Category: Me

On turning 40

So now I’m 40. It was a great day. Bailey woke me up with her usual enthusiasm to start the day. My parents then watched her for the day while my brother and some friends came to our house for an afternoon of gaming. Honeybun made the best chicken soup ever along with beer bread to feed everyone.

Afterwards we met my parents and Bailey for dinner at The Claim Jumper. On the way over, Honeybun told my brother to watch how Bailey would be so thrilled to see me again that she would ignore everyone else. Sure enough, as they walked in Bailey caught sight of me and yelled, “Daddy!” loud enough to announce it to the entire restaurant, then ran over to give me the biggest hug an almost 3-year old can give while telling me “I’m so glad to see you.” That always makes me feel special.

So, isn’t 40 the part where you are supposed to take stock of your life? That is pretty simple for me.

Well, aside from some career frustration, I am a happy man. I am married to the woman I love above all others. I have a daughter who is the epitome of a “daddy’s girl” and who I love with every fiber in me. I have great friends.

No, I’m not wealthy, but I am rich beyond measure and truly blessed.

Motivation seminar

I went to a business seminar yesterday held at the Pepsi Center in Denver that was supposed to get people motivated. The arena holds about 15,000 people and it was nearly full. Apparently the motivation business is good.

Laura Bush, Colin Powell, and Rudy Giuliani were some of the speakers. Tamara Lowe is one of the organizers and wrote a book on motivation. During her talk, she told how she was a drug user and dealer as a teenager. At the end of her presentation she explained how the change in her life was the result of finding Jesus. The “sinner’s prayer” she offered was typical of the altar call prayers I have heard growing up in evangelical churches.

Her invitation did get a mixed reception which did not surprise me. I heard some grumbling around me but there were also quite a few cheers. The seminar was billed as a business event but I did like how Tamara Lowe and Zig Ziglar did not shy away from the issue of faith even though I no longer subscribe to their specific beliefs.

A friend of mine asked me if I felt motivated after the seminar. I tend to go into these things with low expectations. I found their methods to be very similar to churches I’ve been in with the way they try to create an emotional response. I know that they do it to get people to act to buy the programs they were selling but I learned a long time ago that acting on emotion is generally a bad reason to do something. That is why I see the majority of altar call conversions as being the seeds sown on the stony ground (Matthew 4:16-17). It was interesting to see the altar call style invitation during the same event that was trying to sell me other programs. The methods for each were strikingly similar and the implicit connection between faith and financial wealth left me cold.

They told us “this seminar will change your life” at the beginning of the day. I thought the presentations by Bush, Powell, Giuliani, and Ziglar were the best though they were the least emotional – probably because they were not trying to hawk something to get me to sign up right then.

“Motivated?” No. But some of the speakers did provide some food for thought and reviewing priorities in life is never a bad thing. I’ve known for a while that my life’s goal is not financial wealth. A couple of the presentations confirmed that for me even though that was the opposite message they were promoting.

Master’s week

No, I’m not referring to Angel Cabrera’s win last Sunday at the Masters tournament at Augusta. I’m talking about me. On Tuesday of this week, I finished (and passed) my comprehensive exams. That means I have officially completed all the requirements for my Master of Science in Technical Communication.

Wow, it seems like only 4 1/2 years ago that I started this thing. I must say, working full time and having a family on top of going to school is…um…challenging.

Now on to the next challenge, trying to change careers to use it. I’m also looking forward to being able to do some of the things I didn’t have time for when I was going to school. I wonder if it is too late to jump on that LOLcat bandwagon?

25 random things

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you.

1. I served four years of active duty in the USMC. Joining was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

2. I was the one who gave the ultimatum to get married. Thankfully, she agreed. Another of the best decisions I have ever made. One for which I am thankful everyday, most especially since we have had our daughter with whom I am totally smitten.

3. I converted to the Catholic Church in 2005.

4. If I could, I would live on pork lo mein or the classic turkey dinner.

5. My birth certificate shows four names. I only use three when I write my “full name” on legal documents.

6. Years ago I had success on the Atkins diet but quit when I realized I couldn’t live without being able to eat mashed potatoes.

7. I have only one more test to complete to get my Master’s degree.

8. I am an introvert – significantly so according to the Myer’s Brigg’s indicator. I wish I wasn’t.

9. I’m looking for a new job, preferably in the Las Cruces, NM area. Anyone need a tech writer?

10. I am one of the two funniest people I know*. My friend Darin is the other (the only person who can regularly make laugh until I get tears.)
*(Your results may differ.)

