TGIF?
People at work comment to me from time to time saying “I can’t believe it’s already Monday,” or “thank goodness it’s Friday, I can’t wait to get out of here.” Most of these comments are made with the expectation that I will return their sentiment. They can come from people I work with as often as they come from random people I ride in the elevator with or pass walking through the building. Typically I do echo their sentiment for the sake of conversation, but no more.
I love my job. I love the people I get to work with. I love the type of work I do, the variety, the challenge, and the satisfaction of learning new things. I love the freedom I have to try new things, the opportunity to stretch myself and others to grow professionally. I know that I am very lucky to work where I work and to have the job that I have, and that is why I work so hard to keep it. I definitely have to say thank you to everyone I work with. I feel like we have a really tight team atmosphere, and everyone’s willingness to constantly seek to do things better is very unique and special.
So if you see me on the elevator and you are wishing it was Friday instead of Monday, while I understand how you feel, don’t expect me to feel the same way. When those elevator doors open, I am ready to go.
A View from the Top
On our first night in New York we visited The Empire State Building. The view from the top was amazing. The city was spread out beneath us as far as you could see. I had never before seen anything like New York City.
Flaming Ball of Fire
I was able to get a copy of the picture that I took for my Pursuant website profile. Enjoy!
Final Farewell to the “Whale Tale”
This was the last time I drove the “Whale Tale”, so I wanted to capture some video to save the moment.
What is it like?
What is it like to be recognized in public? What is it like to draw a crowd with people clamoring for autographs or pictures? How do you react when you visit a studio on behalf of your alma mater to shoot a philanthropic video, only to have them march some poor schlep they call the office champion out to play you in ping-pong? If you are Patrick Crayton of the Dallas Cowboys, you very courteously engage such schlep in two games and lose them both.
In playing the part of the poor schlep in this story, I have to say it really was a unique experience playing ping-pong with Patrick Crayton. What made it so unique for me personally was the fact that while the moment probably meant next to nothing to Patrick, I got a kick out of playing a game with someone famous. Not only someone famous, but someone I follow through sports, someone local. And let me add, while I did win both games, Patrick did exhibit some serious skill at the table. If he spent half an hour at lunch every day at the table like this poor schlep, I would have been in trouble, but this time I was lucky. Thank you to Patrick for the game. You have earned a new fan.
The Pregnancy Test
The scene is so familiar. The nervous husband, or more often than not today, boyfriend, paces in nervous expectation of the result. The wife, or baby’s momma, is excited as she takes the test, but nervous as to how her significant other will react. It’s positive. Oh No! Oh Yeah! Oh Crap!
Hollywood loves to create a dramatic scene, although, a scene that’s based more on reality than fiction; a scene, I participated in this morning. A scene that I am proud to say was positive. It is so satisfying to do this the right way. To be married, in love with your wife, and ready to take the next step. I will admit it is a little scary, and at this point, hasn’t really sunk in, but, the outlook from today is good.
To do things the right way is never easy. There are always challenges and obstacles that get in the way. However, when you do things the right way, and accomplish your task, it is so satisfying. You just feel good. This is true in every aspect of life. In relationships, in your work, in everything you do, you are always setting an example for others. It’s easy to do what YOU want, but the feeling you get when you do what’s right can never be matched.
Although I am far from perfect, I am very happy and proud to have gotten it right this time.
White Rock Marathon
I used to think the town where I was raised, though most assuredly small, actually resembled more of a larger city. The large metropolis of Temple, Texas, at least "felt" big. With Scott & White Hospital, a great selection of restaurants, and even a town mall, what more could big city life offer? Our 5A high school even won the state championship my freshman year. The point is, growing up in Temple I had the perception (although perhaps false) of growing up in a large city.
The misconceptions of the small town life I grew up around became glaringly obvious as I found myself surrounded by thousands of people preparing for the White Rock Marathon. Not ever having visited Times Square, I knew I was getting a taste of what that experience might entail. The buildings around me soared into the sky canvassed with huge video screens displaying scenes from the race being broadcast on network television. Thousands of people were crammed in between the buildings waiting in anticipation of the start of the race.
One of those thousands of people was my wife, who I was there to cheer on through the next 26 miles. That day can be characterized by one emotion–pride. I am so proud of my wife. She is amazing!
To find out more about the White Rock Marathon, click here.
Your help is needed.
We give to Church. We give to our University. We give to our Fraternity. We hope that these gifts will somehow have a positive impact in the world through the work of those organizations, but do we ever really see the results of those gifts?
How about this year, you make a gift that will change a life? How about this year, you support a local family under extreme financial strain? How about this year, you relieve the financial stress from Bobby Cook so that he can focus on fighting cancer.
Give what you are able, but make a gift today. Visit onemilliondollarman.com.
Up Late?
Ever find yourself up late craving some good talk radio? Let me recommend Coast to Coast AM. Created by the legend of late night talk, Art Bell, this radio talk show offers in-depth stories and guest interviews covering topics ranging from current events to aliens, ghosts, and stories of the strange and bizarre.
I am writing this as I enjoy another installment of Ghost to Ghost, the annual Halloween show featuring open line calls from the many Coast to Coast AM fans. The only requirement for calling in is a good Ghost story–and of course–a good land line. Art is hosting this show as he does each year, which on this occasion is even more of a treat given his recent retirement.
You never know what topic will be covered, but you can always be sure that George Noory, who has done Art well as his replacement, has the right guest scheduled and the right questions in mind. So, if you are in Dallas, switch your radio over to KLIF 570 AM at midnight and enjoy!