How it's done...

If you're a teenage girl in a family of boys, what do you do? How do you make that work? Ask Jenny...she has her brothers, (and her dad) right where she wants them. Check his out...it's a funny story.
Her car broke down. Lucky for her it was at the house. It required a tow, and a repair job (new ignition). I gave her the tow truck phone number...

"Call em", I said...An hour passes by...nothing is happening.
I say, "Come on, call em Jen."
"I don't know what to say, dad."
"You say you need a tow."
"Dad, will you call them? I might do it wrong."

Ugh...Ok, I called them. But Jen needs to go out and talk to the tow truck operator. They show up an hour later.

Where is Jen?

"JENNY!!!", I yelled.
"I'll be right there dad!"

I go out to talk to the driver. As he is finishing up...guess who shows up? That's right! Jenny. And she's all smiles...nice.
"Hi guys!" "Can you get my radio out of the dash?" The driver was happy to do so.

OK...I know I'm being played...but it's over. The car will be repaired and she can go get it later...
Later arrives, and what do you know, Jen has plans! (Surprise) Friends are on there way.

"I'm not doing this for you." I said.
"OK, dad, I love you." (Followed by a hug.)
" I love you too honey."

I'm still not getting her car. A few minutes later, Luke walks down stairs...

"I don't know how that happened." He said.
"What happened?"
"Jenny just roped me into going to get her car."
I smiled...

"Jenny, you're a stinker!", I said.
Jen replies, "Huh?" (with an innocent look)...

She is really good at this. It's not all manipulation though, and it doesn't strike me as terribly negative either..it's just how a girl in an all boy family might handle things.

Please don't jump to conclusions. This is just a funny story. The truth is, Jenny is very responsible, smart, respectful, and a self starter...She does not rely on this kind of thing to get by...Ok?

Anyway, at the end of it all...She owes me breakfast (tomorrow). I imagine Luke will get in on that too.
I love her very much...
She can make me feel like a king...even while getting me to handle her problems.

Blek....

So I took down my NY Resolutions post...enough of that...it's kind of narcissistic to put your NY Resolutions up on a blog anyhow...However...I did write my action plan yesterday. I'm kind of happy with them (my resolutions)...They are different than usual...Time will tell if any personal changes occur.

I asked Max about his NY Res...He said, "I had one, but I forgot what it was..." He is so funny...the kid makes me smile...everyday...no kidding.

Upward, and onward...

It's snowing again in Oklahoma. And I need to go out...I pray to not get stuck...the Tahoe is no good on snow. My wheels (although very cool) have tires w/little tread...Gha.

What the hell happened to our National Security? They (the FBI?) had intelligence on this guy who tried to blow up a jet, and didn't share it? I can just see their idiotic mind set...(This intelligence cost us time, and money...we're not sharing it for free.) We'll jerks, it almost cost lives! Stop your ego trip.

I wonder if the government in Iran will topple? It's happened before. And what might replace it? I remember the first time they had "free elections" and Admadinejad won. I thought, "these people are just plain radical". But the second go round, where it was obvious the election was rigged, I thought different. We should pray for them...same for the Palestinians...(more rigged elections).

Avatar...have you seen it? I have not...yet...but I want to. It's just that we had a blizzard, and then it was selling out...every show. Then back to work, and more snow. Argh! Maybe I'll have to make going to see it a NY resolution! :-)

I am almost finished reading, "Holiness, Truth and The Presence of God", (by Frangipane)...for the second time. He describes a level of spirituality I will probably never attain...however, he also spells out what a deep walk with God looks like. You have to read slow, and think through some terminology (at least I do). Take "holiness" for example...means "set apart", right? Great. What does that look like in a traffic jam, or at work...? Hmmm. Ok...that's all I got.

Still reading? hahaha...fine...good!

Cause I thought of one last thing...Once in awhile I ask myself, "Why do I keep a web blog?" It started as something cool to do on the net. I got the idea from a friend...Sean...Yeah, you buddy. I have some thoughts about this I think I'll share later. But mostly...I think it's just a habit. :-)

Merry Christmas...

When I reflect on what occurred 2000 years ago in a barn, located in a middle eastern hick town I am always awestruck...always, always. Some people play the event down, others are threatened by it. Not me. God took on human flesh. What?! Incredible. I know people who just can't believe it...God? Became a man? A girl, having never had sex, gave birth to this divine child? Come on...
I can understand not being able to get your head around that for sure. This is too much, really. Right?

But if you read between the lines a pattern emerges. This event is grounded in history, space and time. There were eye witnesses to the event who recorded it. I know archeologists argue about the evidence, or lack of it (it depends, sometimes they find good evidence, other times they find problems); however, archeologists argue about everything. Fact is, there are accounts in the historical record that something big occurred that night. One can argue the event changed history. (I know there is a politically motivated movement to change the terms, but it remains...the event changed history)...Then eventually the movement that resulted overtook an empire (Rome), and spread all over the world.

