Zero emails in my inbox!

When was the last time you saw zero emails in your inbox? Probably when you set your email up! I subscribe to a really cool blog called PastorHacks.net and they offer advice on how to be better organized and more efficient in your work. They are the ones that gave me the idea to turn off the dinger in Outlook. Click here to read the entire, enlightening article.

PastorHacks had an article that has probably changed my life forever! They issued the challenge to take your box to zero by taking action on every single email, or at least filing ones you need to take action on in a folder labeled just that, Action Needed.

I currently have an extensive email file system that I have to force myself to use. Here's some of the things I did to clear out the ole inbox:

1. Take action on emails that contain information I want to save by transfering the information to an accessible place. Passwords? In the spreadsheet. Details for upcoming events? Put them in the "note" section of a calendar entry. Websites you want to check out? Bookmark 'em!
   
2. Do I really need to answer EVERY email? Nope. I typically wait until I have time to "formulate the perfect response" and because of this I postpone answering emails. Today, I gave some short, polite responses and hit the delete button.
   
3. File, file file! Sub-file, and sub-sub file. I really like to hang onto data. I keep files on everything from a to z. File it.


4. Or, delegate it. Forward it to your admin, send it to someone who can do something about it.

I can't tell you how good it felt today when I hit "zero" in my inbox. It was liberating. It was energizing! Let me know about your zero inbox! Tye out.

Happiness is Skyline Chili - Cincinnati's Finest!

You all know by now that although I was raised in the Cincy area. I'm not much of a Red's or Bengal's fan, nor do I really care too much about Ohio State Buckeyes sports teams. But there are a few things I do love about Ohio and one of them is called Skyline Chili.

I always get the same thing every time I go: a 3 way and a cheese coney (with or without onions depended on whether or not I anticipate kissing in the evening!). Now, those of you who are not from Cincy (or where you can find Skyline) are saying "what the heck is a 3 way?" Simple. It's a layer of spaghetti noodles, Skyline Chili, and then topped by a huge pile of cheese. And, it comes in an oval dish, not square or round.

And what about a "coney"? Welp, a coney is a hot dog, bun, Skyline Chili, and topped with that magnificent cheese. Mustard and onions are optional.

I was fortunate enough to have visited Skyline two times while in Cincinnati. Both times it was a 3 way and cheese coney. When we lived in Cleveland I was able to go from time to time, so now whenever we get back to Cincy you can count on me showing up at Skyline! Yum! Tye out.

Anyway

Have you ever heard something many times and then one time you finally hear it? I was doing my workout the other morning and I heard for the first time Martina McBride's song Anyway. Click here to watch the video.

The lyric that captured my attention was in the chorus:

God is great, but sometimes life ain’t good
And when I pray it doesn’t always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway, I do it anyway

Did you get that? I couldn't agree more Martina! God is great and he has a plan for our lives and although there are times when "life ain't good" I still pray even when things don't turn out the way I think they should!

That's it! And it takes faith to do this, faith that God has a greater plan for our lives and we need to trust him with everything that comes our way. I am not speaking as an expert, but as a fellow-struggler in this journey. Tye out.

MacKenzie loves to sleep in the car

This is precious. The little fur-ball next to kk is Riley.

Traveling to Cincinnati

Spring break is this week so we decided to pack up the family and head to Cincy where both my family and Judy's family reside. Saturday morning we loaded up early and headed out around 6:45 AM, not the best early start we have ever had, but it was ok. We made good time, using the cruise control as not to get another ticket. We stopped as often as we needed to and made it to Cincinnati around 3:45 after 525 miles of driving. I-74 is a flat and less traveled road which makes for easy driving, but it is a little boring at the same time.

We are staying with Judy's folks and while Judy and the kids get some reconnecting time, I'm enjoying some reading and quiet time.

I will be having lunch with two of my cousins and then the fam will make the 5 miles drive to my parent's house for some time with my grandma, mom, my two brothers, their wives and families. Check back later for pics. Tye out.

Deal or No Deal - Zanny update

Wow! Tonight we had the opportunity to watch Deal, or No Deal because I wasn't at Kirkwood Community College playing with the CR Jazz Band. It was a nice evening to just hang out. I really enjoy watching Deal, or No Deal.

This made me think of Zanny Henseler who starred on the show back in November and won a brand new, tricked-out, Cadillac Escalade. Then she got the tax bill - $25k! That's a lot of dough for a 21 year old. They are currently having a can drive and at last report they had a few thousand. What a bummer. Had she had taken the cash instead, she's be around $65k richer.

Good luck Zan! We're pulling for you! Tye out.

Idol Idle

I know some of you are not going to be very happy with me, but there is probably not going to be any reports on this season's American Idol. My family is not into it, and I have no way to record it - probably wouldn't anyways. So, please forgive me. I'll be idle on Idol this time around. Tye out.

P.S. You could check out Eric Bramlett's blog for your Idol updates. I met Eric at a church conference and even made his blog.

I committed the unpardonable sin of laptop users

I committed the unpardonable sin of laptop users last week. (no, that is not the reason I have not been blogging - just real busy) I was meeting with someone at my windowed office (Panera) and my coffee cup was sitting to the right of my laptop computer as usual. Well, I reached across the table and when I did I spilled my coffee onto my computer, and the table, and me, and the floor. YIKES!!!

Well, needless to say, I have amended my "sinful" ways. No, I have not rejected having a beverage while I work - that would be a crime. : ) Now, I have a lid firmly attached to my coffee cup just in case. And, if you sit down with me, I will invite you to have a lid on your beverage too! (thanks Doug for obliging me!)

You're probably wondering how my laptop is doing. As soon as the incident occurred, I turned the computer upside-down and "drained it." I then got it turned off.

I went into the office to have Austin look at it. He started it right up and it was fine. He had the keyboard replaced just in case. The good news is, the keyboards are sealed - good idea. Tye out.

I finished!!!

I started my annual read through the Message version of the Bible on Nov 22 and finished Revelation 22 this morning! WHOAH! The Bible in 100 days!

Uh, I'm not bragging. I read through using the speed reading method and wow! what insights! I'll be sharing those next week. Right now I've got to get a ton of things done for our spring Impact ~ Real Life. More on that later. Tye out.