The "C" Word

Yep, everyone thought this was going to be a foul language display like George Carlin or maybe Seinfeld. Sorry, it's not.  It's about a word we hear daily, yet a word we still don't understand. It's a word that brings tears from one, yet anger from another. It makes one person die and another live. The word is CANCER.

Cancer has hit my family too many times already. My mother has beat it off once, my other mother beat it off twice before this latest news that it didn't quite get beaten off completely. It simply isn't fair, it's not right and it really doesn't care what you think or do. Cancer sucks.

As I was standing there watching one of the strongest women I have ever met, sitting, getting her hair cut, I knew she was going to beat this again. I don't know why, but the sheer determination that she displayed made me think, I don't feel sadness - I feel determination. I felt her already saying, "Bring it!" Sure, there were tears, fears and other emotions, but the determined look was there. 

I know that this word brings with it the fear, tears and uncertainty. It should, but if there is anyone on the planet that will truly beat this off, time after time, it's Mom. She makes me think of the Times McGraw song and somehow it makes things ok. She is going to live like she was dying for a long, long time. She'll go skydiving, Rocky Mountain Climbing and more than likely spend more than 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.

She is going to beat this off with a riding crop and sheer determination. She is going to be around to walk sweet Evalyn to her first day of school. She will be around to see Evie ride in her first fair and even her high school graduation. She'll be there and I want her to know we will make her be there for it. 

Crazy Windy Sunday

Sometimes it takes a crazy day like today to make bus appreciate the simpler days. Today the weather changed every 5 minutes. The rain came and went. The sun did the same.

The weather today was much like my life has felt in the last few weeks, crazy and ever changing. I think the biggest change was in the last 48 hours. I came to the realization that nothing is ever perfect and that a church is not excluded from that thought.

It took a special event called the LIFE Conference for me to appreciate how much a church is driven by the vision of the people that attend, rather than the Pastor and Elders. Perhaps I can be one that joins that less than perfect church and helps it become a bit closer to perfect for some. If not, at least I can try to influence the leaders to preach the message of salvation, repentance and love... Instead of the giving, doing and love that I've heard in the past.

So, when the wind starts blowing hard enough to knock over your signs, remember to ask yourself if you need someone to hold your ladder when you fix those signs.

Starbucks...

I used to love my Starbucks in the morning. The funny thing is, since we moved to Monroe, Starbucks really messes with my system. Plus, the Starbucks here doesn't seem to know how to fill a cup.

The case in point was last night's coffee adventure. A quick stop through the drive-thru and a peek at the cup when we got home. The order was simple - one venti non-fat cinnamon dolce latte with whip - and what I got was a venti that was only filled about 3/4 of the way.

I was irritated, but just didn't care enough to do anything with it. Ara obviously felt a bit stronger about it as she called the store and complained. The store offered to make a freebie for us the next time through, but I think I've just learned not to order from them anymore.

Congratulations Starbucks, your poor service at the SR522 and SR2 location has made me think that putting up with a bikini shack to get a full cup of coffee is better than getting poor service and a half cup from you. Thanks!

Just Feeling Different

My search for a new job has me feeling completely strange today. I was riding in to work, seeing the back to school crowds, buses, hugs and kisses, and just felt strange about it all. I don't know why, or what made this day so different.

Perhaps it was the fact I had to schedule my own interview for Friday. Perhaps it's the feeling of going to work for someone that isn't as qualified as I am to do their job. Maybe it's even just those 'new job jitters' that I haven't had to deal with in 6 years.

I guess I'm half excited to see if this career change is something we can do. If it is, I'm sure looking forward to it. If the money just isn't there though, I'm just not sure I can take the risk.

By for now, I'll keep my distorted view of reality and keep on keepin on...

Job Interviews

Today I had my first serious job interview in 12 years. It was a strange experience to interview with people that were in all honesty, not as qualified as I was to do their job. Since it was a job in would truly love to have, I'm hoping it all went OK.

The job would be a sales position with Sprint in their Everett store. I feel that I want to be in the wireless industry, either in a sales or support role. This would definitely get me into that role and hopefully lead to more career opportunities later.

We will see how this plays out.