dependent on it, it was SOOO stressful. I didn't deal all that well with that.

But I've been missing it. I miss having the products on my shelves. I miss trying all the new 'stuff'. I miss trying all the colors. I feel out of the loop with respect to what I could be doing to make myself look and feel better...but also about how all of my sister consultants are growing their businesses. I miss the income. I miss the weekly and monthly challenges. I miss it all! Mostly, I miss the 'girl time'.

So today, I signed my third (and hopefully, last) consultant agreement in my MK life. I don't have my new consultant ID yet. And I haven't even ordered my inventory yet. I've hardly even considered my goals. But I will. Soon!

Tour de France 101

Have you ever watched a stage of the Tour de France? I didn't think so. I would venture to say that most Americans haven't. Even so, a lot of Americans still know who Lance Armstrong is and what his claim to fame is. Interesting, huh?

I don't know why I enjoy it. Maybe because it's a sport and I enjoy watching most sports (baseball being a HUGE exception). I also work with a couple of die-hard cyclists. A couple of years ago, when Lance was going for his record-setting 7th win, these co-workers invited several of us to their home to watch a stage. During that evening, I learned SO MUCH about the sport. As I watch a replay of Stage 9 this evening, I'm inspired to share a few things with you.

How long is the Tour de France?

There are 21 stages over 23 days (two rest days tossed in there). Added together, those stages make up 3,500 kilometers. This year there are 10 flat stages, 7 mountain stages, 1 medium mountain stage, 2 individual time trials, and one team time trial. The last stage is traditionally considered celebratory. The man who is wearing yellow when they start the last stage is normally the leader throughout that stage.

What on earth is a 'peloton'?

It's a French word, go figure. It means 'platoon'. And it represents the largest group of riders. Anyone finishing the race with the peloton, finishes with the same time. So, even if the peloton takes 20 seconds to cross the finish line, the last member of the peloton has the same finishing time as the first member of the peloton. If you're not part of a lead group, you definitely want to be a part of the peloton.

Why do the cyclists ride in groups?

To use a NASCAR word, it's called drafting. By doing so, riders use up to 30% less energy to do the same work. With the stages being as grueling as they are, conserving as much energy as possible is a very good thing.

What is the 'gruppetto'?

It is an Italian word meaning 'small group'. This is the group of riders at the back of the race...usually on mountain stages. Their pace is usually just fast enough to finish within the day's time limit (a varying percentage of the stage winner's time). This group is normally made up of injured riders that are simply trying to finish the stage with a valid time.

Everyone has a role...

A team is made up of nine cyclists, but not everyone on the team is trying to win. In fact, most teams have only ONE member who has ANY chance of winning. (This is not the case with this year's Astana team, which includes Lance Armstrong. There are four members of that team in the top six at this point in the race.) The team member that's expected to vie for the victory is called the leader. But the leader couldn't do it without the rest of his team. The duties of the team riders, or domestiques, include:

• riding 'tempo' at the front of the pack to control the pace and prevent riders from rival teams from taking the lead
• ride in a position to protect the leader from the wind
• slowing down or dropping behind the pack in order to fetch fresh water or food for the leader from the team car
• stopping when the leader has a punctured tire or other mechanical problem, or if the leader has an accident, in order to pace him back to the peloton
• during these types of stops, they may even give up a tire or their entire bike in order to get the leader back into the race, if the team car doesn't catch up to them quickly

The Jerseys
Even those that aren't Tour de France followers know that it's all about getting the yellow jersey. The yellow jersey goes to the one man that has the lowest combined time for all stages completed to date. But did you know that there are other jerseys as well?

• Yellow - race leader based on overall time for all completed stages
• Green - overall points leader based on points awarded according to the passing order on the intermediate sprints and at the finish line
• Red Polka Dots - (AKA King of the Mountain), best time for mountain ascents
• White - identifies the first young rider up to age 25 in the overall standings

You might consider watching a stage. With this information, you'll at least have some idea of what's going on. But tomorrow (Monday) is one of the two rest days. So, you'll have to wait until Tuesday. The LIVE viewing is on first thing in the morning. But you can usually watch the replay in the evening.

My Robot Name

L.E.S.L.I.E.

Lifelike Electronic Sabotage and Logical Infiltration Entity

Prayer for our Children

(I did not write this...but I don't remember where I got it either.)


