Delegated Authority

22 years ago, at 6:19 am, this little guy was born.  I say “little guy” because he was hardly the size of your average baby!  Weighing only 9lbs, but reaching an astounding 24″ in length, he was actually a little scrawny.  (That didnt last long)  The Doc that delivered him said she had never delivered a 24 inch long baby before. . . thats 2ft TALL, ya know!  hehehehe!

 Justin was born in the high desert- the Mojave Desert, to be exact, at Edwards AFB California.  Okay, well, a hospital in the desert  :)  It was about 112 degrees that day in July he decided to grace us with his presence. 

From the beginning Justin made his desire to eat anything and everything well known.  Starting on “solid” food (rice cereal) at the ripe old age of 5 days because nothing, but nothing satisfied him.  He was soooo chubby, for a very long time he was nicknamed Jabba from the popular Star Wars movies (Jabba the Hutt), the Slugg (?) that was just rolls and rolls of fat.  But by about 4 years old, Justin was clearly the tallest kid around, certainly taller than anyone his age and usually a year or two older.  And he was hollow.  Continuing to eat everything within reach.  The only thing he wont eat, to this day, is nuts, or anything that looks like it might be a nut. . .

The year  Justin turned 14, he was a Camp Counselor at boy scout camp all summer. Each week he grew just a little more.  I remember being thankful it wasn’t winter and I didn’t have to keep him in long pants!  His feet grew 3 sizes that summer!  Then, Adam left for College.  When he left, he was taller than Justin.  The first time he came back?  Justin was about 2″ taller!  So much for the “little” brother!

Now, at 22, Justin is about 6′5″, weighs about 180 (so he says) and wears a size 15 shoe.  No longer resembling Jabba, but still hollow  :) 

He’s a reader and a dreamer and a hard worker.

Sometimes, he’s even funny:  Yesterday before he left our house after his birthday dinner, he said, “Thanks for havin’ me”  Hahaha!  That was a double entendre!”  :)  Yep, that’s our Justin!

Happy Birthday, Kiddo! I love ya!

p.s. pictures to be added tonight. . . .

“I’ve been bitch-slapped by opportunity”

 det 7.24.08

“The numbers reflected in the blue line as opposed to the red dots are reflected without the yellow highlighting.”

 Now I know why you need so many years of college to decipher this stuff.

Sometimes all I want is to be a missing person for a day.

I’m not sure why I am so absolutely taken aback by powerful people and places.  Why I look up to people in positions of authority and put them on pedestals (until they give me reason not to). 

Today at work I was given a task that had me, literally, shaking in my shoes. . .  until I followed through and realized that the people I was dealing with were, in fact, just like me. 

The task:  Call ahead to some Senate and House committee offices and make sure they had some reports available, then go there and get the reports.  Okay.  Lets break this down.  1) First, call to Senate and House aides.  Take a deep breath, make sure you have the right phone numbers… know exactly what you are asking for. . . . okay. . . . got it! 2) Go get the reports!  Guess where those happen to be?  In the Capitol and one of the Congressional office buildings.  Time for panic and anxiety to set in!!  Yikes!

As it turned out.  Everything went just fine.  No problems.  In and out, with proper ID and going through the security and all, just fine.  The only one worried about me being in there getting the reports was, amazingly, me.

The cool part?  Walking past all the tourists and into the real business areas of the buildings and looking like “someone” myself!  Totally.Cool.

I love my job!

Since I’m not very good with words, I thought I’d let a song say it for me: 

We’ve been together since way back when
Sometimes I never want to see you again
But I want you to know, after all these years
You’re still the one I want whisperin’ in my ear

You’re still the one I want to talk to in bed
Still the one that turns my head
We’re still having fun, and you’re still the one

I looked at your face every day
But I never saw it ’til I went away
When winter came, I just wanted to go
Deep in the desert, I longed for the snow

You’re still the one that makes me laugh
Still the one that’s my better half
We’re still having fun, and you’re still the one

You’re still the one that makes me strong
Still the one I want to take along
We’re still having fun, and you’re still the one

Changing, our love is going gold
Even though we grow old, it grows new

You’re still the one that I love to touch
Still the one and I can’t get enough
We’re still having fun, and you’re still the one

You’re still the one who can scratch my itch
Still the one and I wouldn’t switch
We’re still having fun, and you’re still the one

You’re still the one that makes me shout
Still the one that I dream about
We’re still having fun, and you’re still the one…

(Orleans)

Over the years, so much has changed.  But the one thing that never has and never will is that I love you!

Happy Birthday!  I hope we get to spend many more together 

Check it out!  This is absolutely the COOLEST thing I have seen in a very long time!

Go to jott.com.  You can call their number and leave yourself (or someone else) a message.  Jott will take that message and send it to your email or your phone (or both)!

It really works!  I tried it for the first time today, and when I got home, lo and behold, my messages were in my “inbox” waiting for me! 

 I now have jott on my speed dial.  Jared will really appreciate it.  Usually I call him and tell him to write me a note!!

 SO COOL!

p.s.  Thanks to Aimee Greeblemonkey for passing the tip on!