Wednesday, December 31, 2008

I Think These Might Be Resolutions...or I Might Need a Check-up

I have to keep trying to make things better. I have to get rid of some bad habits, and look closely at something I need to embrace.

This prayer has to become my guiding force:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can;and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next.Amen.



Now as wonderful as that prayer is, I don't think it has to apply exclusively to the profound things in life. I think a good part of our existence involves very simple, ordinary things to deal with. Our days seldom consist of life-changing decisions, and getting to the heart of the matter in the simplest ways can determine the course of our lives.

For me, a lot of my time is spent sorting out mundane, silly things. Things that are definitely not worth a lot of time, and paying undue attention to those banalities can distract me from what is important.

I have to accept some things, if for no other reason than I simply cannot change them. They become big because I let them get big. Time to squash 'em back down.

Things such as:

  • A lot of people don't stand by their word. That's sad, but it's a truism.

  • Selfish, obnoxious people demand more attention than they're worth. I'll work on giving them their due. And paying attention where I should.

  • You cannot make people do what they don't want to do. Trying to do that is unethical and wrong. But there are people who insist on that as a way of life, and do not see that as wrong. That's their problem. I have to worry about being decent and honest, and that should take enough of my time.

  • There are a lot of women in my life who make very bad decisions with their love lives. Time and again. It's not my job to change that. It's my job to be there when things don't work out. Again.

  • Reality Television isn't going away. There are enough other options to enjoy. Although I am getting to be too much of a forensics expert.

  • I need to love the people who love me for me. There's nothing more valuable. My life has recently shown me how important the ones who stick by you are.

I need to love unconditionally.

I need to accept that life can't always be all good.

I will cherish the time that others give to me.

I will always make time to thank those who make me feel as though I matter.

I will do my best to do things that assure that I matter.

I will stop apologizing for who I am. The ones who appreciate me far outshine those who would look for perfection.

I think those resolutions are ok, no?

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Figurings for 2009

I have some things rolling around in my cranium that I'm going to figure out by the end of 2009. It's just one of my many items on the to-do list for the year.

I'm wondering how long Obama will be in office before the armchair geniuses decide they don't like him.

I'm going to figure out how screws unscrew themselves. Happens to me all the time. Things fall on me 'cause of that.

I'm going to hook up a video camera to help me figure out how those electric cords work themselves into a tangle that can never be undone. Ever. And you get a shock when you try to undo said tangle. Ouch.

In NY State, I see signs that say "Speed Limit 55" alongside ones that say "Minimum Speed 40". I'm going to figure out if anyone ever got a ticket for driving less than 40 mph, and if they call that "slowing".

There's a musical group called The Killers, and they currently have a song out called "Human" which contains the lyrical question, "Are we human, or are we dancer?" I'm going to figure out what the heck that means.

This Christmas, UggsAustralia actually had Uggs available for sale. That you could buy. And Amazon.com actually had what I needed in stock, AND shipped on time. I'm going to figure out why other companies think that's bad for business.

There are a lot more things to figure out, but I don't want to tax my brain too much in such a limited time, you know?

I'm sure there will be more. There always is.

Monday, December 29, 2008

You Do When You Can, Right?

You have to strike when the iron is hot, right? I know it's a little premature, but I really want to do a year-end entry, and I got the time right now!

I can't say that 2008 was a good year. So I won't. Some good things happened, granted, but this is one year I can do without.

I have learned so much, however, that I can take with me as I give 2009 a try. I learned that people make the best friends. Furniture is comfortable and usually reliable, but it's just not up to the task of being a pal. I love my friends. Thank you for being my friends. As always.

I will never forget the spiritual kindness I received from two wonderful people this year. The beauty of that gift is that it never wears out, won't break no matter how hard you lean on it, and it comes in the form of the best kind of love you can get. Thank you for that.

I learned that for every 5 snake-in-the-grass, lying, posturing fools you encounter, there is 1 decent, kind person who is true to their word. I can deal with that ratio because the 1 good person makes you feel 5 times better than any of the snakes can make you feel. I can live with that. I'm just never going to get used to that feeling you get when you realized your assessment of someone is way off.

But overall I realized that no matter what, being alive is good. As long as you survive, you get a shot at a clean start.

Here's hoping 2009 is the beginning of something good for everyone.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Uno


Worst UNO score to date:

She: 536

Me : 27

Uno isn't my game.

Obviously.

But I really have fun playing it, so...

Gram

I can't walk well. When it gets slushy and icy out I really can't walk well. It's been rather icy and slushy the last couple of days. I'm very angry about that because I need to go up to NY and visit with Gram at the hospital. But if I fall and break my head, I'll be visiting from the next bed. If ever a drought could be a good thing, I'd like to find out about now.

