a case study in awesomeness

March 2004

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Current Posts

Nov 30, 2004

work angst

I think I'm going to add a new quote onto my signature for my work email. It is as follows . . .

"If you want your claims to pay
You'll do it my way!"

Seriously, people call and ask for help, I tell them the correct way to bill it, and then they start arguing with me.

I don't think I'm cut out for customer service. I just don't buy into "The customer is always right." I beleive that "The customer is usually wrong."

Nov 25, 2004

happy holidays

1. The best Thanksgiving quote-- "This morning, before going to a friends for Thanksgiving dinner, I got on the internet and placed a couple of football wagers. I think the Pilgrims would have wanted it that way."--Bill Simmons, ESPN.com.

2. This was the first Thanksgiving that I can remember that wasn't spent with 60+ great aunts and 3rd cousins. The advantage--I got a whole Turkey leg. I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for that to happen.

3. Alas, with Thanksgving comes the beginning of Christmas music. So, I decided to change my blogging music to the second greatest christmas song recording of all time (full version of the song at the top of the page). For the best Christmas song ever, click the link of the day.

4. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!

Nov 23, 2004

link of the day

This link is in honor of Meredith (Morgan) Mastin, Erin McClain (don't know her married name), Bill Ekhardt, John Ekhardt, and Ed Ekhardt, in honor of all of the free subs they gave me over the years. And, it's also dedicated to Stephanie Ekhardt, since it is set in Oklahoma.

cincy pics are in

Bill got the pics from Focus/Cinicinnati posted.

There I am with my favorite Cincinnati meal . . . a Red Foxx Club with Americal Cheese and a side of fries. If you live in cincy and haven't been there, GO!!! It's downtown, on 6th and Sycamore.

For more pics, click here: Cincypictures

Nov 22, 2004

i'm a poet and don't noet

Just for fun
I'm going to start writing
Regular posts a poems.

Part of it's parody
Part of it's boredom
And I really don't have anything
To close this one out.
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In other news, to continue my trend of following Ron Artests example (see post about rap album), I think I may go to a provider's office and punch out a doctor or billing person so I can get a years suspension as well.

Then I can focus on my rap album.
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Oh, and check out the link of the day.

Nov 19, 2004

time out

A day and a half off was just what the doctor ordered. Seriously, I feel great today.

Of course, the time off was well spent. It was kind of a bizzaro-world for me. I had people from my time at WKU, VU, and Cincinnati all in one spot.

Wednesday night marked my return to worship band leading. Between that and the Sunday morning that I lead at Bill's church, I've come to this conclusion:

I'm losing my touch. Leading worship came naturally to me. But, these last 2 services have been incredibly difficult. I'm like an aging baseball pitcher who has lost the zip on his fastball.

But, I have something left in the tank. I didn't think it was going to come together early in practice. But, we started bringing it together, and after practice I felt confident. But then, something early in the service wasn't clicking. But, as the service went on, we started picking up steam. By the second set, well, it was just amazing. Like a power pitcher having to go to a finesse game, I was hitting all the corners, and then the adrenaline kicked in and my fastball started coming back.

Okay, enough sports analogies. My point in all of that is that I've been needing a worship expirence like that for a while now. And, it ended up being an amazing thing. I'm still excited about it.

Apart from worship, the other thing I've been missing is community. And, I got a good dose of that as well. Hanging out at the coffeehouse, seeing everyone at FOCUS, and the funnest part, hanging out at skyline. My table included Bill, of WKU fame, Kevin, of VU fame, Justin, of CCU fame, Tommy, of just general fame, and Craig, of VU and CCU fame. Just good times. We spent most of it making fun of Justin for watching Boy Meets World. Even when we got onto other topics, we made sure to slide a Boy Meets World reference in there.

Also . . . I got to eat at my 3 favorite cincy resturants: The Red Pepper, Skyline, and the Red Fox. Other Thursday activities: Guitar Center, some other music store where Mars used to be, bartering at the kiosk at the mall, and pictures with the statues of Wm Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield. When Bill emails me pictures, I'll post them.

All in all, it just encouraging when you constantly are asked by everyone you talk to, "When are you moving back." I really appreciate it, even if it is fueled by John Wentz propaganda (and thanks to John and Shannon for letting me crash at their place.)

