Today's QUIZ (From dirt poor to filthy rich)
My friend, Roman, sent this to me on MySpace. It is some type of indicator of your status in society. Here's how the scores work.
0-10 - Dirt poor
11-20 - Ghetto
21-30 - average
31-40 - SPOILED
41+ - FILTHY RICH
[x] Cell phone
[x] Own phone line
[x] Own room
[ ] 3 story house
[ ] Hot tub
[x] Pool
[ ] Guest room
[x] Computer in your room
[x] TV in your room
T O T A L : 6
[ ] Queen or bigger bed
[x] More than 20 pairs of shoes
[ ] Expensive sunglasses
[x] Name brand purse/bag
[ ] ipod/mp3
[ ] PS2
[ ] XBox 360
[ ] Nintendo DS/Nitendo 64
[ ] Gameboy Advance
T O T A L : 2
[ ] Basketball hoop
[ ] Air hockey table
[ ] Pool table
[ ] Ping pong table
[ ] Foose ball table
[ ] Trampoline
[ ] Own a snowboard/skis
[ ] Own a surfboard
T O T A L : 0
[x] Stereo in bedroom
[x]DVD player in room
[ ] Have something from abercrombie and fitch (does it count if it was given?)
[x]Gets $100+ each month
[x] Shops at AE
[x] owns something from Gucci or Prada
[x] wears Lacoste
[x] parents give you there credit card
T O T A L : 7
[ ] Goes shopping at least once a week
[ ] Expensive cologne/perfume
[x] IM
[x] Digital camera
T O T A L : 2
[ ] electric scooter
[ ] 4-wheeler
[ ] Guitar/drums
[x] Piano/keyboard
[ ] Any other instrument
[ ] Hammock
[ ] Been on a cruise
[x] Traveled out of the country
[ ] Personal trainer
[x] Expensive jewelry
[x] Met a celebrity
T O T A L : 4
[ ] Straightener/curling iron
[ ] Been to a batting cage
[ ] $100+ on you right now
[x] Credit card
[x] Been to Europe
[ ] Been to Hawaii
[x] Been to NYC
[x] Been to Chicago
T O T A L : 4
[ ]nice car
[ ] Pet
[ ] Ranch or cabin
[x] Been to 10+states in the US
[ ] 200+ buddies on myspace or aim
T O T A L : 1
[ ] Home cooked meal almost every week
[x] Eat out alot
[x] Been in a limo
[ ] Own a camcorder
[ ] Own a laptop computer
T O T A L : 2
OVERALL TOTAL: 28
I'm AVERAGE! Hooray?
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Friday, June 16, 2006
Fulfulling my destiny...
What is my destiny? My best friend has been talking ALOT lately about dreams and potential and all this stuff about the future. And honestly, it has prompted me to start thinking about my future. I'm sure we've all been confronted with the option of preparing a personal long range plan or setting goals for your life. I know I have, especially when I was in high school. It seems, however, that I have long since "veered" from the path I initially started. My plan was to be a successful corporate manager with ties to politics and education.
Where am I at today? Well, I do work in Corporate American (technically). I am not a manager, though. I am registered to vote, but not involved in politics. I've been to school, but have long since gave up any aspiration of being involved outside of being an alum. Is this alright? A better question would be, "Am I satisfied with my current state of being?" And if not, "Am I willing to take the necessary strides to get back on track?"
What happened to all the activities I used to enjoy? I used to do it all. I don't want to brag, but my extra curricular calendar was filled with all kinds of events, trips and engagements. I was somewhere every night of the week. Now, my only constant event is work. Student government used to be my thing. I was president of this and vice president of that. I used to travel the country speaking, singing and meeting. I would meet early in the morning, in the middle of the day and throughout the night. I would help host conferences, conventions, parties, socials, receptions and everything of the like. I joke with my fiance'. I tell her that I had groupies. No, I didn't have women chasing me, but I did have people that were glad to see me when I arrived.
