snow day

Who knew something so exciting for one person could be such a downer for another?

The phone rang at 5AM this morning, "This is the Ypsilanti Public Schools calling to let you know school has been cancelled for today due to inclement weather." First of all, thanks for the wake-up call at 5AM! Second, what a way to start the day. I couldn't wait for the next call to come in, "This is Ford Motor Company calling to let you know the company has shut down today due to inclement weather." Sadly (for me), the second call never came...and I had to go to work anyway.

I remember what it was like growing up and getting a snow day. It was always the best day ever - for me. I'm sure for my mom, it wasn't all that great because everything she had planned that day just got changed (I'm pretty sure J is in the same boat today). I remember thinking I had the whole day to goof off and do nothing - to play in the snow, watch some cartoons, eat some cereal slowly (instead of rushing to make it to the bus). Life was perfect.

It's funny how things change when you get older. Now instead of a 'snow day' being a good thing, I'm thinking about shoveling when I get home from work. I'm also thinking about how the time it takes to drvie into work will double, and on and on. Some times I think being an adult isn't all it's cracked up to be.

So, today I think I'm going to try to enjoy the snow - from the window at work first (when I walk to one from my cube) and then outside when I get home...even though I'm probably going to grumble about getting to shovel snow for the fifth time in less than 2 weeks...

Maybe it's time to move south for the winter...

KG's biggest fan

Everytime I see pictures of Kevin Garnett, it just reminds me more and more why I enjoy watching him play - his passion and drama for the game are just like mine...here are some of the latest I've found...

raining again?

Who knew the saying, "When it rains it pours" is actually true?

Ever notice life goes in extreme waves? When it's good – it's great! Good things seem to pile on and you are overwhelmed with a sense of how amazing life is – how great everything is. On the flip side, when things go bad, they really go bad – and keep on piling on and on and on. We have seen it in our own lives and the lives of friends around us. It's never easy right? Never spread out so you can enjoy things longer, or so the hurt isn't as intense.

In my life, it seems to always roll that way. If I stub my toe in the morning, I know I'm also going to slip and fall on the ice, be late for some appointments, get some marginally bad news, and drop my lunch on the floor (or on my shirt). I have just learned to accept that once it starts rolling down hill, it's going to 'be one of those days.' At the same time, when good things happen, they seem to really happen all at once. Sun shining, hitting all green lights going into work, having a stress free day, getting home early, and being able to spend time with my family. Seems like it is always a package deal.

Does it have to be that way? Is it really all or nothing? We were talking about living missionally in WC (my small group) a few weeks ago and I brought up the fact that we have a choice - we can choose to help people down the good day, or bad day road. There were 2 commercials that really helped to illustrate this.

The first one illustrates the affect one can have by simply doing good.

I have looked everywhere, but can't find the second commercial - I think it was a Comcast commercial (or one for slow internet). In the commercial, a guy was getting grumpy waiting for his computer to do what he needed it to. When a co-worker came by and said, "Good morning," he mocked her and put her in a bad mood also. This continued throughout the office until at the end of the commercial, they were all fighting. It was the exact opposite of the commercial above (and was also quite funny).

It's up to us (in some ways) to choose which road we will go down - even when it starts rolling the way we don't want it to. I am learning that life is never easy for long periods of time - and I guess that's ok. There are definitely times when I need to be reminded of that though.

Reading 1 Peter 5, I learned something new today. A verse I have always heard growing up is verse 7, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Makes me feel good that I can just off-load all that I am carrying around with me (and here's where it gets good) because he CARES for me. It's not that he has to, or wants to, but he will take the stress and heavy weight I am carrying because he cares for me - truly and deeply. Crazy.

There's more - seems like I rarely read the rest of that chapter though. It goes a little something like this:
5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

I seem to always forget about the 'humble yourselves' part - and also the 'lift you up in due time' part. I think I always read that as 'lift you up in your time.' Not the case though. It also puts it on us to be self-controlled and alert - we don't get a free pass at this - and also warns us that our enemy prowls around like a roaring lion - meaning things can get bad at any time and we must be ready and willing.

The part that keeps me going is that it says Christ will restore us and make us strong again - I just wish they left out the part that says it won't happen until after "we have suffered a little while"...

last and final night alone

Who knew anticipation of seeing some one you miss so much could keep growing and growing?