Stunning...absolutely amazing, no matter what your worldview. And the bottom line? This was/is excellent news. This is a fantastic deal for everyone, everywhere in every situation and circumstance. I know some imply the opposite...that it's bad news...some Christians even say it's bad news (in so many words). But God didn't say that. He said this is great news, and a super deal...God took on humanity...wow...

So that's what I think of when I reflect on what occurred in a barn, in that middle eastern hick town...2000 yrs ago.
Merry Christmas...!

iTunes Warning...

I like my iPhone, and I use iTunes almost everyday. As can happen with computer software, iTunes got corrupted. I called Apple tech support...(I am off warranty so I get limited help...the techs are very friendly, but by the time the voice response is done with me, I am usually grumpy. Then I get to talk to someone...I must talk funny, Apple voice response only understands half of what I say...).
So, the solution? Uninstall/reinstall iTunes. I'll lose all my music, I say. You can sync your phone, and recover it, they tell me. Ok. So, I uninstalled and reinstalled iTunes...now my music is gone, AND iTunes will not recognize my phone. I have no connection now. So I called tech help again and spoke to the voice prompt for awhile, (ugh) then finally got to talk to a tech...what now, I ask? Reinstall iTunes, they say...Hmmm...This is starting to sound like a cop out, I think. They also said to try another computer...what? (I guess, if I can connect to another computer I can get software updates...but no music.)
If I had known I was getting the run around, I would have left it alone...I'm kind of screwed here.
I have most of my music backed up on Micrsoft Media, lucky for me...so beware if you use iTunes and don't have a back up plan.

Do over....!

Sometimes don't you wish life had a "do over" function? You get to go through the same day/situation/decision again, and do better. I'll bet the democratic leadership wishes they could do over the health care reform process. What they plan to vote on looks pretty watered down to me.

Remember when Pres. Obama said a government plan was not essential in a bill? I said, and still maintain, that it was over right then. There will be no government run health plan, and no meaningful reform...we can't even have a public option. Why can't I even have a public "option"? Because it hurts the insurance companies, I know...we can't have that...they struggle so much...(sarcasm). The bill will just be a big grab for the insurance companies now. Of course, not until we suffer through endless political posturing.

All this while I pay out the nose because I had a kid break a leg, and I got sick, both in the same month. I'm at $700 out of pocket costs and counting. We still haven't heard from the bone specialist (translation, "high dollar consultation"). "Consultation", because he didn't actually do anything...the bone was set. We just had to go see him twice (so far) to be sure the bone was healing properly...which I gladly did...I'm just saying I haven't seen the bill. I imagine I will pay out of pocket expenses of $1000-$1500 before it's over. Merry Christmas...(more sarcasm...that's all though).

When will the USA join the rest of the developed, industrialized world and adopt a singe payer plan? Only after a full blown health care crisis...unfortunately.

Personally, I wish I could do over last night! My step nephew got married. And, for bad reasons I decided we would leave before the reception was over. In a do over I would have stayed. I think I might also have muscled in on some of the family activities. We were excluded, but now I'm told we were supposed to know to participate (how?)...I want a do over!

I can think of all kinds of applications for a "do over". Not like "Ground Hog Day" where Bill Murray had no choice but to do it over till he got things right...We would like to control the function, thank you...so I'll add it to my wish list... :-)

H1N1 Epilogue...Part I is below....

I am recording this in order to remember it if anything else... so sorry if it's boring.
Its Dec. 11...I went to the gym for the first time since I took ill. (Three weeks ago). I weighed in at 150. That's down from 162! Amazing...I went for a swim, and was surprised at how weak I was. I managed 700 yards...I expected to do 1000 yards. Come to think of it, I still get tired easily. If I do a little cleaning, or have to climb to get something it really takes it out of me.

I ate my first full meal on Monday Dec. 7...my birthday! (which is nice...cake you know). So I am guessing I am at about 85-90% of full recovery. I have asked at pharmacies, and other neutral places about flu shots. I don't want to go to the doctors office for one. In fact, I went in to see my doc for a regular check up about one week before coming down with this...so I guess I caught it then...stay out of doctor offices!

I am thankful no one got this from being around me...Jen and Sydney were around quite a bit just to get me what I needed; when I couldn't get out of bed w/o the room spinning, and being winded, and vomiting...and I was afraid they might be next. Thank God it was not the case. So, I think this is all I'll say about my H1N1 experience...it was the sickest I have ever been by far...it scared me.

