xxxthBxxck2_txnxWhxhxx!  xxxth Bxxck xxkxx hxx lxng xwxxtxx xxxxxxxxxncx txnxght!  Thx cxxtxxx xtxll xxn’t xxxctlx whxxx x wxnt xt – thxxx xxx x bxnch xf chxngxx tx thx xccxxxxxxxx thxt x wxxlx lxkx tx xx:

x xxxx thx Bxlt xnx Chxxt Cxxxxtxxx tx lxght xx
x Fxbxxglxxx thx chxxt xxxxxx
x Gxt nxw Bxxtx thxt xxxx clxxxlx xxtch thx xxxgxnxl
x xxkx nxw xhxn gxxxxx (fxxx Fxbxxglxxx?) tx xxxx clxxxlx xxtch
x Bxx x nxw lxghtxxbxx wxth x wxxghtxxx fxxl xnx xxxx xxtxxl (xnx x bxlt hxxk)

xt wxn’t txkx lxng, bxt xt nxxxx tx xxkx xt tx thx txx xf xx xxxjxct lxxt.

 
xxxthBxxck_xxvxxlxx_Txnxx’x hxxxng tx xxck xx xxx’x wxlxxx fxxx Bxxnxx’x xlxcx thxx wxxkxnx – x’x lxkx tx gxt xtxxtxx xn thx cxffxx/wxlxxng txblx xhxxtlx.  x’x xlxx txxxng wxth xxxxx fxx xx fxxxnxx bxkx xxck xnx xx xxtxx chxxxx.

xhxxxx xnhxxxtxx x xxcxxxxt whxxlbxxxxw fxxx wxxk – thxx’xx clxxnxng xxt thx jxnk.  xhx xlxx xxckxx xx xbxxt $400 wxxth xf xlxnt xxtxxxxl xxxtxxxxx – xgxxn, clxxxxng xxt thx xtxff thxt wxll xxx xn thx xff xxxxxn xf xt’x nxt xxxxxxlx cxxxx fxx.

xx xlxn xx tx hxlx xhxxxx xlxnt xnx cxxx fxx thx nxw xxxxtxxnx xnx thxn wxlx bxck txgxthxx thx whxxlbxxxxw (x _lxvx_ bxxng xblx tx wxlx!)

Wx xxxxngxx thx lxghtx xn thx Blxx xxxxcx xxxtxxxxx – xt nxw xxkxx x nxcx cxnx xll thx wxx xxwn – xt thxxwx xff x Lxt xf Lxght.  Vxxx cxxl – wx’ll hxvx tx xxx whxt xt lxxkx lxkx xt nxght nxxt, bxt wx’ll nxxx tx xxxxngx thx xlxctxxcxl wxxxng bxfxxx wx cxn xx thxt...  x’ll gxt xhxtxx.

 
xxxthBxxck_TxnxTxxxxxxw xx xxtx nxght (whxhxx!) xnx xf thx lxxt tx bx xn x xxtxxxxx – x’x xx lxxkxng fxxwxxx tx xxvxng xN bxck tx Fxxxxxx.  Wx’ll bx gxxng tx xxx thx nxw Jxxxx Bxnx xxvxx – Qxxntxx xf xxlxtxxx (xx whxtxvxx).

xxchxllx xtxll hxxn’t xxxx thx xxxkxng txckxtx thxt xhx gxt xn xx xlxtx.  Nxw thx cxtx xx thxxxtxnxng tx xxnx xx xccxxnt tx cxllxctxxnx – whxch wxxlx xxt x xxxk xn xx cxxxxt xxtxng.  Hxxx.  xhx hxx bxttxx xxx thxxx xxxn.

xt’x x gxxx thxng xhx hxx x fxll txxx jxb.

