The more difficult changes in life can sometimes, in the end, lead to better times. Certainly we can learn from them. It seems like every time I ever tried to make a change for the better something happened to push me back. I would have to work twice as hard just to get back up to where I started.
I started 2009 with big plans. I wanted to make some big changes and start to really turn things around. Sure, in years past I felt the same way but that was the year I was truly going to push for it. Of course, things did not go as planned. When I say started the year I mean Jan 1. I believe it was Jan 9., a mere 8 days later, when the company I worked for notified us they were shuttering our plant. A number of my co-workers were out that day.
That pretty well killed my plans for the year. I couldn't work toward my goals because I had no idea how long I would be out of work, where I would be, etc... As it turned out I was there to the very end, mid april. I was lucky to only be out of work about a month before starting a new job. Same industry. Things were tight for a few months until I moved up to basically the same position I held at the old job. Here, though, it is a better job with better benefits.
As I look around at my co-workers and people in my little social groups I see qualities that irritate me. Some are simple quirks, while others are more substantial character flaws. I have learned to be much more tolerant over the years. That is a really good thing as I find myself censoring myself less and less the older I get. I can be pretty open with my thoughts and opinions at times.
I have also learned to observe some of these same qualities that annoy me so...in myself. Some things to work on.
I had hoped to make some changes in my personal life as well but that fell short. I have dated here and there but few have lasted long. One went on for a year and a half before things started to go south. To date (a year later) I am not really sure where we stand, a very odd situation indeed. Anyway, I am not really sure where I want to take things now.
Perhaps I need to stay out of the mix for a while. It seems like I spent too much effort trying to move things along and missed a lot of opportunities.
This year, no plans. I want to try to spend time meeting different people and doing different things. I need to spend more time on the bike. In the end it comes down to simplicity. The hard part is going to be the will power, ambition and motivation to make the necessary improvements.
If I am ever going to be truly happy it will not come from getting what I want. It will only come from learning to be satisfied with what I have.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Look what they've done to my song, Ma...
MTV. It seems that at first mention of it the only thing that most people I know can say is to copmplain that they "don't play music videos anymore". First of all, if they want to see the videos they might want to change their schedule. I have seen videos on MTV, just not in prime time. Besides, if you want to see videos, there are other channels that show them. MTV has simply evolved to the demands of their market, or maybe devolved.
My issue with MTV is less superficial. I believe MTV has done more harm to music as a whole than any other influence in our society. Before MTV, the music was the product. It didn't matter the appearance of the artist so much as their talent. Not so today. With the music video came the artist as an image. Style now comes before substance.
It didn't start this way. The early videos were commercials for the music. They starred existing artists and were built around the music. Some of those videos were very creative. Some were basically short films with an artistic value all their own, still with the music at heart.
Soon, however, the 'artist' became the commodity. The video producers and performers became lazy and just started showing concert footage. Eventually the stars became more interested in the image they were putting out. Why are gold teeth, 22 inch wheels and pants virtually falling down with every step popular? It certainly isn't due to convenience or any functional value. It is simple idol worship.
Way back when, when I was is high school, the only people who tried to emulate the styles of their favorite musicians were the punk rock fans. How ironic that the kids who would claim to favor anarchy and individuality were the most eager conformists. Especially since they would be rallying against just that.
Sure there were some bad trends in those days coming from popular artists. There were some of the girls who dressed in the style of Madonna. I don't recall anyone dressing like Devo or Huey Lewis though. Worse, not only the clothing is copied but the kids try to emulate the attitudes they see on the videos. I see it in the younger guys in the workplace. One would hope that by the time a man is in his twenties he might grow up a little,but I know a few who are well into their second decade and are still trying to pull off the Hip-Hop thug persona. Do they hope to ever gain any real respect from anyone other than their thug buddies?
There are still a few true artists still out there producing but the industry has gotten lazy. Why go out looking for talent when it is easier to just pick up some kid off the street and throw together some standard loops, steal some samples and sell it as a hit. It is a shame really. I have seen many very talented bands struggle and fail to get a contract. They had something to say and some real musical talent but couldn't get a foot in the door.
