I think it's strange how people create institutions and then complain that the institution is controlling THEM, and they can't do anything to stop it. If you don't understand, I will give you some examples. Government, the judicial system, laws, big businesses. They all have something in common - they were created by PEOPLE. Yet when a person doesn't like something about one of these institutions, they complain that they 'Can't fight it' or 'Can't change it' or 'It's too big and corrupt to control'. These may be valid concerns, but it is a crazy idea to me that we create things we can not control. If a law is unjust or the government is corrupt, why can't we change it? Do these things have a life of their own? It's like Frankenstein's monster. He created it, but then he couldn't control it.
People seem to think things like businesses and government are their own entity - like a living being that can think, and dominate, and control. The truth is, these institutions are made up of people like you and me. They only gain power if WE give it to them. Think of it like a drop of water. A drop of water is pretty harmless. It can't do much damage. But when a whole bunch of drops of water get together, they can cause a flood and do tons of damage. People are like individual drops of water. If they team up together they can do wonderful......and horrible things. But if you don't want a horrible thing, like a flood, to happen, don't join the other drops of water to create the flood. No drops of water, no flood. No people behind a bad institution, no institution.
I know it's all more complicated than that. We need order and institution, and it is hard to get people to agree on how these things should be. But I think we all have more power than we give ourselves credit for. We don't have to sit back and be controlled by our creations, especially since our creations are made up of all of us.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Heater Blues
So yesterday the heater went out. Not only did it go out, but it couldn't seem to stop blowing cold air. That's always fun. The landlord sent her son to take a look at it. He poked around a little and admitted that he "has no idea how to fix a furnace". So he called in his sister and her husband, who supposedly knows more about heaters. But by the time they got there, the furnace seemed to work, and we had six people (including me, Mike, and the landlord) standing in our tiny kitchen, looking like idiots. Then, not 30 minutes after we herded everyone out of our house, the heater started blowing cold air again. WTF HEATER?!
Mike called the landlord again today and she scheduled a real furnace technician to come take a look at it. But before he got here, the heater decided it was JUST FINE. So we told the landlord to cancel that appointment, but she still sent her son over again. He thought that she was mistaken about the heater not working again because it was working when he got there. I tried to explain to him the many moods of the furnace, but he just looked confused. If you are not confused at this point, you are the only one. I'm not even sure anymore if the furnace is working or not. All I know is that I can not contact the landlord one more time about the furnace unless I am frozen solid. I can't explain one more time that "the heater was broken a minute ago, but now it seems to have miraculously come back to life!" The furnace must love chaos, because it is causing an awful lot of it. I can just imagine it snickering to itself in it's closet while we run around flipping switches and holding our hands over the heat vents to see if any warm air is coming out.
Mike called the landlord again today and she scheduled a real furnace technician to come take a look at it. But before he got here, the heater decided it was JUST FINE. So we told the landlord to cancel that appointment, but she still sent her son over again. He thought that she was mistaken about the heater not working again because it was working when he got there. I tried to explain to him the many moods of the furnace, but he just looked confused. If you are not confused at this point, you are the only one. I'm not even sure anymore if the furnace is working or not. All I know is that I can not contact the landlord one more time about the furnace unless I am frozen solid. I can't explain one more time that "the heater was broken a minute ago, but now it seems to have miraculously come back to life!" The furnace must love chaos, because it is causing an awful lot of it. I can just imagine it snickering to itself in it's closet while we run around flipping switches and holding our hands over the heat vents to see if any warm air is coming out.
Friday, October 28, 2011
The Big 3-0
I know I have been slacking a bit on the whole blogging thing, but give me a break, it was my 30th birthday! I know so many people will say 30 is not old, and I don't feel older than I did at 29. But if you ask a 20-year-old, 30 is practically elderly. So there seems to be some sort of stigma with turning 30, and even though you don't feel OLD, it totally messes with your mind. You start to think, "Should I be different now that I'm 30? Should I start to 'act my age'?" I don't think so. I want to tell 30 to mind it's own business because I'm going to live my life how I want to. Besides, I just bought skinny jeans for the first time this week, and I don't want to go my whole life without trying them just because I didn't get to them before I was 30. (By the way, they totally rock!)
