Yep...Still here...

    Well.
    How have you all been? I hope you're all doing well. Myself? Well, not bad. Some interesting things have been going on recently, but I'm not at liberty to discuss them just yet. Don't worry, nothing bad. Just....interesting.

     On a personal level, I've been trying to keep up with my hobbies. Mainly, model building. I don't have the area I need for any indoor painting, so I have to either move the car out of the garage, or wait until the weather's nicer and spray outside. They say that the joy in a journey is more in the actual journey itself, rather than  the destination. Which is good, because my journeys take a lot longer than I'd like them to sometimes....

     And, I've been listening to a podcast I really enjoy, called 'Time Suck'. It's by the comedian Dan Cummins (who also has a second podcast he does with his wife Lynze called 'Scared To Death'), and it touches on all sorts of strange, weird, and sometimes tragic (and terrible) subjects. The episodes are here. The earlier ones are about half an hour long, and the later ones around two hours plus. Just a heads up, though...he peppers them with references to past shows (usually with characters from them), and he likes to swear. A lot. So, NSFW, unless you have earbuds or headphones. He also has merchandise. Because, of course he does. :)

    Well, that seems to be it for this chapter's TED Talk. Join me next time, when I might have something interesting, funny, or informative to say.

Or not. :) 

Warm too soon!

  Well, here it is...the beginning of March, 2024. Very very little snow on the ground (if any, depending on where you live), warm temperatures (it hit 72 degrees Fahrenheit here about a week ago, if that!), and people wearing short pants, and no coats. Heaven.
    Except, it's not supposed to be like this right now. It's supposed to be snowy and cold, with freezing winds and ice on the trees. Why? Because lakes and rivers like snow - it helps 'feed' them. Plus the cold helps to kill off molds and other allergens, keeping us from getting too sick. And do I have to mention it kills the  bugs no one wants to deal with year round? Yes, it sucks, but it's necessary for things to work right. We need that stuff here, because it helps us in the long run. Besides, my main worry right now, is are we going to get SLAMMED soon? You know, the Balance is upset, so Nature will 'correct' it kind of thing. It could still happen. Which is why I recommend you still be prepared to dress warmly, and take a coat, even if it doesn't look like you'll need one. Be prepared, as the Scouts say.

    Just don't be too surprised if it happens. Better safe than sorry!

New Year, Same Me.

    Well, here it is.
   At the writing of this post, it's near the end of January 2024. Around this time, people are either bearing down and following their resolutions, or have pretty much given up on them. You know 'resolutions', right? Those declarations that people make about what they want to do in the New Year? Whether it's "I'm going to the gym more", or "I'm going to start eating healthier!", or " Maybe I'll try not to wish death on that person at work I hate so much. At least a little bit". Whatever it is, it's meant to create a 'New Me!'. It's a promise you make to yourself, but sometimes it's not easy to keep. So, many people just take a "Next year for sure!" attitude when they don't carry it out. Nothing wrong with that. Do what you can, when you can.

   Speaking of resolutions, want to see a list of mine? Well, here you are:

     Yep, I don't have any. That's because I don't do them. Why? Well, because I feel that if you want to do something (especially if it's something to make you healthier), you shouldn't wait to do it. If you decide in, say, May, that you want to eat better, why would you wait? Do it then, not wait 7+ months to start it. Better health shouldn't have to wait. Same with hitting the gym. Yes, I know that sometimes money is the issue, and people would rather wait until after the holidays to start something that costs money (because they need to pay off said holidays). But if you can afford it (or it doesn't cost anything), do it or start it NOW, rather than later. You'll be glad you did.

    As for me, I've never done them. Don't need them. If I want or need to do something, I don't like to wait. Let's be honest. If you need a coat at the beginning of winter, why would you wait to get it at Christmas? Because you have to buy others presents, and you've figured, "Eh. Just get everything at once. That's fine."?
NO. Get your coat FIRST, THEN worry about the other stuff. Don't inconvenience yourself for the sake of others when it comes to things like this. "I don't have the money to do that! I have to wait until I get my extra cash for the holidays!" NO. They can wait. So what if your cousin's-girlfriend's-brother's-nephew doesn't get a PlayGamer 77 (with the built-in Facial Recognition package ONLY AVAILABLE ON OUR PURPLE/GREEN/YELLOW CONSOLE FOR A LIMITED TIME!!!!!) from you. Let someone else be the 'cool relative'. If they don't like it, too damn bad. Don't resolve to "Get a new coat sometime next year. Eventually...". Get it when you need it. Period.

