You Are Here

When I see a map that says, "You are here," I have always read it, "You are HERE." But now I'm going to start reading it, "You ARE here" to be more reassuring, like, "Hey, you made it. Good job. Way to arrive."

It's that kind of encouragement, I think, that would help us all get from where we are to where we are going. And in today's world, I'm just saying.

More Creative Expression

Feels like we ALL could use a little more music in our lives. Doesn't this inspire you?

Stuff Like That

I've been on the road all week on business, and I'm amazed at how busy everyone is--so much so that people are racing around even in their conversations. To get to the point quicker, we adopted the "and stuff like that" ending to sentences.

So try it, you know, just for today. Just throw in a few "and stuff like that" endings when you're talking to see the reaction because we were going from cab to cab and building to building and stuff like that. At night, we would eat dinner at one place and dessert at another and stuff like that. Then in the mornings, we had more people to meet and stuff like that. It was wild.

Gabbin' With Friends

I'll be sitting, chatting with friends and it'll go on for some time, and then they'll say, "These wooden seats are hard, and I don't have much cushion. . . "

And I think, "Uh, have you LOOKED lately? I think you're doing fine."

And not like they've overdone it, but just claim what's yours--I'm just saying.

Woman Bike Cabber

One summer night I was at New York's Times Square waiting for a light to change when a woman, pedaling a bike cab, stopped and hollered, "Hey, wanna ride?"

"How much?" I shouted.
"Oh about 5 or 6 bucks."
"Maybe, just a minute," I said as I called my friend I was meeting. (I thought it'd be cool to ride by him and wave, you know, just for a laugh.) I just talked to him minutes before, but when I tried to call several times again, I kept getting a busy on his cell number.

Suddenly, the bike cab lady yelled out, "Hey, are you single!?"

SINGLE? Wow, she's like 25 and I'm PROBably her dad's age. So WHY would she ask if I'm single when I'm, you know, so old? Of course, this IS New York and Steve Martin WAS flattered in "Father of the Bride" when those young women pulled up next to him--but NO, it's NOT RIGHT. I don't care if she IS hitting on me.

So I quickly pointed to my wedding ring and out in the MIDDLE of Times Square, yelled, "NO, I'M MARRIED! I'm MARRIED!!"

She looked rejected (figures) or puzzled or something, but I ignored eye contact and kept on trying to call my friend, to no avail.

And then suddenly, AGAIN she hollered at me, "HEY, HEY. YOU thought I said, Are you SINGLE? I SAID, WHAT? Can't get a SIGNAL!?"

Reality hit me. StuPIDITY hit me. And totally embarrassed, I quickly said, "Oh, yeah. Okay, sure," as I rushed across the street to get lost in the crowd. SOOO stupid.

Studies Show. . .

I just read this in the news: "Studies show that spending time around positive people makes you happier."

Uh, did we REALLY need a STUDY to reveal this "secret" of the ages?

Another report said, "Drinking water makes you happier." (Where does breathing rank in all of this?) But, hey, good to know.

Hot Time

You know how you watch a movie and they turn on the radio or TV and it just HAPPENS to be EXACTLY on the part of the song (or show) that matters, and you're like, "RIGHT, that NEVER happens!" and it seems so contrived?

Well, it happens to me lately. Like last Thursday with that song that goes "Hot Time Summer in the City. Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty."

And it happened about three months ago, so, anyway, I'm a believer kinda.

Tonight's Call

The phone rang tonight and, no joke, the caller ID said, "Christ Cell" and I thought, "Whoa. Jesus? Jesus got a cell? I know prayer IS like a phone call but I didn't know He had MY number."

Cool. . . and scary all in one call.

You Asking Me?

People who describe/defend their viewpoint by asking questions and then answering them bug.

I was watching someone in the news defend his actions with this talking style, and it hurt to hear. It made about as much sense as saying something like:

Did I wake up? Yes, I woke up.
Was I hungry? You bet I was.
Did I GO to the kitchen? Yes, that is where the food is kept.

or

Did I know the man? Yes, we were friends.
How long did I know him? I KNEW him for several years.
Did I know he had a PROBLEM?