It isn't just the recording industry doing this either. MTV moved on to destroying the quality of TV programming when they came up with the Real World series. No writing, no actors, low production costs (and corresponding production value). The networks soon discovered how lucrative it was to throw some of this schlock together to fill airtime. They are just soap operas without a plot.
The major studios are just as lazy. They have become addicted to remakes of old movies, old TV shows and making movies from comic books and even old cartoons. "Rocky and Bullwinkle" and Dudley Doright" were entertaining shows for kids but didn't translate well to live action silver screen events. Hollywood is simply running out of ideas. Some of the superhero films work well because they have a well-developed story line.
Maybe the worst thing to come out of all of this is itself an old story being retold. As long as there have been sports, especially professional sports, there have been idols. Fans around the world live vicariously through them, somehow feeling their lives enriched by their team or athlete winning a big contest. It seems odd to hear an unfit middle-ager say "We're going to the Superbowl!" What position was HE playing? A lot of people seem to get into the reality tv shows with a similar zeal.
I am certainly guilty of this to some degree. I definitely watch too much TV. I don't really get much out of it other than as a siple diversion. Maybe that is why I find it less and less interesting as time goes on. I really need to find the off switch....
ME
My issue with MTV is less superficial. I believe MTV has done more harm to music as a whole than any other influence in our society. Before MTV, the music was the product. It didn't matter the appearance of the artist so much as their talent. Not so today. With the music video came the artist as an image. Style now comes before substance.
It didn't start this way. The early videos were commercials for the music. They starred existing artists and were built around the music. Some of those videos were very creative. Some were basically short films with an artistic value all their own, still with the music at heart.
Soon, however, the 'artist' became the commodity. The video producers and performers became lazy and just started showing concert footage. Eventually the stars became more interested in the image they were putting out. Why are gold teeth, 22 inch wheels and pants virtually falling down with every step popular? It certainly isn't due to convenience or any functional value. It is simple idol worship.
Way back when, when I was is high school, the only people who tried to emulate the styles of their favorite musicians were the punk rock fans. How ironic that the kids who would claim to favor anarchy and individuality were the most eager conformists. Especially since they would be rallying against just that.
Sure there were some bad trends in those days coming from popular artists. There were some of the girls who dressed in the style of Madonna. I don't recall anyone dressing like Devo or Huey Lewis though. Worse, not only the clothing is copied but the kids try to emulate the attitudes they see on the videos. I see it in the younger guys in the workplace. One would hope that by the time a man is in his twenties he might grow up a little,but I know a few who are well into their second decade and are still trying to pull off the Hip-Hop thug persona. Do they hope to ever gain any real respect from anyone other than their thug buddies?
There are still a few true artists still out there producing but the industry has gotten lazy. Why go out looking for talent when it is easier to just pick up some kid off the street and throw together some standard loops, steal some samples and sell it as a hit. It is a shame really. I have seen many very talented bands struggle and fail to get a contract. They had something to say and some real musical talent but couldn't get a foot in the door.
It isn't just the recording industry doing this either. MTV moved on to destroying the quality of TV programming when they came up with the Real World series. No writing, no actors, low production costs (and corresponding production value). The networks soon discovered how lucrative it was to throw some of this schlock together to fill airtime. They are just soap operas without a plot.
The major studios are just as lazy. They have become addicted to remakes of old movies, old TV shows and making movies from comic books and even old cartoons. "Rocky and Bullwinkle" and Dudley Doright" were entertaining shows for kids but didn't translate well to live action silver screen events. Hollywood is simply running out of ideas. Some of the superhero films work well because they have a well-developed story line.
Maybe the worst thing to come out of all of this is itself an old story being retold. As long as there have been sports, especially professional sports, there have been idols. Fans around the world live vicariously through them, somehow feeling their lives enriched by their team or athlete winning a big contest. It seems odd to hear an unfit middle-ager say "We're going to the Superbowl!" What position was HE playing? A lot of people seem to get into the reality tv shows with a similar zeal.
