If you caucus, they will come

Have you ever wondered why Iowa is so important during a presidential election? There are only two things I know about Iowa, Field of Dreams and American Pickers. Based on just those two things, Iowa seems fairly cool. However, hearing voices in corn fields and buying antiques out of some guy's barn are not good reasons for presidential stardom.

The truth is that Iowa is important because it is the first state to hold a caucus. Candidates spend a ridiculous about of time in Iowa, because of the press attention received and the first real test to voters.

I would argue that Iowa is no more important than New Hampshire or South Carolina. Why? When I think of the average American voter, I do not think of Iowa. Every state adds its own character to the election process and totaled, the best candidate is chosen. It is like saying one of your kids is more important that the other because they were first. The fact is that only 5 times since 1972 has a candidate who won Iowa also won the presidency. Of those 5 times, 3 of those were unopposed votes. That means that since 1972, when there was competition, the Iowa winner has only won the presidential election twice. These were George W. Bush in 2000 and Barack Obama in 2008.

So, lets take a step back from the political jockeying for one minute and ask a question that matters. If it is Thursday in Samoa and tomorrow is Saturday, but you had bills due on Friday are they late on Saturday and early on Thursday?

"I took off for a weekend last month Just to try and recall the whole year"

This Jimmy Buffett quote is a great Way the start this post.

As we are closing out 2011, there is a lot to reflect on. This has been a year of stress, achievement, setbacks, growth, and faith. This has by far been the most challenging year of my life. I am glad that this year is ending, however I am also glad that I had this experience.

2011 started out with slow volume in the mortgage business and focused training for my first triathlon. In February, I got the exciting news that I was a top producer in 2010 and Linds and I would be going to Palm Springs, CA! Within the next 30 days, I completed my race, Linds completed her first half marathon, and Wells Fargo shut our office down laying off over 250 people. Talk about a roller coaster! In less that a month, I was training with Northwestern Mutual as a Financial Representative. Even though my time at Northwestern was short, I am glad that I went there. There is a saying that no experience is wasted if you learn something. This position showed me what I did not want for my career. With no regrets, I resigned from this position in September and began to focus on what I Did want to do.

I will pause in the career timeline to go back to August. One morning in late August I was riding by bike at 5:30am in training for an upcoming race when a 82 year old man crossed the center line and hit me head on. Thankfully, nothing was broken on me. The bike on the other hand, according to the bike guy at Try Sports, "Wow, looking at that bike, you should not be walking!" Unfortunately, because there were no witnesses and the cop did not take a detailed report, the driver's insurance company denied the claim. After about a month I got back on the bike and finished the bike leg of the Beach 2 Battleship half iron triathlon. My time was not great, but I was just glad to be back riding again.

October brought me back to the Credit Union as a Sr. Financial Services Officer. I was very excited as it felt like I was coming home.

The Grateful Dead said it best, "What a long strange trip its been".

If I had to sum up my year in one word, I think it would have to be self-discovery. I learned a lot about who I was, who I wasn't, and what I am capable of. So bring on 2012! My goal is to keep challenging myself in all aspects of my life. I am looking forward to my 2nd year of triathlons, growing with my new job, and spending time with Linds and R without the 2011 stress!

Santa, the IRS is on the phone. They claim that you have exceeded your lifetime gift tax exemption.

There was a story that I read about a US Mail carrier who has worn a Santa Suit while delivering mail for the last 10 years. People love it! This started apparently, because the carrier already had all white hair and a full beard. I think it was a great idea as it got a lot of smiles from people on his route. Then, he received an "order" from the powers that be that he could no longer wear the suit because it was not an official uniform. Really? This was eventually retracted, but what kind of person cares if their postman is wearing a Santa Suit? They should be grateful, based on the current state of the postal service that he delivered the mail at all. This is a great example of wasting time on details that do not make a difference in the running of a business. I mean it is not like he threw a flat screen tv over someone's fence like the Fedex guy!

My hope is that in 2012 those in our government and corporate management will think before they act. I know this is asking a lot, that is why it is only a hope. If this actually happened, Santa could still deliver your mail, congress would make a decision (any decision would be progress), and customer service would once again be a priority and not an after thought.

Do you smell that? I think I smell a challenge, or has the milk gone bad?

