"It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers, but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them." - Dalai Lama
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Failure
"If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward." - Thomas A. Edison
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Smile
She smiled at a sorrowful stranger.
The smile seemed to make him feel better.
He remembered past kindnesses of a friend
And wrote him a thank-you letter.
The friend was so pleased with the thank-you
That he left a large tip after lunch.
The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip,
Bet the whole thing on a hunch.
The next day she picked up her winnings,
And gave part to the man on the street.
The man on the street was grateful;
For two days he’d had nothing to eat.
After he finished his dinner,
He left for his small dingy room.
(He didn’t know at the moment
that he might be facing his doom.)
On the way he picked up a shivering puppy
And took him home to get warm.
The puppy was very grateful
To be in out of the storm.
That night the house caught fire.
The puppy barked the alarm.
He barked ‘til he woke the whole household
And saved everybody from harm.
One of the boys that he rescued
Grew up to be President.
All this because of a simple smile
That hadn’t cost a cent.
-Barbara
Hauck
Sunday, November 20, 2011
My Battle with a Stone
If you hadn't heard, I have been dealing with a kidney stone for the past month and a half. It has been one of the worst things I have ever had to deal with. I had no idea how painful they really are. Or how debilitating they are. I never thought that I would miss out on so much because of something so small. The stone I have is 3mm by 5mm. That isn't all that big really. But for a kidney stone that is getting close to the size that becomes a problem because it is too big to pass without help. After a week and a bit dealing with the pain I decided to get it removed. I went in and had the surgery done to take it out. It most certainly wasn't a fun surgery. I think the pain from that was almost as bad as the stone itself. What makes it worse is the fact that they weren't able to find the stone. So I went through a painful and expensive surgery for nothing. I was not happy at all to hear that. I found out that the stone had moved back into my kidney. That is something that isn't supposed to happen. Even nurses at the ER were surprised by it. That is just my luck. Nothing has gone right for me this year. Nothing at all. Or at least it sure feels that way.
What makes it worse is all the things I have missed because of it. We had to postpone Bree's baptism because I was too sick to baptize her. I missed two weeks of work, including a very important meeting (I ended up in the ER that day instead of at the meeting). I was on some heavy duty drugs that made me sick and so weak I couldn't get out of bed. It was horrible. I felt like I was wasting away. I was so tired of laying in bed that I kept getting up but when I did I just made myself worse. So I stopped trying to get up.
Now if you know me then you will know that me laying in bed all day is something I would rather not do. So, with me stuck in bed not able to do much of anything, I was slowly going crazy. After two weeks of this I had had enough. I decided that I was just going to deal with the pain without narcotics so that I could get back to my daily normal life. I still have pain but I have learned the warning signs of when an attack is coming on so I can prepare myself for it.
Someday this stone might pass, but I am not holding my breath. It will probably bug me for a long time still, but I am used to pain so I will just deal with it. No more heavy duty pain meds unless I have more surgery. Then I will take some. But until then I have taken my life back. I have gone back to my normal routine. I have even gone back to running as often as I can. Running really hurts but I hope that running will help push the stone out of my kidney so I can get rid of it.
Although I have gone back to my normal daily life, I still have the constant nagging of the stone. There are times when I don't really feel it, but most of the time I do. I am not in horrible pain all the time. It is usually just a dull ache or pressure in my back. But there are times when the pain kicks in. I think the worst part is that I feel like I am always sick. Whenever the pain gets above a dull ache I start feeling nauseous. And then I get really cold. Like the cold you feel when you have a high fever. Wrapping up in blankets doesn't even warm me up. After a couple hours of that, the pain really kicks in and I have to load up on pain killer and lay in bed until the pain passes.
I have managed to make it over three weeks without taking any narcotics for pain. I hope that I don't have to take any more because I can't stand the sick and drugged feeling that I get when I have to take them. So I hope to never have to take them again. Especially now that I have almost gotten caught up in all the tings that I fell behind in while I was down and out.
