Good day pretty much. Took the kids to the dentist this morning. Looks like they have a couple cavities a piece that need to be filled and Clayton could be getting braces. Beautiful. Ran them to school and back to work it was for me. Had a few things to clean up with some orders, got some good news on a large bid I won. Got an extension on the due date for it. Vendors in our business always have stock issues and it seems salespeople don't care. Buyers don't do shit to try and hold them accountable for the poor service they provide and the business they cost us by not delivering the products they offer when needed. Kind of an oh well kind of attitude. Then they wonder why this business can be tricky. Have to have reliable vendors. Worked on a couple new bids. One for 144,000 pairs of socks. That's a butt load of socks. For SC Department of Corrections. First time bidding it so I have no idea where we will end up with our bid. Going to try anyway. Its over $100K in business. Still having a hard time with the way some things are handled there. Office Manager never has time for anything and it only matters what she needs. I love her to death, but lets think about others needs then your own. How do you never get caught up. Boggles me how 3 people in the office can not do what 2 used to do without being so far behind. Bigger company now, more paperwork, but still does things to make life hard on themselves and everyone else.
So I typed my budgets for the first few weeks of my Total Money Makeover. Really excited about it. I already know where my entire next 5 checks will be going. Paying off stuff and saving for my emergency fund. I am modifying a bit to include an emergency fund, vehicle repair fund, and business stuff fund every check I get. Truck needs some love starting with my intake gasket. $200 to get it changed. Only $25 each into the vehicle and business fund. Emergency fund limit will be $1,000 then its time to hammer on all my old stuff. I prioritized with most urgent and smallest getting handled at the same time. Should have about $400 in my emergency fund by Christmas. Already talked to kids and let them know it will not be a hugh Christmas. Not really buying anything for others. They all understand. Its pretty random if we do get gifts for each other. If I find something anytime of the year I just send it. Don't need a special occasion to send stuff to family. By next Christmas I should be smooth sailing to freedom.
OK I am going to try and finish the book again. I had more reading left then I realized. Trying to get a meeting with the Ministries Leader at church to discuss my idea to help people. Should be interesting. Pretty sure the church is not wanting to get behind my idea and support me. I really hope I am wrong. I have asked direct questions that have gone un answered in our e-mails to and from Matt and Curt. So we will see.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Day 15 Busy Day
So started out going to church. Todays service was on Homosexuality and the Christian. Seems the churches take on it is that someone who is gay can be changed with Christ. Speaker to present it was not very well spoken. He lived a Gay lifestyle for 4 years I think it was and is now married with kids living a straight lifestyle. He leads a ministry that shows the scientific research is not accurate and people are not born Gay.
Had a killer lunch at Mexican place. Came home for a couple hours and picked up my signs, then went to pick up kids. Hit up CVS to get a bunch of free make up, which will go to my ex-wife. I got $80 worth of Covergirl makeup for free and for each $30 I bought I got a $10 Gift Card of choice, which I got Barnes & Noble. I had 10 coupons for $8 off 2 Covergirl Products and it was on sale Buy 1 Get 2nd one Half off. Came home and finished up Lexies paper for school and getting kids ready for bed. I have to take them to the dentist at 9:30 then to school tomorrow.
So I am almost finished the Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey and plan to dive in head first next week when I get paid next. Had a chat with kids about it as well to make them understand how we will all be better off making sacrafices now. I am going to try to finish the last bit of the book and get a budget together for my next paycheck. I have to budget every dollar I have coming in. So a budget will be made for my 2 regular checks and my sign check each month. I will control my money. After I get a few things current gonna start hammering on my biggest debt that hangs over my head. Its about $7,000 and gonna hammer away at it hard as I can. Thats just the beginning. Going to work a few other little bills in there as I go. I will get back on top of my bible study tomorrow night since I will be done with the Dave Ramsey book. Going to try and get the kids to bed and read away. Night all.......
Had a killer lunch at Mexican place. Came home for a couple hours and picked up my signs, then went to pick up kids. Hit up CVS to get a bunch of free make up, which will go to my ex-wife. I got $80 worth of Covergirl makeup for free and for each $30 I bought I got a $10 Gift Card of choice, which I got Barnes & Noble. I had 10 coupons for $8 off 2 Covergirl Products and it was on sale Buy 1 Get 2nd one Half off. Came home and finished up Lexies paper for school and getting kids ready for bed. I have to take them to the dentist at 9:30 then to school tomorrow.
So I am almost finished the Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey and plan to dive in head first next week when I get paid next. Had a chat with kids about it as well to make them understand how we will all be better off making sacrafices now. I am going to try to finish the last bit of the book and get a budget together for my next paycheck. I have to budget every dollar I have coming in. So a budget will be made for my 2 regular checks and my sign check each month. I will control my money. After I get a few things current gonna start hammering on my biggest debt that hangs over my head. Its about $7,000 and gonna hammer away at it hard as I can. Thats just the beginning. Going to work a few other little bills in there as I go. I will get back on top of my bible study tomorrow night since I will be done with the Dave Ramsey book. Going to try and get the kids to bed and read away. Night all.......
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Day 14 Bored
Well so far today is a lazy day. Yesterday pretty much sucked all the way around. Spent a couple hours fighting with my bank and eventually had to cancel my account and start a new one. I got into a bit of a mess with a few payday loans and had to get them to stop hitting my account. At least its fixed now and I will have to work it out with each one seperate. Dont ever do that stuff. Now I have to figure out how I am going to make it through the week since my check was ate up by the mess. Then I go out to do my signs and I bust my ass putting a sign on the side of a ditch. Get stuck in Fair traffic. All this along with the morons in Berkeley County and Goose Creek who mow grass running over all my stakes and making it so I have to put all new ones out for about 40 signs. Really wish I could face these guys and let them know how ignorant they are. I wanted to come home when I got done about 830 and just drink myself silly. I didnt have a drop though. Just made some dinner and watched TV, read more Dave Ramsey and went to bed around midnight. I also took some pics of all my Tupperware stuff to put on CraigsList. Not messing with it anymore and I need the money.
So today I pretty much lay around till about noon, watching TV and dozing in and out. I finally got out of bed and made a couple packs of bacon and some eggs. When I cook bacon I make a bunch since its so time consuming and messy and save it in the fridge. I cleaned the kitchen, started some laundry and cruised CraigsList for a while. I got a response from someone who wants to trade a like new JukeBox that holds CD's for the Tupperware. May do it if he responds back. Its pretty neat. Reading some more in Dave Ramsey's book. Hadnt heard from Clinton today. He must be tied up with something. He is one of the most amazing friends I have here. I need to scrub my bathroom, but we will see. Alrighty, just wanted to keep ya updated since I didnt post anything yesterday. I will have kids tomorrow night so I can take them to Dentist on Monday morning. Still have to figure out how I am going to get them to the fair. This is the stuff that stresses me. After that no more big spending like that till I get on track. I will be starting my Total Money Makeover. Gonna go count some change and get a pack of cigarettes. Be back later...
So today I pretty much lay around till about noon, watching TV and dozing in and out. I finally got out of bed and made a couple packs of bacon and some eggs. When I cook bacon I make a bunch since its so time consuming and messy and save it in the fridge. I cleaned the kitchen, started some laundry and cruised CraigsList for a while. I got a response from someone who wants to trade a like new JukeBox that holds CD's for the Tupperware. May do it if he responds back. Its pretty neat. Reading some more in Dave Ramsey's book. Hadnt heard from Clinton today. He must be tied up with something. He is one of the most amazing friends I have here. I need to scrub my bathroom, but we will see. Alrighty, just wanted to keep ya updated since I didnt post anything yesterday. I will have kids tomorrow night so I can take them to Dentist on Monday morning. Still have to figure out how I am going to get them to the fair. This is the stuff that stresses me. After that no more big spending like that till I get on track. I will be starting my Total Money Makeover. Gonna go count some change and get a pack of cigarettes. Be back later...
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Day 12
Arrived home safely from Charlotte at about 3:30 today. All unpacked, laundry done and started working on Dave Ramsey's Book further. I am preparing to get out of my financial hole once and for all. I sorted all the bills I have saved over the last 7 or so years. Old hospital, phone, random stuff and all the people and companies I owe money to. The figure to clear it all up was a bit staggering. I estimated some or rounded off some. I will be able to settle many for much less then owed. I also got a free copy of my credit report to work on along with the bills. I have kind of a 1st Priority List and a 2nd Priority list. Not going to post how much quite yet until I get more organized and get a more accurate figure. Lots of the hospital bills are so old, duplicates and some from hospital also have collection notices. So I am going to have to contact the folks and get a complete current list of what I owe. With all this said it should knock it down, but still pretty ugly. I am going to go read a bit more in Dave Ramsey's Book instead of Bible tonight. Will work on that more tomorrow night. Tomorrow is going to be hectic and suck. Have signs to do as well. Hope to get the finances stuff in order this weekend and get it rolling. Gonna do what I have to so I can get it all out from under me. Gonna be a lot of changes I will HAVE to make and kids will have to understand we cant do so much. Will be worth it in the end to have it all gone. I will keep you updated. Good Night until tomorrow.....
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Day 11 & Last night in Charlotte
So Tuesday I missed which was Day 10. We started the day at 5am and were on the road a bit after 6 headed to Charlotte for a Team Dealers show. This show is basically for vendors to share new products for the 2012 season and to give us a head start on starting to sell football for next year. Football selling starts with Pre-Orders almost a year in advance for most schools. Most of the main vendors we sell goods for show us all the latest and greatest and spend personal time with us to answer any questions. We have appointments nearly every hour with vendors to meet with just our store sales staff. Its a hugh amount of great info for us. At about 6pm we wrapped up the meetings for a cocktail social hour that ran till about 8. We then proceeded to decide where to go eat dinner. We chose this awesome Brewery. Great steak and Stuffed Shrimp dinner. Then hit a local pub for more hanging out. Got to hang out and connect a little more with the people I work with which isn't always easy back home. Had an awesome time, even had a one girl with us who was a rep who I really enjoyed talking to, married of course. Not many girls at this kind of thing. She was here to rep a vendor we use. On our walk back to the hotel we ended up at a small Irish Pub. Finally about 1am or so we called it a night and caught a cab back to the hotel. I sent a few texts under the influence, which never amounts to anything. :) Finally crashed about 2am. back up at 8am today to eat and start meetings again. Went to another awesome dinner tonight with a few folks and decided no hanging out tonight. Back to the room about 9. Up at 7 tomorrow for a couple more meetings and back on the road home. Hotel is called The Blake and its a pretty nice place with lots going on. Its pretty old and could use a bit of work in some areas, Breakfast sucks and shower was barely trickling out, but tough with an old building. View from our room is pretty awesome looking at the NASCAR headquarters and can see a good part of the city.
