Monday, December 26, 2005

Stole It From Jamie

Well, I'm at work again.
Monday after Christmas. All businesses are closed except for us apparently.
We're supposed to close at noon. So the rental Manager and I are trying to find cool stuff on the net.
So I've been readiung through some journals, some random and some from people I know. I stole this "get to know mw list" from Jamie's entry back in July.....

1. full name: Charles Shawn Stinson
2. glasses/contacts: neither, but beginning to think I might need them soon.
3. birthdate: 02/19/75 - This year I'll actually be "in my 30's" not just 30.
4. religion: Christian
5. siblings: 2 sisters, one older and one younger.
6. Nicknames: "Shawny" or "Shawny-poo, in Elementary school "Gilbert", @ a previous job "Andre", or "Shawn-boy" to my Dad
7. Where you want to live: I'm pretty happy where I am now. But I wish I was a little closer to town. I currently have to drive 10 miles just to get to a gas station or convenience store.
8. Birthplace: Columbus, MS
9. Ever gone skinny dipping? no
10. Favorite movies: Face Off, Tommy Boy, & Any Back to the Future Movie.
11. Favorite Book: I love the Dark Tower Series By Stephen King. And The Book Of James.
12. Favorite Type of music: Acoustic Alternative & Rock
13. Favorite types of cars: old Jeep Cherokees (the old ones with the boxy look)
14. Favorite Saying: "It's all good"
15. Favorite Fast Food: Subway
16. Favorite Ice Cream: Mayfield's Moo-lineum Crunch
17. When Do You Go To Sleep: 11pm to midnight
18. Funniest Person you know: It's a tood up between Kristi & Joseph Kinnaird
19. Favorite holiday: Thanksgiving - The great food of Christmas without the rush to try to see everyone.
20. Favorite Food: Mexican, specifically Chicken Quesdillas
21. Favorite Television Show: anything CSI
22. Favorite junk food: Ice Cream
23. Favorite sappy love song: "Everything I do, I do it for you" That dates me some doesn't it.
24. Favorite Drink: Diet Dr. Pepper
25. College: Montevallo, Shelton State, UAB @ Walker Cellege, & UAB
26. How Many Kids You Want: 2
27. What Kind Of Job You Want: TBD
28. Pets: Cat & I want a dog
29a. FAVORITE SMELLS: Breakfast @ Grandmaw's
29b. LEAST FAVORITE SMELL: Vomit
30. FAVORITE SOUND? Ethan Running through the house.
31. FAVORITE COLOR? Blue
32. STORMS - COOL OR SCARY? Cool
33. IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OF HALF FULL? Half Full
34. What CD is in your player? The Legend Of Johnny Cash (Greatest Hits)
35. What's the most annoying thing people ask you? "Why do you live in Jasper?" People talk about it like it's the last city before you reach the edge of the world.

Friday, December 23, 2005

I'm a clock watcher

Well, Here I am.
At work.
It's 2:18 and today is "Festivus". (Seinfeld reference)

I've been told I can leave early, but not before 3:00. That means I'll be leaving at 3:01.
I'm so ready for Christmas. I'm really excited about Christmas this year. I can't wait to see the boy's response when he sees all his gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. Of course since he's not even 2 so he currently has no idea that he's going to "rack up" in a couple of days.
Here's what he's getting from us....
A Tricycle
A "swirling sawdust workbench" complete with tools.
A large metal Tonka Dumptruck
An art Easel (Easle?) with a chalkboard on one side and dry erase board on the other.
A remote control Car
A "Little People" Farm
some clothes
some chalk and accessories for his easel.
some bath tub toys
and finally a figure 8 electric race track. You know the kind with the two cars and the triggers to race around it.(The box says for ages 8 and up so I guess I'll always have to play with it with him, for safety of course.)

I'm glad we're building a new house. We're going to need the room for all his stuff. This list does not even include the gifts he'll get for all grandparents and great grandparents and aunts and uncles. It's going to be great.

But also with this fun comes the issue of scheduling the madness. Here's our schedule as it stands right now....

Today... go by Walmart for last minute presents and christmas snack foods. then get home and wrap presents.
Tonight..Possibly open some presents with Ethan and Kristi. (We've always opened one on Festivus because we're so impatient.) The hang out with Kristi's Parents and sister for milk cookies and a ]viewing of the Christmas Classic "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation". I'm laughing just thinking about it.
Tomorrow morning...Go to Kristi's parents and have Christmas with them.
Tomorrow Noon...Go to my parents and have Christmas with My immediate family.
Tomorrow evening.. @ 5pm lead worship at the Christmas Eve Communion service at church. then go hang out at home or with the Allred's some more.
Tomorrow late night... help Santa assemble gifts and get everything in order for Christmas.
Christmas morning...Santa Claus @ our house
Christmas midmorning..Breakfast with Kristi's Grandparents and aunts and uncles on the Allred Side.
Christmas Mid to later morning...Lead 10am worship service at church
Christmas Lunch...Christmas with Kristi's Mom's side of the family..
Christmas afternoon...Crash and burn. Try to get some rest and enjoy the booty we collected over the past few days.

