Delivering Happiness

So Its been a while that not only I sat and read a book but actually finished it and finished it in 2 days.  The book of delivering happiness shares some similar stories that Ive experienced and just overcoming that "bored" with life feeling also.  The teachings of values are not only for business but for self values also to live by.  Im excited to join the Happiness Movement of Inspire and be inspired.

Getting into 2011

Wow I have not realized its been so long since I've posted on the blog.  So odd numbered years have put a fear in me because in the past, they (odd numbered years) have not been as fortunate and was always dramatic negatively.  So Im taking this year head on.  I spent 2010 stabilizing myself personally and financially.  It was successful that I had moved and started with a clean slate in Independence, Kansas.  2011 has started out strong for me in the sence financially Im making it strong for me

 I did have a week already this year that it might be a good idea and a big move for me to buy a car.  After finding difficulty on getting financing, I soon realized, I didn't need the extra car payment and other expenses that did not come with it.  So, through the next few months will be focusing on making the Blazer last as long as it can.  Autos have always not been a favorite need but I guess we do need it to make it to work.

When I stick to my original plan that I had last June when moving to Independence, that I pay my bills, I go to work and Work hard, it seems life remains simple for me and there is no drama to bring me down.  It has been a while that I've felt the confidence that I have in everything.  So  the saying we all here all the time...Keep life simple and Life will be simple back.  

Having Peace vs. Being Happy

So people ask me often "Are you Happy".  And my answer wants to be a smart ass answer like, "Define Happy"?  but I don't.  My most recent answer is more that I'm at peace with my life.  My job is good, my surroundings are good, I sleep today and I'm  not angry all the time.  I wake up, I pick up my apartment and make my bed everyday.  Some people will be like, I have done that my whole life, but for me it matters to me now and makes things at peace for me doing those everyday tasks that some people take for granted.  It use not matter since I would say, "Those tasks wont get me anywhere".  Today, they do.  I may have $3 to my name but I'm not sitting in trash and debris being depressed and thinking of crazy ways to be "happy & rich".  I can relax and not worry today like I use to.  Though lately Ive been wanting to share and "insert" my peace in family and friends life's and I  have often crossed a line.  To those Family and friends, I am sorry.  I would want to share or "insert"  of what I do to complete a life task or how I get through obstacles that fall into the road of life.  To my family and friends, I need to just keep doing what I'm doing and show how my life is more at peace and not force them into what I call my "Peace Pace" I live today.  So still lots of growth and things I need and want to accomplish, but I wake, eat, sleep and have a mocha all in peace today that I find less stressful than working on  "Being Happy".  

The iPhone Prayer

Dear Lord,

I ask to you to watch over my iPhone.  

You see, my whole life is attached to my iPhone

The shiny glittery screen keeps my contacts in a highly detail order whom I fellowship with

I can keep all my glorious life events at the touch of a finger

Different colorful apps keeps me informed and entertained

My Life is not whole without my iPhone

Its attached to me always and god willing I have it unattached 

when it is still in my pocked before laundry time,  God willing it is not next to me on the couch during a nap and it slides into a glass of water on the floor, God willing I not let it slip out of my pocket when near a toilet.  So Lord, help us all that have a iPhone in our Life

...amen   

My Apartment

Day after 9/11/10

During 9/11/01, I was with family in Maryland just less than an hour away from the Pentagon. The thing I remember most is the eerie feeling of no planes over head. And being in the suburbs of Washington D.C., that is a feeling, sound and sight I will never forget. So I reflected on that day as I rested from a long week and have a long week of work Im blessed to have in front of me. Im also blessed of my son Adam to chose a career as a paramedic that he can save lives like the ones did on that September 11, 2001.

Lunch-My Job-Time With Son

I've really got to get blogging allot more than what I do!!!!!

Im having lunch at AneMae's in Independence and having a veggie taco salad that I wasn't for sure at the beginning but I absolutely loved it.

