Work Ethic

This has been on my mind for a while. I have fallen out of the habit of blogging regularly (to put it mildly). So I find myself writing only when compelled.
I may have mentioned this before, but way back in high school, I was restless and bored, and as a 10th grader, failed to show up most of the year for my classes.

I did have 1/2 credit for choir and 1/2 credit for working in the P.E. office, but that was about it.
During the summer as year three loomed ahead, I thought it over carefully; did I want to be a "5 year man" (no). Did I want to be a H.S. drop out? (no again). I needed a third way.

After speaking to my teachers, we worked out a plan: I would make up the missing year by attending school day/night/summer and graduate with my class. This I did and worked in a factory to boot.
The plan (almost) worked. A highly conservative algebra instructor broke his promise and failed my hippy ass, forcing me to attend summer school and graduate with that group who (some say) was larger than the Spring class.

But this post is not about something that happened 40+ years ago, it is about what happened after, and continues to this day: Hard work does not phase me. 'Never has.

Didn't bother me to work on stage until 1-2am and then hold a rehearsal at 8am the next day.
Didn't bother me to practice scales on piano 6-8 hours of the day and then work a 4-5 hour show that night.

Does not bother me to deliver 3 grands in the morning by 1pm, and pick them up and bring them back in at midnight that night.
Funny, I am married to a woman that thinks and acts the same. It's like we don't know the difference between work and play.

We do, we just don't care. It's all rock and roll to me (us).

What Kind of Nation Do You Want?

I watched the Clint Eastwood "Halftime In America" talk (commercial?) during the Super Bowl, and I was impressed. It was well done and a sentiment few could argue with (I thought). So knock me over with a feather when I find out this pep talk to America is controversial!

I don't know about you, but I've about had it with all the manufactured "contROVEry out there.

• I've had it with the name calling
• I'm done with the vilifying 
• I'm turning off the "I'm offended" people
• Not listening to the couple of dozen 'pundits' who rake in millions dividing US.

The folks that interest me are the people interested in finding solutions to problems that are going to work for the most people. I want to hear from people that understand that politics IS the art of compromise.
I've been studying up on my history folks, and much of it is not a pretty picture. Large numbers of people oppressing or killing large numbers of people for reasons that sound pretty stupid (once you take the ego out of it).

Empires crumble from within because of the elements we are seeing on a daily basis now. When this happens, EVERYBODY LOSES.

If our professional leaders can't do their job, it is up to us to lead the way. Come on, try to go a whole day without calling anyone an unflattering name. Go a whole day NOT jumping to conclusion about someone's motives. If you don't make it, start all over the next day. Get some friends to join you.

There is a political group called the Coffee Party, from what I've seen, they seem pretty reasonable. We have to take back civility, be the example those at the "Top" need to follow.   

What I Did on my Winter Vacation

After missing the summer vacation period, and working hard through the year, I realized more was needed than just slipping away for a few days in the hills. "What is the shortest distance between me and FUN?". I then remembered the FUN Ships sailing out of Galveston every week. With a pretty short lead time, we got a 7 day cruise booked leaving January 1, 2012. "Good way to start the year" I thought.
I mentioned we were going to our friends Carol and John on Christmas Eve, and they decided to go too and make it their honeymoon. I won't get into every detail here, but just mention a few highlights.
FIRST: the ship. It is amazing, everyday I marveled at what was accomplished by this crew. They fed 5,000 people 3 meals each day (although some, I assure you ate much more than that). Kept the ship looking great, entertained us around the clock, treated us all like we were royalty, and propelled the whole thing across open water at around 25 mph. No, I'm not gushing because it was my first cruise, t'was our third. Still, I have worked in the event business in one capacity or another my whole life and know what it takes to plan a 4 day convention (usually about 10 months). The fact that this bunch pulls this off EVERY SUNDAY makes them event gods in my view.

Favorite Activities: "Dress Up Night". (AKA Captains Reception). We put on our fancy clothes and meet the Captain and Senior Officers (had a nice conversation with Science Officer Poks). We also get our photos made, and that is good for families too.
Saw some really good stage shows, lot's of singing and dancing, live show band, all very professional, very entertaining.
"Caribbean Night" (AKA The Deck Party) was great. Knowing what we were in for, we rested up during the day. Wild dancing, screaming, liquor flowing, etc. a good time had by all.
Oh yeah, we did stop in some ports; Montego Bay Jamaica, where we climbed up a 700 foot water fall. Cayman Island, where we snorkeled in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. and
Cozumel Mexico where we sped around in open jeeps, learned about Tequila, and hung out on a lovely beach. In all, I highly recommend cruising, and doing it with friends!

BTW, this is my 100th post. Thanks for reading...

Hauntings

I wondered if my daily sensation of haunting myself was typical or unusual. I've been in this town now, 40 years(!), and daily I work at places with which I have history. So I'm a guy that has these flashbacks 3-4 times a day. I tend to keep these to myself, but today I let one slip out on a poor unsuspecting catering salesperson.

I was called to tune a piano at The Renaissance Hotel in Greenway Plaza. The Catering contact informed me the piano would be on the 20th floor.. I said "Oh, I used to play that room in the 70's and 80's". She said "back when it was a club? I've heard about that". Apparently, they have someone that has been around THAT long and was there when I was 23.

Again this happens daily. I am fighting NOT becoming one of those guys that launches into a story every time you mention this place or that. But I'm also not promising anything in that regard in another few years.

Our Minds; Also 1/3 Ourselves

Ok, so I started last week by talking about our physical bodies, calling that part of ourselves 1/3. We are not our bodies / we are to some extent our bodies.

Thoughts, prayers, attitudes, frame of mind, etc. I give equal billing with body. Equal in importance. The ancient framing of 

body = bad 

mind = good 

clearly does not wash in our own time. Although in some cultures you would have a time proving that.

We fill our minds with learning, it seems the amount there is to learn is growing faster than anyone could possibly keep up with (but don’t worry, there’s an app for that).
Education will take you far, but (as dear ol’ Dad said), it only takes you sooo far. Learning to train our minds, force ourselves out of our comfort zone (toward expansion) is THE lifelong challenge.
I have been working with a mind training system called Lumosity.com. Doing the exercises daily really lets me know where I am at any given time. I am humiliated and am triumphant all in one short session. It is very illuminating to discover new things about who I am after knowing me all these years.

Our Bodies: 1/3 of Ourselves

For a long time I've come to think of these biological machines of ours as I do cars: Delightful wonders of nature and science that slowly deteriorate as we are cruising carefree down life's highway.

Up to a point, we could throw a bunch of money at our issues and be as good as we were as young adults (assuming we were good as a young adult), but like our old car, you can get a new coat of paint, but can't stop the degeneration under the hood.

So we learn to live with the seat stuck in one position, a window that won't go down, etc. along with that crazy knee, acid reflux, and so on. Knowing that one day, sometimes when we least expect it, the old buggy will take us where we are all going for the last time. 

Meatless Monday III

Meatless Monday III

The story of a man wracked with guilt over his moral failings.

Congratulating myself for my 3rd meatless monday, I went to bed. In my dream I was visited by a chicken with one wing and a pig with a limp. "What about breakfast?" asked the pig. "What about lunch?" asked the chicken. "My bad" I said and promised to do better.

As they walked off, I called to the pig "wait, why the limp? Bacon doesn't come from there."

"I banged my knee getting out of the truck" he grimiced.

A note to my fan(s). A while back I made the decision to only blog when I had something of significance to say. Hence my silence for low these many months. 

I am now returning to my policy of spilling out any drivel I feel compelled to spill, so you will be hearing from me on a more timely basis.