We all have people in our lives who fall into both of these categories. The friends are those that we are particularly close to, who know a lot of shit about us as individuals. We know the names of each others’ wives and children, know a lot about where each other has been and what they have done in their lives. These are also people that we trust, knowing that we could tell them anything. People we trust and who trust us, whose opinions actually mean something to us as individuals. We care what they think, and know that our individual opinions are important to them as well. People who could call you at 2 AM in need of something, and you would do whatever was necessary without a second thought.
(And before the question is asked, I’ll answer it. Yes, you can have true friendships with people you meet at online social networking sites like Myspace and Facebook. I have several who fall into this category, and I value their friendship greatly. I trade Christmas cards with them, have spoken to them on the phone, and value their opinions as if they were physically here and we have daily interaction.)
Then there are acquaintances. These are people that we know somewhat, through work or hobbies, church or other social groups. Maybe they’re friends of friends. You’re not particularly close to an acquaintance, in that you probably don’t know a whole lot of details about them. You also know that, while you have to deal with these people at some level, you don’t consider them as friends. Maybe you don’t trust them completely and aren’t willing to share details from your life with them. In fact, some acquaintances turn out to be people that you really don’t like or can barely stand to be around. Usually, we don’t really give a rats ass what they think about anything relatively important. We know enough about them to do whatever is necessary, and don’t really dwell on them all that much.
It gets weird, though, when an acquaintance starts believing that you are their friend. They believe that they have bonded with you on some level that you don’t particularly share, and start treating you differently. Wanting to spend more time with you than you feel comfortable with. Telling you shit that you could care less about. Believing that there is more to the relationship between you and them than you feel actually exists.
This has happened to me recently, and it bothers me a little bit.
On one side of the coin, I kind of feel sorry for the guy in question. This person is not easily likeable at any level, has horrible personal hygiene issues, and believes that his opinion is valued by everyone he happens to cross his path. The reality of it is that people just barely tolerate him, and only communicate with him because it’s absolutely necessary to get things accomplished at work. In other words, he’s a pompous asshole.
Part of me wants to pity the fool. To show a little compassion for someone other than myself. Do some self sacrifice, take one for the team, and be nice to the guy. Be a pal. Reap a little good karma.
The other side of the coin is that inner voice that tells me, “Tell the guy to fuck off. It might be mean, but you have to cruelly stomp on his delusions of friendship before the shit goes too far.”
I’m currently trying the third option, which is avoid the guy like syphilis and hope he can take a hint. So far, this strategy isn’t working very well, but we’re just starting the process and I’m trying to be patient about it.
My friends know me and know that my loyalty to them is beyond question. If you are my friend, you know it without having to be told. While I have a lot of friends, I have very few close friends, and it’s been that way my entire life. Those that do consider me a friend and vice versa, know that there is nothing short of a felony that I wouldn’t do for them, and I feel the same from them without having to be told or have it spelled out.
Has anyone ever had one of these “acquaintance with delusions of friendship” situations, and if so, what did you do about it?
Monday, August 30, 2010
Shit My Dad Says
There is a new book that has hit the shelves recently called Sh*t My Dad Says. It’s a story of a guy who goes through a divorce and ends up moving back in with his father, and he captures some of the wisdom his dad lays down on him in a pretty amusing way. If you get the chance, give it a read. It’s a pretty funny book.
It did get me thinking about some of the things my Dad laid on me over the years. Some of the things my own Dad says or has said that still hold a place in storage in my brain, that I’ll occasionally go back to once in a while.
I Can’t Stop You from Doing It But I’ll Sure as Hell Break You of the Habit
Whenever anyone would do something stupid or get ready to do something stupid, you would hear this. It’s both funny and somewhat menacing at the same time. Kind of like saying “Go ahead, asshole. Do it and see what happens”, but in a funny kind of way. Still had the menace attached to it, and it made you give a second thought to what you were doing, but still pretty funny to hear.
Ya Gotta Be Tough to Live in the West
Something bad happens to you or someone you know. It could be bad as in sprained your ankle, or as in when life hands you a shitty deal and you have to go through it.
(Name of Company) Wanted Me to Have This
My Dad is the master at taking stuff that nobody wants and turning it into something useful. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. That and the time honored habit of stealing from your workplace, something I think we all do or have done every once in a while. Dad is by no means a thief, but he has been able to take stuff that no one really wants and use it to his own advantage in his own home, or to give to someone else who has need. He once took a shitload of old railroad ties and made awesome garden boxes with it. I use this phrase my own self on those occasions when I find something I know no one has any interest in and decide to take home, where I can put it to good use.
If You Go Hungry in My House, It’s Your Own Fault
Even when he was unemployed and struggling, Dad was always able to put food on the table. While there were some rough times when I was growing up, I never went hungry. (That would come later on at my own hand, unfortunately). Growing up, there was always food on the table, even if it were something simple like eggs and toast for dinner. He made shit work, and if you were hungry, you had no one to blame but yourself.
