I did it...

It's really nothing to celelbrate, I should've gotten this done a looooong time ago but I put it off, put it off, develpoed a nice mental block, put it off some more and finally yesterday I just went and did it. We don't have many more nice weekends left before winter sets in so I HAD to do it. I couldn't go another winter with my shed doors in the state of disrepair they'd fallen into. So, after blew all the leaves out of my landscaping and gave everything a good mow I couldn't delay any longer... I grabbed my tools and got to work. I put up my shed doors (with an eensie weensie bit of help from my 8 yr old son) all by myself. They open, they close, they look reasonably straight and I am just glad it's done. They are a little bit different color than the shed itself, I didn't match well. But ya know what? They look good and they are finally done. I guess I can hang shed doors after all. I was pretty damn well convinced I couldn't. MY wife evne said she thought they looked good. And then questions why I locked the shed lol, with all my "junk" in there and all. I neatly sidestepped the "my stuff is always junk" resentment and informed her I locked the shed to keep the wind from whipping those bad boys open and tearing them off. That's how the last pair of doors was put to death lol.

This shed door thing reminds me a bit of my first 4th Step. I put it off, thought about it, got insane about it, knowing I needed to do it. It ate at me, I put it off some more and finally had gotten to the point where I couldn't even talk about it, much less do it. I finally just sat down one day and began the thing. Within a few days, I had completed my first inventory, my first 4th Step. I realized after all the nonsense I put myself (and a few others) through, that it wasn't really as big a deal as I had made it out to be. In fact, I had caused myself much unnecessary stress over something that really wasn't a very big deal. It wasn't that difficult to do once I got going, and I found out that I wasn't nearly as bad a person as I thought I was. And, I wasn't nearly as great a person as I thought I was. And to boot, all the stuff in my 4th Step was stuff I already knew about Scott. So what the heck was the big deal? Fear... Plain and simple garden variety, bone chilling fear. And it still happens today!

I guess sometimes I need to go through these goofy little self inflicted trials to remind myself to have a little faith and just do it.

"the big house"

Here's the Church where I got to play at Mass this morning.... You ought to see the inside!

first one up...

I love being first one up... The house is quiet, the coffee is fresh and Cosmo is all mine. We have a routine whereby I let her out, start the coffee, read a couple blogs, reflect, pour a cup, let her in, feed her and then come back to blog and enjoy my first cup. Any moment now (once she finishes wolfing down her breakfast), Cosmo will come blasting through the door to my office and be her usually messy intense self (the kind of doggie only a Parson Russell Terrier owner can love) and demand my attention. Then I will finish this post and read on.

(now she's dashing from one end of our home to the other, making sure everyone is awake...)

This morning, our musicians are going to play at Mass in the next down down the road. It's fun when we play over there since they worship in a HUGE German Gothic style Catholic Church. The sound in there is amazing because of the size of the nave/sanctuary... It will be really awesome! There's just something different about celebrating Mass in such a church.

I had better get my butt on the "honey-dos" today. I have some leaves to suck up in the front yard, and those doggone shed doors to hang lol. The weather appears to be mild, sunny again today and I know it won't last much longer.

Last evening my wife and I attended the Annual Rotary Club Charity Auction. I joined Rotary not long after taking over at the Chamber, it kinda goes with the job. Well, this was "fancy night out" for the adults, lots of good food, LOTS of drinking and a good time. Lots of money was raised I think, although we didn't bid on anything. We're too damn poor lol. The Chamber Director guy doesn't make much money and my wife chooses not to work outside the home becasue she's convinced she cannot handle a job. So, we were happily spectating. It felt comfortable to just be me and have no worries, no fear or apprehension about being around all these "important" townsfolk, around all the drinking and carrying on. It felt good to be a part of things in our community without having to have some sort of ego trip going on. It was a peaceful, relaxing evening for me. Now, my wife, not so much. She doesn't do social stuff, and is always concerned that someone doesn't like her, doesn't approve of us, is looking down on us, all that nonsense. So, I rather imagine she had a stressful time of it. Normally, she just stays away from social events and settings whenever possible. I hope she can find a way someday to get over all those fears and apprehensions because they eat her up, and affect how she lives her life every day. It makes it very difficult sometimes for her to enjoy her life and get through a simple day. I pray for her and try to be encouraging and accepting of her.

