Sunday, July 08, 2007
WILS-13
It’s been awhile. I think I’ll do this more often.
Anyhow, WILS is “What I Learned Sunday” and it is, (supposed to be), my weekly round up of everything I’ve learned in the past week. This one will, more than likely, include things I’ve learned in the past....well, it looks like it’s been almost two years since I’ve done this, so it will include all the knowledge I’ve gained since then. (I should have just lied to you and made you believe I learned this all in one week so you would think I’m fantastically insightful, wise beyond my years, extremely busy and that I have one hell of an active social life...the envy I could have received from you all! But, I think somewhere along the way, someone inserted a “tell the truth at all times” device in my head and it is nearly impossible for me to lie anymore. That, I think, is the main cause of all of the problems I encounter in my life. I mean, I can lie once in awhile but it’s only after I realize that telling the truth actually screwed everything up. See, people love when someone is blunt and slaps others upside the head with the cold, harsh reality and they love it when I call someone out for exactly who they are...except when it’s directed at them. Then they wet their pants and snivel, cry, complain, carry on and generally make a gigantic ass out of themselves because they’ve had everyone suck up to them or kiss their asses or candy coat it all. I don’t candy coat shit. I don’t suck up to anyone. I will NOT kiss anyone’s ass. So...apparently the truth hurts a lot of people. Even me when I do the truth telling. Whatever. Let’s just move on.)
Sunday, August 21, 2005
WILS-12
1) I learned that used cars can be expensive.
2) I learned that not all gas stations have clean gas.
3) I learned that some people in this world are going through situations somewhat similar to mine and they are feeling pretty much the same way I am about it all.
4) I’ve learned that when I listen to my instincts, as I have repeatedly told myself to do, I can read people really, really, really well from the start and by listening, I am protecting myself.
6) I’ve learned that at this point and time in my life, the only, absolute only thing I fear is not having enough money. As long as I have enough money to keep me fed and sheltered, I can get through anything.
7) This week I sat back and took a look at all of my accomplishments in life. I used to think I had done nothing in my life so far simply because I wasn’t living up to the standards that American society says I should be at right now.
8) I learned this is a load of crap, I have accomplished a hell of a lot, done a lot of things, been to a lot of places and I’ve lived a pretty full life up to this point. Screw what American society thinks I should have done by now. I’ve succeeded in accomplishing a LOT of my goals I set out for myself when I was still a young child and I’ve learned from hard and harsh experience a boat load more than many of my peers.
9) I’ve known for a long time that most people don’t like it when they learn you have become wiser from so many experiences; most people don’t believe you actually had all those experiences and talking to them about them only makes them resentful of what they haven’t done causing them to lash out. I’ve learned that by doing #5 and not sharing with those who I get a feeling from, remaining generic to them, actually makes for a much better environment when in their presence.
10) I learned that I’m far more patient than a lot of people around me and while that has been my downfall many times in the past, I’ve learned how to use it in the best way now. I wouldn’t trade a single experience if it meant I would be like others I’ve encountered in my life who wouldn’t know the definition of patience if it smacked them right in the teeth with a tire iron. I understand why they are the way they are now and I’m so very glad I’m not like them at all.
11) I’ve learned that moving 3000 miles away from “family” has brought me such inner peace and dare I say it, serenity, that I know I did the right thing despite how long and hard the road was.
My most using expressions this summer have been:
What doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger.
This, too, shall pass.
I have finally accomplished the goals I set out for myself 5 years ago. Now I can start moving the 10 year goals to my 5 year goal category.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
WILS-11
Since it has been so long, every Sunday, (or the Sundays I remember), I do a post about what I learned the past week. Hence, the title, “What I Learned, Sunday”.
1) Sometimes you have to vent to get it out of your system.
2) Feels good finally to be moving on.
3) It’s really stupid to make the good, quality readers pay for the assholes who have stopped by. This is why I’ve opened the site back up.