Wx’ll bx txlkxng xbxxt thx Chxxxtxxx xxxtx xt wxxk thxx xxxnxng.  x’vx gxt x

 
xxxthBxxckxnxxxxg_Txnx cxxxlx xf xxxxx – xf thxx wxnt tx gx xxt wx cxxlx bxxk x txblx xt thx xxk xxk’x xhxw (xx wx cxxlx xxnt x xtxgx xnx hxvx Jxhn xxt txgxthxx x txxxxx).  xf thxx wxnt tx xtxx xn thxx cxxlx cxtxx x xxxl xt Bxxnxx’x xlxcx xnx wx cxxlx xlxx x gxxx – xx xx thx gxxx wxth xxt lxck xnx xxxnx thx xxnxx xn gxft cxxxx fxx thx xxxlxxxxx.

x’vx gxt x cxxxlx xf xxxxx fxx thx gxxx txx – wx cxxlx xx x xxxxxx xxxtxxx whxxx xxch xxxlxxxx xlxxx x xxlx (xlthxxgh thxxx xxx xx fxw gxxlx thxt xxx bx xn xxxxx..)  xx wx cxxlx xlxx xx xhxtx xcxvxngxx Hxnt gxxx (x thxnk Chxxx xnx Jxhn xxx thx xnlx xnxx thxt hxvx xlxxxx bxfxxx...)

Wx’ll xxx whxt thx gxng hxx tx xxx.

 
xxxthBxxck_xnWhxtxHxx, x bxxxxx xntx xhxl xxxtxxxxx.  Hx nxxxxx x txxxxx fxx x qxxck xhxxt thxt hx’x xxxng.  Wx xxxn’t gxt tx txlk xxch, bxt hx lxxkx gxxx xnx wxx xn x fxbxlxxx xxxx.  Gxxx fxx hxx.  Hxxxfxllx wx’ll hxvx txxx tx xx cxffxx xxxxtxxx xxxn.  (Hx’x xtxll thxnkxng xbxxt cxxxng xxt fxx thx lxxt fxxx xxxxxv clxxxxx).

x’x thxnkfxl thxt Vxxxx wxll gxt xxxx xxcxgnxtxxn txnxght – x lxvx xxxng cxxl

 
xxxthxxxxkxn xtxff

x’x thxnkfxl thxt x cxn hxlx xxt fxxxnxx wxth thxxx xxxjxctx

x’x thxnkfxl thxt xx wxxk lxkxx tx hxvx xxxtxxx.

x knxw thxt Gxx wxntx xx tx cxlxbxxtx.

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TreeWithSunInside

Ok, so the improv class is a whole lot of fun.  We warmed up with a little object freeze and then did a bunch of listening to theory.

The next game was Party Quirks where there’s a host and three quirky guests arrive (the audience picks the quirks) and the host has to figure out what the quirk is.

I had a chance to host a party and I had an astronaut, Bugs Bunny and a baby giraffe being born (Chris Nelson – he did a good job of it too!).  It was a lot of fun – the monologue just came out and apparently it was pretty good.  Cool.

The only thing that troubles me about this is that in a couple of more weeks I’ll be thoroughly addicted and then what?  Unless I start a troupe, or join the Fidgets, where can I use my new madd skillz?  Hmmm.  Is John setting us up for another money making venture?

Improv Recovery?  Improvs Anonymous? 

“Ok, someone give me something that frustrated Improvs might say  -  what’s that?  Ok – let’s go with ‘Hi, my name is Darren and I have a problem.’”

It looks like we’re headed into an Indian Summer – the next 10 days are supposed to be really nice – that should make the end of Sherry’s work season really pleasant.  Hopefully it doesn’t inspire her boss to book more jobs than he can fit in before the e

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Whxhxx!  xxxxghx xx xxxxhxx xxghx xf xxxxxv Cxxxdy Bxxx Cxxx!

Wx gxx xx “xwx xhx xxxgx” xxxxghx.  x’x xxxxx hxxxxg xhxx Jxhx wxx xbxx xx xwxxx xxxk hxx wxy xxxx gxxxxxg xhx xcxxxx xxxgx xxxxxxd xf x cxxxxxxxx – bxx xvxx xxxxx xx dxxxx’x xxxxxy xxxxxx – xx’x x xxx xf fxx xxgxxdxxxx.

x hxd x xxxxxxg wxxh xhx Gxy xhxx Dxxxx’x xxkx xy Fxxxxd xxd xxx xxxxxx xxxx xxghx.  xGxDxxF xgxxxd xxx xx xxy xxyxhxxg xx hxx whxxx wx’xx xx chxxch.

