NEWS FLASH #15




NEWS FLASH is basically news or thoughts that may be changing over time - an update or an evolution of thought that covers a multiple of topics. It is what makes a blogger tick and it is the reason why we read. So, with that in mind, I came up with NEWS FLASH as an acronym that stands for what is going on in life:


News (or current events)
Entertainment (movies, TV, celebrity, etc.)
Work (thoughts on the job or employer)
Spirit (thoughts on God and/or the supernatural)
Family (or friends)
Love
Anxiety (a rant or a trouble)
Sports (also considered should be contests, reality tv, recreation, cards, games), and
Home (house, yard, or even another family type of thought.
___________________________________________________________________
I can't believe how neglected this blog is. Still, some people STILL check it every day. Thanks for that. I apologize for my neglect; it just couldn't be helped. I also think very highly of you guys who do check and comment despite my absence. I haven't been able to read other blogs for a couple of weeks, yet reciprocity is not a concern of yours. I am humbled.
Now for this week's NEWSFLASH:
NEWS - Recently, the Iranian president, Mahmoud Amadinejad spoke at Columbia University. Columbia received a lot of guff from people who say that they should have not given "an enemy of the US" a platform to speak. To me, it is a dangerous position to have. For a country who champions the freedom of speech, to not let this leader speak is the height of hypocrisy. As it turned out, he spoke and didn't say anything significant. He did say that Iran has no homosexuals which the audience found laughable.
ENTERTAINMENT - My wife and I agree on a movie that we want to see. We both are interested in Michael Clayton. It is George Clooney's new movie. The previews give you just enough to interest you, but not enough to ruin the plot or turn you off.
WORK - I maxed out on my evaluation. As a matter of fact, I got a perfect score. That sounds good, but the administration isn't going to be happy about that. No one has ever gotten a perfect score before, so they probably will think that my commission did not take the evaluation seriously. I think they did, however. They gave a four page explanation of why the score was so high. The administration has a theory that evaluations should be tempered down to always leave for improvement. I, and my commission, understand that philosophy, but also find it disingenuinous. I'm sure it will be fine.
SPIRIT - I think I am having a crisis of spirit - not to be confused with a crisis of faith. My faith is fine. I really don't think it is possible to break my faith. God has revealed Himself to me in such a tangible way, that it would be insane to deny His reality on the basis of personal circumstance. I may not understand His ways, but that doesn't disqualify His genuiness. The reality of God is not on a sliding scale no more than the reality of my biological father is. He just is.
My crisis of spirit stems from the stress that I have been under the last year or so. I shudder to think where I would be without my faith, but for others to see me, they may not be saying, "Hey, I want what he is drinking." It should be more that way in my life. It used to be.
FAMILY - My mother is having surgery in a couple of weeks. It is just lazer eye surgery for calcium build-up, but she has certainly been through enough (34 hours of brain surgery and subsequent complications). Still, I thank God that this minor, outpatient, nonintrusive surgery is all that she currently requires.
LOVE - After a blissful month, the relationship went south again. It started with her birthday last week. I worked hard to make it special, but I guess I wasted my time. Making her birthday special is akin to constructing a house of cards; one small slip and the whole thing crashes down. I honestly don't know if I have enough to handle another meltdown on her part.
ANXIETY - I think you can guess.
SPORTS - My Bengals are falling apart. My Reds are out of it. I am not coaching this year. I was supposed to go to Cincinnati to see the Monday Night Football game this coming Monday. My nephew gave me a ticket and I was going up with him and his wife, but I don't think I am going now. I just can't afford it. The last two times I got together with my buds to watch football at an establishment, I only ordered a coke. Things are getting tight.
HOME - I am now contacting investors to buy my house. The first guy told me, after I mentioned to him that I am contacting a number of investors because I am in such a hurry to sell, told me that he wasn't interested in "competing" with other investors for the property. I told him that he advertised so I thought he was ALREADY competing with other investors who advertise along side him. He didn't respond. Then, I called another one and didn't mention the bit about contacting investors. He should call me anytime with an offer. I hope it is enough for me to consider. In the meantime, the woman I have been trying to sell it to is apparently interested again. Wish me luck!







14 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Jeff. Here's wishing you the best. You know there is a time meant for your house to be sold and when that time comes everything will fall into place overnight.
My prayers are with you

Anonymous said...

Jeff, Good luck!!! At least there is movement of some kind. I've found that if you can gain enough momentum with things like that - its amazing how it will push through to the end. You're off to a great start.

You and your wife should go see that movie, Across The Universe too. I think it looks really cool. I may have to fork out the cashola for that one.

Hang in there a home, Jeff. As always, my thoughts and best wishes are with you. xoxo

Anonymous said...

Our lives run very parallel...

Uh, which means you should get ready for a baby.

Brian said...

Awesome job on the Eval! That's always such a relief ain't it? And the new Clooney movie does look pretty good, even though I'm not his biggest fan.

chosha said...

I'm often curious about two things: how long you've been married, and how you see the future of your marriage. Will you stay even if things continue to be so dysfunctional? Do you think it can or will change for the better, ever?

Stepping Over the Junk said...

great on the evaluation! At least some peace that you are doing something right in your job, eh? As for the marriage, well, feeling like you aren't doing things right, despite your effort (as in, her birthday)...that is actually her problem, not yours. She appears to not be happy, no matter what...

I hope that darn house of yours just SELLS!

Nice to see you back. I am one of those who "checks".

Jeff said...

Random: Thanks. I know sometimes my timing isn't the same as God's. I wonder why He is wrong so much about that? ;)

Steph: Thanks. Hmm . . . never heard of that movie. I must look it up. I think you are right about momentum; I will continue to keep my shoulder to the wheel.

Jerry: Take it back. Take it back right now! I am already raising one kid and she is wearing my ring. ;)

Jeff said...

Brian: I am glad that the evaluation is over, yeah. I am not the biggest fan of Clooney either, but maybe this movie will change that.

Chosha: I will be married for one, count it ONE year, in two weeks. I don't know what the future of my marriage will bring. Sometimes I am optimistic, sometimes I think it is terminal. I will stay in my marriage until death of my life, or my mind. If my sanity becomes at stake, I will bail. And yes, Of course I think things can get better. If I didn't believe that, I would be a single athiest right now.

Stepping Over: Thanks for the encouragement. You are right, and my wife admits it, she is just not a happy person. However, it still becomes MY problem. Thanks for understanding, though. And thanks a lot for checking in on me daily. It blows my mind that I even cross yours.

Paper Fan Club said...

My husband announced to me yesterday evening that he will take me to see Michael Clayton as a "date." Wow. I don't even remember what a date is anymore. But I do like the idea of being in a dark theatre with George Clooney.

goddessdivine said...

Jeff--you are a saint. I sincerely hope your marriage can actually make it. You were obviously in love in the first place to get married.

Loz said...

Jeff - don't worry about the reciprocity, i struggle to get around to everyone every day now too. But I'll continue to check in every couple of days and comment where I can.

Jeff said...

Paper Fan: Too bad you don't think the same thing about being in a dark theater with your husband! lol

Kristen: Thanks for the wishes. I don't think I am a saint. It takes two for a marriage to prosper so I can only conclude that it also takes two for it to completely fail.

Loz: Thanks for understanding. I am going to get to some today! I am excited to be able to a little.

Jeff said...

By the way, I got into a little more detail about the "spirit" part of my NEWSFLASH on The Present Truth for those interested.

Unknown said...

I know this will sound like a cliche but in retrospect we always do find out that when the thing that we waited to happen for so long finally happens, it's the best time for it to happen.