Why do you work?

In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell poses the question:

If I offered you a choice between being an architect for $75,000 a year and working in a tollbooth every day for the rest of your life for $100,000 a year, which would you take?  I’m guessing the former, because there is complexity, autonomy, and a relationship between effort and reward in doing creative work, and that’s worth more to most of us than money.

I think he jumps to that conclusion a bit too easily.  I would opt for the money and security of the tollbooth.  To see if I am off my rocker, I consulted my best advisor (the wifey) and she also chose the latter.  So, are we both odd, is it a cultural thing, an age thing?  Is it because I have a big family?  Why does Gladwell’s assumption leave me feeling like something is wrong with me?

15 Years of Bliss

Working on words for my 15th wedding annivesary out loud. Tell me what you think.

A lot of of guys are wondering what I did to trick a girl like this to marry a guy like me. All I can say is that God knows what is best and He put us together. I thought my 20 year old bride could not get any better, but after 15 years, she is more beautiful than ever. She is a great mother to my children, a wonderful wife, and an awesome person. I am lucky just to know her and call her my friend.

For my Valentine (Wifey)

If love was a raindrop I would send you a shower
If hope was a minute I would send you an hour
If happiness was a leaf I would send you a tree
If you need a friend you will always have me!

You got problems?

If all the misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart. –Socrates

words

A careless word may kindle strife.
A cruel word may wreck a life.
A timely word may level stress.
A loving word may heal and bless.

–Unknown

The boss

I am not the boss of my house.
I don’t know how I lost it.
I don’t know when I lost it.
I don’t think I ever had it.
But I’ve seen the boss’s job, and I don’t want it. –Bill Cosby

Medicine Through the Ages

2000 B.C. – Here, eat this root.
1000 A.D. – That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.
1850 A.D. – That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion.
1940 A.D. – That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill.
1985 A.D. – That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic.
2000 A.D. – That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root.

I can run, but I can’t hide

Last year I met my goal of running 572 miles and my late additional goal of biking the same distance plus various other machine, free weight and core exercises that were not consistent. This year, I will up the goals to 624 each, adding one more mile per week.  I run mostly on a treadmill at before work.  This seems to be the best time for me to get up early before everyone else does.  My best 5 mile run was 39 minutes; my best 4 mile run was 29:39.  My best time going 15 miles on the bike was 39:12.  In working at different locations, I find some treadmills to be easier than others.  I plan to use this to my advantage.

Ah… College

After about 7 years, I got to relive some of my college days recently. While getting the Christmas decorations out of storage, I happened upon a few boxes of items I had saved; projects, notes, books, study guides, etc. I enjoyed looking at the goofy pictures I drew in the margins, the random things I wrote, and awkward scratchings as I apparently fell asleep a few times. Overall, I was impressed with how smart I used to be. Most of that stuff made no sense to me now, but I know that I could pick it up if needed. I reluctantly threw the stuff out (recycled) knowing that all but the personal information can be easily found online, and the personal items… well, no ever needs to see those again.

2009 Reads

Despite my daughter out reading me so far this year, here is a list of books I have read.

1. The Man In the Mirror by Patrick Morley
2. Painting the Map Red by Hugh Hewitt
3. Hard to Believe by John MacArthur
4. The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris
5. Alexander Hamilton by Steven O’Brien and Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.
6. Revolution in World Missions by K. P. Yohannan
7. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards (Author), Mark Trigsted (Editor)
8. From the Shadows by Robert M. Gates
9. Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
10. Inheriting Syria by Flynt Leverett
11. Jesus Freaks by dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs
12. The Holy Spirit and Power by John Wesley
13. Hard as Nails by Justin Fatica
14. Resurrecting Empire by Rashid Khalidi
15. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
16. Mapping the Risks by Rand Corporation
17. Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
18. The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection
19. In the Presence of God by R. C. Sproul
20. With Christ in the  School of Prayer by Andrew Murray
21. Evening by Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon
22. Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
23. Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
24. Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden
25. How Good People Make Tough Choices by Rushworth M. Kidder