xhx whxxx xhxxg xx chxxdxxh.  xxd xhx Gxy xx xhx xxx xhxx cxxxxx xx bx x Chxxxxxxx.  Gx fxgxxx.

xhxxxy gxx x xxxxcx xhxx x fxxxd hxx xx fxxxx xxcxxxxcxxy xxxxx xf 2007 xxd xhxy wxxxxd xx kxxw why xy dxxxxx fxgxxx dxdx’x xxxch hxx xxxxxyxxx.  Hxx.  Gxxd qxxxxxxx – xf xhxy hxd xxkxd xx xxy xf 2007 x xxghx hxvx xxxxxbxxxd.

Wx xhxxk wx fxgxxxd xx xxx xxd x xxxxxd xhx xxxxxxxxxxx xhxx xxxxxxg.  xxxxxd gxvxxxxxxx – xvxx xf xhx xxxbxxx wxxx dxffxxxxx xx dxdx’x xxkx xxy dxffxxxxcx xx xhx xxyxxxxx xhxx xhxxxy xxcxxvxd...  xxxxxxggh.  Dxx’x xhxxx xxxxxx hxvx xxyxhxxg bxxxxx xx xxxxd xy xxx dxxxxxx xx?

xy cxxy xf xxxxxxxx xxxxxxd xxdxy – xx x’x xxxxxxg xxgxxhxx x Vxxxxxx xC wxxh xxxxhxx 60 dxy xvxxxxxxxx cxxy xx xx.  xx’x xxxw xxd xxxx cxxxxxxxg, bxx xxxxx xy xxxxxx cxxy cxxxx xx xhxxx xxx’x x xxx xf chxxcx – x’x wxxxxxg fxx xhx VxC xx xxdxxx xhx Vxxxx xcxxxxx xxw...

xy 5x Dxx xxxx xx xxxxxx xx.  xhxy hxvx xx hxxkxd xx xhx Cx, bxx xhxxx’x xx xxgxxx xx xhx xxxx yxx.  xh, whxx, xh whxx wxxx xhxx xxdx bx xvxx?

xxchxxxx xxxdxd x xxdx fxxx hxx wxxk xx hxx xxw xxxcx yxxxxxdxy.  xhx xxx xxx xf xxxxxx xx cxxx, xx xhx xxkxd xx xx xxx xy wxxk dxwx xxd bxxx hxx xxx (xgxxx).  xx xxxk xbxxx hxxf xx hxxx xxd xxxhxd bxck xxxxxx, whxch xxdx xhx xvxxxxg xxxxxxx xff kxxxxx xxd xhxx xhx xxxxxxg wxxh xhx Gxy xxd xxx xxxxxx.  Yxck.

xx xxxxx xhxxxy gxxx xx xxjxy x cxxxxx xf dxyx xf xxxxxy xxcx wxxxhxx xx xhx xxd xf hxx xxxxxx.

xxx Fxxxxcxxx xxxxxxdx cxxxx xx xvxx, bxx wx xxxxx hxvx x bxxch xf wxxk xx dx.  Wx’vx bxxx dxxxg xhx hxxxwxxk xx xhx hxx xxb – xx’x xxxy xx dxxcxxx xxxxxxxxxxy xxxxxxfxx xhxxgx (xxkx xxxxy) xx xhx hxx wxxxxx xf xxxxxxxxxx.

x’x xhxxkfxx xhxx xhxxxy xxd x xxx xxxxxx xx xhx xxxx xxgx xxgxxdxxg xxxxy

x’x xhxxkfxx xhxx xxchxxxx xx xbxx xx cxxx xx x fxvxxx xx xwx xvxxy xxw xxd xhxx.

x’x xhxxkfxx xhxx xy hxgh xxxxd cxxxxcxxxx xx xxxxxx dxxx (xx’xx xxkx xx xxxxxx xx wxxx fxx xxdxxxx xx dxwxxxxd!)

x kxxw xhxx Gxd hxx x xxxxx xf hxxxxx (jxxx xxxk xx xhx dxck bxxxxd xxxxyxxx!)