So I was going to read some of my bible and decided to start reading Dave Ramsey's book Financial Makeover. Good stuff so far. I so need it and it will be my next important thing to get my financial stress out of my life. I am going to work on being debt free by the end of 2012. I need to put together all my bills, maybe this weekend, and see where I am starting from. I have so many old unpaid bills its crazy. I owe a few people some money, but not tons. I have gotten in a bind with Payday Checks and stuff that I need to get myself out of. Going to have to make some hard decisions to say no to eating out so much, and spending money on things that I don't need to. So will be some dramatic changes for me. I may go read another couple chapters then calling it a night. Be good to be back home. I do love the big city feel of being in Charlotte for sure. Wish Charleston was the same. Was good getting away from the store for a few days, but Friday I will be back at it and have a few really tough challenges to work out with some orders that are not going as planned. Will have to see how that pans out. Good Night folks and if anyone actually is reading this thanks much.
So I was going to read some of my bible and decided to start reading Dave Ramsey's book Financial Makeover. Good stuff so far. I so need it and it will be my next important thing to get my financial stress out of my life. I am going to work on being debt free by the end of 2012. I need to put together all my bills, maybe this weekend, and see where I am starting from. I have so many old unpaid bills its crazy. I owe a few people some money, but not tons. I have gotten in a bind with Payday Checks and stuff that I need to get myself out of. Going to have to make some hard decisions to say no to eating out so much, and spending money on things that I don't need to. So will be some dramatic changes for me. I may go read another couple chapters then calling it a night. Be good to be back home. I do love the big city feel of being in Charlotte for sure. Wish Charleston was the same. Was good getting away from the store for a few days, but Friday I will be back at it and have a few really tough challenges to work out with some orders that are not going as planned. Will have to see how that pans out. Good Night folks and if anyone actually is reading this thanks much.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Day 9 & Clayton Update
So today was a bit hectic. Clayton stayed with me last night because I was to take him to an appointment with the neurologists at 12. I had to go into work for a couple hours first to get some things done. Had to get some orders finished up. Then ran back home to get him and then back to MUSC which lasted till about 2. Ate some lunch together, took him back to my house, back to work, back home at 5, took him home. Running like crazy. Then ran to Wal-Mart to wait an hour to get my two prescription refills. Now home and I still have to pack because I am leaving town tomorrow for 3 days to Charlotte for work. Have to be up at 5 to get going for that. Leaving work I had a bit of a tiff with the Office Manager. We disagree on so many things and are like arch enemies at times. She is a challenge to deal with for many and I agree with many things she does. She just thinks and knows she is the best thing to ever happen to the company and it will never change. Her attitude is that she works more, does more, contributes more and anything she needs from you is more important then anything you are doing. She tries to micro manage the entire store. Could care less about customer service and is always right. I just gave up on a good working relationship a while back and today it just got to me again. She makes things so difficult. She does not understand why she can never get ahead and its so obvious she should stay out of certain things and stop wasting time on things are not important to progress for the company. I know it does not sound like it, but I love her to death and would do anything she asked. We both are very passionate about doing things the right way, she just goes overboard with it. The owner asked her to make sure I got the laptop I was supposed to get 2.5 months ago when I went to outside sales. So she asked him if I got to keep the desktop I have in my office or if she should trade them out. WHY, Because she is in something she doesn't need to be in. Do what the owner said and move on. My desktop has my entire history with the company along with THOUSANDS of orders, production orders, e-mails and files that are vital I have access to. SO I told her I am not giving it up until she has all my files transferred to the laptop. Mind you she is not my superior. I answer to the owners and she is not in my chain of command except as a co-worker. She said she doesn't know if she will get the computer guy to come by before taking my desktop. Told her she was a pain in the ass and said keep the laptop and left for the day. Let her know at 930am I needed her to do whatever she needed to so I could have it for my trip and at 430 she had nothing ready. So my response at this point is keep it till SHE DECIDES she has time to mess with it. Drives me nuts. Sorry for ranting. All better now, just back to staying away from her at work.
So talked with Clayton's Doc who actually specializes in Motor Ticks. She started him on a pretty vigorous medicine regimen last week and Friday she upped it hoping to see progress. Ticks were still very frequent, but a bunch less then it was and the pain was not as bad for him. So it surely showed progress. She felt it will continue to progress and gave him a medicine to take to help with the severity over the next week or so. He has been out of school starting with last Monday. So this will help him there to. He has to get back, he has been doing so well with that. He likes to lay around in awkward positions to help ease it. So we will see how this week goes. Should be better for him. It was really nice having him around for 3 nights. I found myself watching him sleep cause I miss them all the time. Off to do some packing. Hope I get my reading in, but I have to get to bed early tonight.
So talked with Clayton's Doc who actually specializes in Motor Ticks. She started him on a pretty vigorous medicine regimen last week and Friday she upped it hoping to see progress. Ticks were still very frequent, but a bunch less then it was and the pain was not as bad for him. So it surely showed progress. She felt it will continue to progress and gave him a medicine to take to help with the severity over the next week or so. He has been out of school starting with last Monday. So this will help him there to. He has to get back, he has been doing so well with that. He likes to lay around in awkward positions to help ease it. So we will see how this week goes. Should be better for him. It was really nice having him around for 3 nights. I found myself watching him sleep cause I miss them all the time. Off to do some packing. Hope I get my reading in, but I have to get to bed early tonight.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Bible Reading this Evening
So I am still working on Exodus. Last Night I actually read through Chapter 11. Tonight I was reading chapter 12-19. I stopped there to put Clayton to bed and I am pretty tired. Also Chapter 20 starts the 10 commandments, which is a good starting point. My reading tonight took me through the Israelites journey from the Egyptians. God finally punished Egypt enough for the Pharaoh to say take your people and leave to worship your God. They began their tough journey and the people still protested Moses about the conditions of the journey. Moses has more then shown his people he is guided and directed by God personally. He always provided for them. In the meantime Egypt had a change of heart when they realized they sent all the slaves away who provided them with services. So they sent an Army of soldiers to stop them. Moses split the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to pass and when the Egyptians followed the sea swallowed them all up. Passover was broken down into steps directly from God. Basically it was to symbolize the passover to a new life away from the Egyptians. It involves a month of rituals and actions to show dedication to God and to separate the Israelites from the Egyptians for God actions to come against Egypt. He is going to kill the first born of everything to the Egyptians all across the land. The blood of lambs and goats will be spread on the passage ways of followers. To convert all the men in your house had to be circumcised. the next chapters spell out the 10 Commandments of the Lord to live by in the NEW LIFE God is providing for the Israelites.
Time to lay down and maybe read a bit in my Business Magazine. Already saw a business I like. Rental boxes for moving people. Its a very green business, all the boxes are made from plastics that will never break down in land fills. Good Stuff. I will never understand why communities don't have recycle programs in place. Goose Creek and Berkeley County do very little. Did you know it costs money for a business to have recycle cans brought in? We should have recycle bins on our curbs or at least in our complex. Instead there are a few recycle convenience centers around town. As many have already embraced Green Industries will be leaders in business. Can you find a use for something that is wasted everyday and help save the Planet? I try to think of things everyday that can be recycled and re-used. Something unique that is not already being done. That will be the million dollar idea....Good Night...
Time to lay down and maybe read a bit in my Business Magazine. Already saw a business I like. Rental boxes for moving people. Its a very green business, all the boxes are made from plastics that will never break down in land fills. Good Stuff. I will never understand why communities don't have recycle programs in place. Goose Creek and Berkeley County do very little. Did you know it costs money for a business to have recycle cans brought in? We should have recycle bins on our curbs or at least in our complex. Instead there are a few recycle convenience centers around town. As many have already embraced Green Industries will be leaders in business. Can you find a use for something that is wasted everyday and help save the Planet? I try to think of things everyday that can be recycled and re-used. Something unique that is not already being done. That will be the million dollar idea....Good Night...
Day 8 And Random Stuff
Started the day with Lexy making biscuits, Sausage and eggs for us all. Great to wake up to. She loves to cook and wants to own a bakery one day. She is doing good around the kitchen. Just have to get her to the cleaning the mess up part. LOL.... We went to the early service at church this morning. They have had a series going about Sex & Christians. Main thing is sex is meant to be enjoyed within marriage between a man and woman. I have been waiting to hear the answer to a question that was kind of awkward I had. Most of the examples to do with sexual immorality had to do with sex within and outside of marriage. Well lets just say I have been single for a couple years now and had no partners around. So I asked the dreaded question of Curt after the service. What if you are not in a relationship, have no prospect or desire to be married anytime soon, is it immoral to take care of yourself. Had a feeling I knew the answer. Its immoral. He asked me why not date and possibly fond a woman I may want to marry. I just have to much baggage and would feel selfish laying that on anyone. My past could surely affect things for her and I don't think that would be fair. So I surely need to make some changes to my life. Pure to marriage surely seems a challenge this day and age, but without a doubt its the biblical way. Cut and dry if your partner wants to not wait or leave you then the response is see ya. One statement he made is that if a partner needs sexual relations to feel loved then they do not truly love you. That kind of struck a cord with me. Dealt with this in a past relationship and even argued about it. She needed sex to feel loved and not to be enjoyed. Kind of took the fun part out of it for me. She should have known with my actions I loved and cared for her. Anyway good sermon. Still no response about my People helping People idea.....Will see how it goes this week. I want a cut and dry response. Interested to see what it will be.
So I kept Clayton tonight, because he has a doctors appointment in the morning. We did manage to stop by the Flea Market and talk to a local lady who makes candles. I have been working on getting started making candles. I have wanted to do that for about 5 years now. So I chatted with the lady at the Flea Market who makes amazing Soy Candles, Melts, Tarts, Votives, Does incense and Oil Sticks all that scentiful type stuff. She only sells at Flea Market and in no stores, has no web site and does not do any other types of events. I mentioned possibly working with her and she can make the candles and maybe I can help with the other aspects for some sort of deal. I am trying to sort it out in my head the best way to do this so it would be profitable for us both. I did decide on the new concept I will be using for my new website. It will be called "CROSSES and CANDLES" . So not sure if I want to buy wholesale from her and re-label them. She will fill your own containers as well. I want to get in some local stores and do other events. She said she simply does not have the drive to do those things, but would love to be in more places. So we will see where my thoughts lead me. Having her making them for me surely sounds best. Really have to think about costs and profits and if it would be worth while or not.
I am really liking my reading in the bible on a daily basis. It gives me something to think about with God all day and something to look forward to as well. I want to work on doing more with my blog, uploading pictures and various formatting items. I can also set up lists for bucket list, daily devotionals, pay it forward stuff and anything like that. Will worry about that later. Off to hang out with Clayton and do some reading. I will be in Charlotte out of town for 3 days. Really will suck to not have a laptop to do my blogs on. Will be lost for those days. Peace Out!!!!
By the way my favorite song in the world is the new LMFAO song I'm Sexy and I know It. JUST LOVE IT!!!!! One of my best feel good songs is Miley Cyrus singing THE CLIMB along with her AOL Video for it in person. Very touching and so true to life.... Miley Cyrus Video TURN IT UP AND LISTEN!!!
