Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Reminder.....lol
So, I came across this letter, it's pretty funny....a long read...but well worth it....It reminded me of Jen and her kids being "bored" so far this summer....lol ..hopefully we all remember....
Dear Under-35 Crowd,
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were when they were growing up; what, with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning... uphill BOTH ways yada, yada, yada!
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!
But now that... I'm over the ripe old age of thirty five, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a dang Utopia!
And I hate to say it but you kids today you don't know how good you've got it!
I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the darn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!
There was no email! We had to actually write somebody a letter...with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!
There were no IPods, MP3's or Napsters! You wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself! Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ'd usually talk over the beginning and mess it all up!
We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it! And we didn't have fancy Caller ID Boxes either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom , your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances mister! The phones had a cord attached to the receiver, not cordless, so you had to literally stand or sit where the phone was to talk...no privacy!
We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation, Wii, XBox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'asteroids' and the graphics sucked! Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!
When you went to the movie theater there no such thing as stadium seating! All the seats were the same height! If a tall guy or some old broad with a hat sat in front of you and you couldn't see, you were just screwed!
Sure, we had cable television, but back then that was only like 15 channels and there was no onscreen menu and no remote control! You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your a$$ and walk over to the TV to change the channel and there was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday morning. Do you hear what I'm saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little brats!
And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat something up we had to use the stove or go build a frigging fire.... imagine that! If we wanted popcorn, we had to use that stupid Jiffy Pop thing and shake it over the stove forever like an idiot.
That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled!!!
You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in the early 1980's! Oh yea, and a seatbelt was Mom throwing her arm across your chest every time she hit the brakes.
So next time you wanna complain that life is hard and boring...remember we survived!!
Regards, The over 35 Crowd
Dear Under-35 Crowd,
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were when they were growing up; what, with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning... uphill BOTH ways yada, yada, yada!
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!
But now that... I'm over the ripe old age of thirty five, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a dang Utopia!
And I hate to say it but you kids today you don't know how good you've got it!
I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the darn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!
There was no email! We had to actually write somebody a letter...with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!
There were no IPods, MP3's or Napsters! You wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself! Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ'd usually talk over the beginning and mess it all up!
We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it! And we didn't have fancy Caller ID Boxes either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom , your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances mister! The phones had a cord attached to the receiver, not cordless, so you had to literally stand or sit where the phone was to talk...no privacy!
We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation, Wii, XBox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'asteroids' and the graphics sucked! Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!
When you went to the movie theater there no such thing as stadium seating! All the seats were the same height! If a tall guy or some old broad with a hat sat in front of you and you couldn't see, you were just screwed!
Sure, we had cable television, but back then that was only like 15 channels and there was no onscreen menu and no remote control! You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your a$$ and walk over to the TV to change the channel and there was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday morning. Do you hear what I'm saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little brats!
And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat something up we had to use the stove or go build a frigging fire.... imagine that! If we wanted popcorn, we had to use that stupid Jiffy Pop thing and shake it over the stove forever like an idiot.
That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled!!!
You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in the early 1980's! Oh yea, and a seatbelt was Mom throwing her arm across your chest every time she hit the brakes.
So next time you wanna complain that life is hard and boring...remember we survived!!
Regards, The over 35 Crowd
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
JEN ANSWER YOUR PHONE!!!!!
So this is how I feel when I try to call Jenny's house!!! Seriously she is by far the hardest person to get ahold of...you need a GPS tracking device on her or an ankle bracelet!!! She must sit and seriously screen her phone calls or just I don't know..but..this is how I am feeling with trying to get ahold of her for the past two days......come on I know others have a hard time trying to get ahold of her...ok..that's all...LOL
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Turning Points
Occasionally in life, we encounter a turning point. Sometimes we realize we are facing a turning point , but other times we don’t realize it.
