Let me begin by letting everyone know that I passed the PFA. If you want more details, you have to comment. Now on to the meat of today's post.
Happy Hump Day! Today we are talking about the joys of parenthood. OK, who am I kidding. No matter how much we love our kids, or enjoy raising them, there is no such thing as "the joys of parenthood." Think about it. Make a list of all the activities you loved to do before you had kids. Now, start crossing off any items that you can't afford to do because of kids. Your list should be cut in half at this point. If it isn't, then either you were a really lame couple, or you were a really cheap date. Now cross off anything that you can't do with your kids either because it's illegal for them to do, or you would be a bad parent if you let them (skydiving comes to mind, but that probably went away in the first round). You should now be down to just a few activities. Now, scratch off anything that takes more than 2 hours. This is about the time you end up with after you figure out how long it will take you to get to your date location and back to the baby sitters so you don't go over that 3 hour time limit. If you are taking the kids on this event you are also limited to two hours because anything over that and you are no longer at the event, you are the event as you chase your kid in what ever direction(s) (s)he decides to go.
OK, so what you did as singles, is no longer possible with kids. That doesn't mean there is no joy, does it? I mean, you just change what activities you do. You go to age appropriate things now. All this means is that where ever you go, you end up watching the kids have fun in a sterile environment, talking to other adults without looking at them (this is mainly because you are all trying to pick out your child from the crowd to make sure they don't kill another kid), while being bored out of your mind. Oh, and the conversations all go something like the following:
"So, yeah, we found that...Bobby, you put that down!...anyway, we found that things are a bit cheaper at Walmart, but....No Bobby, you leave her alone....we prefer Target."
"I so understand....Suzy, you let go of her hair! I don't care who had it first.."
"Bobby, stop that, get over here and sit down. Go on, you were saying,"
"Yes, I really don't like Walmart either."
Not really what I would call quality conversation. It doesn't matter what you start talking about, you always end up discussing where things are cheaper, what place gives better deals, or which museum is more kid appropriate. When you do manage to have an adult discussion, you inevitably get the kid pulling on your leg and repeating, "daddy," in an ever louder voice until you scream, "WHAT?" at the poor kid. To which the inevitable reply is a "can I have, (you fill in the item)." And by the way, when you scream that at your poor kid, (s)he inevitably cries and that single lady that is "cares so much" for kids and has never had any starts giving you the look that says you are a bad parent.
The only "joy of parenthood" that I can see is when the rug rats are sleeping. Yeah, they're cute when they do that. Or, when they discover a new ability, like walking, I suppose that is pretty neat. Or how about, when they discover they can't do something by trying, like blowing on their own belly. I guess that's pretty funny. Or maybe when they snuggle up to you and tell you they love you. I suppose I might call that a joy.
Maybe it is a bit of a trade off. Sure, I can't go out with my friends every weekend. Maybe the wife and I don't get to go on long dates to fun and interesting new places. We just appreciate the quiet times together all the more. Maybe we don't go to the science museum and get to read all the exhibits and spend hours watching educational films, but watching the kids eyes light up when they get to figure out how a windmill works by blowing on it, is maybe just a little bit better. Yes, you have to find new ways to stretch the dollar, but now that every dollar counts, you find that you have a bit more to spend on what matters. Maybe you don't eat out every night, but you learned how to make awesome homemade mac & cheese.
Yup, parenting changes things. From the non-parent's point of view, it is a bad deal. From a parent's point of view, let's just say, I feel for those who don't ever want to have kids. They are a powerful influence. They are also a lot of fun to play with. If a single guy goes into a toy store and buys Nerf guns, he's a little weird. If a Dad does the same thing, he's fun. Yup, I love being a dad. I stand corrected, there are joys of parenthood, they are just different from (and I think better than) the joys of not having kids.
Hope you enjoyed today's post. Stay tuned next week for a new one. Have a great day.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Diet Done
Today is a good day. I made height/weight standards and can now eat what I want for a few months anyway. In other words, my diet is over. I now just have to do the actual physical side of the PFA. Minimums of 27 push ups, 37 Curl ups, and 100 Calories on the bike. I should be able to pull an easy 150 calories, it's the push ups and curl ups that scare me. Right now, my back is aching and my shoulder has been acting up again. You know, the shoulder the Navy doc's looked at and couldn't find anything wrong so they said there was nothing wrong with it. Oh well, guess I get to live with it.
