So here's what I've done..

Now that the first week of holidays is nearing an end I figured that it's time to account for what I've accomplished (or what I haven't accomplished). The week started off at a fast and furious pace...can't say that I've really kept that up...Monday I did lots of laundry, organized my cabinets, went grocery shopping, cooked, went out for a walk, lay by the pool and read, organized my "office", and watched a little TV. On Tuesday I did not do a whole lot. I went to blockbuster, but couldn't find anything. Most other stores weren't open. It was altogether a boring day. Wednesday was much better. I shopped with my mom and acquired some goods that were definitely not needed...but they are fun. I got a lounge chair, 4 books, a ps2 and 3 sing star games (seriously...was that necessary?) Now it's Thursday. I figure that today I will probably go the pool in the afternoon - I do have 4 new books to read. Then I'll head back to Altona for Macy's shower this evening.

As I've been reading my book "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch I've picked out some tidbits that I found somewhat thought provoking and worthy of repeating. Just some background: the author of the book, Paush, was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon. He has terminal cancer but in September was asked to give a "last lecture." His lecture was called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" and talks about overcoming obstacles, seizing moments, and living. There is lots about him online, and his lecture can be found on the Internet. I've enjoyed the book and here are some quotes that stuck out to me:

• "When you're screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they've given up on you."
• "People are more important than things."
• "Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something."
• "Time must be explicitly managed, like money."
• "You can always change your plan, but only if you have one."
• "I'll take an earnest person over a hip person every time, because hip is short-term. Earnest is long-term."
• "To many people go through life complaining about their problems. I've always believed that if you took one-tenth of the energy you put into complaining and applied it to solving the problem, you'd be surprised at how well things can work out."
• "'If you wait long enough people will surprise you and impress you.' Sometimes this takes great patience 'but in the end people will show you their good side. Almost everybody has a good side. Just keep waiting. It will come out.'"
• "Dance with the one who brung you."
• "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."
• "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."
• "Showing gratitude is one of the simples yet most powerful things humans can do for each other."
• "A lot of people want a short cut. I find the best shortcut is the long way, which is basically two words: work hard."
• "One thing that makes it possible to be an optimist is if you have a contingency plan for when all hell breaks loose."
• "People lie for lots of reasons, often because it seems like a way to get what they want with less effort."
• "If I could only give three words of advice, they would be 'tell the truth.' If I got three more words, I'd add: 'All the time.'" "Honesty is not only morally right, it's also efficient.