What is better than a New Year's Resolution? A challenge! Why? Simple, accountability and fun. I don't think I would have completed my first race had it not been for Ben and Linds also training for a race. I enjoy doing things more when I can talk to others who are doing them too. So, I am throwing out a challenge to everyone for a healthier 2012. There is a sprint triathlon in Wake Forest, NC on June 24th 2012. This would be a great first triathlon for someone who has never done one. It is a 250 yard pool swim, 10 mile bike, and 3.1 run. I would love to see all of my Wake Forest peeps there to complete the course.

I know, I know, there are a million excuses that you can think of. "I don't swim, I haven't ridden a bike in 15 years, I should not run on my knees, I am too old, when would I have the time to train, I don't like to exercise, I can't do that".

So, lets list the reasons why you should:

1. Why not? Remember Smokey and the Bandit, "We ain't never not made it yet, have we?"
2. Exercise is easier to do when you have a deadline and a reason for doing it
3. Bragging rights (nobody cares about your time. The point is to finish)
4. Health care costs are increasing, so you need to stay healthy anyway
5. When was the last time you finished something that you didn't think you could do? (how good did that feel?)
6. You have 6 months to get ready. That is plenty of time!

Here is the line in the sand

____________________________________________________________________________



Who is with me?

Why is it so quiet?

Hey!!! Don't leave me hanging. You, sitting at the computer. I am talking to you. Step away from the eclair cake.

I know you should blow bubbles when you swim, but your bubbles are coming out the wrong end!

I got back in the pool this morning and it felt great! Now, I had to do some serious convincing to get my body out of bed this morning, but it was worth it. Why is it that we procrastinate doing those things that we know will make us feel better?

I feel more relaxed when the house is clean, but is it always clean? No. I always feel better after a workout, but do I always workout when I should? No. I always enjoy working in the garage on a project with a nice organized workbench. You see what I am getting at.

Why do we not take the time to do those things until we have to? My guess is because the act of doing it is not as enjoyable as the reward. I am reminded of R giving up the chance to make and eat cookies (reward), because eating her dinner is too much work.

Most of these acts mentioned are things that we know we need to do. So how can we make the actions more bearable, so we can get the reward? Work tends to go by faster when you are having fun, so lets make these things fun! The next time you need to clean the house (for me this is very past due), crank up the music, put on an old pair on socks, spray the bottoms with Pledge, and do your best Olympic speed skating impersonation. Getting motivated to get back to working out is a tough one, so we need something over the top. Plug your Internet router, and tv powerstrips into a timer. Set them so that they will shut off for at least one hour every day. Now, this one does require you to be on the honor system, but this should cut off the distractions for you to workout.

In the end, there will always be those things that we struggle to get motivated to do regardless of the reward. Just remember, the only people that can get by without doing the tasks that are needed but not fun are politicians. We see where that has left us!

"Wrote a song about it, like to hear it...here it go"

Remember "In Living Color"? That was a great show. There where so many funny sketches from Fire Marshall Bill and Hommie The Clown, to Clavell, Howard Tibbs III, and Al MacAfee. On of the characters was Calhoun Tubbs. He was a blues singer who stared every scene with; "Wrote a song about it, like to hear it...here it go".

Riley is into singing. If she is not talking, she is singing. Quiet, does not seem to be an option. The other day, after singing every song she could think of, she starting asking, "Daddy, sing the Angel song. Daddy, sing the juice song. Daddy, sing the sofa song." Basically, she thinks that there should be a song about everything. Now, I do have to take some of the blame on this one, as I tend to make up songs that are as short as they are random (doughnut song). The concerning situation is that 3/4 of Riley's songs are Christmas songs. This begs the question, do we let her continue to sing Christmas songs all year or do we try to explain that these are seasonal and people look at you funny singing Jingle Bells in May at the beach when it is 85 degrees?Thankfully, I have a few more days to figure out my strategy.

So, until then.....OOHHHHH...you better watch out, you better not cry......

I got up at 3am to buy this TV for $100......then I took it back.

I have been known to have buyers remorse a few times. Spending money is not something that I enjoy. There was a story on the news this morning that 27% of all electronic purchases during the holidays last year were returned. That is a crazy number. Why buy something if you just take it back?

I think that people get caught up in the gift giving excitement and sometimes forget that they went too far. To these folks I say, good job! You are the smartest one in the crowd because you realized that you could not afford it and you saved yourself the pain. As I stated in my post yesterday, don't start with price when thinking of the perfect gift. However, price does have its place in the final decision.

