"What seem our worst prayers may really be, in God`s eyes, our best. Those, I mean, which are least supported by devotional feeling. For these may come from a deeper level than feeling. God sometimes seems to speak to us most intimately when He catches us, as it were, off our guard."

- C. S. Lewis

Funny, I was just thinking about Stephen Covey this morning while getting ready for a new week at work...trying to remember, "what *are* those seven habits again?"
(I obviously have a ways to go before I'll be highly effective)...and here was this quote from Covey on the log in page when I got to work:

"Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us."
~Stephen Covey

Philosophically, I don't agree completely with this statement (I wouldn't consider this the ultimate freedom), but it's still something to think about.

How to Take Notes in Meetings

I've been in so many meetings lately, I could use this advice from Sloth Ethic.

"True friends are those who, when you make a fool of yourself, don't believe that this condition is permanent."

~Erwin T. Randall

Bond...James Bond

I've always enjoyed James Bond movies, even when they're a littly silly and seem all about double entendre, chase scenes and gadgets. "Casino Royale" is definitely my favorite James Bond movie...ever. Much more gritty and intriguing, not so campy and cartoonish. Daniel Craig is amazing, and so much more like the Bond in Ian Fleming's books. I've talked to people who gave up on Bond movies after the Sean Connery era. For them I say, this is the "real" James Bond.

Time well spent

"Picarello knows classical music. He is a fan of Joshua Bell but didn't recognize him; he hadn't seen a recent photo, and besides, for most of the time Picarello was pretty far away. But he knew this was not a run-of-the-mill guy out there, performing. On the video, you can see Picarello look around him now and then, almost bewildered.

When Picarello was growing up in New York, he studied violin seriously, intending to be a concert musician. But he gave it up at 18, when he decided he'd never be good enough to make it pay. Life does that to you sometimes. Sometimes, you have to do the prudent thing. So he went into another line of work. He's a supervisor at the U.S. Postal Service. Doesn't play the violin much, anymore.

Does he have regrets about how things worked out?

The postal supervisor considers this.

"No. If you love something but choose not to do it professionally, it's not a waste. Because, you know, you still have it. You have it forever."

- Excerpt from an article in The Washington Post on Joshua Bell playing in a DC train station at rush hour.

"I have no fear of what science will tell us about the universe - since God is definitionally the Creator of such a universe; and the meaning of the universe cannot be in conflict with its Creator. I do not, in other words, see reason as somehow in conflict with faith - since both are reconciled by a Truth that may yet be beyond our understanding."

- Andrew Sullivan (author "The Conservative Soul") from a blogging debate I found through my friend, Jack.

Has anyone seen my pants?

It's really hard to find just the right khaki pants. The color is either too tan or too gray or too greenish. Some are soft cotton but wrinkle too easily. Add some polyester and they're not as comfortable. Khaki can't be expensive, lined or dry-clean-only. And so many come with those weird, unattractive pockets that stick out on the sides.

I finally found the perfect pair of khaki pants. The perfect fit and even the perfect length and style to go with my favorite shoes ever. Only problem is...I can't find them. I've looked everywhere reasonable for pants to be. I've looked places no respectable pair of pants would be kept. It just doesn't make sense. And I'm sure I would remember leaving the house with pants but returning without them.

I have a pretty good memory but, try as I might, I can't remember when I last wore the Perfect pants. If so, I might be able to track what's become of them. Perfect is subjective when it comes to pants, so asking everyone to be on the lookout isn't likely to work. But just in case...please let me know if you find my pants.

Erica's golden birthday

My little Erica just turned 12 on the 12th...her golden birthday. Soon the braces come off and then...look out world! She just keeps getting cuter.
I love you, Munchie!

Miss Laura is 15

This middle child of mine is so beautiful...inside and out.

Happy birthday, Laura! I love you!

Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

- The Fray

"Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and be loved is the greatest happiness of existence."

~ Sydney Smith

18

Jared has now turned 18. I still can't believe it. This birthday of his was tougher for me to face than my own 40th. My little boy...legally considered an "adult." But he will always be my baby.

Through all the ins and outs of this growing up process, I still believe what I've always told you, Jared:
You are fabulous! I love you, Bear.

The persistent plastic bag...

One year ago, a white plastic bag lodged itself in a tree in my backyard...within view of my favorite seat in the living room. I had to look at it all winter (it was too high to get it down) and was happy when the leaves came back and hid it. Well the leaves are now gone, but the bag still remains. It's a bit worse for the wear, but still hanging on. It can't last forever...can it?

"Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives."
- C.S. Lewis

"We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen."

~Paulo Coelho

"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
~Benjamin Franklin

Smashmouth quote...

Line from the Smashmouth song "New Planet"...

We need a new planet
You were a rock but I took you for granite

Just kind of clever and I like it.

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."
~ Dr. Seuss.

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. ... You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

~Eleanor Roosevelt