This past Thanksgiving my daughters insisted that I join the Facebook world. We spent a tortuous couple of hours going through the protocol of FB, we explored all the benefits, then we went through the part that intimidated me from the beginning.."accepting" or "ignoring" friends. This exercise was excruciating. So until this past week I was not overwhelmed with posts, nor felt the compulsion to respond to very many.
Then I accepted a friendship offer from a girl I knew in high school. She apparently has kept up with everybody, while I have kept up with no one..intentionally. There is a small streak of my dad in me. He refuses to look back. The afternoon of my mom's funeral he encouraged the daughter and D-i-Ls to go through mom's stuff and get what they want because the rest is being donated. We have always joked that Dad should not be the one to decide how long we stay on life support, after all Kiwanis will not wait. There is a little of this in me and high school was one of those events that was fine, but I never looked back and didn't keep up with the folks once I was gone.
As I mentioned above the girl from high school was someone I knew, but didn't really run around with. I have no real inclinations either way, but on a whim I accepted the offer of "friends" and thought no more about it. A day or two later when I checked FB, Holy Cow! There were 53 folks wanting to "befriend" me. I was a jokester in high school and we all had a lot of laughs, but in the intervening years I have become less so and I'm sure all these people are the same. Besides, even with the maiden name listed in the request, I didn't even KNOW half these people. Now I am revisiting the angst from Thanksgiving about who is in and who is out. This is stressful.
Now I have discovered that some of these people (specifically the women) have stayed in touch all these years. So as these posts pop up on my FB page there are all sorts of inside jokes, shared trauma, accomplishments, disappointments, illness, long-distant moves, and even deaths that I have suddenly parachuted into the middle of. It is a little disconcerting to suddenly be thrown into this 40 year reconnect with no knowledge of the intervening years. So will my way of joking be acceptable? (sometimes it comes across as a little sarcastic..when it is really just very cerebral) Do I want to attempt to catch them up on my journey? Probably not. And now I learn there is this whole 40-year-reunion talk for next year. Hmmm. I am bringing about a pound a year to the event over high school. Yeah, this is going to go well.
My bride keeps pointing out that FB is responsible for a lot of marriage breakups. I have given up trying to explain to her that if there are any of the girls left from high school who have any interest in me, my interest in them has been long gone from the first time I spotted her in Abilene all those years ago at ACU. She captured my heart and holds it to this day. Besides, breaking up was really not my specialty back in those days, so unless they are looking for revenge, she has nothing to fear.
For now it is a wait and see deal on FB. I accepted them all..it was easier than trying to remember who they all were. As a plus, one of the girls I was in choir with sent me a picture of me and a couple of other guys in the Senior Musical from the article in the paper. I am trying to figure out how to print this from FB, it is cool to see how much change has happened, hair, weight, and the silver tooth is gone. I am also being told that I can "hide" either from these folks or them from me. Facebook, the new social conscience.
Godspeed to all you travelers on the virtual highway. It may seem like nothing has changed, but I am here to tell you that, judging from the picture I received a lot has changed.
Don
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The Looking Glass
It always surprises me that the perception we have of ourselves is rarely shared by all those around us. We each look in the mirror and are rarely surprised by the character staring back at us. Oh we see the physical features like everyone else, but we struggle with the warring worlds within us. When speaking to my kids and my friends and certainly my bride I reference all the "voices" in my head. They are a vocal bunch and apparently rather contentious. You see we are not simply one way or another and we look different to those around us. But our lives are less like a mirror and more like a looking glass.
Turning the looking glass one way, I am a reflective soul. I enjoy pondering the mysteries of this life. Quiet reflection was something I had to learn, it is done in silence and solitude. It can only be accomplished by quieting all the noise in my head long enough to left full disclosure happen. There are some dark and scary thoughts in there, but those thoughts are simply an ingredient of what makes me..well, me. But this discipline of reflection has to be exercised the same as working out at the gym, it is not a natural product of our culture. So why desire this particular ingredient? Because it also allows me the ingredient of discernment. It helps me understand motive and actions, it gives me insight into the dark places of others, both close and distant. This ingredient also gives me some level of calm, peace in an unpeaceful world. I am allowed to quiet the panic that engulfs most of us at one time or another.