4) I’m back in control.
5) I no longer care about the prickly bitches out there who leave rude comments. Therefore, I will leave comments open because some people want to say things, I will no longer tolerate condascending assholes and their comments will be banned, no questions answered, no explanations given, I simply do not care anymore and it was the trackbacks that were being spammed anyway.
6) I owe no one anything.
7) It’s actually funny to go through and open everything up and see where I’ve closed comments down in the past for several reasons: spammers, trolls, punk ass bitches, etc. I slay me.
8) As with every week I re-learn that I live in the best place on earth.
9) Watching soup commercials is a bad idea because then I get on a soup kick.
10) I don’t think there is a lot of nutritional value in what I’m eating...it’s mostly flavored water and all it does is make me pee a lot and sleepy.
11) While it may be hotter than hell here lately, it’s still more pleasant than Seattle because I have a/c and so does every other building.
12) The only time the heat sucks is when I have to do my laundry.
13) Apparently, though, I’ve adapted better than people who have lived here all their life.
14) Coconut juice, straight from the coconut is really disgusting.
15) The actual “meat” of the coconut, without all that sugar like in packages from the store, is really good.
16) Green Tea is not only really good for you, it’s not half bad...especially when it’s decaffinated and three tsp of Splenda are added.
17) I used to hate drinking water but I can’t seem to stop drinking it here.
18) It’s almost impossible to put a kitty who gained some weight last year on a diet when you have a skinny cat as well. While they both pretend they are starving to death, the skinny one just might be.
19) Guess it’s time for two seperate bowls and twice a day monitored feeding once again--which is hard because the skinny one only eats a few bites at a time throughout the day.
20) There is such a thing as green lightning. I saw it and the fact was verified by the person I was talking to on the phone at the time. Strangest thing ever.
That’s it for this week kids.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
WILS-10
Alright kids, you’ve been asking for photos and I got photos. So this week’s “What I Learned Sunday” will be more of a photo essay that I will sum up as such:
The coolest cat toy ever, Saturday in the Keys and what people do at the beach on a windy day.
To start off with, I learned that the MircoMouse, a remote control mouse that one can purchase at Target, (that’s where I got mine), is the end all, be all, bestest ever cat toy in the entire world. Normally my cat’s prefer to play with the packaging or boxes or even fetch and retrieve aluminum foil balls so I wasn’t expecting much of this toy. But I was wrong. I was very wrong. My cats have a fricken cow over this toy. They like to chase it and beat it up and never tire of it. It’s not only fun for them, it’s fun for me as I get many hours of entertainment and good laughter from watching them go ape shit over this thing. Here it is:
The controller and the mouse
The mouse
Serenity after beating up said mouse
It didn’t cost very much and I’m not kidding when I say my normally stuck up cats who point their paws and laugh at me when I spend money on toys for them absolutely LOVE this thing.
Ok, moving on. Saturday I went down to the Floriday Keys with some friends of mine, specifically Key Largo and IslaMorada. I snapped many photos while there for myself and also to appease the hungry for photos masses who continually demand photos from me. (Specifically eyeballs Kristine and Farid. Here you go.)
Click on the thumbnails for full size.
Approaching The First Bridge/On The Bridge To The Keys
The Atlantic On Your Left/The Gulf On Your Right
Homes/More Homes/Still More Homes
Resort/Resort View
Treasure Village...Giant Lobster Out Front...Because they can, that’s why
World Famous Tiki Bar/Tiki Bar Entrance 2
Inside The Tiki Bar/Looking Out The Back Of The Tiki Bar
Along the pier near the Tiki Bar
Pelican/Ray/Nurse Shark/As if
Then, today, because my weather alert told me that there was a possibility of 10’ swells, I decided to walk down to the beach and take a look. I didn’t see any 10’ swells. I saw about one or two possible 3’ swells but it was windy and the water was choppy and too dangerous to swim in due to incredibly strong rip tides. This did not stop some people, however, from going out and fishing, snorkeling and taking part in one really cool sport I’d like to try myself. First off, here’s an image of the ocean when I first got there. As time passed, it got more and more rough.