So I kept Clayton tonight, because he has a doctors appointment in the morning. We did manage to stop by the Flea Market and talk to a local lady who makes candles. I have been working on getting started making candles. I have wanted to do that for about 5 years now. So I chatted with the lady at the Flea Market who makes amazing Soy Candles, Melts, Tarts, Votives, Does incense and Oil Sticks all that scentiful type stuff. She only sells at Flea Market and in no stores, has no web site and does not do any other types of events. I mentioned possibly working with her and she can make the candles and maybe I can help with the other aspects for some sort of deal. I am trying to sort it out in my head the best way to do this so it would be profitable for us both. I did decide on the new concept I will be using for my new website. It will be called "CROSSES and CANDLES" . So not sure if I want to buy wholesale from her and re-label them. She will fill your own containers as well. I want to get in some local stores and do other events. She said she simply does not have the drive to do those things, but would love to be in more places. So we will see where my thoughts lead me. Having her making them for me surely sounds best. Really have to think about costs and profits and if it would be worth while or not.
I am really liking my reading in the bible on a daily basis. It gives me something to think about with God all day and something to look forward to as well. I want to work on doing more with my blog, uploading pictures and various formatting items. I can also set up lists for bucket list, daily devotionals, pay it forward stuff and anything like that. Will worry about that later. Off to hang out with Clayton and do some reading. I will be in Charlotte out of town for 3 days. Really will suck to not have a laptop to do my blogs on. Will be lost for those days. Peace Out!!!!
By the way my favorite song in the world is the new LMFAO song I'm Sexy and I know It. JUST LOVE IT!!!!! One of my best feel good songs is Miley Cyrus singing THE CLIMB along with her AOL Video for it in person. Very touching and so true to life.... Miley Cyrus Video TURN IT UP AND LISTEN!!!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Day & And Starting Exodus
Today was a power packed busy day for us of fun. Started when I woke up and find a very large stack of pancakes on the pillow in my bed. Lexy loves to cook. Plus she was ready to get to the Fall Festival and Food Drive in Goose Creek. So we all got ready and headed out around 9. Was a very large event. Lots of fun stuff to do. We took 3 bags of food to donate. We got a raffle ticket for every two items we donated. Local businesses donated all kinds of good stuff. Lexy played on the Jump Castles and rode a horse. Was a great time. We bought 10 more raffle tickets as well. All the prizes were given out at 2pm and we stayed. Clayton had a great time. He laid around for a while on a bench and we chilled with lunch in the shade for a bit. His back is bothering him from his tick and it was surely better today then yesterday. Still not good though...So during the raffles Clayton was called and won a gift bag with a couple cheap toys and lots of candy in it. Then one of my tickets were called and I sent Lexy to get the prize and it was a pair of girls sunglasses, Costa's with a $150 tag on them. Then we got called again and I won a pair of Elizabeth Arden sunglasses with a $110 tag on them. Pretty good way to end the festival. So we headed home to relax for a bit.
Next we made a great dinner, Chicken Alfredo with garlic bread. We had plans to head to Cypress Gardens for the Haunted Swamp night. We opted to not take the boat ride because it may have been more then they bargained for. So we planned to just get General Admission. Good thing because the tickets were sold out when we got there for the boat ride. So it costs us $5 to get in for a terrible deal. Roasted a couple marshmallows, Heard a crappy ghost story, they had a food stand(that we didn't partake in) and they had a crappy little walking trail that was maybe good for babies. We were gone in less then 30 minutes. Lexie put it best when she said I would have rather of sat home and counted my hair. So we walked around Wal-Mart and went and got a Sundae at McDonalds. Which brings me to the best news in a while. THE MC RIB IS BACK!!!!!! Favorite sandwich in the world....Kids were both in bed by 10 sleeping.
So I started reading Exodus in the bible. Chapters 1-10 tonight. Pretty wild start about Jacob trying to convince the Pharaoh of Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery. This is when the famous words were spoken to the Pharaoh " LET MY PEOPLE GO He and his brother Adam are speaking to God who guided them to place hardships on Egypt until he agreed to let them go. They told the Pharaoh God was speaking through them, but he refused to believe the miracle placed against Egypt. He eventually let them go. That's about where I left it for tonight. Good start to the book following the timeline.
Good Night, that all for now. Church in the morning, signs and I may let Clayton stay here since he has a doctor appointment I am taking him to for his tick. Talk more tomorrow.
Next we made a great dinner, Chicken Alfredo with garlic bread. We had plans to head to Cypress Gardens for the Haunted Swamp night. We opted to not take the boat ride because it may have been more then they bargained for. So we planned to just get General Admission. Good thing because the tickets were sold out when we got there for the boat ride. So it costs us $5 to get in for a terrible deal. Roasted a couple marshmallows, Heard a crappy ghost story, they had a food stand(that we didn't partake in) and they had a crappy little walking trail that was maybe good for babies. We were gone in less then 30 minutes. Lexie put it best when she said I would have rather of sat home and counted my hair. So we walked around Wal-Mart and went and got a Sundae at McDonalds. Which brings me to the best news in a while. THE MC RIB IS BACK!!!!!! Favorite sandwich in the world....Kids were both in bed by 10 sleeping.
So I started reading Exodus in the bible. Chapters 1-10 tonight. Pretty wild start about Jacob trying to convince the Pharaoh of Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery. This is when the famous words were spoken to the Pharaoh " LET MY PEOPLE GO He and his brother Adam are speaking to God who guided them to place hardships on Egypt until he agreed to let them go. They told the Pharaoh God was speaking through them, but he refused to believe the miracle placed against Egypt. He eventually let them go. That's about where I left it for tonight. Good start to the book following the timeline.
Good Night, that all for now. Church in the morning, signs and I may let Clayton stay here since he has a doctor appointment I am taking him to for his tick. Talk more tomorrow.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Day 6 and Clayton
Today started at 5am for some weird reason. I was up till 1 already. Got to work a little after 6. Had a lot to do and wanted to take off a bit early to get signs done and go get my babies. I only have about 100 signs now to put out so I am going to start getting my babies on Fridays for 2 nights. Good stuff. We all went out with Clinton to Mexican.
Clayton has ADHD and has been medicated for quite some time for it to help his focus and such in school primarily. He has also developed Motor Ticks. Usually they move around and are in different parts of his body. Kind of a twitching type thing. Well this past couple weeks it has gotten progressively worst. Me and Danielle talked about it and she finally got a hold of the neurologists who sees Clayton for this. She changed up his medications and it still has not helped after several days. She talked to her again today and they increased his dose. I didn't realize how bad it was till I picked them up tonight. Its hard for him to stand or even sit straight. His whole body jolts pretty wildly. It about brought me to tears at dinner as he layed in my lap and said he wished it would go away. He stayed home from school all week, now I understand why. I even texted Danielle a little while ago and told her I didn't realize it was so bad. I wanted to almost take him to the Hospital. His back is hurting and he actually has a small bruise from it being wild. I have put heat patches on his back and held him to try and help it. I went ahead and put him to bed because it doesn't happen while he is sleeping. My poor baby. Hurts me to the core when he says I just wish it would stop or change to another tick. I feel so helpless for my boy. I wish it were me and not him. I wish I could take it away. I have an appointment on Monday to take him to the doc. Hope she can get this under control. Lexy has been so understanding. She has not been so hard on him with the fussing. He is pretty sensitive about it all. Gonna go to a Fall Festival tomorrow morning and Haunted river Boat ride tomorrow night. Hope he can hold up alright.
Alrighty I am going to start my next Book in the bible. Genesis was pretty good. Time for Exodus, lets see how that goes.
Clayton has ADHD and has been medicated for quite some time for it to help his focus and such in school primarily. He has also developed Motor Ticks. Usually they move around and are in different parts of his body. Kind of a twitching type thing. Well this past couple weeks it has gotten progressively worst. Me and Danielle talked about it and she finally got a hold of the neurologists who sees Clayton for this. She changed up his medications and it still has not helped after several days. She talked to her again today and they increased his dose. I didn't realize how bad it was till I picked them up tonight. Its hard for him to stand or even sit straight. His whole body jolts pretty wildly. It about brought me to tears at dinner as he layed in my lap and said he wished it would go away. He stayed home from school all week, now I understand why. I even texted Danielle a little while ago and told her I didn't realize it was so bad. I wanted to almost take him to the Hospital. His back is hurting and he actually has a small bruise from it being wild. I have put heat patches on his back and held him to try and help it. I went ahead and put him to bed because it doesn't happen while he is sleeping. My poor baby. Hurts me to the core when he says I just wish it would stop or change to another tick. I feel so helpless for my boy. I wish it were me and not him. I wish I could take it away. I have an appointment on Monday to take him to the doc. Hope she can get this under control. Lexy has been so understanding. She has not been so hard on him with the fussing. He is pretty sensitive about it all. Gonna go to a Fall Festival tomorrow morning and Haunted river Boat ride tomorrow night. Hope he can hold up alright.
Alrighty I am going to start my next Book in the bible. Genesis was pretty good. Time for Exodus, lets see how that goes.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
People Helping People
So I have had this idea for a while to have a website that will connect people who have needs with people who can help with needs. It will have to be Christian based. Me, Stephanie and Clinton started to lay some groundwork for it, before it really just got overwhelming with all the things to consider and the site started to get pretty complex. Gonna do it simple soon enough. Here is the thing. I have always felt there is a strong need within our church, and many others, to address the needs of the members and let members help members. Site would be a way to connect members not only with people from their church, but a group of churches in our area. Essentially people share needs with their church, they post it on site and people can visit site to help if they can. I look around the church and pride is in everyone's eyes. So much so you never know if that guy next to you is starving or could use that washer that has been in your garage for 5 years. Someone could really need nails or hair cut, but cant afford it. How many people have things laying around their house they would give to another Christian in need or even if they could just really use it. I know there has to be some monitoring and road blocks in place to prevent abuse, Needs could only come from church officials not general public. The needs can be posted anonymously. Has to be monitored at all times for the most part.
So recently I sent our pastor Curt a letter to get his feedback on the idea and suggest a small step within the church to get things started and maybe gauge how much success a site that did this same thing more automated would be. Just a bulletin board in the church, cards you can put in offering plate if you need help, church staff writes the need on a note card and assigns a number to it to post, you see posts on Sunday and if you can help you take the card and also drop in offering plate or maybe a box and put your contact info on the card to connect with the one who needs something you can offer. Would not allow monetary needs to be posted, simply because they would surely get out of control, and that is more of a deacon thing at church. Curt had the Missional Living pastor respond to me, which is cool, church is rather large and I understand he has to delegate some things.