Nov 16, 2004

signs of aging

A few days ago, an friend from back in the day invited me to join a Yahoo group with some other friends from back in the day, to catch up and stuff. After I joined up I found a friend had posted the following:

"cats can't talk. Neither can dogs, or penguins for that matter.
We've taught a few chimps some sign language, but can we really call
them linguistic?? I think not. Just because you put a cat in the
oven, that dosen't make it a bisquet. I think, therefore I am. But if
I think not, am I not. I guess, therefore I might be. "

Funny, right?? I thought so to. But here's the kicker . . . I actually wrote that. It was a guestbook submission, circa 1996.

Back in those days, the internet and email were just starting to catch on. I remember when I first go email, from time to time I would pair up with someone else, maybe RB, Fred, or Robert Mastin, and we would write up the funniest emails and would send them out to our friends. I remember starting with RB, and I can't for the life of me remember what we wrote. Only that it was a big hit. Then, Fred and I teamed up for a rendition of the "Three Little Pigs (Can I intrest you in some sticks?), which was hilarious, but with less critical aclaim. And then the highlight, sparking inside jokes that consumed an entire semester, was when Robert and I teamed up to plan our canidacy for the presidency of the United States, picking out our cabinet and outlining our platform.

Why do I mention all of this. I don't know. I guess just to pine for the good ole days. I wish I had copies of all of those. And copies of the "Sightings of Dr Mayhew" emails that Robert and I would send each other periodicly. Or the email he sent in response to the chain letter, informing everyone that he had failed to forward the chain letter his sister had sent and that bad luck had indeeded fallen upon him. Then, there were the messages where, right after someone had forwared us a message about a virus scare saying don't open any emails with "pick your virus name" in the subject line, we would send everyone we knew an email with that virus name in the subject line. And finally, I wish I had the parody chain letter that me and Robert wrote.

I wish for the days when email was just a toy. Back then, it was a novelty. The question those days was not, "What's your email address," rather, "Do you have an email address." Nothing important ever happened via email. Most people we would email had the same domain as us (wku.edu).

Mostly, I wish I could write hilarious stuff like that again. My blog has been labled as "funny", but in my old age, it's been refined into really subtle stuff.

All in all, I think I just want to be in college again. Ahh the good ole days.

When cokes cost a quarter.

Nov 11, 2004

breaktime

I asked my supervisor if I could have a month off to promote my rap album. She didn't take me seriously, but since she doesn't follow the NBA, she didn't really get the joke either. Anyway, she told me I could, and then asked if I really liked rap music.

If you don't get it, click here.

Nov 10, 2004

the writer's block

It took me three tries to write "block" correctly.

Anyway, I haven't been able to come up with anything to write this week. But, if the people in the "blue" states are correct, it's because I am an imbicile incapable of stringing together a coherent thought. And maybe that's true, I don't know. But, if they were as smart as they thought they were, they would realize that it's that very attitude that is causing their party to lose so much ground. Not all "Blue" people are like that though. Some have been all class.

Ummmm, like I said, I don't have anything to say. Other than that your blog CAN make a difference. My campaign to save Ed's blog was a success. Check it out with a link on the left.

Nov 7, 2004

save the blog

I am officially starting a campaign to get Eddie Ekhardt to keep updating his blog. It's freaking hilarious. The funniest one I vist. And now he's cutting back cause he's got "nothing."

Do what I do . . . make it up.

Make me laugh!!

Don't leave us, Ed.

Nov 5, 2004

freakin gnomes

I've been trying to post for 2 days now, and all kinds of glitches and errors keep coming up. Clearly, it's because Edwards is in fact a gnome!!!!! Why??? Because, I keep trying to post about Edwards, and whenever I do, something goes wrong. This is clearly the work of gnomes.

Anyway, Wednesday I tried to post my reaction/analysis of the election, along with predictions for the next 4 years. The moment has passed on the reaction/analysis, but the predictions are mostly for fun, though it is somewhat based on analysis and trends. So, here we go:

1. Bush will be remembered as one of the best presidents of all time or one of the worst.

Say what you will about the guy, but he is bold. He makes tough desicions on principle, and sticks to it despite the the precieved political ramifications. The thing about these bold choices he has made (huge tax cuts, war on terror) is that most will either faily miserably or succeed brilliantly. I think they will succeed. But as far as his legacy goes, he is going to be on one of the extremes.

2. Kerry will hang around.

He keeps his senate seat, which will keep him around the public eye. He really did the right thing in going ahead and conceeding the election, which made him look good. While I don't think he will run in 2008, he is definately poised for such a run if he so desires to try again.

3. Cheney will not run in 2008.

That one was easy.