And here are some guys doing a really cool sport I want to try one day:
Better View Of What They Are Doing
Catching Air! Way Cool!
You see all the things I learned this weekend? So...what did you do?
Sunday, March 20, 2005
WILS-9
Good Morning class! It’s Sunday, you know what that means!
1) I’m normally a night person and have been all of my life but apparently, when I’m excited about something, I become a morning person.
2) The day is really long when you wake up way early every morning.
3) When I was in TX, I gained 25 pounds because the food was aplenty and my system was not used to that. Also, the food is really, really high in carbs and fat. I decided to start a no carb thing on Feb 14th. Today the scale says I’ve lost 17 pounds since then.
4) I could have lost more if I did a zero carb thing from the start. Instead I tried the plan the right way and did less than 20 a day for three weeks. I lost 10. Last Sunday I decided to do zero carbs each day and I’ve lost a pound a day.
5) Even though I see commercials for noodles and potatoes, (I’m Irish and Italian...I cannot be blamed), and I really crave those things, seeing that I’ve lost 17 pounds by sticking to it is a big, fat motivator to keep going.
6) I know I’ll get toned back up once I’m in my new city because I’ll finally have some sort of life again.
7) This move is becoming more real to me.
8) I know I lack trust in others and things getting done and while some of that was true in this whole moving thing, overall, people are following through.
9) Every time something happens as I planned, I gain a little more trust in others.
10) It has been a very difficult one and a half years since I left Seattle to finally get to this point.
11) I know I am the one who made the choice to go for it, and I know I haven’t handled every pitfall gracefully, but I think I’ve done a pretty good job.
12) It has been worth it because nothing good ever comes easy and my goal is a mere 11 days away.
13) This goal has been 3-4 years in planning and I can finally see the end.
14) Having a member’s only site has made me feel free to talk about whatever I want; giving me a sense of freedom and peace and an outlet where I know the common troll surfer won’t be coming by to tick me off.
15) Speaking of sites, I’ve talked about this weblog a long time ago: The Dullest Blog In The World. At the time I was pointing out how the writer takes the absolute most simple activity, writes it down in a one or two sentence entry and receives pages and pages of comments about it.
16) Today I learned that even though the writer has not updated since LAST September, he is STILL getting comments to this day. Put that in your pipe and smoke it pretentious bloggers! (Not any of you guys....but you know there are pretentious bloggers out there who think their shit don’t stink. The fact that this guy gets more comments and readers than any other blog I know makes me point and laugh at many of the “highly recognized” blogs whose owners think that makes them G-d.)
17) Back to the subject, it’s amazing how much you appreciate the little things when you don’t have them for awhile.
18) Every time I move I throw away so much stuff. This time is no different. I’m either donating a LOT to Goodwill or it’s in the trash.
19) I just don’t like to be burdened with a lot of things.
20) However, this move? This will be the absolute, very first time in my entire life I’ll be owning a dining room table. I’m still not into getting a couch though. I guess I think that once I get a couch, I’m committing to a place and while I have no intentions of ever moving from this city, I still want to wait on the couch until I either own a home or a condo. THEN I’ll have fully committed and a couch won’t be a big deal.
From the sounds of some of my previous entries, one might conclude that I don’t trust anyone, I’m a control freak, impatient and fear committment.
Well, those are partially true. I don’t trust everyone, I fear some things and situations that I can’t control, I’m very patient in things most people aren’t and impatient in things most people are and I can committ to things but I don’t often tie myself down to anything because I want to be able to get up and go whenever I want. I choose to look at it in the fact that I seek adventure and having something holding you back prevents you from experiencing a lot. In other words, I’m just not done seeing the world yet. I’m committed to the welfare of my cats and myself and that’s about it.
