Compiled...

A lot of thoughts lately.

First, some book recommendations:
I'm a Stranger Here Myself
The Naked Soul

The first is short newspaper articles this guy wrote after moving back from 20 years in England. He comments on things like how there are 18 cup holders in a minivan….four more than you would need even if each person in the van had two beverages. It's absolutely HYSTERICAL. I was laughing out loud on my flight back from LA…and couldn't stop. Tears, even.

The second is about God creating in us a need for friendships. It's an interesting look at why we choose friends and the different types of friendship/relationships that exist. I'm about three chapters in and really enjoying it. The author deals with a lot of the difficult questions that I think are often ignored: How do we live in the world but not of the world; how do we focus on giving in a relationship without draining ourselves; how we surround ourselves with people but often end up more lonely than we were in the beginning. So far, pretty insightful.

I had other thoughts….why are they always gone when I'm ready to blog??

Oh, here's a thought. I don't think Vick should be in jail for the whole dog-fighting thing….doesn't seem really that big of a deal when we let abortion doctors run free. Of course, that's just my right-wing, hyper-conservative viewpoint….so get off me. I still think I'm right.

You know how the best sign of maturity is that you like who you are and are comfortable with yourself….even if other people think you're dorky/crazy/weird/etc? I'm finding that the self-confidence that goes along with this doesn't mesh well with a culture in which you need buy-in from anyone who breathes…and in which you need to approach all these people with the utmost care….as they all apparently need handling with kid gloves. If you disagree with something, speak up. If you don’t speak up, you are not allowed to make it my problem. Seriously.

Business travel is draining. But the frequent flyer miles are pretty awesome.

In other news, I am selling:
$25 - NEW golf bag
$200 - Retro/Vintage GE wall oven (white enamel, no chips)
$100 - Matching electric stovetop and hood - beige
$50 - Window AC unit
…please contact me if you are interested….there are already people contacting me about the golf bag, oven, stovetop, and hood. :o)

That is all for the moment. Peace out, bean sprouts.
-R

good thoughts

I've had a lot of thoughts occur to me as I've been traveling this week. They all seemed profound as they came to me....and now of course they escape me. I'll keep thinking...

In the mean time, let me commend to you the book "I'm a Stranger Here Myself". My goodness it is funny. The writer is so witty and able to bring his thoughts full circle. He was apparently born in the US and then moved to England for 20 years. He was roped into writing newspaper articles about his experience upon moving back to the states and the changes he encountered. Really interesting to see our society from another perspective. And funny. Seriously. I was laughing so hard i had tears running down my face. Embarassing....when on a packed airplane to LA....but that in and of itself makes me laugh harder.

Anyway. I'm tired and don't feel like typing. Maybe more in a while.
love.
-R

home depot BLOWS

I'm not really super excited about logging in once this month and then just to rant against the depot, but oh well. i had a really great post all thought out and now i can't remember it. perhapst tomorrow...

Went to home depot...you know....for home repair stuff. I wander around until i finally find someone who appears to work there. I ask him if they carry the expanding foam stuff and where they keep it.
He asks me what it's for.
It tell him to fill a hole.
He asks me what kind of hole.
I tell him a large one in some cement.
He asks me how it got there.
I don't really see how that's any of his business, so I don't tell him (and I don't know how the hole got there).
He asks where the hole is....and then keeps asking questions that make me feel like he thinks i've done something to my parent's house and now i'm trying to fix it before they get home.
NONE of the questions related to WHERE HOME DEPOT KEEPS THEIR EXPANDING FOAM.

This went on for some time. Until he finally gave up and gestured to a few places they carry it.

SERIOUSLY! I HATE HOME DEPOT!!!

And I saw a mouse.

one more in june

Getting one more entry in June...

Last night, I had a date with myself. It was fantastic. And it wasn't until I was leaving that I noticed.
First, I went to the driving range and hit a basket of balls. After quite a few tries, I think my arms started to remember how it all works. It's been over a year. That just doesn't seem like it can be true.
Then, I tried that Dino's Gyro place? Pretty okay....althrough what a mess to eat it. And i didn't realize until too late that they sell baklava. I would have just ordered that. Mmm.

In other news, summer goes too quickly. I know it's just the end of June, but July is entirely booked, half of August is as well, and I have this feeling I'll be traveling for work in there too. Makes me wish...

I've had a lot of topics to blog about....rant about...but at the moment I'm not remembering them.
blah.