These aren’t all of the phrases my dad is known to use, but they are the best ones; the ones that have hung with me over the years, and in many ways have adopted for my own use. There is wisdom there, in both small and large ways, and also a slice of his personality that remains a part of me.
It did get me thinking about some of the things my Dad laid on me over the years. Some of the things my own Dad says or has said that still hold a place in storage in my brain, that I’ll occasionally go back to once in a while.
I Can’t Stop You from Doing It But I’ll Sure as Hell Break You of the Habit
Whenever anyone would do something stupid or get ready to do something stupid, you would hear this. It’s both funny and somewhat menacing at the same time. Kind of like saying “Go ahead, asshole. Do it and see what happens”, but in a funny kind of way. Still had the menace attached to it, and it made you give a second thought to what you were doing, but still pretty funny to hear.
Ya Gotta Be Tough to Live in the West
Something bad happens to you or someone you know. It could be bad as in sprained your ankle, or as in when life hands you a shitty deal and you have to go through it.
(Name of Company) Wanted Me to Have This
My Dad is the master at taking stuff that nobody wants and turning it into something useful. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. That and the time honored habit of stealing from your workplace, something I think we all do or have done every once in a while. Dad is by no means a thief, but he has been able to take stuff that no one really wants and use it to his own advantage in his own home, or to give to someone else who has need. He once took a shitload of old railroad ties and made awesome garden boxes with it. I use this phrase my own self on those occasions when I find something I know no one has any interest in and decide to take home, where I can put it to good use.
If You Go Hungry in My House, It’s Your Own Fault
Even when he was unemployed and struggling, Dad was always able to put food on the table. While there were some rough times when I was growing up, I never went hungry. (That would come later on at my own hand, unfortunately). Growing up, there was always food on the table, even if it were something simple like eggs and toast for dinner. He made shit work, and if you were hungry, you had no one to blame but yourself.
These aren’t all of the phrases my dad is known to use, but they are the best ones; the ones that have hung with me over the years, and in many ways have adopted for my own use. There is wisdom there, in both small and large ways, and also a slice of his personality that remains a part of me.
Monday Morning at The Guam Desk
“It’s a town full of losers, I’m pulling out of here to win.”
Bruce Springsteen
And now, kidlings, now that I am fully energized with coffee and cigarettes, ready to face the challenges of the new workday, it’s time once again for an update from The Guam Desk.
+ + + + +
I love me some Facebook, but think it’s time to talk about something that has been bothering me for a long time. Those of you who are into the gaming that is a part of FB, cool. Good for you, glad you found something you enjoy doing. With that said, though, I have to tell all of you gamers that I REALLY DON’T CARE about what you happen to be doing in Farmville or Mafia Wars or any other time-waster that you get involved with, and I would appreciate it if you would just enjoy your gaming in private and not clutter up the ether with your posts. I could give a shit less that you have sodomized your barnyard animals in Farmland or Farmville or whatever. It also goes on to prove that there are people in the world who have a lot more free time on their hands than I do.
+ + + + +
Yesterday was our annual Company Picnic, being held down at Jeff’s Pirates Cove down at the southern end of the island. The Gorgeous One and I did not attend, because in spite of the title of this blog, I’m really not into Mandatory Fun. I’m also not fond of these gatherings because there is something about seeing wholesale ass-kissing up close and personal that really bothers me a lot. In my company, there are only about 30 people I can actually stand being around, so it was better not to be there and ruin their frivolity.
+ + + + +
Those of you who don’t have a lot of experience hanging out with Filipinos, let me school you on something for a moment. When Filipinos have a party, even a small gathering of friends or family to celebrate some occasion, there is always a lot of food involved. I mean, A LOT. For the second Saturday in a row, the wife and I spent the evening at her aunt’s house in Yigo, where we ate so much food that I’m surprised we were able to walk away. There was seafood, mussels, fruit salad (made with fresh tropical fruit and coconut) and of course, my personal Kryptonite, BBQ Pig Meat fresh off the fire. It was a good night, filled with a lot of laughter and interesting conversation, and fortunately the rain held off.
+ + + + +
A note to those of you who are currently running for public office here on Guam: ENOUGH ALREADY. You folks have ruined the scenery of the island by putting up your signs everywhere that there is a wide enough spot in the dirt to put one. TV is almost unwatchable because of all the commercials telling us how you will make life better for all of us. We all know that the government here is the second-most corrupt government in the Asia Pacific region (second only to the Philippines), and we all know that each and every one of you who is running for public office is already bought and paid for. Give us citizens a rest, for crying out loud.
+ + + + +
This blog has been brought to you by Marlboro and Maxwell House, both feeding the addictions and habits of people for decades.
Bruce Springsteen
And now, kidlings, now that I am fully energized with coffee and cigarettes, ready to face the challenges of the new workday, it’s time once again for an update from The Guam Desk.
+ + + + +
I love me some Facebook, but think it’s time to talk about something that has been bothering me for a long time. Those of you who are into the gaming that is a part of FB, cool. Good for you, glad you found something you enjoy doing. With that said, though, I have to tell all of you gamers that I REALLY DON’T CARE about what you happen to be doing in Farmville or Mafia Wars or any other time-waster that you get involved with, and I would appreciate it if you would just enjoy your gaming in private and not clutter up the ether with your posts. I could give a shit less that you have sodomized your barnyard animals in Farmland or Farmville or whatever. It also goes on to prove that there are people in the world who have a lot more free time on their hands than I do.