For those of you looking for a good low cost Christmas gift, I have completed an extensive survey of a politically correct cross-section of our community to bring you this top 5 ideas list.

#5. A potted rose bush (that you transplanted from your neighbour's house after dark)

#4. Dinner for 2 and childcare (Chik-fil-a has a great playland and you don't have to pay $20 an hour)

#3. Car detailed (There is always a group of kids with signs that say "free" car wash. Oh you wanted a tip? Don't write free on the sign if you didn't mean it.)

#2. Weekend at a bed and breakfast (Your dad can make good pancakes, right?)

#1. Jewelry (Hey, remember that necklace you lost? Well I found it, sold the gold for scrap, and bought you these earrings!)


Happy shopping.

Slipper Socks. Oh, you shouldn't have...you really shouldn't have

Choosing the perfect Christmas gift for your spouse or significant other can be tough. I have never been allowed to forget one of the first Christmas gifts that I gave to Linds after we got married. I am a functional thinker when it comes to gifts, so naturally I remembered something that she had mentioned she would like to have. Unfortunately, when she unwrapped the laundry sorter she was not as excited to have one. Since that year, I have learned that these gifts are like chicken. Without something to add to it, the result is plain, dry, and unsatisfying.

As a holiday token of goodwill to those that may need some assistance, I will walk you through my Christmas gift selection process and reveal what I decided on this year.

Rule #1. Don't start with price! I am a very cheap person, but this is not a good place to start. If you do, you may miss a really good idea. You can determine price once you have a good list to choose from.

Next. Think of what they need, want, want but will not buy for themselves, and don't know that they want but would enjoy. I am a big fan of the last two.

3rd. Always give clues before Christmas. This is regardless if they want them or not. You need to be excited about the gift, so that the clues just keep coming. There is one big rule regarding clues. The clues need to be true, but very misleading. For example, if a chocolate diamond necklace is on the list, a good clue might be "its edible and you can listen to it." Neal Diamond and chocolate, sounds like a good time to me!

I had several good ideas for Linds this year but decided on....OK, on second thought I will just leave you with a clue. It feels good and and it will keep you warm.

If your glass is half empty, you should have tipped your waitress more!

If you could see the future, would your actions be different? There was a book by Bronnie Ware that listed the 5 most common regrets of the dying. They are:

1) “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

2) “I wish I didn’t work so hard.”

3) “I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.”

4) “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”

5) “I wish I had let myself be happier.”

WOW! I bet there are too many people out there that are doomed to have these on their list in old age. I am blessed to have learned early on in life that money, climbing the corporate ladder, and doing things because "that is what you should do", was not that important to me. Money comes and goes. You should be wise with your money, but if you run out, you can always make more. Careers are important, but your kids don't know you as a VP or a "big shot", you are Dad.

So, how do you live without regrets? I have no idea. Hence why I have been trying to finish this post for well over a week now. The best answer that I have is to have fun. It is hard to have regrets when you are laughing, smiling, being silly, and spending time with those that you care about. I have never finished an evening, weekend, or vacation with the family, or even a sick day with Riley and said; "well that was a waste".

As Mark Twain put it:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

I blew a fuse but I don't need anger management

This weekend was quite busy. One thing that got checked off the list was the outdoor Christmas lights. Well that is to say, until one of the strands blew a fuse. OK, so I had 11+ strands chained together, I was simply trying to be as efficient as possible with the extension cords.

On Sunday we went to the Old Wilmington candlelight tour with Grandma and Pop Pop. Everyone had a great time checking out the decorations and the home renovations. There were several take aways from this tour. Number 1, our yard needs a lot of work. Number 2, Civil War reenactment folks are very hardcore. Anyone who is willing to reenact losing a war year after year is just sad.

No Dog Left Behind

The educational plan of "W", was that all kids should meet standards. Well, I have a challenge in front of me. I am instituting this for Barney. Barney is our family's 3 to 4 year old beagle that we rescued. We already had a beagle, Lucky, that we got as a puppy from a shelter. Having trained one beagle (sort of), how hard would it be to do it with another one? WOW! Barney, due to his age is already set in some habits that we need to break. He is a sweet dog, but his intelligence level is that of the plastic dog at the Old Navy!

The plan: Have Barney to Lucky's level before I start googling bar-b-que recipes for beagles. I will keep you posted as to how I do.

I will take my SAT by proxy!