I’ve learned much in a decade and a half and I’m not going to allow anyone to make me feel bad for decisions I make because they think I’m being selfish. I’ve been very generous in the past, again, given more than I could afford to give, trusted so many I shouldn’t have trusted and those actions are precisely why I’m in the situation I’m in right this second. It doesn’t mean I won’t still help people but I’m not going to put myself in the poor house doing so. I’m not going to be the one who makes the same mistakes twice or give money and more money and more money because I bought into the lies and actually believed that some of these people were worse off than I was. I’ll help with information. I’ll help search. I’ll help a little old lady across the street. I’ll volunteer. But I will never loan another dime to anyone for the rest of my life. I can still help people without buying them furniture or giving them the money to fix their car or help pay their rent, etc.
I’ve borrowed money once in my life before, ($800 from the parents after my car accident). I will never borrow again. Not because it went bad but because the line, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” is how I’m going to live my life from here on out.
I am now able to tell someone, “No.”
And after everything that I’ve gone through in this past year and a half in addition to the lessons learned in the previous decade, saying “No” comes really easy to me now. After awhile, your self preservation becomes the top priority over thinking you might hurt someone’s feelings if you tell them no.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
WILS-8
Good afternoon kidlets, it’s Sunday and that means it’s time for What I Learned Sunday.
1) Even though the landlord calls you first and tells you about an opening and you agree to send the money overnight in the mail, it doesn’t mean it’s yours.
2) Apartment finder agents will rip that place right out from underneath you while your money sits on the landlord’s table, unopened.
3) If the lease is already signed by someone else, it doesn’t matter if your money was technically there first. You aren’t getting it.
4) Taking another 14 hour each way trip one week later is even more painful than the first time.
5) Sometimes pain is worth it.
6) Business is business and you learn really fast how to play the game.
7) Signing a lease before leaving the city you wish to move to brings an immense feeling of peace and calm as well as extreme happiness.
8) Some things are a blessing in disguise as you find a better place the second time you go to the city.
9) The landlord who didn’t hold your apartment while your money was mailed may not have to be loyal to you but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel bad and will tell you as such in a little note with the returned money.
10) Having someone say they are sorry things didn’t work out really extinguishes any anger.
11) Course, finding a better place to live because of the whole damn situation also helps diffuse any animosity.
12) Meeting up with a friend after you have signed the lease to an apartment in the city of your dreams makes the whole thing seem that much more real.
13) The next time I drive there it will be for real and this time, the drive will be really, really, really enjoyable.
14) I know this city is so right because for the first time in a very long time, I’m like a kid before Christmas while waiting for the move date.
15) The only thing that is keeping me from jumping around with all this excited energy is the fact that I’m so fricken tired.
16) I’m telling you, driving that far that often will kill you.
17) It was all worth it in the end.
18) Sleeping totally rules.
19) I have to get it now because once I get to the city I’m moving to, I won’t be sleeping much at all. It’s too fun and I already proved to myself that despite my exhaustion, I will still go out and do things because it’s the best place on earth and I don’t want to miss a thing.
20) The ocean is more awesome every time I look at it and every time I am on the beach looking at it, someone always comes up and starts talking to me.
Dudes....I have 19 days until I move. (If you count today that is.) I cannot fricken wait. I will take photos once I move and post them here as requested. While I could have taken some when I went to get my apartment, I didn’t think to do so. There will be photos in the near future though. And now I must get whatever sleep I can get because it’s going to be awhile before I get this kind of time to rest a lot. Of course, I don’t mind that.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
WILS-7
It’s back! It’s time once again for What I Learned, Sunday where I write down some of the things I’ve learned about life, things and this world the previous week. So hang on to your seats kids, here we go:
1) I learned that driving 14 hours is extremely painful.
2) Driving 12 hours back the next day is even more painful.
3) If you do this, be ready to feel as though someone beat the hell out of you when you wake up the next day.
