Day 62 - Ramblings About Time

Yesterday was eldest's 17th birthday. It's hard to believe how quickly 17 years goes by because it seems like it was just a few months ago. I can't say it "seems like yesterday" as many memories have faded into the nothing, but it definitely doesn't feel like it's approaching the two decade marker.

And side note, it just occurred to me that I'm just a couple of years out from my 25th high school reunion. Why is it when we are young that seems more than a lifetime away, but now that it's approaching, it feels not that long ago? My dad had a theory that the older we get, the faster time passes. I'm beginning to believe he was absolutely correct. I think this quickening of the passage of time is not so much in terms of absolute scientific principle, but in terms of mental status. I can't explain it really, but I do believe it exists. It's kind of like God, only with less BAM! I can't prove God exists, but I believe He is there all around us and He does things only He understands.

As far as diet and exercise have gone the past week, I have thought about it and that's a far as the process has gone. I've been trying to sort out this thing called life and my personal health has taken a back seat to trying to tame the mental animals running amuck in my head. There are really too many things going on lately and I haven't been sleeping well or anything else. Frustrating.

Time change is tonight. I hate this stupid, freakin', daylight savings time crap. (Speaking of not sleeping well lately.) I don't know why we still do it. It's not all that important to have daylight at 10pm. I seriously would be pleased if they would fix it. I found a quote that sums up my feelings rather nicely.

A writer in 1947 noted, "I don't really care how time is reckoned so long as there is some agreement about it, but I object to being told that I am saving daylight when my reason tells me that I am doing nothing of the kind. I even object to the implication that I am wasting something valuable if I stay in bed after the sun has risen. As an admirer of moonlight I resent the bossy insistence of those who want to reduce my time for enjoying it. At the back of the Daylight Saving scheme I detect the bony, blue-fingered hand of Puritanism, eager to push people into bed earlier, and get them up earlier, to make them healthy, wealthy and wise in spite of themselves." (Robertson Davies, The Diary of Samuel Marchbanks, 1947, XIX, Sunday.)

Well, I think I need to get some real rest. Got to get up early (as it were) to take Maverick to the groomers for the summer shave. I know it's not summer, but he smells like dog. Love the boy, but dog smell is blah. Time to get him less canine and more fru-fru.... LOL!

Ciao Bella...

Day 59 - Trying to Sort It All Out

Disasters can come in every shape and form under Heaven and they definitely test our faith. Things have been going a little rough lately at the casa while I don't truly know if I can classify the situation as a disaster, I can quantify it as "suckage" and massive amounts of it. At this point, I'm not making the overtime I was freakin' MANDATED to work at the AECC so my paychecks have been smaller than they used to be by quite a bit and this has been going on for the past 6 months. Kyle's business has slowed down to a snail's pace (complete with the goo left behind...) and recovery from that slowdown may or may not happen. In the meanwhile, we can't wait to see if it will turn around so Kyle has been sending out resumes and looking at jobs elsewhere.

I'm hoping something comes through soon on Kyle's Great Job Hunt of 2011, but I know we also need to get many more resumes out there to make that happen. There are 2 jobs he's applied for that sound pretty awesome. One is in Dallas and one is in Lake Mary, Florida - just northeast of Orlando by a few minutes. I've never pictured myself living in Florida, but stranger things have happened.

Kyle is pretty particular with what he wants to do and I'm not in his head so it's a little hard to understand sometimes. I guess I have just done so many things workwise that I don't have a clear understanding of only working less than a handful of jobs in a lifetime and only really feeling comfortable just doing one thing or something closely related to the one thing. I remember the days of working 2 and 3 jobs at a time in order to "survive" and have the feeling I'm at that point again.

Life Lesson #59 Credit cards are EVIL and all kids should stay well clear of them and be taught how in the hell to use them. I will be the first to admit we have our own fair share of debt that we are struggling like hell to repay because we were not taught good fiscal principles by the parental units. I can manage millions of dollars in a business, but can't seem to manage my own freaking spending. (Not that I'm entirely to blame in this fiasco.) But it is definitely much easier to handle before losing about 3K a month.

And as a side note, I think we finally have the kids diapers, formula and baby clothes paid off. Most of this ever-accumulating debt (interest) has been the result of necessary purchases. Sure, some of the things we have charged over the years weren't "necessary," but trust me when I say, "Come look at my house and tell me we have an overabundance of luxury items." A couple of years when the kids were young, I couldn't work because the girls were sick all the time. It get's interesting when I look back at the income taxes during that time because we survived on the credit cards we had. Anyhoooooo....

Seeing as I'm kind of tired of non-paying career choices, I'm having to look at going back into media. I'm not a big fan of that. However, I have found several jobs in New York City that pay well over 100K and with that kind of money, I could find a small place there and in all honesty, we could have 95% of all of our bills paid off in 6-8 months. If I were a little more conservative thinking time-wise because I know stuff happens, I would say 10 months. But everything paid in under a year is completely doable. This would free up a lot of tension financially, but cause a few more problems along the way... the question I have to find an answer for is which of the problems is the worst? God knows I don't want to live away from my family for a year, but I also know that those guys in the military that go away for a year or a two at a time have family units that somehow survive. Is this that kind of situation and how to look at it? Is it "war?" I'm thinking it might be and I'm going to have to fight to keep my family in a most unorthodox manner.

Ahhhhhhh it's too late at night to be going round and round on this matter, but I really needed to vent for a few. All of this stuff in my head is just kind of a swirling mass of confusion and maybe just being able to get some of it out is good. I'm going to try to crash and burn now. Hopefully a good night's sleep will bring some clarity. Bon nuit.

Happiness?

This is an "actual letter" from an Austin , Texas woman sent to Proctor and Gamble regarding one of their feminine products. She really gets rolling after the first paragraph. This was PC Magazine's 2009 Editors' Choice award-winner for the best letter sent via e-mail.

Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your 'Always' maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts.

But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.'

Isn't the human body amazing?

As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customer's monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women.

The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants... Which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.'

Are you f------ kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness, is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything
mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, un les s you're some kind of sick S&M freak, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.

For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Put down the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong'.

Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bullshit. And that's a promise I will keep.

Always. . ...

Wendi Aarons
Austin , TX