O God, our heavenly Father, Who loves all of mankind, and Who is merciful and compassionate, have mercy upon our children, Your servants, (especially my son Jeff), for whom I humbly pray, and commend to Your gracious protection.

O God, be their guide and guardian in all their endeavors. Lead them in the path of truth. Draw them near to You, that they may lead godly and righteous lives, doing Your will in all matters. Give them grace that they may be temperate, industrious, diligent, devout, and charitable all their days.

O God, defend them against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength to resist all temptation and corruption of this life. Direct them in the way of salvation, for the merits of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the intercessions of His Holy Mother, and all Your blessed saints. We pray this in Your most holy name.

Amen.

Things that make you go, 'hmmm...'

I had the strangest conversation with my son over dinner tonight. We didn't have dinner until late because I got together with a couple of the girls to discuss some class reunion details. Very productive meeting. Lots of laughs too!

So, Jeff and I are sitting at Los Bravos...because that seems to be where we have our most serious conversations. Before our meal was served, Jeff says, "I'm thinking about getting my CDL (commercial driver's license) and waiting a year before going to school."

WHAT?!

College starts in five weeks. He has a schedule. He has a dorm room and a roommate. He had a plan. What the heck happened?!

He said many things as I started challenging him. He doesn't think he can afford school. He doesn't think a degree is necessary to succeed in life. He thinks that if he goes to school and drops out, he'll never go back...but if he puts off starting, then he'll finish all at once. (I don't know that that's a logical argument.) He wants to work. He's tired of being broke. And he wants to get away.

He reminded me during the conversation that my 'secret' dream job (outside of famous author) is to drive a big rig. I thought I'd enjoy the solitude and singing at the top of my lungs, seeing the country and listening to books on tape. Jeff said that he has some of those same ideas, that he's considered the adventure that it brings.

I just think his decision-making is all over the place lately. And it concerns me. I wonder if he's really thought this through. I wonder who we can talk to about whether or not this is really an option for Jeff. I REALLY wonder how serious he is about adjusting his plans for the coming year.

I'll continue to pray.

What a day!

Today in the US, we hit 04:05:06 on 07-08-09. Twice, I guess. AM and PM.

We won't see this again until 2109. Well...I don't intend to stick around to see it. But others might. Unless of course we're using StarDates by then...you know, like from Star Trek.

For several other countries, including Europe, they'll have this phenomenon on August 7th, as they write their dates dd-mm-yy instead of mm-dd-yy like we do.

Update on the Boy

You may want to read the blog entry below this one first.

Well, he's been found. 22 hours after I last heard from him, I get a call from him. He said that he was hanging out with a friend (that I don't know, never even heard of before) until late. Sometime during the evening, they decided to get up early and go looking for work outside of Loogootee. Since they were getting up early, he decided to stay at his friend's house. They've spent all day looking for jobs at the coal mines. (What kind of skills does Jeff think he has that qualify him to work at a coal mine...for all of 5 1/2 weeks?!)

I asked him why he didn't think to call me. He said that he called twice last night, but chose not to leave a message. I had no missed calls on my cell phone...and the situation definitely warranted a voicemail message.


I told him that I was worried sick about him and had talked to most of his friends looking for him all day. He said that he didn't think I'd care where he was, what he was doing, or who he was with. I'm like, what on earth gave you that impression?!


I asked him if he realized how inconsiderate his decision was. He paused for a bit and said yes. But I think he said that only because he knew I thought he should. I don't think he realizes how much I worried about him today.


How many times do I have to prove to this kid that I love him?


I am truly thankful that Jeff is fine. God, thank You for taking care of my son.
But I am so angry and frustrated that he didn't think enough of me and my feelings for him to let me know that he'd be gone for a whole day. So God, if You could knock some sense into him, I'd appreciate it.

Venting

When I got home yesterday, the first thing that I noticed was that Jeff had not mowed the lawn again. He told me Sunday that he would, but yet again, he did not. So, I immediately went in the house to ask him about it. He wasn't there. Nor could I find a note stating where he was or when he'd be home. So, I changed clothes and decided to start mowing myself. I knew that this would make Jeff feel a bit guilty...which he totally deserved...and I needed the workout to blow off some steam...and burn a few calories.