4) There is no such thing as a “Sure Thing”.
5) I would have sacrificed some things just for location and price.
6) In this instance, I’m glad it didn’t work out.
7) The Atlantic ocean is just as beautiful as I remember it.
8) Nothing bothers me after standing on the beach and staring at the ocean for a period of time.
9) I will still sacrifice some of the things I want just to have the one very important thing: a place near the ocean.
10) If you find yourself in a situation that just isn’t for you, do whatever you have to and get out of it. You may be surprised at how well just asking for assistance can help.
11) Sometimes, starting over isn’t all that bad. People do it all the time and have lived to tell about it.
12) Of course it’s scary but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
13) Maybe it’s age or wisdom or experience or all three: I am really starting to see a difference between genuinely good people, people who act genuine but are not and downright terrible people a lot quicker than I used to.
14) I still get tricked sometimes but I’m less tolerable of it and quicker to squash the excuses and/or give leeway.
15) I’m just too tired of giving people the “benefit of the doubt” when they have done something rude or selfish.
16) Distancing myself from them faster makes life a lot easier.
17) I will do whatever I have to do to get to the city I want to live in.
18) I never realized until just recently how very much I want to live there.
19) I know it’s where I belong and that I will finally feel at home.
20) Unexpected help can come from the most unexpected places.
21) There are some people out there who are so kind and considerate that they are willing to spend time out of their day just to help you.
22) I wonder if they know how much that means to me.
23) I have gained a new friend and hope to someday show this person my gratitude.
24) You know who you are.
25) This move, even the anticipation of it, makes me feel alive once again...has allowed me to find my former self.
That’s it for now kiddies. Monday and Tuesday are going to be busy days on the phone for me as I begin my search of over 400 places to live. Where you live is very important. If you don’t feel a sense of peace and, dare I say it, serenity, about where you live? Chances are, it’s not the right place. This city that I’m looking to get to really is where I belong and I know that I will finally be happy....truly completely happy once again when I get there. What is right for you may not be right for everyone else but as long as it’s right for you, you can’t go wrong. I’m hoping within a month or two, I will finally be in the environment that is right for me. You see, as crazy as this may sound to some, I know that everything will change for the better once I’m there. And that, my friends, has been a long, long time in coming.
[update] 26) Just when you think you wasted two days for nothing, you get a phone call and find out you have a place to live in the city you wish to live in and you didn’t have to spend all that time on the phone calling around. I’ll explain tomorrow.
Sunday, August 01, 2004
WILS-6
Live from Dallas it’s What I Learned Sunday!
1) It really sucks when you leave half of your clothes hanging in the closet at your old place.
2) I apparently missed the gigantic statue of Sam Houston on the way down here. (What am I? Blind?)
3) Since we are going back through Houston in two week’s time, I will not only retrieve my wardrobe, I will also be taking some interesting photos.
4) Somewhere between Houston and Dallas, on 45N, there is a field full of brown garbage cans. We’re talking in the hundreds. Why?
5) Air conditioners actually go lower than 80 degrees!
6) I’m starting to worry about some people in this country. People like to excuse everything by stating: “Perception is everything! Image is everything! It doesn’t matter what you said, did or meant, it’s the perception that matters.�
Really?
How do you wish the rest of the world to perceive us then?
7) They actually have “World Poker Tour� on television. Why?
8) I have to go to the store to get a toothbrush since it appears mine has been eaten in the move.
9) I am completely unmotivated to finish this list much in the same way I’ve been completely unmotivated to blog.
Sunday, July 18, 2004
WILS-5
Mernin’ kids. It’s Sunday and that means it’s time for you to gain from my weekly experiences and new wisdom. So, let’s proceed with What I Learned Sunday, shall we?
1) If you throw your spare change into a jar every night, you can accumulate quite a little wealth rather rapidly. However, when you are moving, it is also rather heavy and so you will need to spend the $27.30 you’ve managed to save in the last two months before moving.
