Live a Life of Integrity-

I need to vent-
I try to live my life with integrity and honesty in all that I do.
If I say I am going to do something - I do it.
I present myself for who I am and not who I want to be.

Is it too much to ask for others to do the same?

You may be asking yourself- what has brought this about - why this subject?

First of all- work... it continually frustrates me how many people in corporate America have no problems with lying, cheating, stealing, and pretty much doing nothing and collecting a paycheck. It seems to be easier to sleep your way to the top than to get there through hard work.


Second- the dating game. Whether it is online or the good ole fashioned way. If you say you wanna talk or get together - then just do it. If you say you are going to call then call.
Last night I was on the computer- and was instant messaging a new aquaintance --- at one point my trusty dog Trevor needed to go out for his final walk of the evening-- I type in the IM screen; "please excuse me.. I need to take my dog out."-- which was the honest truth. The reply I got was less than flattering--- it said something like "whatever you loser--- if you don't want to talk with me - just say so- you're just a game player like the rest." UGH UGH UGH!!!
In the course of being honest - I am accused of being a liar- Needless to say I took Trevor on a nice long walk to enjoy the cool evening air.. logged of the PC.. and went to bed.

So- to finish my lecture of the day- in all that you do- Live with Integrity!

Taking Care of Business

Trying to get everything done this week at work- before I am gone a week. I am scared of what my email in box will look like when I get home from Arizona. Yesterday was meeting mania- two long meetings that left me very little time to do much of anything. This week has seemingly been the week of issues at the office- every customer has an issue and will not take no for an answer- it can be very frustrating sometimes.

Update on the workouts- I decided to really throw my internal clock for a loop and try working out in the evening- so far I really like it- for some reason it is working out better for me. The traffic is much better and I am seemingly a happy camper once again. Plus there is much better tv to watch while on the tredmill!

I think i am finally kicking this cold- haven't had to go to the doctor yet- wohoo.

Taking Care of Business

Trying to get everything done this week at work- before I am gone a week. I am scared of what my email in box will look like when I get home from Arizona. Yesterday was meeting mania- two long meetings that left me very little time to do much of anything. This week has seemingly been the week of issues at the office- every customer has an issue and will not take no for an answer- it can be very frustrating sometimes.

Update on the workouts- I decided to really throw my internal clock for a loop and try working out in the evening- so far I really like it- for some reason it is working out better for me. The traffic is much better and I am seemingly a happy camper once again. Plus there is much better tv to watch while on the tredmill!

I think i am finally kicking this cold- haven't had to go to the doctor yet- wohoo.

Weekends Fly By-

Here it is Sunday night again- funny how quick Saturday & Sunday can go by.

Friday night I met the parents over at Plain City, OH at the Der Dutchman Amish restaurant. A pianist named Steve Hall was performing a live concert. He has several CD's that Mom loves- so that was the big conclusion to Stella's birthday 2005.

Saturday morning was spent on the couch- I watched a movie (The Upside of Anger) and watched hurricane coverage. I then watched OSU kick Iowa off the field from the treadmill at the gym. It was really a sad game for Iowa... Thank God I'm an OSU fan.

I had a wonderful evening Saturday with my friend Helene. We enjoyed a lovely dinner in the short north & then went to Via Colori street festival. In case you don't know what this is- they close streets around the park and allow artists to create amazing chalk murals on the street. After dark there are thousand of luminaries to shine a light on the art (don't' kick them like I did- oops.) We then went and created a wine for Helene's Christmas presents- it is a new custom wine bar. You can sample many different types of wines and then make a batch of your own using their kitchen. It takes about 6 weeks to ferment. It was awesome. I loved the Peach & Apricot Chardonnay- yum. We then went to Havanna for a cocktail and to view some eye- candy.

Today I was feeling a bit draggy- I went to church - had lunch with my friend Ray. We did a little shopping and then I came home and just hung around the house waiting for Desperate Housewives.

I've got to kick this sinus infection- I may go to the doctor if this doesn't clear up soon.

I hope everyone's weekend was great.

Feeling Upbeat - so I'll post-

I have been writing in the evenign after being beat up by the events of the day. Upon review of my past couple of blog entries I realized I was sounding pretty tired and down. So with a hot cup of coffee and a well rested mind I am ready to write.