+ + + + +
Yesterday was our annual Company Picnic, being held down at Jeff’s Pirates Cove down at the southern end of the island. The Gorgeous One and I did not attend, because in spite of the title of this blog, I’m really not into Mandatory Fun. I’m also not fond of these gatherings because there is something about seeing wholesale ass-kissing up close and personal that really bothers me a lot. In my company, there are only about 30 people I can actually stand being around, so it was better not to be there and ruin their frivolity.
+ + + + +
Those of you who don’t have a lot of experience hanging out with Filipinos, let me school you on something for a moment. When Filipinos have a party, even a small gathering of friends or family to celebrate some occasion, there is always a lot of food involved. I mean, A LOT. For the second Saturday in a row, the wife and I spent the evening at her aunt’s house in Yigo, where we ate so much food that I’m surprised we were able to walk away. There was seafood, mussels, fruit salad (made with fresh tropical fruit and coconut) and of course, my personal Kryptonite, BBQ Pig Meat fresh off the fire. It was a good night, filled with a lot of laughter and interesting conversation, and fortunately the rain held off.
+ + + + +
A note to those of you who are currently running for public office here on Guam: ENOUGH ALREADY. You folks have ruined the scenery of the island by putting up your signs everywhere that there is a wide enough spot in the dirt to put one. TV is almost unwatchable because of all the commercials telling us how you will make life better for all of us. We all know that the government here is the second-most corrupt government in the Asia Pacific region (second only to the Philippines), and we all know that each and every one of you who is running for public office is already bought and paid for. Give us citizens a rest, for crying out loud.
+ + + + +
This blog has been brought to you by Marlboro and Maxwell House, both feeding the addictions and habits of people for decades.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Thursday Evening Notes from The Guam Desk
And now it’s time once again for some utterances and amusements from what we lovingly like to refer to as “The Guam Desk”, otherwise known as this thing I call my life.
++++++
I’m trying to live by the mantra “Work Hard and Keep Your Mouth Shut” at work, but it keeps getting harder and harder every day. I have a meeting that I am supposed to go to every Tuesday morning that I put in the same category as anal surgery without anesthesia; something to avoid if I can possibly get away with it. Go to these meetings, tell the managers (since we have no leaders) what the deal is, and then get asked the same exact questions the next week. Managers being reactive instead of proactive. I had a bit of a mini-explosion on one of my managers yesterday, because I was at the point where I believed that screaming at the bastard would be the only way to get my point across, since nothing else was working. Naturally, what I told him went in one ear and out the other.
“I love my job, I love my job, I love my job.”
++++++
You would think, given the fact that Guam is a pretty small island, that it would be nearly impossible to get lost. You see the island on a map and think, “There’s no way anyone could get lost on Guam. It’s too small a place. Plus, this guy has lived there for 4 years already, probably knows every nook and cranny of the island.”
I got lost yesterday.
One of my bosses tasked me to take a look at one of our old sites to see if it would be possible for me to install some microwave equipment there and get the particular cell site off of leased connectivity. Since I had never been to the site in question, I asked a couple of my friends how to get to the place. They told me, “Oh, it’s easy. Look for this street name nearby this elementary school, and you’ll see the site on the left hand side of the road.” Sounded reasonable to me, so off I went
The problem was that someone stole the street sign I happened to be looking for. I ended up on a back road that I didn’t even know existed, in a place where they have only seen white people like me on television. What many of us refer to as “banjo country”, as in “you can hear the banjo’s playing the theme song from “Deliverance” when you’re back that far in the jungle.” I eventually made my way back to an area that I knew, but it was just a little weird for a few short minutes. I had also never seen a boat up on cinder blocks before, like you would see an old car in many white trashy neighborhoods, but I saw one yesterday. In fact I saw several.
++++++
This weekend is our annual Employee Picnic, which, once again, I will not be attending. Sundays are generally days that the wife and I do a whole lot of nothing. That and the fact that I have to be nice to people I don’t really like while I’m at work; I’ll be damned if I’m going to do it on my off time if I don’t have to.
Some would call this being antisocial, but I beg to disagree. Another example of where my job and the people I do it with do not define who I am. It’s cool to hang out with some of the cool people at work in a pleasant setting, but it’s the other assholes that I would have to deal with that I can’t stand that put a damper on it.
++++++
That is All Ye Know, and All Ye Need to Know, at least for now.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“The issue here is not whether we broke a few rules, or took a few liberties with our female party guests - we did.”