Turning points can be either positive or negative. Taking the first hit of drugs is probably a turning point for a drug addict. Committing a crime could be another obvious example of a negative turning point. Being offended by someone and reacting to that offense that changes the course of your life is another negative turning point.
A positive turning point could be the alcoholic’s first step to recovery. It could be a spiritual awakening for another person, or it can be the realization that changes have to be made in your life to better oneself and move forward.
So, turning points can either be good or bad. Like I mentioned above, sometimes we don’t realize we are facing a turning point, such as someone doing drugs may not feel his first experience with drugs is a turning point in their life at the time or meeting someone for the first time can even be a turning point.
I think everyone’s life has turning points, but sometimes the person doesn’t realize the importance of the choice at the time.
One important point I would like to make is this: No one faces a turning point with the intent on making themselves worse off. When the alcoholic takes his/her first drink, they don’t do it with the intent on becoming an alcoholic! When a smoker takes his/her first puff, they don't have the intention of becoming addicted. No one intentionally seeks negative turning points. Everyone tries to make themselves better off, but obviously we all make mistakes.
How do we know if we are making a good or bad decision at a turning point?
Well, sometimes it’s tough to tell. Laws, morals, religion, values, etc. are put in place to help guide us through the turning points of life. We may not know or accept we made a bad decision until a significant period down the road. It may take the drug addict years to realize the first hit was a turning point, the smoker the first puff as the turning point or the alcoholic the first drink.
I try to apply these thoughts to my personal life. We all make mistakes in life, but I think the key to success in anything is to not make the BIG mistakes. I try to make sure that if I make a mistake, that error won’t lead to something worse and become a negative turning point. I want to avoid negative turning points, and though I don't always succeed, I try to recognize them. I use my values, morals, beliefs, etc. to help me out. This concept can apply to all areas of life: School, career, being single, family, marriage, friendships, money etc.
As I have continued to turn to the Lord during my negative turning points, I believe I have been blessed. I have gained a stronger understanding about how I—along with my trials, temptations, poor decisions, challenges and desires—fit into the Plan of Salvation. Taking a small leap of faith by continuing to practice my religion has allowed me to receive additional guidance and strength in my life.
My life is still full of uncertainty and challenges. But I know God will continue to support me and strengthen me. I will continue to grow and receive more and more of the true peace I desire. I simply offer insights I have learned through the choices I’ve made. Everyone has to make their own choices and accept the turning points in their lives. Just as I hope to make good decisions with guidance that will ultimately lead to good turning points in my life, I also hope everyone that reads this blog will remember and do the same.
I really wish everyone good turning points in your lives!!
Turning points can be either positive or negative. Taking the first hit of drugs is probably a turning point for a drug addict. Committing a crime could be another obvious example of a negative turning point. Being offended by someone and reacting to that offense that changes the course of your life is another negative turning point.
A positive turning point could be the alcoholic’s first step to recovery. It could be a spiritual awakening for another person, or it can be the realization that changes have to be made in your life to better oneself and move forward.
So, turning points can either be good or bad. Like I mentioned above, sometimes we don’t realize we are facing a turning point, such as someone doing drugs may not feel his first experience with drugs is a turning point in their life at the time or meeting someone for the first time can even be a turning point.
I think everyone’s life has turning points, but sometimes the person doesn’t realize the importance of the choice at the time.
One important point I would like to make is this: No one faces a turning point with the intent on making themselves worse off. When the alcoholic takes his/her first drink, they don’t do it with the intent on becoming an alcoholic! When a smoker takes his/her first puff, they don't have the intention of becoming addicted. No one intentionally seeks negative turning points. Everyone tries to make themselves better off, but obviously we all make mistakes.
How do we know if we are making a good or bad decision at a turning point?
Well, sometimes it’s tough to tell. Laws, morals, religion, values, etc. are put in place to help guide us through the turning points of life. We may not know or accept we made a bad decision until a significant period down the road. It may take the drug addict years to realize the first hit was a turning point, the smoker the first puff as the turning point or the alcoholic the first drink.