For my birthday, Mike and I went to Wendover because that is the only place near where we live where you can gamble. However, we forgot one little thing when we decided to go there - We don't like to gamble. Oopsie! Well we went anyway, but we probably should have waited to do that for my 90th birthday, because everyone there was decidedly older than 30. (Either that or they let the whole 30 thing mess with them to the point where they looked 70.) Being there was like being in a retirement home on the moon, because we quickly found out Wendover is a barren wasteland with nothing to do but gamble. Still, we made the best of it by going to the spa, eating out, and soaking in our psychedelic, 70s-style jacuzzi tub that was located right next to the king-size bed in our suit. The hotel had just been remodeled, but it still looked like a blast from the past to me. (See, I'm not old! I wasn't even born in the 70s!) So, all-in-all, my birthday was pretty good, and it got even better once we left Wendover and did what I really love to do - SHOP!
For my birthday, Mike and I went to Wendover because that is the only place near where we live where you can gamble. However, we forgot one little thing when we decided to go there - We don't like to gamble. Oopsie! Well we went anyway, but we probably should have waited to do that for my 90th birthday, because everyone there was decidedly older than 30. (Either that or they let the whole 30 thing mess with them to the point where they looked 70.) Being there was like being in a retirement home on the moon, because we quickly found out Wendover is a barren wasteland with nothing to do but gamble. Still, we made the best of it by going to the spa, eating out, and soaking in our psychedelic, 70s-style jacuzzi tub that was located right next to the king-size bed in our suit. The hotel had just been remodeled, but it still looked like a blast from the past to me. (See, I'm not old! I wasn't even born in the 70s!) So, all-in-all, my birthday was pretty good, and it got even better once we left Wendover and did what I really love to do - SHOP!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Education On Happiness
These days post-high school education is sold like candy. By saying that I don't mean it is cheap. (Far from it.) I mean it is being marketed EVERYWHERE, to EVERYONE, using all kinds of gimmicks and come-ons. I'm sure we can all agree that education is important, but it's not the cure-all that it is marketed to be. Having a formal education doesn't guarantee you will be successful in life and vice versa. Life itself can be a great teacher. Sometimes you can learn more by going out and experiencing things than you could ever learn in a classroom.
Of course schooling is necessary for many career fields and if you are absolutely positive about the career path you wish to take then a formal education is probably a good idea. But for those less sure about their life path, schooling can be very costly and even worthless in the end. That's because school does not teach you what makes you happy. It doesn't tell you how to enjoy life. You don't learn what challenges you will face in the future. They can't tell you how your ambitions and desires will change over time. It doesn't guarantee you a stable job for the rest of your life.
So while I believe it is always best to learn as much as you can throughout your life, I do not believe it is always best to do that learning in a formal school. Learn from people you know. Learn from trial and failure. Learn from reading and pondering. Learn from experiences in your life and other's lives. One thing I have learned - There are no guarantees in life, so don't waste years of your life in formal schooling if it doesn't lead to your happiness.
Of course schooling is necessary for many career fields and if you are absolutely positive about the career path you wish to take then a formal education is probably a good idea. But for those less sure about their life path, schooling can be very costly and even worthless in the end. That's because school does not teach you what makes you happy. It doesn't tell you how to enjoy life. You don't learn what challenges you will face in the future. They can't tell you how your ambitions and desires will change over time. It doesn't guarantee you a stable job for the rest of your life.
So while I believe it is always best to learn as much as you can throughout your life, I do not believe it is always best to do that learning in a formal school. Learn from people you know. Learn from trial and failure. Learn from reading and pondering. Learn from experiences in your life and other's lives. One thing I have learned - There are no guarantees in life, so don't waste years of your life in formal schooling if it doesn't lead to your happiness.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Feeling Colorful
"I mean that there’s got to be a lightness in your way. There has to be a lightness; you have to be as light as you can be and not get weighed down and stuck in your emotion, stuck in your body, stuck in your head. You just want to always be trying to elevate somehow."
That's a quote from Bill Murray that I ran across on the internet recently. I really like it because I think he is trying to tell people how to stay upbeat and positive even when life gets hard. Don't get stuck in your head with your negative emotions. Try to find a way to get above all that. Interesting...... I am always looking for ways to stay positive, especially during this time of year when the weather can be summarized as 'dark and cold'. My life is pretty good, so staying positive isn't too hard. But when I do feel low, it's nice to be reminded by a quote like this that it is impossible to be happy when you let negative thoughts overrun your mind and weigh you down. You have to make an effort to stay light. Also notice he says 'have to', not 'should' or 'try'. It is imperative to our health and well-being to make this effort to stay happy.