Otto, Animal House
++++++
I’m trying to live by the mantra “Work Hard and Keep Your Mouth Shut” at work, but it keeps getting harder and harder every day. I have a meeting that I am supposed to go to every Tuesday morning that I put in the same category as anal surgery without anesthesia; something to avoid if I can possibly get away with it. Go to these meetings, tell the managers (since we have no leaders) what the deal is, and then get asked the same exact questions the next week. Managers being reactive instead of proactive. I had a bit of a mini-explosion on one of my managers yesterday, because I was at the point where I believed that screaming at the bastard would be the only way to get my point across, since nothing else was working. Naturally, what I told him went in one ear and out the other.
“I love my job, I love my job, I love my job.”
++++++
You would think, given the fact that Guam is a pretty small island, that it would be nearly impossible to get lost. You see the island on a map and think, “There’s no way anyone could get lost on Guam. It’s too small a place. Plus, this guy has lived there for 4 years already, probably knows every nook and cranny of the island.”
I got lost yesterday.
One of my bosses tasked me to take a look at one of our old sites to see if it would be possible for me to install some microwave equipment there and get the particular cell site off of leased connectivity. Since I had never been to the site in question, I asked a couple of my friends how to get to the place. They told me, “Oh, it’s easy. Look for this street name nearby this elementary school, and you’ll see the site on the left hand side of the road.” Sounded reasonable to me, so off I went
The problem was that someone stole the street sign I happened to be looking for. I ended up on a back road that I didn’t even know existed, in a place where they have only seen white people like me on television. What many of us refer to as “banjo country”, as in “you can hear the banjo’s playing the theme song from “Deliverance” when you’re back that far in the jungle.” I eventually made my way back to an area that I knew, but it was just a little weird for a few short minutes. I had also never seen a boat up on cinder blocks before, like you would see an old car in many white trashy neighborhoods, but I saw one yesterday. In fact I saw several.
++++++
This weekend is our annual Employee Picnic, which, once again, I will not be attending. Sundays are generally days that the wife and I do a whole lot of nothing. That and the fact that I have to be nice to people I don’t really like while I’m at work; I’ll be damned if I’m going to do it on my off time if I don’t have to.
Some would call this being antisocial, but I beg to disagree. Another example of where my job and the people I do it with do not define who I am. It’s cool to hang out with some of the cool people at work in a pleasant setting, but it’s the other assholes that I would have to deal with that I can’t stand that put a damper on it.
++++++
That is All Ye Know, and All Ye Need to Know, at least for now.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“The issue here is not whether we broke a few rules, or took a few liberties with our female party guests - we did.”
Otto, Animal House
The Current Playlist
My current playlist of stuff that makes me happy or want to sing in the car.
“Carolina in my Mind” – James Taylor
OK, some of the lyrics make absolutely no sense at all. There are others that are insanely good. “And it seems like it goes on like this forever, you must forgive me if I’ve up and gone to Carolina in my mind” – genius. I’ve always loved James Taylor, but as I get older I’m starting to appreciate him even more.
“Thunder Road” – Bruce Springsteen
I’ve listened to this song many times in the past, but recently it’s taken on new meaning. For some reason (I was probably behind the wheel and bored), I really started paying attention to the lyrics a bit more, and realized that Bruce Springsteen is probably the greatest musical genius America has created in the last 40 years. That probably explains why I listened to this song 38 times the other day.
“Stars Tonight” – Lady Antebellum
It is impossible to not feel good after hearing this song. Such positive energy, driven by some very kick ass music. The guy in the next lane over probably thought I was insane while singing along and pumping my fist listening to this jam. This is a band I am going to keep a serious eye on, because they have the potential to become absolute monsters in the country-pop arena.
“If You Want Blood (You Got It)” – AC/DC
When they’re shoveling dirt over my grave, I’ll still love AC/DC, even though I’m not a huge fan of metal. A great song to get aggressive with.
“Who Are You” – The Who
No playlist of mine would be lacking a Who cut. I’m digging on this at the moment because Roger Daltreys’ singing of Pete’s lyrics are just brutal, filled with anger and attitude. Sounds like THE most pissed off white boy on the planet, ready to kick the shit out of anyone or anything that gets in his way. The Who are still the gold standard as far as rock music is concerned, at least in my brain.
“Shower the People” – James Taylor
I know, another track from “Mr. Mellow” his own self. I just dig the way the track is put together, and the sentiment behind the lyrics, about never letting those who we love know that we love them. Something that we should all think about.
There are others, but these are the songs that have captured my imagination lately.
“Carolina in my Mind” – James Taylor
OK, some of the lyrics make absolutely no sense at all. There are others that are insanely good. “And it seems like it goes on like this forever, you must forgive me if I’ve up and gone to Carolina in my mind” – genius. I’ve always loved James Taylor, but as I get older I’m starting to appreciate him even more.
“Thunder Road” – Bruce Springsteen
I’ve listened to this song many times in the past, but recently it’s taken on new meaning. For some reason (I was probably behind the wheel and bored), I really started paying attention to the lyrics a bit more, and realized that Bruce Springsteen is probably the greatest musical genius America has created in the last 40 years. That probably explains why I listened to this song 38 times the other day.
“Stars Tonight” – Lady Antebellum
It is impossible to not feel good after hearing this song. Such positive energy, driven by some very kick ass music. The guy in the next lane over probably thought I was insane while singing along and pumping my fist listening to this jam. This is a band I am going to keep a serious eye on, because they have the potential to become absolute monsters in the country-pop arena.
