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Catholic Husband
August 21,2023Bottomless Tasks - Catholic Husband
Life is impermanent, always ebbing and flowing. By definition, you’ll always be ahead of your work or behind it. Adding more hours to your schedule will get more done, but is unlikely to have an overall meaningful impact.
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August 16,2023
There’s nothing like the first breath of fall at the end of a hot summer.
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Reading
Book Review: My Father’s House 📚
August 15,2023I almost always read nonfiction books. I was in the Apple audiobooks section and this one was in a summer reads sale. The cover art drew me in, and when learned that the story was a WWII espionage thriller, I couldn’t resist.
My Father’s House is a novel that, only after finishing the book, is a dramatized version of a true story. I typically don’t mind historical fiction, but when I don’t know the true story, I find it more disorienting to read the fiction.
The theology was good, but the writing led me to believe that the author was paid-per-adjective. It was descriptive to the point of tedium, with bizarre sexual non sequiturs sprinkled throughout. These weren’t frequent, but they were always gratuitous.
I enjoyed the radio theatre aspect of the audiobook, but all told, I wouldn’t say it was very good. Much like books turned into the movies, I much prefer the original version of this story.
Would I recommend: NO
ISBN: 978-1609458354
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August 14,2023
This lawsuit is nothing but a desperate attempt from right wing special interests to keep hundreds of thousands of borrowers in debt, even though these borrowers have earned the forgiveness that is promised through income-driven repayment plans,” an Education Department spokesperson said.
Except they haven’t earned it.
The “promise” says a certain number of payments, but DoE wants to count non-payments as payments.
If I don’t pay my mortgage, my mortgage company doesn’t pretend that I paid and lower my balance. Why are student loans so special?
Borrowers already saw relief snatched away from them in June when the Supreme Court ruled against Biden’s plan for all 45 million borrowers to receive up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness, and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients.
Pathetic journalism. “Snatched away,” really? Maybe they should’ve written that the President lied when he told all 45 million borrowers that he was forgiving their loans.
“I’ve been working in this space for a long time, and I never really seen regulations be sued at this level,” Abrams said.
Abrams must’ve been asleep from January 2017 - January 2021.
Due to Biden’s “on-ramp” program, borrowers will be able to miss payments up until September 2024 without financial repercussions — besides the accruing interest on their loans. (Emphasis added)
Tiny detail.
“When it pertains to the confidence of the Biden-Harris administration, I think, truthfully, a lot of borrowers were hurt because they feel as though there was a lot of tokenized or false promises given kind of the landscape of the legislative but then also the executive and judicial actions of our institutions of government,” Rogers said.
Astute. Probably a more valuable lesson than these students ever learned in a lecture hall.
“But I believe also there’s still faith in the people seeking an education but are burdened with this debt, that whether it’s going to be the president, whether it’s going to be their congressional figures or their state legislatures that they’re going to do the right thing,” he added.
Oops, I spoke too soon.
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Catholic Husband
August 14,2023To grow as a person, as a spouse, as a parent, and as a Catholic, we must continuously disrupt the lifestyle choices that hold us back. It’s a well-worn concept, one that St. Francis took to fanatical levels. It’s what Pope Francis meant when he instructed us to go out into the world and make a mess!
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75 Hard
August 13,2023Yesterday, I completed the 75 Hard challenge.
Since mid-winter, and through much of spring, I had a sense of being adrift. I was working a lot, walking infrequently, not praying much, and almost always 30–45 minutes late to bed. This unregulated, unmoored feeling was disquieting, and I knew I needed a reboot.
I had seen many online programs, but with the new cohort-model, none were ready when I was. They also had many aspects that I not only didn’t care about, but they actively turned me off.
I don’t remember where I first found 75 Hard, but when I found it, it clicked.
The premise is simple. To steal a phrase from Shia LeBouf, “Do it!”
The 75-day challenge has a daily task list:
- Two 45-minute workouts (one must be outside)
- Drink one gallon of water
- Read 10 pages of a book
- Stick to a diet
- No cheat days
- No alcohol
- Take a daily progress photo
When you do an item, you check it off. Miss an item? Start over at Day 1.
Looking at the list, it describes perfectly my ideal day. I want to work out, read, drink water, and stick to my diet. The only thing really missing is time for daily prayer.
*Me, before my last workout on Day 75 (August 12, 2023)*
The program is designed to be inconvenient. Two workouts a day was my biggest hurdle because it meant I had to give up 90 minutes each afternoon/evening to work out, cool down, and shower.