I am certainly guilty of this to some degree. I definitely watch too much TV. I don't really get much out of it other than as a siple diversion. Maybe that is why I find it less and less interesting as time goes on. I really need to find the off switch....
ME
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Flying Rats!!!
Canadian geese. They're everywhere, literally. You can look at any sidewalk, playground or parking lot to see the evidence. Not only are they annoying but there have to be some sort of health hazards as well. I find it especially annoying that a pair of them seems to think I need to be awakened at 8:00 every morning.
One day, a few weeks ago, I saw some movement outside my window. On my second-floor balcony a goose was trying to perch on the railing. Apparently this fowl did not realize webbed feet are not particularly well suited for that sort of activity. I pounded on the window with a fist to scare it off.
Some days later I discovered some droppings on my balcony. I do not know what they find interesting there but I find it very irritating. Again last week that lousy bird was on my railing. This time I gave it a blast from a hand-held airhorn, the sort you find people at sports arenas using to deafen the other spectators. It flew off again.
I started looking for more effective deterrents. I heard the suggestion of a bb gun. I like that idea but am concerned about the potential legal fallout. Someone else offered the idea of the paintball gun. I love that idea but decided I don't want to spend that much money on something I will not likely use otherwise. I thought about something on the order of a pepper spray but to be effective I would have to hit it's face and it doesn't seem to be very easy to aim at small targets that move.
I settled on a super-soaker. That is something with a decent range and will not do any harm. I suspect it would be effective for scaring the bird away. They may be waterfowl but that is not something to which they are accustomed.
I believe we need a change in the laws. They are protected because they are migratory birds. I guess someone stopped teaching the geese that they are supposed to travel. They stay here year round. They have no natural enemies and no predators, apart from the occasional Buick.
Eventually, there will have to be a change in policy. As their population continues to grow issues are sure to appear. Every housing devlopement built has to have a lake, retention pond or other water feature that serves to attract these vermin. More people around more geese will bring more conflict. Geese have been known to attack people, usually in the vicinity of their nests. In an apartment complex with children running around that could be a serious problem. Add to that the health hazards of the droppings that they leave everywhere and I expect there will eventually be a call for action.
Besides, with so many people out of work it seems a shame to let all of that free food go right along prospering with impunity, right in front of many people who have nothing to eat...
ME
One day, a few weeks ago, I saw some movement outside my window. On my second-floor balcony a goose was trying to perch on the railing. Apparently this fowl did not realize webbed feet are not particularly well suited for that sort of activity. I pounded on the window with a fist to scare it off.
Some days later I discovered some droppings on my balcony. I do not know what they find interesting there but I find it very irritating. Again last week that lousy bird was on my railing. This time I gave it a blast from a hand-held airhorn, the sort you find people at sports arenas using to deafen the other spectators. It flew off again.
I started looking for more effective deterrents. I heard the suggestion of a bb gun. I like that idea but am concerned about the potential legal fallout. Someone else offered the idea of the paintball gun. I love that idea but decided I don't want to spend that much money on something I will not likely use otherwise. I thought about something on the order of a pepper spray but to be effective I would have to hit it's face and it doesn't seem to be very easy to aim at small targets that move.
I settled on a super-soaker. That is something with a decent range and will not do any harm. I suspect it would be effective for scaring the bird away. They may be waterfowl but that is not something to which they are accustomed.
I believe we need a change in the laws. They are protected because they are migratory birds. I guess someone stopped teaching the geese that they are supposed to travel. They stay here year round. They have no natural enemies and no predators, apart from the occasional Buick.
Eventually, there will have to be a change in policy. As their population continues to grow issues are sure to appear. Every housing devlopement built has to have a lake, retention pond or other water feature that serves to attract these vermin. More people around more geese will bring more conflict. Geese have been known to attack people, usually in the vicinity of their nests. In an apartment complex with children running around that could be a serious problem. Add to that the health hazards of the droppings that they leave everywhere and I expect there will eventually be a call for action.
