4 YEARS OLD!



Elise w/ her Grandpa Dong

Elise turned 4 yesterday (12th). We had a birthday party for her on Thursday. Hard to believe that she is 4! WOWZERS. Every year, to celebrate her Chinese heritage (can't you tell by the red hair??), her Nana buys her a Chinese dress.

Not only was it a nice birthday, but it was also a great excuse for me to eat a lot of food and play with her new toys.

Off to a concert in Downers Grove...

disempowering language

DJCHUANG has an interesting thought here about the kind of language/wording/approach we use to try and get people to get involved, etc...

What are your thoughts?

STARBUCK'S BLENDED BEVERAGE BINGO

Apparently, Starbucks did a pretty darn good job with a "customer experience program" initiated in 2001 where they put together a "bingo" type system for creating interaction with customers to offer samples of new drinks. According to this article at Fast Company, all North American stores participated in this.

...and I thought the free drinks were because they liked me.

What happens when you have:

1) nothing to do

2) a sharp knife

3) a large lime

4) a patient cat

5) too much tequila

6) and it's football season?

CLICK HERE

DAY OFF

Today was my day off. It was a sucky day. I was in some sort of emotional funk all day long. Kind of pissy towards everyone. I'm not totally sure why either. Well I (sort of) know why, but I still reflect back on my day and (as always) ask myself, "How in the freak did I allow myself to be so emotionally jacked up today?"

I guess I make myself somewhat vulnerable when I admit things like this, but I don't really care anymore. I'm human. I go through crap just like everyone else and sometimes (more often than not), I just downright make stupid choices when it comes to my attitude.

So...................tonight I went to Starbucks and worked. And the scary part about that is that it actually helped improve my mood. I don't think it was the caffeine either (although the more I think about the whole coffee addiction, the more it makes sense that it actually might be related...).

Anyway, I think part of the reason I cheered up tonight is because I spent the good part of an hour cleaning out my email inbox. In my inbox were (at least) 5 emails from people whose lives have recently been positively impacted through the church that I work at. 5 is a good number - and seldom does my inbox have 5 "testimonials" in it at one time. But I guess God knew that I would need those emails at 9:30pm on a Monday night after I spent a day being a jerk to my wife, daughter and a couple of other people.

Thanks God. Sorry family.

I'll do better next time.

Goodnight.

GOOD SUNDAY MORNING

6:10am. In my office this morning listening to a radio show called, "With Heart and Voice". It's a weekly program of choral and organ music. Today they are playing Advent themes.

There's something sobering about being up early - while it's still dark out, knowing that most of the (sane) population is still in bed sleeping. This has sort of become my Sunday morning "ritual" - a way for me to reflect on God and His place in my life. It's becoming one of the best parts of my week.

Back to my ritual...