The response was basically that a website is a great idea and never even responded to my idea about doing it within the church. Hmmmmm.... So I responded back yesterday and even asked Curt for just his thoughts on it yesterday and have not heard back yet. Hopefully tomorrow they will let me know. I understand a church, especially a large one, has to be careful of the things they get behind. I feel I thought the idea out well. Its not intrusive, its a choice and all I want the church to do is support it. I will keep the board up. I don't want constant advertising, I just need them to help me create awareness. I truly feel it will encourage fellowship. The down side to our church growing to the size it has is the members don't all know each other like they used to. They do lots of classes and fellowship things, but mostly targeted at this or that. This could connect 2 people who may have never met from 2 totally different walks of life. Someone living in a shack could connect with a guy who is very well off. Not for financial gain, but for a different perspective on things, maybe guidance from a different angle. The larger the church gets, the more clicks or groups you see. We are all guilty of this. We sit with the same people, in the same seats in our comfort zone. I want to try and drag people out of their comfort zone.
Anyway I will keep you update on the response and progress with this idea and concept. Its a void within the church that NEEDS to be filled. I honestly feel if people knew some of the needs others have they would help more then they do. We will see. Pray for me and guidance as I address what looks like may be a challenge to get going. Without the support of a church its a dead idea.
GOOD NIGHT!!!!!!!
So recently I sent our pastor Curt a letter to get his feedback on the idea and suggest a small step within the church to get things started and maybe gauge how much success a site that did this same thing more automated would be. Just a bulletin board in the church, cards you can put in offering plate if you need help, church staff writes the need on a note card and assigns a number to it to post, you see posts on Sunday and if you can help you take the card and also drop in offering plate or maybe a box and put your contact info on the card to connect with the one who needs something you can offer. Would not allow monetary needs to be posted, simply because they would surely get out of control, and that is more of a deacon thing at church. Curt had the Missional Living pastor respond to me, which is cool, church is rather large and I understand he has to delegate some things.
The response was basically that a website is a great idea and never even responded to my idea about doing it within the church. Hmmmmm.... So I responded back yesterday and even asked Curt for just his thoughts on it yesterday and have not heard back yet. Hopefully tomorrow they will let me know. I understand a church, especially a large one, has to be careful of the things they get behind. I feel I thought the idea out well. Its not intrusive, its a choice and all I want the church to do is support it. I will keep the board up. I don't want constant advertising, I just need them to help me create awareness. I truly feel it will encourage fellowship. The down side to our church growing to the size it has is the members don't all know each other like they used to. They do lots of classes and fellowship things, but mostly targeted at this or that. This could connect 2 people who may have never met from 2 totally different walks of life. Someone living in a shack could connect with a guy who is very well off. Not for financial gain, but for a different perspective on things, maybe guidance from a different angle. The larger the church gets, the more clicks or groups you see. We are all guilty of this. We sit with the same people, in the same seats in our comfort zone. I want to try and drag people out of their comfort zone.
Anyway I will keep you update on the response and progress with this idea and concept. Its a void within the church that NEEDS to be filled. I honestly feel if people knew some of the needs others have they would help more then they do. We will see. Pray for me and guidance as I address what looks like may be a challenge to get going. Without the support of a church its a dead idea.
GOOD NIGHT!!!!!!!
Day 5 and Finishing Genesis
Well, nothing really exciting about my day today. I was super busy at work. I am rather upset I can not find a good wholesale source in Charleston for Candle Making supplies. Would think there would be one somewhere around here. I did go play BINGO tonight. Good cheap past time event. I have an exciting life ya know....
Do I read the final Chapters in Genesis Chapter 41-50. These Chapters really seemed to round out the entire book to me with the story of Joseph. His brothers hated him so much they sold him to some Egyptians. He became enslaved, The rulers wife tried to lay with him and flipped it like he went after her, He was jailed and maintained a positive attitude the entire time, knowing he was doing what God had planned for him. Eventually he became second to the Pharaoh for being able to interpret his dreams and save Egypt. His brothers eventually had to come to him, not knowing who he was, and beg to buy food from Egypt. He gave them a hard time and eventually let them in on the secret of who he was. They of course were scared because Joseph had so much power. Joseph ended up taking them all in and was re-united with his father Israel. They ended up living happily ever after kind of.
I guess what I took from this part and the book overall is that God does not hold a grudge and if you are living under his wings you should not either. The average man would have surely seeked revenge on his brothers for such a horrible thing. Joseph embraced it as Gods will and knew that with all the good and bad God is leading the way to his kingdom. Live under Gods plan and know that every good and bad thing serves a specific purpose in your life. All the people who doubt you, put you down make you the person God wants you to be. Do not harbor ill will towards people, for without them, you may head in the wrong direction. Everything has a reason for happening.
Cant wait to see what Exodus holds for me to learn. Probably will not get much done this weekend, will try to blog a bit, don't want you to have withdrawals. LOL. I have work and my signs then go get the kids directly after that. Plan to take them to the Cypress Gardens Halloween thing Saturday night. I heard of a small craft fair and food drive we may find Saturday afternoon. Want to try and squeeze some pictures in with the kids as well. Got some free coupons for it. Just the basics, not buying a ton of extras. Whatever is free. Just want a nice picture for me and maybe a couple copies for some family. Found the candle making kit I want and its posted on Facebook if you want to buy it for me. Love ya lots and will make sure you get some candles on a regular basis. I know it may not be a great idea to take candles on but spent 5 years thinking about it and it is still in me to want to make them. More of a hobby really. Will maybe set my site back up and call it Candles & Crosses. 2 Things I really will enjoy doing as a hobby.
If anyone actually reads this far into my blog, I wanted feedback as you read my posts. I don't have any comments but a few people have looked around it says. No biggy if ya don't, it really is more for myself then anything. Gonna do a new post about an idea I have had on my heart forever. Not a money making idea so relax. :) Check it out next.
Do I read the final Chapters in Genesis Chapter 41-50. These Chapters really seemed to round out the entire book to me with the story of Joseph. His brothers hated him so much they sold him to some Egyptians. He became enslaved, The rulers wife tried to lay with him and flipped it like he went after her, He was jailed and maintained a positive attitude the entire time, knowing he was doing what God had planned for him. Eventually he became second to the Pharaoh for being able to interpret his dreams and save Egypt. His brothers eventually had to come to him, not knowing who he was, and beg to buy food from Egypt. He gave them a hard time and eventually let them in on the secret of who he was. They of course were scared because Joseph had so much power. Joseph ended up taking them all in and was re-united with his father Israel. They ended up living happily ever after kind of.
I guess what I took from this part and the book overall is that God does not hold a grudge and if you are living under his wings you should not either. The average man would have surely seeked revenge on his brothers for such a horrible thing. Joseph embraced it as Gods will and knew that with all the good and bad God is leading the way to his kingdom. Live under Gods plan and know that every good and bad thing serves a specific purpose in your life. All the people who doubt you, put you down make you the person God wants you to be. Do not harbor ill will towards people, for without them, you may head in the wrong direction. Everything has a reason for happening.
Cant wait to see what Exodus holds for me to learn. Probably will not get much done this weekend, will try to blog a bit, don't want you to have withdrawals. LOL. I have work and my signs then go get the kids directly after that. Plan to take them to the Cypress Gardens Halloween thing Saturday night. I heard of a small craft fair and food drive we may find Saturday afternoon. Want to try and squeeze some pictures in with the kids as well. Got some free coupons for it. Just the basics, not buying a ton of extras. Whatever is free. Just want a nice picture for me and maybe a couple copies for some family. Found the candle making kit I want and its posted on Facebook if you want to buy it for me. Love ya lots and will make sure you get some candles on a regular basis. I know it may not be a great idea to take candles on but spent 5 years thinking about it and it is still in me to want to make them. More of a hobby really. Will maybe set my site back up and call it Candles & Crosses. 2 Things I really will enjoy doing as a hobby.
If anyone actually reads this far into my blog, I wanted feedback as you read my posts. I don't have any comments but a few people have looked around it says. No biggy if ya don't, it really is more for myself then anything. Gonna do a new post about an idea I have had on my heart forever. Not a money making idea so relax. :) Check it out next.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Tonights Bible Reading
Tonight's Reading was Genesis Chapter 29-40. These chapters showed me lots of pretty wild things going on with relationships back then. Men frequently married cousins. Women who could not have children would often bring the maidservants to their husbands to sleep with so they could bear a child. Men had several wives. Seems the ration of boys to girls born was way out of whack in favor of boys. Women actually would wait 7 years for a man. Men would pay fathers for their wives in labor for seven years and offerings of livestock for favor was a normal thing. The one thing that puzzles me is why did God show favor to some men and not others. Guessing the others would not accept or worship God. Not clear yet, but lots of reading to still do. Jealousy seemed to be pretty rampant. Joseph was actually sold by his jealous brothers who lied about him vanishing.
My question would be is where did the days go when women appreciated a good man. Women submitted to the men and their husbands. The phrase "Till Death Do Us Part" meant something. They stood by each other no matter what. Now don't take this as a statement of women should be slaves to men, I mean it as a statement that couples give up to quick and easy these days. You can get divorced for $150. Men or Women will give up, after a week of challenges, on each other. Back in the beginning they could spend weeks moving and years waiting for their mate.
Chapter 40 starts with the story of the Cup bearer and the Baker being tossed in jail. Their dreams were determined to be their fate.
What I take from this is that Only the Power of Go at work in men who love him can overcome the barriers that separate us. Do something today that actively builds a bridge to someone whom you may not otherwise relate. (These were words from an excerpt in the chapter and not mine) But hey really sum things up. We need to live by faith in God and not faith in man. Man has created many distortions in Gods plan. Why live like other men who may not believe in God and KNOW he is our Savior when you can live like God wants you to? Easy to say huh?
My question would be is where did the days go when women appreciated a good man. Women submitted to the men and their husbands. The phrase "Till Death Do Us Part" meant something. They stood by each other no matter what. Now don't take this as a statement of women should be slaves to men, I mean it as a statement that couples give up to quick and easy these days. You can get divorced for $150. Men or Women will give up, after a week of challenges, on each other. Back in the beginning they could spend weeks moving and years waiting for their mate.
Chapter 40 starts with the story of the Cup bearer and the Baker being tossed in jail. Their dreams were determined to be their fate.
What I take from this is that Only the Power of Go at work in men who love him can overcome the barriers that separate us. Do something today that actively builds a bridge to someone whom you may not otherwise relate. (These were words from an excerpt in the chapter and not mine) But hey really sum things up. We need to live by faith in God and not faith in man. Man has created many distortions in Gods plan. Why live like other men who may not believe in God and KNOW he is our Savior when you can live like God wants you to? Easy to say huh?
Day 4 and Some of Eric's Favorite's
Well, did some work from home today. Got another great e-mail for a big sale I have been waiting for. Went and grabbed a few coupon deals and did well with that. I got a ton of stuff from 4 stores for $4.67 total spent. Need to blog a bit about me and coupons soon. Went to dinner with a couple friends, Clinton and Louie at Brecks. Killer steak.
So lets pick a few categories and I will list some of my favorites. Will let you know a bit more about me.
Dinner: Spaghetti, Steak and Baked Potato, Green Beans, Chili
Breakfast: Ham & Cheese Omelet and Pretty Much all Breakfast Food. McD's Biscuits and gravy, Chick-Fil-A Sausage, Egg and Cheese Biscuit
Desserts: A nice creamy cheesecake, chewy cookies, Chewy Brownies
Movies: Top Gun, anything Anthony Hopkins, Saw Movies, Dumb & Dumber, Transformers, Lion King, Rocky Movies, Horror, Comedy and Action in General...