First of all the weather- what is up with Rita? This is breaking my heart to see all of this once again. This morning at the gym I was watching CNN and they were interviewing a family living in a vacation condo in Galveston, TX that had been donated to them after fleeing New Orleans. Now they are on the road again with no place to go. The bad part of all this is that now the news is projecting $5 per gallon gas-- OUCH! I may resort to buying a mule and a small cart to get to work.... perhaps my dog Trevor would enjoy a pet mule-- they could play nicely together on my patio. I doubt Nationwide would like a mule grazing out on the front lawn all day.. so maybe I'll skip this. The guy that sits next to me at work, Brian, did just buy home literally around the corner from my house- we are talking about carpooling to save $. I realize I'd have to change my habits (including the gym) but the savings would be well worth it!

It is just over a week until I jet out to Arizona for a week. I can't wait- I have never been to the desert before. On Friday of that week I am to take a Jeep tour of some canyon near Tuscon. Sounds beautiful and really scenic.

Tonite should be fun- going out to dinner and a few martinis with some co-workers! Hurray for Maritini specials.

Time- where does it go-

OK- I have started back to going to the gym before work again. I will really like this routine again- once my body has adjusted. I am up at 6am and at the gym around 7:15am. Since the gym is on my way to work- I just shower and go to work from there-- but it is the logistics of it all that are crazy- packing my lunch the night before, making sure I have clothes for work, and such. So my evenings- feel pretty much like they are just prep time for tomorrow morning. This morning I realized at the gym that I had no socks for work- it was going to be one of those days- yikes.

It really was just "one of those days"-- when I got home I was ready to crawl in bed and forget that it ever happend-- I'm sure I am not the only one that has days like that.

Maybe I would be happier if I just had an extra hour each day - just for me... and work would pay me for it!

Weekend Update-

A busy but fun weekend.. I stayed in and did laundry Friday night-- I know doesn't that sound like fun? I did need to stay in feel a bit more "grounded." Saturday was the Ada Herb & Harvest Festival -- don't let the name fool you it is just an average fall street festival in NW Ohio- lots of crafts and pumpkin themed items. It was very fun-- I was hoping to see Laura's Grandma Ferguson-- but alas not a Ferguson to be found by me-- oh well.

Today was all about church- to be honest this was the first Sunday to be back in worship at my church in a long time. Summer had gotten really crazy and I just had so much on. I didn't realize how important my church had become to me. If your interested in my church check out the web site at www.kingave.org

This afternoon my friend Helene brought her dog Austin over and then I along with Trevor we all went to Batelle Darby Creek metro park to the dog trail. We had a great time and the dogs were so much fun to watch. Trevor got into the creek and was splashing around- he was acting like a puppy not an 8 year old dog- it was priceless.

I hope your weekend was wonderful!

Busy busy busy week-

To all my loyal Blog readers I am sorry for not posting this week. Wow what a week-- I had meetings at church on Monday and Tuesday and then a work event on Thursday night. Wednesday was pretty much a recovery night to say the least. Tonight it is Friday night- normally I would be looking forward to hitting the town or least doing something fun with friends and I just wanted to come home- and watch a movie (Alfie-- just an OK movie-- didn't impress me).

I am excited to go up to the Ada, Ohio Herb & Harvest festival tomorrow- it does mean getting up early to get the good stuff in time- but that is OK. I am to help out with a meeting after church on Sunday so that will be good.

My goal for next week is to get back to some degree of normality- if there is such a thing.
Get back to the Y in the morning for workouts- and all that good stuff.

Have a good day everyone- talk to you soon.

Monday AM- what a relief-

I really enjoyed this morning and getting back to work- sounds strange huh? I think I just needed some return to normal. I have still been fighting this cold- I will be very happy when it is done and over with for good.

Weekend was good- drove up to the parents place on Friday night so that I would be there in the AM for the big county fair. I then proceeded to go to bed early and get a good extra long nights sleep.

