JohnMassie.com

Good Evening Everyone,
So, I’ve been looking at the blog stats and feed stats. I also added a sitemeter tracker. I’m look at 600+ hits. Well, only Hope, Jennifer, and KG have posted comments. I think it is high time that all you readers who read this step up in the spot light and leave a comment with your name and who you are (and if you don’t know me, how you found the blog and why you read). So, take the few minutes, and post a comment to this post, introducing yourself!

It’s been a long week, more on that later.

Night,
- J -

… I found I like WordPress MUCH more than I do Xanga. I wanted to post on here, to move my name to the top of the list of my subscribers so for the few who missed the update, I’m no longer using this as a blog.

It also amazes me at the hits I’ve been getting. In one month I’m almost up to 600 hits. So, I have a feeling I have a few new readers. Maybe they’ll reveal themselves, who knows. I’ve seen a few of my former Xanga friends post comments on my new blog, so that was comforting that they survived the change… lol.

Well, for the life update, read the other blog, this is just a simple, “I’m alive and read my new blog” post.

See you at www.johnmassie.com

Later,
– J -

This was the question a friend proposed to me today at work. We were idly discussing life and the journey we’ve both walked thus far, and he mentioned that there are many different “What ifs…” that one could consider. It made me think about how one decision different could change my entire life. Even decisions that aren’t so “huge”, they effect your life in huge ways.

Let’s take one decision in my life, the high school I attended. I changed schools my Sophomore year. Because of this…
I changed schools – then – I got my first job in IT – then – I graduated a year early – then – worked on a career in IT for a year before college – then – got my job at Unisys / Ashland – then – met my real estate agent – then – started college – then – purchased a house – then – re-united with a co-worker who left and came back – then – began dating his daughter…. and the list could go on and on.

If you think about it, if I would have stayed at that school, I wouldn’t be 1/10 of where I am today. I would also probably have a different major in college, go to a different college and know an entire different set of people. I wouldn’t have attended most of the churches I attended in the past few years, including the one where I attend now. I guess like my friend at work said, “It must be a God thing.”

Lately as I’ve gotten older and walked longer with God I always wondered why He has taken me so far and so many different places, when it comes to churches. I don’t know why, but with Church, I’ve always gone where I felt God wanted me. I must admit that when I began attending Highland Baptist here in Grove City I didn’t know what God was doing. Then I came to church and heard a sermon that our Music Minister, David Thomas, preached. He inspired me to write him and let him know how blessed I was for that sermon. I shared a part of my testimony with him over e-mail and it was from there that God began His beautiful work.

I was welcomed with open arms into the Choir (in which, yes, even being 19, I enjoy singing in). It was also discovered that I knew a thing or two about Church Media Arts. I am now working with those teams on the Sundays that I’m not in the choir. It is amazing how many people I’ve met at this church and how they all have a desire to know who I am and actually want to carry on a conversation with me. So many churches I’ve been in, the only reason people know me, is because what I can do for their ministry or what I’m doing for the church, not just to know who I am. So, I commend Highland for their welcoming spirit that I’ve received since I began attending. I only pray that God has His way in my life and especially as I work with this church.

In closing, I want to offer a word of encouragement to those that maybe aren’t feeling so great…
“Jesus answered them…. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
- John 16:32-33 (The Message)

I have to remind myself of that scripture many times. That we, as Christians, need to take heart, for Jesus has conquered the world! Why do we continue to worry and beat ourselves up over trivial things, when the God that we serve, has already conquered this world. Just something to think about next time, when you feel that God wouldn’t understand and doesn’t help you…

God Bless,
- J -

So, as you all know I've embarked on the journey of living on your own. To add to the fun: I purchased a house instead of renting an apartment, I moved out at 19, with nothing but a computer (or three), TV, bed, dresser, desk, and car to my name. So far I'm sure you've all seen the improvements with the new guest bathroom I did. Well, the rest of the house has been a WIP (work in progress). Tonight I 90% finished two other areas of the house.

1. The bathroom I posted pics of earlier this week, for KG, is now more complete. Today I went to Target and Bed Bath and Beyond to find some more stuff for the bathroom. I've added a towel storage tower, chrome towel rack\toilet paper holder\hand towel holder, candle, toilet accessories and hung up the old (not so great) mirror until I find a new one. The only thing I have to do is deep clean the floor, hang the picture frames, and find that new mirror. I also would like to get a new shower head and something decorative to put on the new shelves. Thanks to KG for the idea, it came out just like she said it would!

2. The foyer has been empty for sometime now. So, tonight I went to Target and purchased a table for it. I then took some candle holders I had (which I found FREE when walking in KG's neighborhood) and a frame that my mom got me for Christmas and placed it on the table. Now, all I need is to buy a lamp for the table, hang the frame on the wall, and get a plant for the corner. I believe this is also something that KG saw at Target one time that she pointed out to me.

So, here are the pics… Enjoy! (Flickr has the complete sets).

