28.1.09

5 Random Comments

5. While I have been known to scoff at reality tv shows, I have been sucked in by The Biggest Loser. I think part of the reason that I enjoy it is that is a competition that makes everybody involved better (with the exception of Vicki last season). She was conniving and attention starved.

4. Sometimes I wonder what people say about me when I'm not around.

3. I know, I know, I need to post some new pictures of Abby on this blog.

2. I've been thinking lately about being a part of the workforce. It's pretty interesting to me to think of all the people out there doing all kinds of diverse jobs of their own free will and choice, and somehow our country seems to get things done and move forward. I know things are down right now, but the system has worked for hundreds of years and it will recover.

1. It probably sounds like a girly flavor, but I'm not ashamed to say that I enjoy and fully endorse Vanilla Mint flavored Chap Stick.

20.1.09

Band Name

My new cover band is trying to come up with a name for ourselves. It is really hard. We brainstormed and came up with a pretty big list (Keep in mind, we did not filter our ideas so there are some pretty crazy ones). Our drummer created an online rating test you can select how much you like or hate a name. There are quite a few options so it will take you about 3-5 minutes to complete, but your feedback would be most appreciated. Here is the link:

http://ilovemyjournal.com/band_name_selector/

If you are interested in making sure we don't come up with a really weird name, please vote high numbers for the good ones. If you think they are all bad, feel free to leave a comment with some better suggestions.


P.S. The music we play consists of big hits from the 50's through today. Our current setlist can be viewed and listened to here.

17.1.09

6.1.09

This is His Reality

Because of where I work, I see a lot of homeless people. I see them as I walk to and from my car, and as I walk to get lunch. The other day on a particularly cold and snowy morning as I was getting out of my car, an old homeless man walked around the corner. He was wearing a neatly packed backpack which presumably contained his every Earthly possession. His thick beard was mostly gray and white so I assume he was at least in his late 40's. When my eyes met his for a brief moment there was a sense of this man's deep humility. I thought to myself as I followed him up the snowy street, "this is his reality."

It's easy to condemn these men and women with thoughts about the thoughtless and selfish choices we assume they have made and the consequences that have put them in this situation. The truth is that we don't know what got them there, and that it is not up to us to judge.

I can't pretend to know what they are going through, but I do know that it is bitterly cold and wet. I know a little of how alone one can feel in a crowd. I know that I struggle to fast for 24 hours. I know that it's got to feel strange to be destitute in the midst of so much prosperity and wealth.

I have been abundantly blessed in my life both temporally and in the more important spiritual and eternal matters. I often feel unworthy of these immense blessings, and I feel that a different choice or a mistake here or there would've put me in a much different place than I am today.