Are you superstitious?

I am folding laundry and have Rachael Ray on the television. I see her throwing salt over her shoulder "for luck". Really? Does she really believe it's going to bring luck?

Whether you are spiritual, religious, atheist or agnostic you can't possibly believe superstitions are true.

If you are spiritual or religious, do you really think God is up there looking down saying, "oops she just walked under a latter, bad luck". I think not.

If you are atheist or agnostic then who or what would bring the bad luck or good luck?

What would you tell your 16 year old self?

I recently saw a bunch of tv personalities talking about a new book which interviewed rich people and asked them what they would tell their 16 year old self. Oh yeah lets hear from the rich people. "I would tell myself not to worry about money". " I would tell myself not to worry about taking care of my mother. She would have all the care she needed". Bla Bla blaaaaaaaaa

Okay lets hear it for the rich people who have no worries about money. Now for the rest of us. Why didn't they ask the average or homeless person what they would tell their 16 year old self?

I would tell myself, forget about being happy. It's not really attainable for most of us. If you don't worry about being happy, you will have a lot less to worry about. Forget about doing what you like to do. You will be poor and more unhappy. Get a government, state, county, town or union job. At least someday you will be able to retire with a pension. Whatever you do, don't ever believe working hard will pay off. It doesn't!!! Do the job you were hired to do. Whatever extra you do, do it for yourself. No one else really gives two hoots! They will use you up and kick you to the curb like last weeks trash.

Why is it so easy to catch a bad mood?

It always seems so much easier to catch a bad mood that it is to catch a good mood. One bad mood in a room or "The Room" and the whole place goes down in flames.

Quote from Randy Pausch - Last Lecture

I will never forget this quote...

"Tell the Truth All the Time"

"If I could only give three words of advice, they would be "tell the truth". If I got three more words, I'd add: "All the time". My parents taught me that "you're only as good as your word," and there's no better way to say it. 

Honesty is not only morally right, it's also efficient. In a culture where everyone tells the truth, you can save a lot of time double-checking."

It's all about me...

I know I have visited this subject before and I probably will many times again. It's political season again. I'm not sure there is a season anymore. It seems unending. No politicians ever stop campaigning any more and just do their job.

It seems as though so many people in society want what's best for them alone and screw everyone else. Rich people want write-offs. Poor people want hand-outs. The rest of us get stuck in the middle paying for it all.

It's really hard not to get sucked into the vortex of greed and selfishness. We're all stuck in our own orbit and screw everyone else.

When did public service make you rich? Why are all politicians millionaires?

Thougths on 9/11

I've been watching some of the coverage of 9/11 these past few days. It's almost as though it happened just yesterday.

I remember being at my job that day, like any other day, and how important my work seemed. Every piece of paper and every file on my computer. They all seemed vitally important.

Then the first plane hit the North Tower. And then the second hit the South Tower. I was stunned. I watched the towers as they collapsed and all those pieces of paper floated down to the street. I wondered whose piece of paper that was and how important it was to them, perhaps even as little as an hour before. I looked at my own desk and my own work and it all seemed so stupid. I felt disassociated with many of my co-workers who seemed to be continuing with their day as though these monumental tragedies were not occurring.

I still don't understand the meanness of the human race. So many of us are not the kind people we should be. Some of us don't even seem to try. Just the other day, if a friend and I hadn't stopped at a cross walk, two men in a pick-up truck would have gladly run us over. And probably smiled while doing it.

Now I go to work everyday and remain completely devoid of connection. I have not put up so much as one quote or photo on my desk. The upstairs departments rarely fraternize with the downstairs departments. And one side of "The Room can't even be civil to the other side of "The Room". Every day seems so stupid and pointless.

I continue to try to be the best person I can be, but unfortunately I often let myself down. I'm not even sure how to close this as it is unfathomable to me that we call ourselves civilized.

Office parties

Let me start by saying this isn't to any of the co-workers who may be reading this now.