At least I get to actually enjoy my meals for a few months. Christmas, Thanksgiving, you know the good meals? Not to mention Halloween candy. I told my wife I get to make chocolate chip cookies today. If I get out on time. Maybe I can use that to bribe my boss to let me out early. Yeah, I'll mention it. I don't think he's above accepting bribes. At least I hope not.
This has been an interesting week for the boys. Yesterday, my 2 youngest were down with some kind of minor illness. Mathew was hit the hardest. He napped off and on all day. Daniel was down for about half the day, but was feeling a lot better by the time his brothers got home from school. I may be coming down with it but I hope not. I hope the worn out and achy feeling I have is due to my diet for the past couple of days. We'll see.
Not much else worth mentioning. I have a few things I need to do, so I will call it a post. I look forward to tomorrow's Happy Hump day post. See you then.
At least I get to actually enjoy my meals for a few months. Christmas, Thanksgiving, you know the good meals? Not to mention Halloween candy. I told my wife I get to make chocolate chip cookies today. If I get out on time. Maybe I can use that to bribe my boss to let me out early. Yeah, I'll mention it. I don't think he's above accepting bribes. At least I hope not.
This has been an interesting week for the boys. Yesterday, my 2 youngest were down with some kind of minor illness. Mathew was hit the hardest. He napped off and on all day. Daniel was down for about half the day, but was feeling a lot better by the time his brothers got home from school. I may be coming down with it but I hope not. I hope the worn out and achy feeling I have is due to my diet for the past couple of days. We'll see.
Not much else worth mentioning. I have a few things I need to do, so I will call it a post. I look forward to tomorrow's Happy Hump day post. See you then.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Manic Monday: Cut the budget somewhere else.
It is Manic Monday. Today's subject, the national budget. Recently a friend pointed out that the first thing the government seeks to cut is the defense budget. I wonder why. The fact is that the defense budget is less than a quarter of the entire national budget. This means that three quarters of the budget is considered secondary when it comes to cuts. The pentagon was instructed to cut 600 billion from its budget. If all of the rest of government were to cut the same amount, it would amount to 2.4 trillion dollars in savings. Yet, it is only the defense budget that is facing these type of cuts. Now, add in the fact that, of all the programs on the budget, only Defense is named specifically in the constitution. I know that some of the other expenditures are implied, but only defense is actually named.
So, why is defense always targeted? Because for years it was viewed as a black hole for our money. We would drop in millions and what did we get out? Some new weapons, maybe a new building. Then there were the rumors of thousand dollar hammers and million dollar toilet seats. While these may be exaggerations, there is some truth to the premise. The military does end up paying more for what they buy, than the average Joe would for the same items. Why? Because of the acquisition rules set for us by congress. Because every congressman wants the big government contract for his constituents. The fact is that we are overcharged because the businesses can. Let's take a look at a simple valve. That part may cost $20 at Lowe's. But the government will end up paying $30 for the valve and here is why. That mom and pop business competing with Lowe's begins with an advantage. They get to deduct 10% from what they charge because they are a small business. Next, they get to deduct another 10% because they are woman owned. Then another 10% because that woman is a veteran. Then another 10% because she is a minority. After all of these deductions, the small business can charge $30 and their bid shows up as $19.70, which is obviously less than $20 and thus wins the contract. This is a small example. There are hundreds more like it and it adds up. As I said, these rules were set by congress and are known throughout the contracting world. Thus, if a company wants to win a government contract, they split off a division that makes a specific item the government wants and ensures that it is small enough to be classified as a small business. They list a minority, veteran, woman with a disability as the owner and now she charges 1.5 times what her competitors charge and wins the contract. This drives up what we have to pay for defense.
That being said. I wouldn't have a problem cutting the defense budget if we also got rid of these rules so that we didn't have to pay twice as much for items as they would cost a guy in the street. The problem is, because of these rules, we have to pay the extra to just maintain our military. This means, the cuts we are now looking to make must come from the personnel budget. That's right, we are looking at ways to take away what those of us who have served our country have earned. They are going to start charging us more for the health care we were promised would be free if we served for 20 years. We are being told that the next generation will no longer receive a retirement they earned for 20 years of service. Instead they will be given half of what is now considered small and they have to wait until they are 67 to get it. How is this right? We have a welfare system that is broke. A government that is dysfunctional at best. Yet, our military, which is considered the finest in the world (and by the way is one of the very few all volunteer force), is the first to get the axe. Apparently, what works must be destroyed so that that which doesn't appears better.
