Eating turkey dinner at my grandmother-in-law's gave me insight into the greater meaning of the universe. Unfortunately the nap that I took right after eating said turkey removed all of that insight. But things could be worse. All in all I think I came out on top because I lost none of my original insight, just the insight I could have gained had I not napped. However, I would have eventually slept and I believe my insight would have vanished just as surely over the night. The only consolation would have been one amazing post in which I shared my insight with the world. Maybe I would have even read my own post later and following the unavoidable insight from that I would have written an insightful yet entertaining novel about some young shepherd who dreamed about a treasure and went on a journey to find it only to return to his home a better person for the journey but treasure-less. But then he would dig a hole under the tree which watched over his original dream and find...da da daaa...the treasure of his dream.
After writing this novel, I would of course realize that Paulo Coelho has already written it (you can find that info here). And I would make my new years resolution not to write a novel that someone else has already written.
In fact, I think that should be my new years resolution.
You heard it here first. I hereby resolve not to write a novel that someone else has already written...or something like that.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
This time I mean it
Well, another successful Christmas has come and gone. Thanks to my extended family my children again know what plenty means. Now I feel confident that they would have been satisfied by a small Christmas with just me, my wife, and themselves, but I also understand that getting lots of presents is important to children. I still like it. But it may be difficult to keep up this level of gift giving when my kids aren't the only grand children on my wife's side.
In other news, there is other news.
My sister in law wrote a lovely poem about her son and how he always keeps his shoes on the wrong feet. She really is talented, and what amazes me more is how fluid the poems seem. It seems as if she thinks in poetry. I guess the best thing I have to compare it to is a musician. Once a harmonica player learns all of the notes and chords so that they become second nature then they are free to express themselves through music. Many people only get to the point where they can express themselves, or play music. A real musician, in my opinion, gains the tools to create and then uses them. In the same way that a musician can express themselves through music once they have the tools, my sister in law has grasped the tools of poetry so well that she can express her every thought through poetry. She is poet. And that's that.
In other news, there is other news.
My sister in law wrote a lovely poem about her son and how he always keeps his shoes on the wrong feet. She really is talented, and what amazes me more is how fluid the poems seem. It seems as if she thinks in poetry. I guess the best thing I have to compare it to is a musician. Once a harmonica player learns all of the notes and chords so that they become second nature then they are free to express themselves through music. Many people only get to the point where they can express themselves, or play music. A real musician, in my opinion, gains the tools to create and then uses them. In the same way that a musician can express themselves through music once they have the tools, my sister in law has grasped the tools of poetry so well that she can express her every thought through poetry. She is poet. And that's that.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Rats, bats, and other reverse alliterations
I was doing something that one usually does around the Christmas season and I received the response, "You're a good person." In jest I responded, "I know."
Now, I'm not generally one who toots my own horn, but I will this time. By golly I am a good person and I know it. And why shouldn't I let other people know it too. Here is a bit of my reasoning.
Knowing what you are allows you to pursue the correct actions. If one doesn't know that one is a good person, then one will continually hinder oneself from becoming the best good person one can. Why put up a false screen of modesty (i.e. "oh, no. I'm not a good person. I'm just a person doing what I can.") when one could embrace one's goodness and just go for it. (i.e. "thanks for the compliment. I'm sure trying to be a good person. I'm glad to know it's working.") If one (okay, I'm done referring to a vague one. It really isn't a normal or accepted method of speech in our current language or social climate so I'll just use the more commonly accepted you.) If you continue to say, "Oh, no. I'm not a good person." then you can fall back on it when you make a mistake. But what we fail to take into account is the second part of the label: person.
If you are a person (and if you are not a person I hereby ban you from reading my blog), then you will make mistakes. More likely, you will screw up so terribly that something important to you or someone you care about will end in a poor way. This doesn't make you a bad person, but it does help prove you are a person.
Why not take the plunge and say, "I am a good person." Then you can start doing good things without any remorse (i.e. "I'm not a good person, but I'm doing something nice and good. But it's not too good. I don't want you to mistake me for one of those people. Please don't let anyone else know. Elaine Thomas (I don't really know any Elaine Thomas, so if she reads this then I'm sorry but it's a coincidence) down the street has been trying to pin that on me for months and she's looking for all the evidence she can. I'm sorry, I hope it doesn't make you feel uncomfortable. I'll try to tone it down a bit."). Who knows, maybe if we all accepted the fact that we can be good people we'd start doing it.