There was a story on the news this morning about a high school in NY where several kids were paying up to $3,500 for other recent grads to take the SAT for them. As crazy as this sounds, I am sure that this happens all over the country. The goal of the SAT is to measure how a prospective student will perform in college. Each college as a minimum score and a average score for the students. My SAT score was good, but not great.

To be honest, admissions at the "Dub" have gotten so hard that I am not sure that I would get in on my score if I applied today. Now, does that mean that I would not be as good of a student? No. What has happened is that college has become a must. This has caused the number of applications to rise faster than the capacity of the schools. The schools then have to tighten the standards to control the student population. This is very logical.

The bigger question in this situation is, why should we make kids believe if they cannot hit the numbers on their own, that they will be coined a "loser"? I am sure that there are many college programs and on-line programs that would not have the admissions requirements that a big name school has. Besides, have you ever heard of a job applicant getting turned down because their business degree was from an on-line university vs UNC? I know a UNC business grad that graduated the same year I graduated from Wilmington. I got a job as a Loan Officer and he was pushing washers at Sears.

The point is your integrity is far more important than scoring high on a standardized test. If the temptation of ignoring your moral compass to too great, remember Shelf is watching and he will tell Santa!

Is that an elf on your shelf, or is it time to lay off the eggnog?

Holiday traditions are ones that tend to last across the years. Unlike resolutions holiday traditions let us indulge, relax, and act like kids. Some of the best holiday traditions I enjoyed and still do where having a "real" Christmas tree, eggnog, a ridiculous amount of outdoor lighting, and my grandma's chocolate peanut butter balls!

This year, we started a new holiday tradition with R that she is very excited about, Elf on the Shelf. Shelf is the aptly named elf that lives at our house to watch R and report to Santa if she is being good. R got to name the elf. Time out, taking away toys, no tv, guilt, rewards for being good; none of these seem to work on a regular basis. But Shelf dangles Santa like a carrot in front of a bunny! The ironic thing is that she would not go near Santa last year. But hey, I am not complaining.

Linds, my sister, and I will be running a 5k on Thanksgiving morning this year. This will be our first holiday race. I am very excited to burn some calories prior to consuming them all back. Hopefully this will become a annual holiday tradition for us as well. Within the next few years, R will most likely be able to run with us, which would be a lot of fun.

So if you are one of those people who lacks the "la" in your "fa la la la la", start a new holiday tradition. Wear an elf on each shoulder of your best holiday sweater. When in a large pushy crowd start having an argument with them like they are the "good elf" and "bad elf" of your holiday conscience. OK, so after one time you may get locked up, but at least it will be funny!

Mr. Stubby, it's time for a woodworking project!

Since this is the Thanksgiving season, I will start this post as such. I am thankful that I learned woodworking from my father and grandfather, both of whom still have all of their fingers! This is the sure sign of a good teacher.

This Saturday I will be building a train table for a 2 year old boy for Christmas. His mom asked me to build it, and she will paint it to suit her needs. As most of my projects take on a life of their own, my goal for this one will be challenging. Keep it simple, but make it look good!

Sadly, mass produced kid's furniture generally lacks the quality that I would like to see. The fundamental reason for this issue is cost. Manufactures cannot build these items at a cost consumers are willing to pay and still make a profit without the quality being effected. Most of these items you have to assemble yourself with an instruction manual that is written in such a way that a MIT grad would have a hard time with it. The parts lists is made up of veneered press board, screws with plastic head covers, and a cardboard "wood grain" backing.

Kids will be kids, and nobody wants their 2 year old to color on their handmade Amish coffee table. However, wouldn't it be nice to have somethings made well enough to last beyond the life of a set of truck tires?

So, in the words of a true Carpenter; "Come on people now smile on your brother everybody get together love one another right now." OK, so that did not relate at all, but it is the only Carpenter's song I know!

This Christmas give from your heart, but make sure it is on the list.

The act of giving at Christmas is as old as the holiday itself. Giving is a tangible display of our appreciation and love. This can be dangerous if the receiver does not take it as so. Too often, gifts are “weighted”, simply meaning that the impact of the gift is thought to be in direct reflection to the giver’s feelings of that person. In fact, the receiver should treat the gift as a surprise, a bonus, or a kind thought as it was not required to begin with.

