President Felipe Calderon of Mexico has announced that Mexico will not participate in the Beijing Summer Olympics.Ok... on a more serious note but still on the lighter side, I ran across the following video on Dan Miller's blog. The video just goes to show you that blue collar jobs aren't the only ones being farmed out to other countries.
He stated:
"Casi cada uno que puede funcionar, saltar, o la nadada ha salido ya del pais."
Translation:
"Pretty much everyone who can run, jump, or swim has already left the country."
The southern border affect
I got a funny email yesterday. I thought I would share it.
Mastering the Seven Decisions
Thanks to Andy Andrew's and Thomas Nelson Publishers, I was able to read Andy's latest book Mastering the Seven Decisions, which is on sale now but won't be shipped until April 15, 2008. This book is a follow up to The Traveler's Gift.
You certainly don't have to read The Traveler's Gift before Mastering the Seven Decisions, but they cover the same subjects in two completely different ways. His first book is simply a fable that's a light read and very enjoyable. It's about a man who meets seven different people from the past and future and gives him some guiding principles. This latest book takes his first one a step further.
Mastering the Seven Decisions takes a hands on approach with application. Throughout each chapter, Andy gives you several questions to help you apply each "decision" he discusses. There's a good bit of repetition from the first book, but to be honest it didn't really bother me. The stories Andy uses to make his point are fun to read. This book was a nice refresher. It reminded me to check my compass when it comes to personal growth.
You certainly don't have to read The Traveler's Gift before Mastering the Seven Decisions, but they cover the same subjects in two completely different ways. His first book is simply a fable that's a light read and very enjoyable. It's about a man who meets seven different people from the past and future and gives him some guiding principles. This latest book takes his first one a step further.
Mastering the Seven Decisions takes a hands on approach with application. Throughout each chapter, Andy gives you several questions to help you apply each "decision" he discusses. There's a good bit of repetition from the first book, but to be honest it didn't really bother me. The stories Andy uses to make his point are fun to read. This book was a nice refresher. It reminded me to check my compass when it comes to personal growth.
5:30 Phone Calls
In a lot of reading that I've done over the past two years, I've come across a lot ideas and suggested practices on improving your life. A lot of them are things you could do everyday that will help you improve your productivity, meet your goals, and simply make you an all around better person. Even while reading all of that, this morning it occurred to me that I have one to share from a personal observation.
My mother had a routine everyday when she got home from work. Looking back, I realized that I may be the only person who knew what it was and until this morning never really thought about the impact of her routine. Here's what she did.
Following work, she would arrive home around 5:15 in the afternoon. After talking with me for a few minutes, she would make her way upstairs to change clothes and come back down with her walking shoes and a pair of socks. She always did this because loved to see how excited our dog Freckles would get when she saw the walking shoes. Freckles loved walks and couldn't wait to get into some trouble as the two of them made several trips up our half-mile driveway.
Mom would then sit at the end of the couch next to the end table that was home to our little blue telephone. I remember that phone, because it had three buttons for Fire, Police, and Ambulance. I had programmed all of those buttons to be speed dials for my 3 best friends. Anyway, she would pull out the phone book from underneath the phone, look up a number and begin to dial. When the caller picked up she would say "Hey this is Carol. I just wanted to see how things were going."
She would then just sit and mostly listen for the next 5 minutes with the occasional "uh huh", "oh no", or "I'm sorry to hear that". While she listened she laced up her shoes and was ready to take a walk. Once the other person was finished talking, she would end the call with something like, "I'm sure something will work out soon" as if she had already silently prayed for them on the phone while they were talking. She'd hang up the phone and then take a walk with Freckles.
I suppose a lot of people just like having someone to listen and she created that opportunity everyday at 5:30. I think that's just one reason so many people liked her.
My mother had a routine everyday when she got home from work. Looking back, I realized that I may be the only person who knew what it was and until this morning never really thought about the impact of her routine. Here's what she did.
Following work, she would arrive home around 5:15 in the afternoon. After talking with me for a few minutes, she would make her way upstairs to change clothes and come back down with her walking shoes and a pair of socks. She always did this because loved to see how excited our dog Freckles would get when she saw the walking shoes. Freckles loved walks and couldn't wait to get into some trouble as the two of them made several trips up our half-mile driveway.
