I’ll tell you. I wish I had an anonymous blog where I could write about the other 95% of my life. One where I could write about all the other things I do besides mowing the lawn, going out to dinner and installing water filters under the kitchen sink.
I spend about a half hour each day doing the things I write about in this blog and the other twenty three and a half hours doing the things that are actually important. I would love to tell someone about all my business ideas and various strategies I have to deal with the finer points of life. See, I don’t even want to get into it here because these topics are sensitive.
I guess the reason I want another blog is because I would most likely get comments pertaining to my posts. Those comments are something to respond to. I know there are people out there who are interested in the same things I am interested in. I hate seeing the glazed over eyes of the people who I attempt to discuss certain things with. I would like to create a little club for people who are like me. Trust me, they are hard to find.
I know I am not going to set up another blog. That’s silly. Those who try that usually fail. There are usually about five posts that people whip up there and then it sits dry for a year. Eventually, the plug gets pulled. Nah, I’ll stick to this blog and just keep all my ideas to myself.
Now, if I could set up a third blog just to rant and rave about my feelings on the lazy among us as well as politics…let’s not even get me going.
I came across this funny post this afternoon about “Lose” vs. “Loose.”
I know we’ve all seen it a million times…someone saying, ” I hope my team doesn’t loose the baseball game this afternoon.” Yeah, that loose is supposed to be lose. For some reason, people love the word loose. You would use “loose” when you say, “My belt is loose.”
Personally, I prefer luze. “I hope we don’t luze this afternoon.” Makes more sense.
Anyway, read this funny post about “Lose” vs. “Loose.”
Last night, we ate Chinese. While the food was good, the fortunes needed a bit more…how should I say…effort.
Here, take a look:
Funny fortune cookies
My favorite, by far, is the one that says, “You are going to have some new clothes.” That’s awesome.
I guess they ran out of fortunes over there in China. Now we are just getting statements. It kind of feels like my next fortune will be something like, “You have average hair.”
Call me old fashioned, but I kind of like the old fortunes that made people think. Something like, “He who throws dirt is losing ground.” Now, that’s a fortune.
Can I ask you a question? Why does USPS tracking exist?
I mean c’mon. It doesn’t update at all. The word here is “tracking.” I would assume the system would “track” the package. Ya think? Well, not exactly.
I’m sure that you all have ordered and have had packages delivered by FedEx and UPS. You know, you get the email that says your order had been sent and there is a tracking link included. Click the link and you get an estimated ship date and where in the world the package currently is. It’s a really handy tool because some packages require a signature. You basically need to work your life around the package delivery.
Recently, I have had a few packages delivered by the good ol’ post office. I would say they are delivered in about the same time that FedEx ground or UPS ground would deliver them, but the problem is, I have no idea when they are going to show up. I thought one of them was going to come yesterday and then again today. Nope. The stupid thing needs my signature so I need to be here. I guess I could always wait and just go get it at the post office. But then again, that really wouldn’t be a delivery. It would be a pickup.
When this package was shipped, I received an email with a tracking code in it. I checked the USPS website and was told that it was delivered. Well then, great. Anything else? Nope. It’s been over a week. When is it going to get here? No clue.
So I ask again, why in the world does USPS tracking exist?
The other day, my lady decided that it would be a good idea to clean out a closet that she had claimed a long time ago. She made it hers way back when we first moved into this place. It happens to be the largest closet upstairs. I was getting on her case about how she stole the closet before I even had a chance to say anything about it. She shut me up by reminding me of all the closet space in the basement that I am currently using for…you know…my garbage cans and wood pellets.
Anyway, as she was cleaning out the closet, she came across a sweatshirt that happened to be sized XL. That’s my size. She asked me if I wanted it and I said, “Not a chance. Look at that thing.” Then, I touched it and noticed that the material was actually pretty thick, like one of those heavyweight Champion sweatshirts. After that, I said, “Okay, you can put it over there.” Since that day (just a few days ago), I have worn the sweatshirt all over the place. I have worn it to Jiu Jitsu practice, worn it walking and I have worn it to bed.
The first time I put it on, I was alone. I looked in the mirror and put my face into my hand. It looked so nerdy. I didn’t care. I walked out of the room to find the nice girl who gave me the shirt. When I found her, she gave me a little smile. She knew what I was thinking. I looked her straight in the eyes and said, “You know, there are only a few times left where I can come up to you and say that what I am wearing looks really geeky and get away with still wearing it. After that, I become that guy.” I continued, “Also, there are only a few times left where I can say, Hey, at least I am aware of it.” I think we all know who “that guy” is. It’s the dude in the restaurant who decides to go to the bathroom, is gone for a while and then comes back to the table with his pants looking all tight pulled halfway up his chest. You know, that guy.
During our walk today, I said that I was going to write about this. I started talking about how people change as they get older. I think what’s most interesting is how fashion becomes less important and utility and feel become more important. We wear what works well and if it doesn’t…well, that’s just plain stupid. I’m not sure if it’s depressing or funny.