Am I a bit disappointed? Yes. Am I bit angered? Who wouldn't be? The reality is that those who don't serve or have never served, look at the military as a huge drain. They don't see the need for it. there is a need. The role of our military is to protect our nation and its interests. We do this by providing a military force within our boundaries. We do this by taking the fight to those who would bring it to us. We do this by protecting those who would be our allies. We do this by ensuring we leave a place better than when we got there. Some say the military is not protecting our interests in Iraq and Afghanistan. I beg to differ. Afghanistan was a direct result of 9/11. Deny it all you want, but we went in with almost 100% support. Iraq, although not as obvious, was a threat to us and the region. Saddam Hussein continually threatened those around him and pushed us. For 8 years under Clinton, he would regularly flaunt our indecision by first denying access for inspectors then allowing them just as we were about to take action. Did we use a bad excuse? Maybe. We don't have the briefing papers the president had when he authorized it. It doesn't watter now though. Remember that last thing I said we did? The one about leaving a place better than we found it. This means we are responsible to help establish a government that can function and give its people the freedoms that we enjoy. This means we can't just leave a defeated nation to fend for itself. Especially a nation that was a breeding ground for terrorists. If we had just left them, the Afghan and Iraqi people would have been saddled with a country with no government, no infrastructure, and no help to rebuild. By staying and helping them set this up, we are helping to maintain and build stability in an unstable region. This is what we do. To do any less would be un-American.
Now that I have ranted and raved about what I believe on this. It is your turn. Tell me where I am wrong. Let me know what I have said that has upset you. I look forward to any discussion on this topic you wish to have. I think its time we look at the other three fourths of the national budget for our savings. But maybe I am mistaken.
Thank you for your time. Have a wonderful day.
So, why is defense always targeted? Because for years it was viewed as a black hole for our money. We would drop in millions and what did we get out? Some new weapons, maybe a new building. Then there were the rumors of thousand dollar hammers and million dollar toilet seats. While these may be exaggerations, there is some truth to the premise. The military does end up paying more for what they buy, than the average Joe would for the same items. Why? Because of the acquisition rules set for us by congress. Because every congressman wants the big government contract for his constituents. The fact is that we are overcharged because the businesses can. Let's take a look at a simple valve. That part may cost $20 at Lowe's. But the government will end up paying $30 for the valve and here is why. That mom and pop business competing with Lowe's begins with an advantage. They get to deduct 10% from what they charge because they are a small business. Next, they get to deduct another 10% because they are woman owned. Then another 10% because that woman is a veteran. Then another 10% because she is a minority. After all of these deductions, the small business can charge $30 and their bid shows up as $19.70, which is obviously less than $20 and thus wins the contract. This is a small example. There are hundreds more like it and it adds up. As I said, these rules were set by congress and are known throughout the contracting world. Thus, if a company wants to win a government contract, they split off a division that makes a specific item the government wants and ensures that it is small enough to be classified as a small business. They list a minority, veteran, woman with a disability as the owner and now she charges 1.5 times what her competitors charge and wins the contract. This drives up what we have to pay for defense.
That being said. I wouldn't have a problem cutting the defense budget if we also got rid of these rules so that we didn't have to pay twice as much for items as they would cost a guy in the street. The problem is, because of these rules, we have to pay the extra to just maintain our military. This means, the cuts we are now looking to make must come from the personnel budget. That's right, we are looking at ways to take away what those of us who have served our country have earned. They are going to start charging us more for the health care we were promised would be free if we served for 20 years. We are being told that the next generation will no longer receive a retirement they earned for 20 years of service. Instead they will be given half of what is now considered small and they have to wait until they are 67 to get it. How is this right? We have a welfare system that is broke. A government that is dysfunctional at best. Yet, our military, which is considered the finest in the world (and by the way is one of the very few all volunteer force), is the first to get the axe. Apparently, what works must be destroyed so that that which doesn't appears better.
