What's your poo telling you?

I have resisted starting a new blog after obliterating my last one. But, here we are, starting over and taking a fresh, new look at the world around us.

I laugh often at the use of common phrases like, "normal guy" or "mainstream media" to describe people and things that, let's face it, aren't normal or mainstream. In fact, let me step out on a ledge to say that we all are unique. It's the extent to which we try to hide it that puts us on that perceived scale or normalcy.

Seriously, now -- the majority of us wouldn't think of telling anyone that we look at our poo before flushing, but you know you do. Yet, somehow the people who feel comfortable enough to discuss their poo among friends get labeled as weird. Go figure.

Anywho, I started this new blog after many people asked for some of my prose about my life observations. So here we are... observing. My last blog was deleted because I placed a post about my Christmas dinner experience with my sister-in-law and her family the holiday after my father died. She meant well, but between stomaching the unnecessary comments about 9-11, and the slightly-too-awkward absence of my father, I felt grossly out-of-place. I left the dinner politely and visited friends for a quiet drink before spending the evening alone. I wrote that information in my blog, and she read it. She was so offended by it, it seems she told others in the family about how offended she was, but somehow neglected to tell me. Later, I was investigating some other odd things happening, and through Q&A with several family members, found out. Nice tact - next time, tell me directly, and we'll work it out. So, I told my brother if she was still offended, to please contact me instead of spreading our dirt around the whole family - but I wasn't apologizing. I haven't heard from her since.

I'm sure you could care less about that story and would rather hear about my own thoughts about those diversions from normalcy that I observe every day. So, let's get to it. And, by the way, I evacuated rabbit poo this morning -- must have been the salad last night (?).

Irreverant Pragmatism? Wha?

Ok, so I filled out this very extensive questionnaire that spit out this summary of "Stuart." EVERY last word in it fits my personality to the very n-th degree! I can't get over how accurate it was (I think they spoke to Colleen, damn her!) I especially like three things: "You dislike unnecessary rules" and "you are generally not interested in pleasing boring people" and "You tend to be irreverant and pragmatic." Bingo! The "conversations" paragraph is on the money, too. Wow, I just can't get over it.


But here is the response... very scary:


You are courageous; and you seek challenges. You are a tough-minded, independent and daring thinker who likes to explore ideas or problems thoroughly. You focus easily. And you are persistent, systematic and competent in pursuing your interests and goals.


You are also assertive; and you enjoy the opportunities your hard work wins.


You think quickly, make decisions more easily than most, dislike unnecessary rules, and take a rational approach to people, issues and ideas.


You don't often enjoy "small talk". You are generally not interested in pleasing boring people and you gravitate to men and women who are intellectually exciting and get to their point quickly during conversations.


You are not conventional in most of your attitudes and values. You tend to be irreverent and pragmatic and you like spontaneous people. You can be an exciting, yet hard driving and exacting, friend and companion.

I don't understand why

I don't understand why...
pushing a stroller, tugging rolling luggage, or steering a shopping cart suddenly gives you justification to run over others and give you precedent over others around you. Silly me!


I don't understand why...
people complain about how inconvenienced they are even when they aren't. The sky is falling!


I don't understand why...
people are bigoted. There is at least one thing about us all that is undesirable. Get over it!


I don't understand why...
people aren't petrified of death. Religion aside, isn't ANYone mortified about their death?


I don't understand why...
people refuse to go to work at the sight of the first snowflake, but will drive through the Alaskan tundra to get milk and eggs (that will rot in the refridgerator).


I don't understand why...
it takes months to lose weight but two days to gain 10 pounds. What up wid dat??


I don't understand why...
(some) people on facebook get offended if you "unfriend" them, avoid them, or somehow overlook them. Pick up the phone, visit or meet up for dinner... I gaurantee none of those things will happen. I don't use Facebook as a weapon or an oracle for my feelings. Take a deep breath!


I don't understand why...
people are nosey. Will it alter one's life to know my preferred ?


I don't understand why...
we pay property taxes.


...there are more. Feel free to add!

Busy Bee

So yesterday seemed to be gang-up-on-Stuart day, sort of. I have a handful of very close friends who share my busy lifestyle and work-life balance. But I have a few friends who seem to have endless free time on their hands. I am finally at a place where I am happy in nearly every aspect of my life. But...


Yesterday, on several independent occassions, I had a friend or three tell me I was too 'busy.' In all fairness, I believe I DO lead a busy lifestyle (hell, I only do Facebook stuff on my train commute), but I can't quite understand what "TOO" busy means.


