Pondering Life Three Time Zones Away (Repost from 11/5/2006)
Another week. Another time zone. I have been out in California for a week training for my job... it's been nice out here, great weather, beautiful scenery, fresh air... kind of like Split except instead of saying "dobre dan" (good afternoon), the people here just say "dude"
The Teradata training has been very good. I'm about 1/2 of the way from drinking the kool-aid now :) - but seriously, I am really happy to be working for this company and we have a really great product that I believe more businesses should be using. Besides, if you were someone making a data warehouse decision, wouldn't YOU want to come out to San Diego to see the benchmark for yourself. You'll be blown away both by S.D. and by our technology.
I am heading up to L.A. tomorrow to hang out with my friend Derek from business school... stayed in town (S.D.) tonight because I really didn't want to deal with the LA-SD traffic. I think we're going to go out to the O.C. beaches, Downtown Disney (maybe), and Saddleback Church on Sunday a.m. (Rick Warren's church). Tonight, I may go out with some TD folks, but may be doubtful b/c folks are either brining in their spouses or traveling back home. My thoughts are that I will probably go out to the gas lamp district tonight to people watch and eat even if no one else can/will go.
It may be actually a good thing that I have a night to myself... the week has been so hectic that I really haven't had a chance to sit down and reflect on life or any of the things that have happened when I was in Split. Some thoughts that have been running through my mind, albeit random are:
1. Tuesday, we witnessed the power of democracy in action when, somewhat predictably so, America determined to give the power in Congress over to the Democratic party... expressing in many ways frustration with the arrogance of the RNC over the past years and the way the Iraq War has gone. While I will identify myself as a conservative, I have been very unhappy with my party and really in a way glad that the Republicans got a "butt whipping" and hopefully a wake up call. The attitudes and lack of ethics I've seen out of them looked more like the Democratic house/senate that we swept out of power in 1994 than the Contract with America group that beat them because they lived and identified with America's desire to restore integrity and financial restraint to government (many of the ones I admired only chose to serve for two terms... which makes me wonder why we don't institute term limits for congressmen!!!!). John McCain said it best that Reps lost b/c they lost touch with their ideals. Republicans got 2 years to right the ship, and I hope that they do.
2. Thinking back on Split... even though things seem difficult, God is still working there. I got an encouraging note today that indicated that one of the students we got a chance to hang out with accepted Christ!!! Too cool! I know that he'll face some pressures... and pray that he finds strength in the community of believers when he chooses to tell his friends and family about his new relationship with Jesus.
3. Ah yes, my Fear Factor story from Split. I've been thinking about this story I've told about "mental fear" for the past couple of weeks... even rehashing it to a friend at Taco Mac over the Louisville/West Va football game last Thursday. For those (likely all) of you that don't understand, it is a thought that I need to let go of past "what ifs" and idealizing girls (one in particular) that I had major crushes on in the past. The one in particualar was a girl about 2 years behind me at A&M that I had a major crush on for a year and a half and NEVER (to my now dismay) made an authentic move toward asking out. It eventually fizzled out but there's always been this "what if" thought in the back of my mind, even though I am pretty sure that Kelly is likely living far far away (since I now live in Atlanta and not in Houston anymore) and is likely married (because no guy in their right mind would let her get away... true dat). Truth is, I can only live in the present and not in the past... so I need to let go of the regret and be bold because God has great plans for me and wants to prosper me in His will. I'm just waiting for His timing... and mentally giving myself the freedom to let go and let God do His thing.
Okay... here's to a great weekend rehashing old times at I.U.
and... Gig'em Aggies!!!! BTHO Nebraska! :)
Chris <><
The Teradata training has been very good. I'm about 1/2 of the way from drinking the kool-aid now :) - but seriously, I am really happy to be working for this company and we have a really great product that I believe more businesses should be using. Besides, if you were someone making a data warehouse decision, wouldn't YOU want to come out to San Diego to see the benchmark for yourself. You'll be blown away both by S.D. and by our technology.
