Let it snow!

I cannot wait for the ground to be covered in snow. That just means it is getting closer to Christmas and to me that also means Winter is officially here! Time for warm beverages like hot tea, lattes, and great coffee. Spending quality time with family and friends. Time to go sledding, skiing, snowboarding, and other fun Winter activities. People would probably say I’m crazy for liking Winter, but I am fine with that. This just means I get to wear zip-up hoodies, jeans, sweatpants, and my Winter coat. It’s not that I don’t like wearing shorts, but I prefer to wear pants and a zip-up hoodie.

This season means more time to turn up the heat in my apartment. Curling up on my futon with a blanket and a great movie. Drinking hot beverages at my disposal whenever I feel like it. There are so many things to look forward to right now. The first is for the snow to be covering the ground. Just that blanket of white on the ground gets me pumped for Winter. That is all I have for tonight and hoping it snows soon!

Back to the grind

This was not a normal Monday for me. It was a fresh start, a new job, and a new outlook. Sometimes I forget how life can change very quickly. I went back to Panera, but this time in West Des Moines. I had the typical “first day jitters”. Not knowing what to expect from your “new” co-workers. Could I do the job like I once did? So many things running through my mind as I approach my first day of “new” work again. How would I perform? What will my managers think of me? Just something that was on my mind as I walked into Panera this morning.

It was a great day in so many ways. My new co-workers were extremely friendly and fun to be around. The managers I worked with were very respectful and easy to get along with. This experience has gotten off to a great start. It is something that I will continue to enjoy because this type of work is something I am familiar with and can “jump right into”. I am just really glad I was able to be a part of Panera again. To some it might not sound appealing, but it’s good work and a steady paycheck. I feel so blessed to be a part of a good workplace and to be able to have a job. God is still testing me and I just hope I can be a role model and a leader for my co-workers. Nothing is ever easy and Panera will not always be easy, but for all of us God is on our side. No matter what we deal with and the trials and tribulations life gives us, God is the Almighty looking out for all and providing for all.

We all get “back to the grind” whether on a Monday, in December, or in 2008. In a world that seems to identify with the fads and trends of culture, we search and look for real authenticity. The way we all need to be revelant is looking to God no matter what. When times are tough or when times are great, God needs us and wants us all the time. We cannot forget that because He created us in His image. That is so amazing and so loving that words do not do justice on how God takes care of us and wants the best for us. I hope we do not forget that in the midst of our busy lives all of us need to get “back to the grind” for God.

It’s Twitterrific!

Lately I been spending a fair amount of time on a site called Twitter. Basically Twitter is a sweet site where you can frequently update your status as much as possible. This website is really starting to take off despite not that many people knowing about it. I also added the Twitterific application to my iPhone just to be able to keep up with all the updates on a daily basis. The more I continue to use technology the more I continue to enjoy it and accept the way it changes some things. WiFi is also amazing because I can access the Internet anyone their is a WiFi network to check Facebook, read e-mails, check Twitter, and do other things seemlessly.

Twitter is valuable to keep up with people, especially in your area. It’s an easy tool to access 24/7 if you would like. There are also ways to post photos, links to other websites, and other sweet features. I would say it is a “hip Facebook/MySpace site”. Just another awesome way to have technology and social networking at your fingertips. So I recommend that you check out this site because of its cool features, relative ease of use, and another neat way to keep in touch with other people.

Lots O’ Blogs

That’s right lots of blogging will be going on for me in the month of November. Oh what joy you say! I am looking forward to this because I will learn so much from the others who are participating in this and you will get to know my thoughts, desires, feelings, and biases on a daily basis! This is kind of like “No Shave” November (but a lot cooler and not as lazy either!). If you would like to know more about why and the many others who are doing this, you can click on the link here. This talks about the requirements for the blogging experience over the month of November. May the blogging begin!

Also, mad props to Shane Vander Hart and Brandon Barker for coming up with this sweet idea. Thanks guys and I really dig this!

The Friday Fetch

Hopefully this post becomes a weekly segment in my blog. This week on the Friday Fetch….

H.S. Football Metro Game of the Week: Waukee (4-2) @ #1 WDM Valley (6-0): Waukee is riding a four-game winning streak, but WDM Valley is at home and on top of Class 4-A once again. Should be a pretty good one.

College Football Games of the Week: #5 Texas (5-0) vs. #1 Oklahoma (5-0) in Dallas: The Red River Rivalry comes full circle with both teams undefeated and a quarterback duel with Texas’ Colt McCoy vs. Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford. Winner leads the Big 12 South Division.

#4 LSU (4-0) @ #11 Florida (4-1): The Mad Hatter (Les Miles) brings his talented LSU team into The Swamp to face Urban Meyer and the Gators. Will the Gators get revenge or be gator bait for the Tigers?

CD I am digging right now: I am still digging the new Anberlin album “New Surrender.” It is the second best album I have listened to so far in 2008.

Must have gadget: The iPhone 3G; this phone is capable of many things from GPS navigation, WiFi capability, access to e-mail and the Internet, and bulit in iPod. A must have for the best smart phone according to Consumer Reports.

DVD selection to buy: Iron Man delivered this summer and showcases one of the best performances ever by Robert Downey, Jr. Marvel Comics pulls another superhero into the spotlight and wins big.

Shocking development this week: Gas is down to $2.85 here in Des Moines. However, the Dow Jones continues to plumet this week as the economy continues its free fall.

Well that is the Friday Fetch for this weekend. I hope everyone has a great weekend and check out some of these items for youselves.