Is There A Downside To Winning So Much On The Radio ?

The short answer to the title question is ... yes ...

 

However, it comes with a big BUT attached to it.

(insert your own joke about J-Lo or Sir Mix-A-Lot here).

The downside to all my winnings (mostly from "Are You Smarter Than A Woody?") from 92.9 Peak FM came in the mail today in the form of a 1099-Misc tax form.  You read that right.  I won so much from the same radio station in 2012 that they had to send me a "Miscellaneous Income" form.
The grand total reported?  $1130!

So that will certainly affect our tax refund this year ...

Now here's the big BUT ... (go ahead and crack* another joke here if you must)
 - The tax impact to our household will be so minimal it cannot possibly overshadow the joy that came with all those prizes, gift certificates, tickets to shows, etc.  Especially those items I was able to give away to others, which were easily just as much fun to enjoy knowing that some of my friends got to experience some "free" entertainment!
*Pun intended

Side Note:  I will attempt to spread the winning across more radio stations this year.  Just this afternoon I won from K-Lite 106.3 (the prizes were $100 American Express gift card and the first season of Smash on DVD ... and a 1 in 6 chance at a trip to Las Vegas!)  Life is sooooo good!  :)

Song Of The Day:
This is the song of the day for no other reason than I heard it for the first time on the radio today and it was just too good to not share today.  I barely know the catalog of music from Led Zeppelin, which is a real shame but one I plan to correct very quickly.  This song is "Fool In The Rain" and if it is any indication of the style of their other music, I think I'm in for a real treat as I get to know their classic sound better.

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Can One Person Make Much Difference?

I hope that one of my qualities is the ability to connect with just about anyone.  I like to believe that my experiences are not just mine but that other people feel, think, and sometimes suffer through the same things.  I guess that's why I like blogging.  It is a chance to share some of my experiences, most often with the sole hope that readers (now or long in the future) will find things that resonate with them in their own life.

On occassion, I think about the movie "It's A Wonderful Life" and the experience that Jimmy Stewart's character has wherein he sees what the world would be like if he hadn't ever been in it.  I don't get discouraged often, but sometimes I do wonder if my presence is really making much of a difference to anyone or anything.  Recently, I have had multiple experiences that reminded me of the benefit I have been in a variety of people's lives.  I don't share these to brag or boast (they certainly aren't worthy of any deep admiration), but to point out that we all probably have this kind of influence for good in the world ... and to remind us that every so often it's good to pause, look around, and be grateful for your individual influence on the world around you.

Within the past few days I have been:
 - thanked by one of my team members at work for "putting him at ease" on something that was really stressing him.
 - informed that one of my prior blog posts provided my brother-in-law that little extra oomph he needed to revisit one of his personal goals in life.
 - placed in charge of the Pinewood Derby races for our local pack (and thanked profusely afterward by other leaders who said they had no idea how they would have done it without me).
 - priviledged to have several conversations with a few of my kids, helping them learn how to take responsibility and ownership for their schoolwork and extra-curricular activities (instead of blaming society, or their teachers, or their parents as seems to be prevalent in society nowadays

So take a moment, if you can spare it, and think about someone who has influenced you for good in the last week (or longer ago if you need).  And let them know what they've done for you.  It will make you feel good and it just might make their day, week, month, or year!

Song Of The Day:
Inspired by my brother-in-law's recent efforts to revisit one of his life goals, today's song is "Breakout" by Swing Out Sister.  No, he is not in prison or anything like that.  Rather, the song title makes me think of how he is pushing himself to break out of his current life mold and reshape himself into the man he thought he would be at this stage in life.  It's virtually never too late!  Way to be Bro!  Way to be!  (and good luck!)  :)

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Ever Get To Work From Home ?

I love my job.  Progressive is a great company to work for, but my specific role within the company is even cooler!

You see, I have not been feeling well all weekend (my weekend consists of Sunday and Monday) and when I woke up this morning I just knew I would not be able to make it into work today.  I also didn't really want to go in because I don't want to spread any germs, etc. if this is more than just a little nasal congestion.

Enter: my work laptop and some pretty cool technology.

I am sure for many people in this day and age, the ability for me to virtually logon to the network at work and complete a full day's work from the relative comfort of my own home office is not that impressive.  But for me it always is a blessing!

I met with my boss (talked on the cell phone about a few urgent matters), reviewed calls for members of my team, completed WBTs (web-based training courses) for our new main system, IM (instant message) chatted with over ten different people (some on my team, but most from other work departments), reviewed attendance, updated performance management info for two team members, coordinated plans around a schedule change for one of my team members, scheduled meetings and a host of other items.

All while sniffling and sneezing and trying to stay hydrated.

How cool is that ?!  For me, VERY cool!

Song Of The Day:
Once again, this is a bit of a stretch, but I've always liked the song
"Unbelievable" by EMF and it applies for today.  It is just quite unbelievable to me that I could complete a full day's work from my own home ... and for most that work with me, it was no different than my being in the office.

