V-Day.. Success!!!

I came. I saw. I sorta conquered. Hahaha Ice and rest ruled the last two days and now, back to work at DAEP. Trina was fantastic taking care of me!!!

Passing the Torch

Leonard DeLautre was a dear friend, in my last few years of ministry in Georgetown, Kentucky. I was the Pastor of Central Church of God and he lived across the street from the church. I spent many hours sitting, listening, and learning from him. He gave me books every time I visited, and now looking back I wonder why I didn't see him more often. When I left the community in 2004, to move to Texas, he blessed and prayed for me and my family and believed in me. I will never forget him.

A.D.D. & Calendar Issues

I rely on the calendar. I have tried to learn to use the iTouch to help me stay organized. I use circles, arrows, lines, stars, etc in my written calendar. So, I am frustrated that I can't use the technology afforded me to stay on time and organized.

I need the creativity the written calendar offers and the flexibility to change/erase in the written one. I have so many appts, I must use something. Perhaps I am stuck in the past.

Overslept!!!

I hate to be late and cannot stand even more to miss a meeting, which is what happened this morning! I know I set the alarm, but for whatever reason, woke up 45 minutes after my meeting started! Holy Crap!

I've got to have more discipline than that...

Mr. Feeback, the Super-Sub

I love sub-teaching. You get to meet new students every day, or be a part of a class for several days. They all think I am no older than 28...maybe 32; which is hilarious!

They get enough of you to like you and then I move on...it's the ideal situation. Anyway, soon enough I will have a permanent spot at DAEP - where the "bad" kids go. I will be there Social Studies teacher for as long as they are assigned (usually 30 days, 15 with good behavior).

Can You Say Proud Parents?

Jon Mark received the 2007-08 Deer Park Junior High 7th Grade Boys 110% Award. He was really shocked, but I must say - though we are pleasantly surprised, it doesn't shock us. Jon Mark plays hard on every play whether he's involved directly or not. He has always has a keen sense of where to be on the field or court and what to do in order to be a part of the action.

Facebook Is Overrated

Are you kidding me? I mean, don't mishear me - it's really cool to reconnect with so many friends and foes from the past. But my frustration is that it is an "online community" and that's it. Real community, one which shares life with another is rare and much tougher to accomplish.

(Abby serving as a volunteer at Field of Dreams 2008 - an event organized by our church - she had a blast working with Girls In Action for five hours in the heat giving away bottles of water!)
I know I sound simplistic and as one co-worker suggested (I am perhaps jealous of the success of it), but let's be honest and say that all these "confirmed requests" for friends does not make a friendship. It' a modern-day, internet-driven facade.

Authentic relationships share life and is better accomplished by on our feet and not our seat. Community is...
- getting our hands and feet dirty in a clean-up effort after a storm
- taking care of your dog and mail while you are on vacation
- playing basketball with your neighbor's fiancee
- sharing a meal together (a lost art and expression of love)
- taking cookies to a retired couple next door sounds so 1950ish, but it works!
- tossing the ball back to our yard after the massive grand slam by dad
- rubbing shoulders with humanity

All these things have happened recently in our neighborhood. By the way, the majority of our neighbors are not Christian, but they understand community and the value of sharing life together despite political, economical, and religious preferences. Community is better experienced face to face.

No wonder Facebook has become so huge. It caters to our anonymous online lifestyle, while rejecting our need for touch, tears, and laughter with a friend, who thank God is not a profile and will not ask me to click "confirm" or "ignore".

Mapping My Career

I found this Houston-based job listing site called JobFox. On it I answered questions and selected desires, goals, resume, etc. It then provided this cool "map" of my career.

An Email Exchange With My Boss

I am not to give out Allied shirts unless it comes from you or our Sales Reps on Lotus Notes. Right?

Viola, I have what my therapist calls “severe A.D.D.” in fact, in his 22 years of counseling – I am the worst he has seen in a man (I guess some women have it worse?)

One of the tools I have had to learn (along with daily medication) is to repeat information back to the sender. I have tremendous gaps in my retention and understanding of information. It has really hurt my performance and relationships.

