Here's a look at the next 7 days of the '30 Days of Truth' series. I thought I'd re-post the days ahead so you don't have to go back to the original to see what's coming up next.
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
30 Days of Truth - Day 04: Something you have to forgive someone for.
I don't make enemies easily. I'm a very non-confrontational person unless REALLY pushed. So if you've done something and I haven't forgiven you for it, chances are it was incredibly upsetting to me and I doubt I'll forgive you anytime soon. There is one exception to this though. There is one thing that someone has done that I doubt I'll ever really be able to put behind me. And that would be something my boss did about a year ago.
I work for an insurance brokerage general agency, and for those that don't know what that is we are kind of a go-between from an independent insurance agent to the carrier home offices. We'll process all the dirty work for you... like application processing, underwriting follow-up, and just generally assist you as a back-office for the agents that don't have their own staff. Obviously, since we are tied to the financial industry closely, our economic position has been somewhat tenuous of late... teetering on bankruptcy, if I'm honest. The thing is... it didn't have to be this way.
Nearly 2 years ago (just before the collapse of the banking system and the housing crisis), we placed a VERY large case internally... meaning the boss/owner of the company was the agent on it. Due to HIPAA regulations, I can't tell you any details of it... but suffice it to say the case's commission check would have nearly covered a full year of expenses on it's own. Move ahead 1 year and the housing market is in full decline, the economy has tanked... and our boss decides to take all the commissions from the huge case out of the business... and renovate his house.
And by renovate I mean build-on... and by build-on I mean totally gut the existing house down to 1 wall and a bathroom and rebuild it from the ground up. He seriously over build for the neighborhood too... and will NEVER get the money back out of it, even if the housing market recovers fully. Add to that, the company no longer has that capital to fall back on... and the economic downturn means less people are buying insurance... meaning we don't have as much coming in... meaning we're having to lay people off to reduce operating costs... meaning the remaining staff was forced to take a 20% "temporary" (that's lasted over a year) pay cut.
All because he wanted a new house... and it's something I probably should move on front... as it is in the past. But at the same time... I'm reminded of it every time I get another paycheck that is 20% lower than what it use to be. It's very hard to forgive someone of their stupidity... when every 2 weeks your pocketbook reminds you of it...
I work for an insurance brokerage general agency, and for those that don't know what that is we are kind of a go-between from an independent insurance agent to the carrier home offices. We'll process all the dirty work for you... like application processing, underwriting follow-up, and just generally assist you as a back-office for the agents that don't have their own staff. Obviously, since we are tied to the financial industry closely, our economic position has been somewhat tenuous of late... teetering on bankruptcy, if I'm honest. The thing is... it didn't have to be this way.
Nearly 2 years ago (just before the collapse of the banking system and the housing crisis), we placed a VERY large case internally... meaning the boss/owner of the company was the agent on it. Due to HIPAA regulations, I can't tell you any details of it... but suffice it to say the case's commission check would have nearly covered a full year of expenses on it's own. Move ahead 1 year and the housing market is in full decline, the economy has tanked... and our boss decides to take all the commissions from the huge case out of the business... and renovate his house.
And by renovate I mean build-on... and by build-on I mean totally gut the existing house down to 1 wall and a bathroom and rebuild it from the ground up. He seriously over build for the neighborhood too... and will NEVER get the money back out of it, even if the housing market recovers fully. Add to that, the company no longer has that capital to fall back on... and the economic downturn means less people are buying insurance... meaning we don't have as much coming in... meaning we're having to lay people off to reduce operating costs... meaning the remaining staff was forced to take a 20% "temporary" (that's lasted over a year) pay cut.
All because he wanted a new house... and it's something I probably should move on front... as it is in the past. But at the same time... I'm reminded of it every time I get another paycheck that is 20% lower than what it use to be. It's very hard to forgive someone of their stupidity... when every 2 weeks your pocketbook reminds you of it...
Friday, July 16, 2010
Off to Vegas...
I'm taking a business trip to Vegas in a few days... but I intend to continue blogging from the road, as it were. I have to keep up my new project of 30 Days of Truth, right?
This is the third time I'll be heading to Vegas for business but the first time with my current company... and the first time I'll be staying in a semi-luxury hotel. I've usually been hitting up the cheaper side of the Strip... like the Stratosphere or (when they have a special) the Luxor. But this trip will find me at the brand new Aria at City Center.
Having the company foot the bill is nice...
This is the third time I'll be heading to Vegas for business but the first time with my current company... and the first time I'll be staying in a semi-luxury hotel. I've usually been hitting up the cheaper side of the Strip... like the Stratosphere or (when they have a special) the Luxor. But this trip will find me at the brand new Aria at City Center.
Having the company foot the bill is nice...
'AntennaGate'? Seriously, Apple?
Apparently, the iPhone 4 isn't a bad design at all. It's just none of us in the civilized world have learned how to appropriately hold our smartphones! Gasp! Aren't we all just a bunch of Neanderthals!! Thank you, Steve Jobs, for showing us the right way... that right way being with as FEW FINGERS AS POSSIBLE and even then FINGER TIPS ONLY!!