What happened? Now, I'm lucky if anyone even recognizes me when I introduce myself. My current feeling when I arrive at various church events isn't one of welcome, but of disbelief and disdain. Although I feel that I have done nothing to offend anyone, I have somehow developed a medium sized list of haters and back stabbers (one of the opposites of groupies). What is the deal? Then again, I go other places and am met with "surprise." "I wonder why he's here." Sure enough, people will smile. But is that a polite way of not saying hello because they have not taken the time to get to know me?
It's not anyone else's fault. I tell people all the time that communication is a two way street. I can say something to someone just like they can say something to me. Right now, I am not well-known in Indianapolis or Anderson or Muncie or Evansville. People know of me. They know that I am from Anderson (even though I live in Indianapolis). They know that I am a director (with charisma). Other than that, I'm not really known. And I guess that's mostly my fault again, now that I think about it. One of my aims when I moved to Indiana was to not be in everybody's face all the time. I wanted to keep a low profile. Prior to Indiana, I was EVERYWHERE (as I've already mentioned). When I came to Indiana, I wanted a small, close knit group of friends that I could trust, confide in and hang out with. Well, my circle IS small. It's actually a triangle. There's my fiance' and my best friend. I have some associates that I truly value as being a part of my life, but I do not "spill my guts" to them.
There's a part of me that still has those grade school tenedencies. Do you remember how you always wanted to be in the "in crowd." Well, I always wanted to be cool. But my lack of name brand clothing, my "gumpiness," my glasses, my super high voice, my mannerisms (ask Alex), and other situations denied me access to these exclusive groups. But, because I went to a high school with smart kids, everyone was technically at a disadvantage. So, I took a liking to the people that mirrored my ambitions. We became an elite group of our own, bolstering our signature brand of school pride, diligence, competence and itegrity. It worked. We were recognized everywhere we went. They saw us coming! No, we didn't get invited to all the parties. But we did alright.
Once again, I want to belong to the cool crowd. I have an idea of who is cool and who is not. Am I waiting on an invitation? I guess so. Will I ever get one, probably not. What does it take to get one? I don't know. I usually make friends by accident. I've never been intentional about making friends, not prior to my undergrad days. I usually sat there, and people came up to me. I think in college, I started befriending people. This got me into trouble (which I may talk about in another entry). Since then, I've gotten away from "befriending" people. "Don't go chasing waterfalls. PLEASE stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to." What a very wise thing to say. Those waterfalls will get you in trouble EVERY time. As a result though, I don't have as many friends. I don't have as many opportunities to shine and then mingle. I'm usually twice removed from everything that I do. I'm never really there for myself. I'm always the friend of or guest of someone else.
Excuses, excuses, excuses... If I want to have friends, I have to show myself friendly. That's what I have to do.
Back to the task at hand... I've got to take a serious look at my life and see where I am supposed to be. Primarily, I have to be in the will of God. I want to be where God wants me to be. If God wants me to be alone and friendless, than sobeit. If God wants me to be the life of the party, then sobeit. If God wants me at the top of the corporate ladder, then sobeit. Or, if God wants me to be scraping the bottom rung, assisting people who treat me like crap, then sobeit. I need to hear a word from the Lord. I also need to decide what I want. The Lord will give you the desire of your heart. You have to be in His will. I need to pray.
Kevin J.
What is my destiny? My best friend has been talking ALOT lately about dreams and potential and all this stuff about the future. And honestly, it has prompted me to start thinking about my future. I'm sure we've all been confronted with the option of preparing a personal long range plan or setting goals for your life. I know I have, especially when I was in high school. It seems, however, that I have long since "veered" from the path I initially started. My plan was to be a successful corporate manager with ties to politics and education.
