Bicycle Safety

I had an emotional breakdown on the bike trail yesterday. I would like to think that I'm not one to do that sort of thing, but I simply couldn't help myself.

It all began in a Chicago rush-hour traffic jam, then was excalated when an inconsiderate car almost knocked me off of my bike, which shook me up quite a bit - I kept riding because it was gorgeous weather and I figured I would recover quick enough. However, riding while nervous and shakey is not a good idea, so 3 miles later I almost crashed into Ryan, which helped me decide that I was turning around. I didn't think I should push it by riding until I actually hurt myself or learned first hand why I wear a helmet, so I told Ryan that I was turning around.
Then, on my way back home I nearly biffed a squirrel ... which simply pushed me over the edge.
Luckily I made it, and stayed safely in my house for the remainder of the evening.

Read this article if you are a biker "How to Not Get Hit by Cars - Important Lessons in Bicycle Safety"

Read this article if you drive a car, "Advice to a Motorist - How To Pass a Cyclist"

Glass, Metal, Rubber

Have I mentioned today that Tim Sanders is brilliant? Yes, he is. I just finished his book "The Likeability Factor," but that's not what I want to share with you today ...
Today I would like to share with you some thoughts from Tim's recent blog post. Go to www.sanderssays.com to read the whole thing.

In the last few years, I've started to use a pretty simple system of defining each action item as if it were made of one of three things: Glass, Metal and Rubber.

If I drop an action item made of glass, something gets broken. It has a guaranteed negative outcome not to do it.

If I drop and action item made of metal, nothing gets broken -- but there will be plenty of noise and maybe even a dent claimed.

If I drop an action item made of rubber, it will will probably bounce either back to the tasker or to the right person. This is probabaly and action item that is either silly or not my role.

THIS GUY is horrifying.

My advice is to FLEE as fast as you can!

REEL DATING

Granger started it's REEL DATING series over the weekend! They're also starting MERGE, a group for college students. There is something incredible about a church that has it's finger on the pulse of the culture. (Im a teensy bit biased...)

Click HERE to watch the service!

I Love Ryan SO MUCH!

Where's Amber?

In one week Ryan and I will be off to Grand Rapids for the month. Ryan is doing an "away rotation" at DeVos Children's Hospital to see if he likes the program, the area, the staff, etc., which will help him in the decision-making process of choosing a residency program.

I'm heading to Phoenix with Dawn for the MinistryCOM Conference on September 6-7th, I can't wait!

A few weeks later we head back home to Granger for the Innovative Church Conference, which includes the first ever GCC Film Festival on Day 1 ... really pumped about this one

After that, its back to the Windy City!

Thanks Mark Waltz for prompting the idea for this post!!

Have you ever seen anything more precious than these tiny albino pigmy monkeys?


Or ... they might give you nightmares. Im not sure what to think.

Click HERE to read more about them.

Name Games

Apparently with a little googling I was able to track down quite a few people who share my name. Thanks Tim, for prompting this posting with your last comment...

Amber Cox - The basketball playing 6'2" Freshman Forward at Ranchero Verde HS

Amber Cox - The Lawyer who presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Will County Habitat for Humanity.

Amber Cox - The Senior at GeorgiaTech (and her boyfriend?)

Amber Cox - The 6 year old actress who played "Lancaster Girl" in "The Lancaster Miller Affair" (1990) (mini) TV Series

Amber Cox - The 2 year old girl who prompted "Amber's Army"

Amber Cox - The Northern State Softball player

Amber Cox - Who you met in my last post

And finally, me ... Amber Cox - formerly Amber Beeson married to Ryan Cox and loving every minute of it.

Amber Cox

Amber Cox recently commented on my blog. She said that she was googling herself and came across my site. Isn't it interesting to think that there may be someone else with your same exact name?!?! Isn't it a bit frightening to know that someone else could be affecting your personal brand in one way or another simply because he or she shares your name? Luckily, this name sharer of mine seems like a pretty cool knitting & traveling chick.