Another thing a came across on the internet was this story by Dr. Seuss that someone posted on their blog -
My Many Colored Days.. By Dr. Seuss
Some days are yellow.
Some are blue.
On different days I'm different too.
You'd be surprised how many ways
I change on Different Colored Days.
On Bright Red Days how good it feels
to be a horse and kick my heels!
On other days I'm other things.
On Bright Blue Days I flap my wings.
Some days, of course, feel sort of Brown.
Then I feel slow and low, low down.
Then comes a Yellow Day and Wheeee!
I am a busy, buzzy bee.
Gray Day....Everything is gray.
I watch. But nothing moves today.
Then all of a sudden I'm a circus seal!
On my Orange Days that's how I feel.
Green Days. Deep deep in the sea.
Cool and quiet fish. That's me.
On Purple Days I'm sad. I groan.
I drag my tail. I walk alone.
But when my days are Happy Pink
it's great to jump and just not think.
Then come my Black Days. MAD. And loud.
I howl. I growl at every cloud.
Then comes a Mixed-Up Day. And WHAM!
I don't know who or what I am!
But it all turns out all right, you see.
And I go back to being...me.
I love this story for it's simplicity and acceptance of emotions in all forms. There's no judgment as to which emotions are right or wrong. It makes it OK to have all these emotions and then 'go back to being me'. I also love that 'it all turns out all right', because emotions can be scary, but this story helps you understand that feeling lots of emotions is not the end of the world and it doesn't make you a bad person. You are just colorful!
That's a quote from Bill Murray that I ran across on the internet recently. I really like it because I think he is trying to tell people how to stay upbeat and positive even when life gets hard. Don't get stuck in your head with your negative emotions. Try to find a way to get above all that. Interesting...... I am always looking for ways to stay positive, especially during this time of year when the weather can be summarized as 'dark and cold'. My life is pretty good, so staying positive isn't too hard. But when I do feel low, it's nice to be reminded by a quote like this that it is impossible to be happy when you let negative thoughts overrun your mind and weigh you down. You have to make an effort to stay light. Also notice he says 'have to', not 'should' or 'try'. It is imperative to our health and well-being to make this effort to stay happy.
Another thing a came across on the internet was this story by Dr. Seuss that someone posted on their blog -
My Many Colored Days.. By Dr. Seuss
Some days are yellow.
Some are blue.
On different days I'm different too.
You'd be surprised how many ways
I change on Different Colored Days.
On Bright Red Days how good it feels
to be a horse and kick my heels!
On other days I'm other things.
On Bright Blue Days I flap my wings.
Some days, of course, feel sort of Brown.
Then I feel slow and low, low down.
Then comes a Yellow Day and Wheeee!
I am a busy, buzzy bee.
Gray Day....Everything is gray.
I watch. But nothing moves today.
Then all of a sudden I'm a circus seal!
On my Orange Days that's how I feel.
Green Days. Deep deep in the sea.
Cool and quiet fish. That's me.
On Purple Days I'm sad. I groan.
I drag my tail. I walk alone.
But when my days are Happy Pink
it's great to jump and just not think.
Then come my Black Days. MAD. And loud.
I howl. I growl at every cloud.
Then comes a Mixed-Up Day. And WHAM!
I don't know who or what I am!
But it all turns out all right, you see.
And I go back to being...me.
I love this story for it's simplicity and acceptance of emotions in all forms. There's no judgment as to which emotions are right or wrong. It makes it OK to have all these emotions and then 'go back to being me'. I also love that 'it all turns out all right', because emotions can be scary, but this story helps you understand that feeling lots of emotions is not the end of the world and it doesn't make you a bad person. You are just colorful!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Bake More
For some reason this time of year always makes me want to bake. Or should I say 'bake more'? Because I always like baking, even if it means sweating like crazy while the oven runs in the heat of a summer day. But there is just something about autumn that kick-starts my desire to bake. Maybe it's the cooler weather or nostalgia (I can't believe I spelled that word right on the first try!) for the holiday season. I constantly fall victim to comfort food whose ingredients are more readily available this time of year. Who wouldn't want to curl up on a cold evening with a warm slice of apple pie, or a big bowl of bread pudding, or a slice of pumpkin bread with butter?
