Sweeet

I finally decided to rent Napolean dynamite and see what that was all about. Very unusual, very cut & dry. Almost tooo cut & dry! I had to take a break from it here and there it was so cut & dry! lol I thought it was still amusing though. I thought it was going to be set in a modern kind of setting though. It's practically a movie of the director's life in Idaho while growing up. Other than that just the usual...work and homework. yay. =)

Enjoying Dell

I finally decided to purchase the Dell Latitude, which has turned out to be a nice investment. I take it almost everywhere I go now! lol It's just so nice to have the freedom to be on the computer whether I'm at home or out. It's actually faster than my desktop for some reason. I'm thinking it's because the laptop has 512MB RAM compared to 256MB on the desktop, cause that's the only difference between the two. So now when I go online, I use my laptop cause it's amazingly faster. My desktop will sit there, even though we have DSL, and eventually get me online. Not sure what else might be causing that. McAfee possibly? Hmmm...Anyhow, the only other thing I want to get is a wireless modem and card for the laptop, so I can get online anywhere in the apt as well as when I'm out. I found a great deal at Circuit City for a package that will cost less than $50 after the rebates! But...that will have to wait a bit. Hopefully I'll be able to find a good buy like that when I'm ready. And I'm not about to charge it either! no way man! I've learned to be patient, believe me, after being in debt for over 10 yrs, it's worth the wait! Not going there again.

So I read an article this weekend begging the question whether cell phones would ever replace computers eventually. Well I didn't read the article, I just read the headline. lol But it got me thinking about that, and my answer is...no. I doubt it, cause businesses will always need some form of computer to do it's business, whether desktop or laptop. It's just more efficient to use a computer than a cell phone. I can't image using a little cell phone to do everything I do at work, creating, setting up artwork and cutting material. I just don't think it will go that far. I think cell phones will evolve into incredible little portable machines with enormous versatility at your fingertips, but i seriously doubt I'll be sitting there designing logos on a little cell phone looking at a little screen! Not gonna happen. Now could it replace the personal computer as a means of simple communication, music and video applications? That is possible yes, but for businesses, no I seriously doubt it.

Anyhow I'm getting together my marketing plan for my business and designing and fine tuning all my designs which I'm hoping will soon be in production. I am truly hoping to get them out before the end of this year, because I'd like to get them into the hands of some of my classmates at school who are looking forward to them and also into the church, since that's where it's truly applicable to the mission I have. But unlike school which ends soon, at least our group, church will still be there. In fact, they are very close to getting the bookstore open at our church from what I've heard personally from those who run the outside store for now on Sundays, and that's very exciting for me, and I'm sure for many who miss having a bookstore for the church. =)

Graphic Designer?

Man, I've had about the most intense day today as a 'graphic designer' here. I really think 'graphic designer' is an incredible understatement for everything I do here! lol I just got done applying a huge digital graphic that had to be done in pieces for a huge 8' X 16' sign, and we have one more to do still. I had a feeling this sign would take most of the day, which it has. We had to do it in four sections. This is the largest sign were done yet, and the vendor we get them from is planning on doing one each month, which is a nice profit for us, but a hard day's work too.

While I was trying to get it done the phone was ringing off the hook, which wasn't helping my progress here at all. My 'coworkers' were out to lunch at the time so yes, it was a little frustrating there. Oh and before I went to lunch, a guy came in to put an order for about 100 t-shirts! so yes...its been quite a day. =)

Happy Endings

In spite of my pity party, I do have a few things to look forward to actually! My phone should finally be turned on again very soon here cause I just made a payment. That'll be nice...it's been almost a month now without it. Horrible I tell you! lol I also found a used Dell in the recycler last night and went to go check it out. It's a Dell Latitude with 512MB, 40G, CD/RW/DVD, wireless capability, 1.2 GHz Pentium processor, and she's giving me a carrying case with it. I looked it over and it looks like it's in good shape. She had another one that was a step down from that for $350, about 1/2 the memory as this one. The one I like is $425. So...if all goes well, Lord willing I'm going to pick it up right after work. New would be nice yeah, but right now I don't mind having a used laptop. But yes I pray that all is well with it of course.