I'm Scott's Friend...as you can see on my nametag.

Scott Ginsberg, That Guy with the nametag...
This guy really is making a difference in the world. He is making people friendlier everywhere he goes by wearing a nametag 24/7 ... as you can see from the picture. I had the privelege of meeting with him today, on his 2,121 day wearing a name tag.

His newest book, "How To Be That Guy" has too many great insights to share. It's one of those "new hi-lighter ran out of ink" types of reads. I suggest you click & BUY IT right now.

"That Guy" is somebody who reminds everybody of nobody else. I want to be that guy!

more later...

"Follow me and I will make you fishers of men" Luke 5

...and on your free time, go ahead and catch some walleye.

Quote of the Day

"May you live all the days of your life."
Jonathan Swift

CHECK OUT Influential Church #14 !!

Finally! Proof That You Are Really Awesome!

This is great! Amazingly, the guy who thought of this one is going to make a million dollars by next Tuesday.

For $1 you can sign up to be one of the million AWESOMEST people on the internet. I noticed that Seth Godin signed himself up, and so did Scott the Nametag Guy ... and Im thinking I probably will too. Your business, your church, your husband, even your kids can now be awesome~! Just go to www.isreallyawesome.com, but hurry, there are only 999,665 awesome spots left on the internet.

If I could just think of something this brilliant...
thinking....
thinking....

Killing of Problem Geese OK'd

According to THIS Associated Press article, a new rule went into effect last week which allows the killing of geese without a permit!

"The geese are attracted to mowed and fertilized grass, which is why they tend to gather at golf courses, airports and parks."

Click HERE for a list of methods to rid yourself of problem geese.

Throughout my life I have met many many people who are sick and tired of geese on their lawns. As a small child I remember watching my Papaw hootin'and hollerin' at the geese who seemed to always be on his grass at the lake. I know my father-in-law (who is known for keeping a meticulous manicured lawn) has attempted to scare them off of his lawn with a large plastic owl, a white wire fence between the water and the grass, letting Rudy the dog out whenever they come around, and even recruiting his own sons to run the geese off. Ryan and I spent our week vacation at the lake this summer, and Ryan was infuriated by the geese on a continual basis. We rarely completed an entire meal without the disruption of geese, slowly making thier way toward our lawn. Ryan (as if he had eyes in the back of his head) was able to sense them coming, and a few times we turned the boat around and went back to the dock because we were certain the geese had returned ... and we were right!

I am guessing THIS ARTICLE should make many of the world's geese-haters very happy.

Ive Been Tagged!

I didn't realize that this blog thing could turn into the whole "chain letter" / "friendship bread" / "keep the line alive or die" type of thing ... but because it was Tim Steven's who tagged me, I will gladly participate.

One book that changed your life: Visioneering by Andy Stanley

One book that you've read more than once: Being Good to your Husband on Purpose by Becky Hunter

One book that you'd want on a desert island: I'm taking my Bible ...I don't know about the rest of you!

One book that made you laugh: The Productive Narcissist by Michael Maccoby

One book that made you cry: I can't decide between my 9th grade math book & The O'Malley Series By Dee Henderson

One book that you wish had been written: "Building Positivity" By Mark Beeson

One book that you wish had never been written: A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

One book you are currently reading: The Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury

One book you've been meaning to read: Multiple Streams of Income: How to Generate a Lifetime of Unlimited Wealth byRobert G. Allen

Tag 5 Others: I'm in the blogging sandbox now so I want to play by the rules. So let's go with Kem Meyer, Katie Holt, Scott the Nametag Guy, Lisa DeSelm & John Keim

My Sleeping Disorder

Im pretty sure I've got a sleeping disorder.

