Cup 'O Joe 2 Go

The Road to Personal Change

2009-04-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

I wrote a post this morning for work.life.creativity about planning a strategy for personal change.

I felt it was appropriate to post it here as well.

The Road to Personal Change

What a Week

2009-02-27T19:50:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here tonight, on the couch after one of the longest weeks in recent memory for me. It wasn't that things went wrong. I can only think of one thing that just didn't at all go as I had hoped.

But as I mentioned earlier this week, I had a really busy week ahead. I ended up having to work from the house last night until around midnight.

I am quite tired tonight. I think I may relax a little on the MacBook, and make it an early night.

Running the Gauntlet

2009-02-24T20:15:00.000-08:00

This week and the first part of the next week are going to be crazy for me. When it comes to my son, Dawson, I have one instinct...to coach. He does not know playing sports without me coaching.

So I am now into a 9 day period where ice hockey and t-ball overlap. Last night, hockey practice...it was our last practice of the season. We are prepping for our final regular season game on Saturday, and the league tournament next week. Tonight, our first t-ball meeting. Unfortunately, Barry, the guy that is helping me coach hockey, is coaching another team since there are so many kids playing this year. The draft for t-ball is Thursday night. Then on Saturday, we play a hockey game at 8am, and we will get our t-ball team together for the the first time that afternoon. Then next week is consumed with the league tournament in ice hockey.

Busy...but fun times.

A Dose of Perspective

2009-02-23T19:42:00.000-08:00

For several days, many people that I go to church with have been waiting on the results of some tests for a friend. He had lost some 30+ lbs. in just a couple of months, and no one knew why. He was a smoker...so I had a suspicion. Today, he got the news...lung cancer.

Obviously, that word automatically creates a lot of uncertainly. It also, typically, creates a lot of fear, resentment, or even anger.

However, this man amazed me as he talked to me with a smile and a positive approach from the beginning. For a full hour, he told me of how God had worked in his life. He spoke of all of the things he wants to do before he passes. He feels he has a mission to accomplish for God. He has a message to get out. He told me of people with whom he had come into contact in his previous life (before Christ), and how he was now using the change God made in him to draw them to Jesus.

He smiled as he told me about how thankful he was that God had made a difference in him. The quote that stuck with me was, "Jason, if this had happened two years ago, I would have busted hell wide open. But now I know that my last breath in this world, will be my first in heaven. Knowing that, why should I be worried about my life."

My friend starts his treatments next week.

I pray that he is allowed as much time as possible to accomplish his mission.

I also pray for a miracle to be worked in my friend's lungs.

The truth is, that God has already worked the biggest miracle of all, in his heart.

What's on Jason's Mind 16 January 2009

2009-01-16T19:55:00.000-08:00

I am glad to be able to sleep in tomorrow morning. No waking up at 5am for a hockey game.

I hope Dawson gets to feeling better. He is sleeping on the couch and is a sick little boy.

My nephew plays basketball tomorrow afternoon. Hope I can go see him play.

I am happy that Brea (our cat) is doing well after a trip to the vet today.

I need to push a couple of home projects forward tomorrow.

How cold can it get in North Alabama?

How frustrating...this cold...and no snow?

Failure to Launch!!!

2008-11-21T09:13:00.000-08:00

I have been watching eagerly for months for the release of the much vaunted BlackBerry Storm. Many of my friends have been telling me, "Why don't you just get an iPhone?" I have avoided the iPhone for a couple of different reasons...

Apple has a terrible reputation for protecting privacy. Many actions on the iPhone sends information to Apple. Information that I do not necessarily want to send to Apple.
Quite frankly, AT&T has a crappy network in my part of the country.

So I wait....

and wait...

and wait...

This phone was delayed, in part, because of the software. Apparently the OS on the Storm was very buggy. The word was that RIM and VZW wanted to get this one right up front.

Then they started sending out postcards to certain people talking of a VIP sale the week of 10 Nov. That ended up not materializing and VZW ended up with egg on their face.

Finally a solid date was announced...21 November.

The ads ramped up and the chatter had begun. Many stated that Verizon and BlackBerry pushed the date back to make sure there was no supply problem as is typical for a launch of any Verizon phone.

However, I should have known there was a problem when I noticed that the ads (which has suddenly gone in to regular rotation) disappeared as suddenly as they appeared around Tuesday of this week.

Due to a meeting, I could not go stand in line at the store to get the Storm. So I show up at VZW store 20 minutes after it opens to finally get my hands on one. Ten people are in line...and I am met at the door by the manager. "I'm sorry, sir. we are out of devices".

And apparently this is a common problem since there are widespread reports of outages...and it is not becuae of demand...it is becase of supply!!!

EPIC FAIL!!!

Then a friend of mine finds this on the web.