Hey, BUDDY. I think YOU have a problem because you can't SPEAK like normal people. Just GIVE us the answers, and you just keep those questions to yourself. . . with those other friends (voices) in your head. Can we DO that?

What bugs you?

Why?

Why do I eat Oreos at 10:32 at night? Why?

Turning the Spotlight

Someone once shared the concept of putting the spotlight on others when you talk with them. They said, "Imagine a spotlight swiveling on the ceiling between you and the person you're talking to. And you can have the light on you or on them.

"The key," they said, "is to keep the spotlight mainly on them, asking about them and being concerned with what's going on in their life."

[If you've ever had someone who seemingly reaches up and grabs the spotlight to keep putting it on THEM, you'll know the frustration with those conversations, which don't last long (unless you're into self-torture by self-absorbed friends)].

This isn't to say you can't ever share something about your life with the other person. It's just a nice reminder to focus less on self and more on others. Doing that often opens up worlds of interesting conversation and has even guided me to help others because it gets me outside of my own little world.

Have you had good experiences with this style?

Start the Film

Why IS it that it takes 22 minutes of movie trailers and poorly produced commercials before theaters will actually START the movie you paid to see?

I like movie previews, but enough already. Three and out--can we just agree on that? We'll be back to watch more. We'll pay your prices and spend a fortune on your popcorn, but you don't have to DUMP ALL of the movie previews on us at once, 'k, Mister Theater Owner?

An Honest Woman

You’ve probably seen the movie, P.S. I Love You, and therefore, seen the scene where Daniel is trying to figure out his role in life vis-à-vis women. Frustrated, he asks Holly to provide clarity and the conversation goes something like:

Daniel – What do women want? I can’t figure it out. Do they want us to call? Do they want us NOT to call? Get them flowers? Don’t get them flowers? What do you people actually want?

Holly – It’s a secret. It’s a sacred secret, but I’ll tell you… You ready? We have NO idea what we want.

Now, honestly and CANDIDLY, ISN’T that about the most accurate description you’ve ever heard from a woman? And not that it’s a bad thing (or…), but it EXPLAINS a WORLD of clarity and doesn’t make men feel so stupid (see entry about Valentine’s Day). Or was that your plan?

Either way, CIFOA – Candor In Film Once Again.

Abe's Wisdom

When I was 18, I was in a dentist's chair one day and noticed several quotes from famous folks attached to the ceiling. Reading those took my mind off the pain, but one quote by Abraham Lincoln stood out from the rest. It said:

"I've often been driven to my knees by the overwhelming realization that I had nowhere else to go."

Don't Get It

What IS it with cats where they're lazin' around and then ALLofASUDDEN they think, "Oh No! I'm SUPPOSED TO BE IN ANOTHER ROOM RIGHT NOW!!!"

I don't get it.

Blondes Having Fun

So the THING with the Blondes, Brunettes Poll was this: I'm not surprised with the results, but more important, I don't think ANYbody should feel insecure (on a regular basis) about anything. For example, if they want to dye their hair, they should do it with confidence and flair and fun. And they should feel great about it.

After years of living behind my neighbor Bruce, something looked funny about his hair (I don't pay much attention to things like that, I guess). My wife said, "Yeah, he's wearing a toupee. Has been ALL the years we've known him."

"What do you think about that?" I asked.
She said, "If it makes him feel better about himself, then I think that's great."

And her simple approach made me adopt that same outlook about others who do a lot of things I may not.

So while Fake Blondes (no disrespect) was the overwhelming Poll winner, I hope those former non-blondes who dyed it blonde would feel great about themselves no matter the original color. Shouldn't we all?

PostScript - One day Bruce threw the hairpiece away and walked around bald and shiney, and he looked dignified and comfortable with himself. About two years later, he suddenly died, which shocked me. It made me hope everyone could do whatever they need to do so they feel comfortable and confident in their skin (and bones and body and everything). Life's too short, don't you think?

Movie or Book?

If the book is better than the movie, why ruin the movie by reading the book? When you eat the popcorn while enjoying the movie, it's a beautiful world.

Toes

Ever think when you're wearing boots that your feet may feel claustrophobic? Trapped? Pinched? Dark? Forgotten? Unlike sandals or slip-ons where they can come up for air quickly.