Easy

I had an easy ride this morning. What once (about a month ago) was difficult this morning was far too easy. I did the program, "A Ride in the Park" on level 14 for 23 minutes (I had already done 2 on another program that I wasn't in the mood for) so I just said, "let me do this and see how it does" and so I did. My miles were all right but my heart rate never got over 127. I like to get up to 150-152 as a max and hold it at right around 140-145 for a distance so I get a good cardio. Didn't do it. I guess I might be getting in better shape. I sweat all right but my cool down is almost done. (I write this as I am cooling down and usually I am dripping even after I am finished and now I am just "glistening" and far from dripping. (too much information, I know but that is how I gague my workouts)) I feel good about my progress. Work is going well, it is not easy but it is fun and it stretches me. I have an early morning meeting this morning up at Primary Children's Hospital with one of my reps. He has been working on that one for a while. It's good to see things come to fruition. I have found in sales, or life for that matter, that if we only do 2 things, we are successful: Listen and follow up. See?, easy!

Cramped

I have been cramped for time this week. It's always that way, it seems, when you take a day off of work. It's almost easier to take a week or two and then I feel like I don't have to cram 5 days of work into 4. That is my situation this week. I took Monday off and have been running ever since to catch up. It's good, I like to be busy but I feel like I am half a step behind or off if that makes sense. I got my car fixed yesterday. It seems that some water got into the coils and had provided an outlet for the spark from the plugs rather than going where the spark/electricity should. Fixed and running great. I have to be up at Wasatch School District this morning for a huge demo for one of our new machines. I am also supposed to be helping the Interact Club with dictionary stickering for the 3rd graders. I know which one I am going to have to miss. I have to get someone to pick up the dictionaries today. I have meetings tomorrow all over the valley. It's a good time at work. I do have 3 of my guys that are having an absolutely challenging month for them. I don't know what is going on. It's frustrating but I've got to help them succeed. Well, Rotary starts soon and I still have to cool off from my ride. I do love to sweat. I am glad that I am taking and making the time to exercie. That I will not permit to be cramped!

Vices

All of you know I have a few vices: Ice cream (which I am currently trying to dominate by not having, well, not much at least, I don't think I've had any since Sunday and before that it had been a couple of weeks), reading, DVD's and eating out at good restaurants, or any halfway decent place for that matter. Anyway, I indulged one of my vices last night: reading. It seems I can't put down a book if I only have like 100 pages or so to go. I can finish this quick is my thought, and, I can, but not quite as quickly as I think or should. I was reading a book by James Patterson. His chapters are short and it seems as if the books fly by, which they do, but I always think I can be faster than I actually am. I try to get to bed by 11 so I can get up and exercise on the bike. Well, the book sucked me in and I was up until 12:30 which in turn put me up late this morning. I didn't make it out of bed until 5:46, hence my later post. For those of you wondering: Yes, I did get my ride in this morning but it was a tougher ride because I am missing about 1 and a half hours of sleep. I hope I'm not dragging today. Anyway, I don't think my vices are bad, but they are vices nonetheless and I need to overcome them and show dominion over them. I must overcome the flesh and give myself more fully over to the Spirit. I can't do that if I still capitulate to my vices.

Missing

I am missing my kids. I know they are all doing well either/and/or married, working, going to school or 1 still living at home but I miss my kids and the "noise" that accompanies a full house. I miss the "pick up your mess", I miss the "are you eating again", I miss the hugs and kisses and "return with honor" and "Remember who you are" and the friends over. I miss that sometimes like after this weekend when we had 1 back home. It is nice that they still want to come home and be with a couple of old geezers. I appreciate my kids. I appreciate how much smarter my wife and I have become as they get on their own, have kids, have to figure out budgets and bills and food. I can remember when I was younger and on my own how I'd go to my Mom's house and her fridge was ALWAYS full of stuff and mine was lonely. The same things happens now. Life truly is a circle. Hakuna matata as the song goes where it talks about the circle of life. A quarter to whoever gets that one right. I had the day off yesterday. A lazy, catch up day that included a trip to Logan. Quiet and peaceful I love the quiet and peace but I like the noise and I am definitely missing it.