Verizon has a reputation for intentionally undersupplying phones on release date. Whether it was intentional or not, this will be seen as yet another failure by Verizon to properly handle customer demand.

So for the second time in less than a year, Verizon fails in its attempt to unseat the iPhone in touchscreen market. Remember how the Voyager flopped last holiday season as it was being hailed as the "iPhone killer"? Everyone was excited to see it coming...only to find out it was not even a smartphone...but basically a toy. Now BlackBerry has their run at it. And after delays, bugs and terrible marketing...early on in the game, it appears destined to be another big failure.

Early on...this looks like a route for the iPhone.

So here I am...still lugging around my gawdy Samsung i760. And have no idea when I can get a Storm.

Verizon would have been better served to have pushed launch back into the second week of December...than to allow this to happen.

The only proper thing to say at this point to Verizon and RIM is...DO BETTER.

What's on Jason's Mind?

2008-11-14T21:48:00.000-08:00

Apprehensive about the mite hockey game in the morning. I don't feel my team is prepared.

Really wishing I did not have the hockey game to coach so I could see my daughter in her gymnastics meet.

Glad the project called "Paint house & make other outdoor repairs" is actually started.

Looking forward to seeing Alabama play on TV tomorrow night. Good food, good friends, and smores!!!

Glad I had today off after the week I had.

Enjoyed sitting at Joe Muggs today with a vanilla creme frappe and my laptop.

I am really looking forward to Friday next week. Can you say "BlackBerry Storm"?

Man!!! It is getting cold out here...I am typing from my deck.

I need to go to bed...I have to get up early!!!

Tough Week for the Home Team

2008-11-14T21:22:00.000-08:00

This week has not been a good one.

Most of my troubles are at the office. I am not dissatisfied with my job or anything like that. I have just been humbled in a big way. It took a phase of my career that was quite exciting, and made it bitter sweet.

I have always taken pride in being one that is well organized, has it all in order and does not let things fall through the cracks.

Well, I just went through a stretch where I had 4 major projects cooking at once. And all of them required a different set of skills. it was great because of the of the success I had completing them. However, something was lurking underneath that destroyed all of that. You see, I also was responsible for keeping up with my original duties...my "real job". That is where the problem started.

I had allowed my inbox to go to heck among other things. Weekly reviews became more and more infrequent because of all the time I dedicated to these projects. I had let several things get away from me. Fortunately, those who are concerned about it are trying to help me rather than beat me. Yes, there are threats and ultimatums involved. None that I can't deal with. But it is still demoralizing.

The productivity guru has fallen...hard.

So...I will say it here first...My name is Jason Echols...and I am off the wagon.

So this weekend, I take inventory. And crawl back on. There are lessons to be learned from this...and that is what I intend to seize hold of first.

Silence

2008-05-22T21:46:00.000-07:00

I am not really sure what kind of phase I am in these days. I have always been one who was big on action and noise. I spend a significant amount of time listening to music while I am at work. The biggest reason is because I am attempting at least to block out unwanted noise from outside my cube.

Truth is, these days, I am spending a much more significant amount of time pursuing silence as opposed to noise. interesting thing is that I am not sure why. Maybe I am just getting older. Maybe I am just too busy and need relief. But for whatever reason, I am enjoying time out on the deck, or at my desk with the TV off.

Perhaps my mind an body are telling me that I have too much noise in my life.

Now if I could just find a pair of true noise canceling earphones...you know...the type you put on, turn on...and instant silence....without any sound at all.

Whoever can make that one work...will eventually be a rich man.

The Best Gift of Christmas

2007-12-24T13:28:00.000-08:00

This Christmas has flown by. The season is flying by so fast, that times of reflection have been few.

So as things begin to settle down this afternoon in our house. I think I am the most thankful for my wife pulling out an old recipe that my mother used to make. Those that know me well know that my mother passed a little over ten years ago. She had a recipe that she made a few times a year called "Nuts and Bolts". It was basically a mixture of cheerios, Corn Chex, and pretzel sticks with this great sauce baked in.

It was a delicacy that I had not tasted since a year or two before she passed. I have always missed it, especially at Christmas time.

A couple of nights ago, my wife surprises me by asking me to help her in the kitchen...something I should do more often, but it is a rarity for her to ask. She showed me that she had obtained the recipe and laid out the ingredients for the sauce. I actually mixed it myself. We worked together to cook it over a two hour period, stirring every 15 minutes.

I has quite happy with my other gifts. However, I must say that this gift from my past meant more to me this Christmas than any other gift I received.

Mary Winkler and a New Media Agenda

2007-09-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

This morning as I sipped my coffee and check into what might have happened in the world last night as I slept, I read a headline that sent off a red light in my head. It appears that the preacher's wife who pretty much got a free pass for murdering her husband (Remember? She popped off a shotgun in his back.) will be appearing on Oprah soon.