Besides, with so many people out of work it seems a shame to let all of that free food go right along prospering with impunity, right in front of many people who have nothing to eat...
ME
Friday, March 5, 2010
Mein Kampf
Over the years I have read a variety of books. Some novels, fiction, humor, autobiography, etc... One I found to be very interesting was "The Masked Rider". It was written by Rush's drummer, an avid cyclist, as an account of his bicycle tour of West Africa.
I started reading a number of others and somehow set them aside. I plan to return to them at some point in time. I am just not motivated right now. Don Quixote, The Reagan Diaries, a few others I can't recall right now and Mein Kampf.
What I read of Mein Kampf was pretty dull really. I was bored by it but would like to finish it. For those unfamiliar, Mein Kampf was written by Adolph Hitler long before he became the Fuhrer. Yes I did shave my head once or twice in the past but NO, I am not a Skinhead. I simply think it might be interesting to read about what makes a person like that tick.
I suppose it is true, though, that most who read that book are of the racist sort. There are likely a few reasons for this. Most people like to validate their beliefs by associating themselves with people of similar beliefs. They also may be looking for added justifications for their hatred.
Most people will not read a book like this. Many are afraid of it. They fear they will be affected by it or be labeled by those who see them reading it. But should you be worried about what you read? Of course it depends greatly on who the reader happens to be.
Since Hitler's book preaches hate, it would be unwise to set a child down with it to read without parental guidance. Children usually do not have the critical thinking skills necessary to read something like that without effect. Adults should be able to read it without ill effect, or am I giving people too much credit?
I don't care if people give me dirty looks for what I read. They do it anyway, might as well have a reason. I learned a long time ago that people will believe what they want to believe. My choices in literature can have little effect on that. If a stranger were to look at my bookshelves and try to pin down my character they would probably be pretty far off. Some of it is for the purpose of learning but much of it is purely for escape.
I have also, at times, thought it might be interesting to read a copy of a satanic bible. Perhaps it is my philosophic bent that is curious of this point of view. I doubt I would have the patience for reading a text of that sort. Since I have my own belief system pretty well set in I doubt it would hold my interest. The whole concept of worshiping evil seems so fundamentally flawed from the very start.
At any rate there are about 10 or so books sitting around here that I have begun and not finished. It has been a few years for some of them. Maybe I should pick one of them up and force myself to finish it.
Maybe, but I have a few more important things I need to do this year. Spending a lot of time reading would probably just get in the way. I do too much sitting around as it is. I might never finish these books.
So should I decide to shave my head again, and you see me out and about, don't be alarmed. I'm not joining any hate groups. It is simply a change of pace. When I did shave my head summer felt much cooler...
ME
I started reading a number of others and somehow set them aside. I plan to return to them at some point in time. I am just not motivated right now. Don Quixote, The Reagan Diaries, a few others I can't recall right now and Mein Kampf.
What I read of Mein Kampf was pretty dull really. I was bored by it but would like to finish it. For those unfamiliar, Mein Kampf was written by Adolph Hitler long before he became the Fuhrer. Yes I did shave my head once or twice in the past but NO, I am not a Skinhead. I simply think it might be interesting to read about what makes a person like that tick.
I suppose it is true, though, that most who read that book are of the racist sort. There are likely a few reasons for this. Most people like to validate their beliefs by associating themselves with people of similar beliefs. They also may be looking for added justifications for their hatred.
Most people will not read a book like this. Many are afraid of it. They fear they will be affected by it or be labeled by those who see them reading it. But should you be worried about what you read? Of course it depends greatly on who the reader happens to be.
Since Hitler's book preaches hate, it would be unwise to set a child down with it to read without parental guidance. Children usually do not have the critical thinking skills necessary to read something like that without effect. Adults should be able to read it without ill effect, or am I giving people too much credit?
