reflections on christmas 2008...

Sitting on the couch in view of the tree with a fire going and Christmas music in the air...what a place to be! Most gifts have been unwrapped and put away and the excitement is gone...for now. Even though its not over yet, Christmas 2008 has been a memorable one to say the least! What has made this Christmas different from years past is the unique international flair. Here are just a few of the "international" highlights...

Spent Christmas eve in Mexico with my brother, sister in law and her family

Helped deliver gifts to a refugee family from Iraq

Got a phone call from a friend in Benin, West Africa

Listened to my mom practice her Chinese over the phone with a new friend

Talked a lot about my upcoming trip to Kosovo

WOW, what a Christmas! So much has happened and the day is not even half over yet! Amazing!

still sick...but done with shopping!

Well, its been just over a week now and I am still struggling to get over this cold. I can't believe it is taking this long. Because of that, life has been pretty much boring for the past week! There has been work and hanging out with friends but thats pretty much it! Kinda lame! There have been a few good things this past week though. One would have to be hanging out with God and being encouraged through the time I spend with Him. That has been pretty cool. The other would be being done with Christmas shopping! Not only that but all of my gifts are pretty sweet if I do say so myself. So, thats my week in a nutshell!

life being sick...

O how I love the winter time! I know, I live in San Diego right now and so winter is...well its not really all that cold. But its colder than the rest of the year and for that reason I like it! What I don't like however is that its the time of year when people get sick and really feel under the weather. Man, I hate being sick with a passion! The worst is when you wake up and first thing in the morning you know its coming and your day already stinks. Well, that was me today! I was supposed to go to coffee with my brothers this morning but since I woke up sick, that didn't happen! Instead I lounged around all morning before having to go to work. There it was a slow day cuz I didn't really feel like moving around a whole lot. But work had to get done. Like my grandfather used to say...I had to "make a the money to pay a the bills." So work I did! In the midst of a sick day spent at work, there was some joy to be found. Right smack in the middle of the day, the company bought lunch like they do every Friday. This week was different however as it was a new sandwich place I had never been to before. Man was it amazing! All that to say, being sick does stink...the challenge is not letting it get to you so much that you miss the awesome blessing God has for you! I didn't miss it today and my goal is to not miss it tomorrow as well!

getting paid for autographs

throughout my life I have never really been one to get all excited about an autograph. Yeah, names are cool and all and its kinda neat to get some famous sports star or other celebrity to sign something, but really, what's so special? Its just a bit of ink scribbled on a piece of paper or other object thats gonna fade over time. Yeah, I have my share of these scribbles whether they be from school friends in yearbooks or actual famous people I have met somewhere in my collection of stuff. Today I can't really tell you who I got to sign what further proving my point that they are kinda useless.

After that little rant on why I think autographs are pointless and all, let me tell you that today, I got paid to write my name about two hundred times. It was pretty cool although my hand got a bit tired in the end. At this point you are probably wondering why...well it was for a limited edition card that will be sent out to various locations around the country. Okay, so its not all that important or anything, it just sounds like it is when I explain it that way. Really, at work today we had to sign the Christmas cards that we will be sending to all the stores that we ship to. The brief stop in the work day to stretch my hand and write my name proved to be a nice break from a routine and very boring Thursday at work. Friday looks to be just as boring although instead of signing cards, I get free lunch!

Jury Duty

One of the duties or responsibilities of citizens of the United States is to report to the local court when they have been summoned for jury duty. Today I had the opportunity to fulfill that duty in downtown El Cajon. The day began with me walking through the courthouse metal detector and reporting to the Jurors Lounge at 8am. After sitting down and listening to the orientation, I spent the next 90 minutes reading the book on Serbia that I brought with me before my name was called. I was then told to report to a courtroom and wait further instruction. At first I was assigned to be an alternate juror but that changed shortly after lunch when the attorney's started to dismiss people. Finally after sitting in the chair as juror number three, I too was thanked for my time and asked to leave. By the time I walked to my car and headed home, my jury duty experience was over in just under eight hours. What a day! It was long, but a good experience none the less. Looking back, it was interesting to be a part of the justice system even though it was only for a short time. I had a good time but am looking forward to being able to work earn some money at work tomorrow as well as not have to serve again for another twelve months.

"Coffee alone isn't coffee." -Deda Bora

Found on the pages of a book that describes the lives of thirteen people and one family from Serbia, this quote is so simple yet so profound at the same time. As one who loves coffee, I find Mr. Bora's words to ring true. It seems he is not calling coffee a black liquid you drink out of a mug and can buy and fancy shops, but rather an experience with people...an opportunity for fellowship and friendship. I think here in our fast paced American culture of the drive-thru starbucks and coffee and 7-11 we sometimes lose the fellowship that goes with that amazing drink so well!