Agent of Influence

Tuesday

Well, I'm pretty sure I had a decent day but I can't remember for sure...I was running on fumes by 8a this morning so you can imagine how addled I am by this point, fifteen hours later... (So if I write anything stupid then you'll have to blame the fact that my judgment/filtering systems are a little impaired due to sleep deprivation ;-))

Got to do a little training with one of my coworkers. He's new to our group so I basically walked him through some of the paperwork that we generate in one of our processes. It was neat on the one hand because it was one of those good opportunities to share some knowledge/experience. Then again, on the other hand, I'm kinda not a big fan of all that cause the thought that I might miss something is never too far from the surface. Oh well, not too big either way. I doubt many of you've ever done a visual preference survey but we did one for one of the projects that I'm involved in. Believe it or not, getting a series of photos that illustrate the things you're trying to get a handle on and then having interested parties put colored dots on the items they're most interested in is a pretty powerful way to illustrate a point. And the posters we left with as a result of the exercise will be extremely helpful when we move to the next stage and begin gathering stakeholder input.

On another personal note, I went over to my house after the meeting and saw a very welcome sight. I walked in the door and there were EIGHTY boxes of flooring spread around the place! I have to admit that I was almost starting to get antsy and tired of painting. But I guess I'm going to have to just suck it up and get done with the painting so they can lay the flooring. I'm thinking I should be done with the painting by the end of next weekend (fingers crossed) cause the big room is done. Just have the kitchen, which is pretty small, then the bedrooms and bathrooms to do. I'll tell you this, the ten gallons that we've used so far has made all the difference in the world as far as looks are concerned. 

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.~ 2 Thessalonians 10-12

The things you see on the road...

I really wish I could've gotten a photo of the deer I saw last night as I was driving home! It wasn't a particularly big deer, body wise, but he had a seriously big rack! I was right in the middle of the lane and I had to back up and get a second look at the sucker. Right now the area where my parents live is fairly rural so I guess there isn't that much hunting pressure on them and that's what lets them get to 'big sucker' status. The sad thing is that its not going to be like that forever. At the rate things are growing out there I'm betting that in five - ten years its going to be one continuous developed strip between there and SA. That's really unfortunate in one sense because a lot of the charm there's going to be gone. Now that I'm thinking about it I had another 'Wild Kingdom' moment this morning too. I had to stop and gas up and as I was standing there at the pump I happened to look north at this big cell tower that's up the road from the gas station. Let me just put it this way, I NEVER realized that vultures were that big! These birds were big enough that their heads almost touched the crossbar above their perch. Glad they aren't predatory birds like hawks or something cause a bird that big could do some serious damage if they were so inclined, right? lol...puts a whole new spin on that Hitchcock movie. Maybe he would've gotten even more terror effect if he had used turkey vultures instead of the standard crow or whatever. Nope, strike that. He should've used grackles...I'm convinced that as a species they're demon possessed

Think I'll let the Germans own this

...especially since its their big day and all

Berlin Wall vs Sesame Street

I was in fifth grade when the Berlin Wall came down and the world changed but if I had to try I couldn't imagine that something like this would've been a headline...on multiple levels

Berlin Wall vs Sesame Street

I was in fifth grade when the Berlin Wall came down and the world changed but if I had to try I couldn't imagine that something like this would've been a headline...on multiple levels

You know my folly

O God, you know my folly;the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts;  let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.~ Psalm 69:5-6

You forgave the iniquity of your people;you covered all their sin. Selah. You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. Restore us again, O God of our salvation,and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again,that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,and grant us your salvation. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground,and righteousness looks down from the sky. Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way. ~ Psalm 85:2-7, 10-13

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.~ Proverbs 9:8-10

Leave the presence of a fool,for there you do not meet words of knowledge.~ Proverbs 14:7

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.~ 1 Corinthians 1:18

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord,or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.~ Romans 11:33-36

