why panera, why

1 cookie - this just isn't right.  that's what i am telling myself with every delicious, artery clogging, bite.  that 'delete' button makes me wonder if all i have to do is click it and it will be as if i never ate the cookie.  worth a shot, right!?

fear again

i've noticed myself counting everything lately.

it takes...

...twenty three one thousands to fill up my big water bottle from the cooler
...seventeen one thousands for my cell phone to turn on each morning
...about three one thousands for me to open an envelope
...and seventeen one thousands for me to empty a full bladder

if you find the last one offensive, i am sorry, i just wanted you to believe me when i said i was counting everything. i can't help it. i wonder if it is because i am stretching more lately, and counting that each time.

in other news, i am looking at another triathlon to tri (cute, i know) as i know that i will need a tangible goal to work towards if i am going to keep up this shape i am in.  there is another sprint triathlon the end of june that is only about an hour and a half-ish away from here.  but i am hesitant, i am afraid of doing worse than my first one.  there is something about setting a high standard that's well... scary.  it would be easy for me to go the rest of my life and be happy to call myself a triathlete because heck, i am!!  but on the other hand, if i enjoyed the first one, why wouldn't i want to at least try it again and even attempt to improve? therefore, i am telling myself that this fear will not control me or my next tri. so there.

scripts

i don't have a difficult time writing a commercial, it's when we want this commercial to be different from the other ten million already produced that causes me to take three days to write a fifteen second script.  that's where i'm at now.

be thankful

My shampoo bottle this morning said...

"100% vegan, gluten free, healthier than your average breakfast" 

  ...well maybe it didn't say that last line, but okay.

A couple things I learned in church on Sunday that are still with me... be thankful for fleas... girls often marry men who remind them of their fathers, and that's why momma's cry at weddings :)  He actually had a lot of marriage jokes - it started to make me question if marriage was so terrible that you just had to do something to make yourself laugh.  But back to the fleas.  He told a story of the morning Corrie ten Boom and her sister were taken into the concentration camp.  They had been reading 1 Thess. 5:18 as a family,

 "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Not long after that, they were essentially being led to their death.  As her and her sister were placed in their 'holding chamber', they were completely overrun with fleas.  Remembering their morning devotion, they struggled to be thankful for even the fleas.  They encouraged one another by singing and praying and soon noticed that none of the guards were coming to stop them.  Because of the fleas.  I've grown up knowing that command but really struggling to believe that when God says, "everything" He really means it.  I mean, how can you be thankful for your car breaking down and you having to pay for major repairs.  How can you be thankful for that individual who just treated you like dirt?  This story really touched me and I pray that I will remember it every time I don't feel like being thankful in all things.  I also need to remember that I may not always see results from this, I may not always be allowed to see what my thankfulness has accomplished, but I do need to obey.

customer service

So on my way to the dentist this morning I started thinking again about how I should change dentist offices to one closer to my work rather than driving out of my way, but that idea died the moment I walked into the office. Not two seconds after I had signed in, the dentist's wife, who is my dental hygienist, came out to bring me into the room and the first thing she said to me was, "contrats on getting third place in your age group at the race this weekend!"  I was shocked!  Then my dentist peeks his head out of another room and said the same thing!  Apparently they were there with some friends and heard my name called and recognized it as being me!  Now, that will make a pretty big impression on anyone, for the dentist who sees you twice a year to remember your name and be excited for your accomplishments without you even having to tell them about it.  They've got me sold.

In other news, my history class is finally over and with that goes studying... I found both to be extremely unenjoyable this past semester so I am incredibly thankful to have them behind me.  Now I can focus on the business.  I'm getting ready to start my first project, which is a documentary for another small business owner in town.  He asked if I could produce this for him and in return, he would help pay for necessary equipment that would help me start my business.  It's all pretty exciting, but it definitely has it's stressful points as well. Right now I'm also trying to iron out a name.  I'm looking at Keeping Time Productions... or MW Productions - specializing in preserving your family narrative.  I'm leaning towards the second one, any opinions?