So I can spin the looking glass another way and understand that there are at least four people in the world accept me as a benevolent force in their world. Two of them call me "grandaddy" one of them calls me "gandadadad.." the fourth simply looks at me with either a mild look of concern or one of the most endearing little grins you could imagine. But these four hold a very special place that no one else holds. I treat them differently than I do anyone else in the world and I think at some level they understand that. So the reflection they see is a guy who just wants to be with them, to soak them up as often as possible because the sand will run out of my hourglass before it does theirs, then they will only have the memories of me. So the reflection looks different to them than anyone else.
This looking glass has so many sides. Husband, father, son, uncle, friend, opponent, employee, boss, father-in-law, competitor, citizen, member, grandaddy, and the list literally goes on and on. I have a customer that refers to me as "the plain-spoken Texan" others have other descriptions, not always as flattering. So who is the real "me"? All of them, and only some of them, and occasionally none of them.
But I think there are some reflections that are the real thing. I try for honesty, integrity, compassion, generosity, and the toughest of all..humility. Some would point out that I don't have all that much to be proud of in my own crazy make-up, but the human condition is one that places pride above the rest of the traits. It is the one we fight against the hardest and the most often. The traits above should be found regardless of which way you turn the looking glass. It is when these traits are left out that the looking glass refuses to awe us.
I have wondered if this is the aspect of God that we have not seen. We each turn the God-prism so it looks the prettiest to us. Something in my background or yours might compel us to look at the glass that best reflects grace or love or forgiveness. But if we keep turning the glass we will see jealousy, vengeance, intractability, single-mindedness, a demand for loyalty, and the reflections go on and on. You see, I think that God is as multi-dimensional as we are, perhaps more so. And like us he has traits that are reflected from each image in the looking glass. I think these go back to the words above, integrity, honesty, compassion, etc. In this way perhaps we are created in his image.
Godspeed out there. Remember that the looking glass has many sides, it is the wonder of this life when we grow wise enough to turn the glass and enjoy all the colors.
Don
Turning the looking glass one way, I am a reflective soul. I enjoy pondering the mysteries of this life. Quiet reflection was something I had to learn, it is done in silence and solitude. It can only be accomplished by quieting all the noise in my head long enough to left full disclosure happen. There are some dark and scary thoughts in there, but those thoughts are simply an ingredient of what makes me..well, me. But this discipline of reflection has to be exercised the same as working out at the gym, it is not a natural product of our culture. So why desire this particular ingredient? Because it also allows me the ingredient of discernment. It helps me understand motive and actions, it gives me insight into the dark places of others, both close and distant. This ingredient also gives me some level of calm, peace in an unpeaceful world. I am allowed to quiet the panic that engulfs most of us at one time or another.
So I can spin the looking glass another way and understand that there are at least four people in the world accept me as a benevolent force in their world. Two of them call me "grandaddy" one of them calls me "gandadadad.." the fourth simply looks at me with either a mild look of concern or one of the most endearing little grins you could imagine. But these four hold a very special place that no one else holds. I treat them differently than I do anyone else in the world and I think at some level they understand that. So the reflection they see is a guy who just wants to be with them, to soak them up as often as possible because the sand will run out of my hourglass before it does theirs, then they will only have the memories of me. So the reflection looks different to them than anyone else.
This looking glass has so many sides. Husband, father, son, uncle, friend, opponent, employee, boss, father-in-law, competitor, citizen, member, grandaddy, and the list literally goes on and on. I have a customer that refers to me as "the plain-spoken Texan" others have other descriptions, not always as flattering. So who is the real "me"? All of them, and only some of them, and occasionally none of them.
But I think there are some reflections that are the real thing. I try for honesty, integrity, compassion, generosity, and the toughest of all..humility. Some would point out that I don't have all that much to be proud of in my own crazy make-up, but the human condition is one that places pride above the rest of the traits. It is the one we fight against the hardest and the most often. The traits above should be found regardless of which way you turn the looking glass. It is when these traits are left out that the looking glass refuses to awe us.