Have you ever wondered about the origins of the “Christmas list”? As far back as I can remember my sister and I would make Christmas lists. While this was a fun process and it made for little, if any, disappointment, looking back it seems like an accountant’s dream. Order request, inventory, acknowledgement, next. I always find it exciding to think of a gift I feel someone would really like, and then watch their expression as they open it. In full disclosure, you need to be prepared for a good as well as a bad reaction if you take this approach. I have hit a few homeruns, had a few singles, and struck out badly, but overall good results.

If the spirit of Christmas is to give rather than receive, why do we ask people what they want? Do you think the wisemen asked Mary and Joseph where they were registered, or what baby Jesus had on his list? No, they came with gifts they thought would be good for a king. Did baby Jesus have any need for gold? No. It was the thought that counted.

So this year be adventurous, put some thought into your giving, but always remember to wrap the gift receipt!

Pump up your playlist.

The hardest part of exercise for me is getting the energy going at the start of the workout and keeping it going. The solution is a good high energy playlist. In the past I would pump the ipod during both my runs and bike workouts. Since the accident, I got smart and thought that riding with ear buds is not the safest practice. So, the ipod will be left for the runs. (OK, I just thought that sentence through. Then again, I am sure the ipod would be nice to have in the bathroom as well.)

So, how do you pick a good playlist? I started with time. How long will my workout be? That way I never have to look at the clock. When the playlist is over, so is my workout. Next is tempo. I focus on songs that will match the tempo of the workout. For example, the first song on my list is Viva la Vida by Coldplay. For me, this is a great warm up song to get the blood flowing without getting the heart rate going too quick too soon. I then progress into a group of songs with a quick tempo and energetic beat like Ke$ha, Pink, Beastie Boys, Crazy Frog, Black Eye Peas, and Lady Gaga. I wrap up the list with a song that I know is last on the list and how long the song is. This allows me to know that I have 3 minutes to go and it is time to push with everything I have left.

The key is the song selection. You want something that you like listening too. However, it also needs to get you moving! I like listening to Jack Johnson,but he does not get me going in a workout.

Pimp my Powerwheel

X to the Z, Xibit, I need your help! I found a 12v barbie powerwheel jeep on the side of the road with a sign in it that said "free". Considering these things are $300 new, this got my attention. After a quick examination, the only issue with the car was one bad wheel.

So the next step was to google powerwheel parts. This opened me up to a world that I did not know existed. There is a group out there that modifies powerwheels. When I think about modifying a powerwheel, I think of repainting it or adding some chrome.These guys take it to the next level. Working headlights, sound systems, 36v power upgrades, and suspension kits are just a few I saw.

What would make a unique powerweel? under chassis lights, spinner dubs, alarm system, Cadillac grill, or maybe a ipod connection. OK, time to stop. I am getting way to many ideas!

iTri

With the new iPhone being unveiled tomorrow, I thought it interesting to think back. Remember your first cell phone? Mine was after Linds and I got married. I had a friend who rocked a bag phone in college! Now, only 12 years after that bag phone, the iPhone 5 is coming. This phone will have estimated 64gb of hard drive space, an 8mb camera, Internet access at near 4g speeds, and all in a case that is the size of a box of playing cards.

So, what is my point? Evolution. The features, power, and speed of this new phone more than doubles that of the full size desktop computer I used in college. This is a lot like our bodies. Last October, I decided to complete my first triathlon in March of this year. I took my first stroke in the pool in November and was winded after 25 yards. My last swim I went just over 2,000 yards. This also works in reverse as well. How often have you been good at something that you have not tried in a while and you sucked at it? The first thing that comes to mind is my golf game.

You always hear that everyone starts somewhere, and the first step is the hardest. I agree somewhat. I believe that the second, third, and four step are the hardest. Just ask Atari, Myspace, and Clearly Canadian. Starting can be easy and exciting, but staying in the game keeps you improving. Apple knows this well. I need to follow their lead and take the next step in my training tomorrow.

P.S. If you see me on the road riding, please don't hit me!

Fueling your tank

What inspires you? I am inspired by hearing the stories of those that have faced extreme struggles and then rallied to do something great. I am inspired by the people that follow their passions no matter what the critics say. I am inspired by those that stand up for a cause that is bigger than themselves.

It is a good thing to know what inspires you. However, I have found that what motivates you can be different from your inspiration and equally as important. I was watching the replay of the 2006 Ironman in Kona yesterday. The stories and people are amazing. One father was in Kona for the third time with his son who had C.P. John Hoyt, the father, placed his son in a raft that was strapped to John's waist and started the swim towing his son behind. For those not familiar with Ironman, the swim is the start of the race, and it is 2.4 miles in open water! John was quoted as saying, his son was his motivation and was the true athlete. John was just loaning his son his arms and legs for the race. Another participant was a 76 year old nun who was completing her 20th Ironman.