Is this normal? Am I the only person who is making different decisions…decisions that are funnier looking…decisions that are kind of embarrassing but feel so good (slippers)?
I will admit that I am very aware of what’s happening. It’s been going on for a few years now. I guess that’s the way it works. All these little steps creep up on you until one day you look in the mirror and say, “Oh jeez, what the hell happened?”
I haven’t been getting enough sleep and I am afraid that I am getting dumber because of it.
I am sure you know about my fear of Winter darkness. Well, I don’t exactly fear the lack of light, I fear the short days and the being inside way too much for months on end. I fear it so much that my better half got me one of those “Happy Lights” to help me snap out of it. I’ll tell you, I think it may work.
I thought I would try something different this year. Since the sun is up when I roll out of bed, I thought that I would try getting up at the super duper early time of 7AM to get a jump on the day. I figured that if I can get going earlier than I normally do, the day will seem longer. I even have my own alarm clock on my side of the bed to help me. This has been going on now since the change in daylight saving time. Honestly, it’s been working. Getting up at 7AM makes the day seem a heck of a lot longer. We eat dinner earlier and sometimes, when I look at the clock and think it’s around 10PM, it’s really only 6PM. That’s a little treat.
There’s only one problem. I’m a night owl. I do most of my work at night. I get all of my good ideas at night. I usually roll into bed between 1AM – 2AM. This little habit of mine hasn’t changed. What does this mean? Well, it means that I haven’t been getting enough sleep.
I feel fine. I think things go smoothly throughout the day, but I have noticed strange things happening. For one, I haven’t written here as much as I normally do. I have had so many ideas, but right after I get the idea, I say to myself, “Ah hell, I don’t feel like writing. Let all those other champion bloggers take over for a day or two. They know I’ll be back.” Then, a few days go by and then another few…
I don’t think I have ever forgotten to bring my wallet with me to a store in my life. I just don’t do it. The other day, I had to go to Home Depot and then Wal-Mart for some stuff. I got to Home Depot and had all the items I needed in my hand when I was on my way to the register to check out. All of the sudden, a wave of heat came over me…where was my wallet? It wasn’t on me. I left it at the house. First time in my life. I felt so stupid and I was so mad. While I was in the car, I cursed something awful. My muscles flexed and people feared me. No seriously, I was so upset, not because I didn’t bring my wallet with me, but because I actually let myself forget it. It just wasn’t like me to do something like that.
I have also been forgetting people’s names like crazy. I just did that today twice. It’s getting really annoying and I think all this has to do with a lack of sleep.
We talked about it this evening and decided that we need to be in bed and under the covers by 11PM. Sure, I’ll do my usual reading, but that doesn’t usually last for long before I konk out.
Well folks, that’s what I am going to do. I have two minutes to brush my teeth, wash my hands and comb my hair. Then, off to bed it is. All so I can write more for you. By the way, that little saying is something I got from something my mother crocheted when I was younger. I don’t really comb my hair before bed.
Believe me, I really wish I was in the mood to write. I have the content and the time, it’s just that I really haven’t found the motivation to write any blog posts lately.
As a fellow blogger recently suggested, it may be the weather. I think people just get lazy during the Summer. I’m sure things will pick up when we are all stuck inside again. I know it’s not just me…hardly any blogs I know have been updated with any regularity lately.
I am going to try to make an effort again very soon. I need to tell you about how I reseeded the entire lawn and how I used peat moss for the very first time. What else…oh yeah, I cleaned out the chimney by myself instead of paying over $200 for someone else to do it. I also want to tell you about how I miss college, especially now that the weather is getting cooler again. I am sure there are some other things too, but I just can’t think of them right now.
If there is one thing I love, it’s all the stupid words that internet users make up for silly people and silly occurrences. Seriously, I do love them because they are quite entertaining.
There is this web forum that I visit pretty frequently. It’s hosted by one of the developers who created some of the web software that I use. It’s fairly informative and insightful, but from time to time, there are posts made by people whos only intention is to get a rise out of some other members. I never really liked these posts because they seemed childish and really made the poster look like an idiot. The “back and forth” was like two fools teasing each other on the playground.
Typically, when these members start their shenanigans, the moderator steps in to shut things down. He also has to do a little yelling at these guys. It’s so stupid. The people writing these posts are like forty years old…an age that you would expect more from.
A few weeks ago, someone wrote a post that ticked someone else off. The moderator stepped in a called the person who wrote it a “troll” and that he was “trolling.” I got a little chuckle out of this and looked at Wikipedia to see what in the world trolling was. You can click the link above to see for yourself.
A few days ago, another damn fool wrote something stupid that was obviously intended to provoke a response from another member. This time, when the moderator shut the thread down, he said that the member had used “flamebait” to start an argument. I thought that one was really funny. Where the heck do these guys get these words from?
I thought the words were funny, but what was even more funny is that the moderator was throwing them out there so casually. I love it. I never even heard of these things. I guess it’s sort of like the whole “LOL” thing.