I have wondered if this is the aspect of God that we have not seen. We each turn the God-prism so it looks the prettiest to us. Something in my background or yours might compel us to look at the glass that best reflects grace or love or forgiveness. But if we keep turning the glass we will see jealousy, vengeance, intractability, single-mindedness, a demand for loyalty, and the reflections go on and on. You see, I think that God is as multi-dimensional as we are, perhaps more so. And like us he has traits that are reflected from each image in the looking glass. I think these go back to the words above, integrity, honesty, compassion, etc. In this way perhaps we are created in his image.
Godspeed out there. Remember that the looking glass has many sides, it is the wonder of this life when we grow wise enough to turn the glass and enjoy all the colors.
Don
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Like Riding a Bike
We got the call Sunday evening, at our friend's house getting ready to eat. Jordan, our eldest was in the ER, again. The panic is always there, but those words always me my stomach knot up. This journey is a long and familiar one for us. Jordan is a three timer on this cancer deal. My first question every time she calls is, "Is everything alright?" I take a fair amount of guff, but it habit and defense mechanism. So we waited until late Sunday night and got the word that it was a bowel obstruction, probably having some correlation to all the surgeries she has endured. But this is a pretty common and easily corrected problem. Our S-i-L had a lot on his plate this week and I had no appointments, so I volunteered to drive to Amarillo in my little Ford Ranger and corral the kids while he worked and Jordan convalesced.
Took off very early for Amarillo and arrived around 1:30. From those moments on I have been reminded that my role as grandaddy and my role as caregiver are worlds different.
We gathered all at the hospital and then I took Brad's truck and the kids and headed to my daughter's house, pulled up in the driveway and couldn't find the garage door opener. Eli my 7 year-old said he knew the code. So he hopped out and ran (he always runs unless the family is in a hurry then he shifts into the glacial speed) to the keypad, typed in some numbers...nothing. He looks at me and mouths the question, "What is the number?" I shrugged my shoulders and, in the universal sign of bewilderment, raised my hands palms up. I don't know. Then I see him trying to work out the code with is fingers..there was a zero and at least one "four". With is face pinched with concentration he reenters the code. Eureka! we have the wrong garage door opening! He sees the problem, holds up one finger (as in, hold on a second) and races inside the garage to hit the manual button next to the back door..we are in.
After unloading my suitcase and rolling laptop case and two backpacks and cups and stuff we start getting squared away to take baths. Seperate or together? Does a 7 year old boy and 4 year old girl bath together? I hoped so, that way I can keep an eye on both. So we are running the water and Miss Phoebe informs me we don't have the right shampoo. Apparently she needs the kind that "makes my hair curly" So off she races and returns with an armload of hair care bottles. I have no idea where they came from, but she is certain that the yellow one makes her hair curly. No problem, whoever is missing shampoo is on their own. Eli meanwhile is trying to not get any part of himself wet. He prefers the dry cleaning method. He was informed that he would, indeed, have to get wet. After a significant amount of sloshing, all were at least soaked, if not cleaned. Now for a book. Each ran in different directions and chose a book, one was on sharks the other on princesses. Hmmm. State certified mediation is good thing to have. Doesn't work on anyone under 10 years old. We settled on a Dr. Seuss book, we struggled with a Wocket in My Pocket. This reading made no one happy, and no one got their way, welcome to mediation. In bed at 8:15, not bad target time was 8PM, but no parents around, so who will know?
5:30AM. Alarm clock works. 30 minutes of my disciplines, mostly reading and praying, figured I needed both for the day. Then start coffee, and getting Eli up and running. You remember the "racing" from yesterday? Not so much today. Our D-i-L introduced us to the term "slowy-McPokerson" Wow was the boy moving S-l-O-W! Getting dressed, "Can I wear my Wranglers and boots?" Trick question? Does his mom know to look for this trickery? I asked, "Do you want to go out on the playground with boots on?" What answer did I expect? Of course he did. Go for it. Almost walked out the door with his pajama shirt on.