4. Edwards is done.

Really, he was overrated to begin with. As Democrats were choosing their safe picks in the primaries, he seemed okay. He was charming an charasmatic, not to controversial. But, as time went on, it seemed that he lacked substance as well as expirence. He really was a non-factor during the general election. He didn't run for re-election for his senate seat, which convetional wisdom says he would have lost anyway. He may take a shot in 08, but he won't fare nearly as well.

5. The Democrats STILL don't get it.

They continue to beleive that most people agree with them. However since Clinton was elected in 1992, they have lost the house, senate, tons of govenorships and state legistatures. Yet, from what I've read over the past couple of days, they still think that these last 2 Bush victories are abberations. They REALLY need to rethink their operations before 2008, but from where I sit, I don't think they are going to do it.

6. The Republicans will hold the house/senate in 06.

Another easy one. I doubt they will pick up much or lose much.

7. The primaries in 08 will be packed.

Look for 7-8 people in each primary. Top Republican challengers will be Rudy Gulliani, John McCain, and Jeb Bush. Top Democrats will be Evan Bayh, perhaps John Kerry, and of course Hillary Clinton.

8. Regardless of who wins the Democratic primary, Barak Obama will be the running mate. All of the Democrats want to jump on this bandwagon. And for good reason.

9. Jeb Bush/Condelezza Rice defeat Hillary Clinton/Barak Obama in 08.

First, I realize a lot can happen in 4 years. However, 1. JFK was the last person elected from the Senate to the White House. In that span, govenors have had the best luck, followed by VP's. Secondly, I think the Democrats will once again mess up this election (a big part of the problem is that they have misunderstood Bill Clinton's popularity. They think Hillary will recapture some of that magic, but she will not be able to carry the south, which was a crucial to Bill's sucess). Third, the Bush's have the momentum. Many say Jeb is the brother that should have been in the White House in the first place. And, I have no idea who the running mate will be for the GOP, and Rice seemed as good a guess as any.

10. After the 08 election, the Dems finally get it.

In 2010, the Democrats will come up with something similar to the Republican's contract with America in 94 that will give them some momentum in the midterm elections. Barak Obama will emerge as the leader of the party, and perhaps in 2012 or 2016, they may be where the Republicans are today.

So yeah, that's what's gonna happen!!!!!

Nov 2, 2004

it's all good

I've noticed something as I wander around the blogosphere/livejournalosphere (I actually hate the word blogosphere, but for some reason livejournalosphere cracks me up. Maybe because I made it up.)

Anyway, the trend of the day . . . appologizing for previous political posts.

Why????

Look, no matter how respectful you may be in expressing your political views, people are going to get upset. Why?? Because, you're political views go to the core of your very being. Your politics aren't necessarily who you are, but they come from who you are. You're personality, your beliefs, and you're perspective on the world. If someone attacks a veiw on an issue, it's going to come across as a personal attack, because your view is part of your being. The problem isn't the writing (although some could definately be worded better), but in the reading. I know how it is. Sometimes I have to take a deep breath before processing what someone just wrote. It's not a personal attack on me. But, at first, that's what if feels like.

Anyway, I was starting another tangent, but I'm gonna stop. I will close by saying this: no matter who you vote for, and no matter who wins, the political process does not stop today (and I'm not talking about the recounts.) Be involved. If you are a passionate pro-lifer, go out and do something about it. Volunteer at the pregancy support center. Start a movement to take care of kids that are born. Do something!!

Finally, as a Christian, I don't fully know what a Christian's place in democracy is. It's open ended, which leads to some interesting debate. I do know of a few mandates we have. We are to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. I think these mandates probablly cause more conflict than clarification, since justice and mercy are sometimes at odds. So, if we lack wisdom, we should as God for that.

And I do think that there is one way in particular that all Christian's should be involved in politics. We should pray. About our issues. And for our leaders. Imagine what may have happened if Christians on the right had spent more time praying for Clinton rather than plotting and rejoicing in his potential demise.

I'm voting for Bush. But if Kerry wins, I'm not worried. The president has a lot of power, but he is not in control. Pray for Bush. Pray for Kerry.

Nov 1, 2004

be ye careful at the polls

For those of you who have gay marraige amendments on your ballots tomorrow, I urge you to be VERY careful on how you vote. Many of them have a lot of things on them that go beyond just banning gay marraige.

I don't approve of gay marriage, but I am voting against Kentucky's admendment tomorrow. Along with not being able to get married, civil unions are banned, along with many other issues such as visitation rights in the hospital and domestic violence protection.

I don't support gay marraige, but I do have a problem with banning justice and certain rights to anyone. So, I urge you to be sure and READ the amendment before voting for it.