A New Start, Around the Corner

I couldn't decide which phrase I liked better: getting a fresh start, or turning the corner. So, I decided to use both.

Now, what am I referring to? I'm, of course, referring to my professional life. For about two years, I've been a struggling Aflac agent. They're a great company, and I respect them and the way they do business. But, the work simply hasn't been paying the bills on a consistent basis.

So, I made a decision a little while ago that I needed to branch a bit, find more income, and find steadier income.

And ... here's where I stand.

Tyler Betts is still an Insurance Agent, ready to meet your needs. I'm now contracted with three companies, with a fourth to possibly come.



So, for all of your insurance needs, be they Life, Disability, Gap, Dental, or whatever, I can be your one-stop shop. Remember that!

And, I've also started a full-time job that is not 100% commission.



Can you hear me now? Good, because I've also got a job working base + commission for a Verizon Agency. So, come to me with all of your cellular phone and wireless needs!

Got that? Insurance and Wireless ... when you need any of them, come to me!


Because, really, this is a new start. A new corner I've turned. A new page in my life.


And I will find success.

Celebrating a First

For the first time in my life ...



the Indians have a 20-game winner.


Now, if only they could fix that "never won the World Series in my lifetime" thing.

The Difference

The Difference between a faith and a religion, I think, comes into focus in the tough times. When things are down. When the chips fall on the negative side. When you lose, you're hurt, you're in pain, and nothing seems to go right.

I happen to think that if I simply had a religion, something that gave me comfort and knowledge of an afterlife, I'd be lost in times like this. I'd be wondering why the glories of others in my religion failed, repeatedly, to come to me.

I like to think I have faith in Jesus, and the ways he teaches. Faith that if I continue to do the things he taught, that if I continue to seek after him, it's going to be fine. And I'm going to continue to have relationships and encounters that matter.

I don't need to drink Kool-Aid to think that all that matters is the end.

I've got faith to know that my God is there by my side, keeping it from being any worse.

And, more importantly, I've got faith in my God that the people he's brought into my life are going to stand by my side and be the comfort and support that I need.

One Thing

One thing that really frustrates me about the state of politics in America:

I've been flipping in and out of the Democratic convention. And, without fail, I've seen some variation of the following out of every speaker:

"The Republicans are evil. They have poor policies. Etc, etc, etc. And we will unite the party, be rid of bi-partisanship, and it won't be about Democrat vs. Republican, but about doing what's right!"


So, really, you spend a big chunk of time trashing the people across the aisle, telling us how bad their policies and practices are, and how they have no business in America, and then in the next breath, you tell us that you're going to help lead us into a non-partisan America and unite the country?

And you expect us to believe you?

Really?

And I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the exact same thing will be said next week at the GOP convention.

Frustrating. Stupid. Annoying. Irritating. American Politics.

Slap Happy for Mexican Food

Rachel and I have been on a Mexican food kick. It all started the night that Mexican Night at the Zellner's Changed Our Life (That's going to be a chapter in my autobiography, by the way).

We do it often. Sometimes tacos, every once in a while enchiladas, and, recently, taco salad on occasion. Plus, the occasional trip to Maria's Tacos. But that's rare, and the real point of making Mexican is that we make it once, and with just a little work, we've got leftovers for about four meals. And it's cheap!

Normally, we'll make big grilled burritos. We take a giant burrito shell, fill it with a thick layer of cilantro rice, then cheese, then red/hot sauce (if it's mine), meat (either chicken or beef), refried beans, corn, and then more cheese. Lately, we've added sour cream to the mix. It's delicious! One of our favorite meals.

Anyways, on to the point of the blog entry. The wife was a bit slap happy today. I sent her an e-mail before lunch asking a dumb joke.

Q: What do you call a charming Mexican entree?

A: A Beau-rito

She thought it was hilarious.

So I sent her another one just before I picked her up.

Q: What kind of Mexican entree costs $200?

A: A Tac-Go!

And this proceeded a phone call with several more:

Q: What is a lawyer's favorite Mexican entree?

A: Case-adillas!

Q: What is a foot's favorite Mexican entree?

A: Toes-tadas!

And ... my favorite one of all ...

Q: What kind of Mexican entree do rulers eat by the dozen?

A: Inch-aladas!

(Go ahead ... laugh ... yes, it's stupid, but it's okay to laugh)



Sometimes, it's just good to be stupid and laugh. Got any to add?

More Political Humor

had to share, again:

One-Thousand, Four-Hundred Thirty-Two

1,432 days until the London 2012 Olympics begin.

I'm such an Olympics junkie.

At least it's a lot shorter until Vancouver 2010.

Is There Something Wrong With Me?

So, Rachel and I just finished watching "The Golden Compass" on DVD.

This might not seem newsworthy, until I give you a little bit of back story.

I'd never read the novel(s) it was based upon, and when I saw ads for it when it was given a big theatrical release, it didn't really appeal to me at all. It seemed to be the sort of movie that I'd only watch if I happened to be around other people watching it. And, no longer living in a fraternity house, those days are, for the most part, behind me.

And then, a few weeks ago, I got pointed to a web site run by some Mega-Righteous Christian Group which completely denounced the movie (and books) as anti-God, anti-Christianity, and a great danger for children to watch, as it surely would lead them down a path of a godless life and into eternal destruction. And I think I'm toning down their hyperbole a bit. Only I don't think they thought it was hyperbole.

So, after reading that, I decided I had to see the movie. Not because I thought the plot looked overly interesting. Not because I particularly liked the actors in the movie. Not, really, because of any element of the movie itself.

But because I wanted to see what these ultra-righteous Christian groups were going on about.

And, I tend to think it's much ado about nothing.

And I hope they make the sequels.

Political Humor

Because sometimes the best truth comes in the form of the exaggeration:

The Liberal Insult Generator and the Conservative Insult Gnerator.

Because, it's sadly true, that often our political contests comes down to which candidate can convince the public that their insults are more true, more meaningful, and more relevant. Ain't that a sad state of affairs.


I've not clicked through them all so far (obviously, with 27,000 each), but among my favorites so far are:

fanatical bathroom-sex-seeking wackjobs (Conservative)
angry vegan-exalting losers (Liberal)
wide-stanced Constitution-shredding fascists (Conservative)
irrational Satan-appeasing bleeding hearts (Liberal)

Repost of a Repost From This Time Last Year

This is an entry I posted last year on this date. I'll post it again:

This is an entry I posted last year on this date. I'll post it again:

1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

11When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

12We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

13But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

Happy Anniversary Rachel.

I love you.

Happy Anniversary Rachel.

I love you, now and forever.