en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/887752 Comments by Joseph http://www.taminprogress.com/why-am-i-singing/#IDComment476503907 Okay, I totally cannot sing in church. Don't mind a little clapping and LOVE worship but sing....nope. Cant do it. I think it comes down to the simple fact I KNOW I look like an absolute idiot, flailing around vocally like a beached fish in the hot sun. (Wow, didn't know I had that analogy in me) Oddly enough, worship is my favorite part. I do love to soak into some music. Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:18:21 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/why-am-i-singing/#IDComment476503907 http://www.taminprogress.com/freezing-time/#IDComment391289116 GOOD GOOD GOOD stuff Tam. I try to soak up everything but sometimes try to look for it in packages like "vacation or "day at the lake" instead of during times like watching tv together. Sad part is that time moves so fast when you have kids I think we sometimes forget what is really important. I'm probably not great at advice but I will say this as I speak from much personal experience. Your job is just a job, your family is everything. So many people think they are uber important and are so career focussed. Not that career focus isn't important, it just isn't that important. After all, do you think you will ever utter the words when you are 70 and playing with your grandkids "Man, I wish I would have worked that extra Saturday or closed that one extra deal." Guarantee you won't. Bet you will say however "I wish I could have done (X) with my child while they were younger." Okay, that is all! Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:48:37 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/freezing-time/#IDComment391289116 http://www.taminprogress.com/outer-space-moobs/#IDComment354024685 Okay...Now I am looking in the mirror and a tad self conscious...not that I ever go without a shirt. Don't think I have moobs but I am not sure...dang it Tam. I question why I sometimes do really stupid things when I know darn well when going into it, it is a stupid thing! That and what a big huge decorated chocolate chip cookie tastes so much better than a small one? Fri, 4 May 2012 14:29:11 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/outer-space-moobs/#IDComment354024685 http://www.taminprogress.com/a-woman-who-doesnt-like-shopping/#IDComment229351819 CRAZY way late here but I love this post. Hi, my name is Joseph and I used to hate shopping. That changed several years ago when we really got budget focused...yeah we are big Dave Ramsey people but I have to tell you setting a firm budget changes everything. Here is what we do. 1) Set the budget. We set this by listing all we will be buying for and then setting what we feel is a solid amount for a gift. Total it up and then look to see if it matches reality in our checking/savings world. If it does, we move to the next step, if not we re-evaluate. 2) Decide on what you want to buy based on budget per person. This allows you to scan for sales. 3) Scan for sales. Paper, Amazon, Yoyo (for toys) etc. Sometimes we come in less than budgeted and that is a bonus :) 4) Every time you purchase something, log it into the budget and deduct the expense from the total Christmas budget so you have a running tally. 5) DON'T veer from the budget. No matter what. 6) Finally, and this is a big one, don't shop for yourself. You probably really don't need anything until after Christmas so wait. If you see that awesome item you just have to have, wait. If you still want it after December 26th, then budget and buy. Bet you don't want it though...just sayin. Okay, that is it from this FPU leader and my two cents....hope it helps. Merry Christmas season. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:02:10 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/a-woman-who-doesnt-like-shopping/#IDComment229351819 http://www.taminprogress.com/guilty-pleasures-2/#IDComment224906031 We can help with that! I might have to donate my season tix one night to you and the Mr. to see a game... Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:08:57 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/guilty-pleasures-2/#IDComment224906031 http://www.taminprogress.com/guilty-pleasures-2/#IDComment224905856 Could be the case. Don't love everything there but the iced mocha in a glass is the trick. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:08:15 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/guilty-pleasures-2/#IDComment224905856 http://www.taminprogress.com/guilty-pleasures-2/#IDComment224772821 I have endless guilty pleasures. Biggest one is not food though...its Hockey. AVID fan. Especially for the Nashville Predators. From a food perspective it would have to be the Iced Mocha in a Glass at Crema Coffee in Downtown Nashville...heaven in a glass. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:41:09 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/guilty-pleasures-2/#IDComment224772821 http://www.taminprogress.com/birth-to-41-in-a-blink/#IDComment222849588 SUPER crazy late on this. First: Happy Birthday! Belated. I'm 42 and there are so many things I would like to do: (Not in order of importance) 1. Buy a vintage scooter. I know this doesn't seem like something big but I just think it would be fun. 2. Do an oversees mission trip. Always wanted to but the trips (mostly via church) always fall when I cannot take time off work-getting closer though...may sneak out on with with my friend Wayne and S4S. 3. Wine tour in France and Italy. Literally go off the grid for 3-4 weeks and tour vineyards. 4. Many many more... I can say this though.... I live life and have been blessed to already have a pile of great experiences. Probably way more than most people would be so lucky to have. No complaints from me...God is a cool dude. Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:34:24 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/birth-to-41-in-a-blink/#IDComment222849588 http://www.taminprogress.com/one-word-challenge/#IDComment205725726 Imagine Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:02:12 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/one-word-challenge/#IDComment205725726 http://www.taminprogress.com/scar-triggers/#IDComment193478951 I like the metaphor. I think I am the type that usually looks at how the pain has lessened....not a big dweller. What I am truly bad about though is completely blocking out those memories never to recall them again. Before I am misunderstood though, my past is pretty clean for the most part so nothing crazy hiding in scars which makes it easier to do so. Thu, 15 Sep 2011 01:01:14 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/scar-triggers/#IDComment193478951 http://www.taminprogress.com/20-years-today/#IDComment184422138 Awesome! Congrats! Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:34:16 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/20-years-today/#IDComment184422138 http://www.taminprogress.com/someone-worth-dying-for/#IDComment183607650 Awesome!!!! Well, you know you are officially a Nashvillian in very short notice when you end up in a music video. The process of shooting one is very cool. Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:20:48 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/someone-worth-dying-for/#IDComment183607650 http://www.taminprogress.com/what-would-you-tell-a-teen/#IDComment181499999 Oh boy, forced advice from strangers..love it! In all seriousness though there are piles I wish I would have learned back when I was a teen. The biggest I think though (since a lot of others have or will be covered) is financial restraint and money management. I know, yuck. But here is why. We learn money habits at a young age and those habits become harder and harder to change as we get older. If we start out in our teens only using cash, never borrowing money and using restraint thus not buying everything we want, when we get into our late 20's and 30's when there really are life moments where money matters, it is not a big deal because you will be prepared. Food for thought here....even in the crappy market that is today, $100 a month invested from age 20 until 60 yields several million dollars by 60. Nice. I know you think right now there are certain things you "have" to have but I am here to tell you, in 5 years, 10 years or 20 years, you will look back and never once say," I am so glad I bought that." My 2 cents....oh last advice......ENJOY YOUR TEENS. Best times ever. Celebrate them. Tue, 9 Aug 2011 11:11:45 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/what-would-you-tell-a-teen/#IDComment181499999 http://www.taminprogress.com/thehardquestions/#IDComment177735344 "People. Fellowship. Community – all essentials of living. Togetherness." Love this quote Tam and it is so true. Here is where I truly struggle though and it goes back to my comment from yesterday. So I am expanding :) I do really well with the fellowship and the community side. I will be one to show up, build, carry, cookout..whatever. Hang if you would and share a laugh and enjoy my time with people. I love people. No matter the background. I think people are just cool by nature and I love to ask questions to learn more about them. Very often my wife will ask "How do you know them?" I usually cannot remember how...just that I do. So my fellowship skills and community are strong in hand. When it comes to the pure side of people...ding ding ding, Challenge. I have friends, tons of contacts and acquaintances that all rely on me for advice, leadership and guidance. Very very rarely do I feel I have an opening to ask for some myself. If I am at coffee with someone, or lunch, the conversation is mostly people reaching out to me for next steps or not the coffee stop or lunch to discuss serious matters. When I do have those moments, they are so unusual people usually worry something is crazy wrong with me and I get phone call after phone call checking on my mental stability :) (example of course) This is where I would just rather not upset the cart if you would from yesterday. So, all that to get to this. How do you get in a place where you can share and not freak people out? Is it a quantity thing? As always our new Nashvillian...great post! Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:06:58 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/thehardquestions/#IDComment177735344 http://www.taminprogress.com/im-sorry/#IDComment177554780 Sidebar to this...this does fall a little differently with my wife and kiddo....outside that though, different story. Plus, like the scrunchy face attempt :) Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:45:58 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/im-sorry/#IDComment177554780 http://www.taminprogress.com/im-sorry/#IDComment177513479 First of all...glad it all went well. Second...I am totally a go at it alone type of guy. I am not big on opening up or really ever wanting to share my feelings because usually when I do, it just upsets the apple cart and it is totally not worth it. Ironically, I am usually the one people come to and share with. Just one of those weird things. Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:41:31 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/im-sorry/#IDComment177513479 http://www.taminprogress.com/grooming-confession-greasy-edition/#IDComment173904625 okay Tam....ummmm....So Shampoo as a gift for Christmas would last you the whole year? :) My thing is shaving. I only shave when I absolutely have to. I usually shave before a big meeting or travel but other than that, avoid it. I look scruffy a lot but I do not really care. That's my thing! Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:51:12 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/grooming-confession-greasy-edition/#IDComment173904625 http://www.taminprogress.com/two-rights-and-one-wrong/#IDComment169994057 Yup...Its true. Punched a clown. Tue, 5 Jul 2011 16:31:56 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/two-rights-and-one-wrong/#IDComment169994057 http://www.taminprogress.com/two-rights-and-one-wrong/#IDComment169639143 23 belts...that has to be the fib on your side. Here are mine. 1) I once punched a clown. 2) My dream job is to be chief of staff at a church or management with a non-profit 3) I went to college to be a dentist but changed majors. Mon, 4 Jul 2011 15:05:09 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/two-rights-and-one-wrong/#IDComment169639143 http://www.taminprogress.com/the-differences/#IDComment168457639 okay okay...stepping in here as a Nashvillian... First of all, what hillbilly section of Nashville did you move to? You have to be outside of town like north of Nashville. Hendersonville or Gallatin. No one around me says Joolie, Heels or orders a DP like that...hmmm...and I'm from the PNW so it usually stands out. Come to our side of town and you can feel a little more normal :) Now, that said. As you get around the outskirts of the city and get more rural, I bet you will here some of these things. Cook Out is also equal to Grillin Out. BBQ is specific and means literally BBQ, which "folks" take seriously around here especially slow cooked ribs. You will learn what a smoker is real quick too....not someone lighting up a heater :) You might also here "We stay in Nashville or we stay with family" Stay=Lives in some areas. I'm sure I will find more for you but seriously...you have to leave your part of town a little. You have some redneck neighbors :) Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:03:35 +0000 http://www.taminprogress.com/the-differences/#IDComment168457639