Gram is going to go into Physical Therapy starting Monday. It will be a move to another facility. She's not quitting just yet. I think that's very cool, and very brave. But you know what, it's just Gram doing what she thinks she needs to to not be a pain in the butt. See, she said she doesn't want to go home until she can walk because she doesn't want to be any trouble. Gotta love her. So she goes to rehab so she can walk well again.

The least I can do is get out there and see her, support her. So this week I go, ice or not. Keep praying for her with me, will ya?

Saturday, December 20, 2008

The Great Cell Purge

I must let go of the Cell Disease I have. It has to go because the cell phones aren't going away, and if I keep griping, I will go away in that 6x6 hole. Gotta deal with it.

People will continue to serenade us with unwelcome and unwanted conversations, in restaurants, malls, etc. I have learned that you cannot shop in Walmart unless you have a cell stapled to your head so that you can babble away. There is a segment of the population for whom driving without yappin' on a cell would be like the rest of us trying to walk without legs. I gotta accept that.

I will move on with one closing thought: Cellphoniacs will stay in control unless I perfect that device that makes them explode on demand. Heh heh. Ya never know.

Friday, December 19, 2008

The Great Purge...continues...

Politicians. They are a necessary evil. I wish there were a way to live without them, but there really isn't a better way to keep 305 million people in line. Isn't that a delightful thought? We have to have them because there isn't an alternative for us.

Whenever there is an inauguration, I watch very closely. I look for the moment when the judge takes the very large Bible and smashes the incoming over the head with it.

It has to happen. Only a severe head injury could explain why it is that someone who seemed very decent and smart and capable prior to the swearing-in could transform into a lying, double-talking, double crosser in such a short time.

I'm tired of listening to these maniacs. I hate the fact that it seems only a matter of time before any and every one of them gets bagged for doing something crooked. And I keep wondering how many of them would be left if we passed a law making stupidity a punishable offense.

So yeah, they're bad. But they give us someone to blame for the lousy condition we're living in, ya know?

Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State.

Sorry, I had to finish barfing.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Great Purge...

I know that I had gotten started a few weeks ago with the whole "Walking In Their Boots" project, but that has to wait (mainly cause this is my Blog and I don't feel like doing that right now...)

I decided that if I'm going to turn around my life a little, I have to get the poisons out of my system and clear the brain somewhat. So this series will be a little bit like Primal Scream therapy, ya know?

So let's start the list.

People I Have to Not Be Around Or Think About Anymore


  • Yes...Lousy Drivers-People who are incapable of driving as though they have both gasoline in the tank and brain in the skull just aggravate my hypertension. And get on my nerves a lot. I have been heard saying such things as: "Hey pal, you driving that car or carrying it?"; "Wow, you're not the worst driver in the world, but when that guy dies..."; "The long pedal on the right...step on that one!" I have often found myself wishing that I had those fancy weapons like the fighter pilots in "Star Wars". And saying words that I'd have gotten my mouth washed out with soap for. We need to stop thinking about these people because an aneurysm is sure to follow.


I think this is a good start.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Update

Well, the news wasn't so great. There was a mass in Gram's abdomen that has been identified as cancerous. She's 93, so there aren't a lot of options here. Surgery is almost a 0% possibility and of course chemotherapy at this stage would do more harm than good. Gram's doctor, obviously, has given us this information, and she feels that hospice care is the best option.

Gram seems pretty at-peace with the whole situation, and is examining all her choices for said Hospice care. It's just so sad, though, because she really, really enjoys life and it's always (and I honestly mean always) been a pleasure to live it with her. Being philosophical is fine and all, but still, there's just that little bit of, you know?

The family has promised to honor her every wish. She hasn't lost a step in her mind, and she is sharp as a tack (even if you should happen to wake her from napping, she's right on her game). So this is not a case of deciding what's best for someone, but rather, doing our very best to see that she gets what she decides is best for herself.

I'll be by to update again on this. Just please ask God to keep her pain at a minimum. Oddly enough, she doesn't seem to be in much at all, at least for the moment. But let's ask that it stays that way, ok?

Performance Evaluation

Ok so put your wet-suit on if you're going to read another word of this, because this is going to be like a weather report: partly whiny, with occasional grumbles, but clearing at the end of the day.

If you'll pardon me, 2008 has 90% sucked out loud. Very, very ungood, as I like to say. Now while I have a lot to be thankful for (for all you philospohers out there) it's my opinion that if you can't do what you want to for the people you love, then the resulting feeling is that things are pleasant-not.

Sigh

I have to admit though...I think it's me.

As my wooden coffee table is a dust magnet, I have been a mess magnet. But as a magnet attracts, I attract ungoodness...non-luck...anti-beneficial stuff.

