So, I went to the doctor yesterday. I know. Can you believe it? I got a steroid shot and some prescription cough syrup and a bottle of horse-pill-sized antibiotics… which I am avoiding.

See, I have this thing about antibiotics. No, I’m not one of those raw milk, organic fruit, sugar free, “vaccines are from the devil” wackos. (Although, I am very suspicious of flu shots.)

I just know that colds and flus are viral and antibiotics are only affective against bacteria. It’s plain science. And there’s this teeny tiny running feud between my wife and I on the subject. But this time, I may have to waive the white flag and pop some pills… no matter how horse-sized they are.

I’m not a sickly person, never have been. I generally play host to a virus once a year. Maybe twice. And those usually drag on for a week or so before my own quite capable immune system wins out. But since Christmas (two months ago) I’ve had three distinct colds. Three!! That does not happen.

And so, perhaps, just this once, my immune system needs a bit of help. And perhaps… well, no. I’m pretty sure actually, that I’ve got bacteria benefiting from the chaos in my body. Ears that need to pop but won’t. A ragged cough. Bleh.

I “worked from home” on Monday, in quotes because more than a little of it I was asleep. Last night I discovered that the fancy cough syrup works great but keeps me wide awake… all… night… long. Today, I slept from 5 AM to 10 AM and when I finally logged in to work, I found I was not late because the office was closed. Apparently, there was an ice storm. Not at my house, but hey, whatev’s. I still put in about 5 hours of actual work.

And now, as I watch Tuesday tick away towards Wednesday, I realize I have not posted a White Board Quip of the Week! GASP!! I almost broke the chain! (I’ll tell you more about that soon, probably.) So, here, barely, is this week’s quip:

What disease did cured ham actually have?

And now, I’d better stop typing because I can feel the Nyquil sttarrtinnnnn too kik innnn… Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Tammy’s dad, Herman “Sonny” Wallar, went home today just after noon.

He was a great dad and I always felt blessed and honored that he entrusted me with the care of his daughter. He loved to sing gospel music. In fact, the last time Tammy saw him, he sang for her the song he would sing that Sunday in church. This was a miracle in itself as he was recovering from brain surgery. But today, he’s singing like never before, praising his Lord face to face.

This week’s white board quip hits close to home.

Remember a few weeks ago when I posted about my old man grumpy problem? Well, we’ve come up with a solution. “Trint’s Grumpy Jar.” Yep. Every time Tammy catches me being overly grumpy, I have to put a dollar coin in the Grumpy Jar. And it seems to be working. After a month, there’s only $2 in there.

The flip side is that there is another jar: “Tammy’s Worry Jar.” (And it has more than $2 in it!)

Worry can be crippling and it is unquestionably an epidemic. As a nation, we have lost the concept of faith in God. “God’s in control.” “God can handle this.” “God is bigger than the boogie man.*”

Worry (and it’s related physical stress) have a terrible effect on your life. It can ruin your mood. It can strain relationships. It can actually kill you. (So now, you have that to worry about! You’re welcome.)

So this week’s white board quip is dedicated to Tammy and her jar. Don’t worry. Be happy.

But if I go to bed, who’s gonna worry about everything?

This week’s white board quip is in recognition of my wife’s new job. She started this morning. Short text messages, sent on the sly, have been coming in all morning. Things like, “Perk! Deli *in* the building!”

I think she’s happy.

Imagine the amount of self control required to work at a bubble wrap factory.

I couldn’t do it. No way.

And, no. Tammy does not work in a bubble wrap factory.

To update the previous post: Tammy got a job…

What?

From her first interview…

WHAT?

So, basically, she was unemployed for three days.

WHAT?!

Her unemployment paperwork arrived in the mail the same day she got her new job offer.

WHAAAT??!!

Yeah. I know. She’s that amazing. Now, we look forward to seeing what adventures this new job holds!!

Good job, Tammy. You rock!

First, this week’s white board quip:

The wages of sin are death, and the benefits package sucks too!

Ha ha! Get it? Because… like… a job. Haa… yep. Moving on.

My wonder wife, Tammy, finds herself in an uncomfortable position today. After 10 years working in the same building (off and on… it’s complicated), last week she found that building locked and dark. That place is done. Stick a fork in it. Shut down. Closed up. Space for rent.

I can’t imagine going to an interview for the first time in 10 years. The nerves mixed with excitement. The concern at watching the time stretch between the last paycheck and the first. The huge, dark, yawning chasm that is “the unknown!”

Thankfully, I still have an awesome job. (Best employer EVER! And I’m not just saying that in case my boss reads this. Oooh. Does my boss read this blog?! Yikes.) Financially, we’re going to be ok. And, thankfully, Tammy is awesome. She had her resume warmed up and sailing across the internet within hours. In fact, she has an interview today!

But beyond a comfortable savings account and good work ethic, the best thing we have is our faith in God. The coolest thing about real, true, tested faith is that you find comfort in that huge, dark, yawning chasm. Yes, it’s unknown, but unknown isn’t bad. In fact, it’s kind of exciting.

