Why Must Charities Act Like Teenagers?
I don't know why I bother to check mail. Strike that... I don't know why the USPS is still in existence, but that's another story....
Jody and I donate to various charities throughout the year, either time or money. We like doing this.
BUT...
It's really annoying when you make a donation, or volunteer, and make the selection that if you're going to receive information, you want it electronically and you're ignored. I have an email address on my domain specifically for this, for a number of reasons. When I make this selection, I assume that it helps the organization by reducing their material and administration costs, I'm possibly saving a sapling, and I'm just making life easier for all links in the supply chain.
When I do check my mail, it's usually packed. I mean "difficult to turn the key and I know the mailman hates me" packed. It's too bad for him that he isn't a Tron-like character that delivers electronic mail with links, since that's how I get all the important stuff, and therefore his delivery route would be much more important to me.
Over 50% of the packed-to-bursting payload today consisted of letters and solicitations from these various charities. Many of which, by the way, I have already received electronically. I specifically said I did NOT want this to happen. I want to be able to get rid of my mailbox someday, and the sooner the better. But things like this mean that won't happen any time soon.
I asked you to do something and you ignored me. You are also apparently choosing to waste some of the money that I HAVE given you in ways that I am trying to help you NOT waste it. You're NOT listening to me. It's like having a teenager.
I know when my child doesn't listen to me, or when he wastes money I may have given him for a specific purpose, I stop giving him money until he learns his lesson.
I hope that some of these places stop acting like teenagers soon. For their sake.
Don't "Have A Good Day", but instead, "Make Good Decisions"
We all forget things. Those people who say they don't forget anything (and yes, I've had people tell me that with a straight face) have simply forgotten that they forgot, most likely they've "conveniently" forgotten that they've forgotten. I had a recent period where I forgot who I was in relation to my job; I thought I was aiming higher, but it turns out I was missing the mark significantly. So badly that if I had been on the Marine Corps rifle range, the RSO would have likely confiscated my weapon and sent me away before I hurt someone other than myself. And that's bad.
There are countless proverbs, sayings and cliches about how you always control how you feel, how your day is depends on you, yada, yada, yada... Sometimes that is true. Sometimes, quite frankly, it's not so true. There are the occasional days where things are going so egregiously down bad paths that no matter how many times you count to ten, no matter how many downward facing dogs you do in your office, no matter how many walks outside, it's almost impossible to recenter yourself at that exact moment. Unfortunately, even if aren't centered, you still likely have to make decisions in your personal or professional life. You can't always avoid making decisions when you're angry, sad, tired or whatever. This is where the "You can't control what people do, you can only control how it makes you feel" comes into play. The key is to avoid letting those external influences prevent you from making sound decisions. You can't always have a good day, and Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra and everyone else who says you can... well, they all have a lot of books to sell.
I've recovered over the past few months and am back in the groove I expect myself to be in. A big factor in that is I have an outstanding confidante in my wife. Since she is outside of my industry and doesn't really know anyone that I work with (except for a few people that we interact with socially, too), she is always able to be objective. I appreciate the fact she doesn't "take my side", because it helps me to recenter, rather than stew. We talk, alot, and her insight and clarity never cease to impress me, inspire me and to help me see things I may have missed.
But something especially struck me the other day on one of the rare occasions that Jody and I both leave for work at the same time. As we were walking to our cars, she looked at me, smiled and simply said:
"Make good decisions."
And that, my friends, no matter what else, IS something you CAN always control.
It's been a good week.
Happy 234th Birthday to the United States Marine Corps
Today is an important day.... to some it's Tuesday, others the day before Veteran's Day, and to many others, just another day that it's great to be alive... But to many of us, it's all three of those, and those three are insignificant compared to the fact it's November 10th. On this day, 234 years ago the Continental Congress commissioned Samuel Nicholas to raise two Battalions of Marines. Those two Battalions of men laid the groundwork for the legacies, customs, traditions and legends that Marines of today continue.
Many people may find it "cheesy" that former Marines continue to take as much pride in what they did in the past. It's unfortunate that those people just don't understand. But we forgive them for it, because they know no better. Being a Marine is another one of those achievements like being on a championship-winning sports team, or climbing Mt. Everest, that not everybody will experience, but it can never be taken away from those who do experience it. And they will have a pride and feeling accomplishment about it for the rest of their lives. As Tom Bartlett said in Leatherneck Magazine: "You earned the title "Marine" upon graduation from recruit training. It wasn't willed to you; it isn't a gift. It is not a government subsidy. Few can claim the title; no one may take it away. It is yours forever." On this day it's not only that we honor our individual times as Marines, but we remember those who came before, their sacrifices and accomplishments. And we think of those who are here now, their sacrifices and accomplishments. And we are thankful for those that will come, that will continue the legacy built upon the blood, sweat, tears and joys of those of us who passed before. President Ronald Reagan acknowledged this when he proclaimed in 1985: "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." So today is a day to raise a glass and thank a Marine, because even if you don't agree with what may be going on the world today, you sure as hell owe those Marines of old a debt of gratitude for the fact that you CAN disagree.Yes, You SHOULD Be More Like Your Dog
Bella went to the vet last week for her one year check-up since the
day we got her (and on a side-note, she turned three on September
1st). She is in perfect health, and the only thing the vet said is
that she has a little bit of extra weight the vet would like her to
lose (a couple of pounds). I know where this comes from... we work
with training Bella and she gets an abundance of treats (as all dogs
do). So clearly we need to scale back the treats (and increase the
amount of time she spends running with both of us). We have done
this.
