It is really good

Posted on 11/26/2008 by RLW3

I had to have one…

I had just finished my appointment with a man at the Prayer Room. The Higher Grounds coffee shop was right next door! But I only had two $1 bills in my pocket and it cost $3.15!

I put myself in this predicament. Just yesterday we converted our bank accounts from California to Kansas yesterday and my bank card was now useless.

I did think of this as I got dressed this morning but just before I walked out the door, the usual last minute suspects carried out a surprise attack on me so that I rushed out the door so I would not be late for my appointment. After all, we had been playing phone tag for the better part of three weeks!

I unlocked the truck, threw my bag in and started scrounging around for every last piece of loose change that I could find. I eventually found 85 cents.

However, one of the dimes fell out of my hand, and out of the truck. I gently closed the door and picked it up. When I stood back up, I realized that my keys were now safely locked inside of the truck on the driver’s seat.

Now, the door was just partially closed. I couldn’t open it. However, if I didn’t completely close it, then the battery would be drained because the associated lights were on.

I ran back inside to the front desk and told them of my predicament.

“No, problem.”

They dialed a number and handed me the phone. It rang and rang.

“No one answered?”

“No.”

Both of them looked confounded. That was the number to their 24/7 security company.

They gave me another number. I dialed it on my phone and thankfully, someone answered. I told them of my situation.

“You couldn’t have called at a worse time! Our van has just left for a security problem at the bank and will not be able to be there for at least an hour.”

I told them to please send them anyway and that I would call if I figured out another solution.

What would MacGyver do?

I ran to the back of the property, uprooted a four foot long twig growing out of the ground, stripped it, ran back to the front parking lot, pried the top of the door open just wide enough to fit the twig inside, punched the “Unlock” button and retrieved my keys and cancelled the security call.

But, I was still 30 cents short…

I went in, groveled and asked the cashier for a loan from the tip cup and got my medium size cup of Vanilla Chai!!!

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Know when to hold ’em

Posted on 11/25/2008 by RLW3

I went looking for a new place to live today…

First, I toured a competing apartment complex nearby. The unit was very nice but the kitchen, which is probably the MOST important thing to my wife, was SO small.

Then, I looked at two different duplexes that would save us approximately $300/month in rent. They were both acceptable. However, there was a gloomy, discouraging feeling to both of them.

When I returned to our our brightly lit living room and our relatively roomy kitchen, I decided to stay put.

My family already lives with a certain amount of rootlessness where we are. That is only natural after living in the same house for 19 years. 

When people ask me how I like Kansas, I am incapable of answering. I don’t know. I haven’t started working yet. I’m temporarily staying in an apartment. I have no routines. We (maybe just I) haven’t settled down and started to put down roots yet.

In considering these other places, I couldn’t escape the feeling that moving into a place that doesn’t feel good to come home to will add much more than $300/month in psychological costs. I don’t know how to quantify it but at this point, I am willing to spend the money to stay in a place that we like.

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One week from tonight

Posted on 11/24/2008 by RLW3

I just got a call from the man who is referring to the church. They are going to invite me to their Board of Elders meeting next Monday for the interview! This could get exciting.

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It should have been simple

Posted on 11/24/2008 by RLW3

I am under the gun. I have to make some big decisions…soon!

I have six more weeks until I start my new job in Blue Springs. Blue Springs is 30 miles to northeast of our apartment. The church that is going to interview me is 10 miles northwest of us. 

Our attempt to buy the house in Blue Springs has failed. Where should we live???

This morning, my wife and I decided that we would extend our lease at our current apartment for another six months. I went down to the storage facility and three hours later returned with our Christmas decorations and the turkey cooker.

I then went to the apartment office to inform them of our decision. 

Now, during my conversation with my wife this morning, I asked her if she thinks that I make things complicated or are things in fact really complicated? I don’t think that she really answered me. If she did, I can’t remember what she said.

Regardless, here is an example of how things get complicated.

They came back with a monthly amount that is $100 higher than our previous lease! That ticked me off. I told them that I was going to reconsider.

Well, to make a long story short, I am going to look at a new apartment and a duplex tomorrow. I will save $180/month with the other apartment and $300/month if we lease the duplex.

I will keep you posted as to where this eventually ends.

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How long???

