It's About That Time Again! Spring again . . . .
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This blog is meant for the advancement, redemption, and self actualization of those who have not been taught how to properly manage their emotions, and have suffered due to this lack of information. While we in no way defend those who have harmed us, we also do not make ourselves triggered and manipulated by people and things we cannot control. Through the application of the Eight Pillars, we can move forward and become the strong, unflappable, respectable people we were meant to be.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Spring Is Springin'!
That's right, people, we got to see the sun after 6PM tonight for the first time this year. Stinks that we lost that hour of sleep, but we have ways of making up for these things.
Won't be long before spring arrives, and we all know what that means. Baseball, America's National Pastime, will begin a new season. Hockey will start its second season, The Playoffs! And both Judaism and Christianity will be celebrating major holidays -- this year, they're actually happening at the same time!
Even at my office, we've got spring fever. For the first time in years, we've been granted the privilege of business casual dress! Usually, this option is made available to associates between July 4th and Labor Day, to account for the heat of the summer. But now, provided that we have an "emergency suit" in our office to change into at all times, we may do so several months early. All we have to do is not abuse this privilege, and maybe it'll continue!
For those of us of the running persuasion, it means changing over the gear. For the past several months, I've been using my "superhero" running clothes, consisting of the tights, the base-layer long sleeve cool max shirt, the medium-layer vest, the gloves, and the stocking cap (which just happened to be the same shade of lime green as the TFK colors we were already wearing for the first time in 2005 -- I still remember how I had NO IDEA why everyone was laughing because it was on my head). We all know we should always dress like it's 10 degrees warmer than it really is, but the way this winter went, I had to stay warm no matter what. And yes, I said the tights, and most of us menfolk wear them without being self-conscious!
But now that spring is a-springing, it's time to hang loose with the clothes, literally. Maybe just a loose fitting cool max long-sleeve that I got from that Half Mara I ran last year and some shorts -- if I must, maybe the warm-up pants will do, but the shorts are the best! And as the months pass, downgrade the top to a short sleeve or a singlet.
Unfortunately, many of us male runners are prone to a slightly uncomfortable problem that women never face. You know what I'm talking about -- gunshot wounds, strawberry milk, piercings gone horribly wrong, etc. Either get the 2"-wide Band-Aids, or the official Nip-Guards, and you'll be good to go. Due to the friction of the fabric rubbing against you, even if it is cool max, the nipple/areola skin gets chapped and dry, and causes you to bleed embarrassingly through your clothes. Makes laundry more of a chore, and makes a shower an exercise in avoiding pain! Granted, this problem happens less in the warm weather, but don't tempt the Purple Nurple Gods! Protect yourself! Let the pain you experience be the good pain of calves and hammies stretched to their limit after a personal best, and not the annoying pain of the failure to shmear more Body Glide onto every nook and cranny! Geez . . . give blood through the Red Cross, and not through your shirt!
So all y'all getting ready to run spring races, and haven't already been hipped to the above advice, you now know what you gotta do. And for those running Half-Marathons in exotic locales, look around -- your friendly neighborhood blogger may be running alongside you, taking mental notes for his next race story! :)
Hit the "Like" button, hit the "Share" button, maybe even comment!
Won't be long before spring arrives, and we all know what that means. Baseball, America's National Pastime, will begin a new season. Hockey will start its second season, The Playoffs! And both Judaism and Christianity will be celebrating major holidays -- this year, they're actually happening at the same time!
Even at my office, we've got spring fever. For the first time in years, we've been granted the privilege of business casual dress! Usually, this option is made available to associates between July 4th and Labor Day, to account for the heat of the summer. But now, provided that we have an "emergency suit" in our office to change into at all times, we may do so several months early. All we have to do is not abuse this privilege, and maybe it'll continue!