Saturday Dad showed me some ditch drainage work that had been recently completed around the farm- it looked really good. It was amazing to me that all the corn and soybean fields are beginning to show the summer greens fading into the autumn browns and that harvest is coming soon. After touring the farm we met my sister and 2 year old nephew up town at the farmer's market- I purchased some beautiful mums for my front garden that a local amish boy had grown to earn some extra money. Mom bought me a nice piece of handmande pottery and I got some delicious homemade granola! Yum! Next was the great Hardin County Fair- my sister took home 2nd place in the annual pie day contest- she got a large rosette ribbon and her picture in the paper- Go Miriam! While she was doing that Dad and I took Devan around the fair- I was looking forward to stuffing the kid with cotton candy and sugar and then giving him back to mom-- but he fell asleep on us! Go figure. We had fun and even ate some delicious ice cream!

Saturday night- my friend Greg was in Columbus from Austin- we had dinner in the Short North and then watched OSU get beaten by Texas. We then hit a couple of bars and then headed back to my place-- I just wish I didn't have this cold dragging me down or else we could have had a great time -- I just felt draggy and tired.

Needless to say I was wornout on Sunday- after taking Greg to the airport I took Trevor to the park and then relaxed until my Friend Helene and I went out for ice cream and a nice walk.
I watched a quirky DVD on Sunday night called "But I'm a Cheerleader"- a cute little movie.

So now it is back to work and try to get back to normal.

Tired---

OK- so I've pretty much felt like crap since Monday with this cold I caught last weekend. I have no regrets about going camping- it was awesome. I just know that if I go camping in cooler weekends I need to pack a feather down comforter and also lots of layers. Having no hair on my head a stocking cap to sleep would be a good move too.

Thanks for all the complements on my photos that I posted from the camping--- the scenery was breathtaking to say the very least!

It is really hitting me that summer is over. Labor Day is come and gone (so don't even think about wearing white pants- or else I'll have the fashion policy come and find you).
I must say that I did enjoy summer quite a bit- but really can you ever get enough of warm sunshine, ice cream, swimming, flowers in the park, and all that good stuff??? I don't think so.

Fall is wonderful too- and I have so much to look forward to - apple picking, pumpkins, cool crisp nights, bonfires, hayrides, and the colors painting the trees. I think the key to maintaining sanity in Ohio is to learn to appreciate and enjoy every season for what is has to offer.

Just as a sidenote-- still very much digging my Netflix- new moviews came last night just in time for the weekend.

Findng some peace among the chaos.

I am back from a lovely weekend of camping in the Great Smokey Mountains. The weather was ideal- actually a tad on the cool side to be real honest. It was a weekend of relaxing, sitting by the campfire, smores (YUM), getting some sun next to the pool, long morning hikes in the mountains, sharing great southern cooking with friends, and clear night skies filled with stars. I think that was the most beautiful part of the weekend-- the stars. Being up in the mountains away from the lights of the city you can see all the stars and they sparkle like a sea of diamonds. As I sat by the fire and watched the stars and heard the gentle sounds of the woods at night- I was overcome by peace. Among the chaos of hurricane Kartina, friends with health problems, and personal struggles with broken relationships I was flooded by an inner peace. I think it was allowing all my emotions and anxities to quiet and to relax and reflect on the beauty of God's creation. I walked away feeling a calm that I needed to go back and face the world once again. Thank God for nature!

We will survive-

The song says it best- of course it says I will survive- but I think Gloria would approve in adapting the song to fit a national tragedy.

The pictures on TV are horrifying. Last night I was sitting in my new remodeling living room, eating a nice dinner, with a full refrigerator in the kitchen and I am seeing images on the screen of people much like you & I beggin for water. I simply broke down and cried. I pray that an authority greater the the US Army will step in and help-- I pray that God will extend his Grace, Love, and Mercy on the suffering.

I only wish that I could drive down and pick up some refugees and bring them back and fix a big dinner and offer them a warm shower and a dry comfortable bed to sleep in. I guess I will have to make do with a donation to the Red Cross and my heartfelt prayers.

My one friend going on the trip this weekend lost his grandmother yesterday, so he will be unable to enjoy the long weeken in the mountains. Clinton- my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. The rest of us will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

Well the car is packed- and I just need to shower and then hit the road.

God Bless you all during this Labor Day weekend.