The fact that pumpkins are in all the stores this time of year also urges me to bake. Why? Because I love pumpkin! You put pumpkin in something and I will probably like it. I'm sure I have more pumpkin recipes than anything else. Of course they are mostly desert recipes, but that's only because I have a vicious sweet tooth. Here is a picture of my latest creations -
That's a pumpkin cupcake with orange cream cheese frosting and a homemade caramel. I'm not one of those bloggers who post recipes and cooking tips, but I will say these are two of my favorite recipes. If you want to make them you know how ask for the recipe. Or, better yet, I like baking so much I would probably make them for you if you bought the ingredients. (I may love to bake, but I am not made of money.) If you like you could also throw in a nice 12-count muffin pan, since all I have is a little 6-count one. Just kidding! I will always bake whether or not I have fancy pans and tools. Have you seen my tiny, loathsome kitchen?
The fact that pumpkins are in all the stores this time of year also urges me to bake. Why? Because I love pumpkin! You put pumpkin in something and I will probably like it. I'm sure I have more pumpkin recipes than anything else. Of course they are mostly desert recipes, but that's only because I have a vicious sweet tooth. Here is a picture of my latest creations -
That's a pumpkin cupcake with orange cream cheese frosting and a homemade caramel. I'm not one of those bloggers who post recipes and cooking tips, but I will say these are two of my favorite recipes. If you want to make them you know how ask for the recipe. Or, better yet, I like baking so much I would probably make them for you if you bought the ingredients. (I may love to bake, but I am not made of money.) If you like you could also throw in a nice 12-count muffin pan, since all I have is a little 6-count one. Just kidding! I will always bake whether or not I have fancy pans and tools. Have you seen my tiny, loathsome kitchen?
Friday, October 7, 2011
Listening Through The Noise
Cold weather has descended on my community rather quickly this year. Only a few days ago it was 80-plus degrees, and today the heater is running almost constantly and I am trying to keep from freezing to death. Even though my heater is working, I think my body was unprepared for the sudden cold, and every few minutes I am considering a hot bath or shower just to warm up. I guess blankets or more clothing might work also, but for some reason nothing warms me up like water. If my hands get really cold, sometimes I will just wash them in hot water, and sometimes that turns into less washing and more hanging my hands in the water and sighing in complete bliss.
As much as I love having a working heater, I do not love how noisy it is. I don't know if it's because my house is so small or because my heater just wants to be heard, but living with that thing is like living in a power plant........generating power from a raging waterfall. When it's running I feel like I can hardly hear myself think. If I want to watch t.v. or listen to music I have to turn the volume up really loud. The neighbors probably think I am quickly going deaf. I don't always need complete silence, but for some reason constant noise bothers me. I am a person who likes to listen for things, and when there is noise, it gets in the way of hearing quieter noises. What I am listening for, I couldn't tell you, but when I can't hear I feel slightly uncomfortable. The best way I can describe it is if you suddenly went deaf. You would be a little freaked out that you couldn't hear anything, right? I feel the same way when there is loud, constant noise. Even the noise of the vacuum cleaner, the shower, or music played through my headphones makes me feel the same way. (By the way, the shower noise is probably the only reason I don't live in there during the colder months.) Is that weird? Anyway, like being deaf, I can get used to background noise, but that doesn't mean I like it.
As much as I love having a working heater, I do not love how noisy it is. I don't know if it's because my house is so small or because my heater just wants to be heard, but living with that thing is like living in a power plant........generating power from a raging waterfall. When it's running I feel like I can hardly hear myself think. If I want to watch t.v. or listen to music I have to turn the volume up really loud. The neighbors probably think I am quickly going deaf. I don't always need complete silence, but for some reason constant noise bothers me. I am a person who likes to listen for things, and when there is noise, it gets in the way of hearing quieter noises. What I am listening for, I couldn't tell you, but when I can't hear I feel slightly uncomfortable. The best way I can describe it is if you suddenly went deaf. You would be a little freaked out that you couldn't hear anything, right? I feel the same way when there is loud, constant noise. Even the noise of the vacuum cleaner, the shower, or music played through my headphones makes me feel the same way. (By the way, the shower noise is probably the only reason I don't live in there during the colder months.) Is that weird? Anyway, like being deaf, I can get used to background noise, but that doesn't mean I like it.
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