I am back to the day-to-day routine this morning after a great week off with Linds. Our vacation started after work, Friday a week ago, with a Luau party. I dressed up in my best Panama Jack outfit, and Linds looked amazing! From there, we raced a sprint triathlon on Sunday morning and then Sunday afternoon Riley left with Mamaw and Papaw to spend the week. From this point, Linds and I had no plans for our week.
Since we have been married, "vacation" has always consisted of traveling. Whether it was a short trip or a far away destination, we have always traveled. I have always been of the mindset that if you are at home, you cannot truly relax. The reason for this is, there is always something at the house that needs to get done. Cutting the grass, cleaning the garage, trimming the bushes, etc. If you start guilting yourself into doing these chores, then you are not vacationing.
This time however, Linds and I for several reasons, decided to stay at home for vacation. I will admit, day one was hard to get into vacation mode, but I did. The week filled up with sitting on the beach reading, taking the ferry to Southport, a wine tasting, day trip to Myrtle Beach, taking the boat out, going to the movies, and several nice dinners out.
This week, I have to get back in gear. My dress pants this morning made their point that I have enjoyed myself a little too much!
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ---e. e. cummings
counter
Monday, July 2, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Look, an Eagle Scout. It must be time to buy cookies again
So we received a flyer at our door asking for school supply donations for an Eagle Scout project. The project is to collect, pack, and hand out backpacks with school supplies to kids of deployed solders. While this is a nice idea, I am struggling with how this is worthy of an Eagle Scout project. At the beginning of every school year, there are collections and supply drives for students in need at almost every store. I am sure that some families of solders are struggling financially, but I am sure their emotional struggle is much harder. Why not organize an after school project for these kids where they can make something nice to send to their parent? Teach them some of the skills that you have learned as a scout.
When I was in scouting, had I presented this idea (which I would not have) to the troop committee, I most likely would have been told, "Thank you, try again". An Eagle Scout project should be an exercise in planning, leadership, and execution. However, it should also be a showcase for what you have learned and paying it forward. I am not saying that this is not a good cause. However, what does this show the community that scouting has taught you. If you ask a room full of random people to do something "nice", I would bet one would say collect supplies for kids. This does not make them an Eagle Scout.
I greatly enjoyed my time in scouting. We had a good group. Within the group, there was a core group of guys and then there were the other guys. The core group were fun, interested in learning and committed to the scouting fundamentals. We would joke that John, one of the core guys, could build a shopping mall with a toothpick and a piece of rope. The other guys were there either because their parents wanted them involved, they had friends in the troop or needed to make friends, or simply needed something to do. These guys did not take scouting seriously and would be the first ones to complain if they were being pushed too hard. Within the core group, a few of us went all the way to Eagle Scout. We are all very proud of this. I take pride in the journey, the hard work that went into it, and the accomplishment.
To me, this project screams, "I want to do something easy so that I can hurry up and finish". A disservice is being done to these boys as they will someday learn the reward is in the journey not a bullet point on your resume.
When I was in scouting, had I presented this idea (which I would not have) to the troop committee, I most likely would have been told, "Thank you, try again". An Eagle Scout project should be an exercise in planning, leadership, and execution. However, it should also be a showcase for what you have learned and paying it forward. I am not saying that this is not a good cause. However, what does this show the community that scouting has taught you. If you ask a room full of random people to do something "nice", I would bet one would say collect supplies for kids. This does not make them an Eagle Scout.
I greatly enjoyed my time in scouting. We had a good group. Within the group, there was a core group of guys and then there were the other guys. The core group were fun, interested in learning and committed to the scouting fundamentals. We would joke that John, one of the core guys, could build a shopping mall with a toothpick and a piece of rope. The other guys were there either because their parents wanted them involved, they had friends in the troop or needed to make friends, or simply needed something to do. These guys did not take scouting seriously and would be the first ones to complain if they were being pushed too hard. Within the core group, a few of us went all the way to Eagle Scout. We are all very proud of this. I take pride in the journey, the hard work that went into it, and the accomplishment.
To me, this project screams, "I want to do something easy so that I can hurry up and finish". A disservice is being done to these boys as they will someday learn the reward is in the journey not a bullet point on your resume.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Can I return this coffee? It did not wake me up.
WOW! Recently, I feel that I am always tired and I think it is starting to effect my mood. Coffee, a full night sleep, and R singing her list of dance party songs are not helping. Now granted, R singing "party rocking in the house tonight" or "I'm sexy 'when' I know it" is both very funny and a bit concerning, however it is not helping my feeling of being tired. I am not quite sure what is going on. I do not feel sick, I am not exercising any more than normal, and my to-do list is not getting to-done. My thought is that maybe I am not eating enough.
