KIDS ARE GREAT!

Okay had to post this before it slipped my mind-which is happening more frequently now. Anyway-after taking a personal day off from work I was using my spare time to run some errands and take care of some light maintenance on my truck. My last stop before returning home and settling in for the night was at the local Wal-Mart. As I walked in I noticed two employees on a scissor lift repairing/replacing the surveillance camera over the greeter near the registers. No big deal and a minor inconvenience. I'll just walk around it and proceed onto my goal. I wasn't even really paying it any attention.

As I edged around it I happened to look up and noticed a small boy (probably 4 or so) staring at the lift with very wide eyes. He was clutching a pack of Starburst in one hand, but was oblivious to the treasure that he held. He could only stare in amazement at the wonderful (probably previously unknown) device before him. I couldn't help but watch him. I think the entire time that it took me to walk by he never blinked.

I think this is what's wrong with us. We don't even realize the simple things. Everything around us is taken for granted-this includes children. Kind of sappy I know, but it really made me think about some things. If you are reading this (both of you) take a little time and think about life in a different light. Remember as a child how everything seemed (and was) big and new and you weren't jaded by all the crap that life, work, bosses, etc threw at you. Don't want to get overly deep or sentimental - just needed to get this out there.

Picture above is only for reference and to "set the mood". I borrowed it from www.usefilm.com and appreciate the use. If using the photo violates any trademark or copyright requirements please let me know and I will remove it ASAP.

RESOLUTIONS

I am like the rest of the world in the fact that I make, and ultimately don't keep, new year's resolutions. This ties into the previous post in I find that the older I get the more I should keep some of these resolutions. I.E. if I want to live to regret not keeping some of these new year's promises I have to actually start keeping some of them. hell of a paradox isn't it?

Keeping that in mind this year I am going to make a genuine effort to try and keep some of them-at the least through January. Keeping that in mind I am also going to be a little more selective and careful in making them for '09. Sure I could take the easy way out and pick

1. eat more red meat (mmmmm....red meat)
2. sleep more
3. exercise even less (if that is possible)
4. ignore any potential health concerns

But I am also trying to be realistic and feasible. I am also including a couple that I had managed to be successful with in the past, but fell off the wagon. Experts say that it takes two weeks to make something a habit. No matter how much I tell myself this, it doesn't seem to be effective. All that being said I will now bore you with my list for '09

1. drink less soda (had managed to avoid the stuff entirely for over a year and then 'one little taste' and I was hooked again) I am really going to try and limit my intake to one day a week. Of course this means that I will be consuming the stuff for 23 hours on that one day - I do have to allow myself time to get rid of it. 8P
2. stop picking/chewing my fingernails. Yeah I know gross, disgusting and whatever else you want to call it, but it is a nervous habit for me. This one will be the toughest because it is so easy to catch myself unconsciously doing it. I figure to help break myself of this habit I will allow unlimited toe access. Enjoy that mental image
3. less swearing. Relatively easy if I limit the amount of time I spend at work. Believe it or not this is where most of the blue language emits from me. Not saying I don't swear at home or on the road, just that more occurs on the job. So that being said I will take as much sick time/vacation time possible. I did manage to limit myself the one day of the new year spent at work so far, so this one is doable. Of course my blood pressure and general well being may not fare so well. It is a trade-off and leads into the next one.
4. try and take better general care of myself. I figure the easiest way to keep this one will be to limit my food intake a little better and get out and walk more. Should be fairly easy, but also the easiest to break. Oh if I just have all of this cake I will be extra careful tomorrow and get up early to walk the dog. Both the dog and I know this won't happen.

All that being said I reserve the right to edit said list at any time during the upcoming year. I will try and update how goes any of the resolutions. Also by no means is this the complete list, just the ones I can think of at the moment.