TV: Seinfeld, King of Queens, Two and a Half Men, Storage Wars, Dumbest People Video Shows, UFC, Anything on World History especially like Nazi or Egypt, Big Bang Theory
Actresses: Angelina Jolie, Penny from Big Bang Theory, Brandy from Storage Wars, Demi Moore, Alyssa Milano (Favorite), Winona Ryder
Music: AC/DC, Guns N Roses, Metallica, Def Leopard, Eagles, James Taylor, U2, REM, Billy Joel, John Michael Montgomery, LMFAO, Black Eye Peas, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Old Green Day, Christian Rock, Classical Piano Music, Love the sound of bagpipes it all depends on the Mood
Sports: Ice Hockey, Football, Poker
Well that's enough of my Favorites for now. Time for some reading.
So lets pick a few categories and I will list some of my favorites. Will let you know a bit more about me.
Dinner: Spaghetti, Steak and Baked Potato, Green Beans, Chili
Breakfast: Ham & Cheese Omelet and Pretty Much all Breakfast Food. McD's Biscuits and gravy, Chick-Fil-A Sausage, Egg and Cheese Biscuit
Desserts: A nice creamy cheesecake, chewy cookies, Chewy Brownies
Movies: Top Gun, anything Anthony Hopkins, Saw Movies, Dumb & Dumber, Transformers, Lion King, Rocky Movies, Horror, Comedy and Action in General...
TV: Seinfeld, King of Queens, Two and a Half Men, Storage Wars, Dumbest People Video Shows, UFC, Anything on World History especially like Nazi or Egypt, Big Bang Theory
Actresses: Angelina Jolie, Penny from Big Bang Theory, Brandy from Storage Wars, Demi Moore, Alyssa Milano (Favorite), Winona Ryder
Music: AC/DC, Guns N Roses, Metallica, Def Leopard, Eagles, James Taylor, U2, REM, Billy Joel, John Michael Montgomery, LMFAO, Black Eye Peas, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Old Green Day, Christian Rock, Classical Piano Music, Love the sound of bagpipes it all depends on the Mood
Sports: Ice Hockey, Football, Poker
Well that's enough of my Favorites for now. Time for some reading.
Bible Reading from Last Night
So I crashed after my reading last night and didn't post about it. My reading this time was Genesis Chapter 21-28. Chapters were a bit long this time so didn't get through 10 like I wanted.
Chapter 21 started with the birth of Isaac to Sarah and Abraham. HE had waited for a child so many years, even committed adultery on his wife's request, to have a son and then the Lord asked him to sacrifice his son. Abraham agrees without question. The point being follow the word of the Lord without question. We question to many things the Lord directs us to do. This, I believe is a crucial problem with mankind, is because of the influence of man over the years. Sarah passes on and Abraham directs his servant to find his son a wife. They find Rebekah. Love the spelling of this by the way. Rebekah became pregnant with twins. The Lord directed one will rule the other. Esau and Jacob were the boys and Jacob would deceive his father and brother to steal a blessing from their aging father. Through Chapter 28 it really doesn't seem to have many other significant points. It talks mainly about splitting of the family and each son going separate ways.
Chapter 21 started with the birth of Isaac to Sarah and Abraham. HE had waited for a child so many years, even committed adultery on his wife's request, to have a son and then the Lord asked him to sacrifice his son. Abraham agrees without question. The point being follow the word of the Lord without question. We question to many things the Lord directs us to do. This, I believe is a crucial problem with mankind, is because of the influence of man over the years. Sarah passes on and Abraham directs his servant to find his son a wife. They find Rebekah. Love the spelling of this by the way. Rebekah became pregnant with twins. The Lord directed one will rule the other. Esau and Jacob were the boys and Jacob would deceive his father and brother to steal a blessing from their aging father. Through Chapter 28 it really doesn't seem to have many other significant points. It talks mainly about splitting of the family and each son going separate ways.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Day 3 & How I Think about Work & Such...
So this blog thing is moving right along. Has helped so far with keeping my bible study on track. Just started and learning lots. Today was pretty busy at work. I was in a great mood and got a lot of work done. Working from home tomorrow. Before the end of the day I got word I won a pretty good bid I did a couple weeks ago.
So I have been trying with my friend Stephanie and Clinton to figure a way to connect people in our church with others in our church who need help. You never know if the guy sitting next to you is starving or that funny smelling sloppy guy cant afford toiletries, or if a family needs a fridge, may need a resume to help get a job. Could be a million things. Church can not help everyone, but I am quite certain someone within our church could help if they knew that someone needed it they could help. How many people have a washer they don't want sitting in the garage. So our first idea was a website to help connect members with members. You submit needs to office, maybe in offering plate, they send to me to list on the site. It can be anonymous and if someone wants to help a need they get connected through me or the site. Churches could be listed and members can browse their church or other churches to help with what they can offer.
Realizing this is a lot more then we thought, In the meantime, I was thinking a bulletin board of some sort for members to see. Have needs then put a postcard in the offering plate, church office posts needs on board with an ID number of some sort, members take cards and write contact info on card they can help and turn it in to office to connect the members. At least until site can be done right. So we will see. I sent this to Pastor Curt at my church to see what his thoughts were.
So me and how my mind works when it comes to work and making money. I already went through an extensive list of my regular jobs I have held in the past up till current day. Now for the other aspect of me and making money. My mind never stops thinking of ways to make money. I have tried more businesses then you could imagine. I am sure my family is over all my GREAT ideas and business start-ups. I have tried nearly every MLM (Amway, Tupperware, Telecom Companies, Etc), Had a lawn care business with friend George, Candy vending machines with my friend George. The Vending and Lawn Care were good to us for sure. Best two things we did. Here are just a handful of other things: Water Wishing Wells on business counter tops, Note Buying Business, Judgements Biz, Flea Market, Auctions, Rep for Candle Company, Credit Card Terminal Biz, Starting a Raffle Web Site, E-Bay Power Seller, Name Meaning Certificates, Contracted for Cabling Company, Wrote a credit repair booklet and sold it, Handy Man Business, Personalized Candy Wrapper Biz, Paracord Bracelets, ChainMaille Stuff, Making Cross Necklaces, Property Inventory Biz, Property Inspector and I am sure there as just as many I cant think of right now. On top of that I toss tons of ideas around in my head for new stuff. I keep a list in my Blackberry of businesses I think would be great. Text to Comment business, Rhino Bed liners, Concrete printing biz, Barber Shop, Buying & Selling Gift Cards, Couponing Classes and recent craze is I want to make Candles.
It doesn't stop. I always want to find a new way to make money and get on track to live off my own business. Let me break down some of these recent ideas.
Text To Comment Business: Concept is you own a business and have signage around that customers can text instant comments to management and corporate offices. Provides instant feedback. Maybe a 5 digit number for customers to use. Comments can be viewed online and responded to for resolutions or more details.
Rhino Bed liners: Spray on Bed Liners for Trucks. Only one dealer for Line-X in town. Rhino offers colors. Product can be used and sprayed on a variety of applications.
Concrete Printer: Printer that prints on concrete like you do on paper. Etches in the concrete. Pretty Cool stuff. Company logos on sidewalks etc.
Barber Shop: Seems like a good business if you can offer cheap haircuts. Local place charges $9 and kills it. Imagine $8 place in right location.
Buy & Sell Gift Cards: Buy for 50% of value and sell for 75%.
Coupon Classes: I am a coupon nut. Could do classes. Classes would be different then most others. They leave with coupons and shopping list. Could charge maybe $25 each.
Candle Business: This I will start doing soon. I have wanted to make candles for probably 5 years. I love candles and think it would be fun and something the kids could get involved in. Not gonna be life changing but something to do.
So there it is. I currently am narrowing things down I do. Recently sold the Paracord and ChainMaille, Selling off Tupperware and the number of signs I put out is way down. Oh yeah, the sign Job, I put out directional signs for new home builders to lead customers to their property. Pretty basic. Put them out on Friday, Pick up on Sunday.
My mind racing does get overwhelming at times. I actually have been told by my doctor to get medicate for help it. I have slowed it on that note. In the end I just feel so much pressure, caused by myself, to get ahead with my finances that I can not stop it. I like to dream big and will surely always dream big. Just don't like the pressure I put on myself sometimes. i think the decisions to try new things through more then I used to and don make rash decisions. I ultimately want to make my Crosses and Candles and work my job, until I can do bigger better things. I have dreams of owning hotels, Rehabbing Homes( Flips), Have free time to travel, Work on a bucket list, Have an amazing home on a hugh piece of land, Build homeless recovery shelters to help people, Own a Superbike Race Team, Season Redskins tickets and have a Custom Porsche. Just to name a few dreams.
OK off to read my bible. Be back soon to chat about my readings. Sorry I blabbed so long.
So I have been trying with my friend Stephanie and Clinton to figure a way to connect people in our church with others in our church who need help. You never know if the guy sitting next to you is starving or that funny smelling sloppy guy cant afford toiletries, or if a family needs a fridge, may need a resume to help get a job. Could be a million things. Church can not help everyone, but I am quite certain someone within our church could help if they knew that someone needed it they could help. How many people have a washer they don't want sitting in the garage. So our first idea was a website to help connect members with members. You submit needs to office, maybe in offering plate, they send to me to list on the site. It can be anonymous and if someone wants to help a need they get connected through me or the site. Churches could be listed and members can browse their church or other churches to help with what they can offer.
Realizing this is a lot more then we thought, In the meantime, I was thinking a bulletin board of some sort for members to see. Have needs then put a postcard in the offering plate, church office posts needs on board with an ID number of some sort, members take cards and write contact info on card they can help and turn it in to office to connect the members. At least until site can be done right. So we will see. I sent this to Pastor Curt at my church to see what his thoughts were.
So me and how my mind works when it comes to work and making money. I already went through an extensive list of my regular jobs I have held in the past up till current day. Now for the other aspect of me and making money. My mind never stops thinking of ways to make money. I have tried more businesses then you could imagine. I am sure my family is over all my GREAT ideas and business start-ups. I have tried nearly every MLM (Amway, Tupperware, Telecom Companies, Etc), Had a lawn care business with friend George, Candy vending machines with my friend George. The Vending and Lawn Care were good to us for sure. Best two things we did. Here are just a handful of other things: Water Wishing Wells on business counter tops, Note Buying Business, Judgements Biz, Flea Market, Auctions, Rep for Candle Company, Credit Card Terminal Biz, Starting a Raffle Web Site, E-Bay Power Seller, Name Meaning Certificates, Contracted for Cabling Company, Wrote a credit repair booklet and sold it, Handy Man Business, Personalized Candy Wrapper Biz, Paracord Bracelets, ChainMaille Stuff, Making Cross Necklaces, Property Inventory Biz, Property Inspector and I am sure there as just as many I cant think of right now. On top of that I toss tons of ideas around in my head for new stuff. I keep a list in my Blackberry of businesses I think would be great. Text to Comment business, Rhino Bed liners, Concrete printing biz, Barber Shop, Buying & Selling Gift Cards, Couponing Classes and recent craze is I want to make Candles.
