StacieGonzalez.com

My blog is moving again! Yea, I know this is probably getting old.

I will now be hosting on squarespace.com.

You can now find my blog at www.istacie.com

Update your bookmarks and RSS feeds peeps!

It’s here!

Follow Pastor Troy on Twitter throughout the Leadership Summit. Also, be sure to check out the Potential Blog for the latest notes and happenings throughout the next two days.

I haven’t written a Meltdown in a while. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever written a mid-week Meltdown.

-This has been/will be a crazy week!
-I had finals this week. Took my last final tonight and got an A. Yay. Summer semester is now over! Double yay!
-All the construction in my house is driving me crazy. New tile has been installed. That means my Dad and I start painting Thursday after the Summit.
-It’s been cool collaborating with Miguel on the Potential project for the Leadership Summit. I’ve learned some lessons in the background while working on this.
-I love coming home and seeing my dog waiting for me at the door.
-Haven’t had the opportunity to read since last Thursday. Hoping I’ll be able to catch up this weekend.
-I have a handful of awesome friends that are great listeners. Thanks for hearing me out.
-I’m coming to the end of my I-can-go-to-bed-late-and-still-function cycle and entering my I-need-to-be-in-bed-early cycle. These cycles fluctuate frequently.
-Realized yesterday that we’re in August. It just sneaks up on ya!
-I have a love/hate relationship with my iPhone.
-Working on some cool changes for my blog.

Can somebody decode this for me? LOL

Check out what I found! Readers that went to high school with me know what this is. It’s a bracelet! Made out of a UTP network cable and an RJ-45 connector. Do I know how to accessorize or what?!

On the flip side, if you’re not interested in zombies and find yourself set up on a zombie blind date by your friends here are some tips:

-Some people taste better than others. Hopefully you were wearing heavy perfume or cologne that day to give you that nasty alcohol taste.

-Zombies gossip. Ever notice that zombies don’t talk yet if one spots you you’re outnumbered within minutes? Word get’s around fast somehow. So don’t share with your zombie date the story about that time you did that thing at that place in front of all those people.

-Zombies are ALWAYS hungry. Guys, if you get stuck with a zombie date your best bet would be to take her to the $5 Chinese Buffet.

Any other tips?

So I’ve been getting a few text messages from my friends wondering how my paper is coming along. As of 4:43pm this afternoon this is how it’s coming along.

Don’t lecture me!!!! I still have a few days to finish….

Do you know what I did this afternoon? If you followed me on Twitter then you would. I went couch shopping today. Exciting right? It was actually more eventful then I expected. I went to 3 different stores and got 3 totally different experiences.

Store #2 was the worst! The guy showing me around didn’t look like he wanted to be there. After each showroom he would ask “Do you want to keep looking?” After the second room I told him “No thanks, I’m good.” I just left. I was so annoyed I didn’t care what they had to offer. ‘Excuse me sir, am I bothering you with my money and desire to buy your company’s product? Ok, I’ll leave.”

Store #3 was a little better. However, the lady that showed me around walked in front of me the entire time. The only time she’d speak to me was to talk about the furniture specs. At the end she gave me her business card and told me I could call her cell anytime and she’d go in whether she was working or not. She didn’t walk me out. Not too impressed.

Store #1 was by far the best. I was so impressed I’ll tell you it was Ashley Furniture. From the moment I walked in I was welcomed and taken care of. The salesman walked NEXT to me and was very friendly. We had a light conversation the entire time. Before I left he gave me his card and told me he was going on vacation this week and won’t be in until Monday. He introduced me to another nice salesman who would love to help me if I needed anything while the other guy was on vacation. I didn’t feel like they were hungry for commission (like Store #2). They were there to serve me and worked as a team to fulfill their job. They both walked me to the door and bid me a good day.

I took pictures while shopping around. My attitude and experience totally affected the way I saw the furniture in the moment. I now look at the pictures and wonder if I’m looking at the same couch I saw this afternoon. Amazing how my attitude affected my perspective.

In the end, we’re going with Ashley Furniture and I think their customer service has everything to do with it.

Didn’t think I could learn anything browsing through a furniture store but I did. I’m also glad I went in alone (which I really didn’t want to do). I think I would have been too distracted otherwise to notice what I did.

Forgive me for my lack of blogging! I didn’t neglect my blog, it’s actually been on my mind all week. I just had crazy blogger’s block (like writer’s block but far more serious if you ask me).

Last night, I had the of pleasure of attending the Flamingo Film Festival (F3) screening. It was great! I serve an awesome God in a church with tons of creative and passionate people who are using their gifts toward something greater than themselves. Check out this year in review video:

S/O: Miguel

When I watch that video I think to myself ‘where did the time go?’ I love where I am and I love what God’s called me to do. No telling what’s going to come 08-09.

Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done.

Last night I began reading To Own A Dragon by Donald Miller. I had no intentions of reading this book. I knew he wrote it for guys who grew up without fathers so I didn’t think the book would apply to me. However, I saw it at Barnes and Noble yesterday and purchased the book with the motive of reading the only Miller book I’ve yet to read. I know, not a very good reason to read a book but looking back I’m so glad I did. I couldn’t put it down. I read late into the night and finished up when I got up this morning.

Miller’s refreshing honestly and transparency never disappoints. If you’re a fan of Don Miller’s other books then pick up To Own A Dragon. I would even say he is more authentic and transparent in this book then in any of his other books.

Some things I learned:

-”Somebody said that realizing we are broken is the beginning of healing.”

-”… wounds don’t heal until you feel them.”

-Insecurity drives me more than I want to fess up to.

-God places the lonely in families. Psalm 68:6

-You can learn a lot about life from playing chess.

-God is maturing me.

-Being a Wounded Healer is a dignified calling.