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E-mail drudgery

I don’t wanna but I gotta. Time to wade through the spam.

Why do I hate email?

  1. Spam wastes my life.
  2. I find important things that got overlooked because of spam.
  3. There will always be something cranky or negative from somebody.
  4. Email almost always generates work–often non-billable.
  5. I hate spam

Gmail: 416 unread; started at 3:16pm; finished 3:24pm
Personal account: 253 unread; started at –interrpted for voicemail and phone calls–

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Negotiating with Monday

Monday has held me hostage for the last time! Obviously Monday and I have different agendas. Different goals in life. Different, deeply rooted philosophies. Monday and I simply cannot co-exist. One of us has to change. I have tried to compromise with Monday explaining that Monday would better fit between Friday and Saturday but Monday will hear nothing of it. I tried being compassionate and empathetic and asked Monday what it wanted but all I got in return was a terse, "deal with it like everyone else." I got authoritarian and declared, "this is how it is going to be" only to have Monday laugh in my face and show me that Monday is bigger than me. I tried playing along by starting early and running late but I found out tha Monday does not sleep nor slow down. I can’t beat Monday and we cannot get alone. There is only one thing to do and that is: hate Monday! (and just get as much done as I can and be happy with that…)

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From the mouths of babes

This one comes second hand because I was in the store.

Dad: Pulls up to liquor store and goes in. Eggnog sometimes needs rum.
Tommy: "Why are we at a wine store!"
Mom: —I don’t know her reply—
Tommy: "You better keep that stuff downstairs!"

Well now, I guess the school, the church, and the grandparents have done their job. Apparently Tommy thinks that by being near the bottle, he’ll catch drunkedness or something.

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Inadequate Dad

I love taking my daughter to pre-school. She bounces and sings and laughs on the way to school. She sometimes cheers as the building comes into sight. This morning she declared how beautiful her lunch box was. I am glad she likes it. I am glad she is happy. I find her beautiful. Today the teachers commented on her wonderful hair and that they thought it had grown over the Thanksgiving holiday. Indeed, it looks longer. I am prideful when others say how cute Amy is. I love her face.

I feel sad though as I look at her happiness and innocence knowing that our jaded society lurks in the not too distant future waiting to rob her of that joy and turn innocence into scorn. I cannot protect her from the vast negativity, hate and politics that seem to seep into our lives. Even this morning I found myself having to pander to someone’s political play where none was needed; unnecessary tension.

I hope she never loses her smile. I hope remains so happy.

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Highlight of the weekend

It was a glorious holiday extended weekend. We gave thanks and ate well with family. I worked in a productive workday albeit came across as a crank pot to my wife. We met with The Claus. Celebrated a parting. Put up our Christmas tree and decorations (neglecting the missing outside lights…now where did I put those things?). Completed a difficult and long overdue phase of one of my many home improvement projects. Majorly cleaned a room.

If I had to pick a single moment to highlight, I would pick causing a friend spew his beer and have to excuse himself from the table. What a good weekend!