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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/books/item_id/1836624-Observations-and-Ruminations/sort_by/entry_order DESC, entry_creation_time DESC/page/13
Rated: 13+ · Book · Other · #1836624
January 2016 (30 Day Blogging Challenge)
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
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January 14, 2012 at 12:23am
January 14, 2012 at 12:23am
#744193
Did you ever hear that song by Nina Simone "Don't let me be misunderstood"? It was the first thing that came to mind when I read this prompt.

I would love to be able to explain some bizarre scientific concept or to educate you on a world mystery in three easy sentences, but in reality I think I misunderstand more than I understand. Getting older only makes me realize how little I do comprehend. So going back to Nina Simone, I would say I am misunderstood and I think many people are as well or so they believe they are.

Think of the times your appearance, actions, or comments are used to make a judgement about who you are, what you believe or what you think. Appearances first. Clothing makes a statement. I love nice clothes and probably spend way too much on labels, shoes and handbags. Because of that I have had friends mention that before they knew me they suspected I was pretentious and superficial... NOT AT ALL TRUE. Similarly my husband is constantly misunderstood. He is brilliant...i mean honestly amazing. At social gatherings he is confident in his comments but rarely engages in idol chitchat. It's not that he is antisocial or aloof. It's actually that he is a little uncomfortable with new people.

January 14, 2012 at 12:23am
January 14, 2012 at 12:23am
#744191
Did you ever hear that song by Nina Simone "Don't let me be misunderstood"? It was the first thing that came to mind when I read this prompt.

I would love to be able to explain some bizarre scientific concept or to educate you on a world mystery in three easy sentences, but in reality I think I misunderstand more than I understand. Getting older only makes me realize how little I do comprehend. So going back to Nina Simone, I would say I am misunderstood and I think many people are as well or so they believe they are.

Think of the times your appearance, actions, or comments are used to make a judgement about who you are, what you believe or what you think. Appearances first. Clothing makes a statement. I love nice clothes and probably spend way too much on labels, shoes and handbags. Because of that I have had friends mention that before they knew me they suspected I was pretentious and superficial... NOT AT ALL TRUE. Similarly my husband is constantly misunderstood. He is brilliant...i mean honestly amazing. At social gatherings he is confident in his comments but rarely engages in idol chitchat. It's not that he is antisocial or aloof. It's actually that he is a little uncomfortable with new people.

January 13, 2012 at 2:25pm
January 13, 2012 at 2:25pm
#744109
I do not seriously believe in any superstitions. That doesn't mean I don't take precautions *Smile*. So I would avoid waking on cracks for fear of my mother's back breaking, however I would not change travel plans just because it is Fri 13th. I will not hold a horse shoe upside down or walk under a ladder, but if I break a glass I simply clean it up and go on my way.

It seems to me that people make their own luck - good or bad. If you expect bad things to happen, they will. Kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy if you will. I believe luck is defined as preparation meeting opportunity. I like that. If I am unprepared and my opportunity strikes - bad luck. If I am prepared and see the same opportunity - good luck. I am too much of an existentialist, believing man controls his own destiny to be swayed by superstitions.

I am entertained by them and really enjoy friends who are obsessed by such superstitions. I know one person who buys a lottery ticket every time she has an itchy palm. No win yet. I tend to know on wood to reverse bad luck - bizarre but I guess it is a habit from my mom. I heard it comes from a time when people believe gods lived in trees. Hmmm.

Try this quiz to see how far in you really are *Smile*
http://www.lifescript.com/Quizzes/Personality/How_Superstitious_Are_You.aspx
January 12, 2012 at 1:31pm
January 12, 2012 at 1:31pm
#744045
I am fascinated by the speed of technology adaptation and excited whenever I hear about a new gadget or tech toy. Recently I heard of "Sixth Sense" which is basically a device to present and organize data making it immediately accessible. Kind of a Minority Report thing. To see more check out the TED seminar at http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html. This was presented back in 2009 and you can learn more about it at http://www.pranavmistry.com/projects/sixthsense/.

