How Important Is It?

Over the last several months, I have been meeting with a financial planner so that I can put my finances in order for the future and for retirement. This has me thinking about money...not necessarily hoarding money, but thinking about my future and making sure that my family and I are secure throughout our lives.

In the car and even on television the last few days, I have seen a variety of commercials boasting jobs where you can stay at home and makes thousands of dollars a month. They say "You don't have a boss" or "You can set you own hours". All you need to do is sell items through E-Bay or sell proper using the Internet.

First of all, who knows how legitimate these businesses are. That's one issue. I think was really bothers me is how they use the lure of lots of money in little time as the reward. Unfortunately, that hook alone probably attracts a lot of folks to the opportunity. But how fulfilling can that work be? What satisfaction does it bring you? In the end, what is your purpose in life...to make money or to make a contribution?

A Small Chuckle...

About 2 months ago, while playing a season in Madden 2006, my Oakland Raiders with star running back had a tough game against the Indianapolis Colts. Worried about my 7-0 record and facing a very tough Peyton Manning, I did not want to play the game for fear I would lose the game. Are you kidding? Two months later, I decided I jsut needed to play the game.

Talk about a lesson in surrender. Geez Jim, who really cares if you lose, no one will know and, after all, it is just a game. Needless to say I played out the game and I won 49-7. *sigh*

I always learn lessons about putting things in perspective. Luckily even video games have things to teach us.

Career Opportunities - Part I (Music)

As I said earlier, I wanted to talk a little about my career options as I look beyond the RHD position. The first option I wanted to talk about involved music.

As I look back at my times as a music major, the biggest hang-up that I had with the major was the performance component. The thought of getting up in front of groups and singing and playing piano for groups has always and will always be a pretty scary experience for me. However, the history and theory of music has always fascinated me. I really liked finding out the mystery behind music and finding out about how music has evolved over time.

So, I have contemplated the possibility of getting a Master's in music with the intention of possibly teaching music on a college/university level. I relish the thought of teaching classes about music appreciation and music history. I really do love music, but not music performance. Of all of my options, this is probably the one that is least likely to happen. Usually, to attain a higher degree in music, you need to have a primary instrument and continue work with that instrument. I am honestly not a gifted enough singer to make that happen. I also worry about job security and assuring myself that I will have a place to work at all times.

Stayed tuned for the next career installment.

Does Anyone Read This?

No...you don't need to make me feel better and post a comment saying that you read this blog. What I do appreciate about this blog is that it is pretty raw. I am definitely a perfectionist and I am fearful of constructive criticism. This blog gives me the opportunity to put thoughts out there right away without time for correction or over-pondering. It also gives people a forum to debate and question my ideas.

Possessions

I went for a run today (2 in a row...woot!) and I have been using my IPod for the runs. I found it to be very helpful and very motivational. I did have a scare today; my IPod got so cold that it shut down on me...the last half mile of the run was a little scary, as I thought my $300 IPod was no more.

The IPod warmed up and started functioning, but it got me thinking. As I have read from So, You Want to Be Like Christ?, we put a lot of emphasis on material possessions. As the relief came over me that my IPod worked, I wondered what would really happen if my IPod didn't work. While I would be out $300, life would go on and I would be able to live a purposeful life without it. Possessions are not what defines, it is our character and what we do that define us.

Cliche, yes, but very important...especially for me.

Career Opportunities - Introduction

I am currently sitting in my office, that while not complete, has received all the updates it will getting until Spring Break. I can finally begin to put stuff back in its place and start to get things together for the spring semester. As I put all of these pictures and materials away, it definitely brings back a lot of memories.

Ever since I started college back in 1995, it was difficult for me to feel settled. The end of each semester meant a move home...summers meant going home or maybe staying up in Oshkosh. One year I moved to an off-campus apartment; then I moved to graduate school. In between my two years of graduate school I did an internship in Massachusetts. It wasn't really until the age of 26 that I genuinely felt stable in terms of where I was living. When I took the job at Oshkosh, I was able to settle into an apartment that I have been living in for 2 and a half years. I am doing a job that I love and I have roots in the community...it is a great feeling.