Realistically, I work 9-10 hour days, sometimes longer depending on the political season. I (try to) go to the gym several times a week, and I always enforce an hour or so of "me time" to work on personal projects or music every day. The few hours left, I meet friends for dinner or I TRAVEL. Sitting on my ass is not my idea of efficient time management (thus my general disinterest in TV).


That said, I was a little annoyed when I "discovered" from several people that I'm 'too busy.' What does that mean? To me, it's like drawing a conclusion before reading the story. Maybe these friends could ask to PARTICIPATE in my activities, or travel WITH me or HELP me with my projects? God knows I help everyone else (gratis, mind you)!


Maybe it's me being un-yielding, but shouldn't *I* be the judge of how busy I am?

Soap Boxing

1) What is with CVS stores in DC? Seriously, man...


2) As I've aged, I realized what I was running from when I was younger, I am futily trying to get back in my life. I've realized now, that I have to carve out my own piece of the world as it changes rather than trying to reclaim it.


3) I am beyond ecstatic that I get to spend time and travel with my sister-in-law while I introduce her to Europe for the first time in October.


4) I desparately want to start my own business.


5) I have found the coolest alternative to the traditional gym: Snap Fitness. I LOVE this place!


6) The older I get, the more like my grandfather I am, with the same traits, personality, drive, attitude, and... faults.


7) It astounds me that we are STILL getting press about Michael Jackson. I feign to think if Teddy Kennedy will still be getting press months after his funeral. Wow, the priorities of some people, I will never understand. I really don't want to sound insesitive, but outside of his family, is it really any of our business what the chemical make-up of his blood was when he died? I am sure it included formaldyhide. I need to be more cool, I guess.


8) Whatever happened to Lynda Carter?


9) I want to be The Green Lantern for Halloween.


10) I am tired of battling my weight. I think it's time I focus more on health than beauty.

Wandering

I've had a lot of time to collect my thoughts, lately, and felt like sharing some of them. They are quite random, but gives me an avenue to help make sense of the chaos:

1) "Friends" have been on my mind lately. Not a particular one, but generally. I've been thinking a lot about what a "friend" is, or should be to me.


2) I've noticed that as crowds in public places increase, acknowledgement of that fact by each individual decreases. People tend to care less that they cut you off, run over you feet, push you, or respect you when there is a crowd around.


3) When my mind is made up, I commit. Until then, I procrastinate.


4) Anyone who knows me well enough, knows I am open and tolerant of almost anything, and I believe most anything can be rectified with good VERBAL (face-to-face) communication. However, the one and only thing I can't (won't) tolerate is lying. When I find out someone has lied to me, after I have placed complete trust in them, I will never trust them again. There is no second chance, and you do not get to "pass go." If I catch you in the lie, I won't tell you. I firmly believe lying will come back to haunt your dreams and future, and that gives me solace.


5) God, I love riding the train every day.


6) My life has been drastically altered in 2009. Enough already! All my life I have been the "enabler" with little care for any reciprocation. Like with a basket of apples, when you give and share all you have, and get nothing in return, you go home hungry.


7) The ridiculous political wrangling over the healthcare system is taking a very serious issue and making it trivial. Having no, or inadequate healthcare is NOT trivial. And seriously.. "Death Panel"?? Do you honestly believe the feds would do that? And if you do, I urge you to read the proposed plans (from BOTH sides of the aisle) without news or media commentary. You'll find they are spinned so much by the media and pundits and politicos that you'll (hopefully) never listen to them again. Educate youself, people, and don't let others tell you what to think. You ARE a grown-up.(PS - I have worked for both Blue Cross AND HHS.. I think I have a little more credibilily than Palin for understanding BOTH sides of the issue. She QUIT serving the public altogether.. hmmm.)


8) I think mountain streams and rivers kick major ass!


9)I think this whole iPhone thing (despite my feelings toward Apple) is cute, but the public is being taken by sensational marketing and glam. It will end, and not pleasantly, I fear. I can't explain, but something's a-brewin'.


10) We Americans work FAR too much (me included) and explore far too little. How dichotomous from our past!

Being Alive

I've had a roller-coaster weekend, and a flood of song lyrics have come to mind that are helping me get through the emotions - this is the recurring set that won't let go:


From "Company":


Somebody, hold me too close,
Somebody, hurt me too deep,
Somebody, sit in my chair
And ruin my sleep
And make me aware
Of being alive.


Somebody, need me too much,
Somebody, know me too well,
Somebody, pull me up short
And put me through hell
And give me support
For being alive,
Make me alive.


Make me confused,
Mock me with praise,
Let me be used,
Vary my days.
But alone is alone,
not alive.


Somebody, crowd me with love,
Somebody, force me to care,
Somebody, make me come through,
I'll always be there,
As frightened as you,
To help us survive
being alive!