   That being said, if you do them, great. No worries. But, ask yourself, "Do I want to wait, or do I have to wait?". There's the difference. If you have to, then you have to. No judgment. But if you want to, just give it a re-think. You may be glad you did. 

Last post of 2023. More or less...

     Hey, everyone. How's it going? Doing fine? Hope so. Me? Well....not too bad. I'll hit you with a long-ish post after the New Year. Don't want to harsh you out right now.  Goodness knows we've had a right fair amount of that during the last several months. Fighting, lawsuits, deaths (celebrity and others), ups, downs, ins, outs, lefts, rights, forwards, backwards - way too much to discuss here. I can honestly say that we don't need any more interesting things happening next year; although, we'll probably get more of the same. I think we're good on 'surprises' and what-not. Let's have a good, not-so-crazy year in 2024, okay? 

     So, let's be safe, happy, and hopefully better off. As Red Green said:

    "I'm pullin' for ya. We're all in this together."

Some thoughts and stuff....

    I have a habit of writing things down a lot; if a thought or idea hits me, I'll try to jot it down for later. Here's a selection of said thoughts I've accumulated over time.
    Enjoy! 

***Never give yourself a reason to not do something. Putting something off doesn't make it go away - it just makes it harder to finish.

***Never underestimate the power of a kind thought, word, or deed.

***Don't be afraid to 'color outside the lines'. That's where the fun usually is.

***One of the hardest things about dealing with people is having patience. It may be a virtue, but sometimes it makes you wonder if it's worthwhile. Especially when it feels like the odds are stacked against you. After all, how many times can you deal with someone who just doesn't want to understand what you're telling them?

***Your children are NOT your 'friends'. They're your children. Your job is to raise them, help them learn and mature, and make sure that they know right from wrong. They are a part of you, and they reflect what they are exposed to. It's not your responsibility to hang out with them, to party with them, to act like you're "one of the gang" with them. They need your love and your guidance, not for you to drink with them and act like 'the Cool Parent'. Be understanding of their wants and needs. Help them through the rough times, and share the good times with them. Build them up by being what they NEED, not what you think they want.

***Always check the coin returns on vending machines. Change is still money.

***"Love what you do, and do what you love. If you do that, then your work isn't really work!"
Yes, it is. If you have to produce something, have deadlines, have to actually do something in exchange for a paycheck, then it's work. It might be fun, exciting, challenging, etc., but it's still making a living. I don't want my work to be *FUN*!!!; I want it to be something separate from 'fun'. I enjoy 'Fun'. I tolerate 'Work'.

***Put the shopping cart into the corral at the store. At least put it out the way of where a car has to drive. Show a little sense, huh people?

***Never ask a question you really don't want to know the answer to.

***"Please" and "Thank you" aren't dirty words. They can be magic words, however. Said with sincerity they can actually work *Magic*! Try it! You may be surprised!

***Let the car pass you on the road, okay? Playing "NONE SHALL PASS!" on the road can be at best, troublesome. At worst, fatal. Just let them do it, and save yourself some trouble.

***I love watching the sun rise on a nice, clear day. I just wish it wasn't so early. Couldn't it rise at noon or so sometimes?

***Nothing lasts forever. People, places, things, animals, plants...one day the sun will set on every thing, and that will be that. Before it happens, though, make the most of things. LIVE. EXPLORE. EXPERIENCE. BE. Let yourself become enlightened with what's around you. Be curious about the world, but also be aware of your surroundings, both internal as well as external. Know your limits. See them, recognize them, acknowledge them.
And push past them anyway.

***Only YOU, are responsible for YOU. Who you are, what you are, what you want to be or accomplish...these things are for you to decide. Know who you are. And be what you will. There's only one You. So be the best You you can.

***If anyone ever gives you advice, remember this:
   You are under no obligation to follow it. If you feel it's right for you, then by all means, take it. If not, then don't. And don't feel bad for not following it. It's your life and your decision. And don't let people try to make you feel bad for not taking it. If it's so good, let them follow it.