Am I a bit disappointed? Yes. Am I bit angered? Who wouldn't be? The reality is that those who don't serve or have never served, look at the military as a huge drain. They don't see the need for it. there is a need. The role of our military is to protect our nation and its interests. We do this by providing a military force within our boundaries. We do this by taking the fight to those who would bring it to us. We do this by protecting those who would be our allies. We do this by ensuring we leave a place better than when we got there. Some say the military is not protecting our interests in Iraq and Afghanistan. I beg to differ. Afghanistan was a direct result of 9/11. Deny it all you want, but we went in with almost 100% support. Iraq, although not as obvious, was a threat to us and the region. Saddam Hussein continually threatened those around him and pushed us. For 8 years under Clinton, he would regularly flaunt our indecision by first denying access for inspectors then allowing them just as we were about to take action. Did we use a bad excuse? Maybe. We don't have the briefing papers the president had when he authorized it. It doesn't watter now though. Remember that last thing I said we did? The one about leaving a place better than we found it. This means we are responsible to help establish a government that can function and give its people the freedoms that we enjoy. This means we can't just leave a defeated nation to fend for itself. Especially a nation that was a breeding ground for terrorists. If we had just left them, the Afghan and Iraqi people would have been saddled with a country with no government, no infrastructure, and no help to rebuild. By staying and helping them set this up, we are helping to maintain and build stability in an unstable region. This is what we do. To do any less would be un-American.
Now that I have ranted and raved about what I believe on this. It is your turn. Tell me where I am wrong. Let me know what I have said that has upset you. I look forward to any discussion on this topic you wish to have. I think its time we look at the other three fourths of the national budget for our savings. But maybe I am mistaken.
Thank you for your time. Have a wonderful day.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Happy birthday to my Wife.
Today, I get the privilege of wishing a happy birthday to my wife. Throughout the years we have had a wonderful time. 2 years of dating followed by 13 years of marriage makes for a lot of memories and interesting times. Sure, I make jokes about some things (take yesterday's post as an example), but she takes them in stride. If you haven't met me, I tend to be sarcastic and sometimes a bit weird in what I find funny. Morose, may be a better term, but then again, so might sadistic. Yes, I go overboard and point out flaws. I don't do it to be mean, I do it because I find it funny (that whole weird sense of humor thing) and sometimes my sarcasm doesn't come across as such. I have gotten better though, and I get to blame her for it. That's right, she keeps me on the straight and narrow. If I make a joke that isn't quite what I thought it was, funny, she is quick to point out that no one is laughing and why. This usually requires that I apologize to someone while I explain the joke as I saw it. Thus she saves me from alienating a lot of friends. In fact, I actually say those type of jokes a lot less because she has directed my sense of humor a little more to the normal side. Weird how that works.
Guess what I am saying is, I love my wife and all she has done for me. I hope her years on earth are more than mine (though not to many more, I tend to get impatient and don't know how long I could last up there without her). Have a wonderful birthday, dear. Oh, did I mention that she is the only woman I have met that when she says she doesn't want anything, she actually means it? Yup, I have a winner. Love you dear, Happy 3..ow... OK, no age, Happy Birthday.
Guess what I am saying is, I love my wife and all she has done for me. I hope her years on earth are more than mine (though not to many more, I tend to get impatient and don't know how long I could last up there without her). Have a wonderful birthday, dear. Oh, did I mention that she is the only woman I have met that when she says she doesn't want anything, she actually means it? Yup, I have a winner. Love you dear, Happy 3..ow... OK, no age, Happy Birthday.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Happy Hump Day: Yes, Dear.
Happy Hump Day! You'd think I'd be happier since it is my birthday. I'm not. At first, I was excited. After all, it is my birthday. Then I realized that it meant I was older. Not something I like being reminded of (especially since I am one of the older (if not the oldest) military guy in my office). Yup, I am now 37. That's right, 37 years of making mistakes and learning from them. You'd think, by now, I would have learned everything there is to know about making mistakes, but I find I keep making new ones. I have heard from some of my more learned (I'll just use that term instead of older from now on, I think it sounds better) colleagues and friends that you keep making mistakes. Something about no one is perfect. Seems to me that there can only be a finite amount of mistakes one can make. Seems logical anyway. But then you throw in the illogical (i.e. women) and the number of mistakes grow at a rapid rate.
Just when you think you have the rules figured out (usually just before puberty) you realize girls are interesting and the rules completely change. No longer is it cool to dig a hole in the ground to bury your GI Joes. No longer is that ratty game shirt worthy of wearing. No longer is it better to have your fly open than to be seen with a girl. Now, you have to figure out what it is women want. In your infinite wisdom at that age (now a teen), you think you can figure it out given enough time. By the time you realize that you'll never figure out women (and any man who claims he has is either a fool or was once one), you are either to old to be interested in them (that age right before you die), or you are married to one and the rules have changed yet again.
