Do nots of Text Messaging.

My family has never had texting. There was the occasional trial period when we signed new contracts but other than that no.

Since moving out on my own, I have had texting. Recently my family realized it and well now they have texting.

So this brings me to things you shouldn't do when you have text messaging:

• Text your daughter during your anniversary dinner
• Text your daughter while she is at a playoff game
• Text someone telling them you are texting the person across from you.
• Text a family member a time zone away to ask them if they are awake at 6am on a Saturday.

Four things I wish you will not do.

Rock on,
Lane J

Another thing I need for Christmas...

There are 2 things that I can cook, Chicken Enchilada Casserole and Chocolate Chip Cookies. However, both of them require my measuring cups. My 1/4 cup especially.

Yesterday I baked cookies and a Skookie. A few of my friends requested cookies last night before they were done. Sorry couldn't fly them to St. Louis. And for those of you here in Phoenix, you have to come and get them.

The Skookie

Well back to my measuring cup. I try to clean up as I cook. I put things in the dishwasher when I'm finished with them, and I put away ingredient as I go. When the cookies were in the oven, I put my measuring cups in the dishwasher. Put them on the top rack where I always do.

The cookies came out of the oven. I tried a couple. YUM!!!! Then as I was getting ready for bed I turned on the dishwasher.

I was having issues falling asleep last night. So I got up to get some water and noticed an unusual smell. I couldn't figure out what it was. Finally, I realized it had to be something in the dishwasher. It was. My 1/4 cup measuring cup had come loose from the top rack, fell through the bottom rack and landed on the heating element.

When you add a plastic cup to hot metal, you get this:

The Aftermath

If you are still looking to get me something for Christmas, I need a new measuring cup. Or, my friends, if you would like anymore cookies or Chicken Enchilada Casserole, I will need a new measuring cup.

~Lane J

Today's Path: Hope and friends...the only way

With the economic situation, several people are starting to doubt. Doubt the current. Doubt the future.

Just in case you didn't know...doubting will NOT help! Because when you think nothing can help, there's hope. I have told friends there's hope when it came to sports, family, jobs and much more. As Cicero said,

"While there's life, there's hope."

Hope and friends help us through life. They help us in good times and in bad. As Aristotle once said,

"Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods."

How true was he is saying this? This is why anytime a friend moves away or leaves, you feel sad. Remember true friends will never forget you. And if someone does forget you, you still have the impact they made on you.

Every person you meet helps in making you you. Whether it be they helped you or made you learn something. Even the bad people you meet, it reassures you you don't want to be like them.

Today take the time and call an old friend. Let them know you remember them and how they helped you or why they are important to you.

Even through the hardships in the economy today, take with you hope and friends.

One last quote for today:

"Many people walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints on your heart."

To all my friends, far and near,
~Lane J

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I decided at last minute to go home and surprise the fam for Thanksgiving. All went well. No one had a heart attack which is always a plus.

Yummy turkey. Occasionally for some reason my family will have ham and no turkey, but this year we had turkey. Mashed tatoes. No green bean casserole this year. =(

All day football. Life is good.

Today's Path: 8 Things I've learned since my last post

I know I have been a little sporadic with my postings the past few months, but I have come to learn things. These little things have made it interesting and until now haven't really brought interesting ideas for posting.

I have compiled these little things into a list for you. Without further ado...

1. Drink lots of water to avoid headaches.
2. Sometimes what seems right feels oh so wrong.
3. Trust your intuition...it knows what it's talking about.
4. Indianapolis isn't as bad as Bill says it is
5. There needs to be a limit on family time
6. Life doesn't go on pause because you're not there, no matter how much you want it to
7. Ask because chances are someone else feels the same way
8. Any stories about skiing and orange juice are hillarious

Hope you enjoyed. I will try and post more often.

Rock on,

Lane J

This so could have happened here

I was surfing my random stash of blogs I frequent when I came across this entry...

3PM You Must Be from Quba

Enrollment counselor on phone with student: The first letter is I, like "eyeball."

Phoenix, Arizona

Overheard by: Literate Listener

Over Heard in the Office

Not saying that this couldn't happen anywhere else, but the fact it was said by and Enrollment Counselor makes this hilarious to me.

Presidential Election Day 2008

As I sit here in my hotel room in beautiful Indianapolis, CNN is playing in the background. If anyone didn't know today was the USA Presidential Election, please crawl out from under your rock for the next one in 2012. Unfortunately, I was not able to vote today. I registered on the last day to vote in Arizona, but it was too late for me to absentee vote. I take full responsibility for not getting in in time. I guess I should preface this with: If I would have voted, I would have voted 3rd Party.

Alright my vocal friends, I am going to voice a few opinions here, and I understand you will post your opinions whether you agree or disagree with me. I am fully prepared for it.

I am on the road this week for work which means I am getting the chance to see how others view things. This is great most of the time. But a few things happened today that made me think twice and wonder if I was naive when I was in high school. I remember my senior year of high school was an election year. I was not yet 18, but the guy I was dating was so we both watched the election until midnight seeing what was happening. Today I was at a high school presenting to student on the university for which I work. It was about 50% white. As I was driving off, I passed a car with a young man hanging out the window yelling "Vote right, vote white." WTF? I could keep but wondering if he was following in his parents footsteps.

I also saw several people wearing attire to support different candidates. Are these kids doing their research? Or are they getting their information from SNL or the Daily Show or Facebook? Facebook has become a fighting ground. It has made it easier to voice your opinion without the fear of your peers attacking you face to face. Yesterday and today several of my friends donated their status to candidates. Hello free advertisements.

As a young voter, I don't want to be part of the statistic that says I am part of the largest group to not turn out for elections, however, this year I am. I believe several of my friends feel the same way, but I still question "Do we do our research?"

A Paris Hilton commercial just aired. I thought she was doing okay until the camera pulled out and showed her in a swim suit. Sorry, I guess you still don't have my respect.

I see myself as a middle ground person, not extreme right, not extreme left. But that is all we had this year. No one was close to the middle this year.

Over the next few days we will find out the outcome of today. Whatever the country has decided we will live with for four years. Until we can vote again. One thing to keep in mind, the president only has final say. Congress makes the laws, the president okays it. All these changes to the healthcare system inevitably has to go through Congress. Well we will have to wait and see what will happen. Good Luck and may your candidate win!

Rock on,
Lane J

PS- Go Nader!! (just kidding)