But it goes to the idea of the next BIG THING. We have all this data out there just waiting to be accessed and manipulated in a creative ways. I think this will be a common item within the next 5 years. Whether it's the device or just the idea, I believe we will have immediate access to relevant information instanteously. The interesting part is how to make it pertinent to us individually.

Because I have never been really good with remembering names and even faces at times, I would love to be able to walk up to someone and immediately see who they are, how they are relevant to me and what they are interested in. Granted there will be privacy issues but that is the interesting part.

It may not be as big as the internet but I can see how it would change the way we work and live.
January 11, 2012 at 9:25am
January 11, 2012 at 9:25am
#743950
I am not nearly bright enough to understand the physics of time or even the definition outside of years, months, days, hours, etc. The only thing I do know is that there never seems to be enough of it.

The older I get the quicker I believe time is passing and the more anxious I am about it. When I was younger my concerns over time were usually that it was not moving fast enough. "I can't wait until I am 16 so I can drive." "I can't wait until I am 21 so I can drink". "I can't wait until the weekend" - well that still happens *Smile*.

Seems now I am always wondering where the time went. My son is a teenager and as trite as it sounds, I just cannot believe how the days flew by. I look at him and cry over the boy that is no longer my little bright eyed toddler. Sappy and sad I know.

He seemed to really bring the concept of time home to me a few months ago. We were discussing the need to start considering colleges and what he wants to do with his life professionally. He was avoiding the topic and was generally uninterested in discussing. When I pressed he finally said it was very difficult for him to even consider 4 to 6 years from now when that represented about 1/3 of his entire life. He really had no clue. For me 4 - 6 years is a blip on the screen but for him it is an eternity. He will be in away in college shortly and I am already worried about that time.

On a more micro level, I struggle with time management. BTW the term 'Time Management" seems ridiculous to me in the first place because I have no control over time and therefore cannot even fathom how the hell I could manage it. But I digress. Although I consider myself organized, I never seem to accomplish all I want and I am always worried that it is too late. Too late for what I am not sure. I rush constantly. It's just a horrible anxiety I guess.

Before I get to worked up about spending a lot of time on this blog entry, I will finish on a happy note. I really like this song called "Change of Time" by Josh Ritter. Check it out if you have the time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZbZX9aa_K4.
January 10, 2012 at 7:50am
January 10, 2012 at 7:50am
#743881
If I knew my next meal would be my last, I would create the following experience.

First it would be held in my dining room. The table would be set beautifully with embroidered linens and my favorite Lenox china pattern. The glasses would be delicate crystal and the silverware would be the good stuff I keep in the cabinet. Large floral bouquets of gardenias, white roses and lilies would adorn the table.

Twelve place settings would accommodate my closest friends and family members. Those who I need next to me to ensure the best dinner conversation. The lighting would be fulfilled by dozens and dozens of little white tea lights (I feel I look best in candlelight). Background music would be classical, maybe an aria from Madame Butterfly.

Tab water fills the glasses (I prefer tab to sparkling or even bottled), each with a little cucumber slice. We open a bottle of a very bold Barolo and plan on several more of the same. Bread baskets are filled to the brim - we have baguettes and sour dough, think slices of Italian and even some zucchini bread. I slather it all with rich creamy butter.

We move to the first course which is a fresh arugula salad with sauteed mushrooms and a sprinkling of freshly grated Pecorino cheese. It is dressed with white truffle oil - lots of it. The main course is cold water Lobster again dripping in butter. Sides include spaghetti squash, sweet potatoes and sour cream cucumbers. All of which is accompanied by ...you guessed it...loads of butter. Who cares if it fits any culinary coordination?

The cheese course has hard and soft cheese, accompanied by jams and fruit. The fruit is mango, papaya, green grapes, water melon and lots of berries.

Dessert includes a giant cannoli, vanilla creme brulee, slice of red velvet cake, coconut lime cake and loads of fresh whipped cream. I eat it all because I never need to visit the gym again.

I finish with a bold cup of french press coffee...maybe the entire pot.

Nice fantasy that I obviously spent too much time on. Most likely I would be running late for my own death and wind up picking up some burger at a fast food joint.


