Simple Randomness

I Should Read More…

So lately I’ve been thinking a lot about doing more reading.  I used to do a lot of reading actually, but in recent years I’ve just been so busy with everything that I haven’t had the time to do it.

You know what has been great though?  We don’t have TV at our house and so I’m not wasting my time with that.  In fact, there have been several times where I’ve picked up a book for a minute or two when in the past I would have just plopped down and turned on the TV.  What a waste of time!

The thing about books is that they tend to really engage you if its a good book.  Kinda like when you’re in a movie theater you get more into it than when you’re watching the same movie at home.  It also seems that I internalize things a lot better when I read as well.  I think I’ve heard others say this also.

I’ve also noticed that my interests have changed over the years.  When I was a teenager the only kinds of books that I enjoyed reading were fantasy novels.  I still enjoy those, but no I also like reading educational books.

Anyway, there’s a random topic for today.  Go read!t

The Best Pet I Ever Had

Growing up I had a lot of different pets.  I had hamsters, gerbils (which got stepped on or eaten by the cats), cats, dogs, etc.  But honestly, the best pet that I ever had was a pet tarantula.

Normally when I tell people this they think it’s gross or something, but it was honestly the coolest pet.  I didn’t have to feed it very often.  And when I did feed it we’d have a good time watching it hunt down and catch the crickets we gave it.

The other great thing about a tarantula is that they aren’t moody really.  You’ll know if its ticked because they rear up on their hind legs, and mine never got into that position.

Also, they molt!  I had a rose hair which is a brown spider with reddish longer hairs.  But right after molting it’s black with reddish hair.  It was so sweet looking after it molted!

So anyway, this was the best pet I ever had.  My spider’s name was Lloth (after the Spider Queen from a series of books I was reading at the time).  Too bad when I got married my wife didn’t like it too much….my spider died at my parents’ house

Remembering 9/11 - The 7 Year Anniversary

Seven years ago, 9/11/01, is a day that I think few of us will ever forget.  It’s one of those days where everyone can remember where they were and what they were doing.

As for myself, I was actually living in South America at the time (Chile to be exact).  I was serving as a missionary for my church and we were headed to a meeting with some other missionaries.  On the bus a Chilean told us something about tornados and airplanes crashing into buildings, but we didn’t know what he was talking about.  I do remember at the bus stop seeing people watching a TV with a burning building on it, but I had no idea what it was.

So we get to our meeting and the janitor asks us what we are doing there, that we should be in our apartments.  We didn’t know why.  Then he hooked up a TV and showed us.  I remember all of us just watching with a blank stare, not sure what to think or do.  One of the guys with us was actually from New York City.  We found out later that some of his father’s friends were killed that day.

One of the really scary things about being in Chile during that time is that 9/11 is already a bad day there.  9/11 is the day that Pinochet took over.  If you know anything about Chilean history, he was dictator for a long time, and we helped to put him there.  So it’s not exactly a day when a lot of people are friendly to Americans.  So needless to say, we stayed in our apartments for about 2 days without leaving, wondering if we were going to have to flee the country.

It was a scary time to say the least.  But I also remember walking down the street a few days later and a man that I had never met walked up and asked us if we were all right, and offered his deepest sympathies for what was happening.

That day changed all of us I think.  For me, it gave me a renewed pride in our country for the way we pulled together to get through it.  It also opened my eyes to the fact that there really are people who don’t like us.  Whether out of actual hate or ignorance.

On this 7 year anniversary of 9/11, I think it’s important for all of us to remember that day.  It was tragic, and it changed us…for the best I hope!

The Best Salesmen in the WORLD

You know who the best sales people in the world are?  UNIVERSITIES!!!

Think about it, they have convinced all of us that we have to have a piece of paper in order to be worth anything in this world.  Not only have they convinced us, but they’ve convinced most of the companies out there as well!

Seriously, how many times have you been turned down for a job or not even applied for a job because you didn’t have the degree or certification that they were looking for?  And even worse, you might have been more qualified for the position in the first place!!!

Now don’t get any ideas, I’m not thinking of this topic because this has happened to me recently, but I know that it happens out there.  And how many of you are in college and half of your classes make you go, “Huh?!  Why am I taking this class???”

Think about it…

You Just Never Know

Yesterday I called a client for an appointment.  At first I couldn’t get a hold of her, then she eventually called me back in tears letting me know that her two daughters had been in a car wreck and one had died.  It was a very sad thing to hear.

This made me think though: you just never know when something like that will happen to yourself or someone you love.  It made me think that each day I should make sure that I treat my wife and kids the best that I can, because I never know if today will be the last day that I see them.