It doesn't stop. I always want to find a new way to make money and get on track to live off my own business. Let me break down some of these recent ideas.
Text To Comment Business: Concept is you own a business and have signage around that customers can text instant comments to management and corporate offices. Provides instant feedback. Maybe a 5 digit number for customers to use. Comments can be viewed online and responded to for resolutions or more details.
Rhino Bed liners: Spray on Bed Liners for Trucks. Only one dealer for Line-X in town. Rhino offers colors. Product can be used and sprayed on a variety of applications.
Concrete Printer: Printer that prints on concrete like you do on paper. Etches in the concrete. Pretty Cool stuff. Company logos on sidewalks etc.
Barber Shop: Seems like a good business if you can offer cheap haircuts. Local place charges $9 and kills it. Imagine $8 place in right location.
Buy & Sell Gift Cards: Buy for 50% of value and sell for 75%.
Coupon Classes: I am a coupon nut. Could do classes. Classes would be different then most others. They leave with coupons and shopping list. Could charge maybe $25 each.
Candle Business: This I will start doing soon. I have wanted to make candles for probably 5 years. I love candles and think it would be fun and something the kids could get involved in. Not gonna be life changing but something to do.
So there it is. I currently am narrowing things down I do. Recently sold the Paracord and ChainMaille, Selling off Tupperware and the number of signs I put out is way down. Oh yeah, the sign Job, I put out directional signs for new home builders to lead customers to their property. Pretty basic. Put them out on Friday, Pick up on Sunday.
My mind racing does get overwhelming at times. I actually have been told by my doctor to get medicate for help it. I have slowed it on that note. In the end I just feel so much pressure, caused by myself, to get ahead with my finances that I can not stop it. I like to dream big and will surely always dream big. Just don't like the pressure I put on myself sometimes. i think the decisions to try new things through more then I used to and don make rash decisions. I ultimately want to make my Crosses and Candles and work my job, until I can do bigger better things. I have dreams of owning hotels, Rehabbing Homes( Flips), Have free time to travel, Work on a bucket list, Have an amazing home on a hugh piece of land, Build homeless recovery shelters to help people, Own a Superbike Race Team, Season Redskins tickets and have a Custom Porsche. Just to name a few dreams.
OK off to read my bible. Be back soon to chat about my readings. Sorry I blabbed so long.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Prayer for Tonight
Dear Heavenly Father, please guide me in your path for me. Its a challenge to stay focused on you and deal with the challenges I face, but I know you are with me. Please look over my family, I miss them greatly. I truly wish we were closer to each other. Please watch over my Father and Grandmother in these difficult times. Please guide Stephanie as she helps all she can to help them. Please guide me to make positive decisions for progress in my life for better health, financial and mental areas. Please keep me from loneliness that hangs over me at times. Please keep all my friends and family safe. Please take care of the needs according to your plan for the family my friend Stephanie prays for and wants to help. Please be with Delores and her family in these difficult times. PLEASE watch over my son Clayton as he struggles with his motor ticks and guide the doctors to do what is best for him. I love you Lord and thank you for the many positive things you have provided for me. Keep diligent watch over me and never give up on me. I know you wont. AMEN
Good Night Prayer and Bible Reading
So my reading tonight was Genesis Chapter 10-20. Starts out with more family tree info of kids and their kids and old guys and so on. Chapter 11 goes into some interesting points about how the nations were split and races and languages were barriers between men to get hem to spread about the entire earth. It was not done, as many argue, to separate and create hatred between nations and races. We are all of one Father and One God. We were all to still rely on "Biblical Unity" to keep us at peace. Didn't quite pan out that way. Abram became Abraham and his wife Sarai, beautiful name, became Sarah. Lord re-enforced his promise to provide them a child even in their aging status. Sarah convinces Abraham to commit adultery with her maid servant. Seems they lost trust in Gods promise for a bit. Chapter 17 talks about all men should be circumcised by Day 8 of living. So all Christians pretty much were circumcised, at least under the guidance and lineage of Abraham. God plans to destroy Sodom and decides to spare Lot who was Abraham's nephew, from what I can gather, from the destruction of this horrible city. Men raping men and so on in this crazy town. Guess this is where the word Sodomy came from. So Lot's wife cant turn from the destruction because she likes the evil city and she dies with it. Lot and his daughters move into the mountains and live i a safe cave. His daughters conspire to get him drunk and lay with him so the family will go on through them, since they have no brothers. The both have kids and that's he end of Chapter 19. Chapter 20 is about Abraham's wife being take and returned. Kind of like oops my mistake, You said she was your sister, and he had said that. Turns out it was a step sister type thing, which I guess was ttechnically OK back then.
One of the best things I read here was a quote in some sidebar stories was this " Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 Easier said then done right? We have to try though. I and I learned its not about making mistakes that will keep you from eternal life in heaven, but more about learning from those mistakes and moving forward to get back on track with being more Godly. You can not dwell on those mistakes and the past is not important. This seems to stand as a great truth not only back then, but in our current lives.
We ll stumble along the way, some more then others, but we must pick ourselves back up. We don't instantly become men and women of God, we must mature along the way....
Good Night
One of the best things I read here was a quote in some sidebar stories was this " Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 Easier said then done right? We have to try though. I and I learned its not about making mistakes that will keep you from eternal life in heaven, but more about learning from those mistakes and moving forward to get back on track with being more Godly. You can not dwell on those mistakes and the past is not important. This seems to stand as a great truth not only back then, but in our current lives.
We ll stumble along the way, some more then others, but we must pick ourselves back up. We don't instantly become men and women of God, we must mature along the way....
Good Night
Day 2 and Eric on Relationships
Today was pretty un-eventful. Didn't get to work till around 9. I got up at 630 but fell back asleep saying some morning prayers. Have a bunch of deliveries tomorrow and some cleaning up on some orders and that is about it. I am working from home on Wednesday. I love having that flexibility now. I do lots of paperwork and computer work looking for business. Helps save on gas and keeps me from eating out. Hung out with my friends tonight and had steak wraps that Stephanie made. I got 20 bottles of Dawn dish soap from Bi-Lo for free. Coupons are awesome. Blew off folding laundry for no reason.
So I figured I would talk about my relationship past and current. I have only really loved a handful of girls and only had a few serious relationships. My first true love was Natalie Strickland. I think I was 15 or so then. Awesome girl I met through my brothers. We lasted a couple years till she broke up with me. Pretty devastating to say the least. She is married now and has a little one. I don't communicate with her but have a few mutual friends and have seen a few pics of her. That's about the extent of it. I still know her address, birthday and phone number from High School. Beautiful girl no one could ever figure out what she saw in me. Then I fell in love with a girl named Karen from El Salvador. Was fun while it lasted. She was in College Park where I moved out on my own after high school. Gorgeous girl as sweet as they come. Then had a amazing friendship with a girl who used to date a friend of mine. Her name was Melanie Stephenson. Her and Karen both wrote me constantly at boot camp for the Marines and with out that it would have been hard to handle. While in Marines I only had a few fleeting dating situations, but mostly just "Friends". Saw to many relationships crash in the Marines. After the Marines I met the love of my life Danielle. We married had 2 wonderful kids and divorced about 6-7 years later. She is married now and is an amazing mom. Divorce destroyed me mentally. Was a rough ugly first few years. Still had sometimes to this day. We get along fine now and I am glad she is happy. She is having a baby girl soon. Her hubby refuses to communicate with me for no reason, but oh well, his choice. Childish, but oh well. I do still miss her and would take her back tomorrow, not happening though. Guess I was to focused on things other then my marriage and she gave up on it. Things ere pretty rocky in the end. Been a while now tough and its all good. Past is the past. We are both different people. She is a good mom, I see my kids all the time. We may not agree on some things but we talk them out instead of fighting now. I have had one girlfriend since the divorce. She was kinda nuts and decided she couldn't handle my baggage, despite me being very upfront, and we agreed to call it a day.
So up to current day I am single and have been for a couple years. I work to much and have to much baggage to drag any woman into. It just wouldn't be fair to them. Hoping to get it all worked out on this little venture of trying to improve things. I do miss it greatly some days and most days its fine being single. I do what I want and don't have to answer to anyone except myself. I miss the simple things like a good hug, walking in the rain, being goofy, hanging out and mostly it seems a simple kiss. Surprisingly, I miss sex a bit, but these days its the small things I miss more. If that makes sense? I have always felt very strongly that a guy should be able to take care of a woman. I can't even handle myself right now. I couldn't go out and enjoy a dinner or a movie. I sit around the house because I cant afford anything else. Pretty sure most women would be bored with that. I am content just want to be stable. I am driven to make a good future, I don't mind baggage at all from women. I can handle it all as long as its getting better. My kids come first no matter what. I don't need parenting advice. I like to joke, I am a hugh smart ass and like to laugh about lots. All I want is someone who will care no matter what it is and NEVER give up trying and dreaming big. Last girlfriend said I needed to dream more realistically. That's no fun... Once I have some more stability, which may be never, I will work on a relationship, surely not looking for one now. It could happen, but would be a miracle for sure. There are a good handful of girls I have met in the past, who I would surely like to know better, so maybe one day. Most are married though and the rest surely could do lots better. Just for the record I would NEVER dis-respect a marriage or relationship.
Gonna do some Bible reading and may crash before posting about it tonight. Pretty tired, for no real reason. Gonna talk a bit about my work ethics, drive and constant thoughts of ideas for a business to make extra money. Will give you a small dose of how my mind races thinking of new ideas all the time. May toss in some of my hopes and dreams for the future. Remember I dream big...
So I figured I would talk about my relationship past and current. I have only really loved a handful of girls and only had a few serious relationships. My first true love was Natalie Strickland. I think I was 15 or so then. Awesome girl I met through my brothers. We lasted a couple years till she broke up with me. Pretty devastating to say the least. She is married now and has a little one. I don't communicate with her but have a few mutual friends and have seen a few pics of her. That's about the extent of it. I still know her address, birthday and phone number from High School. Beautiful girl no one could ever figure out what she saw in me. Then I fell in love with a girl named Karen from El Salvador. Was fun while it lasted. She was in College Park where I moved out on my own after high school. Gorgeous girl as sweet as they come. Then had a amazing friendship with a girl who used to date a friend of mine. Her name was Melanie Stephenson. Her and Karen both wrote me constantly at boot camp for the Marines and with out that it would have been hard to handle. While in Marines I only had a few fleeting dating situations, but mostly just "Friends". Saw to many relationships crash in the Marines. After the Marines I met the love of my life Danielle. We married had 2 wonderful kids and divorced about 6-7 years later. She is married now and is an amazing mom. Divorce destroyed me mentally. Was a rough ugly first few years. Still had sometimes to this day. We get along fine now and I am glad she is happy. She is having a baby girl soon. Her hubby refuses to communicate with me for no reason, but oh well, his choice. Childish, but oh well. I do still miss her and would take her back tomorrow, not happening though. Guess I was to focused on things other then my marriage and she gave up on it. Things ere pretty rocky in the end. Been a while now tough and its all good. Past is the past. We are both different people. She is a good mom, I see my kids all the time. We may not agree on some things but we talk them out instead of fighting now. I have had one girlfriend since the divorce. She was kinda nuts and decided she couldn't handle my baggage, despite me being very upfront, and we agreed to call it a day.