75 Hard is also meant to challenge you when life gets crazy. I did not control every aspect of my day for 75 days. There were two days that we drove across the country. We spent two weekends away from the house. There was all the daily busyness of raising four kids, homeschooling, running a business, and more. It took extra effort to make sure that I created the circumstances that I needed to accomplish my goal.
Yesterday, my last item of the challenge was my second workout of the day. As I walked around the neighborhood, essentially my victory lap, I felt a real sense of accomplishment and joy. Before the challenge I was out of control, now I was back where I wanted to be. These 75 days allowed me to build back the momentum and the habits that I know I need to practice every day to reach my personal and professional goals.
I will carry this accomplishment through my life. I will forever know that I have the capacity to commit to myself and execute on that commitment, no matter the circumstances of my life.
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August 13,2023
New coffee day
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August 12,2023
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August 11,2023
I bought the Relient K album Forget and Not Slow Down the day it came out in 2009, my senior year of college.
Listening it today, I’m taken back to fall on campus in Ohio fourteen years ago. Incredible music.
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August 11,2023
Merrick Garland Names David Weiss as Special Counsel in Hunter Biden Investigation - WSJ
Garland said Weiss on Tuesday had told him that his investigation had “reached a stage at which he should continue his work as a special counsel, and he asked to be so appointed.”
At least now we know who’s been lying.
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August 10,2023
Joe Biden Officially Wishes Student Loans Away By Blowing On Dandelion - The Onion
I realize that student debt cancellation has failed in the past, but if need be, I will make this same wish when I blow out the candles on my birthday cake this year.
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August 10,2023
Letters
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Reading
August 10,2023
Finished reading: My Father’s House by Joseph O’Connor 📚
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Catholic Husband
August 7,2023Inconvenience - Catholic Husband
When we let inconvenience loom large in our minds, we miss an opportunity to sharpen ourselves. We let a tiny detail derail our whole day. We welcome defeat without the least bit of resistance. Inconveniences happen; we choose our response.
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August 6,2023
U.S. Warns of Trade Fight Over Canada’s Digital-Tax Plan - WSJ
Freeland said that Canadian officials remain in talks with their Group of Seven counterparts about a compromise whereby Canadian interests “can be protected and recognized.”
Which one is Canada, again?
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August 6,2023
These Financial Advisors Say ‘No Thanks’ to Helping Rich Clients Get Richer - WSJ
Advisers like Dole said making rich people richer as the sole goal of their work makes them uncomfortable.
Please signal the next time you’re about to get out of your lane.
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Reading
August 4,2023
Currently reading: My Father’s House by Joseph O’Connor 📚
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August 3,2023
Report: U.S. Will Now Need A Co-Signer To Purchase A Used Ford Taurus | Babylon Bee
“Wow. I had no idea that spending $15 trillion dollars that we didn’t have was an issue,” said Senator Chuck Schumer.
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Reading
Book Review: Code of Conduct 📚
August 2,2023After a slow start to the year, I’m rolling through these books!
Brad Thor’s series is almost a ripped-from-the-headlines style. I’m committed to reading the Scot Harvath Series from start to finish, but am glad to finally be catching up to current times. This book was published in 2015 and, in many ways, was the perfect prefigurement of the 2020 pandemic. It was just nice for it to not be based in the Middle East and focused on counterterrorism.
The book was long, a bit violent, but overall enjoyable. My only quibble is that the action is almost always stacked near the end, and the book wraps up incredibly fast. It almost leaves me wishing the excitement was teased out a bit more.
Would I recommend: YES
ISBN: 978-1982148446
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August 1,2023
Done.
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Catholic Husband
July 31,2023Let go of the false messages that you tell yourself. Be bold enough to break out of your element and experience the serendipity of newness. Reengage the spark of curiosity of your younger self. Climb higher summits, explore new horizons, dream of new possibilities. Why let your life be limited?
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Reading
July 30,2023
Finished reading: Code of Conduct by Brad Thor 📚
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July 30,2023
Aide Pushes Cart Through Halls Of Congress Yelling ‘Bring Out Your Dead!’ - Babylon Bee
“I’m getting better!” shouted Dianne Feinstein as her aides tossed her into the wheelbarrow. “I think I’ll go for a walk!”
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July 30,2023
Are You At A Nursing Home Or The U.S. Senate Chamber? 9 Clues To Look For - Babylon Bee
Nursing Home: Residents call out “Bingo!” to win money Senate: Residents call out “Aye!” to spend your money
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July 25,2023
The evil horde of MAGA supporters exploded into another round of malicious celebration as they all agreed to once again make the weather just slightly warmer than normal for this time of year.