Last night

Last night was pretty fun and I can't believe I didn't mention it earlier. Oh well, I guess them's the breaks and both of my lucky readers get to enjoy it now ;-) I usually have lifegroup on Thursday evenings but the official group was temporarily disbanded over the next two months. I think that was done due to all the holiday festivities that are going to be firing up eventually and what not. Anyways, a few of us got together and went to Habaneros to hang out and figure out what the plan of attack for the next few months was going to be. First of all, I had never eaten there before so obviously I didn't know what the menu or prices were going to be like. I was assuming it was going to be along the lines of Chipotle or Freebirds...and have similar prices and all of that. Well, that just proved that what they say about the word 'assume' is absolutely correct. I ordered a King Sized Quesadilla (the name should have been a clue, that and the fact that I didn't see a price ANYWHERE in the entire restaurant) and it damn near blew my socks off when the cashier gave me my bill and it rang up at north of $15! Guess I should just shut up and be thankful that yesterday was Thirsty Thursday so I got a large drink for the price of a small... But you all should know by now that I can't quit when I'm on a roll lol. Just between you and me I think I much prefer the Cabana to that restaurant. Cabana's a fast-food restaurant without the pretension of being more than it is, which is something I can't say about Habaneros. Oh, one of the guys had Google Earth on his iPhone and I took him on an aerial tour of the town where I went to high school. Man, the photos are two years old but I have to be honest, it doesn't look like too much has changed. At least not as far as rooftops and all that's concerned. I could still make out where everything was and stuff. I was a little put out about it actually cause it got me all nostalgic and everything. I left there wishing it was summertime so I could go up and float the Buffalo River and all of that stuff.

Humor

I don't know why it is but I'm one of those 'sensitive' types I suppose. There's something about getting a lot of negativity all at once that makes me feel like retreating and finding my happy place. My happy place is generally a moving target so it changes from day to day but it usually ends up being something involving at least one or two fart jokes, or something along those lines. All the Ft Hood news coming out is making me glad I'm at work and can't listen to the radio or watch television though its bad enough that I get the occasional tweet about it and stuff. That's one thing I don't like about twitter and stuff. Something 'newsworthy' comes out and it gets hyperamplified and it goes without saying that what's getting amplified is usually news of the most negative sort. After awhile I just have to turn off and tune out because it gets overwhelming. When it gets like that I can't help thinking there's gotta be someone out there who could share a positive aspect of whatever story happens to be hot. For instance...I went outside and sat in my car for lunch. Got my midday NPR fix and who would've guessed it but they were rerunning old interviews with the creators of Sesame Street! Who knew that Sesame Street had been sued for copyright infringement and settled out of court for $500! I don't know about you but that's the kind of 'news' I get in the mood for in times like this. Anyways, that's my venting for the day...or at least the morning...Hopefully I won't come across anything else that 'inspires' me! lol

Ft. Hood

The media types are already digging in to this story and picking their angles and points of view. I hope we can all keep it in perspective, there are over 40 families that were directly affected by death or severe injury and we all need to keep that in mind. Let's not forget to keep them in our prayers, as well as Ft. Hood and Killeen. I'm sure they're reeling right now and could definitely use them.

Colorful

Well, last night brought a 'colorful' revelation to me. It showed me that picking out paint colors is probably not something you want to do after a full day's work with two hours of hanging out thrown into the mixture for spice. I can't remember the precise names of the colors I ended up choosing but I seem to vaguely recall that one of them was along the lines of 'Malted Snot' or something ridiculous like that. (Not sure if its called that or Malted Fern...tending to think its called Malted Fern but I don't particularly care to look it up at the moment ;-)) Regardless, I think its going to look pretty neat once we get it finished. Its looking like I might get my part of it done in a week or so and after I do it'll be up to the guy to get out there and put in the flooring. That's probably where the time's going to be burnt since I'm doing the entire house in laminate, putting tile and new countertop down in the kitchen, and doing the shower stalls. We'll see I guess though I'm really hoping that it won't take more than a month, six weeks...