I don't care if people give me dirty looks for what I read. They do it anyway, might as well have a reason. I learned a long time ago that people will believe what they want to believe. My choices in literature can have little effect on that. If a stranger were to look at my bookshelves and try to pin down my character they would probably be pretty far off. Some of it is for the purpose of learning but much of it is purely for escape.
I have also, at times, thought it might be interesting to read a copy of a satanic bible. Perhaps it is my philosophic bent that is curious of this point of view. I doubt I would have the patience for reading a text of that sort. Since I have my own belief system pretty well set in I doubt it would hold my interest. The whole concept of worshiping evil seems so fundamentally flawed from the very start.
At any rate there are about 10 or so books sitting around here that I have begun and not finished. It has been a few years for some of them. Maybe I should pick one of them up and force myself to finish it.
Maybe, but I have a few more important things I need to do this year. Spending a lot of time reading would probably just get in the way. I do too much sitting around as it is. I might never finish these books.
So should I decide to shave my head again, and you see me out and about, don't be alarmed. I'm not joining any hate groups. It is simply a change of pace. When I did shave my head summer felt much cooler...
ME
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Personal responsibility
I made a trip tp the BMV today. Overdue change of address on my license. It was relatively uneventful...wait in line, check in, wait some more until a young latina with the prettiest eyes I have seen in many moons calls my name...
I got my business taken care of in an hour or so and drove home. On the way home the idea of personal responibility came to my mind. I don't know why. Maybe it was due to a radio commentator ranting about some political issue. Often abstract concepts enter my head with no rhyme or reason and usually as quickly fade away.
A sad incident of recent weeks came to mind. After one of our recent snowstorms recently a young man was hit by a car while walking along a street. It was a hit-and-run. Some of his injuries were pretty serious and some permanent. I really can sympathize with him, to a degree as I have been injured while riding my bicycle and am lucky the injuries were not more serious. Six weeks later and I was OK. The driver needs to have the book thrown at him, maybe not for the hit but the run. Of course the run may be due to the reason for the hit (suspended license, drinking, etc...)
I do, however believe the injured man was in some part responsible for his injuries. How? Well first he was walking on the street because he couldn't walk on the snow. OK, maybe the road had been plowed so it would have been difficult so I'll give him benefit of doubt for that. The major part was that he said he was walking and looked back to see if a car was coming when he was hit. That tells us he was walking on the right-hand side of the road. There was no mention of what color he was wearing so I can make no assumption of how visible he was.
Unfortunately, stories of this nature are not uncommon. I have often been driving, even at night on busy roads like Georgetown road in Indianapolis and seen people wearing dark clothes walking on the right hand side of the road. Many times I have seen, typically males, riding bicycles on the left-hand side of the road at night with dark clothing and no reflectors or lights. Many would say they are naer-do-wells who don't want to be seen. Maybe, but maybe they are just trying to get somewhere.
In the rare occasions in which I ride a bike at night I am always well lit. I realize many people don't really know the rules of the road when it comes to non-motorized vehicles. State law requires reflectors. Lights are certainly a wise choice IN ADDITION TO, not instead of, reflectors. A bicyclist must always ride with traffic (the right hand side of the road). Pedestrians should walk against traffic (left hand side of the road).
I know it is hard to teach children the basic rules, most adults don't know them. We need a way to get the message out in some way. There is no political momentum for this message but maybe there should be. How expensive could it really be to publish this info and put it into the hands of the public? Maybe any store selling bicycles could be given flyers stating the basic rules and required to hand one out with each bike sold. There has been talk of passing helmet laws in the past (I always wear mine). This could help save lives as well and cost the consumer nothing. Publishing costs are cheap, depending on how elaborate the flyers. More importantly, the best way to survive a crash is to avoid it.
Would you like to know more about bicycle laws? Do you have children out riding bicycles, or who soon will be? Many local bike shops have free pamphlets you can pick up. Also CIBA has the Indiana laws on their website. Copy and paste the following page to read it"
http://www.cibaride.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=50
Even if there is no law concerning helmets, wear them. Teach your children to wear them. I crashed my bike in 1998 when a dog got into my path and flipped me. I suffered a number of injuries including a severe concussion. That whole day was erased from my memory. I WAS wearing a helmet. So you say "you got hurt while you were wearing one? then why bother?" Well, had I not been wearing my helmet I may well have been killed or been rendered a vegetable. I can tell you from personal experience that it is a worthwhile investment. wal-mart can sell you one for a reasonable price that can save a lot of headaches...and heartache.
