RANDOM RAMBLINGS

Ever notice how the "it's all about me attitude" has a little impact on everyone else's daily lives? To illustrate, some random observations.


1)"Weekenders or newbies" at the gym tend to think "it's my gym and I'm going to leave my various little items wherever I happen to spend 30 seconds or so." This leads to that head-scatching moment when unattended bottles of water, crumply towels and alcohol tissues are left much like spoor that indicates that perhaps someone is near, coming back, 40 feet away doing something else or left for the day. To some, less dedicated, they might walk away thinking well the phantom was here first hogging six machines. I tend to push extraneous items aside and do my thing. No "saving seats" in the gym bozo.

2) Next are the parking lot ninjas. They hover just out of sight, or circle endlessly waiting for that ungaurded moment when someone pulls out of a choice parking spot-ZAP, KAPOW! They leap into the empty spot slipping their oversized SUV into the undersized spot swinging their numchuk side mirrors into unsuspecting cars on either side. Then there's the teasers who climb into their car and then sit there, and sit there and sit there, teasing, luring the circling ninjas. Does not matter if you are late for your appointment or you're going to walk all afternoon anyway-must have that primo spot! Honor is at stake-you've committed and must follow through. Which makes it doubly hilarious when the circler has wasted 10 minutes waiting and some dude happens upon the spot just ahead of the circling back ninja. Can parking lot gun carnage be far behind?

3) Drive-through windows at the bank. Why do they have more than one if only one person is working the window? There apparently is no hierarchy in place as to who hit the "tube" first. Shouldn't there be a little light that comes on or at least a set order in the little gerbil vacuum tube (I'm convinced the gerbils are just running on wheels making the tube work) which indicates which was first? Little things that just make our day. And tell me why people, unfortunately women mostly, can't seem to figure out the dimensions correctly and end up having to open their door to reach the tube or hang precariously out the window while keeping a foot on the brake! Put it in park! Back up and try again - too funny.

4) Grocery line roulette. Many are using the self-serve check-outs because they think it's faster. Key word "think". I defy anyone to tell me that generally they do not have something blow up and demand they get a "live" person to fix the screw-up they just created through insufficient scanning skills. How do you scan a bag of fresh green beans anyway. But then if you opt for the live person lines, the question is which is moving faster? Ok - small cart, bagger-go there. Crap the bagger left and the cashier just called for a price check for hemorrohid cream. Slide to the left and a little old lady defies science and whips her fully loaded cart neatly over your foot and into the line you are lusting after. Go early and go often I guess is the solution to this one.

5) Midnight rose skulkers. Not really, I just like the phrase. I'm talking about the Michiganders (who should really know better) who buy up all the flowering plants and veggies to plant as soon as the sun stays out for more than 2 hours and the temp creeps above 50 for a couple of minutes. Those experienced ones who wisely wait until the end of May find nada on the garden shelves. Ah but the revenge is picturing the "early birds" frantically covering up their precious plants every night for a month as we still rock the 20's and 30's in the morning until Memorial Day.

Oh well. If you focus on yourself you don't really get too hung up about the really negative big stuff that goes on in the world. Can't say that's a bad thing.

POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY?

Are there still questions out there about whether the power-hungry "r's" are not taking advantage of superior numbers to pass their own self-serving agenda?

Quoting from an article in the Daily MIRS (they report on legislative activity supposedly objectively-but not really) they stated:

"House Republicans today took about an hour to ram through a roughly $34 billion spending plan for Fiscal Year 2013 by swiftly disposing of 50 amendments without a single roll call vote and truncating debate by cutting off, failing to recognize, or just ignoring requests of speakers".

"The limited attention to hollaring Democratic members prevented vulnerable Republican incumbents from having to vote on politically toxic Democratic amendments." ... "The only seven amendments approved were from Republicans".

"House Democrats proposed more than 30 amendments and asked for a record roll call vote on at least six, with Speaker Pro Tem John Walsh (R-Livonia) saying the voice vote did not support the demand for any of those." "When it became clear after several requests for a record roll call vote that Democrats were no longer being allowed to speak on amendments for which they were going to request a vote, they asked for a point of order. Minority floor leader Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) asked Walsh how they were supposed to speak to amendments if they were not being recognized".

"Walsh thanked her for her statement and said it was not a point of order. She said she was asking a question, and he moved to other amendments".

Watch out people this is the "new demoocracy" in action. All of the above was reported by a notably conservative publication so even they could not put a more positive spin on it. The game is on.

