I got a fever yesterday at about 4:15. I was heading home from work when it hit me. The song, "The Boys are Back in Town" (thank you Thin Lizzy) was playing on the radio.
I looked outside and realized it had been sunny all day and in the mid 40's. It was so nice out and the snow is almost gone.
The sickness got worse today when I was driving from camp to the Y this morning at almost the exact spot on the road as it hit me yesterday. I looked off the road to my right and there where two artist painting out in a field.
Today the cement guys are laying the new sidewalks to our office because the ground over there is dry and the weekend calls for highs in the mid 50's.
It is only 18 days until my trip to TN.
Yes, I have SPRING FEVER.
Keep up the fight
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
I love you Grandma
I am sure many of you know this already but I wanted to blog about it anyways. My grandma Irma Miller passed away last Friday. I flew home to Iowa on Saturday to spend time with family and returned to Indiana late Wednesday night.
Grandma's death was in no way sudden, but is still a loss to all those who knew her. Over the last 5 years she has been in and out of different care facilities and it was time for here to go.
My theory is that God simply wanted someone to bake for him. Grandma always made the best rolls even if Steve and I mashed them up. I have never tasted a better carrot cake and hers other cakes are the measure in which I measure all cakes.
I will also remember rides on her wheelchair, her playing croquet in the front yard with us kids, driving all around the county in the silver van, her and grandpa peacefully talking things out, her hamburgers, chocolate pudding, the blankets she made me, the way she shuffled the cards with only the tips of the cards, where she sat at Mass, working on puzzles with her and so many other little things.
Grandma was a true inspiration to many and to all of us who knew her, we can call ourselves blessed for being in her presence.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. ~ 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Amen
Grandma's death was in no way sudden, but is still a loss to all those who knew her. Over the last 5 years she has been in and out of different care facilities and it was time for here to go.
My theory is that God simply wanted someone to bake for him. Grandma always made the best rolls even if Steve and I mashed them up. I have never tasted a better carrot cake and hers other cakes are the measure in which I measure all cakes.
I will also remember rides on her wheelchair, her playing croquet in the front yard with us kids, driving all around the county in the silver van, her and grandpa peacefully talking things out, her hamburgers, chocolate pudding, the blankets she made me, the way she shuffled the cards with only the tips of the cards, where she sat at Mass, working on puzzles with her and so many other little things.
Grandma was a true inspiration to many and to all of us who knew her, we can call ourselves blessed for being in her presence.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. ~ 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Amen
Friday, February 12, 2010
Good Bye Good Time
There was a story this week which received some media attention, but not the extent that our staff at A Cage of Words felt like it deserved. So, we are using our soap box to spread the word of the death of another great man in American politics.
Who was this man that once had the guts to call Pat Schroeder, "Babycakes?"
Who was this man who said in a book:
"The girls had cocaine, and the music was loud. It was total happiness. And both of them had ten long, red fingernails with an endless supply of beautiful white powder....The feds spent a million bucks trying to figure out whether, when those fingernails passed under my nose, did I inhale or exhale, and I ain't telling."
Who was this man that funneled millions of dollars into arming Islamic Fundamentalist in the 80's to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan? (It also helped to cause many of today's issues, but never mind that.)
Who was this man that recieved the second highest amount of demerits when he was at the Navel academy, and then made lieutenant?
Who was this man who got into politics to spit his neighbor for killing his dog?
Who was this Democrat that represented the 2nd district of Texas for 12 terms? (The fighting 2nd is a bible belt good Christian district...hardly a place for a blue tie.)
Who was this man who had to testify to congress about his love of a Russian model which some in congress believed to be a spy?
This man was Charles Nesbitt Wilson. Know in the big show as Good Time Charlie. He partied hard and brokered enough back room deals to make even an Illinois politician blush. It was Tom Hanks who portrayed this man in Charlie Wilson's War. Yes, Wednesday was truly a sad day for American politics. I can only hope that he and Strom are watching over us now. Thank you Charlie for all you did for us. Rest in peace, servant of our freedom.
Keep up the fight... we must carry on for Charlie
Who was this man that once had the guts to call Pat Schroeder, "Babycakes?"Who was this man who said in a book:
"The girls had cocaine, and the music was loud. It was total happiness. And both of them had ten long, red fingernails with an endless supply of beautiful white powder....The feds spent a million bucks trying to figure out whether, when those fingernails passed under my nose, did I inhale or exhale, and I ain't telling."
Who was this man that funneled millions of dollars into arming Islamic Fundamentalist in the 80's to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan? (It also helped to cause many of today's issues, but never mind that.)
Who was this man that recieved the second highest amount of demerits when he was at the Navel academy, and then made lieutenant?
Who was this man who got into politics to spit his neighbor for killing his dog?
Who was this Democrat that represented the 2nd district of Texas for 12 terms? (The fighting 2nd is a bible belt good Christian district...hardly a place for a blue tie.)
Who was this man who had to testify to congress about his love of a Russian model which some in congress believed to be a spy?
This man was Charles Nesbitt Wilson. Know in the big show as Good Time Charlie. He partied hard and brokered enough back room deals to make even an Illinois politician blush. It was Tom Hanks who portrayed this man in Charlie Wilson's War. Yes, Wednesday was truly a sad day for American politics. I can only hope that he and Strom are watching over us now. Thank you Charlie for all you did for us. Rest in peace, servant of our freedom.