That's right, the rules you used to get her to date you, love you, and then marry you (though not always in that order) changed as soon as she said I do. At this point every man has a decision to make. Either you give up and roll with the punches because no matter what you do, you will anger her at least once a week and have to apologize. You don't even have to be there. Sometimes, you aren't even remotely responsible. For example, I have had days where my wife was angry at me all day because in her dreams I did something to make her mad. How the heck am I supposed to control that?! Admittedly, she has gotten better about it, now she only gets mad when my dream self blatantly cheats on her.
Oh, did I mention that half of the time, they refuse to tell you why they are mad? That's right, we have to guess. Us guys, the ones who took three weeks to take the hint that you wanted us to ask you out. The human beings that still haven't figured out that you want the toilet seat down, even though you've mentioned it for the last 20 years. Yup, we have to guess. And that just makes them madder, usually because we end up listing things they didn't know about, but mostly because we aren't telepathic and can't figure out exactly where we went wrong. Then when they finally tell us why they were mad in the first place, you find it was either something we could do nothing about, something so minor that it wasn't worth mentioning, or sometimes (a small percentage really) something legitimate. Then you factor in the rule that no rule is set in stone (except that one rule that is that you don't learn about until to late), and you are in trouble. Yup, we men can't win.
That being said, I still have a lot to learn. As is obvious from my post, I have said to much and now I have angered the one I love. At least this time I don't have to guess what I did. I just ranted on the wrong thing, exaggerated stuff she didn't find funny, and talked about women in a manner that some might say is disrespectful no matter how true. Yup, I am in trouble. Time to go home and take my licks and do the head bobbing yes dear. You know the move guys. The one where you bob your head and say, "yes, dear," in acknowledgement as the woman you love tells you just how badly you screwed up. You hope to learn from it (I obviously didn't in this case), but you listen and hope you will at least get a good night kiss out of it.
Ladies, I hope the lesson you learn from this is simply that, no matter what he says or does, you have more power over him than anybody else in the world. When you smile, you can get him to do anything. When you frown and snap, he does it faster though. Just saying.
The above was written at an attempt at humor. Only the author was harmed (hopefully) as a result of this post. Ignore all resemblance to real life as it is strictly a coincidence. Thank you. Have a wonderful day and ... what? Yes, dear.
Just when you think you have the rules figured out (usually just before puberty) you realize girls are interesting and the rules completely change. No longer is it cool to dig a hole in the ground to bury your GI Joes. No longer is that ratty game shirt worthy of wearing. No longer is it better to have your fly open than to be seen with a girl. Now, you have to figure out what it is women want. In your infinite wisdom at that age (now a teen), you think you can figure it out given enough time. By the time you realize that you'll never figure out women (and any man who claims he has is either a fool or was once one), you are either to old to be interested in them (that age right before you die), or you are married to one and the rules have changed yet again.
That's right, the rules you used to get her to date you, love you, and then marry you (though not always in that order) changed as soon as she said I do. At this point every man has a decision to make. Either you give up and roll with the punches because no matter what you do, you will anger her at least once a week and have to apologize. You don't even have to be there. Sometimes, you aren't even remotely responsible. For example, I have had days where my wife was angry at me all day because in her dreams I did something to make her mad. How the heck am I supposed to control that?! Admittedly, she has gotten better about it, now she only gets mad when my dream self blatantly cheats on her.
Oh, did I mention that half of the time, they refuse to tell you why they are mad? That's right, we have to guess. Us guys, the ones who took three weeks to take the hint that you wanted us to ask you out. The human beings that still haven't figured out that you want the toilet seat down, even though you've mentioned it for the last 20 years. Yup, we have to guess. And that just makes them madder, usually because we end up listing things they didn't know about, but mostly because we aren't telepathic and can't figure out exactly where we went wrong. Then when they finally tell us why they were mad in the first place, you find it was either something we could do nothing about, something so minor that it wasn't worth mentioning, or sometimes (a small percentage really) something legitimate. Then you factor in the rule that no rule is set in stone (except that one rule that is that you don't learn about until to late), and you are in trouble. Yup, we men can't win.