I try to apply these thoughts to my personal life. We all make mistakes in life, but I think the key to success in anything is to not make the BIG mistakes. I try to make sure that if I make a mistake, that error won’t lead to something worse and become a negative turning point. I want to avoid negative turning points, and though I don't always succeed, I try to recognize them. I use my values, morals, beliefs, etc. to help me out. This concept can apply to all areas of life: School, career, being single, family, marriage, friendships, money etc.
As I have continued to turn to the Lord during my negative turning points, I believe I have been blessed. I have gained a stronger understanding about how I—along with my trials, temptations, poor decisions, challenges and desires—fit into the Plan of Salvation. Taking a small leap of faith by continuing to practice my religion has allowed me to receive additional guidance and strength in my life.
My life is still full of uncertainty and challenges. But I know God will continue to support me and strengthen me. I will continue to grow and receive more and more of the true peace I desire. I simply offer insights I have learned through the choices I’ve made. Everyone has to make their own choices and accept the turning points in their lives. Just as I hope to make good decisions with guidance that will ultimately lead to good turning points in my life, I also hope everyone that reads this blog will remember and do the same.
I really wish everyone good turning points in your lives!!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
WOW..BUSY!!
Wow..it has been over a week since my last post and that is only because this past week has been busy for me!
The beginning of last week had me cleaning my apartment in anticipation of the arrival of my mother visting me for 4 days and had me preparing for a big weekend of catering!
So, lets just catch up really quick, my mom visited Utah for the first time and she enjoyed her short visit here. She thinks it too quiet here but loves it.
Our catering went well. It was kinda hectic trying to shop, prep, cook and execute 3 parties in one day for over 900 people to feed. However we pulled it off, being that at each party almost half their guests never showed up.....lots and lots and lots of food left!! Kinda stinks, because we shopped and if only I could have an hour glass to see the future and see how many people will show up at each catering job, then we could keep more profit from the food cost!!!!! Oh well...
So I am trying to catch up on lots of things to do this week. My apartment manager duties have kind of fallen to the wayside too lately, but yesterday, as tired as I was, I was able to do a few duties and I feel bad I am in the process of evicting one tenant who has is a month and half late on her rent...so this morning I had to fax the paperwork over to the owners lawyer to begin the process.....that's the part I don't like about this job ...evicting, but hey if I owned the building I'd want my money too, so I totally understand!
Ok...so gots cleaning to do, laundry to do, emails to respond too, phone messages to return, organizing to do and get ready to do a large catering luncheon this Friday in Provo for 530 guests and then again on Saturday for 200 guests......but as busy as it will be...I can't complain..there is definately nothing better than owning your business!!!!
I'll be back to posting normal again...hope all is going good on your end!!!
The beginning of last week had me cleaning my apartment in anticipation of the arrival of my mother visting me for 4 days and had me preparing for a big weekend of catering!
So, lets just catch up really quick, my mom visited Utah for the first time and she enjoyed her short visit here. She thinks it too quiet here but loves it.
Our catering went well. It was kinda hectic trying to shop, prep, cook and execute 3 parties in one day for over 900 people to feed. However we pulled it off, being that at each party almost half their guests never showed up.....lots and lots and lots of food left!! Kinda stinks, because we shopped and if only I could have an hour glass to see the future and see how many people will show up at each catering job, then we could keep more profit from the food cost!!!!! Oh well...
So I am trying to catch up on lots of things to do this week. My apartment manager duties have kind of fallen to the wayside too lately, but yesterday, as tired as I was, I was able to do a few duties and I feel bad I am in the process of evicting one tenant who has is a month and half late on her rent...so this morning I had to fax the paperwork over to the owners lawyer to begin the process.....that's the part I don't like about this job ...evicting, but hey if I owned the building I'd want my money too, so I totally understand!