No, Im not sleeping too much or too little...The problem is that I keep sleeping with my arms above my head! This causes serious pain upon waking and realizing that I did it again! I don't even know that I'm doing it, then I wake up with shoulder agony. It started about a month ago. Ryan laughed at me at first, but then night after night seeing me sleeping with my arms above my head made him worry. I asked him to put them down if he ever woke up and noticed I was doing it. I have tried making a conscous effort NOT to put my arms above my head, but once I fall asleep I seem to have no control over them.

If anyone has advice, please feel free to share.

Laptop Inferno

Computer maker Dell has recalled more than 4 million computers after several reports surfaced about the PCs bursting into flames. Dell claims that the "rare" problem occurs because of a malfunction with the computers' Sony-made batteries.

This guy has a great story about how a Dell Laptop set his truck on fire...with the help of the ammo in his glovebox. Read an article HERE and click on his picture to launch the video.

outweighed

Its official. Experts have reported that the world's population now has more people who are overweight than people who are hungry. According to recent research, there are more than 1 billion overweight people on earth compared to 800 million who are undernourished.

THIS ARTICLE gives more insight into fixing the problem, including an idea to charge $ per calorie that a food item has. That would certainly inspire me to choose a healthier, low calorie snack at the food court

in my mind right now...

• Gas seems more expensive when driving 120 miles per day.
• I wish I would have known that my Marshall Fields points would not transfer over to Macy's so that I could have used them prior the the change.
• My canvas closet fell over this morning and woke me from a dead sleep. That can be irritating.
• I need to pay the rent.
• We bought Ryan the most classic 1984 Casio watch that man has ever known. It is so blogworthy that I will have to take a picture of it because it deserves its own post.
• I haven't spent enough time laying in the sun this summer.
• Tomorrow Ryan and I get to go with our friends Scott & Lisa to the Tigers / Sox game.
• mmmmm ... chicken for dinner again.
• My contacts really should be changed every two weeks. I know this because I can hardly make out what I am typing right now.

Two By Two

Here is a picture of our Calvary 2x2 Womens Bible Study group.

We've been utilizing Michelle's chocolate fountain and reading Aunt Becky's book "Being Good To Your Husband On Purpose" and really loving it. (Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us Aunt Becky!)

Nicole and I are inthe front row, Pam, Dea, Michelle, Brittany, Newt & her kids DJ & Thomas in the 2nd row, and in the back from Left to Right you can see Heather, Carrie, and Melissa. What a crew!

The Leadership Summit!

This years Willow Creek Leadership Summit was one of my favorites yet. Why? You ask, well, because Bono was one of the featured speakers of course!

The following are some of my favorite quotes from some of my favorite speakers.

Bill Hybels - "Willow World"

James Meeks - "Everything that is planted is supposed to grow. What's up with your church?"

Andy Stanley - "The best leadership decision I ever made was the day I decided to cheat my church instead of cheating my family."

Peg Neuhauser - "Use language as a tool, not a weapon."

Ashish Nanda - "When people leave an organization, they leave as ambassadors of that organization."

Jim Collins - "Leadership only exists when people follow, but have the option of not following."

Bono - "Duality is the nark of great art. perhaps that's what's missing from Christian art." "Chill Out" & "Stop asking God to bless what you're doing. Find what God is doing because it's already blessed."

Patrick Lencioni - "Don't make the perfect the enemy of the good."

Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.

Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.

Friendly Advice

A few weeks ago my friend Michelle and I had a heart to heart while laying on the beach. We were talking about life, marriage, jobs, the future, and then we got on the topic of friendships. It took me two years in chicago to really make some great friends, and half of those have since moved away from chicago. This is such a transitional city, people are always moving here, staying for a year or two and then moving on. This realization came to me when I got an invitation to a "Stability Party" celebrating a friend living in the same apartment for two whole years.