I broke down my pride and went to get help two years ago and was diagnosed then.
Anyway, I tell you this not as an excuse, but an explanation of me sometimes not finishing tasks on time.

I get distracted very easily and have to use tools like written reminders, repeating information, using my calendar (if I remember to look at it – no lie!) Making lists is helpful, but really hard for me to accomplish. In fact, one time I made a nice list of things to be done for the week...I lost the list! Can you believe it?

Enough rambling, thanks for your patience.

Roger Feeback
Marketing Assistant
Flexitallic L.P.
www.flexitallic.com


Hey,
Don’t worry about this. You have been doing an excellent job and I have no problems. We all make mistakes. But, to reiterate, the Allied shirts only go out upon Jim's or my request only. If you receive a Lotus Notes request for a shirt, send out the other ones, not the Allied shirts. If you get a request for the Allied shirts, ask me first.

Thanks,
Viola

The Fog

Dear God,

The fog has drifted in off the shore…my "paper" is due and I’m not ready…it’s like a dream full of unfinished assignments, late projects, and that horrible feeling of failure and playing catch-up.

The A.D.D. monster has barged in again to attack my mind and body. I just can’t seem to win this war. You have to fight for me Jesus! Fight this battle for me so that I can function at work and home today and tonight - tomorrow will worry about itself.

This is more than neurological and medical, it is spiritual - as everything is spiritual.

Dancing in the Dark @ 52

Bruce Springsteen is 58 years old. But in this clip of his single "Dancing in the Dark" he is 52. I am amazed and inspired of his energy and relentless passion.



I love the rawness, & creativity that Bruce Springsteen brings to his shows. His enthusiasm and depth is something that I have longed for and perhaps this is why I have been such an avid fan since 1984.

Work, Work, Work

1) I found another job to go along with my Wal-Mart gig. It's (1PM-5PM) daily here in Deer Park. I am in the Marketing Division of Flexitallic. I send out folders, flyers, hats, pens, and a host of other goodies to customers & potential clients all around the world. One shipment left for Germany yesterday. They make industrial gaskets - that's all I really understand. Check it out www.flexitallic.com


2) My lessson went pretty well last night at San Jacinto Church. The youth and leaders were attentive and seemed to follow me throughout. I asked our daughter Emma if she could understand me and she said I was easy to listen to. It was my first teaching moment in fourteen months...seems like years.

What is the matter with me?!?!

This is the question isn't it?

- I am tired, though I am now working only one job till I find another one.

- I feel old, though I am only 41.

- I have lost nearly everything I held for granite.

- I am not doing well with God lately...not sure why.

- I am teaching Wednesday night at our new church...San Jacinto Baptist in Deer Park.

- I am thrilled the pastors asked me, and yet scared to death b/c I haven't taught anything, other than baseball, in a long time.

- Whatever is the matter must be worked out soon - or my lesson/discussion will flop.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".

The Wal-Mart Walk

Working at one of the largest employers in nation has given me the chance to observe how people walk as they shop. Here are four out of many ways customers make their way down the aisles of Wal-Mart.

1. "I'm in a hurry, so don't ask me how I am doing" walk. This is brisk, singular focused, and downright impersonal. Don't even try to greet them, just smile and get out of the way.

2. "I am really enjoying being away from the house" waltz. This is primarily accomplished by stay-at-home-parents; who have passed on the youngins to the spouse and have hit the highway to get out of dodge for a moment.

3. Sometimes if you are observant long enough, you can spot the "I have no idea where anything is" stroll. They have a buggy (shopping cart for you more educated breed) with nothing in it! They have a look that says, "They have moved the applesauce on me again." When asked if they could use some assistance, they are pointed in the right direction and life goes back to normal.

4. Finally you have the "I really don't want to be here" walk. Mostly seen in teenagers, older elementary students, and bored husbands. It's usually a mopey, head-down, hands in pocket kind of step. They'd rather be playing Scrabble with their 5-year old neice. They would rather watch ESPN Sportscenter for the seventh time today.

People certainly do walk a certain way depending on their personality, life stage, and time left in the day. I have learned a lot by working at Wal-Mart.