That being said, I still have a lot to learn. As is obvious from my post, I have said to much and now I have angered the one I love. At least this time I don't have to guess what I did. I just ranted on the wrong thing, exaggerated stuff she didn't find funny, and talked about women in a manner that some might say is disrespectful no matter how true. Yup, I am in trouble. Time to go home and take my licks and do the head bobbing yes dear. You know the move guys. The one where you bob your head and say, "yes, dear," in acknowledgement as the woman you love tells you just how badly you screwed up. You hope to learn from it (I obviously didn't in this case), but you listen and hope you will at least get a good night kiss out of it.
Ladies, I hope the lesson you learn from this is simply that, no matter what he says or does, you have more power over him than anybody else in the world. When you smile, you can get him to do anything. When you frown and snap, he does it faster though. Just saying.
The above was written at an attempt at humor. Only the author was harmed (hopefully) as a result of this post. Ignore all resemblance to real life as it is strictly a coincidence. Thank you. Have a wonderful day and ... what? Yes, dear.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Weekend up date and other things
Tuesday and all is well. OK, sort of. The usual stuff is going on. Soccer practice, rehearsal, and meals. Maybe that is why I am going insane. I just keep going on with things that I have to do and places I have to be. So close and yet so far. Am I rambling, I think I am rambling. Guess it's time to perform the weekend up date.
Here goes nothing. This weekend my brother in came in for a few days. I think I mentioned that Friday. Anyway, it was a good weekend. The weather was nice so we were able to enjoy our sons' soccer games. They both did well. We were busy Saturday because of it though. Sunday went well and we were able to enjoy ourselves further. That is until I had to go to work at 9:30 pm. I had to work graves Sunday night. There was only 1 job, but I did OK. At least I got to spend Monday at home. I did sleep half the day though. That is why there was no Monday post. That and it was my anniversary. That's right, 13 years of marriage to the most wonderful woman in the world. Here's to, oh, let's say, a few millenia more. The topper came when the Cowboys won on MNF. Good day all around.
This isn't to say that nothing bad happened this weekend, just more good than bad. The down side of this weekend? My phone has decided that it doesn't want to charge properly. I have a work around so I don't need to get a new phone, it is just darn annoying. Most people would say to just get a new phone, so let me explain why I don't want a new one. Yes, dear, I just said I don't want a new one. First off, I don't want to sign a new 2 year contract to get a new phone. I retire and leave the area (probably) in about 16 months. This means that if I go to an area that Verizon doesn't cover, then I will still have 8 months left on a contract for a phone I can't use. Thus no new contract allowed. Secondly, we aren't rich and thus can't afford to shell out the $200 that a new phone costs without a new contract. Thirdly, I am limited in what phones I can have right now as I am not allowed to take a phone with a camera on it into work (my current phone doesn't have one so I am OK). The next time I get a new phone, I want to get a nice one and that means it will probably have a camera. If I wait until after I retire, I should be able to get the nice phone I want. This all adds up to no new phone for me. Sure I may have to trade batteries with my wife's phone every morning, but that isn't to much of a hassle. I will deal with it.
So that was the bad side of the weekend. It probably wouldn't have been that bad, except that I went off a bit when I first found the problem and now my wife is convinced that I want to drop $400 on a new phone. Now, every time I note that the battery on my phone is dead, I get to hear a worried lecture on how we are broke and can my new phone wait. I think I've said, I am fine with my phone and that I'll work around it at least a dozen times now. Hopefully this will change that. If not, I will live with it. That's what I get for freaking out that I didn't have a phone. For those of you who don't know us all that well, I love my wife deeply and do not mean any of this in a negative sense. I refer you to the opening announcement of my 13 years of wedded....OK, maybe not bliss, but definitely mostly happy times. Hey, it's marriage and life, and thus it isn't always happy. My marriage is about 90% happy (the remaining 10% is 5% my fault, 1% hers, and 4% confusing) and that is pretty darn good. Especially, with 4 boys in the house. That being said, I will probably hear about this post when I get home and my wife and I will talk about this and hug afterwards.
Keep your chins up, and don't let the world get you down. Have a great day and I will post tomorrow. Thank you
Here goes nothing. This weekend my brother in came in for a few days. I think I mentioned that Friday. Anyway, it was a good weekend. The weather was nice so we were able to enjoy our sons' soccer games. They both did well. We were busy Saturday because of it though. Sunday went well and we were able to enjoy ourselves further. That is until I had to go to work at 9:30 pm. I had to work graves Sunday night. There was only 1 job, but I did OK. At least I got to spend Monday at home. I did sleep half the day though. That is why there was no Monday post. That and it was my anniversary. That's right, 13 years of marriage to the most wonderful woman in the world. Here's to, oh, let's say, a few millenia more. The topper came when the Cowboys won on MNF. Good day all around.
