Friday afternoon

It really sucks when you pour your heart and soul into something, only to find out it was all for naught. It doesnt matter if it is for a new job, a relationship, or whatever. It still hurts you where it counts the most - in your heart. I know I did everything I could and yet it still wasnt enough. I dont know what else I could do.

There are days where I wonder where I would be without my family. They support me no matter what is going on. They call me all the time to make sure I am OK. They call to find out where I am going and when I will be home next. They constantly keep tabs on me.

Why is it that I cant have just SOMETHING - JUST ONE THING - go my way. WHY is that so hard to understand? Why is that so much to ask?

There is a song by Switchfoot that really exemplifies how I am feeling tonight:

And it all seems so helpless
And I have no plans
I'm a plane in the sunset
With nowhere to land

Like I said the other day in my Facebook status - why do I put all of my eggs in one basket? I guess it is because when I want something bad enough, its the only thing I concentrate on. Maybe when I am 83 I will finally learn. Why everyone I know seems to have life by the horns, living it every day, I sit on the sideline hoping coach will finally let me play. Like Rudy. They say life is what you make of it, how do you make a life when you have no life at all...

J-Dawg

Packers / Ravens Game 12/07/09

Hello from the frozen tundra of Green Bay! Last night, I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the Packers/Ravens game. It was 24 degrees at game time. I was about the 20 yard line on the Ravens side of the field.

The first half, the Ravens looked FLAT! I mean, FLAT! I think Flacco's passer rating in the first half was 26.4! They just had nothing in the tank. The Packers werent that great either, but they were connecting from time to time on 15-20 yard scampers. Aaron Rodgers was missing alot of his passes high.

There were a TON of penalties in this game...there were at least 3 Pass Interference Penalties on EACH TEAM of greater than 30 yards. I swear I thought I was watching the rookie team practice or something. On the penalty side, neither team looked good.

HALFTIME Packers 17 - Ravens 0

Third quarter, the Ravens came out QUICK and scored...they looked like they finally showed up for the game! Flacco was on to Mason, and the running game looked like it was going to do something.

THEN the 4th quarter hit.....

FLAT as the day is long...They simply ran out of gas. The Packers took every advantage they were given, and won the game 27-17. It was interesting down the stretch though. We scored with just under 2 mins to play to put the game away, but only AFTER we made it interesting. Lucky for us, on 2 consecutive pass plays, we intercepted the ball, once in the end zone.

All in all, it was a great game.

J-Dawg

Paying it Forward

Tuesday night found me sitting in Olney Illinois (at one of our dedicated offsite locations) without a load - no big deal, since I was able to get some paperwork done, and relax a little. Wednesday morning I grabbed the company car, and asked if there was a "Mom and Pop" diner in the area I could go grab breakfast from since I couldnt pick up my next load until after noon. I went down there and it was a really quaint diner. Very nice waitress, and you could tell right away, this was a mom and pop place with the older folks sitting around drinking coffee and talking.

About 20 minutes into breakfast I noticed a couple walk in, and they just had a look about them that said "down on their luck" not to be confused with "havent taken a bath". Soon after they sat down, the guy struck up a conversation with me about the hat I was wearing (my South Carolina Gamecocks hat) and asked if I was from SC. I told them my family lives down there and had just been down there to visit. I listened as they ordered a breakfast they could split. They BOTH looked like they could use a good meal! We talked off and on for another 10 minutes before I had to return with the car. As the waitress brought me my slip (still the old hand-written type!) I took my slip and met her at the register. I asked her if she had written up their order yet, and she had just placed it with the cook. I told her to go make them EACH that meal, and that I was going to pay for it for them. She asked why, and I asked her if she had ever seen the movie "Pay it Forward" and she had...so I told her that they were one of my three random acts of kindness to strangers. I then paid for their meals and mine, and asked her to write on their slip "Merry Christmas to you both. Your meals are on me. From the guy in the SC hat. Pay It Forward". The waitress I thought was going to cry. She said they come in about once a month when they can split a breakfast - its their treat to each other. He lost his job a few months ago and was doing odd jobs to get by.

GIVING -- it makes us all better people. I felt so good about what I had done - so I spent $10 on
breakfast - doesnt sound like much - but its how I felt after I did that that means the world to me. I am not rich, and I am not putting $100 bills in people pockets. It was a random act of kindness - a Pay It Forward act...I hope someday to get back to Olney!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 19

Today I am thankful for Psalm 95:2 which reads ... "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms." I am truly blessed to have people in my life who were bold enough to show the errors of my ways, witness to me in my time of need, and be there for me when I needed that nudge to move forward in a positive light. I dont have to list names of who you are - you know who you are :) Know that deep down from my heart I just want to say how thankful I am to have you. Happy Thanksgiving!

J-Dawg

Thursday 13 - 11/26/09

Hello everyone! Welcome to another edition of the Thursday 13 - This week I am going to give you 13 of my favorite verses or scriptures from the bible (I have "The Living Bible" for reading and have for many years and use Bible Gateway for scripture lookups). Some of them have special meaning. Some of them might be from friends...each with their own merits. So on this Thanksgiving, I give thanks to Him and 13 of his passages:

1. Proverbs 18:17 A True friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.
2. Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.
3. Romans 8:28 And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans.
4. John 3:16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
5. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 But, dear brothers, you are not in the dark about these things, and you won"t be surprised as by a thief when that day of the Lord comes. For you are all children of the light and of the day, and do not belong to the darkness and the night. So be n your guard, not asleep like the others. Watch for His return and stay sober. Night is the time for sleep and the time when people get drunk. But let us who live in the light keep sober, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the happy hope of salvation.
6. Psalm 69:30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
7. 1 Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
8. Romans 15:30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
9. 2 Timothy 2:25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.
10. Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
11. 2 Chronicles 30:9 If you return to the LORD, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.
12. Psalm 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
13. Proverbs 1:33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.

On this Day of Thanksgiving - I give thanks not only to those who have chosen to read this, those who I consider my friends and family, and those who in a time of need might refer back to this someday. Happy Thanksgiving -- it is right to give Him thanks!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 18

is thankful today that I have arrived SAFELY in Conway SC at the 'rents house for Thanksgiving Festivities! There was only one hangup today - it was only 15 minutes - and for that, I am also grateful!. I hope each of you has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 17

is thankful that I just received my work assignment to my dad's house for Thanksgiving! Martinsville VA to Jonesville SC. Pickup a trailer, take it to Georgetown, drop it for a customer, and bobtail for TURKEY! YAY!

J-Dawg