None of this is an excuse ... because I know that in another year we will most likely be leaving the City as well. Inspite of this fact, I recently made a conscious decision to make some new friends. Michelle helped me realize that moving in a year is not a good reason to not make new friends. She is so smart. Ryan and I got involved with the 2x2 group at church for young / newly married couples. Then I started going with Michelle to the women's bible study on Wednesday nights. In just a few short weeks I have made quite a few new friends. The girls in Bible Study with me are so great and have been such an encouragement. Praying for people makes you love them. I am not wasting another day without making a new friend.

I am taking Michelle's Friendly Advice with me everytime we move in the future.

Carson & Nicole

Family Grill night was a huge success this week. Ryan's choice flank steak didn't leave much room on the grill for anything else, but we managed. Nicole made an incredible salad and Michelle is a pro at corn-on-the-cob. The men left with full bellies, which is always the main goal.

Ryan is Famous

Check out this shot of Dr. Ryan on the website that hilights Loyola's Pediatrics Residency Program! If I saw his picture, I would want to do my residency at Loyola!

Exciting News! Ryan got accepted to do his Pediatric Pulmonary rotation at DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids! We will be living with a wonderful family in GR for the month of September and Ryan will be checking the hospital and the program to see if he wants to do his residency there.

After that, its back to Chicago to finish out his final year as a medical student! Life is so exciting!

Can I borrow your sunscreen?

This beach is a tad crowded ... even for me!

Strange News

N.H. Woman Bakes Cookies on Dashboard
BEDFORD, N.H. - Blistering heat was just what Sandi Fontaine needed to bake cookies for her co-workers _ on the dash of her Toyota Rav4.

Woman Gets Stuck on Toilet, Suffers Burns
Investigators said they believe someone placed a cement compound on the toilet seat in the restroom at the Mall of the Bluffs.

Police Arrest Man After Nunchuks Threat
Slemmons then challenged the detective to a fight and pulled out nunchuks, police records show.

Schwarzenegger to Play Pingpong Champion
"He should practice a bit," said Byng Forsberg, who has won nearly every table tennis trophy available to the senior set. "It'd be nice to have the ball go back and forth a few times."

Welcome Nicole & Carson!

I don't have a picture of them yet, but they are officially moved into our house! Carson has been here for a couple of weeks, but Nicole just got here last night. Amazingly, she arrived in the middle of a down-pour / power outtage...so the family grill-out that we had planned was postponed and we all went to Baja Fresh for some delightful burritos. First Bryan and Michelle moved in, and now Carson and Nicole!

We love our friends.

Viral Marketing

This billboard has been buzzing in Chicago. For days people haven't been sure if it is real or fake, but this morning on The Mix 101.9 I heard that its an ad for a new CourtTV show called Parco P.I. sick.

Bono at Leadership Summit

"Bono, lead singer of the rock band U2 and TIME magazine's 2005 Person of the Year, will be featured in an hour-long exclusive interview at The Leadership Summit"

You may already know that I am a big fan of Bono, so when I first read THIS ARTICLE I was so excited and immediately decided that I would need to be on-site at Willow to hang out with Bono at The Leadership Summit instead of watching him from a satellite site...but then I learned from my friend Tim at Aspire!One that it will simply be a video of Bono, which is not nearly as exciting.

That Guy With The Nametag CALLED ME!

So, this morning at work I have been researching "What's Out There" who's talking about branding, is there a rising demand? What conferences/events should the Aspire!One team know about, who should we be connecting with? Etc. etc. etc.

As part of my research I decided to send an email to Scott Ginsberg, That Guy who has worn a nametag 24/7 for 2100 days and has become famous because of it. Maybe you remember me blogging about him in the past. Anyway, his whole deal is making the world a friendlier place, approachability, and personal branding...so I thought it fit. My email asked him what his schedule was and if he would be in the Chicago area anytime soon. A minute later the phone at work rang and it was Scott, just calling me back to let me know that he will be in town on the 21st and could meet for lunch on Wednesday afternoon. Talk about customer service! GREAT! What a superb team event! A lunch with That Guy With The Nametag!