Is it just me? Isn't it just a little strange attending an office party and everyone you work with wants to hug you? It's creepy. I don't hug anybody when I come to work? No, I don't want to hug my boss or the people I don't like or the people who talk about me behind my back. Can we all just eat, drink and be merry. Oh wait, that's right, I forgot who I was talking about. Can we all just slop the hogs, get sloshed and make totally inappropriate gestures and behave badly? You know like every other day. And pretend I'm last weeks fish guts on the driveway of life. Well you could leave that out, at least until we are back in "The Room".

I'm not a hugger. Never going to be a hugger. I don't even hug people I like.

Professional and/or Public Speakers

I've heard so much awful English on TV. I guess it's a pet peeve of mine. Don't get me wrong, I don't speak perfectly, but I'm also not a public or professional speaker.

Example:  Are are kids being taught math in school?
Correction: Are our kids being taught math in school?

Example: Nucular
Correction: Nuclear

And can we stop repeating words multiple times and please stop saying uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhh?

Shouldn't public/professional speakers speak correctly? Come on news media and politicians!

What offends you?

I have sat down in front of this page so many times recently, pondering the multitude of questions I could post. Many times I'm concerned that I may offend someone, although it is never my gold to offend anyone. Not in this blog anyway. I have pages and pages of contemplation and yet it never makes it this far. Eventually I will risk the post and hope no one gets angry.

It seems as though society, including myself, gets offended easily today. Is there something going on in the world that offends you? Some behavior you see or experience? Etiquette? What is it?

Stay-at-home Mom's

I think I know better what it must feel like to be a stay-at-home mom. I've seen them many times on TV saying how much they miss adult conversation. I never really understood that, until now. I work in a mostly hostile, unfriendly work environment. I don't think I understood what detachment really felt like until now.

Super Elastic Bubble Plastic

Do you remember this stuff? While I was out walking yesterday I saw an awful-colored piece of chewed-up gum on the road. For whatever reason it reminded me of that goo we used to squeeze out of a tube, as kids, onto the end of a plastic straw and blow it into a bubble. As I always do I emailed my brother and asked him if he remembered. I can always count on him to remember this stuff. Super Elastic Bubble Plastic.

http://www.retroland.com/super-elastic-bubble-plastic/

This is only some of what this retro web site had to say...

"Tired of blowing regular old soap bubbles? Looking for something a little longer-lasting, a little more psychedelic, something perhaps with noxious fumes? Well, the scientific minds at Wham-O toys had just what you were looking for, Super Elastic Bubble Plastic, that short-lived, but certainly well-remembered, tube of goop that delighted millions of kids during the 70s."

If you remember this stuff at all you must check out this web site for a trip down memory lane. 

Do you remember any other stuff you had as kids?

I survived Hurricane Irene!!!

Everything is intact. How did everyone fair? Any hurricane stories?

Love

What does that mean?

I ask because I don't know. To me it seems like another 4 letter word.

Hurricane Irene

I guess I should be grateful for the 24 hour talking heads. It's really hard to listen to the constant doomsday predictions and extravagant adjectives. It was such a beautiful day. I am really glad we now have this type of warning system to let us know when to be prepared for these storms. I just wish they would let it get closer before they started the constant reporting.

I remember my first hurricane memory. We "had" 4 very large locust trees in our back yard. As a kid I never even considered that they would fall in some wind. (Hurricane Bob or Belle - can't remember) It really didn't occur to me to be worried. Go figure, since I worried about everything as a kid.  I went to sleep and woke in the morning to every one of those tree's fallen over in our back yard. The miracle was they all fell in the only direction they could have, without hitting anything! Literally there was a very small area to the northwest. They didn't hit the neighbors house, or our house and didn't take down the electric wires. It truly was a miracle I will never forget that. They were HUGE tree's.

Any hurricane stories from the past?

Cell Phones

I am going to come right out and say, I am anti cell phone. They were the worse invention and the best invention. We used to communicate face to face. Then it was telephone, cell phone, computer. They it got worse. We then communicated via facebook and texting. Technology was suppose to make staying connected easier. It seems it has made society further apart then ever. Many people aren't even with the friends they are with because they are talking or texting to someone else.

I saw a lady today walking and pushing a stroller. The occupant of the stroller was approximately 2ish. The lady pushing the stroller was blabbing on a cell phone. Really?