As for the young hit and run victim. I wish him the best. Certainly his life will never be the same. At least maybe the rest of us can learn from his misfortune.
ME
I got my business taken care of in an hour or so and drove home. On the way home the idea of personal responibility came to my mind. I don't know why. Maybe it was due to a radio commentator ranting about some political issue. Often abstract concepts enter my head with no rhyme or reason and usually as quickly fade away.
A sad incident of recent weeks came to mind. After one of our recent snowstorms recently a young man was hit by a car while walking along a street. It was a hit-and-run. Some of his injuries were pretty serious and some permanent. I really can sympathize with him, to a degree as I have been injured while riding my bicycle and am lucky the injuries were not more serious. Six weeks later and I was OK. The driver needs to have the book thrown at him, maybe not for the hit but the run. Of course the run may be due to the reason for the hit (suspended license, drinking, etc...)
I do, however believe the injured man was in some part responsible for his injuries. How? Well first he was walking on the street because he couldn't walk on the snow. OK, maybe the road had been plowed so it would have been difficult so I'll give him benefit of doubt for that. The major part was that he said he was walking and looked back to see if a car was coming when he was hit. That tells us he was walking on the right-hand side of the road. There was no mention of what color he was wearing so I can make no assumption of how visible he was.
Unfortunately, stories of this nature are not uncommon. I have often been driving, even at night on busy roads like Georgetown road in Indianapolis and seen people wearing dark clothes walking on the right hand side of the road. Many times I have seen, typically males, riding bicycles on the left-hand side of the road at night with dark clothing and no reflectors or lights. Many would say they are naer-do-wells who don't want to be seen. Maybe, but maybe they are just trying to get somewhere.
In the rare occasions in which I ride a bike at night I am always well lit. I realize many people don't really know the rules of the road when it comes to non-motorized vehicles. State law requires reflectors. Lights are certainly a wise choice IN ADDITION TO, not instead of, reflectors. A bicyclist must always ride with traffic (the right hand side of the road). Pedestrians should walk against traffic (left hand side of the road).
I know it is hard to teach children the basic rules, most adults don't know them. We need a way to get the message out in some way. There is no political momentum for this message but maybe there should be. How expensive could it really be to publish this info and put it into the hands of the public? Maybe any store selling bicycles could be given flyers stating the basic rules and required to hand one out with each bike sold. There has been talk of passing helmet laws in the past (I always wear mine). This could help save lives as well and cost the consumer nothing. Publishing costs are cheap, depending on how elaborate the flyers. More importantly, the best way to survive a crash is to avoid it.
Would you like to know more about bicycle laws? Do you have children out riding bicycles, or who soon will be? Many local bike shops have free pamphlets you can pick up. Also CIBA has the Indiana laws on their website. Copy and paste the following page to read it"
http://www.cibaride.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=50
Even if there is no law concerning helmets, wear them. Teach your children to wear them. I crashed my bike in 1998 when a dog got into my path and flipped me. I suffered a number of injuries including a severe concussion. That whole day was erased from my memory. I WAS wearing a helmet. So you say "you got hurt while you were wearing one? then why bother?" Well, had I not been wearing my helmet I may well have been killed or been rendered a vegetable. I can tell you from personal experience that it is a worthwhile investment. wal-mart can sell you one for a reasonable price that can save a lot of headaches...and heartache.
As for the young hit and run victim. I wish him the best. Certainly his life will never be the same. At least maybe the rest of us can learn from his misfortune.
ME
Friday, February 19, 2010
Winter
I have been enoying this winter somewhat. It hasn't been too bad here on the northwest side. It seems like every winter that a storm comes through, the worst of it passes either to the north or south of here. That is good for me though.