Keep up the fight... we must carry on for Charlie
Friday, February 5, 2010
To Swim A Mile
I remember a few years (7ish) when I first because a lifeguard. I did my training with Bonnie in the Ho Chunk House of Wellness pool. The hardest part of the training was not the brick, not the written test or recovery of a passive deep water victim with a positive MOI spin who needed back boarded, it was the 1 mile swim. I remember that it took me a little over an hour to do this task. All the other people in the class where done and on the side eating lunch before I was done, but I did it.
You may or may not know this about me but I swim at least 3 times a week. Most of the time my workout is about 1 mile in length, but I stop on average twice. Yesterday for some reason I just didn't stop. I was feeling good and the water was the right temp so I just kept going right through my first break and into my second set. Then I went right into my third and before I new it I was only 4-5 laps away from the mile so I just did it.
Now I know swimming a mile is not that big of a deal. Most swimmers will do this several times a week. There are a few lightweights out there who might not be able to handle it but that's ok. I also know that the distance is not important but how much effort you put in. Shorter workouts can be more productive and all that. It was just a small personal moment I wanted to share with you all because it was only the second time in my life I have done such a thing.
Keep up the fight
You may or may not know this about me but I swim at least 3 times a week. Most of the time my workout is about 1 mile in length, but I stop on average twice. Yesterday for some reason I just didn't stop. I was feeling good and the water was the right temp so I just kept going right through my first break and into my second set. Then I went right into my third and before I new it I was only 4-5 laps away from the mile so I just did it.
Now I know swimming a mile is not that big of a deal. Most swimmers will do this several times a week. There are a few lightweights out there who might not be able to handle it but that's ok. I also know that the distance is not important but how much effort you put in. Shorter workouts can be more productive and all that. It was just a small personal moment I wanted to share with you all because it was only the second time in my life I have done such a thing.
Keep up the fight
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Romantic Comedy
This post is dedicated to the most manliest genera of film: The Romantic Comedy?
Yes, that is right the romantic comedy. I am a huge fan of them and let me tell you why. They are nice and uplifting. There are so many shows and movies that are about violence, drugs, death, hate, crime, sex and money. We have enough of that in our world. What the world needs now is love sweet love (and more bald men...). RoCos make you feel better and believe in the power of love.
Now I understand that some may say that type of love is not real and that by watching RoCos you are only buying into Hollywood's fake version of love and that real love that comes from Christ. I see their point, really I do. It is a valid one (not often I concede a point!!).
Was I depressed because I watched romantic comedies, or did I watch romantic comedies because I was depressed? Well to be honest I don't think either on is true. Although I may toss the whiskey bottle (ok red wine) in the recycling bin at the end of the night with a "whatever" after watching a romantic comedy, I probably still enjoyed it. I also don't think I am depressed or spinning into cycles of unhealthy choice in my life by watching a RoCo every now and then.
I don't believe a person is going to meet their true love over some book store drama, fall in love with a movie star in the streets of England or leave their vocation up to the circulation patterns of a book and $5 bill. If I get to be 100 years old, let me go hunting, don't read to me every day. I think the ideas are interesting and they make good comments on our social condition.
Now don't get me wrong I have more James Bond movies on my shelf then RoCos. I'm just saying that for the most part I enjoy me a good romantic comedy. I know I probably just lost my "man card" here, but let's be honest besides this guy, what man out there doesn't have some soft spot?
On another notes I would like to point out that this is the 100th post for "A Cage of Words." I would like to think my staff and all those who check in on us so regularly. We write this for you... and so that I don't have to email people with life updates.
Keep up the fight
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Yes, I am on Facebook now. I know several you you have asked why? In my typical fashion I will now rattle on for paragraphs with some BS philosophical crap about why. Read it or not it's up to you.
First let me just say that so far I think I have recipes coming to my email daily now, stock in some sort of zoo cafe farm, am enrolled in classes at University of Phoenix online, signed a petition to legalize pot in Indiana, place an order for a "escort", joined the police force, gave all my money to Hattie, have been mocked by hundreds and then I found out how to log into my new account.
Much like anything in my life there are many things that led to this action. I think bullet points are in order:
BTW: Let's keep "those pictures" you all know which ones I am talking about, off line!
Keep up the fight
First let me just say that so far I think I have recipes coming to my email daily now, stock in some sort of zoo cafe farm, am enrolled in classes at University of Phoenix online, signed a petition to legalize pot in Indiana, place an order for a "escort", joined the police force, gave all my money to Hattie, have been mocked by hundreds and then I found out how to log into my new account.
Much like anything in my life there are many things that led to this action. I think bullet points are in order:
- Nostalgia
- Being Board
- Peer Pressure
- Being signed up for a FB and Twitter marketing workshop for work
- The loneliness of Nashville
- An ongoing quest in my life to be more open
- My SD and I talking about letting go of the past
- Accepting that no man is an island
- An attempt to not let the term interdependence scare me
- I love to eat my own words
BTW: Let's keep "those pictures" you all know which ones I am talking about, off line!
Keep up the fight
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
IOWA
Well I lied. I am not going to post the answers to the quiz because I deleted the email it came in. Sorry about that, but if you really care you can email me and I will do what I can to help you find the answers. *****UPDATE***** A concerned reader got the answer for me and they are posted below.I have returned to the state of Indiana and am ready to share a few highlights of the trip to Iowa. They are in no particular order or ranking and I know I will miss some great moments, but it is a list none the less.
- Seeing family: Mom, dad, sister, grandmas and even an aunt and uncle
- Time with the Loaders
- Card games at many tables
- -20 degrees... leaving it would be the highlight
- Loader #1 Mac and Cheese (see photo) that he has been cooking up since 2006
- Helping drink a case of wine
- Seeing some friends in Indy
Keep up the fight
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