Sweat Equity Project: Wall-Mounting the Bedroom TV
Several weeks ago, Brent spent the week in Orlando for job-related training. Brent is awesome at home improvement, and I just got a 19" flat screen LCD TV that needed to be mounted. In addition, our master bedroom was in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint and a splash of color.
I got most of the room painted prior to Brent's arrival. What remained was buying a mounting bracket and moving the cable and power outlet to directly behind the mount point. To spare you the details, let's just say this turned into a multi-hour three night project. However, we are extremely happy with the results and very grateful for all Brent's guidance. Thanks Brent!
Before (with project details)
After (that's better)
Continue reading Comments (1) May.26.2008.
Really Enjoying First Watch for Breakfast
Tory and I are really enjoying Saturday mornings at First Watch. We went there this morning for breakfast. The food is good, and the prices are reasonable. First Watch reminds me of Market Street Cafe, however First Watch focuses exclusively on breakfast, brunch, and lunch. They close around 2:30 which is pretty amazing for a business to pass on that incremental dinner crowd potential revenue. So you can bet they get breakfast and lunch right.Continue reading Comments (0) May.24.2008.
Three Pages into the [career] Waiting Place…
During my senior year at the University of Tennessee, I had the unique opportunity to assist professors within my major with technical issues. The opportunity was great, because I was able to make connections with the people bestowing upon me a degree that has surely enabled me to achieve success.
Near the end of my senior year at UT, one of my marketing professors, Dr. Thorpe, gave me a copy of Dr. Seuss’s, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! As an ever optimistic senior approaching graduation, I thought to myself, “What a great gift idea for someone about to embark on their career.” It’s a really quick read, and up until yesterday, I only remembered how optimistic the book is and had forgotten about the “bang-ups and hang-ups.”
Zooming ahead about 108 months, I was attending a meeting at work on the topic of inclusive leadership. During the Q&A portion, one of my colleagues asked a vice president to recommend some leadership books. He gave a rapid-fire list that I didn’t write down nor can I remember, but then he stopped on “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”
Specifically, this vice president focused on three pages in the book that he called the “waiting place.” That’s when I realized that I was and have been for some time in the “waiting place” with my career.
Waiting for the fish to biteor waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.
What a dose of self-realization I just swallowed as I thought about the “waiting place,” and I was surprised that I didn’t remember much about these doldrums when I read the book 9 years ago.
But wait, “somehow you’ll escape.” However, I don’t know how, and I don’t when. Dr. Seuss dedicated three pages to the “waiting place.” The first page for me was when I walked into the “waiting place.” Then page two was my unknowingly being in the “waiting place.” I’ve finally turned to page three just by knowing I’m here and my career is ready to escape to the “bright places.”
Just so happens that we have two copies of this thoughtful book. I got my copy as I was leaving the stately halls of UT, and Tory received her copy from her Dad as she was arriving.
Continue reading Comments (3) Dec.05.2007.
40 Years of Marriage
As of today, my parents have been married 40 years. Their marriage longevity is an inspiration to me. Looking back, we had our ups and downs, but Mom and Dad have beat the statistics, and we've all benefited from their efforts.
Several months ago, I was going to a 6:00 a.m. men's group at church. On one of these mornings when my parents were in town, my dad came along with me. That morning we were talking about the secrets of a good marriage, and I asked my Dad to share a little advice. He's advice in a nutshell... "No matter what, her hair always looks good if she asks."
I thought that was really funny coming from him.
Continue reading Comments (2) Dec.03.2007.