Bonnie14222
January 9, 2012 at 11:18am
January 9, 2012 at 11:18am
#743814
Good versus evil. Does it truly exist? What are the gray areas? Do good people do bad things? Do evil people do nice things?

I do believe that good and evil truly exist and that good people can do bad things while evil people can do good things. It is the gray areas that make it more difficult to identify and categorize.

No one is fully good and no one is fully evil. I believe we make choices daily that pave the path of right or wrong. I consider myself to be a good person, yet I have moments of greed and envy and selfishness that I sometimes act on. Does that make me evil or simply human? There have been times where I have seen very mean, vicious people do something so generous and out of character. I also think it would be an real easy excuse to say you behave in a certain way because you are evil as opposed to accepting responsibility and accountability for your actions. People can change and we should judge based on an incident alone.

The gray areas are constant. Recently I saw a woman on the news who shot an intruder. She was a young mother and two men were trying to get into house. The one man died, does that make her an evil killer? If I am starving can I steal from an investment banker indicted in the mortgage crisis? It is way too difficult to be cut and dry.

January 8, 2012 at 5:06pm
January 8, 2012 at 5:06pm
#743745
"What is your greatest strength? What is your biggest weakness? Write about each and why you think it’s a strength or weakness. How would you change either of these things, if you could?"

This is a commonly asked question and I even use a variation in interviewing for new employees. I ask the candidate to think about 3 people who love him, 3 people who cannot stand him and 3 people who are neutral. Then I ask what each would agree are his top strengths and weaknesses. It really addresses self perception.

Anyway, back to the task. Let's start with my greatest weakness. Persistence, dedication, follow through seem to elude me. I loose interest fast and am off to the next big thing before completely anything.




January 7, 2012 at 7:45am
January 7, 2012 at 7:45am
#743546
Only one? Who was it who said "The unexamined life is not worth living."? Mine is apparently worth living, as reflection has uncovered a number of poor decisions with differing severity levels.

I guess the most significant mistake is my career choice. I fell into it. Granted it has been lucrative and allowed me to travel but it is not and never was a passion. As a kid, I didn't think about what inspired me or where I could make the most impact. Instead I looked at perception and income levels. When you are young it is almost impossible to think what life will be like in 20 years. Now I can't image doing this every day for the next 20. Maybe the more I realize I am not immortal, the more I want to leave some kind of legacy.

I could have a do-over for this mistake. In fact I have tried, although I never really committed to a change. Online interior design courses, seminars on new business start ups, LSATs, even masters classes were attempted and left by the side of the road. Looks like writing is next up to bat.

January 6, 2012 at 7:18am
January 6, 2012 at 7:18am
#743469
Dangerous to let us loose with this prompt.

I am going to take this opportunity to rant about working adults who act like petulant children. My entire professional life has been spent in the world of Information Technology, specifically consulting, so I am very familiar with god complexes and prima donas. Many of the people I have worked with were actually quite brilliant. For those few I did not at all mind the ego and attitude.

However, I am currently working with an idiot. Yes, this man, or should I say boy in a man's body is a feckless employee. At first glance he appears to be a professional, eager to please and capable. Until of course you ask him to perform and his true identity shines through. He cannot take constructive criticism, acts extremely passive aggressive and worst of all is wrong majority of the time. I would add stubborn, lazy and inept.

I have spend the past 2 months taking extra time to guide him on the nuances of his role as a consultant. Keep in mind that this is in a non bill role, so he is effectively costing me a great deal of money. I have even considered that my direct communication style and Type-A personality could have been a factor in the issues we were having. I refrained from being a assertive bitch and gave him the benefit of the doubt. WRONG.

Today was the final straw. In my fantasy I beat him senseless with his laptop. In reality, I listened to his tantrum, looked him straight in the eyes and told him he was no longer worth my energies. I smiled and walked away.

He will be terminated this week.

I am done and now off to get my first chilled martini.

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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/books/item_id/1836624-Observations-and-Ruminations/sort_by/entry_order DESC, entry_creation_time DESC/page/13