Jim Update

Not too much new on my end. I have now plateaued at 194-195. This is a much better feeling than being at 201-202. Hopefully as I incorporate exercise into my work routine, I will continue to feel better about my weight. We are entering the second full week of RHD training. It's honestly not too bad, but now going through some of the same sessions for the third time, it can wear on you.

For the first time in a long time, I bought a new videogame entitled Medal of Honor: European Assault. I have never really been one for first-person shooter games, but this one looks pretty intense. I'll keep you posted. I am also entering the 7th season of my NBA Live 2005 Milwaukee Bucks franchise. We have won three titles and are on our way to a 4th. September 27th, 2006 is a big release date!

That is all. Stay tuned.

More Sunday Ramblings...

I recommend this book highly for all fans of Lord of the Rings:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1587430851/qid=1124066668
/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-1829006-1271321

The analysis is dead on and it brings a whole level of meaning to Tolkien's story-telling.

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Thank you for all of you who are posting comments. While I will not force anyone to do so, I would prefer if you did not leave comments anonymously; I'd like to know who you are. :)

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The Packers did not really wow me in their first pre-season game of the year. Favre looks in tip-top shape; the defense looks pretty sketchy.

I guess I did curse the Brewers who dropped 5 straight among all the talk of being a sleeper wild card pick.

Vacation Bible School

For those I have talked to recently, you know that this week has been quite crazy. Monday through Friday of this week after RHD training, I was involved with our church's Vacation Bible School. The theme was centered around what life was like in Israel around the time of Jesus. For a christian church, it was interesting to learn a lot about the Jewish faith. Even as a adult, I was learning :).

As an RHD, I work with college students all the time. Looking at my "tribe" for vacation bible school (we represented the Levi family), I had a 3 year old, a 5 year old, a 7 year old and an 8th grader. What an adjustment! The first two days were so frustrating. The next two days, I actually combined with another tribe because I did not feel like I was getting to the kids in my tribe. After observing someone else, I was able to do a pretty decent job with the kids today, the last day. What did I learn from this?

(1) You can't be good at everything. You are always learning, no matter how old you are.
(2) There are teachers everywhere that you can learn from; sometimes you just need to take step back and realize who you can learn from.
(3) Even if children come away with one idea in a day, you have accomplished something (this doesn't change with college students ;))
(4) No matter how frustrating at times, all experiences can be rewarding.

Red Tape and Bureaucracy

Ok...as I have discovered today, so many frustrations in life come because of red tape and bureacracy. When you are lower on the totem pole, you look up sometimes and wonder why things work the way they do and you say, "Boy, if I ever made it to that level things would sure change."

I wonder if it ever really does change, or when we get up there our mindset changes and we adopt the same red tape and bureaucracy. Huh.

Sunday Evening Ramblings...

I can not believe that the Brewers are at .5o0 this late in the season. At 56-56 they are 3rd place in the National League Central and are only 4 games out of the Wild Card spot. Ok, ok...I might have jinzed it, but you have to be impressed.

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I am excited for some books that I have ordered:

(1) Black Rednecks and White Liberals http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1594030863/qid=1123471686
/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_sbs_1/104-1937996-1139938?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

(2) Methodism: Empire of the Spirit
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0300106149/qid=1123471772/sr=2-1
/ref=pd_bbs_b_ur_2_1/104-1937996-1139938

I think these two books will be very interesting and thought provoking.
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I decided to get into a format where I schedule two blog entries a week and will have other entries as seems fit. That is all for now...stay tuned and keep reading.

RHD Training Tomorrow

Sorry folks! It's been a long time since I've put in an entry. We had the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Fly-In in Oshkosh. I worked the desk for this conference and did not have much free time. I had a window of free time to let you know that I start training for my Residence Life Director job tomorrow. Huzzah!