Today I'm really in the relaxed mode and resting up so I can give work 900% over the next couple of days then a day off then start next week out strong. This past week I havent felt like I gave what I needed to at work and I really hate that feeling. So most of my time is involved at work. I am really enjoying working at Amazon.com more than any other job I've had. It more than likely has to do with the pay meeting the simple needs I have and really putting a foundation of the stability that Lance needs at this point in my life. I've been given more responsibilities at work and I really want to well for my own satisfaction than anything and hopes that is reflected to those around me and the leadership. I get so frustrated with the negative energy from certain people at work, and I do know that is in any job. It's I am so blessed with the job I have I can not imagine any other company offering what amazon has provided. Also its not rocket science we have to do either!! lol

Enough about work. I have blogged and shared my thoughts before about I have to get passion about something in my life to fill the time outside of work and sleep and all that. On my last visit Adam shared he would like to visit some museums and stuff like that during our visits other than our usual get something to eat and see relatives. That really enlightened me to know he would like to do that with me. I always thought I would be boring for him but we have shared so many things together with scouts such as camping and hiking that anything else would be boring. So I am going to set up a "field trip" for the both of us next weekend and looking forward to it.

iJournal 6-6-2010

My Son is Graduating High School

So its 2010. I often wondered what this year was going to be about when I soon figured out what class year he was going to be once he was born. At the time we were wondering what the turn of the century was going to be like let alone the beginning of the first decade of the century. But it is here, Adam's Senior year.

Its Wednesday night shortly after his senior baccalaureate and Awards Ceremony. Also being 4 days away from the graduation itself was making me a basket case.

We survived and enjoyed watching Adam progress through his school years. With an additional bit of special assistance he required made it all happen and I am very proud of him making it through to receiving his diploma. The academic and learning obstacles he had to face and handle forced over half students with his challenges to drop out of school and never be able to succeed very easy in life. That didn't stop Adam. I as his father would be frustrated that more couldn't be done and I know faculty and teachers often rolled their eyes at me. What I wasn't seeing during those frustrated times was Adam fighting through those challenges and I was trying to find a way around them. But again I am very proud of him pushing himself to accomplish what he has.

Adam has chosen a career of a paramedic. His Mother and I was contacted by a state agency who wanted to assist him towards going to Crowder College to get his degree. Through some paperwork and applications accomplished by Adam's Mother it happen that we have most of his school to be financed which took a load of of us. That was a blessing and a positive flow through everyone concerned especially Adam.


So back to tonight. We were expecting Adam to receive an Award for his involvement for the A+ program. The 6th Scholarship to be presented was in the name of Brook Ann Lee Hough Memorial. Brook was a Student with Adam when her life ended 2 years ago in a tragic car accident. The presenter of the Scholarship explained that Brook was full of life and never took things for granted but loved life every minute. The scholarship was towards that attitude of hard work and persistence. Through a number of applications turned in for the application the presenter announced Adam Roy as the recipient of the scholarship of $4,000. Tears drew up in my eyes and an instant lump formed in my throat. At that very moment I knew for certain now Adam has a future to look forward to.

To Adam; I am so Proud of all you've done from earning your eagle scout to graduating from high school to accomplishing the A+ program to a whole list of things. To finishing every cross country race and not missing a practice. Your the best and now the ride is beginning to be fun for you and I'm so happy that I'm able to see it and share with you.

Your the best.

Love Dad

Continuing with Life

So life is begining to continue without me fighting it to continue. Many of you know that I started with amazon.com in Coffeyville, Kansas over the holidays and recently was converted from the temp agency to a full amazon.com associate. I really enjoy it there and have met some neat people. The drive is a bit long but manageable.

This year Mom took a couple of falls that have detoured me to living with her for home care during my days off in the week. Though tiring that it may be I don't mind doing as many times she has assisted and bailed me out of my crashes. Now I feel I can contribute back. And not to turn my attention of the purpose of taking care of her, it really fulfills my time which I need. I have said before Im the type Im more productive when busy and occupied.

The other and main event in my life coming up is seeing my son Adam walk across the stage to receive his High School diploma and start a new era in his life. We recently found out that he will financially have the opportunity to attend Crowder College this fall for him to pursue his Paramedic degree.

ANd yes I've said this before but I have some things in the works to get it started, I am close to starting my video blog netcasts to start immediately. More to come later on that. SO anyway, thats all I have and will post soon

2010 New Years Resolutions

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.