Bills, bills, bills

Today I was blessed to get to do something I can say I don't get to do often - reduce bills!!  Yay!!  Usually they increase but today was the opposite, even got one of my mom's lowered. Couple of calls and messages and voila! This is a great time of year for that too. Now I can work toward paying some other stuff off. 

-from cartoonstock.com

The view from the on-ramp off-ramp

Driving in and out of the city there isn't much to look at. Lots of flat interstate, some trees, the muddy river is kinda cool but not always stimulating. All that really is okay though, I like the city. However, there is this one off-ramp from one interstate that becomes an on-ramp for another interstate that I take home everyday that has this absolutely beautiful view. It doesn't matter what the weather is like, when I get to the top of the curve there is always this amazing sky. It's very soothing. It's my little on ramp blessing ;). 

The kick of complacency

This is my lesson for the day, I seem to learn it the hard way more than I should...

com·pla·cen·cy:

1. a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better : a complacent feeling or condition

2. a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements

Part 1, not so bad, is actually good depending on the situation, although I think contentment may be a better word for this. Part 2; hmmm... "DANGER, DANGER Will Robinson!!!"  This is the part I seem to get caught in at times and end up in trouble.  Then a swift kick comes around the corner and reminds me not to get too comfortable and to stay alert.  As much as that kick hurts, and believe me it hurts, I believe it's a blessing.  It's really tough sometimes but looking at it from a different angle it pushes me (or, well, kicks me) to look for better; better in myself, better in others, and better opportunities.  It's like okay, that was a nice break, but now wake up and strive for more.  Hopefully, now I will be better at separating the 'part 1s' from the 'part 2s' and keep myself from getting kicked.    

Stop, hobby time

I like Mondays that run on schedule. I especially like Mondays where I have a little down time to do something I find relaxing. You know, like hobbies. If you don't have one I strongly suggest you get one. Being blessed with something enjoyable that you can do alone or with others in a relaxing environment is really great.  I got to spend about an hour tonight enjoying some of my hobbies and come my 12 hour work day tomorrow I'm sure everyone will appreciate it!

Football one day, kickball another

First of all... GO GAMECOCKS!!!  We won yesterday!!  Just had to throw that in. After the game was delayed for weather and traffic was horrendous it was midnight before I got home from an originally scheduled 3:30 pm game.  I was actually a little nervous about going to this game and considered not going. I knew the crowd was going to be even more intense than normal and the weather was not favorable. I was right to be cautious but wrong to be nervous. Even though there were bad storms in the area, and occasional lightning in the distance, and plenty of rain, the game was played and we were safe. Traffic may have been bad but I dropped my friends off at there homes and made it to mine safely. Luckily a rainy, dreary day turned into a lot of fun and while I was soaked we were blessed to be alright and safe. 

Today was cloudy but thankfully not rainy.   I'm so glad it didn't rain today because I was blessed to play in our first official kickball match!! Yay!!!  Seemed like it would never happen. We lost but for our first game we learned some stuff and can prepare for next week. 

Floating

My afternoon was spent floating with this view, good company, and some most spectacular guava cheesecake. I do believe that's a great blessing :). 

 

Remember.

On this day, 13 years ago, a wonderful friend that has since gone to Heaven, called me and said to get up and turn on the TV. As was every Tuesday we were going to run errands and then I would go to work that night to close the restaurant. This Tuesday wouldn't be like every Tuesday though. 

When I turned on the TV the first tower was smoking. I called my mom at work and told her they better go turn on the TV at her office. Then the second tower was hit. Then the Pentagon. Then Flight 93.

Politics and bipartisanship didn't matter that day. We were all Americans, united, standing together hurt and angry.  Let us never forget those feelings or that day. I am truly blessed to be American. We are blessed to have survived that day, and to persevere.  

That November I was in NYC. There was still smoke coming from Ground Zero. I'll never forget that. Seeing that was probably the most humbling moment of my life. There was so much devastation and so much loss and mixed with all the pain, pride; pride in the heroes of the day and our ability to ban together as Americans. 

Let us also never forget those lost in the Benghazi attacks in 2012. God bless America.