One night left until I will not be a 'single parent.'  Don't get me wrong - it hasn't been rough at all.  Tay is so self sufficient that she actually helps out a lot and really doesn't take much of my energy at all.  It has been nice getting to spend so much time with her - playing games, talking and just hanging out.  We are currently in the middle of a game of Monopoly - yes, she even got me to play a board game (something I very rarely do).  It has been a good week, but weird none the less.

It was weird because something that has been a constant in my life for more than a decade wasn't there as it always is.  It was easy to notice - didn't take long to realize there was a void here in the house.  It's not a bad thing (I'm sure J was glad to have some time alone to just decompress), it's just something I'm glad is coming to an end.  I'm ready to have my friend back home...

Also wanted to give a shout out to the other husbands that helped so their wives could go with mine - I think we all got some good 'points' for this one...

Tonight was pretty mundane - nothing too big going on (other than Monopoly), just getting ourselves (and the house) ready for the return of one of the most important people in our lives...anticipation is good, but sometimes it just makes waiting sooooo much more difficult...

Is it 10AM Thursday yet?

day 3

Who knew snow could be so heavy?

How much fun was that today? Nothing but snow everywhere, and it was the wet kind that is really heavy to shovel - doesn't get much better than that.

Another day down - Tay went to a friends house for a while, Nadia did the work thing, and I goofed off and did nothing as usual...typical. I missed Rob and Big tonight - was told it was pretty good though - something about going for spiritual advice and then they did yoga. Nothing like watching Big do yoga I'm sure.

Well, lunches made, house locked up, dishes done - guess it's time to close the chapter on this night as well. Need to get some sleep - tomorrow is a big day...have to get ready for J's return on Thursday - CAN'T WAIT!

day 2

Who knew tortellini and Star Wars were a good mix?

Tonight was a great night because we decided to stay in and just hang out.  Tay and I played Lego Star Wars, then watched Star Wars Episode 3.  I made tortellini and garlic bread (something Tay has been wanting for a few days now) and we just hung out.  It was great - I always like spending time with Tay.

After Tay went to bed, Dana came over and we hung out for a while.  It was fun to get a chance to talk with him.  He brought over the movie "American Gangster" and we watched that as well - it's a pretty long movie, but was good.  I'm glad he was able to hang for such a long time.

Ok - day 2 complete, only Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning to go...maybe tomorrow I'll post about something with a little more to it than just a script of what I did all day...

day 1

Who knew 4 days could seem to last a lifetime?

So J is out of town right now, enjoying some much needed time away with some friends - and although we are so happy and excited for her, there is still a bit of a void here when she's gone. I know she's in good hands, and that we will be just fine so that helps. I don't sleep all that well alone anymore - I've been blessed to have her by my side for a very long time now.

So for now, all I can say is one day down, three to go...

more pictures

More pictures and articles to go with the post below...

The person Next to Senator McCain is our Plant Manager...

so close

Who knew I'd ever be this close to a presidential candidate?

John McCain came to our plant yesterday. He originally was going to do a press conference from here as well, but when all the accusations came out yesterday they cancelled that part. He still visited though and took a tour. There were a few articles about it in our papers, here is the latest.

These pictures were taken at the plant and he is looking at (and sitting in) a Focus (the vehicle I worked on for the last two years). I was relatively close to him at this point in his tour, and even though I didn't get too close, it was still kind of cool to see him.

For me, no matter which side of the political fence I'm on, it's always cool to see these people in person. Maybe next time I'll try to run up and sneak into a picture...

improv everywhere

Who knew drama groups could be so funny? I thought drama was supposed to be boring?

So a friend of mine, Laurence, reminded me why I like the group "Improv Everywhere." He sent me their latest mission and I thought it was pretty good so I decided to post it. They are an improv group that does planned 'missions' which usually involve social awkward situations (per their web-site). I have seen some of their other missions as well - I like the Best Buy, Cell Phone Symphony, and McDonald's Bathroom Attendant missions to name a few.

In case you haven't seen this yet, their latest mission was at Grand Central Station - I thought it was pretty funny...





Looking at their web-site, they just did a 'freeze event' in London and Toronto as well...