It's been awhile since I've mowed. And even with my recent walking, this was quite a workout for me. My yard isn't even that big, yet it took me three shifts just to finish the front yard. And then I stopped. I figure I'll do the back yard tonight. At any rate, I kept expecting Jeff to come home while I was mowing. But he didn't. I was too wiped out to cook, so I picked up Chinese for dinner. I kept expecting Jeff to walk in while I was eating and give me a hard time for not getting him anything. But he didn't. I watched television and played on the computer until 1:30am. I kept expecting Jeff to walk in and give me some lame excuse as to why he was late and why he hadn't called. But he didn't. I went to bed, fully expecting him to get home in the middle of the night. When I woke up this morning and checked his bed, I found that he hadn't been home all night long. Still, no message from him.


He called me at work around 3:00 yesterday afternoon. He even mentioned that he was hungry and wanted to know what we were doing for dinner. So, I expected him to be home. He gave no indication that he was going out or that he wouldn't be home for dinner. Yet here we are, 19 hours later, and I have no idea where he is, what he's been doing, who he's been with, etc.


I'm wavering between worrying about what might have happened to him and being completely ticked off that he didn't call to tell me where he was. I'm leaning towards the latter, just because I know how inconsiderate this kid can be. He doesn't have a phone, so I can't call him. And the three guys that he spends most of his time with (as far as I know) all have jobs and are working right now. I really don't know if I should chalk it up to Jeff being Jeff and try to focus on work or if I should be doing something to find him.


I just keep hoping that he fell asleep on someone's couch and will call me when he wakes up. I'm hoping that the worst news I get is that he's hung over.


I've called several of his friends, only one of whom I spoke to directly. He saw Jeff last night with a guy I don't know. He didn't have this guy's number, but said he'd call around and try to get it. I hope to hear from Jeff, the guy he was with last night, the friend that was going to find that guy's number, or any of the other four friends that I called...telling me that Jeff is perfectly fine.


My gut feel is that he's okay and just giving me unnecessary grief! God, let that be the case.

Positive Words

If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got. So, if you want something you've never had, you've got to do something you've never done. I don't know who said it, but it makes perfect sense to me.

I have added a widget on the side of this blog called the Motivational Quote of the Day. I'm trying to stay motivated with my goals and routines and thought it wouldn't hurt to read something positive every day. I've even taken to writing some of them down and reading them throughout the day.

By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be.
-- Mark Victor Hansen

Desire is the starting point of all achievement; not hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.
-- Napoleon Hill

"I can't do it" never yet accomplished anything; "I'll try" has performed wonders.
-- George P. Burnham

Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.
-- Foster C. McClellan

The discipline you learn and the character you build from setting and achieving a goal can be more valuable than the achievement of the goal itself. -- Bo Bennett

By the way, 20 years ago today, I started Air Force Basic Training. Wow! Where have the years gone?!

With my lottery winnings...

Okay, I have to start this with, "No, I didn't win the lottery." But after a recent conversation with a friend, I thought I'd share what I told him I'd do if I won the lottery at this particular point in my life.

First, 10% off the top to church and charity. My 'friend' didn't believe that anyone would ever do this. I assure you, I would.

Second, I'd pay off all my debt... house, car, and hospital bills. Every cent.

Third, I'd replace my home. I'm not sure what all I'd have to do to sell my current home, (maybe I'd just have it raised!) but I'd definitely be purchasing another one. NO WHERE NEAR A SCHOOL. If I stayed in L'tee, I'd live off a beaten path somewhere. If I move to a city, I want to live in a high-rise apartment. I know, crazy talk. But to be completely honest with you, I'd prefer the latter. Perhaps one day I'll tell you why.

Fourth, I'd replace my car. I miss my Impala. The Grand Prix just doesn't do it for me. So, I think I'd get another one. I'm sure J wouldn't mind driving the Catmobile.

Fifth, I'd throw a big ol' party for all my friends and family, with prizes and everything. Good food, entertainment, and lots of fun! It would be a grand old time!

I don't know if I'd keep working or not. I guess it depends on how much I won. I probably would, because I can't imagine keeping productive otherwise. But hey, it sure would free up some time to finish my writing course...and better yet, a book or two...or ten!