I have never had big food cravings. For the longest time my breakfast would consist of just coffee. If I ate lunch, I would eat a cold cut sandwich from home with maybe a side of something in the fridge. I would be starving by dinner and over eat with a few beers. This would leave me feeling bloated and still tired.
I have been eating lunch and breakfast consistently over the last few months, however I know that I am not eating enough of the right foods. I found a few calculators that estimated I should be eating between 2,400 and 2,700 calories per day. By my rough estimate, I have been in the 1,700 range during the week, with 50% of that at dinner. Looking at the numbers, it is no wonder why I feel tired and run down. So starting tomorrow morning, the plan is to eat 2,400 "good" calories spread throughout the day. We will see how that goes.
As for R, I think she may be on to something. I mean, when was the last time you heard "I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, singing aaaa-oooo" followed immediately by jingle bells? It takes a pro to mix those songs!
I have never had big food cravings. For the longest time my breakfast would consist of just coffee. If I ate lunch, I would eat a cold cut sandwich from home with maybe a side of something in the fridge. I would be starving by dinner and over eat with a few beers. This would leave me feeling bloated and still tired.
I have been eating lunch and breakfast consistently over the last few months, however I know that I am not eating enough of the right foods. I found a few calculators that estimated I should be eating between 2,400 and 2,700 calories per day. By my rough estimate, I have been in the 1,700 range during the week, with 50% of that at dinner. Looking at the numbers, it is no wonder why I feel tired and run down. So starting tomorrow morning, the plan is to eat 2,400 "good" calories spread throughout the day. We will see how that goes.
As for R, I think she may be on to something. I mean, when was the last time you heard "I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, singing aaaa-oooo" followed immediately by jingle bells? It takes a pro to mix those songs!
Monday, April 30, 2012
It has begun!
It is official! I have signed up for the Beach 2 Battleship Half Iron distance triathlon as an individual! I am excited, nervous, and partly insane. The race is on October 20 of this year, so it is time to get to work. The race distance is a 1.2 mile open water swim, 56 mile bike, and a 13.1 mile run. The cutoff time is 9 hours to complete the race. My goal is 6 hours.
In order to hit my goal and survive, I will need to step up my training. Linds and I had a great weekend and did a 10k (6.2 mile run). I had a PR of 55:30 which was a great motivator. So beginning today, I will need to try and get in 3 swims, bikes, and runs each week in order to build my base endurance up. I will try to update my progress every week or two as the race day draws near.
In order to hit my goal and survive, I will need to step up my training. Linds and I had a great weekend and did a 10k (6.2 mile run). I had a PR of 55:30 which was a great motivator. So beginning today, I will need to try and get in 3 swims, bikes, and runs each week in order to build my base endurance up. I will try to update my progress every week or two as the race day draws near.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Where did these hills come from?
Yesterday, Linds and I completed a triathlon in our old home town. It was great to be back and see what has changed and what has stayed the same. The race itself was a distance that Linds and I have done already this season. However, one of the things that we both forgot after living in ILM is how many hills are in Rolesville!
The race was a challenge, but had good results. I placed 3rd in my age group, which was a first for me! This was also Linds' first race with her new bike. Her time was 4 minutes faster than her last race! The course was 1 mile longer with hills, so this was a big improvement for her. One of the best parts of this race was meeting a few new people that were racing for the first time. One was upper 30's and one was mid 50's. Both of these guys were great people. It was great to be able to relate and encourage them for their first race. In my limited experience, triathletes tend to be a very welcoming and encouraging group. We have met some of the nicest people through our training.
Looking forward, the next triathlons that I am looking at are longer in distance. So, it is time to step up and work on my speed and endurance. It is funny that this sport is so addictive. You are constantly asking your body to go further and faster. All of the time and discomfort are worth it when you cross the finish line and know that you have accomplished something big. As a way to track my mileage totals, you will notice that I have added a running total of my weekly swimming, biking, and running miles on the right side of this blog.
The race was a challenge, but had good results. I placed 3rd in my age group, which was a first for me! This was also Linds' first race with her new bike. Her time was 4 minutes faster than her last race! The course was 1 mile longer with hills, so this was a big improvement for her. One of the best parts of this race was meeting a few new people that were racing for the first time. One was upper 30's and one was mid 50's. Both of these guys were great people. It was great to be able to relate and encourage them for their first race. In my limited experience, triathletes tend to be a very welcoming and encouraging group. We have met some of the nicest people through our training.