Goodnight All,
- J

Hey All,
So, here is the dealio. I had some "people" "help" paint my master bathroom. They, well… um… didn't do such a great job. So this past weekend Hope was so gracious enough to help me re-paint the design on the walls. This time I measured the stripes and scored them off. Well, this time it came out THE WAY KG MEANT IT TO BE. So, just for KG here are some pics of the bathroom. The link to the photos are at the bottom!
Oh, and now you can leave me alone about the bathroom!
See ya' all,
-J

New Master Bathroom Set

"It's just another manic Monday. I wish it was Sunday, 'Cause that's my funday, My I don't have to runday. It's just another manic Monday."
- The Bangles

Here is my day so far. I drove to the office in the normal morning rush hour fashion. Our newly implemented call tracking server, is slow and/or down. So I'm slowly waiting on this thing to come up so I can see what calls I need to take care of today. That is where I am at.

So, this weekend I managed to fix the paint in the master bathroom (pictures coming soon), clean out the garage, pull weeds, do laundry and other various odds and ends. The house is finally coming together. I should have the house complete by July 4th Weekend (which is about two weeks from this past weekend). 

Well, I think, just maybe, this system is coming up with the info I need, so I'm going to get off here and hopefully get some work done.

Later,
- J -

So, I hadn't looked in the mirror this morning and then I was walking by the bathroom and something happened to catch my eye. I really don't normally have bed head, but this was pretty funny, so I took a picture…

So, if anyone caught my IM away messages, I'm sure you saw I was out on a date. So, I'll give a quick run down.

I drove to Beth's house and picked her up. We went out to Dakota's Steakhouse and had dinner and chatted. After that we headed for the movie theater and watched Disney's new movie "Cars". Very cute and funny movie, I recommend go seeing it. Then I took her home and I sat and talked with her and her family until 1:30 and then drove home. Beth and I really hadn't got to talk to each other before this date, so that was really cool to get to know her. She's an awesome girl and it looks like a second date is in order. I'm still on cloud 9 that I wasn't a complete idiot and ruin the date. I did, however, give her permission to slug me if I wasn't a gentleman, but she didn't seem too worried.

So maybe everyone will be happy now that they won't hear me complain about being single. I think I'm going to her brother's baseball game tomorrow, so maybe I'll bring my camera and upload pics to flickr. We shall see, I guess.

Just wanted to post so all those avid readers hanging on the edge of their seat wanting to know how it went, would get their update.

Night,
- John

So, tonight I went back to my old stomping grounds, Circleville. I met up with one of my best friends, Brian. We had dinner and then went out and were talking in the parking lot. I was showing him all the “toys” that the Altima had and he jokingly asked me if he could drive it. Now, you see, I’ve known Brian since before he was driving. I once let him drive my Grand Am about a half a block on a country road. So, I looked at him and told him he could drive it. He made me laugh we drove around the old walmart parking lot there in Circleville. Then we went back to the parking lot and talked for about 2 hours. It was good to catch up and see what is going on with both of our lives.

I feel so old though. He’s done turned 18 on me and graduated from High School. I remember meeting Brian. We were at Nipgen Youth Camp and he was this kid who shaved his head bald and kept talking to me. Later that summer he showed up at a Camp Meeting I was working at and he recognized me but I didn’t him, since he let his hair grow out. I remember thinking to myself, “Who is this kid walking up to me? Oh… WAIT… that’s the bald kid from camp.” We talked and from that point on, we became friends.

Never, in my life, have I had such a good friend as Brian. We met when he was 15 and I was 16. Three, almost four, years later… we’re still friends. We live almost two hours apart and his cell phone (or any cell phone for that matter) doesn’t work at his house, we both have jobs and school, yet we’ve remained friends for all ths time. Even when I left the church where he currently attends, and being known as someone who speaks to me, let alone be my friend, was NOT a popular thing… He stood up for me, no matter who or what was said to him. We’ve almost gone a year without seeing each other in person, and we’re still friends. So, if he ever makes his way to a computer and reads this, thanks Brian.

So, that would be my day. I’m going to get off here, load the dishwasher, clean the kitchen, watch very little TV and then go to bed.

Night,
- J

So, I have decided to join the VOIP crowd. I decided that I needed a home phone and I began looking into getting one. Well, from my understanding this was the cost breakdown:

1. Local Land Line Phone – $41.00 (no long distance)
2. WOW! Phone – $39.99 + Tax and Fees
3. TimeWarner Digital Phone – $39.99 + Tax and Fees + Switching Cable Providers
4. VONAGE VOIP – $24.99

So, I was thinking, I've seen the silly commercial enough, why not look into Vonage. So I went to their website and looked into their features and was more than pleased when I saw what they had to offer. So, I went over to BestBuy after work to buy a new wireless router and stopped to look at the VOIP area and see what they had to offer. They had the VTech VOIP Adapter with Two Handsets for a good price (after mail-in-rebate, of course). So I picked it up and checked out.

I got it home and after a short sign up process, I got my 614 phone number and I'm on my merry way. I've tested it tonight and I really like the sound quality. I'm extremely pleased. So, expect to be getting an e-mail from me in the near future containing the new phone number.

Well, I'm going to jet. I got work to do before I go to bed.

Night,
- J -