Couple interesting quotes for the day...

I read / found a couple great quotes today & wanted to share them:

1. A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. (Prov 18.6)

2. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. (Prov 17.28)

Surprise! We're Expecting!

A Puppy!... lol

That was a joke that we made over the weekend. Michelle and I both Posted the Surprise line on Facebook this past weekend. We found it quite funny, but people took it a little more seriously than i had thought. Within minutes, I started getting the congrats and such. I had to let the joke out once some co-workers were responding. I didn't want to come into work on Monday to see a bunch of congrats notices and such.



Anyways... We are getting a puppy. A Burnese Mountain Dog. It's been a long process of looking at different breeds - comparing their needs - and then finding a breeder. Right now it looks like she'll be coming to us on Feb. 6th. I am really looking forward to getting her!
Here are some pictures of the puppy at 6wks.

Happy New Year 2012 !

For 2011 I decided to make my resolutions pretty simple. I was going to go back through my "bucket list" that I had started in 2009 and work towards making things happen. That was going to be my theme for 2011 - Make it happen.
Well 2011 was full of changes. Some good, Some Bad. I've begun to see changes just as that - just changes. They are all both good and bad. To every Ying there is a Yang. The trick is to find the positive in things. Why struggle with dragging yourself down with the stress of change? Well for 2012, I am going to set some new goals....

1. I still like my bucket list, I will evaluate that list and begin to work towards it
2. Visit an Art Museum (with the kids - It'll be nice to get them some more exposure to the world)
3. Loose 50 lbs. - My target weight is 190. Definitely think it's obtainable, but it's going to require me to make some life changes. It's time to be more healthy.
4. Make Smores - Not conducive to the previous one, but It's always a good way to spend time with the family
5. Dress Up More - I've gotten lax with the relaxed dress code at work. They say clothes make the man. I am going to strive to take my appearance more seriously.
6. Try Harder - In general. Everything I want to do will require me to try harder.
7. Drink more Water (and less Soda) - A key change to make me healthier
8. Be Happy and Healthy & look for the silver lining in 2012...
   

To all my friends and family, I love you & wish you a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year ! ~

What is a Mason?

Almost 2 years ago I decided that I would explore my interest in freemasonry. After talking with a good friend, I decided to petition a local lodge and began the journey. Earlier this year I was raised to the degree of Master Mason (3rd degree). The most difficult question often posed to members of our Fraternity is – “so what is Freemasonry anyway?”

This is one of the questions I've had the hardest time answering. While doing some reading, I ran across an interesting response... There are so many ways to answer this question: It is a Brotherhood, where we learn about each other and enjoy fellowship. It is an organization that has contributed millions of dollars to Charity. It is a school where we learn self- development and morality. It is a spiritual and philosophical school based upon the Mystery Schools and Traditions of ancient times. It is many of these things and more. Sometimes the answer to “so what is Freemasonry anyway?” is deeply personal because the teachings of the Fraternity can affect each Brother Mason in a different way. This is largely because of the way in which Masonic Teachings are presented.

The Masonic teachings can be best described as “Mysteries.” Our Rituals and Initiations are designed to communicate our teachings in parable, allegory and symbols. The Mysteries are presented in a very subjective way, leaving the Initiate to contemplate their meaning. The more deeply and honestly the Mason studies the Mysteries of his craft, the more profound wisdom he will attain and the more he will develop as a human being. If a man is a true Mason, a Master of his Craft, he not only contemplates the Mysteries, but actively practices the moral and philosophical teachings in all aspects of his life. The Masonic Fraternity is rooted in friendship, morality and Brotherly Love. Tolerance and freedom of religion are some of its main tenets. Belief in God is an important foundation of the rituals within the Fraternity and all Masons must profess a belief in a Higher Power, yet we do not impose any religious doctrine upon our members other than to stress the importance of religious study in general. Any good man is eligible to apply for membership, regardless of race, religion, political affiliation or nationality. As our ritual states, we are interested in the “internal, not the external” aspects of a man. Our modern world is filled with distractions that often keep our focus outside of ourselves – on our job, on the television, etc. Freemasonry provides us with unique opportunities to look within, to develop ourselves and to contribute to the aid of others in need.

How to replace the window regulator in the Trailblazer

Happy New Year ~ 2011 Edition

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." Bill Vaughan

Well I guess it's that time again. 2010 was a year full of changes. I continued to work within my cybersecurity role. I have progressed through a couple different leadership positions. All of them building on the last. I was able to apply for and thankfully receive a promotion (so that was good news!). I have been thinking of resolutions for 2011. I haven't been in an overly optimistic state lately, so that (I'm sure) taints the resolutions some. My resolutions for 2010 were:

• Ensure that I am a strong husband to my wife and a loving and supportive father to my kids.
• I will Pay off more debt than I incur
• I will Fit in Fitness
• To learn something new - (I've always wanted to learn Italian - hmm?)
• I will reduce my Overall Stress (Personal & Work)
• I will Take a vacation - we really enjoyed our time at the beach last year

After looking back at this past year, I won some & lost some, so I think I'll call it a draw.

