So today I realize that everybody has a "story". I guess I've always known this, but today it struck a nerve with me and was something that made me think.
You see today is Monday, and that means on Monday morning (and most all day long) it's time to analyze your weekends fantasy football did or did not's. See my league is made up of 12 guys, 11 of whom I work with. So after every weekend we "meet at the water cooler" and discuss what we should have done, or what somebody else should have done, or didn't do. Don't get me wrong, I love playing, but today it just struck me wrong or something. I mean I was to the point where I would see someone from my league around the office and avoid eye contact just so I wouldn't have to talk about it. Not because I lost and couldn't bare it (I actually won and am in the points lead, not that you care), but because everybody has a story.
People just can not accept the facts. Think about it. Have you have ever talked to somebody at the license branch who has had their license revoked? Just talk to them for a minute. Listen to them. There is always some "poor me" story of how the cops did them wrong. Or how the lady behind the counter didn't tell them they had to have the correct paperwork before hand. If you've ever had to be in defensive driving or some court mandated class you know exactly what I'm talking about. Everybody has a story, and most of the time it's not their fault. Somebody else screwed them over or didn't do something which in turn caused them to get in trouble.Today it just made me think. I mean as I'm listening to the same 'ol "I should have done this" story I just kept thinking, yeah but you didn't? Why are we talking about this..again. Didn't we discuss this last week?
I don't know I just got to thinking about this today, and about how everybody has a story. As a society I think we are always so quick to blame someone else for our actions. It's always easier to say, if it wasn't for this or that I wouldn't have done this or had to do that.
Well so anyway, What's your story??
J-Tony
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
It's not fair
So I've come to realize that there are a few things in life that are just not fair.
Take being a parent for example. Being a parent is just not fair. I mean we do it, or at least most of us do, because we love it, and we chose it, but honestly it is the hardest job in the world.You really are darned if you do, and darned if you don't, and most of the time the choices we have to make are just not fair.
So we all went to church today. Again, back to our "old" church. Now mini-me has not been to this church since he was just a little baby, so he really doesn't know anybody or anything about this place. He is so much like his pops it isn't funny. He's a little shy and timid in new surroundings. He usually is ok if or when his sisters are doing these things with him, but without them he's "clingy". Naturally he feels some sort of comfort when they are around. Plus they are pretty good big sisters and take good care of him. Well the DW explains to him that he will have to go to his class while we are in church. He's not real excited about this. So she mentions that maybe she can get him in the class with this sister. For this he is "on board". He clearly tells the DW that we will go as long as he can be in class with his sister, but he is not going to class alone. (Lovely how the 4 year old calls the shots).
So anyhow, we get to church and wouldn't you know it he has to go to the class by himself, and the girls go to a different class. In the beginning he is shy and has his head down, and won't speak to anybody, and of course the DW is heart broken. Now me, I think it's good for him to be by himself a little bit. He doesn't get much social time without his sisters. After all it's good for all of us to get out of our comfort zone every now and then, but as a parent you want your child to be happy, and feel secure. So to see him upset made me a little upset as well.
So anyway throughout the service both the DW and I were worried about the little guy. Now here's where I think it's just not fair for us parents. Of course I start thinking what if he's miserable? What if this scars him for life? What if he grows up and forever remembers the time when he was four and his parents "left" him all alone in some strange room with strange people, and he was "forced" to interact with other little boys and girls? What if one day he's relaying the events of this horrible day while laying on a couch being charged 120 bucks an hour? What if it's worse than that? What if one day he's giving an interview to Bill O'Riley while behind bars and all he can come up with for "why" is because of the events of today. On the other hand, what if we don't leave him alone and he ends up some creeper who's issues are related to being "clingy" as a child? Again, darned if you do, darned if you don't.
After the service is over the DW and I both head back to the classrooms to pick up the clowns. As she looks in on mini-me just positive she's going to see him sitting by himself upset maybe even crying, she sees him smiling and dancing around the room. What's this? He's happy? We made the right choice? Woo hoo. Yeah for us.