“If You Want Blood (You Got It)” – AC/DC
When they’re shoveling dirt over my grave, I’ll still love AC/DC, even though I’m not a huge fan of metal. A great song to get aggressive with.
“Who Are You” – The Who
No playlist of mine would be lacking a Who cut. I’m digging on this at the moment because Roger Daltreys’ singing of Pete’s lyrics are just brutal, filled with anger and attitude. Sounds like THE most pissed off white boy on the planet, ready to kick the shit out of anyone or anything that gets in his way. The Who are still the gold standard as far as rock music is concerned, at least in my brain.
“Shower the People” – James Taylor
I know, another track from “Mr. Mellow” his own self. I just dig the way the track is put together, and the sentiment behind the lyrics, about never letting those who we love know that we love them. Something that we should all think about.
There are others, but these are the songs that have captured my imagination lately.
Story Songs
It’s no huge secret that one of the things that keeps me going on a daily basis is music. There are certain things I could live without, but music isn’t one of them. Like a lot of people, a good song at the appropriate time can change the way you feel about the shit that happens in our lives. You could be having an absolutely horrible day, and then hear something you haven’t heard in a while that just completely changes the focus of though.
Of all the genres of music, one of my favorites is what I refer to as “the story song”. While all music tells a story in it’s own way, the story song actually spells out something, has linearity, and most of the time a definite beginning and end. With that said, here are some of my favorites.
One for My Baby (And One More For the Road) – Frank Sinatra
This is one of those boozy kinds of torch songs that just sucks you in. A guy is talking to a bartender, telling him his woes, accompanied by some understated but great music. He apologizes to the bartender, but then goes on to tell his tale. No vocal explosions, nothing that feels out of place. Probably one of the most perfect songs about a love that has gone wrong and the regrets felt because of it. Forget “My Way”; this is Sinatra at his absolute best.
A Boy Named Sue – Johnny Cash
Cash sang so many songs that told stories that it’s hard to pick out a favorite. Sue is hilarious, but it’s also kind of poignant as well. When Sue finally meets his dad, he wants to kick his ass, and Cash describes the fight in detail. At the end of the encounter, however, he “comes away with a different point of view”. Brilliantly sung and still makes me laugh every time I hear it.
The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald – Gordon Lightfoot
One of the greatest songs about death ever written. Fantastic lyrics, which are helped by Lightfoot’s unusual (but not unpleasant) vocal sound. “Wreck” has a murky, ominous quality about it. While some would argue that the guitar work within the song is overdone or out of place, I think it actually frames everything out quite well.
The River – Bruce Springsteen
Somewhat depressing, but I absolutely love this song. “The Boss” tells a story about how the events in our lives change the focus of our lives, and sometimes not in the way we want the change to occur. “Is a dream alive that won’t come true, or is it something worse?” is one of the coolest lyrics ever written.
Strong Persuader – The Robert Cray Band
A story of adultery, told from the perspective of the guy who instigated it and caused the break up of a couple. Robert Cray is an amazing guitarist, and the solo in this cut is just incredible. It’s not only the story that’s written really well, but just the overall groove of the song, kind of makes you want to bounce a bit. Not many people know about Robert Cray, and if you have never heard him, he’s worth giving a serious listen to.
There are others that I’ve probably forgotten about, but the songs listed above are definitely on my short list.
Of all the genres of music, one of my favorites is what I refer to as “the story song”. While all music tells a story in it’s own way, the story song actually spells out something, has linearity, and most of the time a definite beginning and end. With that said, here are some of my favorites.
One for My Baby (And One More For the Road) – Frank Sinatra
This is one of those boozy kinds of torch songs that just sucks you in. A guy is talking to a bartender, telling him his woes, accompanied by some understated but great music. He apologizes to the bartender, but then goes on to tell his tale. No vocal explosions, nothing that feels out of place. Probably one of the most perfect songs about a love that has gone wrong and the regrets felt because of it. Forget “My Way”; this is Sinatra at his absolute best.
A Boy Named Sue – Johnny Cash
Cash sang so many songs that told stories that it’s hard to pick out a favorite. Sue is hilarious, but it’s also kind of poignant as well. When Sue finally meets his dad, he wants to kick his ass, and Cash describes the fight in detail. At the end of the encounter, however, he “comes away with a different point of view”. Brilliantly sung and still makes me laugh every time I hear it.
The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald – Gordon Lightfoot
One of the greatest songs about death ever written. Fantastic lyrics, which are helped by Lightfoot’s unusual (but not unpleasant) vocal sound. “Wreck” has a murky, ominous quality about it. While some would argue that the guitar work within the song is overdone or out of place, I think it actually frames everything out quite well.
The River – Bruce Springsteen
Somewhat depressing, but I absolutely love this song. “The Boss” tells a story about how the events in our lives change the focus of our lives, and sometimes not in the way we want the change to occur. “Is a dream alive that won’t come true, or is it something worse?” is one of the coolest lyrics ever written.