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Not Into Acapella Music? How About Instrumental ?!

I want to be fair to all kinds of music and with several recent posts featuring the human voice I felt it was only appropriate to share some music with no human voice but just instruments.

A good man on my team at work introduced me to "The Piano Guys" and once I saw one of their videos (I think I saw Cello Wars first) I was hooked!  These two artists (with several videos that now feature other artists, including singers, etc.) do some simply amazing things with a cello (or several cellos to be more precise) and a piano.  The videos are almost as amazing to watch as the music is to listen to.  Creative, funny, but also beautifully connected to the music they are playing.

Song Of The Day:
While starting my "Recovery Week" (that's what they call the 4th week of the P90X program) with Yoga X tonight, I found myself thinking about peaceful music that inspires.  One of my favorite mash-ups that The Piano Guys have done is Beethoven's 5th and OneRepublic's Secrets.  They titled the song
"Beethoven's 5 Secrets" and the video contains some beautiful, scenic images that complement the beautiful music.  I hope you like it.

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A Capella Anyone ?

I love acapella music (but then I've said that many times before).  I listen to acapella stations on virtually any of the iPhone/iPad music apps I've ever downloaded (Songza, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Spotify, etc.)

In fact, it was from one of those apps (I forget which one specifically) that I came across the group "On The Rocks" which is an acapella group for a college I cannot remember at this moment.  I've enjoyed many of their songs on youtube as well as those that come up on these acapella stations on my iPad.  And one of those songs is, of course, the ...

Song Of The Day:
Often the non-studio versions of acapella songs lack something from the polished radio-ready versions ... but this one might be a very good exception.  Sure the studio version is great too, but this rendition of "The Moment" is one of my favorites ... especially just before the 4-minute mark when everyone joins the lead singer on the strong chorus line.  Chills every time!

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Isn't It Always Better Together ?

I am an introvert by nature.  This may surprise some people who know me only in certain settings (at work, on the basketball court, in church, during scouting events, etc.) because my outward energy often seems to be more full in larger group settings.

Truth be told, I revel in "alone time."  Sure I enjoy being around other people and most often that does boost my energy level, but it also drains me in a way I cannot really explain.  Some days it is just too much and I long for an hour or two where I am just by myself with no responsibility to anyone else.

With that in mind, I have to say that there is one person who I am almost never happy to be "alone" from.  And that's my awesome wife and best friend Karen!

I call her my "Pretty Lady" (which is a nickname whose origin will likely be a future blog post) and she just calls me "Handsome."

We actually get to see each other all the time, but we almost never seem to have enough "us" time.  Just time to talk about life ... and our hopes, dreams, fears, and random experiences we've had since we last got to just hang out together.  I realized how much I was missing this time in this past week and was grateful for the opportunity we had a few days ago to just "be together" without everything clamoring for our attention (kids, work, extended family, house, cars, etc.)

I love and appreciate you my beautiful bride!  Looking forward to "hanging out" again real soon!  :)

Song Of The Day:
I think my mom introduced me to Jack Johnson's music, but regardless of where my love of his music originated, he remains one of my favorite soft-rock styled artists.  His song **"Better Together" always reminds me of time spent with my sweetheart.  It is always better together with you my love!

**This is not the original album version of this song.  If you want that version click here.

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Where Do They Disappear To ?

At the Case Place (our home filled with 9 people, the vast majority of which are not even close to adulthood yet) we seem to have very few major problems.  But we seem to have hundreds of tiny issues, some of which seem to be a constant source of stress (mostly for those two people in the home who ARE adults already!)

Herewith are the Top 5 "Seriously?!" Scenarios:
5.  Socks and shoes (and toys, of course) everywhere
4.  Absence of kleenex, toilet paper, napkins, or paper towels
3.  Lights left on in rooms with no one there
     (prior blog post on this one ... click here if you missed it)
2.  Used cups on every counter-like area in and around the kitchen (many with some form of liquid still in them ... is that chocolate milk?  eek!)

And finally ...

1.  No fingernail clippers to be found ... ever!

I, personally, have purchased at least four sets of fingernail clippers, in just the past year.  Not a single one of them is anywhere to be found in our home.  Not in the "junk drawer."  Not on the ledge that is higher than all but two of our kids can reach.  Not on top of the curio cabinet (which stands 6-feet tall).  Not in the computer desk drawer.  And certainly not in the fingernail clipper kit, which in and of itself came with three different clipper sets!

I have no explanation ... except, maybe, aliens!

Song Of The Day:
Yeah.  I am basically blaming aliens so I can tie this post into the song of the day.  It's "E.T." by Katy Perry.  I've always liked the song and heard it a week ago on the radio ... and I've been trying to think of a post that would allow me to use it.  Yeah, I know it's a stretch.  Oh well.

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