When I took the job, I made a promise to myself that I would stay for at least five years. Based on my engagement and other personal concerns, it is more likely that I will be here six years. While I have appreciated the security of this position, I know in my heart that I won't a residence hall director for forever. So, I have given some thought about what I want to do after my time as a residence hall director. Stay tuned for this three-part series. :)

Surrender

I am sitting here in the Breese Hall RHD office as my staff completes check-outs for the end of interim. As is always the case with closings, it is eerily quiet in the building.

I have almost completed reading a book entitled, "So, You Want to Be Like Christ?" I realize there are a whole bunch of self-help books out there, and a lot of them are like old wine in new bottles...nothing we don't know already. But, honestly, this book is different. This may sound strange, but while obviously a Christian-centered book, the messages gleened from it transcend religious discussion to simply ways to live life.

I found the chapter on letting go to be the most profound for me. Of all the habits that I would like to get rid of, my constant need to worry about everything can be troublesome. I have made progress in curbing this during my undergraduate school and graduate school journey, but the progress must continue. The ability to surrender the worry and realize that things will be completed and will work OK can be based on religious principles, but all people of all spiritual orientations can take heed.

That is all. The building is officially checked :).

I'm Engaged!

Ok...so, the purchase of the IPod was not the big news. :)

On December 31, 2005/January 1, 2006 I proposed to Christa Trushinsky and she said YES! We have not set a date at this point, but we are thinking that it will be the Summer of 2007. Around November, we had both brought up the fact that we were ready to really commit to eachother and decided that we would do some ring shopping. Once a suitable ring was found, it was then up to me to decide on the time and place for this to happen.

I decided that New Year's Eve would be a wonderful time to propose...what a great way to start your new year! At about 11:00 pm, Christa and I went on our usual walk around Oshkosh and as we wrapped up the walk on the river, I popped the question. Yay!

IPod

Yahoo! In what I must consider to one of the best personal purchases I have made in some time, I finally gave in and purchased an IPod. In talking with some of my RHD colleagues, I found out that during the holiday season, over 300 million IPods were sold. 300 million! Obviously, this IPod thing is catching on.

At first, I was scared by the price tag of the IPod and I wasn't sure if it was worth the investment. Now that I have purchased one and uploaded almost 16 gigabytes of CDs onto it, it has been a wonderful addition to my day-to-day work. I can now listen to the IPod while I am at work, I can listen to it while I am exercising, while I am walking around campus or while I am in the car (and not driving).

I actually feel like a college student as I walk around campus. There is a level of disengagement (is this a word?) that I feel when I have the IPod on. I am not completely sure if that is always a good thing, but I'll take it.

Remember That Blog I Had...

Hey Folks,

I realize that it has been way too long since I have last posted on this blog. In earlier forms, I probably would have just let the blog go and not come back. I made a resolution this time to keep up journaling and I will. I actually have a quite a bit saved up to talk about and will do my best to stretch it out so I have multiple entries to make.

The last few months have been strangely hectic for many reasons in ways both personal and professional. I also have some big news to announce, but I can not yet go public. Stay tuned...

...yes, I'm back.

Thanksgiving Break

I wish I could say that I was refreshed after my Thanksgiving Break. When you are slightly allergic to cats and you have cats in your parents house it can sleeping someone problematic. While not refreshed by sleep, it was wonderful to have the chance to catch up with family and friends.

The Packers are a lost cause...as you can already see, I gave up on updates. What can you say about a team that is 2-9 and yet somehow has manged to outscore their opponents over the course of the season? They are in every game they play until the very end...and it gets for frustrating each time when you know they will find a way to lose the game. It would figure the one year that I get to see to two Packer games, they would be really bad.

Milwaukee Bucks: A Sports Team to Cheer About

If you didn't have the opportunity to catch the Bucks game on Fox Sports North last night, you missed quite a game. The Milwaukee Bucks managed to put together a victory over the Indiana Pacers, 103-102 in a game they probably should have lost. Done 16 at half time and 14 to start the fourth quarter, the Bucks took advantage of bad Indiana three throw shooting and great Bucks free throw shooting in the last few minutes to overcome the Pacers. Mo Williams drained a 3-pointe with time running out to lift the Bucks in last few seconds.

As per usual, I had generally counted the Bucks out of the game in the second quarter when Indiana's lead was reaching 20; I was hoping that the Bucks could at least keep the game close when it wrapped up. For the fifth time this season, the Bucks have won after being behind. With the Packers not really doing anything this year, the 4-1 Bucks have been a real surprise. They could really cause some noise in the NBA East.