But I also don't mean this as an "everybody is good" thing. I mean it more as an "everybody can be good if they want to be" thing. Own up to it. And this holiday season start to accept the responsibilities of being good.
So, if you ever meet me and say, "You are a good person." Well, honestly I will probably respond with a common response like, "Oh, gosh. You're just saying that. I'm not really. I'm just a regular old guy." But on the inside I will be saying, "I know. Isn't it great. Let's be good persons together!"
Merry Christmas Eve
Now, I'm not generally one who toots my own horn, but I will this time. By golly I am a good person and I know it. And why shouldn't I let other people know it too. Here is a bit of my reasoning.
Knowing what you are allows you to pursue the correct actions. If one doesn't know that one is a good person, then one will continually hinder oneself from becoming the best good person one can. Why put up a false screen of modesty (i.e. "oh, no. I'm not a good person. I'm just a person doing what I can.") when one could embrace one's goodness and just go for it. (i.e. "thanks for the compliment. I'm sure trying to be a good person. I'm glad to know it's working.") If one (okay, I'm done referring to a vague one. It really isn't a normal or accepted method of speech in our current language or social climate so I'll just use the more commonly accepted you.) If you continue to say, "Oh, no. I'm not a good person." then you can fall back on it when you make a mistake. But what we fail to take into account is the second part of the label: person.
If you are a person (and if you are not a person I hereby ban you from reading my blog), then you will make mistakes. More likely, you will screw up so terribly that something important to you or someone you care about will end in a poor way. This doesn't make you a bad person, but it does help prove you are a person.
Why not take the plunge and say, "I am a good person." Then you can start doing good things without any remorse (i.e. "I'm not a good person, but I'm doing something nice and good. But it's not too good. I don't want you to mistake me for one of those people. Please don't let anyone else know. Elaine Thomas (I don't really know any Elaine Thomas, so if she reads this then I'm sorry but it's a coincidence) down the street has been trying to pin that on me for months and she's looking for all the evidence she can. I'm sorry, I hope it doesn't make you feel uncomfortable. I'll try to tone it down a bit."). Who knows, maybe if we all accepted the fact that we can be good people we'd start doing it.
But I also don't mean this as an "everybody is good" thing. I mean it more as an "everybody can be good if they want to be" thing. Own up to it. And this holiday season start to accept the responsibilities of being good.
So, if you ever meet me and say, "You are a good person." Well, honestly I will probably respond with a common response like, "Oh, gosh. You're just saying that. I'm not really. I'm just a regular old guy." But on the inside I will be saying, "I know. Isn't it great. Let's be good persons together!"
Merry Christmas Eve
Friday, December 12, 2008
No time for eating peas
I would just like to review some key points about a literary character from the Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol.
1. In the beginning of the book, Mr. Scrooge had become near heartless and charity or love for other people had fallen beyond his ability to grasp or comprehend. In essence, he had cut himself off from the joys of emotion.
2. He was rich, a miser, and didn't want to spend his money on anything that wasn't necessary.
3. Mr. Scrooge also felt no connection to the people around him, and their suffering meant nothing to him. This is partially because of number 1, and partially because he was so invested in himself that he didn't take the time to consider or even find out about others around him.
With these point in mind, I would like to submit the following idea: If you decide not to charge your credit cards to the max this year and you don't buy expensive Christmas presents that does not make you Ebineezer Scrooge.
Saving money was only one aspect of Mr. Scrooge, and I think that though he eventually became free with his money, it was his money. It was not the bank's, and I doubt he went into debt to spread his joy. The story was more of a push for those who have to share with those who don't have. Not a push to become financially irresponsible.
There's my "Bah humbug" for the year.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
New internationalism
I was thinking the other day about education. It's a big subject with me. And today in the grocery line I saw the cover of Time magazine. It said something about....