I'm sorry... but I just did his little 'grip' trick with my smartphone (which just so happens to be Apple's biggest competition to date, the EVO 4G from Sprint) and do you know what? Holding it with finger tips nets me 4 bars..."Death Gripping", or as I like to call it "The NORMAL WAY" gets me... wait for it... 3 bars.. oops no wait... 4 bars again. Hardly the drastic drop in numbers Mr Jobs and his team of Engineers claim is normal on all smartphones.
Granted my testing was not done in the $100 million "advanced antenna design and test labs"... which if the pictures are accurate, show the phone being held by a non-conductive clamping device in the middle of the room. Not near fingers, a body, or some other signal-blocking, real-world scenario. Apparently they do use human subjects in the testing. But I'm betting they behave just like I do when I'm testing something and KNOW I'm testing it. I handle it gingerly... in a non-real-world grip... to make sure I don't break it, scratch it, or drop it... or in some other way, screw up the test. When actually... they already have just by holding it that way...
I'm sorry... but I just did his little 'grip' trick with my smartphone (which just so happens to be Apple's biggest competition to date, the EVO 4G from Sprint) and do you know what? Holding it with finger tips nets me 4 bars..."Death Gripping", or as I like to call it "The NORMAL WAY" gets me... wait for it... 3 bars.. oops no wait... 4 bars again. Hardly the drastic drop in numbers Mr Jobs and his team of Engineers claim is normal on all smartphones.
Granted my testing was not done in the $100 million "advanced antenna design and test labs"... which if the pictures are accurate, show the phone being held by a non-conductive clamping device in the middle of the room. Not near fingers, a body, or some other signal-blocking, real-world scenario. Apparently they do use human subjects in the testing. But I'm betting they behave just like I do when I'm testing something and KNOW I'm testing it. I handle it gingerly... in a non-real-world grip... to make sure I don't break it, scratch it, or drop it... or in some other way, screw up the test. When actually... they already have just by holding it that way...
30 Days of Truth - Day 03: Something you have to forgive yourself for.
I gotta say... these 30 Days of Truth really do make you do some intense self examination. This one's a bit more difficult for me... as I believe God's forgiveness is what counts. There have been several incidents in my life that I'm not proud of, but I've moved on from them. I guess you could say I've already forgiven myself on those. But there is one thing that still remains. Fear still rules my life. Afraid of my parents learning the truth... afraid for my job security... afraid of the future.
One of my all-time favorite movies is Strictly Ballroom
. It's part of Baz Luhrman's Red Curtain Trilogy
along with Romeo + Juliet
and Moulin Rouge
. There is a line in Strictly Ballroom... 'A life lived in fear is a life half lived.' Well... I live my life in fear, and will continue to do so most likely. But I need to get past that fear eventually. I hope my future-self can forgive me for not getting past it sooner...
One of my all-time favorite movies is Strictly Ballroom
. It's part of Baz Luhrman's Red Curtain Trilogy along with Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge. There is a line in Strictly Ballroom... 'A life lived in fear is a life half lived.' Well... I live my life in fear, and will continue to do so most likely. But I need to get past that fear eventually. I hope my future-self can forgive me for not getting past it sooner...
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Trying something (else) new...
I just downloaded a new app for the iPad that interfaces with Blogger so I can post on the go. I must say typing without a tactile keyboard is a little unique... But I think I could get use to it. Will just take some practice. :)
30 Days of Truth - Day 02: Something you love about yourself.
From one extreme to the next with the 30 days project. Continuing right along with my self esteem issues, I'm having difficulties thinking of something I love about myself. I guess I just don't like tooting my own horn as it were. I always feel like I'm bragging whenever I try to describe myself.
After thinking about the topic... and some inner decision making (see the last post), I've come to the conclusion that what I love about myself is my ability to adapt as needed. I embrace change and live for it... rather than being set in my ways. It's helped me more than once in my career as employers, the job description, and generally the work I'm required to do has changed over the years.
But more than that... I actually enjoy the chance to do something different... to try new things. I don't like it when a system is put in place and then people stick to it for years and years because that's tradition... that's "what's been done before". Or people who refuse to adapt to new technologies... new situations and problems that demand a new approach, but are stuck with "the way we've always done it" as an excuse.
So I guess Change is something I live for... maybe that's why I voted for Obama. ;)
After thinking about the topic... and some inner decision making (see the last post), I've come to the conclusion that what I love about myself is my ability to adapt as needed. I embrace change and live for it... rather than being set in my ways. It's helped me more than once in my career as employers, the job description, and generally the work I'm required to do has changed over the years.
But more than that... I actually enjoy the chance to do something different... to try new things. I don't like it when a system is put in place and then people stick to it for years and years because that's tradition... that's "what's been done before". Or people who refuse to adapt to new technologies... new situations and problems that demand a new approach, but are stuck with "the way we've always done it" as an excuse.