Strong Persuader – The Robert Cray Band
A story of adultery, told from the perspective of the guy who instigated it and caused the break up of a couple. Robert Cray is an amazing guitarist, and the solo in this cut is just incredible. It’s not only the story that’s written really well, but just the overall groove of the song, kind of makes you want to bounce a bit. Not many people know about Robert Cray, and if you have never heard him, he’s worth giving a serious listen to.
There are others that I’ve probably forgotten about, but the songs listed above are definitely on my short list.
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Simple Pleasures
Sometimes, it seems that life its own self is just a little too complicated. Email, smart phones, schedules, priorities, social networking sites. Don’t eat that, it causes cancer. Eat this, it makes your eyesight better and your sexual prowess goes to a higher level.
There are times, I think, when we need to focus our attention on the simple pleasures. Those things that are uncomplicated, easy, painless. They generally don’t require a lot of thought, allowing a person to just put the brain in neutral and drift a little bit outside of the overwhelming flow that modern life in this year of Our Lord 2010 sucks us into.
Reading a Book
Not a Kindle, not an e-book, not a PDF file, and not an audio book in MP3. A genuine bound book made of paper. A book, even a paperback, has weight, bulk. You know you have something real, something tangible, in your hands. The simple act of picking up a bound book, finding a comfortable place to kick back, turn some pages, and escape into another world. Letting the words of the author paint a picture in your mind. I’m a big fan of reading, and have been since I was in my early 20’s. The nice thing about books is you can read one, put it down for a couple of years, then go back and reread it again, and most of the time the words will refresh themselves in your brain.
Junk Food
There is comfort in things that are familiar and not necessarily good for us. Sometimes they bring back a memory of times past. Other times, they’re just a simple indulgence, something almost but not quite naughty. My wife and I are big fans of Little Debbie Fudge Brownies, which are our go-to junk at the moment.
Taking a Shit/Defecation (also known as “Dropping a Deuce”)
Big fan of this particular natural act. One of the things I used to LOVE doing was to sit on the toilet, drop some social commentary, read the newspaper and smoke. Since my wife banned smoking in our apartment, I cannot do this anymore. Still, for a few moments you’re by yourself, contemplating thoughts deep or trivial. That and the fact that it feels really good to “drop some kids off at the pool.”
Music in the Car
A great song comes on the radio, and suddenly you feel the need to sing along. Even if the noise coming out of your face is horrible to most people and small animals, you enjoy it. Jamming down the road, you can feel your heart getting lighter, like all of your troubles have disappeared, if only for a few brief moments. This morning as I passed by Hagatna Bay, me and Bruce Springsteen were deeply involved in “Thunder Road”.
The Laughter of Loved Ones
All three women in my life (my insanely cool daughter, my wife, and my grand daughter) all have really incredible laughs. When they laugh, it’s like music to me, especially if I am the cause of the laughter. My daughter’s laughter is like the best drug ever made.
These are all simple things that really don’t mean a hell of a lot in the overall scheme of life, but I think it’s the simple things that give each of us a place to go to when the world is going insane and/or shitting all over us. We should enjoy these things for what they are and take stock in them every now and then.
There are times, I think, when we need to focus our attention on the simple pleasures. Those things that are uncomplicated, easy, painless. They generally don’t require a lot of thought, allowing a person to just put the brain in neutral and drift a little bit outside of the overwhelming flow that modern life in this year of Our Lord 2010 sucks us into.
Reading a Book
Not a Kindle, not an e-book, not a PDF file, and not an audio book in MP3. A genuine bound book made of paper. A book, even a paperback, has weight, bulk. You know you have something real, something tangible, in your hands. The simple act of picking up a bound book, finding a comfortable place to kick back, turn some pages, and escape into another world. Letting the words of the author paint a picture in your mind. I’m a big fan of reading, and have been since I was in my early 20’s. The nice thing about books is you can read one, put it down for a couple of years, then go back and reread it again, and most of the time the words will refresh themselves in your brain.
Junk Food
There is comfort in things that are familiar and not necessarily good for us. Sometimes they bring back a memory of times past. Other times, they’re just a simple indulgence, something almost but not quite naughty. My wife and I are big fans of Little Debbie Fudge Brownies, which are our go-to junk at the moment.
Taking a Shit/Defecation (also known as “Dropping a Deuce”)
Big fan of this particular natural act. One of the things I used to LOVE doing was to sit on the toilet, drop some social commentary, read the newspaper and smoke. Since my wife banned smoking in our apartment, I cannot do this anymore. Still, for a few moments you’re by yourself, contemplating thoughts deep or trivial. That and the fact that it feels really good to “drop some kids off at the pool.”
Music in the Car
A great song comes on the radio, and suddenly you feel the need to sing along. Even if the noise coming out of your face is horrible to most people and small animals, you enjoy it. Jamming down the road, you can feel your heart getting lighter, like all of your troubles have disappeared, if only for a few brief moments. This morning as I passed by Hagatna Bay, me and Bruce Springsteen were deeply involved in “Thunder Road”.