Hold on. In a break from tradition, I just heard about this website. I mean that I actually just heard about it. As I was typing, a friend started talking and I thought, what a good idea. Sure, we as americans generally frown upon having people that we don't know come into our homes, but there is an appeal to it. If you are worried about the 'wrong' kind of people coming to your home, or going to a house that might be dangerous, there are plenty of situations and news clips (and horror movies) to support your fear. We like our stuff, and we are very attached to it. I like my bed. I like my couch. I only want people that I know and trust to come near them. However, there is a great draw in traveling. At least for me. And traveling all over the world, meeting new people, and sleeping on their couches seems like a dream. Not that I would have to sleep on their couches, but if that's part of it then fine.
On the other hand, it may be difficult to do something like this with a family. Unless it is summer time and I can manage to pack one small pack for each person. Who knows.
....So, as I was saying. Time magazine had something about fixing education in America (by which I assume they meant the United States of America because there are two Americas but there hasn't been as much popular discussion about the international education situation in North and South America). And I was going to say something about how we just need to work harder and teachers need to hold kids to higher standards, and how we need to expect more from ourselves, but I think that I'm done for now. School is hard work, and it should be. I think we get more out of it that way.
Hold on. In a break from tradition, I just heard about this website. I mean that I actually just heard about it. As I was typing, a friend started talking and I thought, what a good idea. Sure, we as americans generally frown upon having people that we don't know come into our homes, but there is an appeal to it. If you are worried about the 'wrong' kind of people coming to your home, or going to a house that might be dangerous, there are plenty of situations and news clips (and horror movies) to support your fear. We like our stuff, and we are very attached to it. I like my bed. I like my couch. I only want people that I know and trust to come near them. However, there is a great draw in traveling. At least for me. And traveling all over the world, meeting new people, and sleeping on their couches seems like a dream. Not that I would have to sleep on their couches, but if that's part of it then fine.
On the other hand, it may be difficult to do something like this with a family. Unless it is summer time and I can manage to pack one small pack for each person. Who knows.
....So, as I was saying. Time magazine had something about fixing education in America (by which I assume they meant the United States of America because there are two Americas but there hasn't been as much popular discussion about the international education situation in North and South America). And I was going to say something about how we just need to work harder and teachers need to hold kids to higher standards, and how we need to expect more from ourselves, but I think that I'm done for now. School is hard work, and it should be. I think we get more out of it that way.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
I'm Back!
Well, this last small bit of time has been, well, tedious. I have to say that school is difficult and time consuming. However, it should be well worth the effort...as soon as I find a job. Wait a minute. Finding a job would give the false impression that I am actively looking for a job. I am not actively looking. It seems that I am involved in more of a passive process currently. Now, I am all for the earning of money (and even, it seems, for the using of passive voice). I'm even for spending money. Shoot, I would like to believe that some day I will be doing both. But I have made a discovery. Well, not so much of a discovery as a collapsing acquiescence to my conscience and all the other pieces and forces that make up the part of me that is writer.
It's true, I took my sabbatical. I sat around the counting house of sanity. And when I had taken account (or "a count") of all of my good reasons, my thoughts, and my practicality I came to the conclusion that I didn't need them. Oh, yes, I languished in the false hope of being practical. It was painful, as it always is, and I decided (against my good judgement who is incidentally locked up somewhere in my closet underneath my trombone from high school and my family kilt both of which I am more likely to take up again) to take a little chance on myself.
I recently came into some money. And by "came into" I mean cashed in some savings bonds. And by "money" I mean money (Huh, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar after all. Thanks Freud.). Since I am currently unemployed, and since most school districts are not likely to hire a Drama/German teacher in the middle of the school year. Now, I must point out here that most school districts are not likely to hire a Drama/German teacher at the beginning of a school year either, but the odds are better there. Back to what I was or wasn't really talking about. I came into some money. And I don't think I have to tell you what I mean by that again, do I?
So, I'm paying myself by the hour to write. This money, which was mine in the first place, is now to become my paychecks which will turn into rent, food, candy, and toys; perhaps not in that order. And here is my reasoning:
Out there in the world, there are a number of employers ready and willing to depart with a small portion of their money to pay me (at minimum wage) to do something that I hate. Now, I don't hate doing things that I hate, and I think that we should all do something that we don't want to every few days or so (I believe that sentiment comes somewhere from the direction of Samuel Clemens...or maybe Mark Twain), but I've been doing that for money for the greater part of the last decade. I thought that this time I would turn the tables and do something that I love for money and I'll do things that I hate for free. The only difference here is that the money that I'm paying myself is already my own money. I guess that makes me the business owner, manager, boss, and grunt all in one. But the crux of my argument lies in the fact that money continues to motivate people to work even when they would rather do something else. Since I have the time to dedicate, and I have a meager capital investment (albeit from myself) I will pay myself to write. And if I don't write, then I don't have a place to live. In an of itself, that's not such a bad thing. But I would never forgive myself for kicking my wife and children out onto the street. Talk about motivation. Go on...find someone. Talk about motivation. The subject of motivation provides ample substance for conversation. I'll wait....