Tammy and I have ridden out some pretty tough “adventures” in our 14.5 years and that’s not to mention those that we each had in our own lives before that. And, for each one there came a day (usually MUCH after the fact) when I would suddenly see, with perfect hind-sight, how God took all those broken pieces, swirling in a cloud of apparent chaos, and put each piece exactly where it needed to be. And every time that day comes, I’m blown away.

I don’t look into the dark unknown with fear. I smile, looking forward to the day when I get to look back on it and see the perfect plan that God had all along.

Now THAT is a great benefits package!!

[WARNING: Grumpy Old Man post ahead!]

Happy New Year’s Eve, everybody! 2013 is done. 2014 is here. And I’m so excited, I could take a nap.

This year I turned 40 years old which makes it totally OK for me to act like an old fart. I’m utilizing this new freedom to its fullest. I’ve found it much easier to make public snide comments, complaints, and bodily noises without shame.

Seriously, though. I know none of that is good. I should not be proud of it (and I’m really trying not to be).

2013 was not a banner year in my life. There were more disappointments than successes. I remain very grateful for God’s intense blessings. But I find myself focusing more on the disappointments. And that’s wrong.

I’m intensely thankful that Tammy healed from her ATV accident. I’m disappointed that it happened (ending our Colorado vacation in a far-from-home hospital). I’m very disappointed in how our health insurance has handled it.

I’m intensely thankful for my job. I’m disappointed that the economic slump has limited the “perks” we used to enjoy. I’m very disappointed that my good friend and co-worker RandyPants is leaving for greener pastures (but I’m thankful for his new opportunity).

I’m intensely thankful for my home. I’m disappointed that I have not been able to do the long list of repairs and upgrades that I had planned. I’m very disappointed that my home is not in the Colorado Rockies (nor are there realistic, near-term chances that it will be).

I’m intensely thankful for my health. I’m disappointed that my lack of self-discipline has left me only a few pounds away from my all-time high weight. I’m very disappointed that I’ve squandered a fairly expensive gym membership.

I’m intensely thankful for Christmas and the fact that Tammy and I were able to buy each other gifts. I’m disappointed that I was sick all week. I’m very disappointed that my cold caused us to cancel several of our favorite activities (and now Tammy is suffering from my unintentional Christmas gift to her… my cold).

Every year, I get a new Dilbert desk calendar. And on the first office day of the year, I flip to December 31st and ask my future self some tough questions. On the page for December 31st, 2013, the first line reads, “Still going to the gym? Yeah. I didn’t think so.” Wow. Thanks, me-from-the-past, for that stirring vote of confidence. You were totally right, but still…

I can’t continue to dwell on the negative. I just can’t. It’s not healthy. It makes it look like I’m not thankful for my innumerable blessings. It reflects poorly on my Faith. And it makes me sound like an old fart! I won’t have it! I’m not OK with this.

So what’s to be done? How do I remedy this old-farted-ness? I have some thoughts involving positive affirmation, goal setting and tracking, etc., but to be honest, I’m not sure if any of it will work.

Tomorrow is New Year’s Day. I know that it’s an arbitrary, subjective method for tracking our laps around the Sun, but it’s more than that. It’s a demarcation. It’s a line in the sand. It’s an excuse to say, “Today, I will change.” And as weak and arbitrary as I know it to be, I need it. I need to draw the line.

*sigh*

Or I could take a nap.

On that note, here’s the last White Board Quip for 2013.

Doing nothing is very hard to do, you never know when you’re finished. – Tracy Jordan

It’s that time of year already. Can you believe it? In just a few days, Halloween (a.k.a. Candy Socialism Day) will have passed and no force of nature will be able to stop Tammy from singing Christmas songs. (Even though I plead with her to at least wait until after my birthday on the 10th.)

Tammy and I have already been forced into weekly calendar merge meetings. As it stands we don’t have a totally free weekend until December. And we all know that by then, those weekends will be full too.

This feeling of busyness, TODO lists, and “what am I forgetting,” brings us this week’s white board quip:

My life is about as organized as the $5 DVD bin at Walmart.

But, when I force myself to take a minute, breath, and evaluate; I have to admit, my life is awesome. I have a wife who is simply amazing. I’m healthy. (OK, fat… but working on it, so shut up.) I have a church family that really is that: family. I have a job I love that doesn’t bleed over into personal time. I live in the best state in the best country in the world (still, despite some powerful efforts to the contrary).

And then, I realize how much I have to get done, so stop day dreaming (or blogging) and get back to work!!

It would be funny if it weren’t so true. I confess I have been ALL of these. Yes. When it comes to procrastination, I am all the things. (I’m doing at least two of them right this very minute.)

(Via 20px)

Just a short one to cover the fun part of our trip to the mountains. If you don’t know why this is the “fun part,” check out next week’s video.