SueWorks

Elephants, Gorillas, It's a Zoo

The expression "Elephant in the Room" or "800 LB Gorilla" can refer to an obvious issue, ususally problem, that is being ignored because it is just to uncomfortable or just not politically advantageous to do recognize it.  This phenomenon happens often at work and in families, in other words, everywhere.  You can see Wikipedia for some more info, and I found this reference too.

In families, you avoid the obvious though painful topics because you have to continue to live with these people, or at least see them on holidays.  I suppose this is why pederast uncles get away with so much.  And we've all seen it at work. 

It's really not a good thing ... but since when have human beings chosen to do the right thing!  It takes such energy to keep with the program.

Words to Succeed By

You never get ahead of anyone as long as you try to get even with him.

Lou Holtz said this.  It makes sense.  I speak from expereince when I say that the times that I focus on getting my "fair" share can be the worst for me.

A$$ Holes and Opinions

It amazes me, because I'm so judgmental (according to Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, DiSC and others), that two people can see the exact same event and see two or more entirely different situations. 

For example, in my city there have been a number of McMansions built.  When a house is essentially if not completely demolished and replaced with a structure two to three to four times as large the result is called a McMansion.  Proponents of this type of development point to the increase in home values in your neighbor.  And that is true because now you have one thing valued at 1.5 to 2 times the average of the pre-build house included in your new average.  If the average house value was 500K now, after the rebuild, you have house A (regular) at 500K and house B (McMansion) at 750K.  The average is now 625K but so you want to live in the house whose backyard is in directly sight of the terraced two story master suite.  (I see four McMansion, second story windows from my toilet seat, by the way.)

Differences of opinion abound, at work, at home, and at the dinner table.  I like sauteed chicken pieces, with the bones in, in tomato sauce with string beans added to the mix.  Not all the people in my house agree with the mix part. 

There are people everyone at work likes, OK, maybe there's one person who seems to get along with each and every person.  I'm not that person, I tend to be very good work friends with that person though.  It's rather odd.  Don't even let me start on why some people love the boss and others hate him or her.  Maybe it's chemistry, individual idiosyncrasies, or the pheromones, it just IS!

Remember, everyone has one and thinks theirs does not stink.  Of course, I'm right.

The Test of Repetition

If a book is really, really good, it has excitement, characters you can identify with, and you just want to read it over and over.  I'm not saying that once you finish it, you immediately flip back to page one, but I think you know what I mean.  For me, this category of books includes Pride and Prejudice and The Stand (original publication), to name two books that are near my bedside as I type.

I really thought I would jump right back into my Friends DVDs.  My plan is to identify my favorite episodes and watch them over and over again.  It's not so easy with 39 DVDs.  (In case you're wondering, disc 40 is an outtakes special.  And, by the way, I would have been extremely happy with a 39 disc set.) 

Here I am up at 1 frigging-something AM, which is another story, and I have no energy to sort through the 39 DVDs so my background is filled with a classic, a timeless treasure.  I'm watching Love Actually.

Now I'm off to spend too much more time on the Web, and not really try to get back to sleep.  I need to be out of the house at 6:45 anyway.

Eyes and/or Teeth

I'm looking at vision correction surgery (like I would want anything but a correction) and / or braces for my teeth.

I've been wearing glasses since forever; my father wears coke bottles.  I wear contacts for twenty years and then my eyes could no longer tolerate them.  Now I wear them only occasionally.  I've been thinking about vision correction and have another appointment today to check it out.  I'm not the ideal candidate, I'm an OK candidate.  I guess that says it all.  Maybe I shouldn't do it.  I need to ask the doctor about future eye issues, like cataracts, glaucoma and such.  I'm talking myself out of it already.  My procedure would require a week of recovery, that's quite a bit more than the average person.

For the braces, I had them as a child and now find that the doctor was less than appropriate with my work, and I didn't wear the retainer.  The doctor took an uneven number of teeth out of my mouth, in the front of my bite.  So, essentially, I am crooked, which is nothing new to those who know me.  My teeth are  basically flying all over my mouth.  I just noticed that my right front tooth is tilting.  Yikes!  I need to do something ASAP.  It will only get worse.  Gawd! do I dread the years of metal and adjustments. 

