Life Actions

So Lately, no, not just lately but for quite a while, I haven't been sure what my role in life is to be. that would make on ponder about it and knowing something ought to be done about it. I knew some directions that I needed to go but wasn't sure how of if I wanted to go to that direction. Its really Im hung up on focusing expectations and those usually don't meet those expectations because of a lack of endurance and mostly faith. So I'm talking to a friend of mine that I needed to ask her something else anyway, and i brought up about some life directions for me. Even though a person knows what needs to happen to make life work, its always good, at least for me, to hear from another person. So this morning I sent this person a thank you email for our talk yesterday and it was at first going to be a simple thank you for listening but I, not planning to, continued to type about what I discovered in the last 12 hours and want to share it:

Hi,

Just wanted to again, thank you for your words and listening. I know you had more on your plate than to listen to Lance's issues but I really appreciate it. So last night I was pacing, got the bible out and really couldn't focus and nothing was popping in front of me. ( sorry, im sort of tied up in this need something right now - instantaneous world, I know I need to quit it). So I went to the next best thing is digital podcasts (sort of like audio books if you didn't know) and i go to iTunes and start searching in the spiritual section to see if anything interests me. I see names that I recognize and know about; Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, TD Jakes, Max Lucodo, etc. I come across a name I didn't know and with no cause to do it I click the name of Chip Ingram and the title of a series he is talking about is titled how to re-build a broken world. So that sort of interested me and I would click on the audio and see what he has to say. He starts out in defining a broken world. Its really what I think is broken and do I really know what is broken and if it even broken at all. So yes, that had me thinking and asking what really is broken. He goes on throughout the series of talks to talk about quit asking God why but ask What. Also to learn endurance. THis morning was the first time in a long time I woke up around 7am got dressed and worked on what needs to be done rather than laying in bed with the blanket over my head till 10-11 am, upset that there is no other drama and I am going to have to delt with Lance today, then wonder to work. So not sure why I picked that audio to listen to but the more the audio continued the more I "LISTENED" to the words for the first time and knowing the relationship of God needs to be a thing for me. I don't want to call it an awakening or a light switch that hit me because I know there is alot more than just being excited to be alive and knowing God probably does care, today, I just don't want to be lost and angry and hate people anymore. I want to be a good guy for myself and for others, just not sure hows its going to turn out and how to be that way. Anyway, thanks for listening again, and wanted to update you how I stayed up half the night doing!!!

God Bless

CJ Cross Country at MSSU Stampede

The iPhone Memorial Service

Day 2 without the iPhone

iPhone Gone

Let's Get Something Straight

MY MAC IS STOLEN

My MAC IS STOLEN!!!!! But Recovered. I was running some errands and at one stop I locked my car but apparently had a passenger door that did not lock very well. I didn't notice it was gone till I was going to a coffee house to do some work. I reached in the back seat and discovered it was gone. I back tracked and did notice all my doors were locked except that one and notice some other things moved around. In a panic and anger I did call the police and did have to go home to get my serial number and other items to make a police report. The one positive thing was I had just done an entire back up the night before. So on my way back to the police department to make a report I make a circle around the area was I last had it. Im going around the corner and there is a hoodlum kid with my brown bag walking down the side walk. I instantly did a law and order scene and drove up on the sidewalk and pinned him against the building but he got away and dropped the laptop bag before he ran. So Not being able to chase him (45 years old and a bit out of "good" shape) I go back to my car and go around the block. By this time I know they were at least 3-4 blocks away. So I did spot a kid with the hat I remember wearing and hes walking alone reversing out his jacket. I stayed a 1/2 block behind and got 911 on the phone immediately. After following and keeping in touch with the police I see him enter a house door and stay a block away. Right at that time a police car pulls up and I update the officer which door he went in. Now this whole time, I haven't looked in the bag yet but notice it was heavy and knew it was in there by the feel of it. So after the kid comes out and the officer and another officer at this time pulled up were questioning him and he still had the same hat on which I couldn't believe it. ANyway, I go back to my car open the bag and notice there was a Dollar General bag with a box of candy and soda and tobacco. I show this to one of the officers and they want to see if the nearby store can ID him in being in the store. WHile searching the suspect pockets, the police find a receipt made just 20 minutes earlier of each item left in the bag that matched the receipt. He could only just confess!!!! SO it was a felony to the punk and I got my Mac Back!!!!!!! Lesson Learned: Make SUre all your car doors are locked and keep your serial numbers handy with you in multiple and safe places and ALways, Always, Back up!!!!!!!!!

