mad dash to get it done

in this blog you will never find a rant, a rave, or a mention about anything that goes on with my job. i don't want to turn this into a soapbox to ruminate anything that goes on in the workplace - good, bad, or indifferent. i will though, from time to time, use it as a handy excuse. like this - i haven't posted in forever and a day because i usually post at work. work has become fast paced and ridiculous (since i moved back to supporting sales) and i have little, ney, no time to post. so there you have it.

but i'm back today. for a few minutes. so how is the great pink t, you ask? <>

so, i have a list of things to write about. random thoughts about why things are they way they are and why we behave the way we do. i also have a overrated/underrated post, well, 2 actually, that i need to get out. let's start with what i was going to write about last week.

so, we human beings are psychological anomalies. probably not to those that study the mind and body, but to me, and my opinion is what matters right now. growing up, i'd often get cuts or scrapes. once i even slid across pavement on my face after riding my bike like a motorcycle around a corner (yes, i leaned, the pedal caught the ground and i flew). i see kids these days with the same things happen to them, and you know what? they don't cry. not until they actually see the damage. not until they see the reaction (toddlers are this way too).

as we grow up, i firmly believe we're able to control our reactions to pain or shock. a small scrape no longer warrants a scream, heck, it may not even hurt anymore. for some people the mere sight of blood will send them into hysterics.

i bring this up because just recently i had this happen to me and it was odd. it's been nice here, i've been driving a lot, and the sun is always on my side of the car (i'm cursed). so not only do i have a nice farmer's tan, one arm is significantly darker than the other. i forget where i was coming from on the day in mind, but later i noticed my arm was burned.

now, at any point throughout the day and into the evening, you would think that a burned arm might, just maybe, cause a little bit of pain to an individual. me, i guess it doesn't. only after i noticed it did i realize that it actually was a bit tender and that it hurt. go figure.

i don't understand why we as human's do not recognize all pain in the same way. the example i gave is different than someone putting their hand on a hot plate. the latter i would think would be instantaneous, but the former, eh, when you notice it.

it's just something to ponder. you'll have to excuse me now, i was just told i'm on fire and now that it's mentioned, it kind of hurts.

promises are not always kept

i have failed you my faithful readers. i promised a post today, and at this time, this seems to be the best it's going to get. a post saying "i can't post today." i'm not sure i'll find the time today, but i will at least make an attempt. lots to talk about, lots to ponder.

sorry for making a promise i cannot fulfill . have a beer on me.

things to do before i die

i find it interesting that our thoughts during the day are based upon a sequence of events during the previous or current day. what we read, what we see, what we're doing, etc. our dreams are affected by said events and well as our interactions with our spouses, friends, family, coworkers, strangers. try this on for size - 12 yr old tacoma girl update. after reading this story one can't help to feel, maybe just me, less hopeful of a positive outcome, thusly changing my mood and reactions towards others.

i cannot admit that it is a long lasting change, but there is a change in feeling nonetheless. another article i read in men's health did the same thing. to recap - a man goes in for surgery, goes into cardiac arrest, and reevaluates his "life goals." he uses examples such as having a belini at harry's bar to just keep drinking. it sounds glib, but i'm merely paraphrasing. the larger idea is that climbing peaks, having drinks at a bar hemingway used as a backdrop, reading proust - those are all superficial, all but inconquerable goals, while having a beer, fishing with grandpa or starting family traditions are the things that matter most in life.

the point i'm going for here is that this article is one of those "thought provokers." my approach to life today has been changed - even if it is merely for an afternoon. i've spent the better part of today evaluating and reevaluating what it is that i must do before i die. are there 5 things (only 5!) or are there 1,000 (how is that possible)? i really don't know.

time for a small tangent, which at the end should make sense, at least it does to me. satchel paige spoke to six "rules for staying young." it originally appeared in the june 13, 1953 issue of collier's. the version i am listing was taken from his autobiography.

1. avoid fried meats which angry up the blood
2. if your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts
3. keep the juices flowing by jangling around gently as you move
4. go very light on the vices, such as carrying on in society - the social ramble ain't restful
5. avoid running at all times
6. and don't look back - something might be gaining on you

he has a list. he, it seems, has an idea of what he needs to do before he dies. or at least to be able to enjoy life's experiences. this list was his response to how he remained young (he was 42 when he made it into the bigs because of a color barrier) while playing against kids half his age. somehow, i think, at least metaphorically, these "rules" can be adapted.

when i look back on my life when i'm 80, what will be the more rewarding accomplishment - the brotherly banter with my siblings on a holiday, or the fact that i was able to successfully learn 3 languages (not that this is what i'd like to do, just an example). i know that i'm not the type that will want to brag, to wax poetic about all my accomplishments in life. so what if i've climbed everest 100 times, does it mean anything if the people closest to me don't care? does it mean anything if i miss out on my child walking for the first time, my mother's surgery to remove her breast cancer, my grandfather calling me a cheater while playing cribbage?