So I won't be so alone anymore, with my cell and laptop with me, I just might smile today. lol
Honestly, the Lord is always with me, and I'm so thankful for that. =)

Utterly Alone again

I'm utterly alone. That is my fate. This is my destiny. I must accept it as fact. Only then will I be able to watch a movie in the absence of all company, void of companionship, with void as my comfort. Only then can I make popcorn for myself and eat it...utterly alone.

A Trying Day

Today was one of those 'want to get up and quit' days. Honestly today's events were very trying and tested my tolerance, and I was seriously contemplating quitting, even writing a letter of resignation and just leaving it on my bosses desk! That's how fed up I was today with the miscommunication that happens quite often between us. In the midst of this event I had the opportunity to talk with a friend to help me retain some sanity without doing something I might later regret, since it was obviously an impulsive desire to just leave. It truly helps just giving and getting input from someone else as opposed to being all alone in utter frustration. I was very thankful.

Well thank God little by little we resolved all the miscommunication and got all the specs and details laid out right and cut out today. And in fact by the end, things were very good again, also partly due to the fact that she did voice the fact that we can both lack communication and need to make a great effort sometimes to be on the same page. And yes, I do realize she has enough on her mind as it is getting jobs for us, going to meetings, appointments, and on top of that she's in the midst of moving, which has been a nightmare for her sometimes due to many an incompetent contractor who have done less than satisfactory work on her new home. I'm sure that's been very frustrating, especially when you just wish you had your bed to sleep in! So after thinking on all these things I've realized that there is still work to do on my end of both communicating and clarifying the details of each project, and also of consideration and concern. I thank God and those He has put in my path to help me realize these things. =)

Taking Ownership

I've had to hold the fort down alot lately at work because my boss is in the process of moving and has ALOT of things going on right now. Looks like tomorrow, or rather today, Thursday I may be alone for the most part again. But it is truly stretching me in a good way and getting me used to keeping things going in this small company and handling all of our new clients and customers. Funny...not too long ago, all I wanted to do was be in a position where I was able to be creative with my drawing abilities and sit at my own desk in my own area. Now I'm doing exactly the opposite: being creative is the least thing I do at work! I'm too busy being in charge of everything else BUT my own little creative space. I recognize that the ways that I'm being stretched are the things I truly need work on though, because I have the creative part down, no problem. I need work on other things, like communication and leadership skills that will prepare me down the road for greater things. My job has become a great compliment to my schooling, too, since I'm learning about leadership at school. I truly thank God for where He's put me.

Well tonight will be my first class for Leaders & Decision Making. It has alot to do with Ethics, actually, particularly Christian Ethics. So far it's pretty good. I didn't realize that it would only last 3 weeks though! Wow...so short, especially for an Ethics class. In my opinion, in preparing Christians to go out into a world that is so 'anti-christian' these days, I would think this class would be one of the top classes to focus on! seriously. I would have given alot more time to a class like this, more like 5 or 6 weeks, but at least 4. I just think it's so vital in these times. We live in a very weird time where people are so blind. Looking back at the past 100 yrs, it's not surprising at why we have so many problems in our nation. People wonder why young people are killing each other, why child molestation is getting worse, why families are falling apart. Well let's see...what happened the last 100 yrs. We slowly took God out of the picture and continue to do that still...pornography is at an all time high...we are redefining what is right and wrong and teaching evolution in schools, a theory which basically gives no meaning to life...the gay lifestyle is recognized more than ever today...I mean I wish someone would put all the figures together and compare 1900 with 2000, look at all the statistics, the variables, the info and do a little research into this. I know it would reveal alot about WHY our nation is declining.

