davincidad’s posterous

This first paragraph will give you an explanation of what the title means.  It might make a couple statements and then ask a question that the rest of the post will answer.  It might just be a few sentences to get you thinking in a certain direction preparing you for the rest.  And what comes next?

The second paragraph starts to answer the question asked at the end of the first paragraph.  Or if there was no question asked it will make the most important point the author was going to stress.  If you find yourself shouting “No!” in your head, you might as well stop reading and move on—you will likely never be brought around and to continue reading would just be a waste of time.  If your reaction is less severe (“I still don’t buy it,” or “Gee, I never thought of that,”) it might be worth it to finish.

The remaining paragraphs will present more information to support the original point.  By the time you get to the next to last paragraph, you will probably be close to making up your mind whether you agree with the author or not.  Either way, the author will probably appreciate your comments on their thoughts at the end of the post.  That is unless you have been shouting “No!” at your computer screen the entire time (I said you should probably just give up) in which case you are more likely to comment with some rant that will hardly make any sense.

The final paragraph will probably restate the original point or give a clear answer to the question posed in the first paragraph.  Although if it a personal experience type posting it will possibly be a summation of a lesson learned/new perspective.

Took my son to get a haircut at the Mall of America today (call it the Maw of America, Sprawl of America or just Shopping Hell if you like).  As we were leaving we pass by this store that made me stop short and stare at it with a quizzical look on my face: Brow Art.  It had these big pictures of women’s eyes with tiny little jewels on the lashes.  I made some noises that clearly conveyed “WTF?” and he grabbed my sleeve and said if I’m going to make fun of the store I shouldn’t do it while standing right in front of it.  The big thing that was going through my mind was “How can something like that actually support a storefront?  How much demand can there be for putting tiny little jewels on your eyelashes and maybe eyebrow hair?  Is this the Third Sign of the Apocalypse?”  Our conversation as we headed back to the car:

Me:        I just can’t fathom that something like that can actually support a storefront.

Him:       Well, there is a market for just about anything.

Me:        Then I want to open a store where I get to hit people with a stick.

Him:       I don’t think that’s the sort of thing you would open a store for.  There are people who would want that, but it’s usually not in a way that people go to a store for…

Me:        Ah, yeah…

I thought I was making a joke and then I suddenly turned into the straight man.  Where did I go wrong?

Here I sit near the end of one of the worst Thanksgivings of my life.  I’ll admit up front that I’m whining a bit, and I realize there are lots of people out there that have had crappier holidays than I will ever have.  But for me this one still sucks.  This is the first Thanksgiving of my life that I will spend almost no time with any of my family.   My day was occupied by the fact that I had to work today.  I am a restaurant manager and unfortunately for me, working most holidays is just something you have to deal with.  But this year I worked 9am to 7pm so it was pretty much hopeless for me to be included this year.  But rather than dwell on this holiday’s shortcomings, I will focus on the things I have to be thankful for.

I am thankful for my wonderful wife of almost 20 years.  She is the perfect partner.  We share many common interests, but complement each other in terms of personality.  We have traits that fill in each other’s holes.  She helps me remember to be an adult and get things done.

I am thankful for my too-smart-for-my-own-good son, now a freshman in college.  He helps me remember how to be a kid and have fun.

I am thankful for my family and friends who I can turn to in times of need, get advice from, learn from or just have borderline pointless conversations with.

I am thankful for the roof over my head and a warm bed to sleep in.

I am thankful for the ability to put food on the table.

I am thankful for my job (which helps with the last two items).

I am thankful for my health.

I am thankful to live in a place where I have many choices of what to do, what to be, what to think.  I am thankful I can express them (or not) in any way I choose.

I am thankful.

I just got my mind tweaked into annoyance by something related a recent endorsement in the Minnesota Governor race.  The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (the union for Minnesota state employees) just recently announced they were endorsing Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher.  It’s not the fact that I personally think there’s a better candidate—people can and should endorse/support whoever they want.  It’s not the ethical gray area that is being approached by a union of government employees endorsing a political candidate.  It is a quote by the union’s Executive Director Jim Monroe.  “We believe she is the most electable candidate in the race.” (From StarTribune political reporter Rachel Stassen-Berger http://twitter.com/RachelSB/status/5652362902.  Full story: http://bit.ly/7ggIn.)  Monroe continues with references to her ability to raise money and her campaign structure.  There is no mention of the simple question of whether or not she will do a good job.

Why does there appear to be no consideration of her stand on issues?  What she’ll do for the state’s education system.  How she’ll resolve the budget issues.  How she’ll promote the state as a great home for business.  What she wants to do regarding the health care/health insurance system.  I would even have been OK if MAPE had just flat out made a blatantly self-interested statement that she a strong supporter of the MAPE union.  But endorsing her because she can raise money?  Because she has won elections before?  When did the BEST candidate stop being the same as the most electable?  Worrying about “most electable” leads down the slippery slope of style over substance.  That’s a great way to really get things messed up.

             

Click here to download:

Halloween_2009.zip (10968 KB)

We get into Halloween just a leetle bit.  Some people put the time and expense into Christmas decorations, but for my family it’s Halloween.  It’s a better holiday for getting out the theatrical side.

Visits from Sweeny Todd and Count Dracula this year.  Fog was rolling through the graveyard.  Had a couple others just hanging around.

I never get everything set up the way I want to.  The extra rain for several days beforehand this year didn’t help any so a lot of set up was done that morning/afternoon.  But we had people slowing down as they drove past.  Early on someone going to a party dressed as Mrs. Lovett happened by and had to stop and get her picture taken with Sweeney.  Like every year we had a couple little ones that were afraid to come up the walk, but most of the Trick or Treaters braved it for a sugar fix.  Had a group of about eight that all wanted to take pictures with Dracula and Sweeney.  A few adults were taking pictures of the display. 

The crowds have been bigger every year for us.  We went through at least a dozen bags of candy.  A couple of our neighbors had to go into hiding because they ran out of candy.

Now to start the plans for 2010.  Alien Invasion?  Zombie Uprising?  Classic Movie Monsters?  We’ll see what shows up next year.