Massaging Defeat into Triumph

Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, NPR’s oddly informative news quiz show had a quiz question dealing with a $70,000 dog vacation at Paw Seasons that includes a “massage”. Two of the panelists, Jessi Klein and Alonzo Bodden put themselves in the place of the person giving the dog massage. Here’s the slightly massaged transcript.

JESSI KLEIN: I always just think about the person who has to massage a dog and just - I think about them just seeing their whole life right in front of them the whole time. It’s like, how am I massaging a dog? Like, I’m the one who has to - like the dog is getting the massage. I’m massaging the dog. The dog’s on vacation. I’m working. I am massaging a dog.

  

ALONZO BODDEN: I’ve always thought that that’s like the greatest con in the world that you sold - somebody’s paying you to massage a dog. Like people pet dogs all day long. But I’m not - no, I’m not petting your dog, I’m massaging your dog. And that’s going to cost you $500 an hour.

  

KLEIN: So you think they’re happy?

 

BODDEN: They’re happy because you only sell that service to a rich person. Nobody’s saving up money to get the dog massaged.

Audio Clip

Which outlook do you take with your work? Do you focus on the work you have to do or the reward you are getting?

  

Our family has a stock response to the whine tinged question, “Do I HAVE to?” It is always: “You don’t HAVE to, you GET to!” followed with a explanation of why it was a joy and privilege to do the chore, go on an outing, do school homework, attend church, or just be together with family.

  

I know this response cut down on the whining in the children’s younger years but I didn’t know it stuck. My daughter, now corrects her 6th grade questioners the same way she was. 

  

I hope you get to help others massage defeat into triumph, see the rewards in the work and privilege when others only see responsibility.

  

Resuming My Résumé

Starting to look for employment in Carson City or Reno/Sparks Nevada. Here (minus contact info) is some information about my training, experience, and work history. I hope family and friends along with some potential employers will appreciate it being available here.

Any help is welcome!

General Résumé

Computer Focused Résumé updated June 2016

Faith Statement

PIF for previous to 2015 church service

Here is the last annual report from the church I served in Ohio. (Not your usual text heavy report, it is primarily photos,)

Christy Ramsey Day

The good folks from Akron Kiwanis arranged to give me this at the April Kiwanis meeting:

Christy Ramsey Day Proclamation

Proclamation

To The People of Akron:

Whereas: Christy Ramsey has been an outstanding member of the Kiwanis Club of Akron since 2007. During his short history with Kiwanis, he has made an indelible and positive impact on the historic service organization, founded in 1916. Christy was Kiwanian in Indiana before moving to Akron. Christy is dynamic and people-oriented. His leadership, vision, can do attitude and motivational skills have all played a key role in moving the Cub forward in the face of many challenges; and

Whereas: Christy’s vital attributes have served him extremely well in his roles as Past President of the Club, President of the Club Foundation, member of the Board of Trustees and his work on many important committees. Christy never hesitates to go above and beyond the call of duty. He strives to serve the best interests of the Club and its high mission of Serving the Children of Akron and the World; and

Whereas: Christy’s technical skills have helped bring the Club into the computer-age of communications. His expertise in the area has helped create one of the most attractive and user-friendly websites in the Ohio Kiwanis District. The website has provided a showcase for Christy’s photographic work as well as the Club Newsletter; and

 Whereas: This warm, compassionate, devoted Presbyterian minister and his lovely wife, Bette Lynn, will be departing soon from Akron for Carson City, Nevada, for new challenges and opportunities. The Akron community and his Kiwanian friends will miss his many contributions.

 Now, Therefore: I, Donald L. Plusquellic, Mayor of the City of Akron, Ohio, do hereby proclaim, Thursday, April 4, 2013, as:

“CHRISTY RAMSEY DAY”

in the City of Akron and thank him for making Akron a better place to live and honor him as an exemplary citizen and Kiwanian.

In Witness Whereof: I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Akron to be affixed hereto this 4^th day of April, 2013.

Donald L. Plusquellic

Mayor

City of Akron

 Thanks Mayor and Kiwanians!

 * I corrected where I was President previously to Indiana in the first paragraph and corrected the spelling of Bette Lynn’s name the last “Whereas”.

UNCO is Church

I was a guest blogger on the unconference website:

 The first Unconference in 2010 was a spiritual life preserver thrown to me on a sea of tweets. I grabbed it and haven’t let go.

I struggle with the challenges of the institutional church, moving through church pastorates and decades of decline always 30 years younger than the congregation as we grow old together.

In UNCO a found a church built of people seeking to find how God is reflected in others, not in budgets to raise and buildings to preserve. Folks gathered their spirits and strengths and gently held together each other at the broken parts….

…read the rest at unco.us

All Ends But Love

1 Corinthians 13 by wordle.net Love is a mystery wrapped in an enigma tied with a riddle.

Here is the audio portion of the message Only Love Does Not End recorded on Sunday, Feburary 3, 2013 about what to do after everything ends.

 A different take on the wedding scripture about love, 1 Corinthians 13.