I mean I understand why this is happening...it's pretty obvious why. But those who don't understand just try to fix it with things that will not fix it, like with drugs, for one. Taking medication is not going to fix it. We need to get to the root of the problem here. For example, taking AlkaSelzter will relieve upset stomachs temporarily, but it's not going to take care of the problem of bad eating habits. You have to eat healthy to cure it altogether. That's what I'm talking about basically. But seriously it would be interesting to see some research into this and see 'ok, what did we do differently in the 1900's compared to the 1800's? What did we introduce? Did it help our nation? Did it weaken it? What were the consequences? What did this action cause, or what did taking out this thing result in?' And when the results are in, PUBLICIZING IT on national television for everyone to hear where we messed up!! lol But seriously, wouldn't that accomplish something? I could just see one of the researchers coming to the mic and saying "These are the results of the actions we took concerning the removal of the 10 commandments from public schools: increased violence and lawlessness, school shootings in several States, disregard for human life increased, and a disbelief in God." That's what we need: a serious wake up call! But God will do it His way, cause His ways are above our ways, and His ways are also merciful. =)

Allergies or Cold?

Well lately either my allergies have been acting up pretty bad or I've come down with a cold, cause the night before I was sneezing nonstop practically, and today my nose is stuffed up on one side so...it's really hard to tell sometimes. I'll know in a day or two. If it goes away then it was my allergies. If not then I'm sick! blah Well at least it's not too bad, just a slight headache and stuffiness. And this morning in the shower I did something to my right shoulder/back area cause it got sore all of a sudden and now it's tight, that feeling you get when you've slept on it wrong and have a sore neck...that's how it feels right now. Man...what's with all these ailments all of a sudden!? Is this it? Is this the end of me? Well...I did ask the Lord to break me lately and have a heart for Him alone, so I suppose this could be Him cause man, I'm truly calling out to Him right now for healing and soothing of these old bones! lol

You know I think I might have had my so-called 'mid-life crisis' early in life, like in my late 20's, cause now that I'm 34, things are looking up, I'm going forward with a clearer vision and the Lord has given me more focus in my life at this point. He's been doing a great work in my life and I know that He always will be. That's the benefit we have as God's children, that there's a continual refining of our souls from day to day, and this is just the beginning! This life will eventually end, yes, but a new one will take it's place, in a place where there will be no pain, no suffering, and new bodies that are perfected in Christ! Thank God for that!

Other than that, tonight is the last class for HR Mgmt, which came pretty quickly actually. I learned so much from this class about HR and about valuing people. And the professor was very insightful and I enjoyed his lectures alot. Now on to the next! Not sure what it is at this point (bad I know) but I just know it'll be exciting as the rest! lol Plus, it's just one step closer to graduation. =)

Who's the terrifying one here?

I just happened to come upon a site tonight called DEFCON (http://www.defconamerica.org/). Disturbing, I tell you. They are doing everything in their power to make sure that religion does not interfere with their 'agenda' of preserving the Constitution and American rights. Hmmm...wait a sec. Wasn't America founded on Christian (religious) values in the first place? Weren't people like Alice Bailey and others slowly clawing away 'religious rights' by taking out the Ten Commandments and prayer in school? Wasn't the Separation of Church and State, which is NOT in the Constitution mind you, meant to protect RELIGION and to protect those who practice religion and the freedom to practice it? So who is the dangerous one here? Who is terrorizing who?

It seems to me that this organization is merely continuing with the anti-religious agenda of making sure that religion is kept out of federal, state and judicial matters and does not interfere with their own selfish 'religiosity', which honestly is only causing more division in this nation. They call out people like Tony Perkins as having a 'far-right agenda'. Well hey, in my mind this organization is not different, having a 'far-left agenda'. So what's the difference? This nation isn't going to go anywhere until we accept who we are as people and accept what we believe. This nation was started as 'One Nation Under God'. Soon I'm sure it will be just 'One Nation', but not under God, but under MANY gods, beliefs, divisions, hatreds, violence and bloodshed. How's that for a pledge of allegience?!

The truth is, as a Christian myself, I don't believe in a far-right or a far-left agenda, cause I don't have an agenda to oppress anyone into any one belief! But I'm only here to share with others, not oppress, the love that Christ has for us and the salvation that's available through God's Son Jesus. If you don't want Him, fine. That's your choice. I wont force you. But if organizations like DEFCON and those associated with it want to spend their entire lives devoted to standing against religion and arguing for it til' they're red in the face, go ahead, be my guest! Hey, if that's what makes you happy in this life, go right ahead. But it wont affect me or my future or my beliefs, not a bit. =)