Boys are pretty easy to dress, jeans, shoes and any shirt that is on top in drawer. Girls in the other hand....We went through all four drawers, pulled out at least 5 pants (after negating two dresses) and a dozen tops. It is a bewildering array of colors, prints, styles, and combinations. And guess what, a 4 year old has surprisingly strong opinions about what she will wear and what she won't. But we settled on an outfit that was at least acceptable. Doing the hair is an entire full post on its own. Let me just say that men (grandaddies) have nothing in their DNA or experience that gets them ready for the trauma of trying to fix a 4 year olds curly hair. I failed, it was a mop when we started and went downhill from there. She will simply have to live with the fact that I love her dearly and have no idea how to tackle that red mess on her head. But I took her to KU and made sure all the moms there knew that Jordan was still in the hospital. Mia culpa.
First 24 hours, all in the right place at the right time. Followed by a meltdown at bath time last night, 8:30 announcement that he had forgotten a couple of assignments (he asked me to read his reading assignment, I declined, told him I had already passed well beyond the 6th grade, he needed to read it) So missed bedtime by almost an hour due to homework, put the other one to bed sobbing. This entire structure will be completely destroyed if we don't get mom home by Thursday.
Godspeed out there to all you grandparents who are raising your grandkids. I simply am too old to do it. It is not just energy, but role. I'm better as a grandaddy. I haven't forgotten, but I don't want to tackle it everyday.
Don
Took off very early for Amarillo and arrived around 1:30. From those moments on I have been reminded that my role as grandaddy and my role as caregiver are worlds different.
We gathered all at the hospital and then I took Brad's truck and the kids and headed to my daughter's house, pulled up in the driveway and couldn't find the garage door opener. Eli my 7 year-old said he knew the code. So he hopped out and ran (he always runs unless the family is in a hurry then he shifts into the glacial speed) to the keypad, typed in some numbers...nothing. He looks at me and mouths the question, "What is the number?" I shrugged my shoulders and, in the universal sign of bewilderment, raised my hands palms up. I don't know. Then I see him trying to work out the code with is fingers..there was a zero and at least one "four". With is face pinched with concentration he reenters the code. Eureka! we have the wrong garage door opening! He sees the problem, holds up one finger (as in, hold on a second) and races inside the garage to hit the manual button next to the back door..we are in.
After unloading my suitcase and rolling laptop case and two backpacks and cups and stuff we start getting squared away to take baths. Seperate or together? Does a 7 year old boy and 4 year old girl bath together? I hoped so, that way I can keep an eye on both. So we are running the water and Miss Phoebe informs me we don't have the right shampoo. Apparently she needs the kind that "makes my hair curly" So off she races and returns with an armload of hair care bottles. I have no idea where they came from, but she is certain that the yellow one makes her hair curly. No problem, whoever is missing shampoo is on their own. Eli meanwhile is trying to not get any part of himself wet. He prefers the dry cleaning method. He was informed that he would, indeed, have to get wet. After a significant amount of sloshing, all were at least soaked, if not cleaned. Now for a book. Each ran in different directions and chose a book, one was on sharks the other on princesses. Hmmm. State certified mediation is good thing to have. Doesn't work on anyone under 10 years old. We settled on a Dr. Seuss book, we struggled with a Wocket in My Pocket. This reading made no one happy, and no one got their way, welcome to mediation. In bed at 8:15, not bad target time was 8PM, but no parents around, so who will know?
5:30AM. Alarm clock works. 30 minutes of my disciplines, mostly reading and praying, figured I needed both for the day. Then start coffee, and getting Eli up and running. You remember the "racing" from yesterday? Not so much today. Our D-i-L introduced us to the term "slowy-McPokerson" Wow was the boy moving S-l-O-W! Getting dressed, "Can I wear my Wranglers and boots?" Trick question? Does his mom know to look for this trickery? I asked, "Do you want to go out on the playground with boots on?" What answer did I expect? Of course he did. Go for it. Almost walked out the door with his pajama shirt on.