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IMG_4291e

It was a really nice weekend – a whole bunch of stuff went on.

Friday night was a Financial Course, but not like any we’ve ever taken before.  This one wasn’t really about money, but your attitude toward money.

Have you ever noticed that people tend to cluster in like earning groups?  People don’t tend to be comfortable with people in a significantly higher or lower income bracket than their own.

If you want to bring yourself up financially you need to change your attitude about money.  It’s startling how many opportunities that you may have to make changes that you pass by simply because of your attitude.

Saturday morning was a trip across the border to do some shopping and then part two of the Financial Class (it’s called “Healing Your Financial Soul” – well worth reading) and then Dinner Club for the rest of the day.

It was fun and funny and tasty and comfy and just a really good time.  We called it a night relatively early, but we were beat.

Sunday after church we had Michelle over for lunch – which was really nice and then we did a bunch of little chores around the house and took the night off (we watched a movie and went to bed early).

Whew.

So, Michelle is doing really well.  She’s got a job now at a local Telemarketing Company (which she really doesn’t like, but she needs the money).  Her plan is to earn enough to pay for her lifestyle while she looks for a new job.

(Which, btw, is _exactly_ what I told her to do while she was living here...)

Her first paycheck is already spent – and then some.  She has a lot of catching up to do – hopefully that will motivate her to learn perseverance...  it’s the last skill that she needs to learn to really be successful.

Sherry is starting to wear out for the season.  She put her elbow out on the last job and she’s basically just hanging in there waiting for the end of the season.  I’m really glad that we have a hot tub for her to warm up in after work.

One of the exercises for the Financial Attitude class is to carry around a lot of money (they suggest $300) in cash in your purse or wallet.  I think Sherry is a little uncomfortable with that idea.  Hopefully she’ll get past that – I like the feeling of having cash in my wallet.

I’m thankful that Michelle is doing well – it’s nice to see her finally doing the stuff that we’ve been trying to motivate her to do.

I’m thankful that Michelle is still friendly with us – forcing her to grow up could have been nasty.

I’m thankful that we’ve started to change our attitude toward money.

I know that God wants us to be wildly successful.

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 non-responsive programs is that

In other news we’re planning on keeping a low profile this weekend.  We’re hoping to take another financial course and do Dinner Club and that’s pretty much it. 

It’ll likely rain all weekend so finishing the tree is pretty much out.

I’m thankful that it’s the weekend

I’m thankful that my code doesn’t break like this very often

I’m thankful that our attitudes toward money are very similar

I know that God wants money to serve us and not the other way around.

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JohnForwardTwoBack_tiny

Once again a pretty boring couple of days.  I’m really enjoying putting those together.

Coffee with Rick was as pleasant as ever.  We went over by about 25% this week and really didn’t notice that we were into overtime.  Cool.  He has a really cool story and he gets me too.  I like having coffee with Rick.

After supper I had a chance to attend John’s (www.fidgetsonline.com) Improv Comedy Boot Camp.

We spent 90 minutes being introduced to the concept of Improv Comedy – we have five classes left to practice and perform.

What a blast that was!  It was an adrenaline rush for sure and it was a lot of fun.  We had a couple of people there from my church and one other co-worker.  There were more children there than i was expecting (which was none).  They held their own and were a convenient prop in the Human Object Freeze.  They’re cool enough that John should be able to keep them under control.

I was asleep about half an hour later than usual and didn’t wake up tired at all, so it’s not going to be as bad as I had imagined.

Sherry and I are starting to pull together our materials for the kitchen renovation.  We’re having second thoughts about the colour scheme (I’d like to go dramatic and Sherry is afraid that it’s going to be too dark and look too small).  I trust Sherry’s sense of style completely, so I’m sure it’ll be gorgeous once we’re done.

I’m thankful that Sherry’s season is so close to being done that we’re buying materials for the off season.

I’m thankful that I can do fun things like Boot Camp.

I’m thankful that Rick gets me.

I know that God places other people in our lives for a reason.

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IMG_0836_e

I wrote tons of code, made supper, soaked in the hot tub, watched a little TV and fell asleep.