Where am I at today? Well, I do work in Corporate American (technically). I am not a manager, though. I am registered to vote, but not involved in politics. I've been to school, but have long since gave up any aspiration of being involved outside of being an alum. Is this alright? A better question would be, "Am I satisfied with my current state of being?" And if not, "Am I willing to take the necessary strides to get back on track?"
What happened to all the activities I used to enjoy? I used to do it all. I don't want to brag, but my extra curricular calendar was filled with all kinds of events, trips and engagements. I was somewhere every night of the week. Now, my only constant event is work. Student government used to be my thing. I was president of this and vice president of that. I used to travel the country speaking, singing and meeting. I would meet early in the morning, in the middle of the day and throughout the night. I would help host conferences, conventions, parties, socials, receptions and everything of the like. I joke with my fiance'. I tell her that I had groupies. No, I didn't have women chasing me, but I did have people that were glad to see me when I arrived.
What happened? Now, I'm lucky if anyone even recognizes me when I introduce myself. My current feeling when I arrive at various church events isn't one of welcome, but of disbelief and disdain. Although I feel that I have done nothing to offend anyone, I have somehow developed a medium sized list of haters and back stabbers (one of the opposites of groupies). What is the deal? Then again, I go other places and am met with "surprise." "I wonder why he's here." Sure enough, people will smile. But is that a polite way of not saying hello because they have not taken the time to get to know me?
It's not anyone else's fault. I tell people all the time that communication is a two way street. I can say something to someone just like they can say something to me. Right now, I am not well-known in Indianapolis or Anderson or Muncie or Evansville. People know of me. They know that I am from Anderson (even though I live in Indianapolis). They know that I am a director (with charisma). Other than that, I'm not really known. And I guess that's mostly my fault again, now that I think about it. One of my aims when I moved to Indiana was to not be in everybody's face all the time. I wanted to keep a low profile. Prior to Indiana, I was EVERYWHERE (as I've already mentioned). When I came to Indiana, I wanted a small, close knit group of friends that I could trust, confide in and hang out with. Well, my circle IS small. It's actually a triangle. There's my fiance' and my best friend. I have some associates that I truly value as being a part of my life, but I do not "spill my guts" to them.
There's a part of me that still has those grade school tenedencies. Do you remember how you always wanted to be in the "in crowd." Well, I always wanted to be cool. But my lack of name brand clothing, my "gumpiness," my glasses, my super high voice, my mannerisms (ask Alex), and other situations denied me access to these exclusive groups. But, because I went to a high school with smart kids, everyone was technically at a disadvantage. So, I took a liking to the people that mirrored my ambitions. We became an elite group of our own, bolstering our signature brand of school pride, diligence, competence and itegrity. It worked. We were recognized everywhere we went. They saw us coming! No, we didn't get invited to all the parties. But we did alright.
Once again, I want to belong to the cool crowd. I have an idea of who is cool and who is not. Am I waiting on an invitation? I guess so. Will I ever get one, probably not. What does it take to get one? I don't know. I usually make friends by accident. I've never been intentional about making friends, not prior to my undergrad days. I usually sat there, and people came up to me. I think in college, I started befriending people. This got me into trouble (which I may talk about in another entry). Since then, I've gotten away from "befriending" people. "Don't go chasing waterfalls. PLEASE stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to." What a very wise thing to say. Those waterfalls will get you in trouble EVERY time. As a result though, I don't have as many friends. I don't have as many opportunities to shine and then mingle. I'm usually twice removed from everything that I do. I'm never really there for myself. I'm always the friend of or guest of someone else.
Excuses, excuses, excuses... If I want to have friends, I have to show myself friendly. That's what I have to do.
Back to the task at hand... I've got to take a serious look at my life and see where I am supposed to be. Primarily, I have to be in the will of God. I want to be where God wants me to be. If God wants me to be alone and friendless, than sobeit. If God wants me to be the life of the party, then sobeit. If God wants me at the top of the corporate ladder, then sobeit. Or, if God wants me to be scraping the bottom rung, assisting people who treat me like crap, then sobeit. I need to hear a word from the Lord. I also need to decide what I want. The Lord will give you the desire of your heart. You have to be in His will. I need to pray.