Yeah it's me. I feel like I not only cause my own quagmire, I believe that I brought a lot of the yuck to people's lives as well. I come in the room, it's like that scene from "Ghost" where the demons come up outta the ground all black and moaning, and drag people off.

My career is in its infancy stage for the second time in my life. Only I didn't get to be 23 again to do it all over. And being all bent up and driving with that parking permit hanging on the mirror just serves to remind me how close I am to being a fossil.

So with that all in mind, I figure I have to make some changes. One of those changes is to start by fixing my attitude. I think it reflects on people when your mouth looks like it's full of salt, ya know?

But me turning into Jimmy Sunshine is going to take some work. Kinda like completely filling in the Grand Canyon. Will rake some planning and preparation. And probably some fertilizer.

The first thing I have to do is let it go. Spit it out, get rid of the venom.

That's not very simple ya know, especially if you've known me for a decent amount of time. You know very well that there are lots and lots of people out there whose sole purpose is to make me very mad all the time!

But I have to purge. I have to stick my thumb down my figurative throat and get it the hell outta there.

So...

Between now and the end of this miserable, stinkin' lousy rotten smelly year, I am going to spout about the things that always seem to be a thorn stuck in my tongue. We'll go one more round with all of them, and then start the new year all fresh and pretty and new.

Well, maybe not fresh and pretty and new. But you get what I'm saying.

I'll update about Gram as I can ok?

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Gram

Hello my friends. It's me, returning from another M.I.A. episode. So to begin, I'd just like to lean a minute and get some things off my chest.

We've had some illnesses spring up in my family of late. One had an ok ending, sort of a work in process. The other situation camee out last night.

My grandmother, aka Gram, received some bad news Monday morning. She has cancer. She is 93 years old, and her health has been failing somewhat, but only in the last couple of years. She has always been a vivacious Lady, one of those people who when you say, "She is always ready to help or lend a hand" it really is true.

I spent Sunday with her at the hospital, and while it was a good day, it couldn't be perfect because there were things there in the background that we'd only find out about Monday.

I'm really sad about this. It's not a feeling a grief right now, it's more just a plain ol' sadness because I really enjoy watching her enjoy life. I could make her whole day just stopping by to take her to lunch (Gram is REALLY my buddy 'cause she likes Applebee's too!), although the last couple of lunches I had to bring in to her because she was not really able to get out. I really would like to get a few more of those lunches in with her, you know? So maybe remember Gram in your prayers today ok?

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Recess!

At some point yesterday, there came a formal announcement that our economy is, in fact, in recession. I actually think it was more like an admission, but that's for another day.

Your Pal Lippy here, is doing his part to make it as bearable as possible. With a little humor, perhaps.

We've made some shirts you can share the pain with. Check them out here


Available in a variety of recessive styles and sizes!

A Short Stay...

OK so we worked on living the dream...Life As A Bad Driver.

Ungood, to say the least. Shortly after we snapped the picture from the previous entry, we began to rethink our position.

About nine seconds after that shot, sure enough, someone shot up behind us, tailgated, and then shot around us. We got a look that could have melted our top row of teeth. We beat a retreat out of the left lane into the presumed safety of the far right lane. Funny, though...we maintained our speed at precisely the speed limit (with the assistance of Cruise Control) but shortly after our retreat, we had someone riding the bumper in the right lane too. We disengaged the cruise control and slowed to about 40 mph before Gater decided to pass us. This was accompanied by a look that pretty much took care of the bottom row of teeth.

We activated our turn signal about 2 miles prior to our exit, just to see what that felt like. And went on to safer waters. Off the highway.

At the first traffic light, we waited 10 or so seconds after the light turned green to come out of our coma. Sounded like the horn section from the Boston Pops. First chance these folks got, they shot us some more teeth melters.

Tailgating occurs on one-lane roads too, when one drives 10 mph below the speed limit. Even for only a minute.

We resisted the urge to try on the cellphone-iac hat while driving though. That's illegal. None of that here, ok?

Next up, we signaled a right turn about 12 hours before the actual turn, and then made the turn at about the speed one would dock the Queen Mary. Horns can be loud. And certain curse-words are very easy to figure out when lip-reading.

Our last little taste of fun was going into a trance just after entering a large parking lot. We sat and treated our choice of spot like most people would consider a career decision. People will tailgate in a parking lot and check to see if there are any teeth left to melt. Then they'll look to your soul.

That was enough for me.

I don't know why people would drive that way on purpose. I couldn't stand the road rage. I'll be cutting this little Walk short.

Over and out.

Next up, CellFun!

Monday, December 01, 2008

Here we are

Starting my project. We are currently in the left lane doing exactly the speed limit. Let's see how this goes...