So up to current day I am single and have been for a couple years. I work to much and have to much baggage to drag any woman into. It just wouldn't be fair to them. Hoping to get it all worked out on this little venture of trying to improve things. I do miss it greatly some days and most days its fine being single. I do what I want and don't have to answer to anyone except myself. I miss the simple things like a good hug, walking in the rain, being goofy, hanging out and mostly it seems a simple kiss. Surprisingly, I miss sex a bit, but these days its the small things I miss more. If that makes sense? I have always felt very strongly that a guy should be able to take care of a woman. I can't even handle myself right now. I couldn't go out and enjoy a dinner or a movie. I sit around the house because I cant afford anything else. Pretty sure most women would be bored with that. I am content just want to be stable. I am driven to make a good future, I don't mind baggage at all from women. I can handle it all as long as its getting better. My kids come first no matter what. I don't need parenting advice. I like to joke, I am a hugh smart ass and like to laugh about lots. All I want is someone who will care no matter what it is and NEVER give up trying and dreaming big. Last girlfriend said I needed to dream more realistically. That's no fun... Once I have some more stability, which may be never, I will work on a relationship, surely not looking for one now. It could happen, but would be a miracle for sure. There are a good handful of girls I have met in the past, who I would surely like to know better, so maybe one day. Most are married though and the rest surely could do lots better. Just for the record I would NEVER dis-respect a marriage or relationship.
Gonna do some Bible reading and may crash before posting about it tonight. Pretty tired, for no real reason. Gonna talk a bit about my work ethics, drive and constant thoughts of ideas for a business to make extra money. Will give you a small dose of how my mind races thinking of new ideas all the time. May toss in some of my hopes and dreams for the future. Remember I dream big...
Couple Bits About Eric
Well, at work on my lunch break and I figured I will break a few things I mentioned down for you to get a better understanding of me. There are many topics I want to break down for you but I have to only do a couple at a time.
First Lets talk about some of my basic goals here.
Health:
I have Type 2 Diabetes and take pills for it twice a day. My sugar still consistently runs high, due to my diet. I eat whats convenient, but not healthy. I have a history of Kidney Stones, in the hundreds and 2 surgeries, I have Sleep Apnea, I sleep with a CPAP machine at night, In general I don't do any type of exercise on a regular basis. I could argue I work and am running around constantly, but that's just an excuse many use. I have to make time to eat healthier. Losing weight would greatly improve my sleep apnea. A healthier diet would greatly improve my sugar levels, along with tons of other things. I have to stop drinking sweet tea, and sodas all together. 2 Staple drinks in my day. I do drink about a gallon of water daily already which is a plus. Nothing like Ice Cold Water to me...I need to plan my meals better and make sure they are healthy and cut junk out nearly completely. A sweet every now and then will keep me sane. financially this creates a challenge. I coupon for nearly every bit of food I have at home, which does not include many healthy meals. I am planning to be more diligent in the couponing and try harder to make healthy meals. I eat out to much as well. This hurts my health and wallet. At some point I am going to set a weekly budget for my food and coupons and will have to try and work in healthy meals as part of that. Smoking is another big part of bad health decisions. I want to quit and will need to work on that as well. Costs to much and its bad for me. I set a very poor example for my children with this. They give me crap all the time about it. So anyway there is a good idea of where I stand and want to be Health wise. I want to control my sugar, lose weight and tone up a bit, and get rid of the sleep apnea. I DO NOT WANT TO BE SKINNY. Just so ya know. I like being a big guy, just need more muscle to offset the fat.
Now about my Main Source of Income, My Job at Sportsman's Shop/T & T Sports:
I started out here as a retail person who learned our Public Safety Department and after several months managed the Retail Athletics, Public Safety and ran our Trophies Division. As of August 15th I am in outside Sales for the company. I have worked very hard to get ahead here. December 8th will be 2 years with the company. I have very much respect for the owners and most of the staff. There have been many challenges over the almost 2 years I have been here. In the beginning I was challenged to come up with creative ideas to improve operations here. Change is not widely accepted here and is not very well embraced. A couple of us here struggle daily to incorporate change to current day ideas and most here are stuck doing the same old thing the same old way. That's the way they want it and fight to keep it. When change does occur its like a battle to the death to get it done. This does not affect me as much in my current position, but for the company overall it has hurt things greatly. I have a hard time when people can not grab change by the horns and run with it and get it done. Instead of analyzing it for so long and giving it so much scrutiny that it just becomes obsolete or you just get worn out trying and give up. Don't take this wrong, the owners have been in this business over 60 years and must be doing something right. I just want to see things do better then just average and crush it within the industry. The potential is truly here,a long with the knowledge, its just getting it done that takes forever. I had planned to be making a lot more money and was told I would be by this time, but it has not happened yet. I want this job to support me financially and its not there. Its hard to cope with at times, but hopefully with my new position it will happen soon enough. Its no secret to the owner I am driven financially and if that doesn't improve I have to explore options. I need consistency from my boss, I need commitment and I need to know that if something is important to me they are listening. I have not always got that here. Evaluations ignored and skipped, promises broken and blown off on MANY occasions. Not so much these days, but surely impacted my feelings about the company I work for. Staff and employee's concerns should be heard loud and clear and addressed promptly. Change should be made swiftly for things that are not working. Now, as an outside salesperson I make those decisions in general for myself. My schedule for myself. and how I handle customers for myself. If you work with me and read this, understand I do love my job, the people I work with, and the potential for this company. I am speaking from the point of view of someone who has his own ideas and concepts of how things should be and nothing more. Things are how they decide they will be and I am OK with that 100%. So don't turn this into somethings its not. I have learned so much about the business its amazing. There is always someone here to answer a question I have and help me when I need it. I really hope to be in this business for an extended period of time. I just want it known I do not settle for just average till the day I die.
I have several other things I do to make money which I will discuss later today. I surely stay busy and part of me working to change things is to free up more time for me and more time with my kids. I will not settle for anything less....
First Lets talk about some of my basic goals here.
Health:
I have Type 2 Diabetes and take pills for it twice a day. My sugar still consistently runs high, due to my diet. I eat whats convenient, but not healthy. I have a history of Kidney Stones, in the hundreds and 2 surgeries, I have Sleep Apnea, I sleep with a CPAP machine at night, In general I don't do any type of exercise on a regular basis. I could argue I work and am running around constantly, but that's just an excuse many use. I have to make time to eat healthier. Losing weight would greatly improve my sleep apnea. A healthier diet would greatly improve my sugar levels, along with tons of other things. I have to stop drinking sweet tea, and sodas all together. 2 Staple drinks in my day. I do drink about a gallon of water daily already which is a plus. Nothing like Ice Cold Water to me...I need to plan my meals better and make sure they are healthy and cut junk out nearly completely. A sweet every now and then will keep me sane. financially this creates a challenge. I coupon for nearly every bit of food I have at home, which does not include many healthy meals. I am planning to be more diligent in the couponing and try harder to make healthy meals. I eat out to much as well. This hurts my health and wallet. At some point I am going to set a weekly budget for my food and coupons and will have to try and work in healthy meals as part of that. Smoking is another big part of bad health decisions. I want to quit and will need to work on that as well. Costs to much and its bad for me. I set a very poor example for my children with this. They give me crap all the time about it. So anyway there is a good idea of where I stand and want to be Health wise. I want to control my sugar, lose weight and tone up a bit, and get rid of the sleep apnea. I DO NOT WANT TO BE SKINNY. Just so ya know. I like being a big guy, just need more muscle to offset the fat.
Now about my Main Source of Income, My Job at Sportsman's Shop/T & T Sports:
I started out here as a retail person who learned our Public Safety Department and after several months managed the Retail Athletics, Public Safety and ran our Trophies Division. As of August 15th I am in outside Sales for the company. I have worked very hard to get ahead here. December 8th will be 2 years with the company. I have very much respect for the owners and most of the staff. There have been many challenges over the almost 2 years I have been here. In the beginning I was challenged to come up with creative ideas to improve operations here. Change is not widely accepted here and is not very well embraced. A couple of us here struggle daily to incorporate change to current day ideas and most here are stuck doing the same old thing the same old way. That's the way they want it and fight to keep it. When change does occur its like a battle to the death to get it done. This does not affect me as much in my current position, but for the company overall it has hurt things greatly. I have a hard time when people can not grab change by the horns and run with it and get it done. Instead of analyzing it for so long and giving it so much scrutiny that it just becomes obsolete or you just get worn out trying and give up. Don't take this wrong, the owners have been in this business over 60 years and must be doing something right. I just want to see things do better then just average and crush it within the industry. The potential is truly here,a long with the knowledge, its just getting it done that takes forever. I had planned to be making a lot more money and was told I would be by this time, but it has not happened yet. I want this job to support me financially and its not there. Its hard to cope with at times, but hopefully with my new position it will happen soon enough. Its no secret to the owner I am driven financially and if that doesn't improve I have to explore options. I need consistency from my boss, I need commitment and I need to know that if something is important to me they are listening. I have not always got that here. Evaluations ignored and skipped, promises broken and blown off on MANY occasions. Not so much these days, but surely impacted my feelings about the company I work for. Staff and employee's concerns should be heard loud and clear and addressed promptly. Change should be made swiftly for things that are not working. Now, as an outside salesperson I make those decisions in general for myself. My schedule for myself. and how I handle customers for myself. If you work with me and read this, understand I do love my job, the people I work with, and the potential for this company. I am speaking from the point of view of someone who has his own ideas and concepts of how things should be and nothing more. Things are how they decide they will be and I am OK with that 100%. So don't turn this into somethings its not. I have learned so much about the business its amazing. There is always someone here to answer a question I have and help me when I need it. I really hope to be in this business for an extended period of time. I just want it known I do not settle for just average till the day I die.
I have several other things I do to make money which I will discuss later today. I surely stay busy and part of me working to change things is to free up more time for me and more time with my kids. I will not settle for anything less....
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Good Night Prayer
Dear Lord, today I am thankful for the amazing people in my life, the clarity I will get from being in your word daily and the future I look forward to having. Sadly Immoralty is part of my life and my heart and I give it to you to purify for me. I pray everyone does this and comes clean of immoral standards of living. Please continue to guide me with your words. Amen...
First Day
So now you have a bit of history of me, at least the quick version. I have many goals which will accumulate as you go on with this blog. Started with a couple today.