So I guess Change is something I live for... maybe that's why I voted for Obama. ;)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
30 Days of Truth - Day 01: Something you hate about yourself.
Oh jeez... where to begin. I haven't ever really had great self esteem. Sometimes that itself is something I hate about myself. But I guess the most hated thing would have to be my indecisive nature. I find it very hard to choose the path to take, and usually leave it up to someone else to decide for me. I flip-flop a lot on every decision. "Should I do this, or should i do that." I'm flip-flopping right now on whether this is really the thing I hate most about myself... or the trait I really want to blog about. Which I guess makes up my mind for me, doesn't it?
See? Told you something else always decides for me...
As an aside... The alternate thing I nearly blogged about: My inability to let things go from my past... like previous bad decisions or embarrassing moments, things that hurt people, or things I said or did that I shouldn't have.
See? Told you something else always decides for me...
As an aside... The alternate thing I nearly blogged about: My inability to let things go from my past... like previous bad decisions or embarrassing moments, things that hurt people, or things I said or did that I shouldn't have.
I Made It!
This is my 600th post to this blog since it's creation nearly a decade ago. There have been numerous dead spots in the middle of that time span but I still continue to come back to it. It's actually kind of therapeutic... jotting down ones' thoughts at the end (or sometimes in the middle) of the day.
I'm trying to maintain my new perspective on life and as such, being more "me" on this blog. To that end, I'm going to start a new 30-day project. I found the below list HERE after she posted a comment of encouragement on my blog. I encourage you all to review the list yourselves and see what you come up with about yourself. And as always... your comments on all my posts are always welcome. :)
And if you want, feel free to follow or subscribe using the options to the right to get updates when I post the next in the series...
30 Days of Truth
Day 01 → Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 → Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.
Thanks for reading! :)
I'm trying to maintain my new perspective on life and as such, being more "me" on this blog. To that end, I'm going to start a new 30-day project. I found the below list HERE after she posted a comment of encouragement on my blog. I encourage you all to review the list yourselves and see what you come up with about yourself. And as always... your comments on all my posts are always welcome. :)
And if you want, feel free to follow or subscribe using the options to the right to get updates when I post the next in the series...
30 Days of Truth
Day 01 → Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 → Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.
Thanks for reading! :)
Passing
I think I passed about a dozen people on the road home tonight... none of whom had any business being behind the wheel. From cell phone texting, to weaving in lanes, to you name it. They should all get into an accident with each other, totaling their cars so we don't have to deal with them on the roads anymore!
And it's BLOODY hot outside! LOL
And it's BLOODY hot outside! LOL
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Puzzle
You too can have the fun and torture... er I mean enjoyment... of your own Italian City Puzzle! Here's the exact puzzle that is now on my wall...
Sunday, July 11, 2010
AT & T has a Wi-Fi Network?
Did I miss a memo? I just saw the latest iPhone commercial... touting the iPhone 4, of course, and their FaceTime app that does video conferencing. Problem is FaceTime (unlike Qik on Sprint's EVO) requires a WiFi connection and can't run over the wireless carrier's network.
However, the new ad for iPhone and AT&T now has the tagline... "The nation's largest Wi-Fi Network"
Huh?! They do have Wi-Fi hotspot services. For an additional monthly fee of $19.95. Good way to spin the iPhone's Wi-Fi dependency. Nice job, AT&T.
Puzzle Complete!
Finally got the puzzle up on the wall. A picture is up in my Facebook Photos. (Badge/Link to the right). Looks good up there... for a jinxed project.
Puzzling
I'm beginning to regret getting this damn puzzle in the first place. I bought a 2000-piece puzzle that was a picture of an Italian village on a cliffside... with great colors and nice blue water cove. Well it took us (my Dad, Mom, and I) under a month to assemble but then the trouble began. We bought puzzle glue to seal it together, but my Dad's eyesight is terrible and he couldn't tell where he already glued it. So the puzzle wasn't properly sealed. We flipped it and I did the reverse (cause I could see it) for extra rigidity. Then decided I should redo the front just to be sure. So we did that. Then we mounted it on a piece of foam board so that it would stay together better. So far so good. But to make sure it stuck to the foam board, Dad decided to weigh it down with a ton of books on top of it... right on the puzzle! The top coat of glue wasn't dry yet and my Dad decided not to put any protective cover on it... so the puzzle STUCK to the books and pulled away some of the design when he removed them. So now there are torn white spots on the front of it.... nice job, Dad.
Finally we started on the mounting string and that is ripping right off the back of it so I said I'd come up with something and leaned it against the wall. And now my Mom won't leave it alone. I've told her like 4 times that I'll take care of it after I figure out a way to mount it. But she keeps bugging me about it. I told her again this morning to not worry about it and she said "I'm not worried about it" and I said "Well you keep pestering me about it!" And then she huffed out and slammed my door. UGH!!
You can't set boundaries with that woman. She just stomps all over them anyways!
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