Sherry did a ton of landscaping, soaked in the hot tub, watched a little TV and fell asleep.

Blissfully boring!

Mom and Dad head for Florida shortly.  They’ll spend a month down there, fly home for a couple of weeks and then fly back for the rest of the winter.  Cool (or warm, actually).

I’m thankful that my life is back to boring – it’s better than all the drama!

I’m thankful that we have a (rental) hot tub for Sherry to unwind in after work – it’s cold outside and the hot water relaxes her sore muscles.

I’m thankful that we’re caught up enough to take a night off and not fall behind

I know that God gives us times of refreshing.

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DarthBrock2_tiny

We had his and hers date nights this weekend.  It was actually really, really nice.  Instead of finding a happy compromise (which is great most of the time) we had a date that focused solely on Sherry and then the next night one that focused solely on me.

Truth be told I enjoyed Sherry’s night more than mine.  Being able to show her how much I love her by doing her stuff and not expecting anything else in return was fabulous.

We lit the Blue Spruce in the front yard this weekend.  We hung Michael from the boom and Bernie lifted him up to the top of the tree.  He put a wreath with the female ends of our lights zip tied to it.  There are 10 stands of 120 lights hanging from the top.

Next we’ll move the strands around the tree and then we’ll wrap up the power at the bottom of the tree.  Should be done by the end of November.  Hopefully it’ll look as cool as I think it will – I’ll take photos.

We cleaned up Michelle’s Cabbie this past weekend – that was pretty nasty.  We washed out all the urine, beer and mold.  Ewww.  I burned through several pairs of latex gloves – so did Sherry.  We showered as soon as we were done.

We’ll park the car for the winter and hopefully Michelle will have paid off her loan by Spring and we’ll just sign the car over to her.  If not we’ll work on selling it and we’ll put that money toward her loan.

Sherry has one more job before she’s done, but it’ll take the next month to get it done.  Yuck.  She doesn’t like the big jobs and this is the last one of the season.

Our Dinner Club is meeting this week.  Should be fun – it always is.  Hopefully everyone will be able to make it.

I’m thankful that I love Sherry enough to enjoy loving her more than being loved by her (not that it isn’t mind blowingly wonderful to be loved by her!)

I’m thankful that Sherry loves me enough to spend an entire evening doing Nerdy Stuff just to say that she loves me.

I’m thankful that our marriage is a safe place for us to serve from.

I know that God wants our marriage (and all marriages) to be as strong as possible.

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DarthBrock_Revealed_Tiny

Happy Friday! 

The most stressful thing that happened to me yesterday was breaking a glass.

Oh, that’s such happy news (once I got past the fact that I had to move the bed to get the little shards).  Oh, and the dog rolled in something and had to be bathed while I was cooking supper.  And I burned the ham (just a little) and had one of my PCs fail.

Anyway, the point is that my stressors are back to normal!  Oh, happy day.

Tomorrow is date night and I’m in a really spectacular mood.

I did a little work last night on my 8mm Film to DVD job and the reels all transferred flawlessly.  Perfect colour and no flicker.  I’ll render them this weekend and have the finished product ready to go for Monday morning.

The cash will go toward the kitchen renovation (or maybe our next vacation – we got a Sunshine Guarantee coupon because of Gustav – so we’ll be going back to Jamaica to collect the coupon – it’s worth over $300 off our next vacation!)

I’m hoping to make really good progress on my mapping app today – it’s way easier to program the tough algorithms when you’re in a good mood.  I should be able to get the tough stuff wrapped up today – then it’s all integration and cleanup.  Should be good.

Sherry is trying to talk Johnny into letting her go the Second week in November instead of the Third.  That’d be cool.  I doubt he’ll fall for it, but I have vacation booked for the fourth week to force Johnny’s hand a little (he did promise, but every now and then he changes his mind...)

I’m thankful that I’m in such a good mood today – it should be a fabulously productive day!

I’m thankful that I’m in such a good mood today – it should be a really fun date night

I’m thankful that I’m in such a good mood today – it’s a reflection of my life returning to normal

I know that God wants me to spend more time in deep joy.

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