PEOPLE ARE MESSY

Scandal of the week - secret service engages in sexual romps while on guard duty. Bet that's never happened before. Have to love that women are not considered strong enough or tough enough for some of these jobs, but when is the last time you heard of a bunch of professional women caught in a sex mess? Ha. The other odd thing is politicians are equating this personal failing with whatever party's representatives gets caught with their proverbial pants down (pun intended). Last I knew these personal failings are prevalent on both sides of the aisle or Board Room or Religious Organization.

Why does it become a judgment call on everyone else even remotely affected? Govt out of control I think is the label. Like people have not been cheating on expense accounts or using perks in a less than ethical manner.
It is wrong no matter who is doing it. But to try to take the high road that it's a "d" or "r" issue is naive at best. But the media keeps pounding the drum and making us think it is relevant or means more than a bunch of idiots who can't keep their personal issues out of the workplace.

LIFE IS MESSY

As we get closer to the countdown for JP's arrival one might be inclined to ponder the whole issue of child bearing. It's uncomfortable,you have to follow dietary and medical protocol, your clothes fit funny, you deal with issues of not feeling well or feeling things you never felt before - some good, some bad, some surprising. It takes nine long months where you have to maintain a certain level of calmness to the outside world, worry about things that never occurred to you before, take a crash course in being a mom (which none of us are ever prepared for), realizing that it is no longer me but we.

Then the birth itself is somewhat noisy, chaotic, painful,exciting, scary and yes, messy. Usually the calmest one in the room is the Mother-as we have no choice. The child is making their arrival ready or not. Seems like there should be a better system after 3,000 odd years of bearing children (sorry folks evolution did happen).

But it works. In nine (actually short) months an entire human being is formed with everything, for the most part, they will ever need to survive in this world. Bones and brain; organs and senses; personality and predispositions. Remarkable that inside a woman grows this wondrous being that starts as a microscopic egg and a sperm and emerges as a fully formed child. Seems like the process should take years and in a stronger container. But women are strong and the system is well-designed so it works. Messy but miraculous.

BOTTOM IS TOP WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING UP

In response to our newspaper question this week about whether we thought the economy had bottomed out I said.

"I guess belief in the economy bottoming out depends on whether you have a job or your house has not been foreclosed upon. However my own personal indicators show things on an upswing. Folks in my profession were being laid off and calls for consultative services were down. Recently requests have picked up tremendously. Second, in a second advertisement of a position I was not able to fill last year, a new group of candidates has emerged who actually meet the requirements instead of desperately, and obviously, applying to anything"."

I believe that the question was meant to have contributors describe a "feeling" they have. I was surprised that the majority basically quoted what they have read about or observed-not how they "felt". One pointed to the "r's" war on the have-nots as the reason things have picked up calling it a good thing. The point to me is there is no one factor that determines recovery or further economic nightmare; there is no one factor that describes a magic bullet of success; there is not always an explanation for success or failure or even life or death.

My argument is that it really does come down to how we are "feeling" about all of these. When we get knocked down do we get back up? Do we blame the world and throw a pity party that lasts the rest of our lives? Do we take the negative influences and let them rule our future hope and optimism. Oh I admit it's hard sometimes when you're hurting to remember it does get better. I have compared that feeling in previous articles to being in a dark room where you see a little sliver of light under the door and when you get the courage, you pull that door slowly open until you can bathe in that light.

As long as people continue to feel empowered and follow their instincts for success, hold those in charge accountable, protect the helpless and provide hope for the hopeless, recovery, joy, success and the good life are all possible.

OF BUNNYS & MIRACLES

Watching a news story on Lourdes where 1,000's go every year in hope of a cure, relief, answers or maybe just a reason to believe in something larger than themselves. Fitting on this day in celebration of resurrection and rebirth. A couple of thoughts. Are these truly miracles attributed to the Virgin Mary and the hope it represents? Or another demonstration of the ability of the mind to cure the body? If you believe you will see change, you will make it happen. Maybe it's a little of both.

The arrogant act as if they have all the answers (preachers, politicians, talking heads, CEOs)and have no problem passing on their opinions as fact. The humble are looking for answers from a higher power. Or some, the brave and the confident perhaps, may realize that the answers lie within ourselves. I ascribe to the thought that we create our own heaven or hell right here and right now. We have the power to heal ourselves and others. We can look for the sun or flee to the darkness. It lies within our power. Scary to realize you may be the ultimate answer, but in between those cliff-hanger moments is the knowledge that you matter and your choices make a difference.

As for the bunnys, they seem particularly active this morning. No doubt they are bearing and placing their babies in reckless and exposed spots where only luck assure their survival. Mind or miracle?