Frogs' Legs Aren't Funny

The download of my daily (almost) thoughts and ruminations.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Off The Road Again

Last night was the first Sunday in three weeks I didn't have to pack a bag for the purpose of leaving town. Yay! I can tell you I won't be signing up for a traveling salesperson's job any time soon.

I have a hodge podge brain tonight so that's what's flowing from my fingers. I formally quit my piano lessons tonight. That makes me sad but I finally realized I just don't have time to practice and study music like I need to in order to truly progress. I feel a little like a failure, which bothers me a great deal but I was already feeling that way each week when I was making so little, if any, progress on my assignments. I think my teacher and I were equally frustrated so this is better for everyone. OK, no more dwelling.

Since I got back last Thursday night, I've watched a couple of exotic car auctions on tv. It blows my mind that in October 2009 there are people who have the money to pay more than $1MM for a Shelby GT racing car considering this economy. So where did they have their money for the last year, under their mattress? A '69 Camaro just sold for $290,000. And there are hundreds more cars like this, the cheapest I've seen go so far is $80,000 for a '60 something Jaguar. One of the limos that drove JFK sold for $500,000. Who are these people? At least it was a fundraiser for cancer research. It made it feel somewhat less hedonistic.

I guess it's truly an economy that reflects the have's and the have not's. Those that have, just keep on having more and more. It is good to see them sharing with those less fortunate under the circumstances though.

There are some crazy Halloween parties going on. I don't have math or science brain cells and I also don't have creative brain cells that can come up with a Halloween costume idea or how to construct the reality. So what does that leave me, some literature, history and trivia cells that run right down the middle of my brain I guess and never go to Halloween parties.

Well, I have some weights downstairs calling my name so I'm going to exit stage left.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

On The Road Again

I leave tomorrow again and will be gone until Thursday night. I'm already tired just thinking about it.

On another note, do you ever wonder what you'll be like when you're older. I know, I'm already old but I'm talking about being even older like 70 or 80. I'm hoping I'll be able to keep things in perspective and not get carried away by the fact that I'm old. The more I see of the elderly who are able to do this, the more impressed I am with their broad view of things.
You know how easy it is to get caught up in your own life, just imagine how much easier it will be when your "life" or your "world" shrinks down to whatever is within walking distance. Like that time of life when you rely far too heavily on what your friend or neighbor says or what the tv (heaven forbid) reports because they are the only ones you hear. Scary. I have to think about this and how I can prevent it from happening to me.

Let's face it, none of us will be happily or even blissfully taking care of ourselves in our own homes right up until the end unless we die young so this is something I need to ponder and plan for.
But I do love a challenge (as long as it isn't work-related). I just hope I'm not still working at that age. That thought is REALLY depressing.

Friday, October 09, 2009

Take A Load Off

I'm in the mode right now where work is sucking all the content out of my brain so there's nothing left to inspire a clever and elucidating blog. So I guess I'll just have to unload whatever is on top.
I got two hugs from employees over the last couple of days. One was from someone who will be retiring in the next month and a half or so. I'm envious to put it mildly, not just of her taking that first step but also of her courage to step far outside her comfort zone and truly begin a brand new phase of her life.
The second hug was from someone who was so happy with a change we made to our program she just had to hug me. The change was going to mean she and her husband could both afford to get what they needed now, so she was supremely happy.
Right now I'm reading a book called, "Outliers", three guesses what it's about and the first two don't count. It is interesting and I guess they've truly completed sufficient research to make the claims they do but it's still wierd and I need to think about it more before I can totally buy in.
My grandson, who is 3, was in the mood for comparisons tonight (he's staying overnight with Grammie & Papa Mike). He was looking at the fiber optic pumpkins and haunted house and wanted to know if they were all the same. I kept trying to tell him he house was really different but the other two were similar to each other. But he kept asking the same questions over and over again, is that one like that one and that one like that one. Finally I said yes, they are the same. Then he said, no they are similar. They learn in the strangest ways.


He has developed a very strong affection for Mozart, to the extent I think I'm going to have to get him some of his music and probably practice some so I can play it for him too. I don't know any other 3 year olds who hum Mozart. I take that as a sign of appreciation and enjoyment that needs to be rewarded.

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Was Summer REALLY Here?

At this point, it seems like Summer never really happened. It's not that I'm tired of the rain or gray days yet, although that will come almost immediately. It's more that I have absolutely no memory of it being Summer this year. The weather wasn't that bad and it's not about that. It's more of a feeling or a euphoria that comes with Summer each year. That's when it's warm, blue skies, long days, lazy hours, outdoor events like sports to watch or participate in, it's the time you generally take a deep breath and say life is good. Maybe I did that but not that I recall.



It's been more about rush here, rush there, work long hours, worry about work, worry about the future, even though we took a nice trip the weather was not typical of summer because we were so far north. I think all of this bundled together pretty much eliminated or overrode the 2009 Summer season for me. We are finally going to a Timbers playoff soccer game tomorrow afternoon, our first one this year and it's October for heaven's sakes.


What that means is all of a sudden in September you're faced with the fact there are only three more months to Christmas. I travel the next three weeks so that means October is shot which really means there is only a month and a half until Christmas. Holy cow! The nice thing for me is I will get to see Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina in concert on the last night of the trip in Salt Lake City. For an old codger like me, that's cool!



Speaking of Christmas, how tacky is it to recycle Christmas cards from the last six or seven years? I guess I'll find out because I have saved the extras each year and I've decided this is the year to deplete that large Nordstrom box. I guess as long as the letter changes, the cards don't really matter. They are merely a receptacle for the letters.



Wait a minute, that means I need to get going on my letter. Maybe I'll work on it while "on the road". Some of my best and most accelerated work takes place in the seat of an airplane where I'm held captive for however long. Yup, that's what I'll do. OK, I have a plan, life is good.

Now I'm going to get ready to celebrate my baby's 32nd birthday by eating and shopping. Everyone's birthday ideal I'm sure.

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Thursday, October 01, 2009

The Face of This Presidency

I'm afraid enough time has gone by and we've seen enough consistent activity to say that this president is never going to be allowed to be effective because he was born with the wrong skin color. Am I the only one who sees an eerie and disgusting similarity to the Hitler era?

Maybe it's because I'm almost finished reading "The Book Thief", a story about a young girl in Nazi Germany through the war years. To make it really interesting, the story is artistically narrated by "Death". He/It (I refuse to call it She) becomes fixated on this girl so keeps checking in throughout those years to witness her life experience.
It may sound bizarre but I have to say it's excellent. It's actually written for the teen audience but I'm curious how or if they would really "get it" or care about its message. I could see it being made into a movie except that so much of the story is their thoughts and feelings, not so much dialogue.

On another note, I finished the movie, "The Kite Runner" last night. I guess I'm into foreign lately. Another excellent story of putting others first, living the courage of your convictions, etcetera etcetera etcetera.


This was on the heels of the movie "A Mighty Heart", the story by Daniel Pearl's wife (he was the WSJ reporter taken hostage in Iran and she and an army of others worked (unsuccessfully) to get him released.


It's a story of devotion, courage and tenacity in the face of serious adversity (while pregnant).


All of these have been serious award winners and each story has given me so much to think about. That's the best king of entertainment in my humble opinion. I would highly recommend one and all.