Looking forward, the next triathlons that I am looking at are longer in distance. So, it is time to step up and work on my speed and endurance. It is funny that this sport is so addictive. You are constantly asking your body to go further and faster. All of the time and discomfort are worth it when you cross the finish line and know that you have accomplished something big. As a way to track my mileage totals, you will notice that I have added a running total of my weekly swimming, biking, and running miles on the right side of this blog.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Don't tow my car!......then again, just don't shoot me!
Over the last few days, there have been several people in our neighborhood that have complained by e-mail that their cars have been towed because they parked on the street over night. Our neighborhood has a rule that there is no overnight parking on the street. The reasoning behind the rule is due to the width of the streets, it would be difficult for emergency vehicles to maneuver around them. I agree. There are times when it is a challenge to get my truck through, which is much smaller than a fire truck. I got a laugh from these folks complaining. The homeowners passed a rule with a consequence. You broke the rule, deal with it. This is no different than getting a speeding ticket because you are rushing. You broke the speed limit and got caught.
For me, I have no problem with this. However, I found out yesterday evening that the tow company is being paid by the homeowners association to patrol the neighborhood. Wait a minute! The tow company gets paid to drive around, then they get paid again when the person collects their vehicle. I do have a problem with this. A portion of the dues I pay goes to the tow company. This is ridiculous. I have no problem with the no overnight parking or you get towed rule. However, the tow company does not need to get paid twice. Let the tow company patrol if they want to at no cost. If they find a car, tow it, and get paid. If they don't tow anything, better luck next time. Tow companies are very familiar with this system with repos. They don't get paid until the repo vehicle is recovered. No car, no pay! Very simple.
This brings me to the other ridiculous homeowners association story in the news. In Florida a neighborhood watch person shot and killed a teenage boy who was walking down the street. The back story is that the neighborhood had several break ins over the last 6 months. So, the watch person sees this boy, kills him, and then claims self defense. The boy was talking on his cell phone, not loading his AK47! The crazy thing to me is, why was a neighborhood watch carrying a gun? Pepper spray, a taser, a paintball gun maybe, but a deadly handgun?
Homeowners associations are a great invention. I had a prior neighbor in a neighborhood without an association that had the authority to enforce its rules, that was a nightmare. It is a miracle that we were able to sell our house with him beside us. Unfortunately, associations are full of people. Some people are reasonable, some are closed minded, some are all about the rules as long as they can do anything they want, and then there are some that are power hungry. It reminds me a lot of the state of our national political system. At the end of the day, we need to come together and have an enforceable set of rules with consequences without being extreme.
For me, I have no problem with this. However, I found out yesterday evening that the tow company is being paid by the homeowners association to patrol the neighborhood. Wait a minute! The tow company gets paid to drive around, then they get paid again when the person collects their vehicle. I do have a problem with this. A portion of the dues I pay goes to the tow company. This is ridiculous. I have no problem with the no overnight parking or you get towed rule. However, the tow company does not need to get paid twice. Let the tow company patrol if they want to at no cost. If they find a car, tow it, and get paid. If they don't tow anything, better luck next time. Tow companies are very familiar with this system with repos. They don't get paid until the repo vehicle is recovered. No car, no pay! Very simple.
This brings me to the other ridiculous homeowners association story in the news. In Florida a neighborhood watch person shot and killed a teenage boy who was walking down the street. The back story is that the neighborhood had several break ins over the last 6 months. So, the watch person sees this boy, kills him, and then claims self defense. The boy was talking on his cell phone, not loading his AK47! The crazy thing to me is, why was a neighborhood watch carrying a gun? Pepper spray, a taser, a paintball gun maybe, but a deadly handgun?
Homeowners associations are a great invention. I had a prior neighbor in a neighborhood without an association that had the authority to enforce its rules, that was a nightmare. It is a miracle that we were able to sell our house with him beside us. Unfortunately, associations are full of people. Some people are reasonable, some are closed minded, some are all about the rules as long as they can do anything they want, and then there are some that are power hungry. It reminds me a lot of the state of our national political system. At the end of the day, we need to come together and have an enforceable set of rules with consequences without being extreme.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Hey God, can you hold just a moment, my other line is beeping?