These stories make me want to get moving and do something great. But, have you ever done this and then run out of steam shortly after starting? Yea, me too. Why? Inspiration can set the fire, but without motivation and passion, the fire quickly runs out of fuel and dies. Most people would think finding your passion would be very easy. But, this is something that I have struggled with. I have often thought, "I enjoy .... But is this a passion?" Many people also say, "I would like to do ....... But I do not have the time." We all have obligations, but if we cannot find the time for our passions, stress levels increase, our health is effected, and our relationships suffer.

Updates and Forecasts

So I have not blogged in almost a month. There have been some good things recently that have happened that I want to share. First and foremost, I have a job! I will be the newest Financial Representative of the Wilmington, NC office of Northwestern Mutual. I am very excited to take this next step in my revived career. So, before I officially begin working, I have to study and pass an extensive list of state and federal exams. Secondly, the Monkey is finally starting to gain some weight!

I have always been one to look forward to the next challenge. With my A.D.D. ,this can sometimes be an issue as I end up with too many things 90% finished. The job search is done, check. Now what? As Mitzi will tell you, I tend to do things all or nothing. That said, the first new goal is to once again be a top producer with the new company. I also need to refocus on my training as the Kure Beach Triathlon is in 7 weeks. I am planning on two or three more races this season, but my big goal is to do Ironman in 2012. Why, you ask. Why not? In the words of Yoda; "There is no try, only do".

How is your hammock? Like a pastor I know, well hung.

Now there is a statement that will get your attention. What does this mean, you ask? Interpretation. It is said that the English language is hard to learn if it is your second language. The reason is that words can take on different meanings based on their context. Is there a story that explains the title in more detail? Yes, but that is for a different post.

So where am I going with this post? Interpretation is just as important for the person receiving the information as it is for the person sending it. This might sound obvious, but let's think about it for a moment. How often have you said or have heard someone say, "that is not what I meant"? A single statement can have multiple meaning based solely on the inflection of the speaker's voice and the context. As the case with the title of this blog post, interpretation can give you a good laugh. However it can also be the cause of war, political unrest, or the outcome of a sporting event.


So remember, when you are playing WBT with your friends under the new or old rules, how others interpret it may determine the length of the game!

Bulletproof

Now I am not talking about liquid courage. If you could not fail, what would do? Skydive, swim with sharks, drink the water in Mexico? It has long been said that the fear of loss is greater than the desire for gain. I truly believe this. The fear of loss or failure can be crippling. In the position that I am in presently, I am a having to make choices that will determine the direction of my career. Should I take the safe option, the option with training wheels, or the option without a safety net?

When you think of the greatest baseball player of all time, what is the first name that pops in your head? I am guessing it is Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth hit a amazing 714 home runs during his 10 year career. A record that still holds in the American league, and is in the top 5 all-time. What is interesting is that Ruth also struck out 1,330 times. Ruth wasn't worried about striking out, he simply kept swinging for the fence. What a great life lesson.

It's like deja-vu, all over again.

Yogi Berra makes you think. Today is the beginning of week two and business day 8 that I did not go to work. I started my day just like last week by straightening up the house and working on the never ending swingset project that is reaching a conclusion.

Today, I had a phone interview with a company that will remain nameless. I learned one place that I do not want to work! This is good news. No reason to jump into a new job that I will be looking to get out of within the first year. I am meeting with another company tomorrow and looking forward to that.

I am remaining positive and focused by beginning to train for my next triathlon and checking projects off my list. As Zig Ziglar said, "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily".

Week one is almost in the books.

Heading into Friday, I am feeling very good about my 1st full week off of work. I have managed to exercise 3 days, keep the house clean, cook dinner and brownies, and make a lot of progress on Riley's playland for the backyard. I have started to lose track of days, which means it is time to start moving forward.

I have come to the understanding that a career, not just a job, in the financial advising industry comes with several things. One of those things however, is not a salary. This is a pill that I am starting to get more comfortable with. I am reminded of what Zig Ziglar said; "Money isn't the most important thing in life, but it's reasonably close to oxygen on the "gotta have it" scale. "

So, the plan is to spend the next few days in evaluation and reflection. I wish the water was a little warmer, so that I could paddle out. Since that will not be an option, I guess the next best thing will be a good bike ride. The funny part, is that my gut is already telling me what to do, I just have to get on board with it.