Enough said. Anything to add?

Kids sports

Expanding on the previous post, what do you think about kids sports? I'm not a parent, so I only have an opinion. Should all the kids win? Does that teach a good lesson? It goes with getting all kids birthday presents when it isn't everyone's birthday. Is that okay? Doesn't it teach that no one is special? And you can never not win?

Tell me what you think?

Sports

Is it just me? Every time I see the sports report on the news I am so disgusted. It is just a game right? I mean they do get huge paychecks and perks. What is with the behavior? Fights and poor sportsmanship. Wait, does sportsmanship still exist? And the audience seems to love it? I don't get it. We are supposed to be a civilized society right? It's kind of hard to tell.

What do you think?

Lying

While walking with a friend today the subject of lying surfaced. In the past I took the road, seemingly less traveled, and decided that morally and ethically I could not lie. Unfortunately, now I question my decision. I'm not sure I made the right one.

What do you think? When is it okay to lie?

Of Thee I Zing

I'm reading a book by Laura Ingrahm called, "Of Thee I Zing". It is self described as "America's Cultural Decline from Muffin Tops to Body Shots". I had high hopes that this would be a humorous look at society and its new habits. It wasn't what I expected. I guess I can say I was disappointed to say the least.

If anyone else reads this book, let me know what you think?

Cartwheels

I saw a kid on TV doing a cartwheel and it got me to wondering...

When did I do my last cartwheel? Why did I stop? I have no idea. How about you?

War Horse - Broadway play

This isn't going to be a question. At least I don't think it is. I saw a TV show on PBS the other night on "The Making of War Horse". It was the coolest thing ever. They call the horses puppets, although they are unlike any puppets I've ever seen. I have been around horses for about 30 years and I have never seen anything that captured the mannerisms of a horse so perfectly.  Apparently the story is told from the perspective of the animals. If you get a chance to see this show it's worth it. If you get a chance to see it on Broadway - Lucky You!

Smoke Alarms

You wake up because you think you heard something... wait... nope nothing. You go back to sleep or at least almost back to sleep... There it is again! This time you are going to wait longer... There it is, that chirp of the smoke alarm warning you the battery is low. So now you have to get up and try to figure out which one it is, or is it the CO detector. You walk around and wait... Is it over there, or over hear? Ugh! A half hour later you finally figure it out and pull the battery till morning. Now try to go back to sleep!

Why is it that smoke alarm batteries always get low in the middle of the night

Extreme selfishness

Is this the "Me" generation? I'm not sure what age to label it, but it sure seems like "It's my way or the highway". I experienced extreme selfishness today. I'm not sure I need to hear about any more.

Does anyone have any kind or unselfish acts to report?

Religious vs Spiritual - make your case

I've heard it said, "I'm spiritual not religious". In fact, several years ago, I used these exact words myself. I go back now and ask myself what did that mean? For me it meant I believe in God, but I want to make my own rules. For example, I don't need to go to church, it's just a building. God is everywhere. What that really meant for me was I didn't even want to give God a little bit of my time. Get up on Sunday, NO WAY!

If you believe in God, do you think he has requirements of us? if yes, what are they?

Cleaning

What can I say, I'm losing control over my house. We won't even mention the yard, that has gone back to the wild. I'm losing control over my house. Did I say that twice? I never really was very good at keeping house. I'm burnt out.

Today I want to know how much time you spend cleaning your house each day/week? Include everyone that has a hand at cleaning. How would you describe your home. a) extreme clean (you could eat off the floor) b) medium clean (some clutter) c) dare I say it? Slob. You have to move stuff so you can sit down.

Do you have any tips? How can it get done faster or easier? Is this possible?

Busy

Busy seems to be the new American Badge of Honor? What do you think? Is busy good or bad? How does it effect your life? How might you change it?

What's your point of view?

This blog is created because I miss running "impromptu polls" at my previous employment. It may not be the correct use of a blog. I'm not yet social network savvy. I will present a thought or idea for which I'd like to get your point of view. Keep in mind this is not about criticizing someone else's point of view, it's about presenting your own. If you think you're always right or you're looking for a fight, this is not your site.

What's your point of view?