time we eat something or walk near her treat jar she immediately sits,
thinking she will get a treat. What we are doing is the best for her,
and Bella is a very well behaved dog, so she is just trying to use her
big baby-browns to manipulate us, and we're not letting her. But she
is borderline irresistible. Despite this, she is always extremely happy to sit and play, and just
spend time with Jody and I when we get home. Yes, I know all about
dogs living in the moment and all that stuff. Still, though... every
time I see just how loving, forgiving and wonderful our dog is, and
how good she makes us feel, it reminds me just HOW deficient humans are
at... well... basic humanity. I hate most Internet memes, but the below is one of the few that is
actually valid. I don't know the origin of it, but even Snopes can't
debunk this... And it gives everyone something to aspire to... And have I mentioned, we LOVE our dog. :)
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get along without pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining to and at people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when,
through no fault of your own, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him or her,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor one,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can honestly say that deep in your heart you have no prejudice
against creed, sex, color, religion, national origin, gender
preference or politics, Then you have almost reached the same level of development as your dog.
Is there really anything about your dog that's not to be loved?
Jody just came back from a run, and she sometimes takes Bella for the last couple of miles of her cool down. When they got back, Bella did her normal thing of slurping water (half in her mouth, half on the floor) and then laying down outside on the cool concrete. Today, though, was different in that she suddenly got very excited and started running around like I was chasing her through the house (which I sometimes do). We leave the patio door open and she will run loops around the inside of the house, and then outside, doing a big figure eight, half inside, half outside. This morning, the sprinklers had run and since I have been trying to get rid of the all the damn ivy in my yard, the area behind our decorative wall is now mud after the sprinklers finish. Especially on cool days like today, where it may not dry until afternoon, if at all. So, after two laps, Bella suddenly makes a detour through this area, and comes back through the house, paws covered in mud. After another seven or eight laps of this, she is finally tired and takes up her usual spot on the landing for a few minutes, before laying down on the tile of the kitchen. We had the carpets cleaned not long ago. We're considering putting something else in (perhaps hardwood, and yes, I know what the dog will do to this), but for now, we just try and keep our (once) white carpet fairly clean. So here is our dog sitting on the landing, proud of her work, a picture of the work itself, and her relaxing in the kitchen after a hard ten minutes of destruction. I am sure dog owners/lovers will understand what's going on in the carpet picture. And yes, this is all from this morning. Dogs, like your kids, wreak so much havoc that the only thing you can do is laugh and love them a little more (if that's even possible) once it's all done with. Now, to schedule that carpet cleaning...
Checking Out An Old Skuell #Buell
Jody and I went to the Demo Day/BBQ that Biggs HD put on last week. They have some of their floor space dedicated to showing old bikes (and cars) from private collections, and of course most of them are Harleys.In the back corner, where the Buell's too often end up when it comes to HD dealerships, they had a lone Buell on display. I *believe* this is the 1989 Buell RS1200/5 Westwind, as spec'd here: http://www.bikerzbay.com/index.php/motorcycle-information/34-buell/375-1989-buell-rs12005-westwind.html. The lineage of the Buell and what Erik Buell did with it before the partnership with Harley is pretty amazing. The Buell is very much a niche bike, and has had some bad raps over the years. It's in an area that doesn't really "fit", since it's not the "typical" sport bike like the Jap or Euro productions, and despite the association with HD, many "bikers" don't consider it a real American bike. But for anybody who rides, you know this bike fills a niche for real riders, who like a real bike, and want to express some individuality by doing something different, rather than expressing their individuality by doing the same thing that everybody else is doing. The bike in these photos has some wear and tear on it, but I'd sure like to see whomever owns it put the work into it to fully restore it, and see it rolling down the road, either solo, or leading a pack, because Buell's are just as comfortable in either place.
Our dingo after a run this morning
She did her best to wear me out but when we got back all she wanted to do was get a drink and hit the cool floor... Of course, that's all I wanted, too.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
About Me
Keith BooeIt's pronounced "Boo". All about my family, dog and Buell. A cool-like-the-other-side-of-the-pillow former U.S. Marine clinging to sanity in corporate America.