Tuesday is gone with the wind.

Who doesn't like a good Skynard song? So far I have kept busy during the day. It is amazing how many things that needed to be done that kept being pushed out because there was not enough time. My legs are a little sore tonight after the weight training this morning and the 12 mile bike ride this afternoon. If only Mitzi was not a teacher, I might add House Husband to my resume.

This being said, I am still quite focused. I know that I am not going back into the mortgage game. That chapter of my life is over. I do not regret the experience at all. However, I feel that I took that road as far as I could. So where am I going. As many people know, my interest is in financial advising. There are several options to look at closely. The two broad categories are working for myself or working for a company. There are positives and negatives for both.

So what to do? Well, based on the title of this post, let's see what Skynard has to say;

" Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need is in your soul,
And you can do this if you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

Boy, don't you worry.
You'll find yourself.
Follow you heart,
and nothing else.
You can do this,
if you try."

Its Casual Monday!

Monday morning. The weather today has me a little less motivated than I was on Friday. 43 degrees and raining, Ugh. I still got up this morning and swam, went to the grocery store, cleaned a little, and have touched up the resume.

The plan for this afternoon is an exercise in creativity. When was the last time that you answered the question; "What do you want to be when you grow up?". For most of us, it has probably been awhile. The real interesting question would be, what percentage of people are in the career that they selected? But regardless, this is a great question. The reason is, this question does not factor in money, experience, economics, etc. This is a pure question based on one factor. Happiness. That is my kind of question. Too often we find ourselves bogged down in the "what ifs", that we never take a risk.

Once this question has been answered and a direction is established, it is time to set some goals, and begin this new journey.

The first day of the rest of your life

I have heard this saying many times. People taking a positive outlook on the future after a setback of sizable magnitude. To me, this was a just a saying. That is, until Wednesday. I had the day off, when I received a phone call that the office that I worked in was being shut down. Less than 24 hours following that call, I was driving home from the office with my box of personal items, my "package" (ironically enough it had a pink sticker on the front), and my thoughts.

This is a very humbling experience. Since college, I have also been employed. I started working less than 10 days after receiving my degree. I have not missed more than 7 days (for the Christmas holiday) straight in 9 years. There are quite a few emotions that this experience draws up. I have chosen to focus on the positive.

In the 2nd post on this blog dated January 31, 2010, I said the following:

"The corporate culture today is that the company will do what is best for the stockholders, not its hard working foot solders. Is this wrong? No. The company is in business to make money. However, we as employees, still have this generation old concept that the company cares about us as individuals. This is simply not true.

I call on all cubicle slaves to free yourselves of the chains that you have allowed the company and society to place on you. At the end of the day, the only one who can comfort you at night is you!
"

I still believe this. Was it wrong for the company to close the office and let 250 employees go? No. The company has to make these tough decisions.

For the foreseeable future, I will be using this blog to give you an inside look of life after a corporate layoff. I hope that this will be motivating and encouraging to those of you that may be facing these same challenges.


So, what do you do on the first day out of the office? Easy! You get moving. Motion creates emotion. I woke up at 6:20am, took the baby girl to daycare, swam 1200 yards, and began checking off the rest of the tasks on my self-created list for today. Just because you are not at an office, doesn't mean you don't have a job. Hey, life is calling, it is time to answer!

Director's cut

So. This is my first try at a movie. Enjoy.

"Come to the dark side, we have cookies."

I saw this on the t-shirt in Myrtle Beach, SC a few years ago. What does it mean? Well, for some it is taken at face value. It means the rewards come to those who take the low road. However, this could be simply a matter of perspective. Over the last 24 hours, I have learned that the same view can look different when seen from a different set of eyes. What some view as lost, others see as opportunity. What some view as poor, others view as potential.

I am sitting in the dessert in 80 deg. temps in February. Life is not always poolside service, but life is also not always down and out. We have to learn to take the downturns with stride and know that with focus and hard work there will always be time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

In the words of Zig Ziglar: I am doing better than good!

Don't look down in the locker room shower

This is one of those life lessons that it is always good to follow. As we move through life, there are many of these guidelines that help us to avoid awkward situations. So the question is; are you the cool one or the one who creates awkward situations because you do follow man law? Let's find out.

