Random Acts of Shifeness - New Beginnings

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one, which has been opened for us.” – Helen Keller

• Today is the day that marks the end of my time at my current job. Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life. More details to come as I should have plenty to share next week. Wish me luck.
• I have been paying someone to torture me. No I'm not talking about watching the analysis of the presidential debate on the news channels. I have plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the heels) and it's starting to get pretty painful. I have done the cortisone shot approach before and vowed to never do that again, which led me to my current situation. The doctor I'm working with is reattaching the fascia back to my muscle, and to do this, he has to drive his thumb as hard as he can into my foot. He starts at my heel and works his way up my calf. It hurts. A lot. Since this area of my body is incredibly tender, I was just about in tears after my first sessions. The good news is the doctor believes I will be OK after 2 more sessions. Wish me luck ... again. 
• Also painful is watching my baseball team do their best to not make the playoffs. My team is the St. Louis Cardinals. If you follow baseball then you know why I'm terribly frustrated watching them. Can you wish me luck once more? 
• Quote of the week: Thinking is difficult; that’s why most people judge. - Carl Jung 
• Recommendation of the week: With a bunch of new TV shows starting, I have watched three: "This Is Us," "Pitch" and "Longmire." I have watched "Longmire" since it was on A&E and I still find it entertaining. Plus, I can binge watch it and move on to something else like watching horrible baseball. 

It's almost unbearable how adorable Tank is with his new bestie. 

Hayden and Kyle enjoying some time down by the river. 

Hayden taking the husky hound for a walk. 

He needs all the help he can get as he's now over 70 pounds. 

That's all for today. Thank you for stopping by. Talk to you soon.

I will persevere. I will keep moving forward. I will be the stream. 

Random Acts of Shifeness - Here's to Us

• She certainly deserves more than I gave her for an anniversary present for just dealing with me on a daily basis and I'm still baffled at times that she picked me out of all the guys out there, but I'm grateful and thankful that I get to spend my life with her. Happy 12th Anniversary to the love of my life, Mrs. Shife. 

Here we are 12 years ago. Looking good and looking a lot younger. 

And 12 years later ... we have aged a little bit. Darn kids. 

• Kyle's been inspired by watching "Star Wars." We watch a little each night and we just made it to the part when Han and Luke are about to rescue Princess Leia on the Death Star. Anyway, he made a 13-minute movie with my phone. Here's a GIF of Buzz Lightyear discussing strategy with the Angry Birds version of Anakin Skywalker, who is still recovering from a brutal Tank Tank attack to his face, while Darth Maul enjoys a soak in the tub. He had a tough day being evil. I'm not sure how things will play out, but I'm looking forward to the sequel. 

• Speaking of Kyle, he made me LOL at the store. He wasn't particularly interested in listening to his dear old dad and I told him he was skating on thin ice. He asked me what that meant and I told that he was doing something that was going to get him into trouble. He then told me that he better get to the "thick ice." 
• Damn it Google. I visit the page ONE time and ONE time only and know it's listed as something I frequently visit. Thanks a lot. 

• Favorite quote of the week: “If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” ― Bruce Lee 

Thanks for stopping by. Talk to you soon. 

I will persevere. I will keep moving forward. I will be the stream.

Random Acts of Shifeness - Halloween ... already?!?!?

• If you already saw this because we are pals on Facebook ... well I'm sorry. But it made me laugh and since I play well with others (at least that's what my resume says) I wanted to share with rest of my wonderful friends. Here it is: 

Do you hear the one about the unicorn and the stormtrooper that walked into a bar ... errrr .... living room?
Me either.
Yep it's only Sept. 15 and I already bought their Halloween costumes.
This shouldn't break bad at all. =)

• Anybody care to place odds on that those are the same costumes they wear in 46 days. Yes we looked up how many days until Halloween this morning. 
• Here's a better look at Hayden as a unicorn.

• And here's Kyle being Kyle because Mr. Rosewater gives me the business if I don't put some pictures of the big guy in there as well. Speaking of big guys, there's a Tank in the background.

• Speaking of Tank again, the Shifley household has puppy fever. We are looking, but it's insane what some people are asking for a basset hound puppy. Any guesses? If you said $1,000 then you are a winner.
• I'm seriously concerned that the gene pool has been thinned way too much. This was an actual 911 call: Had a lady trying to call an ambulance because she opened a package from Amazon at home and she was afraid that that her kid was about to have a major allergic reaction... From the packing Peanuts.... because the kid was allergic to peanuts, and when her kid mentioned what they were called, she freaked out. 

• More "intelligent" calls can be found here, http://www.rsvlts.com/2016/09/16/911-operators-reveal-the-dumbest-calls-theyve-ever-received/

Enjoy your weekend. Thanks for stopping by. You're the best.

I will persevere. I will keep moving forward. I will be the stream. 

Random Acts of Shifeness: Riding The Roller Coaster

• My emotions. Up and down all week. One day I feel like I got this and then a few hours later I'm wondering what the heck am I doing. Then it's "Yes this is going to be awesome" and then it's "Way to go, moron." Good times. But I know that I've made the right choice and it's going to work out. I also occasionally read some words of wisdom that my blogging friend, Val, wrote to me: Think of it this way, Matt, you have succeeded so far - work, family, etc - so think SUCCESSFUL along the next path you walk on. Always look up, never down. Good luck in everything, my friend.

• If anything, I have definitely noticed a change in Kyle. As I'm transitioning from a full-time employee to being at the house more, I have been spending more time with him instead of being at the office and it's been good for me and Bunga. I feel like we have reconnected. 
• Earlier this week at breakfast, I asked Hayden if she remembered me coming into her room and giving her a kiss good night. She said no and asked me why I gave her kiss. I told her that I watched a movie last night that reminded me of her and wanted to give her a kiss. Hayden then said "Oh my gosh. I just fell in love." Almost started blubbering right on the spot. 
• The movie in case you were wondering was "The Light Between Oceans." It was a great, horrible movie if that makes sense. Horrible because of what happens in the movie, but enjoyed it otherwise. Just really heart-wrenching material. 
• Congrats to another blogging friend, Dr. Ken, as he became a daddy. Congrats on your baby boy, buddy. Hope Mrs. Ken is doing well and enjoy not getting any sleep for about 2 years. 
• I tipped my toe back in the Facebook waters. We shall see how long it lasts. I think I should have waited until after the presidential election. 
• Have a great weekend. Hope things go your way.

I will persevere. I will keep moving forward. I will be the stream. 

I Don't Heart AT&T

• Any plans for Labor Day weekend? 
• I'm thinking I might do some of this:

• And by "nice cup of ginger tea" I mean about 72 ounces of beer and then lie down especially after I have to call AT&T ... again.
• I feel like this guy after I talk to AT&T:

• Is anyone happy with their cell phone provider? If so, let me know because I'm willing to play for another team. 
• I asked Steve Carell what he thought about AT&T's customer service. 

• I spent nearly 2 hours talking to them last weekend trying to get a problem solved. I was then told Sunday morning that my issue had been escalated and a specialist would be in touch in 3 days to take care of my problem. Any guesses on who hasn't called me back? 
• I guess they are busy taking care of their other customers.

Have a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by. Talk soon.

I will persevere. I will keep moving forward. I will be the stream. 

UPDATE:

I took to the internet and complained on Twitter directly to AT&T. We are making some progress but the verdict is still out.