Stated my day with church and an awesome service today. Topic is Sex. Interestingly enough I came away with some great thoughts to evaluate myself and my life as I work to a better future. Min point being that we choose our destiny. We are all born with an impure heart and have to work to make ourselves live a Godly life. We choose to Sin and do not HAVE to sin. Sexual immorality was the main subject of the message. It all comes down to the fact tat sex was meant to be enjoyed between a man and a woman in the context of marriage. Anything else is really sexual immorality. Considering I have only bee married once, makes my past, along with anyone else I know, look pretty rough. What I get from being a Christian is mainly the point it is never to late to change. Church messages can seem to become redundant to most, myself included, over time. Live a good life, accept Jesus as our Savior, and become saved by the grace of God. The constant re-enforcement of this does tend to help keep "Our wits about us".
By the way I am a Christian and one of my main goals is to live a "God Like" life. Reading the bible, attending church and becoming more active in ministries is a HUGH goal of mine. So this will be a regular topic of my blogs.
After church I went to the Mall to treat myself to a pretzel dog with the Sweet Mustard, this is one of my favorites from Auntie Anne's Pretzel shop. Picked up a gumball machine I sold from a store there, ran by Home Depot to get a special bulb for my room along with new stair rail brackets, which snapped a couple weeks ago. Once I got home I layed around and dozed for an hour or so. Then off to do my dreaded signs. Will explain this job another day. After that was finished came home, did some laundry and cleaned out my coupons. YES, I am a hugh couponer, not hoarder like you see on TV, but always have plenty of food and pay very little for it. Like 80% less then most of you reading this. I typed my intro for this blog and was off to my bible reading for today. Want to do it daily till I finish it. I read the New Testament about a year ago, really mostly because I had a lot of free time on my hands. That's another blog for the distant future. I just don't remember getting much from it other then reading it pretty quickly and without much thought.
I am reading a Men's Study Bible, Promise Keepers, New International Version
I plan to post my daily readings and thoughts. Figuring to just start in the beginning Genesis
TODAY'S BIBLE READING: Genesis Chapter 1-10
Pretty much the beginning of the world, wiped the world out, except Noah, which we all no about, and from there re-created the world as we know it. God started out creating Man and then woman from the rib of the man, in Gods image. SO what happened, where did we stray. Well looks like Eve broke Gods rule and ate the fruit from he forbidden tree and made Adam an accomplice. God aid" It is not good for the man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him" 2:18. So woman was created to be mans helper. God also said to the woman " Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you" 3:16. Wow! Women surely don't like this part of the bible. Then as punishment he makes life very hard for them. They have kids named Cain and Abel and Cain kills Abel out of jealousy. There is a ton of chronology of names, sons of sons of sons and people who are living to 900 years old and so on. In the end of my reading basically Noah is the only Godly person left and God spares him when he floods the earth to start over. It was not only him, but his wife, 3 kids and their wives on the Ark. Noah was 600 years old when the flooding started.
What I gathered from all this. Women were made from men and put here to help man. People grew really old in those days. Noah was chosen simply because he lived a Godly life and didn't question or doubt the Lord. He did as the Lord directed him, knowing it was right. Verse that actually tied to the message at church today was 8:21. It says every inclination of his heat is evil from childhood. Even came across a verse that maybe I interpret wrong, but don't think so. 9:4 " But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it." So all those people who mess with me about wanting well done steak, its in the bible it should be that way. SO HA HA. Chapter 10 is just listing Noah's Kids and their kids etc.
So back to work in the morning. Dread it some days. I have tons to do tomorrow which helps the day go by faster. My sales are trickling in slowly, but still never enough money. I was supposed to be making a lot more by this time with the company. I really like my job and the people I work with. Hopefully things will continue to progress at a better pace then the first 2 years have. Another goal is to be in bed by 10 or 11 nightly. Blew that out of the water already. Wanna be up at 6 daily for prayers and ease into my day. Good Night for now....
Stated my day with church and an awesome service today. Topic is Sex. Interestingly enough I came away with some great thoughts to evaluate myself and my life as I work to a better future. Min point being that we choose our destiny. We are all born with an impure heart and have to work to make ourselves live a Godly life. We choose to Sin and do not HAVE to sin. Sexual immorality was the main subject of the message. It all comes down to the fact tat sex was meant to be enjoyed between a man and a woman in the context of marriage. Anything else is really sexual immorality. Considering I have only bee married once, makes my past, along with anyone else I know, look pretty rough. What I get from being a Christian is mainly the point it is never to late to change. Church messages can seem to become redundant to most, myself included, over time. Live a good life, accept Jesus as our Savior, and become saved by the grace of God. The constant re-enforcement of this does tend to help keep "Our wits about us".
By the way I am a Christian and one of my main goals is to live a "God Like" life. Reading the bible, attending church and becoming more active in ministries is a HUGH goal of mine. So this will be a regular topic of my blogs.
After church I went to the Mall to treat myself to a pretzel dog with the Sweet Mustard, this is one of my favorites from Auntie Anne's Pretzel shop. Picked up a gumball machine I sold from a store there, ran by Home Depot to get a special bulb for my room along with new stair rail brackets, which snapped a couple weeks ago. Once I got home I layed around and dozed for an hour or so. Then off to do my dreaded signs. Will explain this job another day. After that was finished came home, did some laundry and cleaned out my coupons. YES, I am a hugh couponer, not hoarder like you see on TV, but always have plenty of food and pay very little for it. Like 80% less then most of you reading this. I typed my intro for this blog and was off to my bible reading for today. Want to do it daily till I finish it. I read the New Testament about a year ago, really mostly because I had a lot of free time on my hands. That's another blog for the distant future. I just don't remember getting much from it other then reading it pretty quickly and without much thought.
I am reading a Men's Study Bible, Promise Keepers, New International Version
I plan to post my daily readings and thoughts. Figuring to just start in the beginning Genesis
TODAY'S BIBLE READING: Genesis Chapter 1-10
Pretty much the beginning of the world, wiped the world out, except Noah, which we all no about, and from there re-created the world as we know it. God started out creating Man and then woman from the rib of the man, in Gods image. SO what happened, where did we stray. Well looks like Eve broke Gods rule and ate the fruit from he forbidden tree and made Adam an accomplice. God aid" It is not good for the man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him" 2:18. So woman was created to be mans helper. God also said to the woman " Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you" 3:16. Wow! Women surely don't like this part of the bible. Then as punishment he makes life very hard for them. They have kids named Cain and Abel and Cain kills Abel out of jealousy. There is a ton of chronology of names, sons of sons of sons and people who are living to 900 years old and so on. In the end of my reading basically Noah is the only Godly person left and God spares him when he floods the earth to start over. It was not only him, but his wife, 3 kids and their wives on the Ark. Noah was 600 years old when the flooding started.
What I gathered from all this. Women were made from men and put here to help man. People grew really old in those days. Noah was chosen simply because he lived a Godly life and didn't question or doubt the Lord. He did as the Lord directed him, knowing it was right. Verse that actually tied to the message at church today was 8:21. It says every inclination of his heat is evil from childhood. Even came across a verse that maybe I interpret wrong, but don't think so. 9:4 " But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it." So all those people who mess with me about wanting well done steak, its in the bible it should be that way. SO HA HA. Chapter 10 is just listing Noah's Kids and their kids etc.
So back to work in the morning. Dread it some days. I have tons to do tomorrow which helps the day go by faster. My sales are trickling in slowly, but still never enough money. I was supposed to be making a lot more by this time with the company. I really like my job and the people I work with. Hopefully things will continue to progress at a better pace then the first 2 years have. Another goal is to be in bed by 10 or 11 nightly. Blew that out of the water already. Wanna be up at 6 daily for prayers and ease into my day. Good Night for now....
Starting with History of Eric
Well, I have never had a blog before. I am going to make my first post with a bit of background about me. I had a blast growing up. We were pretty poor and moved alot, but surely got a lot of positive experiences from it. Most of all my Dad taught me to always work hard to try and take care of your kids. I am the oldest at 37 of 4 kids. I have 2 brothers and a sister, in which she is the youngest. We all had some great times, great friends and will never forget those days. We got in trouble, we stuck together, we shot each other with BB guns, we had bottle rocket fights, we spent all day outside and we rode our bikes where we wanted. We spent lots of time with family, weeks at the grandparents in the summer and could walk in any ones house that was a Friend or family member. All these things you will not see very often today with kids.
I started working at 14 by getting certified in CPR and First Aid by the Red Cross to babysit 2 kids. Had a few jobs even younger selling a newspaper called GRIT door to door and cutting peoples grass in our neighborhood in Hollywood Shores in Southern MD. Pulled the lawnmower behind my bike and had regular customers. Charged $10 a yard. Bought my own mower for $50. Aside from these jobs I have a pretty wild resume. Let's see at 14 working the kitchen at Evans Seafood with a ton of other teenagers. Work at a Video Store with my mom and some crazy fun people. Worked at a Chinese restaurant doing dishes, which was awesome. This gets me up to graduation. Lets speed this up a bit with a list. Seafood Department Manager at a grocery store, 3rd shift clerk at gas station, Assistant Manager at Roy Rogers and Then it was off to the Marines. even then I had second jobs when I could. I delivered food for club in Japan, Banquet Service at Hotel in Beaufort, cooked at club. After 4 years it was time to move on. Moved from Beaufort to Charleston, C with a friend from home names Steve Russell. He was in the Air Force stationed in Charleston. Started out working at Red Lobster as a server and stocking shelves on 3rd shift at Piggly Wiggly. Left that to run a vending route, sell cars, manage a hotel called Suburban Lodge, moved back home to manage a Best Western, to Richmond to manage a hotel, contracted as a residential cable installer, helped at a body shop, waited tables at a few restaurants, managed at Noisy Oyster, managed at Mellow Mushroom and landed where I am now at a local Sporting Goods store as an outside sales rep.
OK so I am sure you are bored now. Just a bit more then I am off to do some reading. (part of my new changes, which we will talk about another day). After the Marines I was married and had 2 wonderful kids, Clayton who is now 12 and Alexis who is 11. We moved to MD together and divorced after 6 years. It was a very tough time for me, which will be another blog, but I struggled with it greatly and still do sometimes. My ex-wife moved back to Charleston and I followed to be near my babies. There are a ton of blanks to fill in, in which I will break out into other blogs, but life has had its ups and downs from both extremes to me. I love my children more then anything in this world. I constantly stress about them having a good future. I struggle with finances, mostly my own doing, and I struggle with have a stable future for me and the kids. I have some amazing people in my life who help me stay level headed. My mind races constantly to come up with ideas to make a better life. Years go by and I work so hard and things don't seem to change.
From here on out I will include a bit of more detail from the past in my blogs, my true hopes, dreams, progression of my goals financially, personally, physically and mentally. I will drag you along on how my days go, How I look at things and what I expect from life in general. Comments are always welcome, I expect nothing more then to use this as an outlet behind why Eric is who he is. Hope I don't bore you to much.
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