Part of her defense was that she was abused by her husband. Let's remember, they could not even get the kids to agree that mommy was abused either verbally or physically. But she did get a psychologist to say in court that she was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder because of the alleged abuse.

That got her a slap on the hand for murder.

Now, she is trying to play the victim card again in an attempt to get custody of her children. Her appearance on Oprah is a part of the PR campaign that is now underway to help her succeed in that effort.

The problem I have with all of this is that Matthew Winkler will now have his character assassinated all over again...and for exactly what purpose?

Mary's purpose is obvious. She wants to try to hit the reset button on her life. She wants to basically go back to the way it was...but this time without Matthew...for whatever reason.

But what is Oprah's agenda?

Oprah is up to what she is always up to. She is excited about the prospect of putting Matthew Winkler on trial. Why? First, because he is a man, and second, because he represents a Christian faith that the media jumps at any opportunity to misrepresent or discredit.

I guess in the end, both will get what they are after...that is, unless common sense awakens from its slumber and steps in to save the day...and perhaps while she is at it, she can save Mary Winkler's children from their own mom.

The Mining Disaster and the Media

2007-08-08T19:41:00.000-07:00

If you have been watching the news in the last three days, you are most likely aware of the grave situation in Utah. I personally see little hope in them finding the trapped miners alive. However, they appear to be exhausting every effort to save them in the case they are. And that...is as it should be.

As I was reading today trying to catch up with the story, I ran across this quote from Bob Murray, the Chairman of the Murray Energy Corporation, that made me think.

It seems to me the media's more concerned about trying to place blame than they are about the families and the actual rescue effort underground.

I stopped reading there and thought about the little coverage I had looked at. Murray has a point. The media seems to be pitting seismologists against the mining company. Did a quake cause the collapse? I am not sure we will ever know. Something obviously registered @ 3.9. There is a dispute over whether it was actually an earthquake, or the collapse itself that caused the reading.

Lost in all of this is the fact that there are 6 miners trapped 1,500 feet underground, and have been for 3 days now. No one can even say whether they are alive or not. If there is blame for the mine collapsing to go around...trust me...it will find its rightful place in time.

But it seems these days that in almost every story that hits the wire, the first thing the media attempts to do is assign blame. Perhaps that is a natural part of our litigation happy society. Today, if something unfortunate happens to someone, someone else has to pay. Hire a lawyer, sue their pants off.

But is justice really served when a case is tried on 24/7 news channels and in the courtroom of public opinion?

Let's find the miners first. Then we can worry about how it happened. Then if there is negligence (which the media appears to be alleging), let the lawyers sort it out.

I hope there is a miracle. I hope to see six men rescued. The odds are certainly not good. But isn't that really what we should be focused on at this time?

Signing on/The Beckham Media Circus

2007-07-20T22:03:00.000-07:00

Hello, Friends.

I have opened this blog to create an outlet to share my thoughts on things that are going on in the world. I am not limiting my musings to politics, or current events. I my just vent about anything here. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Today I read a column on Page 2 on ESPN.com about Victoria Beckham and the PR machine that has kicked in as she and Becks hit the ground running in LA. This column seems to paint Victoria as somewhat paranoid and quite dense. I understand, however, that ESPN believes that their God-given mission is to smear people in order to make a story. If you do not believe me, look at the new movie business that the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" has ventured into in recent years. So the idea that ESPN would be first in line to knock the Beckhams as soon as they get off the plane at LAX is not surprising.

I am a soccer fan. So I know more than the average bear in the U.S. about the Beckhams having watched Becks play for Manchester United and Real Madrid. I have a hard time seeing how this couple is happy. They seem to live their own separate lives in many ways. A couple of years ago, there was a major controversy in Spain about an alleged affair Becks had with his assistant. I really don't think anything was ever really established in terms of truth, but the damage was done publicly.

Here is the problem Posh faces. She needs Becks to keep herself on the front page. Without him or the Spice Girls, she has no hope of remaining in the limelight. Her music career as a soloist has been a big flop.

Unfortunately, this marriage has made a casualty out of David's soccer career. His focus for many years has been on the glam lifestyle she fed to him. Soccer began to take a back seat. Eventually, Sir Alex Ferguson got to the point where he began to challenge David to show more passion for his game. It turned into a tabloid war between not David, but Posh, and Ferguson.

Things were not much better in Madrid. His skills are only a shadow of his best days in the late 90s at United. He has recovered some of his form in recent months...in large part because he wanted to get back on the England squad. But David's deteriorating game is what opened the door for him to be a part of MLS. The game is slower and less skilled. He knew he would be a star here, instead of riding a bench in Europe.

So now the media circus has arrived in LA...a place that is used to such madness.

For me, I think that he would still be a legend at United had he never let the glam lifestyle take the place of football in his life. Ask Englanders. For them (and they can provide examples), Beckham's career is a waste.