Do you know anyone who's had Invisiline?  Is that spelled right?  The orthodontist who did Pkin's work says I'm not a candidate, though he doesn't do the stuff.  Maybe I need to see a person who does.  Something to think about.

Good Habits, Good Living

Today marks the first day of the rest of my life.  20:02 on the treadmill (won't embarrass myself with the pace).  It's better than anything I did the day before, the week before, the 10 months before.

This is interesting from Australia: the minimum of "moderate" activity that is recommended for good health is 30 minutes, 5-7 times per week.  Don't bother with the link to information on activities, it isn't there anymore.  If I need the math approximately correctly, I did 1.8 km in 20 minutes which is well within the range the article suggested.

As for the 30 minutes, I need another 9:58 today and I'm good, at least until Friday.   

Next challenge:  What are other moderate activities?

Online or On-line

Typepad spell check prefers "on-line."  I don't. 

What do you think?

The Lure of the Cookie

There is a song; it's a wonderful song, and it is sung by non-other than the Cookie Monster.  It is more than a song really, it's an anthem.  It's a tribute to a simpler time.  It's an ode to perfection.  It is, C is for Cookie. 

I have two cookies on my desk.  A few minutes ago there were four.  If you suspect that I ate them you would be wrong.  I shared them, but still two remain.  And there is a half a red velvet cake cupcake on the other side of my desk.  Oh, and there is a Diet Dr. Pepper about mid way between the two. 

My desk perfectly reflects my struggle with food.  There is so much good food around and I am so weak, caught in the middle in fact. 

At work I can be pretty good about eating smaller portions and making better choices.  At home, in the short evening hours, is when all hell breaks loose.  The TV has it's lure, the online games their own, and my head is convinced that my body is hungry.  And you can blog and eat at the same time!

Brown Rice

The hunt is on.  I need a brown rice recipe that meets these criteria:

1. It must be easy to prepare, in the microwave is preferable.
2. It must include the exact name of the rice, preferably the brand name.
3. It must produce rice that is really brown, Kraft minute rice is slightly dark white rice.
4. It must have high nutritional value.
5. If it tasted like the rice from the Chinese chain, Pick Up Stix, it would be better.

Sounds like time for a trip to Trader Joe's.

For Catholics ...

This information is for Catholics only. It must not be divulged to non-Catholics. The less they know about our rituals and code words, the better off they are. AMEN: The only part of a prayer that everyone knows. BULLETIN: Your receipt for attending Mass. CHOIR: A group of people whose singing allows the rest of the Parish to lip-sync. HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY. HYMN: A song of praise usually sung in a key three octaves higher than that of the congregation's range. RECESSIONAL HYMN: The last song at Mass often sung a little more quietly, since most of the people have already left. INCENSE: Holy Smoke! JESUITS: An order of priests known for their ability to find colleges with good basketball teams. JONAH: The original "Jaws" story. JUSTICE: When kids have kids of their own. KYRIE ELEISON: The only Greek words that most Catholics can recognize besides gyros and baklava. MAGI: The most famous trio to attend a baby shower. MANGER: Where Mary gave birth to Jesus because Joseph wasn't covered by an HMO. (The Bible's way of showing us that holiday travel has always been rough.) PEW: A medieval torture device still found in Catholic churches. PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of Mass consisting of altar servers, the celebrant, and late parishioners looking for seats. RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of Mass led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot. RELICS: People who have been going to Mass for so long, they actually know when to sit, kneel, and stand. TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important Top Ten list not given by David Letterman. USHERS: The only people in the parish who don't know the seating capacity of a pew. SECRET HOT LINE number direct to the Holy Spirit" that only Catholics know -- "Et cum spiri - 220" Little known facts about the Catholic Church in Las Vegas --There are more churches in Las Vegas than casinos.  During Sunday services at the offertory, some worshippers contribute casino chips as opposed to cash. Some are sharing their winnings - some are hoping to win.  Since they get chips from so many different casinos, and they are worth money, the Catholic churches are required to send all the chips into the diocese for sorting.  Once sorted into the respective casino chips, one junior priest takes the chips and makes the rounds to the casinos turning chips into cash. And he is known as ................... The Chip Monk! (I'll work on the fonts later.)