6 Weeks In

I am feeling like the ultimate zombie lately. I am nearing the end of a job and am working an average of 11-13 hours a day. My new ways for the year are in a holding pattern. I'm digging my way out of the rut I put myself in. Family-what family? Not enough hours in a day now , but change is coming. Hang with me Stegfam-I'll be back. I promise.

Week 1 of 2013

I have worked 3 straight days since the first of January and averaged 10 hours a day and I'll be working Sat and Sun at least a half day each. I hope this is an isolated week. This always happens when I take a couple days off. I got good reviews from my bosses so I guess it was a good week workwise. Fam wise another fail. Next week will be different. It's 8pm and I will be lucky to make it another hour. It's heck to get old. Blessings Steg

2013 The last post was exactly 1 year ago. I posted a list of want to's and I want to weigh in on each . 1.See my children more I give myself a fail on this statement. I got self absorbed in my work. At my age , it seems like I had to prove myself all over again and got so caught up that I ignored everyone around me. As Lor said "Self centered" 2. See my grandkids more Another fail.See above 3. See my wife more-more vacation Another major Fail.In the past 4 years, I've had 7 days of vacation with Lori. We both are guilty of getting caught up in the job game, trying to get ready for retirement. 4. read more FAIL-haven't read a thing other than work notes 5. Volunteer more I would give myself a D. Only involvement in this area is Alpha, SOS and this past Christmas downtown feeding the poor. 6.work out more and eat less Fail-too tired from work and fast food bingeing Seeing this really makes me think how I've basically wasted a year of my life. At my age , time becomes even more precious. I vow not to shut out the people I love and get caught up in the job game. I am going to try to keep my focus by posting a short something daily on here to try to maintain my focus on what my purpose in life really is. It's time to focus on health and family instead of the "job".

Time

I've been back in the workforce for 4 months now.I was ready to get back in the swing of things. While I was off, I took for granted my free time. I got to take care of my father as he withered away as Cancer took his life only 1 month later. The next 3 months I lived with my mother helping my sister nurse my mother back to health after his death.
After that, I was able to bike ride, motorcycle ride, visit my kids, see my grandkids, and workout whenever I wanted.Life was so fun, except for the fact that I didn't have a job. Lor carried the financial load as I struggled to find work.
Then my father-in-law got sick. He moved in with us.I cared for him for 3 months full time while Lor worked. I got to know my father in law rather well during this time.
Working on the kids homes was a definite highlight of my time off. It is time I will always remember.
As my mom said, "After 2 years of what you've been through, you deserve to get a job." This was probably my favorite 2 years of my life.I actually felt like I was doing what God had planned for me.
Well, I got the job. I forgot how time consuming work is. I have no time to read, bike ride or anything that I took for granted during my time off work. I'm starting to ask myself the question Do I live to work? or do I work to live?
I guess I waste as much time as anybody, but I've come to realize how precious time is. In 2012 I want to:
-see my children more
-see my grandkids more
-see my wife more (vacation time)
-read more
-volunteer more
-work out more+eat less
I really want to learn to use my time wisely right after I take a nice long nap.
Blessings and Happy New Year
Steg

CD's- How are your Returns?

CD's, 401K's, and IRA's seem to consume much of my time lately. The returns I am getting are downright pitiful.Yet I continue to try to find a way to change their results. It's not going that well.Looking around , it appears that most people to be driven by the almighty dollar. I know,Iknow, we do need money to exist in this world, but after all it's just paper. I used to make a lot more money, had a bigger 401K account, but was I truely happy? I was consumed by making money, raising kids, college funds and vacation funds, reinvesting CD's on and on.Not that these are bad things, but I lost my true focus on life.
A better investment that always pays is Christ's love for us. No matter how bad the market is,his love and grace is always there. As we struggle to lead a christian life(our investment), we always get a good return(God's love and grace).
So rather than getting down and out with todays ugly world,I choose to strive to live a christian life and enjoying Christ's dividends.
I'm finally getting job nibbles and will follow where I am lead. I'll keep you posted
How are your returns on your Christ Deposits?
Blssings,
Steg

Feeling Bad

The past few days I have felt like a zombie. Head congestion. headache. sore throat,Coughing out of control, occasional gagging, low grade fever are a few of my symptoms.
For the past three years, either Lori or myself hhave gotten really bad colds the week after hosting middle schoolers for a week during SOS. Coincidence, maybe, but I'm wondering if our resistance is down from the lack of sleep that week. On the otherhand, we all know teenagers. One minute they're picking their noses and the next moment their hand is buried in the popcorn bowl. Whatever the cause, it really has me down.Like all sicknesses, the during the night is the worse part of the day..........BTW ..I just dry heaved 15 times in a row. My sinuses seem to dump in my throat way too fast to cough and break it up.I hate to call a doctor on a holiday weekend so I'll just man-up for another day. I admit I am a baby when I am sick.
Pass the coughdrops and a puke bag.

Blessings,
Steg

Life in the Fast Lane

Life to me, as an old guy, I thought was going to slow down. That is not the case. Actually, it has sped up. I find myself in chase mode most of the time. I now have more time on my hands with the kids gone and being out of work, but I always have something needing my attention. Where have the days gone where I would hop on my motorcyle and take a 2 hour ride? I haven't been bicycling all day yet this year. I haven't taken any 8 mile walks at Miami Whitewater this year. We haven't camped but once this year.----Time---
This makes me ask myself. Has time sped up or have I slowed down? Have my priorities changed that much? Were they changed for the better or for the worse? Has my life improved or declined? Who actually likes Lebron anyway? I need to rethink the ways that I spend my time.Do I pray enough? Do I read the bible enough? Do I volunteer enough? Am I a good husband? father? grandfather? neighbor? sparring partner?
I need to take control of time and make it work the way I choose. I'm wasting too much time on this computer-thats for sure.
I'm going to modify my life plan. Are you?

Blessings
Steg