My truck is a 4X2. My tires were pretty worn and I had picked up a nasty shimmy from one of them (a bad belt in a front tire). When I replaced them I went with a pair of billy-bob (i.e. all-terrain) tires. My drive to work is much longer on the new job and I didn't want to miss any work if I could avoid it. I'd say it was a worthwhile investment.
I am ready for spring though. Every year I tell myself "I need to get out on the bike more this year." I did get out a little more last year but not enough. I suffered through the Hilly Hundred and the Great Pumpkin Metric's 100k. The distance wasn't bad but the hills were killing me. Maybe one of these years I will actually train for these rides. Maybe this year...
That does partly depend on the job. I signed onto a machine that doesn't work as much overtime as the others, we don't even run every day during the week. Recently I learned we got some big new contracts, product that will be run on my machine. That tells me I might be in for more OT this year.
I can't complain though. It is better that my machine is utilized more. An under-utilized piece of equipment is at risk of being discarded. So more work should mean more security. I really just need to use my personal time better.
This job is a big improvement over the last. Better management, better people and a greater product mix (more than one customer). It is unfortunate they have picked so many from the other place but I think those people will shape up or they will not be around too long. The managers here mean business.
I am ready for spring. I have a lot I want to do this year and am looking for the chance to kick it into gear. I'd like to conquer "the Three Sisters" and "Cemetery Hill" this year without the struggles of last year.
...for now I'll just enjoy the weather we've got.
ME
My truck is a 4X2. My tires were pretty worn and I had picked up a nasty shimmy from one of them (a bad belt in a front tire). When I replaced them I went with a pair of billy-bob (i.e. all-terrain) tires. My drive to work is much longer on the new job and I didn't want to miss any work if I could avoid it. I'd say it was a worthwhile investment.
I am ready for spring though. Every year I tell myself "I need to get out on the bike more this year." I did get out a little more last year but not enough. I suffered through the Hilly Hundred and the Great Pumpkin Metric's 100k. The distance wasn't bad but the hills were killing me. Maybe one of these years I will actually train for these rides. Maybe this year...
That does partly depend on the job. I signed onto a machine that doesn't work as much overtime as the others, we don't even run every day during the week. Recently I learned we got some big new contracts, product that will be run on my machine. That tells me I might be in for more OT this year.
I can't complain though. It is better that my machine is utilized more. An under-utilized piece of equipment is at risk of being discarded. So more work should mean more security. I really just need to use my personal time better.
This job is a big improvement over the last. Better management, better people and a greater product mix (more than one customer). It is unfortunate they have picked so many from the other place but I think those people will shape up or they will not be around too long. The managers here mean business.
I am ready for spring. I have a lot I want to do this year and am looking for the chance to kick it into gear. I'd like to conquer "the Three Sisters" and "Cemetery Hill" this year without the struggles of last year.
...for now I'll just enjoy the weather we've got.
ME
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sit down, let's talk about the good times that never were... (from Saturday February 13, 2010)
That's a line from a song written by my late, great friend Mark. No I am not talking about myself. He was extremely talented, intelligent and perhaps knew me better than anyone else I have known. We lost touch about a year before he died. Had Facebook been around then, maybe we would not have lost touch at all.
Facebook is an interesting thing. It allows old friends to reconnect after years of separation due to, well...whatever. On the other hand it seems rather silly at times.
I have never gone to a high school reunion. I doubt I ever will. I didn't have many friends in high school. I was probably as close to the epitome of an outcast as could be found there, or nearly so. I have maintained contact in some manner or another with most of the people I would care to see again. My general thought is that 'if we didn't like each other 10 or 20 years ago why would I want to see them now?'
Of course the usual response is "People change." Some do change. Certainly the last 15 years have been a chore for me. I am a much different person now than I was then and it was hard work. There have been setbacks but overall I have made great progress.