...
...
...
You didn't, did you? Well, either way, I think that I have found some. And now that I'm done with school (yes, all 8 year for a bachelor's degree). I can spend some of my time writing. Oh, don't kid yourselves. I'm paying myself for writing. I'm paying myself for all writing. I need practice, so I'm paying myself for writing recipes if I have to, but I will write. That means that I am paying myself for writing this blog. That's right. I am getting paid to blog. So I'm back. I can finally justify spending time to do what I love, so I'm doing it. This is the first ever blog of mine that has earned me cold hard cash (Well, in the sense that I could have the cash in my hand if I wanted even though I really keep it all in bank accounts and spend most of it by card, check, or Internet transfer. But It could be cash. If I wanted it to be.).
Maybe that's why this blog is so long...did I mention that I'm paying myself by the hour?
It's true, I took my sabbatical. I sat around the counting house of sanity. And when I had taken account (or "a count") of all of my good reasons, my thoughts, and my practicality I came to the conclusion that I didn't need them. Oh, yes, I languished in the false hope of being practical. It was painful, as it always is, and I decided (against my good judgement who is incidentally locked up somewhere in my closet underneath my trombone from high school and my family kilt both of which I am more likely to take up again) to take a little chance on myself.
I recently came into some money. And by "came into" I mean cashed in some savings bonds. And by "money" I mean money (Huh, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar after all. Thanks Freud.). Since I am currently unemployed, and since most school districts are not likely to hire a Drama/German teacher in the middle of the school year. Now, I must point out here that most school districts are not likely to hire a Drama/German teacher at the beginning of a school year either, but the odds are better there. Back to what I was or wasn't really talking about. I came into some money. And I don't think I have to tell you what I mean by that again, do I?
So, I'm paying myself by the hour to write. This money, which was mine in the first place, is now to become my paychecks which will turn into rent, food, candy, and toys; perhaps not in that order. And here is my reasoning:
Out there in the world, there are a number of employers ready and willing to depart with a small portion of their money to pay me (at minimum wage) to do something that I hate. Now, I don't hate doing things that I hate, and I think that we should all do something that we don't want to every few days or so (I believe that sentiment comes somewhere from the direction of Samuel Clemens...or maybe Mark Twain), but I've been doing that for money for the greater part of the last decade. I thought that this time I would turn the tables and do something that I love for money and I'll do things that I hate for free. The only difference here is that the money that I'm paying myself is already my own money. I guess that makes me the business owner, manager, boss, and grunt all in one. But the crux of my argument lies in the fact that money continues to motivate people to work even when they would rather do something else. Since I have the time to dedicate, and I have a meager capital investment (albeit from myself) I will pay myself to write. And if I don't write, then I don't have a place to live. In an of itself, that's not such a bad thing. But I would never forgive myself for kicking my wife and children out onto the street. Talk about motivation. Go on...find someone. Talk about motivation. The subject of motivation provides ample substance for conversation. I'll wait....
...
...
...
You didn't, did you? Well, either way, I think that I have found some. And now that I'm done with school (yes, all 8 year for a bachelor's degree). I can spend some of my time writing. Oh, don't kid yourselves. I'm paying myself for writing. I'm paying myself for all writing. I need practice, so I'm paying myself for writing recipes if I have to, but I will write. That means that I am paying myself for writing this blog. That's right. I am getting paid to blog. So I'm back. I can finally justify spending time to do what I love, so I'm doing it. This is the first ever blog of mine that has earned me cold hard cash (Well, in the sense that I could have the cash in my hand if I wanted even though I really keep it all in bank accounts and spend most of it by card, check, or Internet transfer. But It could be cash. If I wanted it to be.).
Maybe that's why this blog is so long...did I mention that I'm paying myself by the hour?
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