Boys are pretty easy to dress, jeans, shoes and any shirt that is on top in drawer. Girls in the other hand....We went through all four drawers, pulled out at least 5 pants (after negating two dresses) and a dozen tops. It is a bewildering array of colors, prints, styles, and combinations. And guess what, a 4 year old has surprisingly strong opinions about what she will wear and what she won't. But we settled on an outfit that was at least acceptable. Doing the hair is an entire full post on its own. Let me just say that men (grandaddies) have nothing in their DNA or experience that gets them ready for the trauma of trying to fix a 4 year olds curly hair. I failed, it was a mop when we started and went downhill from there. She will simply have to live with the fact that I love her dearly and have no idea how to tackle that red mess on her head. But I took her to KU and made sure all the moms there knew that Jordan was still in the hospital. Mia culpa.
First 24 hours, all in the right place at the right time. Followed by a meltdown at bath time last night, 8:30 announcement that he had forgotten a couple of assignments (he asked me to read his reading assignment, I declined, told him I had already passed well beyond the 6th grade, he needed to read it) So missed bedtime by almost an hour due to homework, put the other one to bed sobbing. This entire structure will be completely destroyed if we don't get mom home by Thursday.
Godspeed out there to all you grandparents who are raising your grandkids. I simply am too old to do it. It is not just energy, but role. I'm better as a grandaddy. I haven't forgotten, but I don't want to tackle it everyday.
Don
Friday, March 18, 2011
St Patrick's Day, My Way
We decided to go daytrippin' for St. Patrick's Day. Our little band considered going to Dublin, Tx for the Irish Stew Cook-off. Then we considered going to East Texas and boarding a Paddle boat for a ride. We wanted to include wine-tasting, antiquing, and good food.
We finally settled on a drive to Grapevine for all the above. Lunch at the Grapevine Bread Company for soups and sandwiches and a salad or two. We went through several stores and finally hit the Homestead Wine Tasting Room. We ended up with a sweet red, a full tummy, and a few doo-dads that the girls picked up.
Then we were off to the Ft Worth Stockyards. We arrived in time to see the last "cattle drive" of the day. 8 or 10 rangy old longhorns being pushed along by 5 or 6 cowboys. The street was lined with kids and tourists, it was sunny and the cows ambled along while people shot a bizillion photos with their phones. Another wine-tasting room that did not impress any of us, then on to dinner.
The final dinner decision was Eno's in the Bishop Arts District with pie from Crecia's. They were having an outdoor St. Patty's Day celebration with a Texas Swing band, so we nursed our decafs along and people-watched for the rest of the evening.
By the way, the pizza was great and the pie was good. The problem with store-bought pie is that all three of us guys are married to ladies who cook some of the best pie in the world, no shortcuts on crust or fillings. So the ambiance has to make up the difference...it almost did.
So we spent the day laughing and visiting. Pointing out the absurdities of life and our place in it. We have gotten so close to this little band that we know who will like what, who will want to do what, and believe it or not we are a pretty accommodating bunch, so no whining or arguing. Just fun with people we love to spend time with. We are trying to figure out a sound system that will allow us to visit in the car since some of us are getting quieter as the years go by and we can't hear the soft-spoken like we used to. It is the accumulation of these good memories that make our lives significant. It boils down to the fact that this little "community of faith" is what will sustain us and allow us to enjoy our spot in the world.
Godspeed, I hope your St Patrick's Day was a good one. Mine was especially good.
Don
We finally settled on a drive to Grapevine for all the above. Lunch at the Grapevine Bread Company for soups and sandwiches and a salad or two. We went through several stores and finally hit the Homestead Wine Tasting Room. We ended up with a sweet red, a full tummy, and a few doo-dads that the girls picked up.
Then we were off to the Ft Worth Stockyards. We arrived in time to see the last "cattle drive" of the day. 8 or 10 rangy old longhorns being pushed along by 5 or 6 cowboys. The street was lined with kids and tourists, it was sunny and the cows ambled along while people shot a bizillion photos with their phones. Another wine-tasting room that did not impress any of us, then on to dinner.