This isn't to say that nothing bad happened this weekend, just more good than bad. The down side of this weekend? My phone has decided that it doesn't want to charge properly. I have a work around so I don't need to get a new phone, it is just darn annoying. Most people would say to just get a new phone, so let me explain why I don't want a new one. Yes, dear, I just said I don't want a new one. First off, I don't want to sign a new 2 year contract to get a new phone. I retire and leave the area (probably) in about 16 months. This means that if I go to an area that Verizon doesn't cover, then I will still have 8 months left on a contract for a phone I can't use. Thus no new contract allowed. Secondly, we aren't rich and thus can't afford to shell out the $200 that a new phone costs without a new contract. Thirdly, I am limited in what phones I can have right now as I am not allowed to take a phone with a camera on it into work (my current phone doesn't have one so I am OK). The next time I get a new phone, I want to get a nice one and that means it will probably have a camera. If I wait until after I retire, I should be able to get the nice phone I want. This all adds up to no new phone for me. Sure I may have to trade batteries with my wife's phone every morning, but that isn't to much of a hassle. I will deal with it.
So that was the bad side of the weekend. It probably wouldn't have been that bad, except that I went off a bit when I first found the problem and now my wife is convinced that I want to drop $400 on a new phone. Now, every time I note that the battery on my phone is dead, I get to hear a worried lecture on how we are broke and can my new phone wait. I think I've said, I am fine with my phone and that I'll work around it at least a dozen times now. Hopefully this will change that. If not, I will live with it. That's what I get for freaking out that I didn't have a phone. For those of you who don't know us all that well, I love my wife deeply and do not mean any of this in a negative sense. I refer you to the opening announcement of my 13 years of wedded....OK, maybe not bliss, but definitely mostly happy times. Hey, it's marriage and life, and thus it isn't always happy. My marriage is about 90% happy (the remaining 10% is 5% my fault, 1% hers, and 4% confusing) and that is pretty darn good. Especially, with 4 boys in the house. That being said, I will probably hear about this post when I get home and my wife and I will talk about this and hug afterwards.
Keep your chins up, and don't let the world get you down. Have a great day and I will post tomorrow. Thank you
Friday, September 23, 2011
Friday Philosopher: Words and the Like
Today is going to be weird. I can feel it. For some unknown reason I ache and an feeling funny. Then as I sat here at my desk, one of my lens pops out of my glasses and I hear the screw bounce on the desk. I look down and the screw is just sitting there. Luckily I had a spare pair of glasses (my safety glasses) in my bag. I went to the tool room and they had the right tool and I was able to repair my glasses. The amazing thing is the fact that, not only did I not lose the screw, I was able to get it repaired quickly and without a hassle. If that weren't enough, I have a CO's call this afternoon and then my brother in law, Joe, is arriving this afternoon from Boise, ID. Both my wife and I are at a complete loss as to what we are having for meals the next two days (we can't seem to agree on what day we are doing what or how). In other words, it is pretty much a normal weekend, confusion, last minute planning, and general frustration abound. That being said, I am looking forward to the weekend. It should be interesting with soccer games and my brother in Law's visit.
Now for the meat of today's post. There are some things we leave unsaid that really need to be said. Things like: "I love you," to your spouse and children. "Thank you," to anyone and everyone who does something for you, even if it is their job. "You're welcome," to thank yous both said and unsaid. "I care," to those we care for. "Come back when you get the chance," to those we say good bye to. Sometimes the unsaid needs to be said, just because it validates a thought. Sometimes it needs said because those hearing really need to hear it. Sometimes it needs to be said because some of us are dense and don't take hints to well. And sometimes it needs to be said just because it is the right thing to do.
Then there is the other side of this. Things that are said that really shouldn't be. Things like: "You're dumb," to anyone. You can replace dumb with any negative adjective (i.e. stupid, worthless, ugly, etc). "You were an accident," to your children. "Shut up," to anyone. The list could go on, but you get the idea.
Words are powerful. The right words at the right time can uplift and brighten a day, while the wrong words can destroy a life. The right words can illuminate a darkened path, while the wrong words can blind us from the truth. Unmeant words, spoken often enough, lose their meaning, while meant words unspoken never have any meaning. Untrue words spoken often enough, can reveal the truth, while true words spoken not at all become lost.