I'm tired just thinking about it.

One final thing....
I can't express how awesome it is that The Creator of the universe did what He did for us. I don't want to get into a heavy theology thing right now, but I've been thinking about the fact that on the one hand God gave his only son to walk the earth like us, experience what we experience, then die a horrible death to save us from our sin. (Even though he did rise again.) I would never give my son for anybody. Ever.

Then on the other hand I realize that because Jesus is God, God sacrificed himself. He choose to come here and go through what he went through just so that we could have a relationship with him.
To know that God came in the humble way that he did says so much about our God and our Lord and the things he finds important.

I am so thankful for the gifts he's given me, including my family, my job, my church, my possessions and my friends. I am so unworthy.

"And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?"


Charles Wes­ley, Psalms and Hymns, 1738.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

House Update

Just an update on the house....
The sheetrock is finished and sanded.

Brickers have started working. They don't like the Red Brick with Red Mortar combo, but I think it looks great. They sadi looking at all that red gives them a headache. They 've gotten up to the windows on the back and far side of the house.

Some crown molding has been installed. They've still got to finish putting in the doorways and molding around the windows.

I'm getting really excited about having a new house, but really scared about having a house payment

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Only A Matter Of Time

Well, it's only a matter of time before I get fired from job #1.

I realized today that I have achieved none of my sales goals for 2005. That's really sad. But, to make matters worse, another guy in my same position has not only reached his goals but has surpassed me the past few months. He's more than quadrupled my revenue numbers in the last quarter.
=(

Actually I don't think I will get fired. I think everyone is aware that I tried my hardest and that the majority of his revenue has been a fluke. It's been a result of the increase in demand in the southern half of the state (all his Territory)due to the hurricanes.

I know this isn't a great journal entry. And to anyone reading it, it sounds pretty depressing, but I wanted to be sure to get this is writing that way I can look back in 2006 and hopefully this will encourage me to go even further to secure get more new business.

It also makes me wonder...
am I a sales guy who also leads worship?
Or am I a worship leader who also is in sales?
I think there's a big difference.

Friday, December 9, 2005

Oh! Grow Up!

I realized today that I'm 11.
Physically I'm 30 years old. But mentally I think I'm 11.

I think I've known this for a while, but it really hit home for me today when a co-worker mentioned that he can't walk into Wal-mart without going through the tool section just to see what new gadgets are available.

I do the same thing, except I always walk through the toy section then the section where they keep the playstation games. And I do it for the same reason. I want to know what is new on the shelves.

I think part my interest in the toy section really started happening a few years ago when the toys I grew up with started reappearing on the shelves. G.I. Joe's, Transformers, Star Wars, superheroes. Even my pic for my livejournal profile is of a favorite G.I. Joe character of mine from when I was a kid. (FYI: His name is SnakeEyes. He's a Ninja who can't speak due to injuries received while saving a friend while fighting in 'Nam) Is it sad that I still know that and that I still think he's a cool character?

I'm not sure when I'm going to grow up. There's a part of me that hopes I never do. I think the day that I'm no longer impressed with the look of the new Batmobile on the toy shelf is the day that I'll consider myself old.

Tuesday, December 6, 2005

Appliances

So I'm in the process of building a house.
Man, is it an expensive process.
I had to go pick out my appliances recently. I had no idea there were so many options on a dish washer. I mean, all I really wanted was a button on the front that would say "wash dishes". But we ended up getting the star trek model that's got more buttons that my cell phone.

Anyway, I guess it's all cool. More gadgets for me to figure out.
Our refrigerator has a few cool things on it too. You can set it to alarm if it is opened. That way we'll be able to "come a runnin'" if Ethan tries to get out the pickles or something. (He really loves pickles.) Or I guess I could set it to let me know if Kristi is trying to get into my Moose Tracks Ice Cream.

Anyway, I'm excited about getting the house finished and finally being in a place that is ours.

Here's a status report, Today they are mudding the sheet rock and according to the guy this morning they expect to be finished today. The brick has still not been delivered so I'm not sure when they'll get started on that. But, overall it's still moving pretty fast.

I'm thankful for all the blessings in my life.
God is Good all the time.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Just an Entry

I realized today that I haven't posted in a long time and thought I'd post something, anything.
So Here. I got this off a random journal that I saw.

FOUR THINGS YOU USE EVERYDAY:
Cell Phone
Laptop Computer
Palm Pilot
Playstation 2

FOUR JOBS YOU'VE HAD IN YOUR LIFE:
Summer Camp counselor @ YMCA
Manager of Video Store
Worship Leader @ Church
Rental Sales Rep for Penske Truck Leasing

FOUR STORES YOU SHOP AT THE MOST:
Wal-Mart
Books-A-Million
CompUSA
LifeWay

FOUR MOVIES YOU COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER:
Face Off
Tommy Boy
The Empire Strikes Back
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

FOUR THINGS YOU WANNA DO IN LIFE:
Sky Dive
Fly a plane
Learn to play the guitar
loose 75 lbs

