Category Archives: Blurbs

Sometimes, thoughts just leak out…

I’m Tired

21 Sep

Corporate Cup Run 2008Sometimes I do things that I later wonder why I even attempted such a foolish thing. Today was one of those days. I signed up to run a 10K. That is 6.2 miles for those metric-challenged. It was the Corporate Cup Run in Omaha. I am not the fastest runner in the world but my main goal today was to finish the race without walking. I accomplished my goal. It is the farthest I have ran since I was hurt in 1991. Last year I was running every day – at least an hour a day, but this year, I don’t run as much. When I do run, it is a struggle just to run 45 minutes so today was indeed a challenge.

I’m sitting at home now – almost unable to move! 🙂 I knew it would be like this but I accomplished my goal. All of the pain I feel now is completely worth it because I accomplished something I set out to do.

Isn’t that how we should live our lives? Set a goal and no matter how much it hurts, or how long it takes, keep pushing until you achieve your goal.

For those keeping score – I ran nonstop for 1 hour 38 minutes! Like I said – not the fastest hare in the pack. More like the tortoise.

*** UPDATE ***
Official time results were released and I wasn’t as slow as I thought I was! Official time was 1 hour 36 min 41 sec.

*************

Bathroom Leadership Training

25 Aug

LeadershipOn one recent trip to the head (bathroom) I saw a Yahoo Finance article on the floor entitled, How To Lead In A Crisis. My first thought upon reading the title of the article was that it is usually a crisis where you find out who your leaders are. I think in calm situations, people can fake leadership. They can read the right things and pretend but when crisis comes they are often confused on what to do. It is the true leaders that shine under pressure. Can a person develop leadership skills? It is my opinion that leadership can’t be learned. It can be improved upon, enhanced, and sharpened, but leadership comes to certain people naturally. True leaders don’t crack under pressure and can think clearly in a crisis. Leaders are the people who can put emotions aside and make the necessary decisions required of a leader.

I remember a Lieutenant in the Marine Corps that crumbled under the pressure of having to actually lead in a crisis situation. Here was a Naval Academy graduate that had gone through all of the motions, said all the right things, passed all of the right tests to convince the Marine Corp to make him a leader, but when the pressure came and he was called to lead – he crumbled under the pressure.

Are you a leader? The article is geared toward a business crisis but you can use the bullet points in any situation:

  1. Project a Sense of Calm
  2. Take Early and Decisive Action
  3. Ensure That the Information You Receive is Accurate
  4. Manage Yourself First

For everyone else – would you follow someone who was reading an article on how to lead in a crisis while sitting on the toilet?

Love to hear your comments.

Vote for who?

18 Mar

Monica Lewinsky

Monica Lewinsky’s Ex-Boyfriend’s Wife for President

I was walking down the street in Chicago yesterday and saw this t-shirt in a shop. It made me giggle so I snapped a picture. While I don’t try to get too political on this blog, I did think that this kind of illustrates just how absurd our political process has become and the characters to choose to run for office. As for me, this election I’m voting for none-of-the-above.

Pets Around The World

16 Jan

Three Girls

UPDATED:

I created pages for each of the pets to follow them on their adventure!

Rose
Weber
Angel

*  * * * * * * *

My triplet daughters have a second grade school project that I would like some help with. It’s called Pets around the World. Essentially, they each have been given a small stuffed pet and a journal. Their mission is to send their pet on an adventure with the eventual homecoming sometime in April. Here is where I need your help.

To participate in this adventure, you would have to agree to accept this small envelope, add to the journal and then forward it to a friend. Eventually, as April 1 approaches, the person who has the animal at that time would then send it back to the school in time for their reunion party.

My oldest daughter did this in 2nd Grade also and Weber took a trip around the world!

How do you participate? Leave a comment to this post and I’ll contact you to get your mailing information. This is an awesome experience for the girls because it helps them learn about other cultures and to realize that we are all pretty much the same!

If you live outside the U.S. or know people outside the U.S. that would be willing to participate, please comment below! Eventually, I’ll have a separate page here to track each of the animals on their journey around the world.