The Laughter of Loved Ones
All three women in my life (my insanely cool daughter, my wife, and my grand daughter) all have really incredible laughs. When they laugh, it’s like music to me, especially if I am the cause of the laughter. My daughter’s laughter is like the best drug ever made.
These are all simple things that really don’t mean a hell of a lot in the overall scheme of life, but I think it’s the simple things that give each of us a place to go to when the world is going insane and/or shitting all over us. We should enjoy these things for what they are and take stock in them every now and then.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Thursday Notes from The Guam Desk
Some notes on this rainy Thursday evening from here at the Guam Desk.
Early this morning, I was at one of the sites I work at taking care of some wiring and maintenance. It’s an apartment building, and our site happens to be on the 11th floor of this building. As I was riding the elevator back downstairs, a Korean woman got on with a yellow Lab puppy that was maybe 6 months old. The dog was on a leash, but it was acting up a bit, anxious to get outside and take its morning constitutional (meaning dump). The woman kept telling the dog “Sit, sit” in Korean, but the dog wasn’t having any of it. I asked the woman, in Korean, if her dog understood Korean. She told me, “He’s bilingual”. For some reason, this struck me as being pretty funny.
++++++++++
I would like to personally thank the Government of Guam, or whoever is responsible for the roadways here on this lovely island, for all the work that is currently underway to do whatever the hell it is that they are doing on the roads. I just wish that you bastards would have thought a little about scheduling. There are currently at least 5 different major projects going on that affect 4 of the major roads here, and each of these projects has turned travel on Guam into one big pain in the ass. The nightmare’s in Barrigada and Sinajana have been particularly annoying to me of late, as I have been doing a lot of work in these areas.
++++++++++
Speaking of GovGuam, the wife and I had a chance to spend some time with the good folks out at the Guam Public Health and Human Services building recently. Now I’ve been around government buildings pretty much my entire adult life, but I can honestly say I’ve never been at a place where you can actually feel the hopelessness as you can at this building. The place just reeks of doom and despair, for some strange reason.
++++++++++
I don’t know about anyone else, but I for one will be glad when election season is finally over. You can’t drive 100 feet on this isle without being inundated with all of the posters and road signs. It has gotten to the point where it’s more or less a blight on the landscape, especially the Calvo-Tenorio signs. The damn things are everywhere.
++++++++++
Generally, I like rainstorms, and I’m particularly fond of thunderstorms. We’ve had some doozies lately, though. I was driving around the southern end of the island the other day, and it rained so hard so fast that I literally had to pull over to the side of the road and wait it out.
++++++++++
That’s pretty much it from here on Guam, where the muumuus are large, the men good looking, and the children are all above average.
Early this morning, I was at one of the sites I work at taking care of some wiring and maintenance. It’s an apartment building, and our site happens to be on the 11th floor of this building. As I was riding the elevator back downstairs, a Korean woman got on with a yellow Lab puppy that was maybe 6 months old. The dog was on a leash, but it was acting up a bit, anxious to get outside and take its morning constitutional (meaning dump). The woman kept telling the dog “Sit, sit” in Korean, but the dog wasn’t having any of it. I asked the woman, in Korean, if her dog understood Korean. She told me, “He’s bilingual”. For some reason, this struck me as being pretty funny.
++++++++++
I would like to personally thank the Government of Guam, or whoever is responsible for the roadways here on this lovely island, for all the work that is currently underway to do whatever the hell it is that they are doing on the roads. I just wish that you bastards would have thought a little about scheduling. There are currently at least 5 different major projects going on that affect 4 of the major roads here, and each of these projects has turned travel on Guam into one big pain in the ass. The nightmare’s in Barrigada and Sinajana have been particularly annoying to me of late, as I have been doing a lot of work in these areas.
++++++++++
Speaking of GovGuam, the wife and I had a chance to spend some time with the good folks out at the Guam Public Health and Human Services building recently. Now I’ve been around government buildings pretty much my entire adult life, but I can honestly say I’ve never been at a place where you can actually feel the hopelessness as you can at this building. The place just reeks of doom and despair, for some strange reason.
++++++++++
I don’t know about anyone else, but I for one will be glad when election season is finally over. You can’t drive 100 feet on this isle without being inundated with all of the posters and road signs. It has gotten to the point where it’s more or less a blight on the landscape, especially the Calvo-Tenorio signs. The damn things are everywhere.
++++++++++
Generally, I like rainstorms, and I’m particularly fond of thunderstorms. We’ve had some doozies lately, though. I was driving around the southern end of the island the other day, and it rained so hard so fast that I literally had to pull over to the side of the road and wait it out.
++++++++++
That’s pretty much it from here on Guam, where the muumuus are large, the men good looking, and the children are all above average.
The Lottery Pipedream - Revisited
I think we all have these little “what if I won the lottery” scenarios running through our brains at one time or another. Our minds toy with the possibility of winning millions of dollars, and what we would do with the lucre once we laid our hot little hands on them. This is my personal pipedream.