FOUR PLACES YOU'VE BEEN ON VACATION TO:
Panama City
Orlando (Disney)
Niagara Falls
Gatlinburg

FOUR WEBSITES YOU VISIT DAILY:
Google.com
Netflix.com
Comingsoon.net
Kryptonsite.com

FOUR OF YOUR ALLTIME FAVORITE RESTAURANTS:
Subway
Olive Garden
Captain Anderson's (Panama City)
La Paz

FOUR COSTUMES YOU'VE WORN ON HALLOWEEN:
Darth Vader
Superman
A Punk
Casper The Friendly Ghost (I was 4)

FOUR SCHOOLS YOU ATTENDED:
Glen Oaks Elementary
West Blocton High School
University Of Montevallo
University Of Alabama At Birmingham


FOUR OF YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPINGS:
Pepperoni
Sausage
Mushrooms
Green Pepper

FOUR MOST DIALED NUMBERS:
Home (to speak to Kristi)
Mother in Law's home (to try to find Kristi)
Mother in Law's cell (to hunt down Kristi)
My Voicemail

FOUR SONGS YOU NEVER GET TIRED OF HEARING:
Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash)
Papa Loved Mama (Garth Brooks)
Bust A Move (Young MC)
In The Mood (The Glen Miller Orchestra)


NOW WHAT ARE YOURS? REPOST AND LET EVERYONE KNOW

Monday, June 6, 2005

Just another manic Sunday

well, I was too zonked to post anything last night. I came home from church and went to bed before 10. I think I'm turning old fast. If I'm not careful I'll end up listening to Big band music and A.M. talk radio and enjoying it.

...DANG, I already do that!! Oh well.

Yesterday was busy, but fun. Did the normal church stuff. We sang a new song in the AM service "Blessed Be Your Name". It went pretty well. Some folks stood and really got into it. As usual, some were some who just sat and didn't even sing.
I really don't understand those folks. Is it fair to assume that because they don't even try to sing unless it's a song they grew up with that they don't understand what worship is? Is that judging them too harshly? Do I even have the right to judge them?
And if I want them to be involved does that mean I should lead songs I know they'll get into. Boy, that will be fun, NOT!

I also helped my sister-in-law (wife's sister)and her family move yesterday. Joseph also came and helped. I am thankful that I have a group of friends who are willing to do that for each other. I feel kinda sorry for the folks in the world out there who have to pay a moving company. I assume that means they don't have any real friends. How sad.

The students from church are going to fuge Monday. I really wish I could go with them. I haven't been involved in something like that in a long time. I guess I'll just have to send my prayers along with them.

I guess that's about it
Later.

Saturday, June 4, 2005

Saturday 06/04/05

what a looooong day. I had to be at job #3,(which isn't really a job, but should be) today at 5am. We had a fundraising event. Which raised more money than lst time, but not as much as I would have liked. We really need to find someone rich who will put us in their will or something.

Anyway, it was a long day, but productive. I got home after 4, and had an argument with the wife about...whatelse....my "priorities". Unfortunately she's right in everything she says. I cant wait until job #3 is no longer an issue.

We also went to eat at our favorite restaurant, Perico's then we went to the mall to buy the boy some new dress shoes. I has alot of fun with him at the mall. I put him down and let him wander while followed him. The coolest things was when he walked up right in the middle of a group of four teenage girls talking. He stepped right in the middle of them and then looked up at them as if he exected them to be talking to him. I had to say "excuse me" and reach in to get him. They all laughed and waved at him. It kinda makes methink that that would have been a cool way to meet girls about 15 years ago. Man I'm getting old.

We ended the evening by going to the grandparents and letting some of the aunts and uncles play with "the boy". Everyone enjoys the tricks he'd doing right now. One of my favorites is the fact that he loudly says BURP right after anyone burps. It's awesome.

Later.

Today

1st entry ever.
Someone told me about this site (Livejournal.com) and I had to check it out.
Did alot today, but not enough. There's just not enough hours in the day.
Overslept this morning, late for Job#1. It's just a matter of time before they realize that I am a slacker and I get canned.Got a call while at job #1 that I needed to get things ready for next week for job #2. So I had to go by there after job #1 was finished. Unfortunately I also had to stop by job #3 before heading home to get ready for a big event for tomorrow.

All of these things made me get home late which didn't go well with the wife. But she understood and expressed her unhappiness that I always make plans and just expect her to be home to take care of "the boy" while I have to be gone. She is totally correct. I take advantage of her way too much. But that leaves the question what do I say no to? Job 1,2,3, or home. I know what the answer is not. I've got to find the solution to this.

After a while she cooled off and we played with the boy for a while. He's so awesome. I love watching him learn new stuff. We played with an umbrella tonight. He laughed every time it opened up.

The wife and I also discussed our friend's situation. He was arrested recently for horrible crimes and has thrown away his entire family and life with some really really dumb decisions. Not only did he give in to some horrible temptations he also has been lying about alot of things. I'm not sure how to respond to him now. His letter from jail was like a plea for friendship, but how do I remain friends with someone who is such a monster.

But even as I write this I am reminded that I too am a monster, but in different ways.