So on the bright side...Sydney made it a fantastic Thanksgiving...she has never had the opportunity (other family always does this...and don't get me wrong, she's not complaining)...and the kids said she would not let anyone leave the table til they played a game. She says, "The family that plays together, stays together." Good words, and true.
She also finished 95% of the Christmas shopping...stepping up to the plate on that one! Sydney likes to shop, and I was not around to hinder her with schedules (or budgets, although she stayed pretty much on target... :-)
I lost 10 pounds right at the holidays...nice! So I can have some extra pie if I want some...I still would not recommend H1N1 as a diet.

Last, I had a lot of time to think. I haven't said anything about this, but I got really depressed after a week into this...during the worst of the sickness. It has passed; however, I thought some things through that had mostly bounced around in my head for a long time. They were issues surrounding work. And other issues relating to friends (or lack thereof) in my life.
I ended up in a place where I trusted God with these. It's a good place to be for now. I hope to be sensitive to what God leads. Now I am content. Laying in bed sick just happened to help.

The H1N1 Chronicles

It's Nov 19th...I don't feel good, and I have a cough. Maybe I'm coming down with something. I go to work anyhow, as it could also be nothing...the cough gets worse throughout the day so I leave a little early...I don't want to gross people out. Everyone is on edge due to the swine flu scare anyhow. People get scared so easily these days...it seems silly to me. "You just need to live your life...don't be so afraid...", I say.
Since so many bugs are going around I decide to go to the doc and get some anti-biotics. I have upper respiratory problems most winters so it makes sense. He tests me for H1N1...Why? "You probably have it", he says...what? My test is negative. "You may still have it, we get lots of false negatives", he tells me. OK, so it's not bad in adults anyway, right? "It depends",...he says. I go home and go to bed.
Maybe I'll take Friday off and relax. My cough improves overnight, but I start to run a fever of about 101. I feel crummy, and stay in bed. I get up and do a little work from home just to not get behind. By evening I still have a fever, and a headache, and a lower back ache...the cough is also back, and worse. I take a shower to get rid of the chills...it works. I am quarantined to my bedroom by Sydney...she moves to the living room. I moan all night long from pain.
Saturday morning 11/21 is the Ohio St Michigan game...! I get up. I have a fever of only 100. Maybe I'm getting better. Sydney brings me a cup of coffee, and a glass of OJ. I drink these, and promptly throw it up. Through the day, my headache comes back with a vengeance, and my back ache is persistent. I wonder if maybe I've thrown out my back coughing. I sleep through the Ohio St. Michigan game...in fact I sleep most of the day.
Saturday night, my fever is 102, my head feels like it's going to explode, and my back is killing me. This, and I start vomiting every hour, all night. It gets to be mostly dry heaves, as I have nothing left in me. I pray when I'm awake to get better.
Sunday, my mom calls to check on me. Sydney tells her the story. She is praying for me now too. I also ask to get on the work prayer list...
This goes on for the next four days...a fever of 100-102, a headache, and back ache from which I can get no relief, and vomiting at least every hour. I think to myself that I can see how this might kill someone...I can't go like this much longer. My mom calls everyday to check on me and pray.
Thanksgiving...The family dinner was supposed to be at our house. We had to move it. The family asked that none of us join them at their house either, which may be a little overkill, but my sister in law is unemployed and thus has no health insurance. I would feel terrible if they tied her getting sick to us in any way.
My fever is still 100, but the other symptoms have lessened somewhat. I take a shower, which really takes it out of me. I have no energy. I still have headaches on and off, but the back ache has gotten better, and I am only throwing up every few hours. Sydney made Thanksgiving dinner, and Jenny brought a plate to my room. I took three bites, and then took a picture of the meal. They did a great job! I just can't eat.
My fever finally broke Sunday night. That makes 10 days with a fever...10 days! I still can't eat. Food tastes like metal. Sydney brings me sport drinks, and chicken soup. I smell like chicken soup...I need a shower just to wash away the smell. I am also extremely fatigued. I can't be up more than a half hour at a time. But I continue to improve each day. I can eat a little more, and I can be up a little longer.
I finally get up on Dec 4, and go to work for a half day. Most people think I look terrible, and suggest I'm still sick. "You can't just lay in bed the rest of your life", I tell them. I go home and go to bed at 4:00 in the afternoon...and don't get up till Saturday morning.
I am now on the mend. I feel better, and am eating a little more each day. Since nothing tastes right I am trying new things. Why not. Mustard on a turkey sandwich for example. I still sleep a lot. The doctor said it could be a month before I fully recover. A month!
So my advice is this...to everyone...Be afraid, and get the H1N1 vaccine. Surprised? :-)
This is not worth it. I have never been so sick.