2) The local drive thru really hates you when you pay for a $3 milkshake in pennies and nickels.
3) Oddly, the local convenience store owner will gladly take that $10 in quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies off your hands.
4) Only $14 in spare change to go.
5) I would have bought a 12 pack of Corona with the remaining spare change but apparently, you cannot buy beer until after 12noon on Sundays in the state of TX.
Checker rings up all other items before coming to the 12 pack of Corona
Checker Girl: This is after 12.
Me: ::gives blank look, clearly not understanding her point:: Ok.
Checker Girl: It’s 11:40 right now.
Me: ::thinking, ‘What? Is it going on sale in 20 minutes? I don’t care, I’ll pay whatever price it is.’:: That’s ok.
Checker Girl: It’s Sunday.
Me: It sure is.
Checker Girl: We don’t sell this until after 12 on Sunday, it’s 11:40 now.
Me: Oooooooooh! Really? Well. That’s a new one for me.
Checker Girl: ::gives quizzical look::
Me: ::flip ID over to show her it’s from WA state:: It’s not like that up there so I was unaware.
So anyway, I didn’t get the damn beer because I was 20 minutes early according to some law here in TX. Eh forget it. I’m not going back, I have a $3 milkshake to finish.
6) Some people will use you to try to get to things they want or people they want to meet.
It’s really disgusting, transparent and you all who are doing it can nok that shit off.
7) I’m now beginning to understand what my friend meant when she said, “star struck by bloggers” only I’ve never been star struck by bloggers. Apparently some people are though.
8) I never realized just how many regular customers we have who are upset that I’m leaving.
9) Only now my boss is beginning to see the results of my hard work and customer service skills. Figures.
10) Although I’m by no means 100% on my grammar, two things really irk the living crap out of me when I see otherwise splendid writers making these mistakes and I’ve learned I cannot keep quiet about it any longer:
Incorrect: I’m asking him to not do that.
Correct: I’m asking him not to do that.
If it helps, remember: It was, “To be or not to be” it was not, “To be or to not be”. Please stop.
Also, people are not thats, people are whos. Example:
Incorrect: That is the person that hit me.
Correct: That is the person who hit me.
11) People say they like to learn and that they would like people to point things out to them but when you do, they get pissy.
12) I will never trust someone who gets pissy when you point out a very simple mistake they are making in order to help them look better or write better or sound better.
13) I trust them even less when they got livid over some slang word you used earlier.
14) The expression: “Better to remain silent than to confirm to everyone you are a fool” (or however the hell it goes), is one a few people out there really need to follow. Especially the ones who say, “they know” things about me and then are so completely wrong it’s almost comical.
In case anyone missed the memo: I live in Texas. Now you know something about me.
::rolls eyes::
Welp, the mind just went blank so I guess that’s it for this week kids. Thanks for playing along and hope to see you all back here next week. Take these lessons and do what you wish with them, most especially so you don’t end up at a checkout counter in the state of Texas at 11:40 am on a Sunday trying to buy a 12 pack of beer and feeling like a dork. Thankfully I had decided to buy some Chapstick and cat litter so I didn’t look nearly as dumb as I could have.
Sunday, July 11, 2004
WILS-4
Here it is, Sunday yet again and that means time to make a list of everything I learned this week. Isn’t this fun, kids?
1) Sometimes little gems just land in your lap.
2) Sometimes my bad luck means I can help others out in their times of need.
3) You can completely forget about lightning when you find yourself at a firing range.
4) Just because you shoot poorly with one weapon and can’t hit those damn steel plates to save your life, it doesn’t mean you totally and completely suck as a shooter.
5) Firing ranges have some of the coolest people and sometimes a stranger will let you shoot their gun.
6) When you kick ass with their gun and knock down every damn one of those *&%$#@! steel plates, not only do you feel damn good, redeemed, make sure you check exactly which type of gun it was for future buying reference.
7) I need a lot more practice with shooting.