I think now the hardest thing for me to get back to normal is my sleeping pattern. I used to get up and 4:45 in the morning and go running. After sleeping so much I am having a heck of a time getting out of bed at all in the mornings. My body just wants to sleep. So I am working on getting myself back into the routine of getting up early. So far I haven't succeeded but I am getting close. But mornings are always the worst for me. I don't know if it is because I have been laying down for the night and when I get up the stone moves into a position that makes me sick, or if it is just a mental thing at this point. Either way, it is my biggest challenge that I still need to overcome. One day at a time I guess. I will get there.
What makes it worse is all the things I have missed because of it. We had to postpone Bree's baptism because I was too sick to baptize her. I missed two weeks of work, including a very important meeting (I ended up in the ER that day instead of at the meeting). I was on some heavy duty drugs that made me sick and so weak I couldn't get out of bed. It was horrible. I felt like I was wasting away. I was so tired of laying in bed that I kept getting up but when I did I just made myself worse. So I stopped trying to get up.
Now if you know me then you will know that me laying in bed all day is something I would rather not do. So, with me stuck in bed not able to do much of anything, I was slowly going crazy. After two weeks of this I had had enough. I decided that I was just going to deal with the pain without narcotics so that I could get back to my daily normal life. I still have pain but I have learned the warning signs of when an attack is coming on so I can prepare myself for it.
Someday this stone might pass, but I am not holding my breath. It will probably bug me for a long time still, but I am used to pain so I will just deal with it. No more heavy duty pain meds unless I have more surgery. Then I will take some. But until then I have taken my life back. I have gone back to my normal routine. I have even gone back to running as often as I can. Running really hurts but I hope that running will help push the stone out of my kidney so I can get rid of it.
Although I have gone back to my normal daily life, I still have the constant nagging of the stone. There are times when I don't really feel it, but most of the time I do. I am not in horrible pain all the time. It is usually just a dull ache or pressure in my back. But there are times when the pain kicks in. I think the worst part is that I feel like I am always sick. Whenever the pain gets above a dull ache I start feeling nauseous. And then I get really cold. Like the cold you feel when you have a high fever. Wrapping up in blankets doesn't even warm me up. After a couple hours of that, the pain really kicks in and I have to load up on pain killer and lay in bed until the pain passes.
I have managed to make it over three weeks without taking any narcotics for pain. I hope that I don't have to take any more because I can't stand the sick and drugged feeling that I get when I have to take them. So I hope to never have to take them again. Especially now that I have almost gotten caught up in all the tings that I fell behind in while I was down and out.
I think now the hardest thing for me to get back to normal is my sleeping pattern. I used to get up and 4:45 in the morning and go running. After sleeping so much I am having a heck of a time getting out of bed at all in the mornings. My body just wants to sleep. So I am working on getting myself back into the routine of getting up early. So far I haven't succeeded but I am getting close. But mornings are always the worst for me. I don't know if it is because I have been laying down for the night and when I get up the stone moves into a position that makes me sick, or if it is just a mental thing at this point. Either way, it is my biggest challenge that I still need to overcome. One day at a time I guess. I will get there.
A Day of Reckoning
One day a young lawyer was riding on his horse to his
office. He was enjoying the quiet of the
summer morning when he heard a loud noise approaching from behind. He turned and saw a runaway carriage with no
one in it as it rushed past. He spurred
his horse and in a short time was racing along side. He reached over to the handrail and pulled
himself into the drivers seat. After
much difficulty, he reached down, grasped
the fallen reins, and pulled the
frightened horses to a halt. It was only
then that he heard the crying of a baby.
He jumped down, opened the door, and saw a newborn baby lying on the
floor. He thought he was only stopping a
runaway coach. Instead, he saved the
life of a little boy.
Twenty
years passed and this young lawyer was now a respected judge. One day an accused murderer was brought
before him. When the man's name was
announced, the judge recognized it as that of the baby whose life he had saved
many years before. The young man also
recognized the judge.
Through
the course of the trial, it became clear that the young man was guilty. On the final day, the judge gave his decision
and sentenced the young man to death.
The young man was asked if he had anything he wished to say. The young man acknowledged his crime and then
lamented of the inconsistency of how the judge had once saved his life and now
he was taking it away.
The
judge thought for a moment and then said in a solemn, kindly tone, "Young
man, twenty years ago I saved your life.
