21 Dec - WOD

"Biggup!!"

Season's Greetings all. As yet another year draws to a close, I am compelled to acknowledge each of you for the role you have played in providing a platform for me to express views, make suggestions, provoke thoughts, and encourage minds. You all are truly paramount in my life. For those of you who have challenged my views, I thank you. For those of you who have inspired my thoughts, I salute you. For those of you who have sent an email or left a comment stating that you found value in one of my entries, I appreciate you. For those of you who silently yet consistently visited my blog to get your heapin' helping... I value you as well. It has been my pleasure to have you constructively critique my work. I hope that you have the desire to stay plugged in. 2007 promises to provide even more insightful, humorous, controversial, colorful, and creative Words of the day... uh week... okay maybe month... depending on my work-load. Thank you all for providing feedback throughout 2006. May God's grace and favor continue to shine on each of you. Happy Holidays. Be blessed.

Corey R.

13 Dec - WOD

"Lamb Chops"

Anyone who talks to me on even a semi-regular basis can probably attest to the fact that I often prepare the same meal for dinner. My feast of choice is baked chicken, rice, and some random vegetable. I enjoy chicken and rice but I have to admit that I mainly cook this combo because of its lack of required attention. I am able to bake the chicken, boil the rice, and steam the veggies while simultaneously receiving incoming tech support calls (my P/T job). At this point, I have it down to a science because I've been doing it for so long. So you see, I tend to prepare the same meal each night because it offers a combination of convenience and familiarity. Somewhere along the line, I guess I managed to settle into a comfortable little routine.

Something quite interesting occurred last night while I was grocery shopping. My intentions were to pick up my usual items; chicken wings (of course), rice, ground turkey, taco fixings, oatmeal and fruit punch. Just as I arrived at the meat department, I was greeted by a fellow shopper who emphatically pointed out the "meatiest lamb chops he'd ever laid eyes on". Now lamb chops are far from my normal choice of vittles but good ole Purcell (that’s what he said his name was) had a valid point. Those chops looked absolutely divine. So I said what the heck and tossed a pack into my cart. Just then, I started to feel a little frisky so instead of regular flavored rice, I opted for a box of red beans and rice. I purchased my groceries and headed to the house to get dinner started before logging into the tech support phone queue.

Forty-five minutes later, I enjoyed the best home cooked meal (prepared by my own hands) that I've eaten in years. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I really have a knack for cooking something other than baked Chicken. I never would have discovered that talent if I hadn't first opened my mind to the idea of trying something new. Life is funny in that it imitates art. In my case, the chosen art form was food preparation. Imagine how many talents you've yet to discover simply because you have not been open to trying something new. I challenge you to trade in your chicken for lamb chops, at least once. There's a 50/50 chance that you'll be pleased with the outcome. You've got to like those odds. Be blessed.

Corey R.

12 Dec - WOD

“Super-celebratory”

Have you ever noticed the way many of our kinfolk like to show boat, glamorize, and over-sensationalize a victory or success? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching a touchdown celebration in the back of the end-zone or a high five after an ‘alley-oop’ dunk, as much as the next guy. What I refuse to condone is the manner in which our young entertainers and athletes; regardless of how many awards they've already won... hardly ever tend to display any grace when they are announced as winners. There are a few exceptions to this rule but the vast majority act as if they had no business winning in the first place.

I do not mean to imply that one should not be appreciative of his/her victories and successes. I'm simply stating that success does not normally occur without preparation. Therefore, even if it is your first official victory of a given nature, the fact that you've prepared yourself to eventually be in such a position should help to make it a less surreal experience. I fully expect those individuals who are fortunate enough to occupy the winner's circle to celebrate. However, there is a fine line between celebrating and gloating. In my opinion the boisterous/obnoxious antics are way over-rated.

Call me old school but I will never understand the purpose of bringing a 40 person entourage on stage to receive one plaque. That's over-kill, in my opinion. I always stress to my son that he should conduct himself as though he fully expects to be standing in the winner's circle. I constantly remind him that as long as he continues to prepare properly and puts forth the required amount of effort, he can achieve success in every field of human endeavor. I'll never forget a famous quote that a former basketball coach once told my team after we won our first championship. He sat the team down and told us that we should "conduct ourselves as if we've been here before". From that point on, it was easier to display a more poised persona when I made a clutch free-throw shot, hit a homerun, or won a championship game. There is something to be said about the gracious victor. What's the point of being a winner if you still come across as a "loser"? Be blessed.

Corey R.

5 Dec - WOD

"You will know"

How many times have you heard the expression "when its right, you just sorta know"? Personally, I think I've heard it at least a couple dozen times in my life. This expression has generally been the rebuttal to questions regarding “the ideal” romantic relationship. I've endured my fair share of unsuccessful relationships, in the past. I fully understand that each of my former relationships have been monumental in positively altering my perspective with regards to future relationships. I'm thankful for every relationship that I've been privileged to experience. However, one question still remains buried deep in the back of my mind. How will I know when I've found "my ideal companion"?

Whenever I've inquired from experienced folk (married couples), I've always received the same response. They must've studied the same manual because they all seem to say "you'll just sorta know". I tend to walk away feeling none the wiser after having conversed with these supposedly knowledgeable folk. So what I really need to know is what the heck does "you'll just sorta know" mean?

I imagine what they're trying to tell me is that when I finally meet "The One"; all the things that I've formerly fought tooth and nail for will fall right in place. No longer will I feel the need to retreat following a couple days interaction with my significant other. No longer will I have to struggle to establish an open yet respectful line of communication. No longer will I have to wonder whether she considers my mental and emotional well-being when she makes decisions.

Perhaps these soothsayers mean to say that smiling will occur without effort when thoughts of her cross through my mind. Maybe they are trying to tell me that the concept of working over-time hours will become an idea of the past because that will conflict with our cuddle time. Then again… they might be trying to tell me that all of my "I" notions will become "We" suggestions. Whatever it is they’ve been attempting to say... I pray to God that He provides clarity so that I “just sorta know it” when it comes my way. Be blessed.

Corey R.