I decided to make my resolutions for 2011 pretty simple. I am going to go back through my "bucket list" that I started in 2009 and work towards making things happen. Maybe that'll be the theme for 2011 - Make it happen.

I no longer want to waste my time reliving the past, instead I will spend it worrying about the future. I am looking forward to 2011 and all of the challenges and rewards that it brings.

(wrote and meant to post this earlier this year, but didn't get around to finishing the post... )

Evolution of Dance...

Sold

Well I pulled the trigger and it's done. Some know that I've been struggling with the amount of debt that we have acquired over the last 14 years. It's the literal 800 pound gorilla on my back. There have been many plans to try to get out from under him, but most of them haven't panned out.

I loved the road bike & the freedom / stress relief that heading out for a ride provided.

Unfortunately, life didn't provide me with many opportunities to head out for those rides and it seemed like a unneeded expense to carry. I rarely seemed to have time to take advantage of it.

I still have my Trek Hybrid which I use when I ride with the kids / family. So at least it isn't a complete wash. I still find my self wondering where it is when i walk out into the garage and don't see it hanging on the wall, but I am sure that too will pass.

So what's the plan? Not sure what the specific plan is going to be. Snowball? Snow Flake? Whatever the plan may be it is now public enemy #1. I like the snowball idea, but I think that I'll end up finding a 2nd job that I can bring in some additional income to throw at the debt as well. I just want to be sure to temper the additional work with the family time the kids are used to. I coach the 2 soccer teams and would like Logan to know who I am :-) It'll be a fine line I am sure, we'll have to see what kind of plan I come up with.

Wake up on the Right Side of the Bed ~

Found a great post today & I wanted to save it and share it...

A positive attitude can be as elusive as a perfect cheeseburger, shoes that are both gorgeous and comfortable, or a TV show with a compelling and engaging script (we’re all missing Lost right about now). But by starting every day off on the right foot, literally rolling out of bed with a spring in your step, you are much more likely to live your life in a positive way and enjoy the many things that make being alive worthwhile. So here are a few ways to get on board with positive thinking so that every cheeseburger tastes better than the last (shoes and sitcoms are sadly beyond your control).

1. Eat when you’re hungry, sleep when you’re tired. In this fast-paced world, we train our bodies to go without food and sleep much of the time. We skip breakfast and rush through lunch, only to pop a high-sodium calorie fest of an instant meal in the toaster or microwave when we get home (yes, we are all guilty of eating Pop Tarts for dinner once in awhile). We scrape by on five or six hours of sleep and lament the fact that our eyes are baggy and bloodshot and we just can’t seem to get rid of those ten extra pounds of spare tire around our midsection. But you can live like the Buddhists and lead a happier, healthier life by listening to your body and responding to its needs.

2. Learn to say “no”. This may be the most important word in the English language, as every two-year-old knows. In order to put yourself first, you have to learn to deny demanding bosses, shrug off guilt-laden requests from friends and family, and stop yourself from joining every club and charity on the planet. Just say no! Schedule in some time for yourself and don’t let anyone deter you (especially YOU).

3. Appreciate what you have. The world is full of have-not, why-me, and grass-is-greener complaints. Don’t be one of those myopic souls who can’t see the good that’s staring you in the face. Instead of wondering why you got passed up for promotion, get proactive and seek out ways to improve your standing and recognition. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses (or Kardashians, or whoever else has more money, fame, and acclaim). Live well, within your means, and love the life you have. Being content is a big part of being positive.

4. Create something. Working in a soulless corporate environment can often make you feel like you’re just spinning your wheels. So think about ways in which you can produce something tangible in your life that makes you feel good. Plant a garden, paint a portrait, or build a scale model of Devil’s Tower in your living room. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the creative outlet you desire, so make something (anything), even if you think it will be bad.

5. De-clutter. This is something that you can do both physically and mentally. Proponents of feng shui will tell you that de-cluttering your living space will simultaneously clear your mind of debris. There may be some truth to this, but the two do not always go together. However, a clean house will certainly allow you to relax and enjoy your free time more, so it couldn’t hurt. As for a worry-free mind, that is easier than you think. If you have a problem, write it down and forget about it. You can always come back to it if you need to, but the simple act of releasing it from your thoughts will take a weight off your shoulders and allow you to focus on something more positive.

Pictures of my Bike -

I can explain later...