This week will be one year since the Wells Fargo layoff. I was reflecting a little with Linds and felt that this was a good time to share this story. During my years at Wells/Wachovia I enjoyed my co-workers and my amazing manager, Debbie Hines, who I will always have the utmost love and respect for. But, I was like many in the corporate world, stressed, overrun with new quotas, forms, meetings, and processes. What kept me in it? The money and the love of helping people with their finances. I referred to it as the golden handcuff. I did not enjoy some of the things that came with the job, but I was very good at it and it paid well. All of that changed on March 23rd, 2011. I had taken the day off to work on R's playground, when my phone rang. It was my Sr. manager asking if I had spoken to anyone from the office that day. I was thinking to myself, "I am off work, I am trying hard not to speak with any of you." He explained that our office of around 250 people was being closed. I remember being speechless and numb. It is hard to explain to someone who has not experienced this for themselves. This was not a choice, but a powerless feeling like I have never felt. The next morning, I remember waking up in a daze. I would be going in to clean out my desk. When I got out of the shower, I walked in the closet and opened my junk drawer that I keep my watch in. A poker chip that was given out at church a few months prior rolled to the front of the drawer and grabbed my attention. This chip had the phrase; "The Best Is Yet To Be" written on the face. On the other side were the words "Hopeful Imagination". WOW! I remember feeling at that moment that, no matter what happened, I was going to be ok.
Looking back one year later, it is amazing how true that was. 2011 was full of down moments, false starts, and fear of the unknown. But, having the faith that the best is yet to be, I have found myself in a much better place. I still have that poker chip in my drawer to remind me that we will not always know where we are going to end up, but we have to believe that good things are to come to those who are faithful and open to God's plans. Now I am not one to talk about my religious believes in great detail. The simplest reason is that I find this to be very personal. However, I find it difficult to tell this story without talking about it.
In my quiet time first thing in the morning, even before all of this happened, I try to tune out all of life's distractions and listen. For an ADD person like myself, this can be very challenging, but I try regardless. During this time is when I receive most of the answers that I am searching for. (To questions that bother me so!). That listening is what led me to the decision to begin with Northwestern and later to leave that position. Some people might look at my time at Northwestern as a failed attempt. I did at first as well. However, during my quiet time I realized that this was a step that needed to be taken. Northwestern sponsored me to sit and pass the securities and insurance exams. This step also turned the light on to show me a career that would take something precious away from me, stress free time with R. It does not matter how worn out she can make me, there is nothing better than singing silly songs and dancing, playing pretend, and reading stories. Those moments are worth more than gold.
There is no place that I would rather be than where I am right now. I know that some out there may think that I have settled. This cannot be further from the truth. When I started working after college, I said many times, "the only thing better would be to do what I am doing in Wilmington." Well little did I know that prayer would be answered. It took 5 years, but it was fulfilled. I have always been a believer in doing what you love. After all, if you don't love it, then why do it? You only have so many years. What a shame it would be to look back on a working career and have to think, "I can't believe I allowed myself to be miserable for that long".
I can truly say that my life is "Better than Good"! (This is an excellent audio book by Zig Ziglar. If you have not listened to it you should.)
Looking back one year later, it is amazing how true that was. 2011 was full of down moments, false starts, and fear of the unknown. But, having the faith that the best is yet to be, I have found myself in a much better place. I still have that poker chip in my drawer to remind me that we will not always know where we are going to end up, but we have to believe that good things are to come to those who are faithful and open to God's plans. Now I am not one to talk about my religious believes in great detail. The simplest reason is that I find this to be very personal. However, I find it difficult to tell this story without talking about it.
In my quiet time first thing in the morning, even before all of this happened, I try to tune out all of life's distractions and listen. For an ADD person like myself, this can be very challenging, but I try regardless. During this time is when I receive most of the answers that I am searching for. (To questions that bother me so!). That listening is what led me to the decision to begin with Northwestern and later to leave that position. Some people might look at my time at Northwestern as a failed attempt. I did at first as well. However, during my quiet time I realized that this was a step that needed to be taken. Northwestern sponsored me to sit and pass the securities and insurance exams. This step also turned the light on to show me a career that would take something precious away from me, stress free time with R. It does not matter how worn out she can make me, there is nothing better than singing silly songs and dancing, playing pretend, and reading stories. Those moments are worth more than gold.
There is no place that I would rather be than where I am right now. I know that some out there may think that I have settled. This cannot be further from the truth. When I started working after college, I said many times, "the only thing better would be to do what I am doing in Wilmington." Well little did I know that prayer would be answered. It took 5 years, but it was fulfilled. I have always been a believer in doing what you love. After all, if you don't love it, then why do it? You only have so many years. What a shame it would be to look back on a working career and have to think, "I can't believe I allowed myself to be miserable for that long".
I can truly say that my life is "Better than Good"! (This is an excellent audio book by Zig Ziglar. If you have not listened to it you should.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)