1. There are 5 urinals in the public bathroom. There is one guy at the far left, which one do you use?

2. You are at a social with people and you are unsure of their ideals. What topics of conversation do you avoid?

3. You are in Lowe's home improvement. Do the associates ask if you need help based on your facial expressions/blank stare?

4. What can you cook on a grill?

5. Gas or charcoal?

Now, if you have to ask if you answered correctly, you are a bit of a tool and need to brush up on the basics.

White rappers are not the only ones that go Yo Yo

How many of you have set out on a weight loss plan or exercise plan? Now how many of you have started full speed ahead, then lost your motivation? Or better yet, dropped down to your goal weight, only to gain it back?

There is a good reason that the exercise and weight loss industry is a billion dollar business. Most people cannot commit to a long term lifestyle commitment. They would rather hit their goal as fast as possible, enjoy it for a few weeks, then watch it go away. For this reason, the same people try every new program that comes out.

So , what should you do? Simple. Find an activity that you enjoy and do it. Exercise should not feel like going to work. It should be a way to decompress. I have hit the gym off and on for years, without a real reason. This is a recipe for failure.

I signed up for my first triathlon in March. This will be a sprint distance to get my feet wet, but I am already planning my next race. As a kid, I loved riding my bike. I thought nothing of riding all day during the summer with friends. When I sat on a bike for the first time in November since college, I felt a big smile come on my face. This was not going to be exercise. This was going to fun!

Since I started training for this triathlon, I have found a purpose for exercise. Every day, I wake up looking forward to my workout. So, whether you like tennis, hockey, cycling, breakdancing, or pickle ball, get out and do it. You will enjoy it and find that the results don't vanish once you eat a slice of bread.

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care. But I smell an intervention

There are countless children's songs that are catchy tunes. However have you listened to the words of these songs? Let's take one as an example. "Jimmy Crack Corn". This is on one of Riley's Disney CDs.

This song dates back to the1840's. It is believed to be a song from the prospective of a slave who's owner has died, potentially from the slave's intentional negligence. So this does not sound too bad so far. After all, I am sure the slave owner had it coming. The name of the song however still raises questions. One explanation is that this "Gimcrack corn" was cheap corn whiskey. So basically, our kids are singing about a slave who neglects his job, kills his master, and then celebrates with a jar of cheap corn whiskey. Moving on.

The next song that came to mind was "Pop Goes the Weasel". No, I am not talking about the early 90's rap group 3rd Bass. This is an English song that dates back to pre-1825. One of the early verses goes:

" Up and down the City Road
In and out the Eagle
That's the way the money goes
Pop! goes the weasel."

The Eagle was a pub north of London. Pop, was a term that referred to pawning. Weasel, was a slang term that referred to a coat or suit.
So the thought is that this song talks about pawning your coat so that you would have enough money to go to the pub.

What I find strange is that the politicly correct groups that "protect our kids", like the geniuses that altered the words of classic Mark Twain novels recently, are not removing all of these songs and rhymes from kids vocabularies. After all, what is the difference between these lyrics and Snoop Dogg sipping on gin and juice?

Baby boom or bust

I was dropping the car off at the shop to have new tires installed. I had Riley with me as Mitsy had a doctor's appointment. As I walked out the door, one of the other clients looks at me and says; "that is what is wrong with people your age. You don't know your roles.".

I did not respond as I should have, but it made me think. The baby boom generation was the sequel to the "greatest generation". The greatest generation were kids of the depression. They were engrained with the ideals of hard work, saving money, and the honor system. What did the boomers give us? Global warming, leveraged investments, increased oil dependency, and suing companies for spilling coffee on themselves.

Now, there are things that the boomers did get right. Me, for example. I am a dad who is comfortable with all of the responsibilities of parenthood. I have and continue to change diapers, dance to silly songs on Disney, go to the park to slide and swing, show how to splash in the bath, and discipline. I am comfortable doing these with or without Mitsy. The sad part is that many boomer men do not understand what it takes to be not just a father but a dad. They saw their fathers as the family provider, that worked all day and came home to a wife that had dinner made, the kids ready for bed, and life was very black and white. This worked. However, for boomers this did not. Families became two income households and the household and kid duties needed to be shared.

I think that it comes down to fathers wanting to be involved. There is nothing better than sharing time with "Monkey". I feel sorry for those men that can't see that this is a privledge not a burden.