When I finally get a chance to ask him how his class and lesson was he is super excited to show me a picture he colored specifically for the DW and I. Now don't get me wrong. I believe that leaving him in children's church is the right decision. Like I said, he doesn't get much social time by himself, so I think it's good for him, but these are the things that drive us parents crazy, and quite frankly are just not fair.
J-Tony
Take being a parent for example. Being a parent is just not fair. I mean we do it, or at least most of us do, because we love it, and we chose it, but honestly it is the hardest job in the world.You really are darned if you do, and darned if you don't, and most of the time the choices we have to make are just not fair.
So we all went to church today. Again, back to our "old" church. Now mini-me has not been to this church since he was just a little baby, so he really doesn't know anybody or anything about this place. He is so much like his pops it isn't funny. He's a little shy and timid in new surroundings. He usually is ok if or when his sisters are doing these things with him, but without them he's "clingy". Naturally he feels some sort of comfort when they are around. Plus they are pretty good big sisters and take good care of him. Well the DW explains to him that he will have to go to his class while we are in church. He's not real excited about this. So she mentions that maybe she can get him in the class with this sister. For this he is "on board". He clearly tells the DW that we will go as long as he can be in class with his sister, but he is not going to class alone. (Lovely how the 4 year old calls the shots).
So anyhow, we get to church and wouldn't you know it he has to go to the class by himself, and the girls go to a different class. In the beginning he is shy and has his head down, and won't speak to anybody, and of course the DW is heart broken. Now me, I think it's good for him to be by himself a little bit. He doesn't get much social time without his sisters. After all it's good for all of us to get out of our comfort zone every now and then, but as a parent you want your child to be happy, and feel secure. So to see him upset made me a little upset as well.
So anyway throughout the service both the DW and I were worried about the little guy. Now here's where I think it's just not fair for us parents. Of course I start thinking what if he's miserable? What if this scars him for life? What if he grows up and forever remembers the time when he was four and his parents "left" him all alone in some strange room with strange people, and he was "forced" to interact with other little boys and girls? What if one day he's relaying the events of this horrible day while laying on a couch being charged 120 bucks an hour? What if it's worse than that? What if one day he's giving an interview to Bill O'Riley while behind bars and all he can come up with for "why" is because of the events of today. On the other hand, what if we don't leave him alone and he ends up some creeper who's issues are related to being "clingy" as a child? Again, darned if you do, darned if you don't.
After the service is over the DW and I both head back to the classrooms to pick up the clowns. As she looks in on mini-me just positive she's going to see him sitting by himself upset maybe even crying, she sees him smiling and dancing around the room. What's this? He's happy? We made the right choice? Woo hoo. Yeah for us.
When I finally get a chance to ask him how his class and lesson was he is super excited to show me a picture he colored specifically for the DW and I. Now don't get me wrong. I believe that leaving him in children's church is the right decision. Like I said, he doesn't get much social time by himself, so I think it's good for him, but these are the things that drive us parents crazy, and quite frankly are just not fair.
J-Tony
Friday, November 12, 2010
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles minus the Planes and Trains
If you've ever seen the movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles then you can sort of understand what it's like to travel with a stranger. One of my all time favorite movies by the way.
Ok so let me tell you a little bit about my trip. I realized that you kind of get to know a person when you spend 12 hours in a car with them. Look I'm sure this guy that went with me is a nice guy and all, but let me just give you some insight as to how my trip went.
First let me just say, I am not a big fan of listening to people eat. I realize we're in a car, and you get hungry and want to snack and that's ok. I mean after all it's not my car so I don't care if you drop something in between the seats, but I'd rather not have to listen to you scarf down that sticky bun first thing in the morning. Here's another thing. I can not stand for anyone to lick their fingers after they eat. I mean really? Really? You have to lick your fingers to get the last bit of goo off of them? Is that not the grosses thing ever? Use a napkin for crying out loud. Heck use your shirt for all I care I just don't want to see or hear you licking your fingers to get that last bit of honey bun.