But that's just dreaming. Not even, more like rambling, blabbering. Like I said, crazy talk. But it's usually how I start creating a new character in one of my books.

...a 30-something, single woman moves from a two-horse town where she owned a small cottage-style home, to down-town Chicago to take up residence in a 80-floor high rise apartment, decorated in subtle, but
classic contemporary beiges and browns. She seems friendly enough to her neighbors. But there's something mysterious about this Impala-driving, seemingly unemployed, recluse. Who is she? And where did she come from? Stay tuned for next week's episode of...

Another Loss

Steve McNair, former Tennessee Titans quarterback (and Baltimore Ravens...but he'll always be a Titan to me) was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head today. A woman, not McNair's wife, was also shot to death. No other details are currently available about the issue. He was 36 years old and retired from the NFL only 15 months ago. While at Tennessee, McNair and the Titans were one of the biggest hurdles for my Colts.

McNair played in the NFL for 13 years, 11 of those in Tennessee. He was the co-MVP (with Peyton Manning) in 2003. He was voted into the ProBowl four times. He has the most wins in Titans/Oilers history. He was inducted into both the Titans/Oilers Hall of Fame and the newly-created Ring of Honor during half-time of the Colts - Titans game last October. He led the Titans to their first ever SuperBowl in '99.

Speaking of football... I love the Big Ten Network. I am watching the Wisconsin - Michigan game from September 27, 2008. GREAT game! When I started watching it, Wisconsin was up by 12 with only the fourth quarter yet to play. Since then, Michigan scored a touchdown after a great drive. THEN they intercepted the ball and scored another touchdown. In less than four minutes, they've taken the lead. I love football! Keeping me entertained until the 2009 season starts.

What I learned on Jeopardy today...

Chris, from Wharton, NJ taught us the following during his introduction after the first commercial break...

Two years ago, he learned how to tell if a turtle is pregnant.

1. Pick up the female turtle so her face is looking at you. (Someone would first have to teach me how to discern a female turtle from a male turtle.)

2. Insert your two index fingers into her rear leg sockets. (Chris gave no indication as to whether or not the female turtle appreciated this action or not. I can totally picture the turtle extending her neck in order to grab the nose of the idiot tickling her.)

3. If she's pregnant, you'll be able to feel the eggs.

Alex Trebec replied with, "I wonder if that works for humans too."

Do you know what I did today?

I walked another two miles!

I did a few other things too. Much of it was work-related; no need to rehash it here. But I did do something that I want to revisit everyday. I wrote an affirmation...something positive that I'll read every day to keep me motivated about my goals. It goes like this...

You are intelligent, healthy, capable, caring, witty, and full of life. God has given you everything you need to fulfill His plan for you. Tap into His strength and fulfill His glory every day. Look and feel amazing by taking better care of your body. Be more active; eat for nourishment and energy, not for comfort. Take care of the gifts that God has blessed you with, especially your son and your home. Appreciate them for the gifts that they are and treat them accordingly. Live within your means and be more responsible with your money. Be generous with gifts of time, talent, and money. Write something worthy of publication by practicing your craft regularly. Read more. Sleep more. Love more. Learn more. Don't speak as often and listen more. Keep your heart and mind open to the experiences and relationships that God has in store for you. Be a hard worker in everything you do. Watch your words so as not to hurt others. Stay in His Word. Live in His Light. And have a pure heart.

Self-Discipline

The NaBloPoMo theme for the month of July is ROUTINE. I am trying to establish a routine that will reward me with positive results. Nothing fancy, nothing spectacular. But things I should have been doing all along. (Walking regularly. Writing MUCH more often. Reading my bible daily.) I simply haven't committed to a routine that would bring about the positive change I want to realize in my life.

Well, I am finally motivated. I don't know why now. But with a bit of self-discipline, we'll see what kind of change I can muster.

As affirmation, I had this on my daily calendar, "Truth for Today" by John MacArthur...

Excessive preoccupations have become the marks of our shallow, amoral, and often immoral society.... President Theodore Roosevelt essentially predicted those results when he said that prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich theory of life would eventually destroy America. One sure antidote to such a lifestyle is the self-discipline evidenced in the genuine Christian life. Your spiritual guidance and power come from the Lord, but you need self-discipline if He is to work effectively through you.

Step one... Today, I walked two miles after dinner. Yea, me!