The final dinner decision was Eno's in the Bishop Arts District with pie from Crecia's. They were having an outdoor St. Patty's Day celebration with a Texas Swing band, so we nursed our decafs along and people-watched for the rest of the evening.
By the way, the pizza was great and the pie was good. The problem with store-bought pie is that all three of us guys are married to ladies who cook some of the best pie in the world, no shortcuts on crust or fillings. So the ambiance has to make up the difference...it almost did.
So we spent the day laughing and visiting. Pointing out the absurdities of life and our place in it. We have gotten so close to this little band that we know who will like what, who will want to do what, and believe it or not we are a pretty accommodating bunch, so no whining or arguing. Just fun with people we love to spend time with. We are trying to figure out a sound system that will allow us to visit in the car since some of us are getting quieter as the years go by and we can't hear the soft-spoken like we used to. It is the accumulation of these good memories that make our lives significant. It boils down to the fact that this little "community of faith" is what will sustain us and allow us to enjoy our spot in the world.
Godspeed, I hope your St Patrick's Day was a good one. Mine was especially good.
Don
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
1 Year
Today is a grey, overcast, drizzly day in north Texas. It matches my mood almost exactly. My bride has spent most of the morning asking me what is wrong. And my answer is "nothing" or "everything" I haven't been able to put my finger on the cause of the malaise. This is not particularly a case of being sad, or mad, just blah.
I think it may have to do with the 1 year anniversary of the job loss. Who would have thought it would be this long? This is different world we live in. Skill, ability, drive, integrity do you no good if the powers-that-be decide to hoard their revenue instead of invest it in people and initiative. So I am struggling with the longest stretch of unemployment, or underemployment in my life. And it doesn't seem to be brightening.
The two companies I am working with each have grave flaws in their approach. When I try to communicate the reasons for the slow start, they get really defensive. So they refuse to listen, and refuse to adjust. It leaves me with a slowly degrading picture... fade to grey.
But I refuse to quit. There is something in me that drives me to try and make it work. Their lack of integrity, their lack of knowledge can't be the reason to quit. Something will have to come along, the winds of change will have to blow again. I have too many years left to give it up. I am as anxious to work today as I was 20 years ago.
So pray for a break in the clouds, both environmentally and emotionally.
Godspeed. Thank goodness I stand faithful to one who does not require constant merriment. He understands because we have spent a great deal of time together this year.
Don
I think it may have to do with the 1 year anniversary of the job loss. Who would have thought it would be this long? This is different world we live in. Skill, ability, drive, integrity do you no good if the powers-that-be decide to hoard their revenue instead of invest it in people and initiative. So I am struggling with the longest stretch of unemployment, or underemployment in my life. And it doesn't seem to be brightening.
The two companies I am working with each have grave flaws in their approach. When I try to communicate the reasons for the slow start, they get really defensive. So they refuse to listen, and refuse to adjust. It leaves me with a slowly degrading picture... fade to grey.
But I refuse to quit. There is something in me that drives me to try and make it work. Their lack of integrity, their lack of knowledge can't be the reason to quit. Something will have to come along, the winds of change will have to blow again. I have too many years left to give it up. I am as anxious to work today as I was 20 years ago.
So pray for a break in the clouds, both environmentally and emotionally.
Godspeed. Thank goodness I stand faithful to one who does not require constant merriment. He understands because we have spent a great deal of time together this year.
Don
Friday, March 4, 2011
For What It's Worth
There are a couple of things I would like to comment on, but don't want to try and develop an entire blog for any one of them.
Libya protests. Here is my thought. We need to stay out of their business. It is not our fight, it is not our business. If they nuke each other out of existence, then so be it. US of A only uses about 1.5% of their oil (most goes to Italy) and they have very little else to market besides sand and we have enough of that. We can't afford another war. In my advancing years I have decided that we have enough problems sorting out this democracy thing at home, I'm not sure how well it exports to a tribal culture. It is my firm belief that the young people of that country will rise up in revolution against a dictator and a repressive religion. 'Nuff said.