Ok so we've made it past the initial awkward beginning. We've made small talk about family, clowns and careers. We're now pushing toward mid-morning and finally lunch time. Let's just grab something quick so we can speed along and get to our destination. Do you have a preference? "Nothing fast-food". What? Nothing fast-food? Are you kidding me? That's the only "food" I know on the road. Grab a quick burger and let's move on, after all this is a business trip, you're not vacationing with the fam. here?
Ok ok so I cave, we have lunch. We sit down, we get waited on, we order, we get our food we eat. Then, all of a sudden he gets a napkin and starts blowing his nose right in the middle of lunch. Are you kidding me, hellllooooo trying to eat over here! Is it just me or is that not rude and gross? I mean it's one thing to feel a twitch or to have a hanger you gotta get, but to use a couple napkins to clean the pipes right there at the table is ridiculous.
So finally our work day is complete. We casually ask the locals for recommendations on places to eat for dinner near the hotel. One of them mentions that there really is not much around the area but if we travel up the road another 40 minutes there are all kinds of places. There is big shopping center and lots of restaurants up there. "Great" he says, "I need to look for a birthday gift for my daughter anyway". Now at this point I wanted to stick a sharp object in my eye. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs NOOOOOO. I mean really all I wanted to do was go find some dinner, and go back to the hotel, take my shoes off and relax watching t.v. until time for bed. Surely he wasn't serious. He wants to go shopping? No way dude.
Four stores later we finally got some dinner.
Now my DW asked me why didn't I just give him the keys and let him go by himself? Well I guess I didn't want to be a jerk or anything. So I sort of went with the "grin and bare it" attitude. Sometimes I guess it's just easier that way. And besides who knows, maybe he's blogging right now about the guy he went on a trip with.
J-Tony
Ok so let me tell you a little bit about my trip. I realized that you kind of get to know a person when you spend 12 hours in a car with them. Look I'm sure this guy that went with me is a nice guy and all, but let me just give you some insight as to how my trip went.
First let me just say, I am not a big fan of listening to people eat. I realize we're in a car, and you get hungry and want to snack and that's ok. I mean after all it's not my car so I don't care if you drop something in between the seats, but I'd rather not have to listen to you scarf down that sticky bun first thing in the morning. Here's another thing. I can not stand for anyone to lick their fingers after they eat. I mean really? Really? You have to lick your fingers to get the last bit of goo off of them? Is that not the grosses thing ever? Use a napkin for crying out loud. Heck use your shirt for all I care I just don't want to see or hear you licking your fingers to get that last bit of honey bun.
Ok so we've made it past the initial awkward beginning. We've made small talk about family, clowns and careers. We're now pushing toward mid-morning and finally lunch time. Let's just grab something quick so we can speed along and get to our destination. Do you have a preference? "Nothing fast-food". What? Nothing fast-food? Are you kidding me? That's the only "food" I know on the road. Grab a quick burger and let's move on, after all this is a business trip, you're not vacationing with the fam. here?
Ok ok so I cave, we have lunch. We sit down, we get waited on, we order, we get our food we eat. Then, all of a sudden he gets a napkin and starts blowing his nose right in the middle of lunch. Are you kidding me, hellllooooo trying to eat over here! Is it just me or is that not rude and gross? I mean it's one thing to feel a twitch or to have a hanger you gotta get, but to use a couple napkins to clean the pipes right there at the table is ridiculous.
So finally our work day is complete. We casually ask the locals for recommendations on places to eat for dinner near the hotel. One of them mentions that there really is not much around the area but if we travel up the road another 40 minutes there are all kinds of places. There is big shopping center and lots of restaurants up there. "Great" he says, "I need to look for a birthday gift for my daughter anyway". Now at this point I wanted to stick a sharp object in my eye. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs NOOOOOO. I mean really all I wanted to do was go find some dinner, and go back to the hotel, take my shoes off and relax watching t.v. until time for bed. Surely he wasn't serious. He wants to go shopping? No way dude.
Four stores later we finally got some dinner.
Now my DW asked me why didn't I just give him the keys and let him go by himself? Well I guess I didn't want to be a jerk or anything. So I sort of went with the "grin and bare it" attitude. Sometimes I guess it's just easier that way. And besides who knows, maybe he's blogging right now about the guy he went on a trip with.
J-Tony
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