Times, they are a changin!!!

While perusing msn.com this morning, I ran across an article about Wal-Mart discontinuing their lay-a-way operations. And while I've not used lay-a-way for quite some time, I always enjoyed knowing that the option was there. If you're interested in the article.....
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?Feed=AP&Date=20060914&ID=6022388

The article reminds me of how far God has brought me. No, I don't have my mansion on a hill yet, but I am not longer below the poverty level. At the same time it saddens me to think of all the people who used lay-a-way, and not because they're cheap but because they don't have the money or resources (credit cards, Christmas club or other avenues) to go out and purchase necessary items or simply wanted items for times such as Christmas.

Of course the Scrooge in me says that if they can't afford it then they probably shouldn't be buying it in the first place, but hey this is America. We all want what we can't afford. I know single mothers who use lay-a-way at Wal-Mart each year to ensure that their kids have a happy Christmas morning. I wonder what those mothers will use this year or next year? Maybe I need to adopt a family and ensure that they have a decent Christmas...hmmm. I'll put a pen in that one and come back to it.

Been a pretty busy week. Trying to fight the battle of junk mail and I think we may be winning. I tackled the job of straightening up my office at home last night. After three bags of stuff to shred and 3 bags of junk to throw away, I think we may see the light at the end of the tunnel. Though that's just one room. We have several to go. Pray for us as we fight the battle of junk.

Exercising has been tough this week. I seemed to have hurt the calf/shin of my right leg. I think it may just be a temporary thing, nothing that I need to go under the knife for, but it sure hurts like heck!

ok, i have work to do now...holla!

War!!!

I almost had to declare war on Conway Corporation. For those non Conway residence, Conway Corporation (CC from here on out) is our all in one combination utility company. We have our electric, water, waste, cable & internet through them. It's our answer to one stop shopping. Well anyway, you may remember from a post last week that our digital cable box in the bedroom went crazy Thursday night and forced us to make lemonade. Well Friday morning the service guy came our and couldn't figure out what made our box go loopy so he replaced it with a "brand new" one. That's all fine and dandy. I don't care abt the age of the box, as long as I can get my tv fix on. I loves me some Nick @ Nite!!! So things are working great with the new box until Monday morning. It makes some sound and dies. I mean it completely dies. So we're thinking that maybe they're just passing out defective boxes. We call the customer service department, very nicely may I add, and tell them that our box died again. They say they'll send someone out. Let me put a pen in this and start a whole new rant about utility companies and their inability to set appointments. What is up with this range of time thing that they've been doing since they installed Fred & Wilma Flinstones' cable? I don't get that, but anyhoooo, I give the people my cell number so they can call before they come and I would leave work to meet them. Fast forward to my Monday afternoon conference call and dude finally calls. Apparently he's been at my house for a few minutes, calling my home number and wondering why no one is there. I dispatch the wife and send her to the house and when she gets there she gets a note on the door from dude (Operator #422) saying that he waited 20 minutes (20 minutes my arse!) and had other jobs to do. Point #1....if my box worked I wouldn't have a need to see you. Point #2...you're a lying SOB! Anyway, we call the customer service people to #1 reschedule and #2 tell them what a lying piece of work they've hired and the lady decides to scold. Need I remind you that I pay good money for their service and I refuse to be scolded by some CS rep. We had to cut her off mid sentence and ask her to do her job and reschedule the visit not reprimand us! I don't think she liked that very much, but I didn't like her very much because before she would reschedule the visit she made us do some very dumb things....like check to make sure the box was plugged up....like we unplugged it and forgot abt it.

Long story short, we got a different operator today and another box. So, we'll see how this one works. Believe me, I'll keep you posted.

Deja Vu...

Have I ever told you that Beyonce is one of my favorite people. I'd abandon all I know for a shot at that....seriously! She's rich, she's fine and did I mention how rich she is. Take a look at the fineness for yourself....



Ok, now that you know how in love I am with Beyonce we can move on.

We had a very interesting discussion at work yesterday. We were discussing whether we would sell ourselves or our mate for money....a large sum of money - say a million dollars. At first I said that I would sell me (who's surprised???) but not my wife. That's worth more than a million dollars. But then I happened across my register and realized how much a million dollars would indeed do for me (us) and I had to change my mind. As long as she promised that she wouldn't enjoy it better than me, then I could probably be convinced to bargain. It's just sex people, people screw for less than that all the time. (Baby if you're reading this, know that I could never sell your love to someone else - stop here) (Everyone else, just know that the only reason that I couldn't sell it is because right now we don't know many millionaires)!!

It is the weekend baby and I'm glad about it. I have no immediate plans other than going to buy some new running shoes. My old ones are starting to talk to me. They're talking to my shin's and my ankles. They're giving up the ghost and making me lie awake and cry.

Oh, weirdest thing happened yesterday - my digital cable box in the bedroom just went nutz last night. Of course we didn't realize it until we were retiring for the night and went to turn on some Roseanne marathon. So there we lay in the dark - complete dark - no tv, no music....just us. So, long story short...when life gives you lemons.....make some darn good lemonade!!!!

Today has been a good day. Not alot of work, stress or decisions to make. Thank God for that!

Love ya all!!

Half Marathon here I come....

Ok, so how crazy is it that I'm really entertaining the idea of trying to train for a half marathon. Here I am the fat guy who could barely run a mile months ago and now I'm lofty enough to think that I can run a half marathan (13.1 miles). Am I crazy? I don't know but it's a goal. And even if by some crazy thing, I fail at least I attempted it. Isn't that what life's about? Wanna join me...here's the link http://www.littlerockmarathon.com/.

We're aiming for the half marathon, but will settle for the half marathon relay. I say settle, but that's still a victory for me. I'm so scared that I can even have the mind to think this. What happened to the sedentary me? Let me put this in, it's not a done deal yet, so I reserve the right to change my mind....lol.

I had a great weekend. Spent time with the wife & her family. Though draining in some ways, it is always a good time to hang out with them. It's less work with someone else's family than with your own. With my family, I have to worry about being embarassed or angered by some dumb comment or action. With her family, I really have that worry. Not because they don't say or do dumb things, but I'm less effected by it. I do think of them as my family, but you know what I mean.

Saturday night the wife and I went to Memphis to 'Isaac Hayes Place'. Had some good (translate - fattening) food and just enjoyed the company of each other. The drive was real fun. We chilled back and listened to some R. Kelly remixes and just laughed. She's the bomb. Too bad we had to go back to her mom's instead of a hotel room, cuz she woulda got some that night!

B-day drops today. For all of you non-Beyonce stalkers (I mean followers), that's her new album. I haven't bought it yet, but I'm sure that I will. Unless you send me an email telling me that you've purchased it for me and that I can come pick it up from you. If you're a cute female you might get a kiss. Who am I kidding? I'll kiss just abt anyone for a Beyonce cd.

I haven't done a lick of work today, well let me take that back. I did do some stuff, but nothing that was on my to do list. Funny how an extra day off will make u not want to do real work stuff. But tomorrow...back to the grindstone.

Holla back...