Charlie Sheen. It is always fascinating to see a slow motion train wreck. This guy's wheels have shot off and he is hurtling forward, out of control, over the cliff. The problem is that in the backseat are the folks he works with and for, his kids, and anyone left calling them his friends. This is going to be a colossal explosion at the end. He needs to tweet Tiger and see how he likes the fall-out.
NFL CBA OMG. Really? You guys can't figure out how to divvy up $9BB? This is like my having an interest in the Highland Park residents up in arms about a Wal-Mart moving in. Rich people arguing over money the rest of us will never see. I sure hope the rookies saved all their income from college days, it could be a long non-season. I think the media ought to tell the NFL, "call us when you have a deal." Being out of the spotlight might hurt more than the eventual deal struck. Of course there are men all over the US wondering what they will do instead of ignoring their wives and kids on Sunday, now THERE is a rooting interest.
Finally, No call back. I have had it with people who don't return phone calls, or keep appointments, or let you know what the decisions will be. We are all big boys and girls. It is enormously rude to not call back. It is getting more prevalent every day.
Wow, do I feel better. If you have a problem with my blog..leave a message.
Godspeed out there. For what it's worth.
Don
Libya protests. Here is my thought. We need to stay out of their business. It is not our fight, it is not our business. If they nuke each other out of existence, then so be it. US of A only uses about 1.5% of their oil (most goes to Italy) and they have very little else to market besides sand and we have enough of that. We can't afford another war. In my advancing years I have decided that we have enough problems sorting out this democracy thing at home, I'm not sure how well it exports to a tribal culture. It is my firm belief that the young people of that country will rise up in revolution against a dictator and a repressive religion. 'Nuff said.
Charlie Sheen. It is always fascinating to see a slow motion train wreck. This guy's wheels have shot off and he is hurtling forward, out of control, over the cliff. The problem is that in the backseat are the folks he works with and for, his kids, and anyone left calling them his friends. This is going to be a colossal explosion at the end. He needs to tweet Tiger and see how he likes the fall-out.
NFL CBA OMG. Really? You guys can't figure out how to divvy up $9BB? This is like my having an interest in the Highland Park residents up in arms about a Wal-Mart moving in. Rich people arguing over money the rest of us will never see. I sure hope the rookies saved all their income from college days, it could be a long non-season. I think the media ought to tell the NFL, "call us when you have a deal." Being out of the spotlight might hurt more than the eventual deal struck. Of course there are men all over the US wondering what they will do instead of ignoring their wives and kids on Sunday, now THERE is a rooting interest.
Finally, No call back. I have had it with people who don't return phone calls, or keep appointments, or let you know what the decisions will be. We are all big boys and girls. It is enormously rude to not call back. It is getting more prevalent every day.
Wow, do I feel better. If you have a problem with my blog..leave a message.
Godspeed out there. For what it's worth.
Don
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Here's To Long Life
Today at my usual station at Panera, I read an article about 5 "myths" about living longer. What really caught my eye was the two, half-full wine glasses and the guy working out next to them. I'm not sure why this caught my attention, but they did. So I read the article.
If I can remember them all, here are the five myths (not necessarily in the order of the article, but in how I remembered them)
Myth 1: You have to exercise at a certain level to make it worthwhile. Apparently the article says that if we are trying to exercise by doing something we hate, we will stop, thus not exercising at all. So go ahead and garden, or take a walk, or walk the dog. Just get off the couch as often as you can. My opinion is that we have grocery stores that negate the need for gardens, I hate walking with no destination, and the stupid dog can walk herself - she has legs, though they are getting shorter. My bride and I are beginning to enjoy our time at the gym, thank you very much.
Myth 2: Don't work so hard, slow down, enjoy. This is a myth. According to the 90 year study, the high achievers live longer. I have always worked hard..it's that high achieving thing that trips me up.