*****Here Endeth The TED Talk for today.*****

Christmas songs already...?

   WE DO NOT NEED CHRISTMAS MUSIC TO START PLAYING THE DAY AFTER HALLOWE'EN! IT IS NOT FESTIVE, IT IS ANNOYING AND NOT CONDUCIVE TO GETTING ME IN THE HOLIDAY MOOD! IT IS THE SAME MUSIC, ALMOST PLAYED IN THE SAME ORDER, EVERY YEAR! THE SONGS I WANT TO HEAR, THEY EITHER DON'T PLAY ENOUGH OR NOT AT ALL! 

   I ESPECIALLY DON'T NEED TO HEAR THE SEVENTEENTH VERSION OF 'THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY' PLAYED FOR THE TWELFTH TIME IN FOUR DAYS! VARY THE MUSIC, OR JUST STOP IT!  

 
   PLUS, WE ALSO DON'T NEED MULTIPLE STATIONS FOLLOWING SUIT! ONE IS BAD ENOUGH! DO YOU LISTEN TO IT AFTER DECEMBER 25? NO? WELL, TRADITIONALLY CHRISTMAS STILL EXTENDS INTO JANUARY! THAT'S WHY IT'S THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS! EITHER DO IT 'RIGHT' OR NOT AT ALL!

 *Ahhh* Well, that was fun. Sorry. It had to be said!

Shopping...

     Been shopping recently? Going out to pick up your essentials, like food, toiletries, maybe shoes or clothes? As you go through the aisles, looking at the selections, do you encounter Them? Who? Why, Them, of course. The other shoppers who for some reason seem to think that the store belongs to Them and Them alone. They cut in front of others, leave their cart in the aisle (many times right in the middle) while They go three aisles down to look for something. And, woe be unto you if you dare - YOU DARE!!!1! - to touch Their Precious. They have no concept of others, or of courtesy. They will stand in front of the things that you want to get to, and become selectively deaf when you say, "Excuse me". Even better, They'll grab just about all of something, emptying the shelf, and act as if it's perfectly fine to deny others. And, be careful if YOU get the thing before They do, because then the sighing starts. Like you did it on purpose, just to inconvenience Them. But, at least you don't work at the store. That's a special kind of hell altogether, with way too many examples to put here. But I thing you can guess (maybe even seen it firsthand).

    I used to work in retail, but not anymore. Luckily, I've never been the target of the ire of Them. But I've seen it in play a lot. And it's not pretty.
    You see, there's an adage that comes up concerning working in a sales-related field: "The customer is always right!" It means that the Customer is SACRED, and the staff need to bend over backwards to make Them as happy and content as possible, so that they continue to shop at your establishment, and maybe recommend their friends and family to do the same. It's thought by many to be a Sales Rule of Law: no matter what, the Customer is king!
     Too bad it isn't.
     According to grammarist.com,

The timeless aphorism “The customer is always right” is widely attributed  to Harry Gordon Selfridge, the founder of the popular Selfridge’s  department store located in London. Wisconsin-born Selfridge introduced the phrase in the early 1900s to encourage employees to prioritize customer satisfaction and create an  environment where customers felt valued and respected. It was all part of his marketing and brand establishment.                                                                                                       

But, some sources also attribute the saying to other business magnates of  the era, like César Ritz, who was the founder of the famous Ritz Hotel. He actually coined the phrase as “Le client n’a jamais tort,” which translates  as “the customer is never wrong.” 

   In other words, it's just a marketing ploy. But, the trouble is, people have taken it and run rampant with the concept, thinking that retail people have no choice but to kiss their ass. And They get VERY angry when they don't. Which makes it rough for everyone.

     Look, I get it. It's frustrating when you can't find what you want, and even more so when you can't find anyone to help you. And sometimes the staff is not very helpful; there are times I've heard people tell of workers walking away from them when they need help. But it's still not an excuse to go off and throw out attitude at them or other shoppers. Just leave. Go elsewhere. If it happens enough, the store will have to take steps to improve things, if they want to stay open. Don't blame everyone on site, just because of one or two people. Shop at a different place; that's the best way to prove you mean business, not verbally (and sometimes physically) assaulting someone. Be an adult, okay?

     And the next time you abandon your cart in the aisle, it's moving to the back of the store. Hide and Seek, anyone?