Mom would then sit at the end of the couch next to the end table that was home to our little blue telephone. I remember that phone, because it had three buttons for Fire, Police, and Ambulance. I had programmed all of those buttons to be speed dials for my 3 best friends. Anyway, she would pull out the phone book from underneath the phone, look up a number and begin to dial. When the caller picked up she would say "Hey this is Carol. I just wanted to see how things were going."
She would then just sit and mostly listen for the next 5 minutes with the occasional "uh huh", "oh no", or "I'm sorry to hear that". While she listened she laced up her shoes and was ready to take a walk. Once the other person was finished talking, she would end the call with something like, "I'm sure something will work out soon" as if she had already silently prayed for them on the phone while they were talking. She'd hang up the phone and then take a walk with Freckles.
I suppose a lot of people just like having someone to listen and she created that opportunity everyday at 5:30. I think that's just one reason so many people liked her.
Pet Peeves
With a name like Pet Peeving, you should be able to find a list of pet peeves somewhere, right? This page will be dedicated to listing them as I find them. Some of them are mine, many of them belong to others. If you have some to add to the list, just comment and I will add them. Keep in mind, that I will only add pet peeves as opposed to general dissatisfaction with something particular. You may want to take a look at the definition of a pet peeve if you don't understand.
My intentions for starting this list is to provide some laughter rather than create anxiety or frustration. Enjoy!
My intentions for starting this list is to provide some laughter rather than create anxiety or frustration. Enjoy!
- Smacking gum.
- Late mergers.
- Consistent Tardiness.
- Public restroom doors that open in rather than out.
- Messy workspaces.
- Tailgaters.
- Misuse of "it's" and "its".
- Finger nail biting.
- Stupid people.
- Forwarded emails that are false.
- Negative people.
- Interruptions.
- Those who profess absolutes and then make exceptions for themselves.
- Referees.
- People who make suggestions that have already been suggested.
- People who don't read their email, and then ask about what is in the email.
- Grocery carts that with annoying wheels.
- Speakers that say "According to Webster..."
- Speakers who ask you to repeat after them.
I won a car
Smart cars are new to the US. Dealerships began opening at the beginning of the year. I think the cars are pretty neat so about 8 months ago I registered to win a Smart car online - here. Guess what? I won! I just found out this morning. Below is a picture of what they look like. I should receive mine towards the end of May - just in time for the summer gas prices.
The Shack
"Why does God allow bad things to happen?" It's a question that will never stop being asked and one that never has an easy answer. The things that take place in our world that cause such a question to surface have also been the cause for many people to turn from God completely.
William P. Young's The Shack addresses this question as he writes about the inner struggle of a man named Mack who has had to deal with death and abuse. I'm not qualified to critique the writing style of Young, but I will say the book does a great job of addressing the question through a fable. I'll admit that it was a bit strange, but all in all he does a great job of helping readers think about how God also has to deal with evil as well. If you have dealt with some type of heart ache in life which in turn may have put a strain on your relationship with God, then I think you will enjoy this book. It doesn't have to be an experience with death or abuse. The story simply helps you handle thoughts that cause your frustration with God. Besides, the book is becoming very popular and it wouldn't hurt to know what everyone is talking about, right?
I did notice in the back of the book an ad by the publisher Wind Blown Media. It was an ad for another book they put out that I highly recommend. It's So, You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore? by Jake Colsen.
William P. Young's The Shack addresses this question as he writes about the inner struggle of a man named Mack who has had to deal with death and abuse. I'm not qualified to critique the writing style of Young, but I will say the book does a great job of addressing the question through a fable. I'll admit that it was a bit strange, but all in all he does a great job of helping readers think about how God also has to deal with evil as well. If you have dealt with some type of heart ache in life which in turn may have put a strain on your relationship with God, then I think you will enjoy this book. It doesn't have to be an experience with death or abuse. The story simply helps you handle thoughts that cause your frustration with God. Besides, the book is becoming very popular and it wouldn't hurt to know what everyone is talking about, right?
I did notice in the back of the book an ad by the publisher Wind Blown Media. It was an ad for another book they put out that I highly recommend. It's So, You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore? by Jake Colsen.
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