8) I have absolutely no problem with this.
9) I need a better paying job so that I can get my beatiful Walther p99, then a Kimber, then a CQB of my own, (my precious), then a Marlin Camp .45........................
10) Damn, I really need a better paying job to support this habit hobby.
11) Sometimes, words come out of a person’s mouth that you never, ever expected to hear come out of their mouths.....and it can be hilarious.
12) Hanging out with really cool people/friends can make one forget all their troubles.
13) Texas has some real gentlemen.
I learned more than this but I’m in a mixture between still high from shooting guns today and being tired. We went to a Chinese restaurant after the range and my fortune inside the cookie said:
“Write your own story, don’t let others write it for you.”
First thing I thought of was this site. Guess I’ll plug on. And finally, since I got a sneak preview to this book, I have decided that not only will I buy it, but I’m going to plug it and hopefully bring in some more sales to this person....however few they may be, you really should get this book.
Eat What You Want And Die Like A Man.
Not only do you get artery clogging recipes, dripping in flavor and sin, you get a big dose of humor to go with it. It was written by this blogger, so go, show him some support, buy his book and laugh your way into the grave. Hey, we’re all going to die sometime...may as well enjoy the time you have right?
Sunday, July 04, 2004
WILS 3
I trust everyone had a wonderful, happy and safe Fourth of July. One thing that brings independence to an individual is to learn something new each and every day and take those learned lessons with them through the rest of their lives. With that, I will now begin, What I Learned Sunday. (As always, click the pic to get to the site of the creator of WIL.)
1) Fireworks come early in Houston.
2) There are far, far more patriotic people in this city than in Seattle.
3) An American flag hanging outside every other house is quite a site to see.
4) It’s even cooler to see the U.S. Marine Corps flag flying underneath just down the block.
5) I suddenly feel that much safer knowing the Marines are nearby.
6) In other news, some things are not always as they appear.
7) Going two weeks without a proper functioning internet connection will drive some to homicidal thoughts.
8) Sometimes being skeptical is a good thing.
9) Especially when it appears the internet connection never has problems when others are home.
10) The second they leave, you’ll have shoddy connection again.
11) Going into their room and unplugging and replugging connections in and then following the cable to the outlet on the wall to see the outlet on the wall, slightly unscrewed and then tightening that back up can cause your connection to work miraculously well.
12) It’s rather difficult not to wonder if that was intentional.
13) Time tells all.
14) Some people seem to think that they can win in a stare down battle with me.
15) Fools don’t realize I used to have an alpha pining, intelligent dog and that I have spent hours staring her down so I enjoy the challenge just to watch them look away first.
16) Some people in this world really are geniune assholes.
17) Leaving work at work makes things a lot more peaceful at home. (Except to tell a little lesson I learned just above.)
18) Though I do know this, I re-learn it every day...watching my cat brings me the most absolute joy and the worst of days can be obliterated within seconds of her presence.
19) It really is possible to read two books at once that are about completely different subjects, though I don’t recommend it.
20) I have one book left to read and then I’m all out of books and that sucks.
21) I don’t get enough sleep.
I think that’s about it for this week kids. I never promised life altering lessons although, I suppose, you could find some hidden, deeper meaning in every one I posted.
Sunday, June 27, 2004
WILS-2
Yes folks, it’s time for another round of “What I Learned Friday Sunday”. (Click the button to read the journal of the writer who came up with the original idea.) Let’s just dive right in:
1) During the week, when you have learned something new and think to yourself that you should include it on your list of “What I Learned Sunday”, it’s a good idea to actually write it down at the time.
2) My memory isn’t as good as it used to be.
3) The customer is not always right. Especially when said customer insists that “today” and the last three times he’s “been in here, there has been no soap!” in the men’s bathroom.
4) Never assume that a customer knows what a soap dispenser looks like.
5) It’s fun to watch a customer eat crow and admit that they were tapping on the wrong box on the wall not only “today” but the last three times they were “in here” as well.