Ok...so gots cleaning to do, laundry to do, emails to respond too, phone messages to return, organizing to do and get ready to do a large catering luncheon this Friday in Provo for 530 guests and then again on Saturday for 200 guests......but as busy as it will be...I can't complain..there is definately nothing better than owning your business!!!!
I'll be back to posting normal again...hope all is going good on your end!!!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
The Holy Secret
So when it comes to reading a book, I am not one that reads many novels especially fiction. Never been interested much in fiction books....I like to read self help books, inspirational books, biographies, historical books or anything non-fiction.
With this in mind, I went this afternoon to Deseret Book. I looked around, browsed, perused the book sections and couldn't find anything that "stuck out" to me to read at that moment. So I was just about to leave when I realized that I hadn't looked at the books by the register their "Best Sellers"....and then this book stuck out to me. "The Holy Secret" by James L. Ferrell. I then realize it is fiction. I thought to myself "ugh, nope" and put it down.
Then, I looked at the other books and nothing interested me. I turned to the cash register to pay for my items I was going to purchase, when suddenly I felt the urge to read the synopsis of "The Holy Secret". So I turned back, picked up the book, opened the cover and began reading the insert.
Immediately I was taken aback...the main characters' name in the book is "Michael"...then as I read the outline of the story and the lessons being taught I knew I wanted to read this book.
So I bought it. Went home, laid on my bed and started reading. It's only 215 pages. Not bad.
Let me tell you, I am enjoying this book so much. I really believe that it was written just for me!! I feel everytime I read the name "Michael" it is like reading about myself....
"Michael felt.......", "Michael wept....." "Michael prayed.....", "Michael found...", "Michael answered.....", "Michael asked...."..."Michael....this, Michael that.....!!!!
I am already on page 97 of the book and if my eyes hadn't gotten sore and my stomach craving a piece of cream cheese pie I made earlier in the afternoon, I would of kept reading until I was done!!
All I can say is the author James L. Ferrell wrote this book for me and I found it at a time I an most in need of it! Now I want to buy his other book "The Peacegiver"...
Anyhow, I recommend this book....here a description of the book from Deseret Book.com
Many today carry a secret: We do not love what we have been commanded to love. We do not love what is holy. Although we might reverence things that are deemed holy -- the temple, for example, and the scriptures, and the Sabbath -- we do not love them. Not really. Not with our whole souls.
The Holy Secret is the story of a man who learns how to love what matters. As he does, he learns another secret: Love for holiness transforms life itself. His realization of what he had been missing may lead you to some discoveries of your own!
I hope if you read this book you will discover what I am discovering about life and myself!! If anyone wants to borrow it...let me know!!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Life...as it is...
Don't you sometimes just wish you can hit the delete button on a keyboard and erase an entire day? That's how I feel right now!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Finally More Reality TV!!!....
Yes, I am so excited a new season of "THE MOLE" started tonight!!
I was a big fan of the very first season back in early 2001!! Wow that seemed
so long ago! But I remember watching it back in the Garden Street House in Alta Loma, CA.....Anderson Cooper was the first host.
After the first season, they did one or two "Celebrity Moles" and I never watched those...didn't care about celebrities being moles! So I was glad to read they were bringing back the "Original" concept of the first season and going from there!..
I was not disappointed! I can't wait until next Monday night!
During the commerical breaks they kept showing Promo's for a show called "WipeOut" which starts in a few weeks...it's looks fun and funny...and I know I'll get suckered in on that show as well.
Last night I was happy to watch a new version of "Password" the gameshow....this one is "Million Dollar Password"...I love game shows like that!
It's good some reality TV is back. I was beginning to wonder what I would watch, being my Survivor, Big Brother, American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, and Biggest Loser were all over for the season.....Oh yeah, we got "So You Think You Can Dance"...that's fun...
I don't watch much regular television shows.......just reality! Catch "The Mole" you will like it!!
Sick of this.....