I am heading up to L.A. tomorrow to hang out with my friend Derek from business school... stayed in town (S.D.) tonight because I really didn't want to deal with the LA-SD traffic. I think we're going to go out to the O.C. beaches, Downtown Disney (maybe), and Saddleback Church on Sunday a.m. (Rick Warren's church). Tonight, I may go out with some TD folks, but may be doubtful b/c folks are either brining in their spouses or traveling back home. My thoughts are that I will probably go out to the gas lamp district tonight to people watch and eat even if no one else can/will go.
It may be actually a good thing that I have a night to myself... the week has been so hectic that I really haven't had a chance to sit down and reflect on life or any of the things that have happened when I was in Split. Some thoughts that have been running through my mind, albeit random are:
1. Tuesday, we witnessed the power of democracy in action when, somewhat predictably so, America determined to give the power in Congress over to the Democratic party... expressing in many ways frustration with the arrogance of the RNC over the past years and the way the Iraq War has gone. While I will identify myself as a conservative, I have been very unhappy with my party and really in a way glad that the Republicans got a "butt whipping" and hopefully a wake up call. The attitudes and lack of ethics I've seen out of them looked more like the Democratic house/senate that we swept out of power in 1994 than the Contract with America group that beat them because they lived and identified with America's desire to restore integrity and financial restraint to government (many of the ones I admired only chose to serve for two terms... which makes me wonder why we don't institute term limits for congressmen!!!!). John McCain said it best that Reps lost b/c they lost touch with their ideals. Republicans got 2 years to right the ship, and I hope that they do.
2. Thinking back on Split... even though things seem difficult, God is still working there. I got an encouraging note today that indicated that one of the students we got a chance to hang out with accepted Christ!!! Too cool! I know that he'll face some pressures... and pray that he finds strength in the community of believers when he chooses to tell his friends and family about his new relationship with Jesus.
3. Ah yes, my Fear Factor story from Split. I've been thinking about this story I've told about "mental fear" for the past couple of weeks... even rehashing it to a friend at Taco Mac over the Louisville/West Va football game last Thursday. For those (likely all) of you that don't understand, it is a thought that I need to let go of past "what ifs" and idealizing girls (one in particular) that I had major crushes on in the past. The one in particualar was a girl about 2 years behind me at A&M that I had a major crush on for a year and a half and NEVER (to my now dismay) made an authentic move toward asking out. It eventually fizzled out but there's always been this "what if" thought in the back of my mind, even though I am pretty sure that Kelly is likely living far far away (since I now live in Atlanta and not in Houston anymore) and is likely married (because no guy in their right mind would let her get away... true dat). Truth is, I can only live in the present and not in the past... so I need to let go of the regret and be bold because God has great plans for me and wants to prosper me in His will. I'm just waiting for His timing... and mentally giving myself the freedom to let go and let God do His thing.
Okay... here's to a great weekend rehashing old times at I.U.
and... Gig'em Aggies!!!! BTHO Nebraska! :)
Chris <><
Comments
A few updates on other stuff blogged from 2 years ago:
1. I'm not drinking from that kool-ade fountain anymore... In a totally different gig now that I really like. You know, technology is such a strange thing because competitive advantages are so hard to maintain and the DW market is no different. "Appliances" have changed that whole market now and it's seemed to have gotten to be more of a parity fight than it was 2 years ago. Good for IT buyers, not so good for hardware companies. Prediction: in the not-too-distant future, more data warehouses will actually be SaaS. Whoever comes out with that offering stands to get rich :).
Still haven't been back to Saddleback... just recently visited Max Lucado's church, and Max wasn't there :-(... liked how they did things there.
A team is going back to Split in March... I'm excited for them even though I'm not able to go... I'm planning to go back to Estonia this summer or Fall, God-willing :)
And I'm very content with being single, even though when God brings the right one along I won't be complaining. Right now, I'm working on being the right person... that's been a cool journey! :)