I remember it as though it was yesterday. Yesterday I was your savior. But today I am your judge!"
-- Author Unknown
Monday, October 17, 2011
Milestones
I hit a big milestone this weekend. I passed 175 miles of running on a treadmill so far this year. I am not counting soccer or the 5k's I have run this year. That is pretty good. My goal is to run 250 miles by the end of the year. I am really hoping I make it. Part of why this is such a big thing for me is because of my knee injury this spring. I missed 2 1/2 months of running time. Plus, when I run now it can get pretty painful. Even after 6 months my knee still hurts a lot. Like today, my knee has felt like I had a knife lodged under my knee cap. I have more good days than bad days but the bad days can really hurt. But I push through the pain. It is the only way I can make it to where I want to be. Besides, my knee will never fully heal so I might as well get used to the pain.
I am thinking that next year I am going to shoot for 300 miles. That is unless I hurt myself again. But I don't forsee that happening...
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Playing with QR Codes
I have been playing with QR codes lately. I figure I can use them for all kinds of things. I even created one that links you to this post! Pretty cool. I might just have to post a few of them here once I actually find some useful stuff to link them to.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
San Diego here I come!
I am on a plane right now on my way to San Diego. It is my companies annual meeting and we are having it in San Diego this year to celebrate 20 years of business. Pretty dang cool. Heck, I might even post some pictures...but probably not. I will leave that to Leona. It should be fun, with a little bit of work in between.
P.s. It is really turbulent right now so I am sure there are typos
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Ads on My Blog
Have you ever wondered why I have ads on my blog? I have them there to make a little extra money. It isn't much but hey, everything helps, right? So if you see something that interests you feel free to click the ad and check it out. You will be doing me a favor in doing so :)
Also, you might see me post an advertisement every once in a while. This is because I have signed up to post sponsored ads. As of yet I haven't had any but I am hoping to have some soon. I could use a little extra money right before the Holidays.
I have tried to make it so the ads don't make my blog look too ugly. The nice thing about the ads that are shown kinda go along with what I have been blogging about so they are somewhat relevant to me. Kinda cool how Google does that.
Also, you might see me post an advertisement every once in a while. This is because I have signed up to post sponsored ads. As of yet I haven't had any but I am hoping to have some soon. I could use a little extra money right before the Holidays.
I have tried to make it so the ads don't make my blog look too ugly. The nice thing about the ads that are shown kinda go along with what I have been blogging about so they are somewhat relevant to me. Kinda cool how Google does that.
Grading Papers
Can you imagine a nun sitting at her desk
grading these papers, all the while trying to keep a straight face and maintain
her composure!
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.
1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.
2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE . NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.
3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.
4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.
5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.
6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.
7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS ..
8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNTCYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.
10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.
11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLEOF GERITOL .
12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.
13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.
14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND
700 PORCUPINES.
15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.
16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.
17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.
18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.
19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.
20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.
21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.
22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.
23.ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.
24. ST.. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.
25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.
1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.
2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE . NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.
3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.
4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.
5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.
6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.
7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS ..
8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNTCYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.
10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.
11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLEOF GERITOL .
12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.
13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.
14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND
700 PORCUPINES.
15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.
16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.
17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.
18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.
19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.
20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.
21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.
22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.
23.ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.
24. ST.. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.
25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Bored
Lately I have been really bored. It isn't that I don't have anything to do, its just that I don't feel like doing anything that I do have to do. I need something new and different to do...
Thursday, August 18, 2011
When it rains it pours
This week has really sucked so far. It has been a really expensive week. It started off with us shelling out $100 for a new windshield on our van. Then Tuesday one of the tires blew out on the van while on the freeway. I knew my van needed two new tires but I was hoping that they would make it another month. But they didn't. So we had to spend another $237 for tires. Then on Wed. Leona got a speeding ticket for going 35 in a 35 zone. Unfortunately there was construction and they posted the speed limit at 25. Fortunately the officer didn't cite her for the construction zone so the fine isn't double. I just hope that the rest of the week doesn't have any unexpected expenses. I can't afford that. I am already broke.
Here is hoping for a nice, expense free weekend.
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