I was awakened at 4:30am by a tenant ringing and ringing my doorbell. He was drunk. He lost his apartment key and wanted me to let him in his apartment.
He did this same thing to me last week as well. Last week, I gave him the only key I had for his apartment and told him to make another copy and return that key to me. He didn't do it. I got busy and forgot to ask him for it back.
So he was out of luck. He said his friend has his other key he lost.
I said "call him"
He said "I don't want to wake him up it's so late"
I thought "so it's okay for you to wake ME UP!!!"
But I just grinned sheepishly.
He asked "Can I sleep on your couch for a few hours?"
I thought, you are drunk, loud and bothersome right now, it's your own fault for losing your keys a second time, not bringing me back my copy, and always getting drunk.
I said "Sorry, no, you should call your friend"
He said "I'll wait until 7am, I will sleep in my car until then"
Then he had the nerve to ask.....
"can you wake me up at 7, in my car so I can call him?"
I said "what?..I don't know if I'll be up at 7, since it's like 4:10am and it will take me awhile to go back to sleep".
He said "Ok" and he stumbled off to his car.
8:37am now...he is still passed out in his car and I am not waking him up..it is his own fault....his choice to get drunk and be irresponsible....he should read the last two paragraphs in my post below this....
"In our choices lies our fate"
Jeez, sometimes this apartment managing job is making me sick!!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Perspective
I got an email from a friend tonight and it made me reminence about the past and that turned into thinking about my life and what I'm grateful for.
I have a lot of things I'm grateful for. I also have a lot of things that are unappreciated. There are many things that make my life wonderful. There are many things that make my life hell. I can focus on the negative things too easily, I could list two or three dozens things right off the top of my head. I try to focus of good things, but am not always good at it. Its harder to sit down and think of why your life is great, and what specifically makes it great. I realize that no matter how bad life can get, its always wonderful. Despite however loudly I complain about living in Utah, I do like the state, or part of it at least. The mountains surrounding me are very nice. I have had so many opportunities over my lifetime, I've been very lucky growing up, being able to experience and participate in so many things. It is an amazing world we live in. Take out all the people and the world is beautiful (just kidding). Whenever I'm having a bad day, or am conflicted, I can think of the wonder the world is and I get all the peace I need knowing that God made it all.
Now, this one is about friends. Not only past friends, but present friends too, and lets throw future friends in there as well. For some weird reason, one of the ways God blesses me is by sending the most amazing people that walk the face of the planet to run into me. I'm awed and inspired by my friends. I love my friends. I do feel very blessed, and this one blessing in particular I do try to never take for granted. My friends have taught me things no Sunday school teacher could have. They have helped me at times leave my comfort zone and be a better person. I doubt they would ever abandoned me in my darkest hour. The best of times of my life are usually enjoyed with them. They've helped me surround myself with good things and good people. They make me feel needed and loved, when I don't always feel that way about myself. They have been God's hands in my life. Some of you I have known for years and years. I will always remember all of my friends names, and I'll remember their faces and why they were a friend. So to all my friends...thanks for being a friend!
So my family, I don't usually talk much about my family. I guess it's because I never really had that close a relationship with anyone in my family. I do often feel guilty that I don't call or talk to them as often as I should. I do however think about them. I am just very different from my family. I often wondered why I have such a different life path than the rest of my family. I worry about my family, I try to help them when I can, do things for them, be there. I will say one thing about my family is that they let me grow at my own pace, never have lost patience with me and accepted me for all my choices. For that I am reminded of the importance of family. Even my own!
"In our choices lies our fate"
I like this quote. I suppose I really like the idea of accountability, especially lately, something about it really rings true with me, personally. Fate is also a fun idea that I believe in. I like sometimes that there is a fate hanging over our head, controlling our life, and I like even better that we influence fate with our choices.
So to this end I guess what I want to say is: I need to embrace life and all of its adventures more, get out the door and on my feet. Embrace life. Seize the day. Smile.
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