Dear Beneficiary,

I am Dr. Ngozi Okonji-Iweala, the newly appointed Honorable Minister, Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) Federal Government of Nigeria.

We apologies, for the delay of your payment and all the inconveniences and inflict that we might have indulged you through. However, we were having some minor problems with our payment system, which is inexplicable, and have held us stranded and indolent, not having the aspiration to devote our 100% assiduity in accrediting foreign contract and Inheritance payments.

I KNOW HOW HE FEELS. Recovery from Sunday’s marathon has been much quicker than last year in Chicago, with very little soreness and my energy levels back to normal. I’m having to force myself to take it easy for a while yet.

So I had mixed feelings watching Jon-san test for pre-1st Kyu last night at the dojo. I wanted him to do well, of course, and he did, in my inexperienced opinion. But part of me wanted to be on the mat testing as well, even though there was no way I could have performed at my best. Logic said rest was best, emotion was whispering, “Indolent…where’s your 100% assiduity…” (well, not those exact words).

 So after the test I changed into bike clothes and got on the road for an easy 10-mile loop through Dexter. With the late evening cooling off and a smooth road, I felt absolutely terrific – until the bike started vibrating strangely. A check of the rear tire revealed the cause – a white carpet tack that did what tacks do to tires, conveniently stranding me at the halfway mark of my route.

My wife swiftly rescued me, but my serenity had been punctured along with the tire. I know that, as they say, stuff happens – but did it have to happen to me? Right then? Not to worry. In such situations, something usually happens to restore my sense of perspective, and the next morning’s email brought this gem from Bill Kalmar. (If you can’t open the link, let me know and I’ll find a way to send it to you. It’s well worth the quick read.)

http://www.qualitydigest.com/inside/quality-insider-column/servant-end.html#

Tonight was much better. After repairing the tire I rode downtown to join the PR Fitness group for the regular Wednesday evening run, staying on the bike through the 6-mile route while the others struggled with the heat. I felt only a little guilty.

Oh, and apparently the Nigerian government wants to pay me 10.7 million dollars for my inheritance/contract/lottery winnings. I sure hope they get their assiduity back on track and pay me. It just might cover the bathroom renovation costs.