Putting it all Together

Ok, Im done with the election and when I brought up to the school and city about updating their web sites, I was stared like the deer in headlights. So the answer, move on and take care of own stuff!!!! Anyway the last week has brought up many positive projects to keep me busy and many positive things to keep me busy and out of trouble. I encouraged the Project Graduation committee to keep people informed so I was picked as communication chairperson for the group. That position is a passion to keep people informed and this is what it is about type of job I enjoy doing. My other project is to keep Boy Scout Troop 10 alive. It will take recruiting and let others know what we do and keep the troop together. The other is a deadline project of my son Adam's eagle project to be done this month. I need to help him and get that accomplished not only for him but for his confidence. One may ask, what about myself, what is it that I can do for myself? I am working that I am so thankful for. Financially Im a mess but Ive got a gut feeling very soon that is all going to pan out. I have been approached for some second income opportunities and it looks real positive. Today I am keeping focused on these three projects to be organized and successful so it will shine of how organized the projects will turn out. So i'm telling myself, to focus on these projects to have a successful outcome and see how it will benefit me and keep moving.

Updated School and City Government Web Sites

Ok a soapbox has appeared for me top step on and vent. I live in a community of Carl Junction, Missouri in which I was raised and graduated school from. I have family and friends here along with my son being involved in the high school. I'm proud to call myself a citizen of the community because of the hard work many before me has put in to keep it thriving. HOWEVER, both the city and the school district websites are failing to update their web sites. The city posted a press release on January of 09 and the calendar is still on September 0f 08. I addressed the city manager of this situation and he replied it's not a big priority at this time. To me, a not-updated site is like having a tilt and broken sign in the front of your office and store. Shows no pride or care for what your doing. Same thing goes with the school web site. My son is involved with the school lay being on the stage crew. He let me know what time to be there, and of course i didn't enter it on my iCal on my phone, but I should have been able to go to the web site under high school events and get all the information there. I go there and there hasn't been one event (let me remind you of a 800+ students in high school) and no updates of the MANY events placed in the school. This puts an anger and a impulse to me to keep my own blog updated and consistent. I just do not see how with so many events and things to share with the world that a municipal government and a school district of 2000+ students do not have anything to say on expensive websites that have been placed there by tax payers.

Progress

Read a post today from Shoemoney, an internet marketer's blog I subscribe to. He was showing an email that he gets daily from people about wanting a financial quick fix and wants to know what he does to make a life changing paycheck so quick. Its funny to say its just hard work and consistency is his bottom line in the blog for his response. I needed to hear and read that message today. Quit being so impatient and sitting around feeling sorry for myself and get to work and consistently be blogging and posting. Work on some affiliate marketing and see what comes out of it. Anyway, its really a blessing I got that message in a blog that turned into a finger pointing lecture in my face. So Im ready to go to work towards my dreams. Thanks Again Jeramy for the post.

My Mystery Shopper

Before I let you know what happen this past weekend, I want to give some history. Ive been at the Joplin Office Max since July 2008. I was part time and then went full time in November. Other than a supervisor I was the eldest one there. Shortly after the first of the year, that supervisor was let go and that made me the eldest. I truly like working there, the money is barely making it for me but so far not much stress in the job like most people experience in their own jobs. As far as the co-workers go, I couldn't be luckier to be with a group of people. So this takes us to what happened this weekend. I treated Saturday as any other day. I was working in the Impress copy and print department that day. I was recently "coached" on some decisions that I was making in the department so I was still watching my actions and following procedure as told. Anyway, it was an unusual busy day where no big orders were taken, but allot of what we call there, lots of walk-up counter business. Meaning lots of large copy and print jobs done while the customer waited. So to say the least, I am more comfortable when I'm on a roll and a rhythm where things are going as smooth as possible. So it was one of those days that when I left, I felt I did ok and got as much done as possible and felt I had a successful day. Not many things were said the next couple of days when I returned to work other than that following Tuesday and as I was walking in the door, the newly announced store manager said he needed to speak to me and that it was a good thing. So what happened on the previous Saturday I was talking about, the store was visited by an assigned "Mystery Shopper". This shopper went to different parts of the store and rated on customer service and how we presented ourselves to the customer. Apparently I did everything I was suppose to do because I scored really high and all the check marks were at top level and scored extra points for some extra services I offered. So it wasn't the accomplishment of treating that one shopper right that eventually was the mystery shopper for the company, but sincerely told "Good Job". It goes to show you, take the extra time to just do your job the way it is set up to do. May not be the most talented, hardest worker, quickest or even the top salesperson, but just do the basics do it well and the other qualities I mentioned will follow. WHat made it more exciting was two other associates were graded and did as well. I want to to thank Rob, Ashley and the others to putting me in those positions where I was able to shine at the right moment for both me and the store.

What Is My Passion

I've been guilty of a bloggers sin.  It is the procrastination of blogging.  I don't want to call it a "writers block" but a lack of an passion with an idea.  You see there is a motivation of taking a passion to a place of no boundaries.  But what is that passion.  Is it my camping and outdoor life I want to do.  My love for the internet breaking that down to blogging or social networking or currently research for people.  Is it video or photography.  But its something I want to do on my own thing and not sure what.  So, my research says to blog and blog and write and socialize, and tweet and get off my but and vlog.  What is it I want to do everything about.  Where do I want to platform from.  Today, a website isn't evan as important to have with all the portals out there to deliver a message.  But one must have a passion to have that passion.  My goal is to have that passion, maybe its doing whatever that day brings me or I bring to the day.  I dont know.  But I hate being in this spot!!!!