I can tell you this, being married and being a dad are two of the most difficult things I have ever tried to do successfully.

Saturday Stuff...

I took off early from work yesterday to spend the afternoon with my wife and my son. We went shopping for stuff, and had supper at Red Lobster (had a gift card... and there's not many good alternatives for seafood out here where we live). It was nice to just hang out and enjoy one another's company and not have to worry about work and all that jazz. I couldn't do that before.

It's another beautiful cold crisp fall morning. I'll walk to the office today since my truck has issues. The right front wheel bearing is going out and it's a loud, awful sound. Thankfully, it's a warranty situation. But, the closest Kia dealer is in Dayton, an hour south. I am going to call and have them come get it for me. I hate being without it, but stuff happens and thankfully my wife has a little Toyota we can share.

Dale Carnegie taught me to speak to folks in terms of them, not me. He taught me to be forthcoming with praise and aprobation and mean it. He taught me that people are more interested in hearing about themselves than they are interested in hearing about me. He taught me to make everyone I meet feel that they are important. When I operate by these principles, and make them a part of who I am, it's amazing how much better I get through the day and how much nicer people seem, lol. "How to Win Friends and Influence People" is a wonderful book on how to live a sober life. The principles he teaches go hand in hand with what I've learned in the Big Book and at Church.

I've had a lot of folks to pray for lately... folks that are struggling with the loss of loved ones, or their own illnesses... HP knows who I am referring to, no need to go into details here. I just want God to help them be better, help them be at peace. I pray today that God might use me to be of service to these people.

Have a wonderful day!

saying thanks...

Frosty, cold, crisp Ohio autumn morning here... It's simple beautiful outside! While I am more into the warmer seasons, today sure makes a great case for fall, lol. I do love the change of seasons, but warmth is something I cherish lol.

It's Friday... I'm glad! It's been a hectic week but a good one. Last evening I (and my admin asst who is quite indispensable) hosted our first ever business after hours. in fact, she'd enver even been to one. We had over 50 folks show up, gave away lots of nice door prizes, ate some really good food (I was too busy "working the room" to eat much lol) and lots of folks had plenty of adult beverages (too busy being sober to both with that, lol), hung out in the bar/lounge of a really nice Italian restaurant in town and everyone had a great time. We bid a fond farewell to the outgoing Director of the Chamber and that was that. Once that wrapped up I had to hit a rehearsal for our swing band. We're preparing a Christmas program for a show in a few weeks. (more on that another time)

This morning I get to do one of my favorite things in connexion with my job. I get to go on the local classic rock radio station and hang out for a few minutes with the morning show guys. I did this a few weeks ago, and found out that I really enjoy doing radio. It's fun! So, I am looking forward to my 5-10 minutes there. Last time, I brought them some Chamber of Commerce coffee mugs. I think today, we'll upgrade to a dozen donuts (maybe minus one or two by the time I get there, lol). Then, the rest of the day will be spent in hibernation in my office, wading through all the menial reporting and prep for my board meeting next week.

If you see a US Veteran, please tell them thank you. Veteran's Day is coming up next Wednesday 11/11/09. I think we often forget how expensive our freedom is in this country. So please, if you see one of those guys wearing a WWII naval hat, or a coat, pin or shirt that might signfy military service, please look them dead in the eye and let them know how much their service and sacrifice means to you. I've gotten into the habit of doing that when I bump into someone I think might have served. You'd be amazed at the response you'll get. These folks put their lives on the line so we can enjoy the quality of life we have in this country.

In my humble opinion, every day ought to be Veteran's Day. So, to you Veterans out there who come by and read my blog, I say thanks so much for what you've done for us! God Bless you who've served, and may the Lord keep those who've fallen and given their earthly lives to the service of our Great Republic.