yeah, probably not.

the laughter, the banter, the jokes, the tears, the heartache. those are the things that make memories. the events that bring those emotions are what i would classify under "things to do before i die." now, i need to make like satchel and figure out my list...

i's tired today. i would prefer for the day to be over already. i'm bored at work and have been sitting in a room all day waiting to start something that we were supposed to start at 930. oh, it 315. i'm not a fan of unproductive days. even when i feel like i need a break or want to run away from everything, i still wish to be productive. meh, what are you going to do?

kind of a lame post today. yesterday i was thinking of something to speak about, but to be completely honest, i don't remember what it was. i'm assuming it couldn't have been that important.

honeybunches and i took in the transformers this past friday. good show. good show. all i heard leading up to it was that it was great with action, but the rest of the show was crap. not the case, i'm happy to report. there existed a story, great graphics, no over the top acting and no real bad acting. i was very impressed. maybe i'll write a "real" review soon, i dunno. trivia point: the voice of optimus prime was the original voice from the series as well. whodathunk?

sorry for the lameness, my 3 readers. enjoy your day.

over and under

i was listening to the radio this morning - adam carolla to be exact. they were doing this "best of..." (presumably because he's on vacation) and the topic was "overrated/underrated." and it got me thinking, as i listened to it for the second time, what are some of the things that i too find overrated/underrated.

here's my first, and unfortunately, they talked about this on the radio.

overrated

the beastie boys. i like the music they make, i'm sure they put on an entertaining show. i'm sure their family loves them and they make their mommas proud. but what in sam hell do they do that elevates them to a god-like status in the record business. to me, they are no better than the kids you see in the hallway of your school with a mixed tape of beats they put down with an electric keyboard and their dad's old records. i mean, listen to them sometime. 90% of their rhymes are just words thrown together, with no reason as to why they are put there, and can easily be interchanged by any of the members - case in point, every line ends with all of them shouting the word. example:

"girls, hey all i really want is girls and in the evening it's girls"

with the bolded words being shouted by all three. it truly doesn't do it justice, but i hope it paints a picture. at any rate, i do like their music, i just don't feel that they deserve the gushing praise they get. if they weren't "the beastie boys" and haven't been around for so long, would they have the status they have? i just don't know.

underrated
i'll stick with the music theme and go with guster. it might be because they are one of my favorite bands, but i don't care. i first saw these guys open for the barenaked ladies circa 2001 and was immediately impressed with their stage presence, their banter with the crowd, and their overwhelmingly humble nature. they are in their own words "wuss rock." what makes them stand out is their ability to deliver time after time, album after album, a solid slate of music and (when live) a spectacular show. i can continue to gush and rave about them, but i won't. all that is important is that they are solid and continually do not get the recognition, on a national/worldly level, that they deserve.

you may or may not agree, my 3 readers, but that's ok. please comment if you'd like, heck, even list your own thoughts, i'd love to hear them.

maybe we'll even do this over/under list ever week, on different topics. time for an alaskan amber.

ciao!

awww. ain't this about a bitch? ok, bye.

i was going to write some lamentous post about the sonics losing another "superstar" but have decided against it. it's not worth my time - i say, again - good riddance.

seattle fans: he's a semi-all-star. he has no defensive skills. he's overpaid and overhyped. as far as i'm concerned he has two things going for him - a) he can score and b) he shares his birthday with me (which is pretty neat, he should feel blessed).

i don't have my finger on the pulse of this one yet, but i can tell you this, there are a lot of rashard lovers out there (which i do not understand) and i know they will be heartbroken. but if the guy wants $75 million, let him go.

i don't know about you, but i'd rather see the sonics save their money and spend it on things like a new arena and better beer.

Seattle International Beer Fest(ival)

who likes beer? i found out that i like most beer or beer-like substances, including, but not limited to mead.

my better half and i decided to take in this once-a-year hopfest in the hopes of finding some very good beer. i think, with the exception of one beer, we were overly satisfied - yes, J.W. Lee, your harvest ale is disgusting, very much akin to drinking dish soap. i'm not lying.

a nice day to have enough beer to catch a buzz, at least by the weather's standards. the prison, er gates, were bulging with people (and yes, pets) and the atmosphere was a solid 8. not a lot of food choices, but when i finally needed the hotdog to soak up some of the bier, i was able to find one without a problem. the festival had live bands throughout the day, but i enjoyed the music the most when they were playing old sublime over the speakers (don't quit your day jobs, bands).

i think it can best be summarized as this: if we were able to go to portland we would. as it stands, that probably won't happen. this has left such a positive impression that we will not be missing this event again. and we'll take a cab

couple of quick links:

seattle's beer fest
portland has one too!

cheers!