Interesting Case Involing UW Eau Claire

If you haven't already had the chance to read about this story, it might be worth your time:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/nov05/368030.asp

It combines various issues that are important to me: Resident Assistants (or Community Advisors :) ), religion and how the two can sometimes overlap. In this case, a Resident Assistant at UW Eau Claire was told by the administration that he would no longer be allowed to host gatherings in which students talked about the bible.

I had honestly not heard much about it until Mark Belling, of 1130 WISN brought this up on November 4, 2005. It brings up the argument about what role the hall plays in a resident assistant's life. Is the hall consider his or her home, or is it considered his or her office? Also, does being a Resident Assistant mean that you need to be viewed as being accessible for all students...does holding a religious meeting make you unapproachable to folks? What are your thoughts. Discuss!

UWO Hall Government Blog

If you have not already, I suggest that you take a look at a blog that was created so that UWO oshkosh residence hall students would be able to talk about the role of hall governments. I have administrative rights, so I may be making a few posts. Of course, I should probably start posting on my own blog consistently first :):

Anyway, check it out: http://hallgov.blogspot.com/

Interesting Quote

I have finally finished the book Black Rednecks and White Liberals and the author has an interesteing quote near the end of his last essay, he says:

"Past grievances, real or imaginary, are equally irremediable in the present, for nothing that is done among living contemporaries can change in the slightest the sins and sufferings of generations who look those sinse and sufferings to the grave with them in centuries past. Galling as it may be to be helpless to redress the crying injustices of the past, symbolic expiation in the present can only create new injustices among the living and new problems for the future, when newborn babies enter the world with pre-packaged grievances against other babies born the same day."

I post this statement to get your thoughts about it. I have my own thoughts about what he is getting at, but I'd be curious to hear what you have to say. I look forward to being part of a lively discussion.

November Update

Hey folks, it's November. This marks some milestones for me. First, as of November 1, 2005 I am now done with my tenure as the interim Fletcher Residence Hall Director; the power has been transferred back to Abby. While the experience has been beneficial and in many ways very positive, it will be nice to be back to working with just one hall.

It will be my birthday on November 4. It is interesting the role that Facebook can play in your life. I have had so many different residents coming up and wishing me a happy birthday, and I'm trying to figure out how they know...thank you Facebook.

I had my meeting with my little brother today. Adam and I will be getting together on the 11th. I believe he will be schooling me in Halo 2.

Big Brother

I wanted to let everyone know that I have officially been accepted to be a "big brother" for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. I will be paired up with a 14-year-old named Adam who I will be meeting next week. I am very, very excited for this opportunity.

Catch-Up Weekend

Again, a little time has passed since I had posted in this journal. The Breese/Fletcher combination has made it difficult to do much outside of work. As a result I have not posted as much as I would like.

This weekend was a wonderful weekend. I know, I know...the Packers did lose. And, yeah, I have given up on the weekly Packer updates...it's not worth it. 1-5. Oi! I had the opportunity to clean my entire apartment and get all of my laundry done. I also had the chance to go through my personal files and get bills paid, get things filed and work on a lot of personal stuff that I have been putting off for awhile.

Update...the dual hall gig will be wrapping up some time next week. While it has been an enjoyable experience, I will look forward to being back to Breese again. Speaking of, Breese tied for first place in Homecoming. Yay!

Packer Post-Game: Week 3

I almost forgot to give my week 3 update. The game against Cleveland was actually watched at Christa's parent's house. Each week the Packers seem to make the game even closer, but still somehow manage to lose. In this game, the Packers fall by 1 point.

For a defense that was supposed to be bad, they have actually started to look pretty good. They have held their opponents to low totals and have had to work harder with the offense turning the ball over 10 times in these three games. Ahmad Carroll even managed to get the only takeaway the Packers have had all season.

It's the vaunted offense, the offense we've sunk so much money into that hasn't produced. Ahman Green has looked OK at best...Favre has looked quite pedestrian...our best receiver is out for the year. Doesn't look good folks.

One Year

In case you wanted to know, Christa and I have been going out for one year. It is wonderful and she is a great girlfriend. Yay. :)