Kevin J.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Whatever happened to being nice to people? Whatever happened to respecting one another? Whatever happened to doing right for the sake of doing right? Nowadays, it seems like people need a reason to be nice to someone else. And for some people, they need a REALLY good reason. For instance, at my job, I am compensated for how "friendly" I am to clients. Unfortunately, my clients are not rewarded for returning this gesture. Thus, often, they are not the most friendly when it comes to telephone etiquette. There have been times that I have had a mind to tell people what they can do with their accounts. However, because I value AND appreciate my job, I try to treat the clients with the utmost respect, fitted for any human being.
My question is, "Is it too much to ask for the same treatment?" I don't think it is too much to ask. Many of the clients take it personally when I ask them questions to verify their identity. It's not that I don't trust them. But I am speaking to them over a telephone (not in person). How do I know they are who they say they are? I really don't know unless I ask them personal questions. Some clients even act like I am going to use their personal information for evil. What they fail to realize is that I DO NOT CARE about their personal information. I don't care how old they are. I don't care what their telephone number is. And I really don't care about any of the financial details of their records. As a matter of fact, it is my job to ignore this type of information and treat each client with the same OUTSTANDING level of quality, personal service expected of my institution.
The client neglects to see this, however, and usually comes back with attitude, aggression, resitance and even anger. It truly is a "hard knock" life for us. Some clients are worse than others. It seems like the older the client is, the less patient the client is. I spoke to my parents about this. They seemed to be in agreeance that the older they get, the shorter their patience becomes. I asked them, "Please try to THINK before you speak." Think about who you are speaking to. Is it that person's fault that you have the problem you have? Or is it somehow the fault of someone neither party knows personally?
That leads me to another problem. At my work place, it seems as if the representatives answering the telephones are being "sacrificed" to the clients. The behind the scenes workers mess everything up, but do not have to face the client. I'm stuck handling the irrate client who has forgotten that we are both adult human beings, not children, and not animals. Many of the difficulties I face, now, are the direct result of someone's negligence. Someone hasn't sent out the correct paper work. Or someone hasn't mailed a check like they said they would.
And then again, I'm stuck with the client who has unmet expectations. Some clients just automatically assume that if a check is mailed today, it should be in their hands tomorrow. No countries postal system is that great, especially ours.
What a day?!? They really don't pay me enough to put up with this. What can you do though? I'm stuck for right now. There are bills that MUST be paid. You have to do what you have to do (with a smile). So, that's where I stand. I'm smiling. I'm not sure what tomorrow holds. For right now, I have a job. And it's a good job. It's more than what some people have. I'm grateful.
~Kevin J.
My question is, "Is it too much to ask for the same treatment?" I don't think it is too much to ask. Many of the clients take it personally when I ask them questions to verify their identity. It's not that I don't trust them. But I am speaking to them over a telephone (not in person). How do I know they are who they say they are? I really don't know unless I ask them personal questions. Some clients even act like I am going to use their personal information for evil. What they fail to realize is that I DO NOT CARE about their personal information. I don't care how old they are. I don't care what their telephone number is. And I really don't care about any of the financial details of their records. As a matter of fact, it is my job to ignore this type of information and treat each client with the same OUTSTANDING level of quality, personal service expected of my institution.
The client neglects to see this, however, and usually comes back with attitude, aggression, resitance and even anger. It truly is a "hard knock" life for us. Some clients are worse than others. It seems like the older the client is, the less patient the client is. I spoke to my parents about this. They seemed to be in agreeance that the older they get, the shorter their patience becomes. I asked them, "Please try to THINK before you speak." Think about who you are speaking to. Is it that person's fault that you have the problem you have? Or is it somehow the fault of someone neither party knows personally?