Can you imagine if you lost someone and the last thing you said to them was something in anger?  That would be just heart breaking.  But we can all try to make sure that isn’t the case with us and our loved ones.  So if you have a fight, find a way to resolve it and resolve it quickly.  Because you just never know…

Thoughts On Organic Foods

I’m all about eating healthier, but sometimes I wonder if going “organic” is really worth it. The other day my wife and I were looking around an organic grocery store and trying to decide if that would be the smart thing to do.

I guess the thing I wonder sometimes is if there are different levels of ‘organic’. Does it always mean that there are no chemicals used? Or are there some less harmful ones that can be used to still keep the vegetables and fruits bug free.

I will say though, I’m not overly impressed with the standard produce that I always get at the local grocery store. So if organic food really does taste better and in the end is a lot better for me, I’d probably make the switch.

I’m also a believer that it’s a good idea to eat as few processed foods as you can. I’m not talking about being a fanatic and avoiding all processed foods all together, but I do believe that’s one of the reasons why we have such an obesity problem in this country.

Anyone else have some thoughts on going organic?

Random Little Inspirations

Every now and then I’ll notice some random thing (go figure ) that makes me think about being better or working hard to be the best I can be. This morning I had one of those experiences.

I went to the gym this morning and was getting ready to do some squats when I saw a girl in there working out with a trainer that only had one leg. And she was working just as hard as anyone else with her trainer. It just made me think, “Man, she’s only got one leg and she’s still doing the work. I’ve got no physical problems like that and yet I’ll make excuses left and right.”

That was a physical, working out type example. But sometimes I get other examples as well that might motivate me in other ways. Like when you see someone who might be challenged or handicapped in some way doing well in school or business. I don’t ever think that I’m better than any of these people, but it just makes me think about how they might have so many reasons and good excuses to just sit back and let things happen, or complain, or whatever. But they don’t.

Things like that just motivate me to want to be better. They make me want to do my best and not make excuses or complaints. I admire those people who no matter what their circumstances always push on. Thanks for being a great example!

A Great Idea From Jesse Ventura

This morning coming into work I heard the local radio guys talking to Jesse Ventura.  You know, the guy who was a pro wrestler and then also the Governor of Minnesota.  I didn’t know this, but he was a mayor before that too.  Quite the impressive guy when you look at it.

Well, he had a really good idea that I think we should put into effect.  What he said is that when he was mayor, he took a 4 year break and got back into the private sector before he ran for governor.  That way he really knew what was going on in the private sector as a governor.  He says that one of the problems with our government these days is that we have career politicians.  People who have been in politics their whole lives and then are supposed to tell us that are actually in the private sector what would be best for us.

I think it’s a great idea!  In fact, right now I want to nominate Jesse Ventura for a Nobel Prize because of that great thought!  I mean think about it, we get these guys in office that haven’t been in the private sector trying to make laws that are supposed to be for our own good, but they have no clue!

Anyway, that’s my political rant for the day.  Thanks Mr. Ventura for the great thought!

I Never Want to Have Surgery

I mentioned last week that my wife was going to have her gallbladder out. This week I’ve been helping her to recover from the surgery and while helping her I’ve come to the conclusion that I never want to have surgery.

In fact, I never want to have to stay in the hospital for anything if I can help it. Now, I’m not saying that if I needed to I wouldn’t go to the hospital. But I plan on staying healthy! To this day I’ve never broken a bone, and really the only reason I have ever gone to the hospital for myself was to have an MRI done on my knee.

Some may say that if you’ve never broken a bone, you’ve never had any real fun. I would have to disagree! Maybe I’ve just been lucky not to have any major injuries. Here are a few example of times I’ve been very lucky:

• Stretched out and almost tore my ACL playing soccer
• Fell off a platform and almost got impaled on a 2 foot wooden stake (just barely missed it)
• Ran into another waverunner with my waverunner on the lake
• Fel into a small snow ravine on a snow mobile (about 5 feet deep is all)
• Numerous wipe outs on water skis and alpine skis
• Hit several curbs driving in the snow
• and more

So I think I’m still having fun. I just don’t like seeing my wife go through this, so I hope that our roles are never switched.

Optional Body Parts?

Do you ever wonder why we even have certain things in our body?  Namely things like tonsils, appendix, and gallbladder that you can do without just fine.  I think it is very interesting that we even have these things!

This week my wife found out that she has to have her gallbladder removed.  She has been having some problems with it ever since our last kid was born a month ago.  So they did some tests on it and decided that it needed to go.

I guess my big question is that if we don’t really need some of these things, why don’t we just take them out once you turn 6 or something?  Ok, I know I know, the healthcare costs and all that.  But wouldn’t it be cheaper to just do it then rather than wait until your appendix explodes and almost kills you?

Ok, if you can’t tell I’m mainly just kidding with this.  But you have to admit that it is interesting that we can take things out and still function just fine.  I guess it goes to show that the human body is one amazing thing!