Friday Funny

Camping is intense.

A week of new things

The first place to start is my job. As of last Sunday I submitted my resignation and official notice from the non-profit I've been working at the last six months. I know it sounds like a crazy decision after I was so jazzed to leave the banking world, but the position just wasn't for me. Not the place, not the ministries, not the co-workers, but the job itself. As much as I was honored to be stepping into an organization I'd had an interest and stake in, literally from the day it started twenty one years ago, I could never find my way into it's business structure. It didn't help I was hired to be a Fiscal Director and have never taken a single accounting class in my life. But I had really, truly hoped I could pick it up quickly and make a difference there. It wasn't to be. While I couldn't be more supportive of the ministries they carry out, I just wasn't qualified for the position. I decided to stop ignoring that and step down.

The question I've gotten from almost everyone I've told is, "Do you have somewhere to go; another job?" Yes. Just as crazy as the decision to resign must seem to some of you, the fact that I'm going back into banking will be just as confusing. But I didn't leave the bank because I hated banking or I wasn't good at it; the exact opposite is true. I love what banking is and I was really dang good at it. So at least for a while I'm going to go back to that world. It's what I know, even if it doesn't fit the image that most people have of me.

The second new thing for me (us) was a visit Ell and I got to make to our friend's house Thursday night. They own this amazing house in Youngstown and even though they've lived there for a few years, we've never connected with them for a visit. We had a great night hanging out with them, and we L-O-V-E their house. I could sit in that house for years and still be amazed how beautiful it is. But I'm a sucker for old houses with character. Thanks for the invite, the conversation, and the fellowship. It was one of those nights you know you'll remember for the rest of your life.

The last new thing this week was quite a shocker. I opened my email Wednesday morning and was greeted with an invite from Twitter that boldly stated my father had joined the Twittering world. If you knew my father you'd know, even the name would be silly to him, let alone the concept. I don't doubt at all that he's made fun of the word Twitter more times than he can count. But shocking as it is, my Dad's on Twitter. Wonder's never cease, I guess. Now if only I could figure out how to follow him on it.

A meme from my sister

I just noticed my sister, Karin posted a ramblings a few days ago and tagged me to respond. So here goes...

Six Unimportant Favorite Things, guilty pleasures or silly somethings, whatever you like that doesn't really matter to the world.

1. Getting the mail. Ever since I was a kid, making that trip to the mail box was a rush. A little offering of daily suspense. Ell and I use a PO Box so we don't get the mail more than a couple times a week, and I am super hyped as those mail days get close.

2. Weddings. I think weddings are one of the most amazing things on the planet. So much happiness, so much hope, so much future before the couple; I love it. I was lucky enough to be invited to two of them in the past month and they were both awesome.

3. Pulling weeds in the garden. At the end of a long day, or on a cool summer weekend morning, there's nothing better than the mindless cycle of pulling weeds.

4. New stuff I didn't know about. I found out last week that Great Lakes released two new beers. Hooray. And then I found six unreleased songs on my new Pearl Jam CD. Double hooray. I enjoyed them both together.

5. Posting trail journals. I know I just talked about it the other day, but that task is truly one of my new favorite things. It's so intense to be involved -- even from afar -- in such an awesome adventure. And to be honest, it's pretty great knowing there are scads of people waiting to read what I'm writing. (Even if they aren't my words.)

6. Extreme weather and witnessing the havoc it causes. This one's kinda morbid, I guess. I love driving rain storms and the flash floods they bring, or blizzards that drop feet of snow that traps cars and people, or the giant waves from Hurricanes that move literal tons of sand where it never was before. Of course it's sad when that destruction hurts and kills, but there's something so real and alive about seeing Mother do whatever she wants.

That's it friends, six unimportant favorite things. Now for the rules... Mention the person who tagged you, list your six unimportant favorite things, and then tag six other bloggers. Of course anyone can feel free to join in the fun. I hope you play along. Here's my list:
1. Adrienne. My strangely like-thinking friend I've never met from Colorado.
2. Kimmy. The smuggiest of the smug.
3. Betsy. My even-farther-away than Adrienne friend.
4. Angela. Awesome lady with an awesome husband and family.
5. Paul. The coolest cancer-survivor I know.
6. Kyle. This guy's gonna change the world, folks. Mark my words.

Friday Funny

Thanks once again to Cyndy for today's funny.

Jacob, age 92, and Rebecca, age 89, living in Florida,
are all excited about their decision to get married. They
go for a stroll to discuss the wedding, and on the way they
pass a Drugstore. Jacob suggests they go in.

*Jacob addresses the man behind the counter: "Are you the owner?"

The pharmacist answers, "Yes."

*Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart
Medication?"

Pharmacist : "Of course we do."

*Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation? "

Pharmacist: "All kinds "

*Jacob: "
Medicine for rheumatism ?"

Pharmacist: "Definitely. "

*Jacob: "How about suppositories? "

Pharmacist: "You bet!"

*Jacob: "Medicine for memory problems, arthritis and

Alzheimer's? "

Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety. The works."

*Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for
Parkinson's disease ?"

Pharmacist: "Absolutely. "

*Jacob: "Everything for heartburn and indigestion? "

Pharmacist: "We sure do."

*Jacob: "You sell wheelchairs and walkers and canes?"

Pharmacist: "All speeds and
Sizes."

*Jacob: "Adult diapers?"

Pharmacist: "Sure."

Jacob: "We'd like to use this store as our Bridal Registry."

Have a great weekend everyone.

Where the hey have you been?

That's the question I keep getting. Well, there are two big reasons I haven't been posting here very much lately.

The first is work. You know all that excitement I had six months ago about getting my new job? Well, that was definitely the honeymoon phase and it's long been over. Learning an entirely new occupation is pretty rough, especially when I really needed to be up-to-speed from day one. Obviously that's an irrational expectation but that's kinda what the job called for. No real room for a learning curve has caused (along with some stupid personal stuff on my end) a lacking of trust from those around me and some stuff I'm struggling to learn.

I had to tell someone today that I was sorry for telling them I could handle something that I turned out not being able to handle. That kind of stuff is common-place in the corporate world (where I spent the last almost-ten years)... a constant drive to be better and promise more so you rise to the top of the proverbial ladder. Unfortunately, that kind of work ethic doesn't fit into the small non-profit world because the flip side -- loss of position and/or status if you can't follow through -- doesn't exist. A lack of skill hurts a non-profit organization because they don't have the room to execute as the corporate world does. They need you to be strong out of the gate but offer no training to get there. It's an ugly catch-22 I should have been more aware of before I took the job. As soon as I got there I tried to impress instead of just being vulnerably honest and now my reputation is shot. I'm really struggling with that.

The second, not so downer reason for my lack of posting is actually more posting somewhere else. As some of you know (and many of you have likely forgot), I'm posting trail journals for my friends Jason & Diana as they are thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. With the exception of a few days, I've been posting there every day for the last month or so. I'll be doing so all the way until the beginning of October.

If you haven't checked it out, you're missing a wild adventure. To date in the journals they have already hiked almost 500 miles and today they had a baby bear in their camp. To read my daily postings and to follow their adventure, click on the second tab in my blogroll, "Jason and Diana's trail journals". If you like to read, there's nothing better than reading a story as it happens.

I'll try to post here more, but the two reasons above may hamper that for a little while. Don't worry, I'm not disappearing. Taking some breaks, maybe..... but not disappearing.

Peace.