Standing Room Only

The standing desk experiment has turned into hum-drum routine, which I think is kind of the goal. Pro-wellness lifestyle behavior modification: complete. Here’s the setup:

The best part physically is that I don’t have he lower back problems that used to plague me. Psychologically, it’s nice to be able to walk around while I’m on the phone (with my Winona Judd-like mic). I don’t feel trapped.

My setup was pretty cheap as well. Collapsible egg crate, lap desk, wrist thing for keyboard. That’s forty bucks well spent.

The best part? The ever-present murmurs of “Why’s that guy always standing?”

Why? Because I can!

The Four-Hour Work Week For the City by John Grisham

I’ve just finished reading For the City, a book co-authored by one of my church’s pastors, Matt Carter.  In it, Carter mentions that he wants to live in such a way that that at the end of his life, he has no doubt that what he accomplished could only be done through God’s power.

“Are you living in a way that requires God’s supernatural power for your calling to be lived out?” he asks.

My answer is a simple, “No.”  How sad is that?  I’m just kind of hanging out.  Coasting.

I’m also reading Tim Ferriss’ 4-Hour Workweek.  In it, he starts with what seems like another pretty easy question:  “What excites you?”

I had to sit and think for a long time (I’ve been coasting), and I realized that my answers don’t have much to do with working or life goals or self-actualization or anything like that.  I’m excited about friends, creativity, and God saving his Creation.  And, of course, alcohol.

What do those have to do with each other?  I think everything.

Because in the end, this will be the reality of all space and time:

“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

I’m excited about the right things, but my actions don’t necessarily reflect that.  But I want them to.   I want to be living in a way that acknowledges that God is for us.  I want to be for my neighbors and co-workers and the Creation all around me.

So, after thinking about current station in life, I set the following goals for myself:

• Be a great husband.
• Be a great steward with the “talents” (finances and skills) God has given me.
• Be creative.
• Be involved in my town.
• Be a badass street lawyer.

That sounds like a life worth living.

Three Glorious Walls

I’ve just started a new job, which means I’m engaged in a new and unexpectedly exciting activity – decorating my cubicle.

(Not my actual workspace.)

I can’t decide which route to go – minimalist, utilitarian, greenhouse, nerdcore, sports fan.  The possibilities are endless.  What level says, “I’m not decorating because I don’t really care.”?  What says, “If you walk near my desk I will high-five the crap out of your hands until they’re redder than a Red Lobster daquiri!”?  Where’s the line?

My plan right now is to slowly add bits of flair, achieve cubicle homeostastis, and then introduce something new to the environment.  I’m thinking:

• Picture with the wife
• Mass Effect/Batman/Assassin’s Creed figure
• Houston Texans memorabilia
• ACU memorabilia
• Pro-Texas propaganda
• A personal assistant*

I welcome any and all input on how to make the most out of my cubicle.  I can already tell you it’s gonna be a standing desk.

*What if I just hired a personal assistant and acted like it was normal?

Use a paper towel to open the door

Every time I move up to a new station in life, I think, “Ok, this is it. This is the level where my peer group can successfully manage a public restroom without turning it into a post-apocalyptic wasteland.” And every time I’m wrong.

Monday Monday

When I’m not busy dominating the legal system or swinging signs, I dabble in manual labor.  Today, for instance, I dug a ditch.   Here are some things I learned while digging a ditch:

• It is always a bad idea to attack a water line with a pickaxe.
• When your work involves hoes and laying pipe, people will make jokes.
• I have little to no understanding of basic skills such as plumbing, electrical, gardening, and carpentry.  I think that’s sad and bad.  I could never be Michael Hosea.*
• Water is just the best.  Even when it’s geysering 12 feet in the air because someone hit a pipe with a pickaxe.  It’s great.
• Read the directions.  Save yourself the grief.

*Only because I was born in the 1980s instead of the 1800s.

The Boom King

I’m not sure if you are a news watcher or not, but people are saying that the economy is not booming.  For that reason, finding permanent employment has been difficult.  To supplement our income for the last few months, I’ve been doing odd jobs.  These jobs include selling my stuff, freelance writing, and construction work.

Today, though, I start my most exciting job: SIGN SPINNING.

You know what I’m talking about – sign spinning.  You just outside and wave signs around.  You can just stand, but advanced sign holders do tricks like sign tossing, sign spinning, and even sign air guitar.  This will probably be my specialty.  If you are good at it, you can move up really quickly.  Maybe I can leverage my position into a professional sports mascot job.

Today if my first day of work.  It’s all training.  We’re going to stand in a parking lot and learn from a pro how to spin signs.  I promise you, the whole time I’ll be thinking about this:

Honk at the Boom King if you like what you see.