Love

I am in love. I love my wife so much. I "appreciate" Valentine's Day simply because it reminds us (it shouldn't but for some I'm sure it does) of the love we fell towards those who put up with us. I heard a joke and I thought that yesterday had been cancelled. It goes thus, "I heard that Valentine's Day was cancelled. Someone told St. Valentine that I (yes your father) was sexy and he died laughing!" hahahahaha A friend of ours lost their youngest son to death a couple of days ago. Sad. It makes me appreicate life and love it all the more. I am grateful that we have an open realtionship with our children. I hope things never get so bad that they feel they can't come to us with problems. Life has so many options. I love my wife. I love her more than yesterday and more than when we got married. Although I am sagging and more that twice the man I was when we got married (well, not twice but you know what I mean) I feel a more profund and abiding love each day. There is a depth and breadth and profundity to our relationship that only time, challenges and prayer can bring. I am grateful for someone from who I also feel love.

Cathartic

We had a cathartic meeting at work yesterday. There have been some issues percolating and we got them on the table, quasi-addressed (we just have to come up with solutions or work-arounds) and things felt better. Things are going well at work. I enjoy the people over whom I have responsibility and the bosses/owners with whom I work. Good hearts all. I have sales meeting this morning and I left a piece of literature I had designed at the office. I am pretty upset with myself. I had to design a hand-out piece for my sales guys and the respective offices yesterday as well for an equipment rodeo we are having the end of March so I was busy but still and all, I should have remembered that piece. I will be able to do my sales meeting without it but it would have been more effective with it. Oh well... The rule as always is that dad is an... My youngest boy came home from school for the week-end. Kind of surprised us but we were half way expecting him. Nice to see him and feel of his excited for life, school and his mission. Talked with my oldest daughter and she explained what happened to her husband on his trip to New York. It seems he was impressed not to fly a certain day or flight, changed his flight but on his return their jet lost an engine on take off! Pilot comes on and states, "If and when we land, don't be alarmed if you see fire engines and ambulances around the plane. Also, if they can't clear a runway for us, we will be looking for a field to land in." What the heck?!?!?!?! I am glad he is safe and that he was protected. God is good. I love my Father. I also enjoy the attempt to put thoughts to the written word, for me, it is cathartic.

Busy

I like being busy. It seems since my new calling, things have become even busier for our family. I am out doing visits 1-2 nights a week, I have Rotary, we had swimming and now choir, dates, other work obligations, other church obligations, life, etc., it just seems like life is getting busier. I thought it would slow down somewhat with only 1 child still at home but it seems to have become busier. I can't imagine being this busy with 4, 5, or 6 kids at home, but when I think back on the time I was in the bishopric in Chula Vista, I was even busier but it just seems that I am now. I guess old age has something to do with that... I have sales meeting in the morning and I think I am ready for it. In fact, I have been mostly ready with the Power Point for about 2 weeks, a new record for me. I am usually working on it the night before until late. Things are going smoothly at work. I had a great day with my top sales guy. We haven't worked together that much in the past, he has asked me to do some trainings for him and things like that but he asked me to work with him yesterday. Of course we had a lunch that he wanted me to pay but I felt "validated" by him that I bring something of value to the sales team and to him. He also expressed that he has enjoyed the sales meetings that I have organized, at least the part I cover. I appreciated that. Sometimes I am not sure if what I do makes a difference or not but it seems to do so. Time will tell I guess. My boss dropped off his twin boys at the MTC yesterday. I would imagine that he and his wife are wrecks now and for the next couple of days but I can't wait until we take our son there. He expresses his desire to be there now. I just pray that he stays excited and lives worthy to go. Life is good and I like it when I am busy.