For those of us of the running persuasion, it means changing over the gear. For the past several months, I've been using my "superhero" running clothes, consisting of the tights, the base-layer long sleeve cool max shirt, the medium-layer vest, the gloves, and the stocking cap (which just happened to be the same shade of lime green as the TFK colors we were already wearing for the first time in 2005 -- I still remember how I had NO IDEA why everyone was laughing because it was on my head). We all know we should always dress like it's 10 degrees warmer than it really is, but the way this winter went, I had to stay warm no matter what. And yes, I said the tights, and most of us menfolk wear them without being self-conscious!
But now that spring is a-springing, it's time to hang loose with the clothes, literally. Maybe just a loose fitting cool max long-sleeve that I got from that Half Mara I ran last year and some shorts -- if I must, maybe the warm-up pants will do, but the shorts are the best! And as the months pass, downgrade the top to a short sleeve or a singlet.
Unfortunately, many of us male runners are prone to a slightly uncomfortable problem that women never face. You know what I'm talking about -- gunshot wounds, strawberry milk, piercings gone horribly wrong, etc. Either get the 2"-wide Band-Aids, or the official Nip-Guards, and you'll be good to go. Due to the friction of the fabric rubbing against you, even if it is cool max, the nipple/areola skin gets chapped and dry, and causes you to bleed embarrassingly through your clothes. Makes laundry more of a chore, and makes a shower an exercise in avoiding pain! Granted, this problem happens less in the warm weather, but don't tempt the Purple Nurple Gods! Protect yourself! Let the pain you experience be the good pain of calves and hammies stretched to their limit after a personal best, and not the annoying pain of the failure to shmear more Body Glide onto every nook and cranny! Geez . . . give blood through the Red Cross, and not through your shirt!
So all y'all getting ready to run spring races, and haven't already been hipped to the above advice, you now know what you gotta do. And for those running Half-Marathons in exotic locales, look around -- your friendly neighborhood blogger may be running alongside you, taking mental notes for his next race story! :)
Hit the "Like" button, hit the "Share" button, maybe even comment!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Some Just Don't Understand
This week, a well-known political commentator crossed the line.
An issue has arisen whether employers should be compelled to subsidize employee's requests for contraceptives. The more conservative elements are against this compulsion, since many employers believe that there should never be a reason for contraception on religious grounds. This is all well and good, but some of these employers need to remember that not all of their employees (unless the employer is a religious organization itself) have the same religious beliefs. This is why employers already allow some employees to take personal days for religious observances that are not shared by that employer.
Moreover, the comments made by Rush Limbaugh are a perfect example of the height of bullying. He may not think that employers should pay for contraception, but his branding of a woman who testified before Congress as a "slut" who "wants to be paid to have sex" is a thousand times more disgusting than the very act he describes.
If anything, that's the type of comment you would expect from an overbearing relative with too much to say, in private. Not from a public figure who caters to an audience expecting him to berate and belittle those who disagree with him. There are more honorable ways to take a position than to personally attack your opponent.
DISCLAIMER -- the above is not an endorsement for or against an employee's right to contraception. That's a personal matter for all people to individually decide. It instead is a comment against high-handed, abrasive, bullying comments made against those who deserve more respect and less judgment.
In that same vein, it's been suggested to me that my blog has been a little bit too preachy. Since I lack counselling credentials, it's been suggested that my posts sometimes take on a holier-than-thou tone. Given the way Mr. Limbaugh unloaded on this woman, I've started to realize that I don't want this blog to ever move in that direction.
With that, I put it to you, my readers. Would you prefer to see more anti-bullying rhetoric, or would you like to see some more feel-good happiness? Your input is always welcome and appreciated.
An issue has arisen whether employers should be compelled to subsidize employee's requests for contraceptives. The more conservative elements are against this compulsion, since many employers believe that there should never be a reason for contraception on religious grounds. This is all well and good, but some of these employers need to remember that not all of their employees (unless the employer is a religious organization itself) have the same religious beliefs. This is why employers already allow some employees to take personal days for religious observances that are not shared by that employer.
Moreover, the comments made by Rush Limbaugh are a perfect example of the height of bullying. He may not think that employers should pay for contraception, but his branding of a woman who testified before Congress as a "slut" who "wants to be paid to have sex" is a thousand times more disgusting than the very act he describes.