Myth 3: Being married helps you live longer. The list from shortest to longest for men is: "remarried" guys have the shortest life span. I would attribute this to having to retrain the second/third/fourth one, it is just a lot of effort. Single guys are next, a lot of these guys probably get shot before they die of natural causes. Finally (my group) one wife, one life. We outlive them all, so there.
Myth 4: Eating low fat, blah blah blah..don't really remember what this section said. My personal opinion is that if you work out you get a pass on the food part. Also, I would rather live a shorter period of time and eat good stuff than outlive all my contemporaries and eat like a monk. Give me nice steak, a really good pinot noir, and generous slice of egg custard pie. At that point I would die satisfied and good-natured, not live a long time as a bitter, crusty old vegan.
Myth 5: If you have a "look on the bright side" attitude you will live longer. Basically this "attitude" had no impact on longevity. Better to be focused and engaged in whatever you are doing. I find bright, chipper people annoying.
So here is my cocktail for a long life, or at least an enjoyable life.
Have some really good friends that you love being around and they love being around you. Work out as much as you can every week on a schedule that makes sense to you. Eat as healthy as you can, but enjoy the good cooking and the good times that meals bring. Enjoy your mate in every way, emotionally, spiritually, sexually, mentally, as much as you can, as long as you can. Build a spiritual life around the disciplines of the Spirit and spirit. Let yesterdays be yesterdays and todays be todays, tomorrows don't count. Dream, aspire, learn, keep climbing the hill, stay on the journey, until the very last moment, I hope in the last moment I can say with a certain joy in my soul, "I didn't know that.." Always, always, always laugh.
Godspeed, the journey is short or long, but is best traveled with the knowledge that the journey we are on is uniquely ours, mine, yours.
Don
If I can remember them all, here are the five myths (not necessarily in the order of the article, but in how I remembered them)
Myth 1: You have to exercise at a certain level to make it worthwhile. Apparently the article says that if we are trying to exercise by doing something we hate, we will stop, thus not exercising at all. So go ahead and garden, or take a walk, or walk the dog. Just get off the couch as often as you can. My opinion is that we have grocery stores that negate the need for gardens, I hate walking with no destination, and the stupid dog can walk herself - she has legs, though they are getting shorter. My bride and I are beginning to enjoy our time at the gym, thank you very much.
Myth 2: Don't work so hard, slow down, enjoy. This is a myth. According to the 90 year study, the high achievers live longer. I have always worked hard..it's that high achieving thing that trips me up.
Myth 3: Being married helps you live longer. The list from shortest to longest for men is: "remarried" guys have the shortest life span. I would attribute this to having to retrain the second/third/fourth one, it is just a lot of effort. Single guys are next, a lot of these guys probably get shot before they die of natural causes. Finally (my group) one wife, one life. We outlive them all, so there.
Myth 4: Eating low fat, blah blah blah..don't really remember what this section said. My personal opinion is that if you work out you get a pass on the food part. Also, I would rather live a shorter period of time and eat good stuff than outlive all my contemporaries and eat like a monk. Give me nice steak, a really good pinot noir, and generous slice of egg custard pie. At that point I would die satisfied and good-natured, not live a long time as a bitter, crusty old vegan.
Myth 5: If you have a "look on the bright side" attitude you will live longer. Basically this "attitude" had no impact on longevity. Better to be focused and engaged in whatever you are doing. I find bright, chipper people annoying.
So here is my cocktail for a long life, or at least an enjoyable life.
Have some really good friends that you love being around and they love being around you. Work out as much as you can every week on a schedule that makes sense to you. Eat as healthy as you can, but enjoy the good cooking and the good times that meals bring. Enjoy your mate in every way, emotionally, spiritually, sexually, mentally, as much as you can, as long as you can. Build a spiritual life around the disciplines of the Spirit and spirit. Let yesterdays be yesterdays and todays be todays, tomorrows don't count. Dream, aspire, learn, keep climbing the hill, stay on the journey, until the very last moment, I hope in the last moment I can say with a certain joy in my soul, "I didn't know that.." Always, always, always laugh.
Godspeed, the journey is short or long, but is best traveled with the knowledge that the journey we are on is uniquely ours, mine, yours.
Don
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