11. I am currently reading The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp, and The Hand of Chaos by Margaret Weis & Tracey Hickman.

12. My favorite recipe for spaghetti includes Velveeta. I learned how to make it from my Grandma but she made it better.

13. My cholesterol is in the “good” range. (Just got the test results back)

14. My glucose is a little high. Doc says to cut back on the carbs and sugar, but life without root beer is like…well, life without root beer.

15. Considered giving up the Internet for Lent this year, but realized that would be impossible with my remaining grad school commitment.

16. Not used to our dog Cowboy being gone. Still get the urge to take him outside before I go to bed.

17. I was a talk radio junkie until I got an iPod and discovered podcasts. Now I’m a podcast junkie.

18. Favorite musical artists: Steve Taylor, The Sundays, and Hootie and the Blowfish.

19. Favorite drink: rum and Coke. Haven’t had one in over 8 years. Wow, has it been that long? (sigh).

20. Favorite cake: Rum cake. Had some last month.

21. Was known to skip class in high school to go play racquetball.

22. Want to start a podcast. I’m thinking of a skeptical examination of conspiracy theories. The outlandish claims about the Jesuits are some of my favorites. Like the claim that it was Jesuits actually masterminded 9/11 using the CIA/FBI to execute the plan.

23. Grew up in Phoenix, AZ. I do NOT miss the heat. Much prefer the experience of all four seasons that I get in Colorado.

24. I believe that Christmas actually is “the most wonderful time of the year.”

25. Is proud to have a daughter. It is more rewarding than I ever imagined.

Dude, are you on a diet?

Well no not really but I have been losing weight. A couple of years I tried a diet. I decided that it wasn’t worth the added stress with a pregnant wife, a full-time job, and grad school. I figured I’d worry about it after I finished school. Earlier this year I was over 240 lbs (I think I hit 245).

Things have changed. I’m done with the school work and no longer have a pregnant wife and instead have an almost two-year old daughter. Not a bad trade there.

I stepped on the scale today and weighed in at at svelte(er) 227. No, I haven’t been dieting. A couple of changes have contributed. First the end of school has meant a little more movement and a lot less snacking while studying.

The second and most significant is our dining habits. We had been eating out regularly. For the past few months Honeybun has been cooking dinner and we’ve been eating most of our meals at home, the opposite of what we had been doing. The great part is, I would rather eat at home. The food is better.

This past week I started some medication that may have the side effect of suppressing appetite, that might accelerate all of this. Now I just need to start exercising. Fitness would be cool. I’m not going to worry about that until we get back from vacation though.

Meme

Honeybun sent me a meme. Here is what I came up with:

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Jason from the Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts.
My middle name is my father’s first name.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
At Wall*E

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Not really

4 . WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT
Ham

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
I have a daughter, so technically I don’t have “kids”

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Sure, I’m the funniest person I know

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOt?
Nope

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS ?
Yep

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Probably not

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Mini Wheats

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Rarely

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Physically, no

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Chocolate

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Smile

15. RED OR PINK?
Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
Weight

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Grandma and Grandpa Giles

18. YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
no

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
gray pants, black shoes

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Red pepper humus with on a tortilla (mmmm)

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
the sound of me typing.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Green

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Plum candle (yeah, its weird).

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
An employee

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS?
I love her.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Football, hockey, UFC

27. HAIR COLOR ?
Brown

26. EYE COLOR?
Brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No, don’t need ’em since I got LASIK last year

30, FAVORITE Foods
Most anything with pasta, turkey dinner, cheesecake.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Definitely happy endings

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Mr Bean’s Holiday

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Dark green

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Winter

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Yes

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Rumcake and Cheesecake

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
n/a

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND ?
n/a

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING Now?
Technical Editing

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Don’t use one

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT
Stuff recorded on TIVO

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
The Bailey lip flip

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME
South Korea

45. ANY NEWS IN YOUR LIFE?
Looking for a job in New Mexico, taking a comprehensive exam for the MS degree in 3 weeks.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Phoenix, AZ

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
n/a

48. WHAT TIME IS IT RIGHT NOW?
5:45 pm

Reasons I don’t wear a goatee

  1. Honeybun doesn’t like facial hair on me
  2. I’m starting to get gray hair on my chin
  3. It would make me look too much like Dave Navarro and I don’t want confused fans to ask me for his autograph – again
  4. Two words – “booger trap”
  5. Itch factor