Many people don't change as much as they should but more importantly, what difference does it make? There is a reason why the graduation ceremony is referred to as commencement. It is a new beginning. It is the end of life as a student and adolescent and the start of life as an adult. Time to move on. Right now there are more than 6 billion other people in the world who haven't yet had the opportunity to treat me like dirt. It hardly seems fair to concern myself with those of my youth.
Facebook sort of bridges the gap between reunions and staying in touch in the first place. There are but a few people from school with whom I have reconnected on that site. Most are family or people from workplaces of old that I liked but didn't necessarily hang around outside of work. There are a few from other aspects of life on there as well.
There have been a few who have sent me friend requests and I wondered why. Perhaps they forget more than I or maybe they were too self-absorbed to see their own behavior. In some cases I believe they use Facebook to support their egos. After all a larger list of friends means more popular right? Maybe they don't care if they ever communicate with all of them as long as the list is extensive (quality vs. quantity).
I use the "F" word a little more sparingly than do most people, I think. There are a lot of people out there I like. Many people I respect. But that is not enough. Perhaps there are trust issues involved here. Certainly I have known friendly people of insidious intent but I think there is more to it. Pleasant acquaintances can be very transient.
Maybe I just use the word friend as many people use the phrase "true friend". Of course that can help to segregate the honest from the insidious (fake friends?) but why even call the bad ones friends? I realize I tend to be a bit more harsh and concise with the language than most here. But I believe in honest designations.
I am glad Facebook was created. It has been good to learn of the whereabouts and fortunes af a few people, at least one of which I had experienced some real concern. It is a wonderful tool, and best of all you can control it. It is sort of like a reunion but you can decide who attends.
Maybe I'll see you soon on Facebook...no R.S.V.P. required.
ME
Facebook is an interesting thing. It allows old friends to reconnect after years of separation due to, well...whatever. On the other hand it seems rather silly at times.
I have never gone to a high school reunion. I doubt I ever will. I didn't have many friends in high school. I was probably as close to the epitome of an outcast as could be found there, or nearly so. I have maintained contact in some manner or another with most of the people I would care to see again. My general thought is that 'if we didn't like each other 10 or 20 years ago why would I want to see them now?'
Of course the usual response is "People change." Some do change. Certainly the last 15 years have been a chore for me. I am a much different person now than I was then and it was hard work. There have been setbacks but overall I have made great progress.
Many people don't change as much as they should but more importantly, what difference does it make? There is a reason why the graduation ceremony is referred to as commencement. It is a new beginning. It is the end of life as a student and adolescent and the start of life as an adult. Time to move on. Right now there are more than 6 billion other people in the world who haven't yet had the opportunity to treat me like dirt. It hardly seems fair to concern myself with those of my youth.
Facebook sort of bridges the gap between reunions and staying in touch in the first place. There are but a few people from school with whom I have reconnected on that site. Most are family or people from workplaces of old that I liked but didn't necessarily hang around outside of work. There are a few from other aspects of life on there as well.
There have been a few who have sent me friend requests and I wondered why. Perhaps they forget more than I or maybe they were too self-absorbed to see their own behavior. In some cases I believe they use Facebook to support their egos. After all a larger list of friends means more popular right? Maybe they don't care if they ever communicate with all of them as long as the list is extensive (quality vs. quantity).
I use the "F" word a little more sparingly than do most people, I think. There are a lot of people out there I like. Many people I respect. But that is not enough. Perhaps there are trust issues involved here. Certainly I have known friendly people of insidious intent but I think there is more to it. Pleasant acquaintances can be very transient.
Maybe I just use the word friend as many people use the phrase "true friend". Of course that can help to segregate the honest from the insidious (fake friends?) but why even call the bad ones friends? I realize I tend to be a bit more harsh and concise with the language than most here. But I believe in honest designations.
I am glad Facebook was created. It has been good to learn of the whereabouts and fortunes af a few people, at least one of which I had experienced some real concern. It is a wonderful tool, and best of all you can control it. It is sort of like a reunion but you can decide who attends.
Maybe I'll see you soon on Facebook...no R.S.V.P. required.
ME
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