6) A hair band is the all time best cat toy ever. Even better than a laser pointer.
7) If your hair is long enough, you can tie it up by making a knot in it when you can’t find any of your hair bands.
8) After a good rainfall, if I stand outside and close my eyes, the water draining off the streets into the gutters sounds just like a creek.
9) Storms seem to cause the internet connection to go out too frequently for my own tastes.
10) Cursing at the computer screen does no good as the people at Road Runner can’t actually hear you.
11) You will never win “on principle” with an inanimate object no matter how many times you restart the system or hit ‘refresh’.
12) Sometimes the best thing to do is to pick up a book, preferably a humorous one, and do some reading.
13) As soon as you assign yourself to some other task, like, reading a book, the internet connection will work again.
14) Being mocked by an inanimate object is not funny.
15) My brother makes a mean margarita.
16) It’s not a good idea to drink a mean margarita right before you begin a “What I Learned Sunday” list. Especially if your memory seems to be going.
That’s it for this week kids. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I need to pass out.
Sunday, June 20, 2004
What I Learned This Week
So last week I was prowling around in people’s blogrolls, following links and discovering new blogs, (to me), out there when I came across Oh No, The Blog!. The writer has this thing he does every Friday called, “What I Learned Friday” where he recaps things he’s learned the previous week. So, intrigued and thinking what a splendid idea, I swiped one of his buttons and looked forward to Friday.
I promptly forgot to do it on Friday because sometime in between reading the site and Friday, I told myself that this was to be done on Sundays. Oops. Well, Sundays usually mark the end of the week for me so I’m going to alter this idea a bit and make mine, “What I Learned Sunday”. So, without further fanfare, here is my very first list:
1) Some people do not recognize the beauty in a good rainfall.
2) I re-learned the joy of getting into my pajamas and curling up with a really good book.
3) I’ve made a bigger impact on a certain friend than I ever thought I did. It mystifies me and makes me happy.
4) I apparently like tomatoes now although they still have to be mixed in with something, not plain, but I’ve never before liked tomatoes. Very weird.
5) I also apparently like Jalapeno peppers. Again, they must be mixed in with something and I can only handle a few at a time but my tongue doesn’t die when they encounter them anymore.
6) I have to work harder on not letting rude customers get to me; that I really shouldn’t care what they think.
7) I really need a different job.
8) Ankles take a reallly, really, really long time to heal and if you get impatient, they will continue to bruise and swell up.
9) A leaf blower is a perfect way to remove all paooki from around the door frame.
10) If you leave a dead bird in the yard long enough after being traumatized by the removal of two dead baby birds not one week earlier, the carcass will magically disappear.
11) A lot of things disappear or “take care of themselves” after my brother does the yard work.
12) Since I’m addicted to lip balm, I’ve discovered a very cheap and fabulous way to make it myself. (tip: shortening and kool-aid)
13) Putting milk directly on a scar actually makes the scar fade a little.
14) Going through files to retrieve medical bills to pay them, you just might find that long lost income tax refund check.
15) Finding money still makes me act like a little kid on Christmas.
16) Despite the rumor that they work, dryer sheets do not repel mosquitos.
17) If you stick a dryer sheet in your pocket and forget about it, people will ask you all day long what kind of perfume you are wearing.
18) Buying and preparing real food, not microwave dishes, actually saves money and makes you lose weight even though it feels like you’re eating way more.
19) Cutting up fruits and veggies and then storing them, while not pleasant during the process, actually makes me crave and eat them more.
20) I did my very first E-bay auction, won, and although the item cost me less than $5, I’m afraid that if I get a better paying job, I’m going to become an E-Bay junkie. E-Bay is fun.
That’s about it for this week kids. I plan to do this every Sunday as a release and to keep a record of things I’ve discovered or finally tried in this life. This isn’t just a blog, this is also sort of a journal for me.