I find out that we won, say, $6 million. I tell not one living soul other than my bride about our windfall. As soon as the money is in our hands (so to speak) we start making plans to leave Guam. I quietly turn in my resignation at work, telling them that I have found other employment. The wife quits her job, phoning in her resignation.
Within 48 hours, all of the stuff we want to keep is on its way to the Philippines, the apartment is given back over to the building manager (with two month’s rent paid for their trouble), and the car is given to one of my friends to do with as he sees fit. We fly into Manila, spend the night in a very nice hotel, then head out into the provinces not very far from my in-laws. We tell the in-laws that I have taken early retirement from work, and have come to settle down in the place we both plan on staying for the rest of our lives.
The wife and I start the process of finding a modest but comfortable place to build our retirement home. I will have very little input in this process other than location. Knowing my bride as well as I do, I know that whatever decisions she makes about the house will be fine with me. Close enough so that family and friends can easily come visit; far enough away so that they are not in our faces all the time. We like our privacy as well. My only requirement would be for an individual office, a “mans room” where I could hang out in when I need some alone time.
Since she’s not up on long plane flights, I then depart for a couple of weeks, headed for the US mainland. First stop, Texas, where I spend a week with my daughter, her husband, and The Princess (aka, The Granddaughter). Arrangements are made to purchase a home for them along with a couple of new cars, and a trust fund is set up for The Princess so that she can attend the college of her choice once she is of age. After Texas, various other relatives are visited; mortgages are paid off, debts are settled.
The ex-wife is contacted, and a deal is made concerning spousal support. She gets 10 years in advance, cash, and that ends that, financially speaking. She then has enough cash to do whatever she wants to do with the rest of her life.
A quick stop in Portland to see some friends, and then it’s back to the PI. By this time, the Bride has the construction of the house well underway, and we go about looking for something to occupy our time. Starting a restaurant has always been something I have wanted to do, so we start looking around for a good location for that. We also consider starting up our own Jeepney service and other business ventures, just to give us something to do so that we don’t get bored. These businesses would also supply employment for some of the in-laws.
More college educations are paid for, but nothing too crazy or overly flashy. The wife and I quietly fade into our existence, spending time with family and developing some businesses. I take occasional trips to the US to visit with family, maybe a couple of times a year. I also finally get time to concentrate on finishing the book that I know resides inside me.
The key to all of this is to not be flashy with the new wealth. Just live modestly but comfortably, taking care of those we care about. Maybe do some charitable work, but again, not so that we are in the spotlight.
Granted, this is just a fantasy or a dream, but I figure it’s a nice dream to have.
I find out that we won, say, $6 million. I tell not one living soul other than my bride about our windfall. As soon as the money is in our hands (so to speak) we start making plans to leave Guam. I quietly turn in my resignation at work, telling them that I have found other employment. The wife quits her job, phoning in her resignation.
Within 48 hours, all of the stuff we want to keep is on its way to the Philippines, the apartment is given back over to the building manager (with two month’s rent paid for their trouble), and the car is given to one of my friends to do with as he sees fit. We fly into Manila, spend the night in a very nice hotel, then head out into the provinces not very far from my in-laws. We tell the in-laws that I have taken early retirement from work, and have come to settle down in the place we both plan on staying for the rest of our lives.
The wife and I start the process of finding a modest but comfortable place to build our retirement home. I will have very little input in this process other than location. Knowing my bride as well as I do, I know that whatever decisions she makes about the house will be fine with me. Close enough so that family and friends can easily come visit; far enough away so that they are not in our faces all the time. We like our privacy as well. My only requirement would be for an individual office, a “mans room” where I could hang out in when I need some alone time.
Since she’s not up on long plane flights, I then depart for a couple of weeks, headed for the US mainland. First stop, Texas, where I spend a week with my daughter, her husband, and The Princess (aka, The Granddaughter). Arrangements are made to purchase a home for them along with a couple of new cars, and a trust fund is set up for The Princess so that she can attend the college of her choice once she is of age. After Texas, various other relatives are visited; mortgages are paid off, debts are settled.
The ex-wife is contacted, and a deal is made concerning spousal support. She gets 10 years in advance, cash, and that ends that, financially speaking. She then has enough cash to do whatever she wants to do with the rest of her life.
A quick stop in Portland to see some friends, and then it’s back to the PI. By this time, the Bride has the construction of the house well underway, and we go about looking for something to occupy our time. Starting a restaurant has always been something I have wanted to do, so we start looking around for a good location for that. We also consider starting up our own Jeepney service and other business ventures, just to give us something to do so that we don’t get bored. These businesses would also supply employment for some of the in-laws.
More college educations are paid for, but nothing too crazy or overly flashy. The wife and I quietly fade into our existence, spending time with family and developing some businesses. I take occasional trips to the US to visit with family, maybe a couple of times a year. I also finally get time to concentrate on finishing the book that I know resides inside me.
The key to all of this is to not be flashy with the new wealth. Just live modestly but comfortably, taking care of those we care about. Maybe do some charitable work, but again, not so that we are in the spotlight.
Granted, this is just a fantasy or a dream, but I figure it’s a nice dream to have.
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