If anything, that's the type of comment you would expect from an overbearing relative with too much to say, in private. Not from a public figure who caters to an audience expecting him to berate and belittle those who disagree with him. There are more honorable ways to take a position than to personally attack your opponent.
DISCLAIMER -- the above is not an endorsement for or against an employee's right to contraception. That's a personal matter for all people to individually decide. It instead is a comment against high-handed, abrasive, bullying comments made against those who deserve more respect and less judgment.
In that same vein, it's been suggested to me that my blog has been a little bit too preachy. Since I lack counselling credentials, it's been suggested that my posts sometimes take on a holier-than-thou tone. Given the way Mr. Limbaugh unloaded on this woman, I've started to realize that I don't want this blog to ever move in that direction.
With that, I put it to you, my readers. Would you prefer to see more anti-bullying rhetoric, or would you like to see some more feel-good happiness? Your input is always welcome and appreciated.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
The Envelope, Please
Tonight is the Oscars. The night when those who have played well their parts get to thank the Academy for its recognition, Billy Crystal tells a lot of jokes, people obsess over what each actress is wearing on the red carpet. The men, on the other hand, just rent a tuxedo as if it were prom night and go with it.
Everyone nominated is obviously very attractive and very talented. However, these award shows are completely and entirely subjective. Which they must be, because there is no objective way to determine which actor or actress or director is truly "better" than the others.
Chances are we may have felt like we got the shaft from some other arbitrary or capricious system: Maybe a judge or a jury decided against our argument, no matter how right on the money it was. Maybe the pretty lady you asked out on a date turned you down because you weren't manly/cool/smooth/rich enough, even though you're the best you can be in all of those areas. Maybe someone flat-out told you they didn't like you.
Most teachers and camp counselors have gotten used to telling little children that even when they lose a game, they still win, just so they won't cry. As corny and unrealistic as it seems, it's actually similar to what we all need to do for ourselves. The fact that some system picks someone else instead doesn't mean you should reject yourself!
So tomorrow morning, anyone who's been feeling like they came in second, or that they came up empty-handed somehow, do the following:
(1) Open an envelope in front of your bathroom mirror;
(2) Announce that the Oscar goes to [insert your name];
(3) Give your own acceptance speech. If it won't make you late for work, go as long as you want. Include the following:
(A) Role models that taught you to believe;
(B) Loved ones who returned that love; and
(C) Anyone who moved you ahead, or convinced you to move yourself ahead
(4) Just before you finish, tell everyone who did the opposite of the above that you didn't have time to fit them in, and then rush off the stage!
Good night, all, and don't forget to comment!
Everyone nominated is obviously very attractive and very talented. However, these award shows are completely and entirely subjective. Which they must be, because there is no objective way to determine which actor or actress or director is truly "better" than the others.
Chances are we may have felt like we got the shaft from some other arbitrary or capricious system: Maybe a judge or a jury decided against our argument, no matter how right on the money it was. Maybe the pretty lady you asked out on a date turned you down because you weren't manly/cool/smooth/rich enough, even though you're the best you can be in all of those areas. Maybe someone flat-out told you they didn't like you.
Most teachers and camp counselors have gotten used to telling little children that even when they lose a game, they still win, just so they won't cry. As corny and unrealistic as it seems, it's actually similar to what we all need to do for ourselves. The fact that some system picks someone else instead doesn't mean you should reject yourself!
So tomorrow morning, anyone who's been feeling like they came in second, or that they came up empty-handed somehow, do the following:
(1) Open an envelope in front of your bathroom mirror;
(2) Announce that the Oscar goes to [insert your name];
(3) Give your own acceptance speech. If it won't make you late for work, go as long as you want. Include the following:
(A) Role models that taught you to believe;
(B) Loved ones who returned that love; and
(C) Anyone who moved you ahead, or convinced you to move yourself ahead
(4) Just before you finish, tell everyone who did the opposite of the above that you didn't have time to fit them in, and then rush off the stage!
Good night, all, and don't forget to comment!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
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