That leads me to another problem. At my work place, it seems as if the representatives answering the telephones are being "sacrificed" to the clients. The behind the scenes workers mess everything up, but do not have to face the client. I'm stuck handling the irrate client who has forgotten that we are both adult human beings, not children, and not animals. Many of the difficulties I face, now, are the direct result of someone's negligence. Someone hasn't sent out the correct paper work. Or someone hasn't mailed a check like they said they would.
And then again, I'm stuck with the client who has unmet expectations. Some clients just automatically assume that if a check is mailed today, it should be in their hands tomorrow. No countries postal system is that great, especially ours.
What a day?!? They really don't pay me enough to put up with this. What can you do though? I'm stuck for right now. There are bills that MUST be paid. You have to do what you have to do (with a smile). So, that's where I stand. I'm smiling. I'm not sure what tomorrow holds. For right now, I have a job. And it's a good job. It's more than what some people have. I'm grateful.
~Kevin J.
Monday, June 05, 2006
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!
WOW! I can't believe it. I am really 27 years old, today! My friend Janai told me to celebrate my birth month, not just my birthday. And I think I'll take her up on that. Besides, how often do you get to celebrate your 27th birthday? The answer is ONCE.
I've been in conversation with different people about my life. I've been encouraged to reflect on my past experiences and examine how I've changed from this point last year. "As I look back over my life, and I think things over, I can truly say that I've been blessed. I've got a testimony!"
It's weird, when I think about it. This time, last year, I was just graduating from the Christian Theological Seminary. I had completed my music courses at Butler University. I was glad to be done with it all. I was even more eager to START my life. At that point, everything was on hold for the simple reason of being enrolled in school.
Sadly, I struggled for months before I found a job. When I did land that job, I felt like I was well on my way. Since last year, I've started TWO new jobs, both with reputable companies. I've become engaged to my beautiful fiance', Miss Alexandria N. Crumble. I even released a CD with my church choir called "Heartburn," complete with concert and release party. God has truly been good to me.
In all that I've been blessed with, I can't help but remember how my life used to be. I used to travel every month. I flew from city to city. I stayed in the most exclusive of hotels. I served on executive boards and committees. I rode in limos and fancy cars. People looked forward to seeing me. I was actually received with open arms. What happened?
I can't say that a part of me doesn't miss the glitz and the glamor. It was definitely fun while it lasted. And the experiences have helped to make me a better person.
~Kevin J.
WOW! I can't believe it. I am really 27 years old, today! My friend Janai told me to celebrate my birth month, not just my birthday. And I think I'll take her up on that. Besides, how often do you get to celebrate your 27th birthday? The answer is ONCE.
I've been in conversation with different people about my life. I've been encouraged to reflect on my past experiences and examine how I've changed from this point last year. "As I look back over my life, and I think things over, I can truly say that I've been blessed. I've got a testimony!"
It's weird, when I think about it. This time, last year, I was just graduating from the Christian Theological Seminary. I had completed my music courses at Butler University. I was glad to be done with it all. I was even more eager to START my life. At that point, everything was on hold for the simple reason of being enrolled in school.
Sadly, I struggled for months before I found a job. When I did land that job, I felt like I was well on my way. Since last year, I've started TWO new jobs, both with reputable companies. I've become engaged to my beautiful fiance', Miss Alexandria N. Crumble. I even released a CD with my church choir called "Heartburn," complete with concert and release party. God has truly been good to me.
In all that I've been blessed with, I can't help but remember how my life used to be. I used to travel every month. I flew from city to city. I stayed in the most exclusive of hotels. I served on executive boards and committees. I rode in limos and fancy cars. People looked forward to seeing me. I was actually received with open arms. What happened?
I can't say that a part of me doesn't miss the glitz and the glamor. It was definitely fun while it lasted. And the experiences have helped to make me a better person.
~Kevin J.
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