Words are how we share who we are and what we desire. They reveal our nature to those who hear them. They bare our souls to those around us. While our silence can speak volumes, it can be just a few words that remove the mystery of us. It has been said, "It is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt." Truer words have never been spoken, for it is through our words that we reveal the most.
While actions can speak quite loudly, a whispered phrase spoken uncaring can put the lie to those actions. We are all human and thus opinionated and subject to error. To provide another quote I found profound, "Everyone has a right to their opinion, but not all opinions are right." An opinion is just that, an opinion. It is how we see life. It is how we interpret the world around us. Otherwise, it is either a truth, or a lie. Truth is something supported by evidence. Truth can be a basis for an opinion or the revelation of a fact. You cannot argue truth, for it simply is. A lie, though, is the antithesis of truth. While the truth can destroy a lie, lies can never displace truth. A lie is meant to deceive, and it can, for a while, but it will eventually be revealed as such. The idea that truth is subjective is as ludicrous as saying a lie could be truth. A truth is just that, true. To believe otherwise is to hold nothing as true.
I realize that this maybe a heavy thought for a Friday morning, but it is what it is. There is no underlying reason for this post. No one hurt me, nor did I hurt anyone that I am aware of (at least no one that I haven't made it right with already). I just felt I had to share what was on my heart. I guess this is in response to several comments on the news stories I read today. Conspiracy theories, hateful posts, and the like always seem to upset me. Sorry if I came across as accusatory or self righteous, I did not mean to be either.
Have a great day and weekend. I will write again on Monday. As always, feel free to comment or suggest topics you wish me write on. Thank you.
Now for the meat of today's post. There are some things we leave unsaid that really need to be said. Things like: "I love you," to your spouse and children. "Thank you," to anyone and everyone who does something for you, even if it is their job. "You're welcome," to thank yous both said and unsaid. "I care," to those we care for. "Come back when you get the chance," to those we say good bye to. Sometimes the unsaid needs to be said, just because it validates a thought. Sometimes it needs said because those hearing really need to hear it. Sometimes it needs to be said because some of us are dense and don't take hints to well. And sometimes it needs to be said just because it is the right thing to do.
Then there is the other side of this. Things that are said that really shouldn't be. Things like: "You're dumb," to anyone. You can replace dumb with any negative adjective (i.e. stupid, worthless, ugly, etc). "You were an accident," to your children. "Shut up," to anyone. The list could go on, but you get the idea.
Words are powerful. The right words at the right time can uplift and brighten a day, while the wrong words can destroy a life. The right words can illuminate a darkened path, while the wrong words can blind us from the truth. Unmeant words, spoken often enough, lose their meaning, while meant words unspoken never have any meaning. Untrue words spoken often enough, can reveal the truth, while true words spoken not at all become lost.
Words are how we share who we are and what we desire. They reveal our nature to those who hear them. They bare our souls to those around us. While our silence can speak volumes, it can be just a few words that remove the mystery of us. It has been said, "It is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt." Truer words have never been spoken, for it is through our words that we reveal the most.
While actions can speak quite loudly, a whispered phrase spoken uncaring can put the lie to those actions. We are all human and thus opinionated and subject to error. To provide another quote I found profound, "Everyone has a right to their opinion, but not all opinions are right." An opinion is just that, an opinion. It is how we see life. It is how we interpret the world around us. Otherwise, it is either a truth, or a lie. Truth is something supported by evidence. Truth can be a basis for an opinion or the revelation of a fact. You cannot argue truth, for it simply is. A lie, though, is the antithesis of truth. While the truth can destroy a lie, lies can never displace truth. A lie is meant to deceive, and it can, for a while, but it will eventually be revealed as such. The idea that truth is subjective is as ludicrous as saying a lie could be truth. A truth is just that, true. To believe otherwise is to hold nothing as true.
I realize that this maybe a heavy thought for a Friday morning, but it is what it is. There is no underlying reason for this post. No one hurt me, nor did I hurt anyone that I am aware of (at least no one that I haven't made it right with already). I just felt I had to share what was on my heart. I guess this is in response to several comments on the news stories I read today. Conspiracy theories, hateful posts, and the like always seem to upset me. Sorry if I came across as accusatory or self righteous, I did not mean to be either.
Have a great day and weekend. I will write again on Monday. As always, feel free to comment or suggest topics you wish me write on. Thank you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)