Posted on 11/21/2008 by RLW3

It has been awhile since I have written about my computer. But, if you noticed, I went to Starbucks because I was waiting for my appointment at the Apple store. Recently, my wireless network stopped working and ALL of the equipment is new!

I went to my 11:00 appointment. I left about one half hour later with a new Time Capsule (combination automatic backup external hard drive/WiFi transponder) thinking that this is so great!

I drove home to set up my wireless network. I opened my laptop, turned it on and nothing happened. I tried several more times. Nothing.

I drove back to the Apple store.

“I’m sorry sir, but you will have to make another appointment.”

“But I was just here and the computer worked fine when I brought it in.”

“You still will have to set up another appointment.”

Now that did NOT make me happy but I bit both my tongue and my lip and made an appointment for 6:00.

They deduced that they had to reinstall the operating system and that I could come back and pick up the computer between 8:00-8:30.

At 7:40, I received a phone call:

“Mr. Worrell, I really don’t want to give you any bad news but I have to. We reinstalled the operating system and we are still encountering the same problem. We are going to have to keep your computer here.”

“When will it be finished?”

“3-5 days.”

“3-5 days!?!?!?”

“We will order the parts that we need tomorrow morning.”

It could be worse. My son just bought a new black MacBook. I guess I will have to ask if I can borrow it!

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A star is born

Posted on 11/21/2008 by RLW3

Shortly after we got home from school, my youngest daughter’s cell phone rang.

She answered and then shrieked, “Are you kidding me? That is so great! Oh, my gosh!”

She got the part in the school play!

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Man it’s busy in here

Posted on 11/21/2008 by RLW3

After I dropped my wife off at Costco this morning, I had an hour to burn before my”Genius Bar” appointment at the Apple store. I had a coupon for a free drink so I decided to do some reading at Starbucks.

As I pulled up, I noticed that the parking lot was nearly full. When I walked in the place was packed! at 10:00 in the morning! on a weekday!

Don’t these people have to go to work? I mean, I have an excuse. I’m only there because my new job won’t start until January 5th.

After ordering and picking up my drink, I found a recently emptied table. As I sat down, I noticed that a man at the table to the right of mine had an Apple MacBook on some type of high tech looking stand.

“I take it you use that thing (the computer) a lot.”

“Yeah. This is my office.”

“Really? What do you do?”

“I write crime novels.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah. You’re on writer’s row. She (the woman with a laptop at the table to the right of his) is also a writer and then there is another guy who usually sits at the next table.”

“I don’t really read novels, but what is your most famous book that I might have heard of?”

He then walked over and pulled out a four color folded business card with his book covers adorning the outsides. His name is Joel Goldman.

But I thought that all of the creative people in the country lived in Los Angeles or New York??? Hmmm…

I assume that the rest of the patrons must work for Sprint since their headquarters are right across the street.

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Sven revisited

Posted on 11/20/2008 by RLW3

Our friend Rosie commented on the Sven post. I have added the YouTube link.

Thank you Rujah. You are terrific

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I’ve done the same thing

Posted on 11/20/2008 by RLW3

My poor son…

He has to be at school every morning at 6:00 A.M. for the morning wrestling workout. He caused the team to do extra drills because he was late the first two days.

Well, this morning he definitely was not late!

He woke up, looked at the clock, panicked, threw some clothes on, hopped in Wild Bill and drove off to school.

When he got there, he noticed that the parking lot was empty. He went to the door that he usually uses and found that it was locked. He walked around to the front of the school only to find it locked too. 

Wondering what was going on, he looked at his cell phone and saw…

12:55…???…!!!

Since Wild Bill has a bench seat, he decided to just sleep in the truck until practice time.

However, last night it was 26° outside!

At 3:00 in the morning, he woke up because he couldn’t keep his feet warm and came back home.

I feel for him. He did actually make it on time.

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Back and forth

Posted on 11/20/2008 by RLW3

I just received a call from one of the men who interviewed me for the ministry position. He has met with the church’s elders and will be sending them my résumé tonight! I should be hearing from the church soon.

My emotions really swing on this one. On the one hand, this is an opportunity that I have wanted and waited on for 18 years! However, in my weaker moments, I wonder what makes me or anyone else think that I am qualified to stand in front of a congregation and teach the Bible?

Anyway, I am VERY excited to see where this will lead. I am excited at the challenge of teaching on a regular basis. As second jobs, go, this one would be VERY COOL!!!

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