Here’s another one – “Birthers.” This one ticks me off. Apparently, this is what we now call people who don’t believe Barack Obama was born in the USA. I mean, couldn’t you make up a better name for these guys. Birthers? That sounds totally freakin’ dumb. I can’t even think of a better name. Maybe someone should ask the guy who made up flamebait. At least we could get something funny out of it.
I guess it really doesn’t matter if it’s Friday or not, we work seven days a week ’round these parts. Yeah, we should really stop that.
Well, it’s kind of hard to stop working when it’s like 100 degrees and absolutely disgusting outside. I have been intermittently venturing out daily for some small landscaping projects. Every time I come inside, I am sopping wet with sweat. I mowed the lawn this morning, which wasn’t bad. Things changed when I had to start transplanting some shrubs. The minute I put any amount of effort into anything, there it comes. When that happens, I can hardly get my shirt off. It’s so nasty.
Okay, enough about that. Where have I been? Well, last week I had a few projects going on with the websites. I am trying to get some of the larger things done while it’s still Summer. Internet traffic generally picks up come Autumn, so I want to be in a good position. There are so many factors…oh so many factors. Changes generally take a few weeks to complete because as time goes on, you start realizing and remembering all the ramifications of what you are doing. I won’t continue to bore you.
I have been considering hiring a developer to assist with some programming on my sites. I did the math and figured that it was doable. Then, I started thinking about all the BS you have to deal with when getting someone else involved and I decided that outsourcing was the best route. So now, I am actually outsourcing to the company that created the software. It’s great…these guys are awesome and they know every corner of the software that they created. It has been a pleasure. So far, they completed two projects for me and are working on the third. I probably have about two more after this.
Outside…I have been transplanting some shrubs from the hill up front to various places around the property. It’s a miserable chore in this heat, but that doesn’t stop me. I just like to get out there. I am moving them so I have more room to mow. I am also going to be reseeding the entire lawn this Autumn, so I want to get that hill done. I want to plant a few more pines and some smaller fruit trees up there too. That should look pretty good.
I keep saying that I am never going to order any more of those little pine trees from Arbor Day again. I have varying luck with what I get. Then, I go ahead and order more. If you are going to order any pine trees from Arbor Day, I will tell you to stay away from the Blue Spruces. All (or almost) of ours died. All (or almost) of the Norway Spruces lived. Hmmm…if I do ever order any more of those trees, I am going to get the Norway Spruces. If I could just find some baby pine trees locally, I would be happy. That challenge is more difficult than it sounds.
We have been trying to go for our daily walks, but it’s getting hard to do that in this heat. We have been going about every other day. We tried to walk in the morning and then the evening to see which one was better. They are about the same. Either way, you still have to take a shower afterward.
It’s supposed to thunder storm this afternoon. It’s a little breezy outside right now and I am looking forward to the rain. It’s funny, all that rain we got in the beginning of the Summer is a distant memory. Now, the grass is crusty and the dirt is like concrete.
So anyway, happy Friday and I’ll leave you with this. Do you agree with me when I tell you some people just deserve to be smacked?
When I was writing my “Emails From Crazy People” post, I was like, “Man, my readers are totally going to love me for bringing them such uplifting humor.” I did. I really did.
Well, while some people thought that emails from crazy people are funny, I got more action from writing LOL. Now, I’m not going to make fun of LOL because you might use that term in your everyday life. If I made fun of it (like I would like to), you might get disgusted with me. I’ll just say that I wish you wouldn’t use it because it bothers me, but I would never make fun of it.
Anyway, the common theme of the LOL comments and emails were that people didn’t quite get what the heck LOL was. I didn’t get it either, until I looked it up a few years back. I remember an email exchange where the person who was writing to me kept saying something like, “I know…LOL!!!” I kept thinking, “What in the freakin’ world is this person trying to say?” Then I thought, “Gee, I wish this person would stop writing LOL because it is making me feel uncomfortable and angry. I mean, where are we, an AOL chat room?” LOL.
So, what does LOL mean? Here is what I could find:
LOL: Laughing out loud, Lots of laughs, Lots of laughter, Laugh out loud, Lack of laughter, Little old lady, Lots of love, Lots of luck
Here is a pretty good definition I found at the Urban Dictionary found here.
Depending on the chatter, its definition may vary. The list of its meanings includes, but is not limited to:
1) “I have nothing worthwhile to contribute to this conversation.”
2) “I’m too lazy to read what you just wrote so I’m typing something useless in hopes that you’ll think I’m still paying attention.”
3) “Your statement lacks even the vaguest trace of humor but I’ll pretend I’m amused.”
4) “This is a pointless acronym I’m sticking in my sentence just because it’s become so engraved into my mind that when chatting, I MUST use the meaningless sentence-filler ‘lol.’”
If you have anything to add about the usage of LOL, or any other stupid internet acronym, please feel free to add your thoughts in the comment box. I’m sure everyone would enjoy it.
By the way, if you are interested in learning more about internet acronyms, you can find out what they all mean by visiting this website.
