Tirade Time-Out

Sometimes, while you're complaining about things that make you crazy, life throws some perspective your way. That's what's happened to me in the last couple weeks. My very good friend has a son whose fiance is days away from dying - she put off getting a lump in her breast checked. Now, it's too late. Now, she is asking "How long do I have?". Now, she has to face her mortality at the young age of 47. Now, her children, who have never been close, are still distant and, seemingly, uncaring. Less than a month ago she was working. Now, nothing's working - all her organs are involved in this treachery - even her bones. She is in excruciating pain. She has no hope. So, today, I will skip the tirade. Today, I will count my blessings, my friends, my family, my fingers and toes - all those things I often take for granted. Today, I am grateful to be alive, relatively healthy, and looking forward to many more years of the same. I wish the same for you.

Third Tirade

I think we all know people who do this - they interject "you know" into everything they say. That was bad enough. Now, there's another one - "know what I'm sayin'?" Notice how politically correct I am? I didn't mention what we all know to be true and that's who started all this.

Look, if it's not clear what you're saying, I'm pretty sure someone will tell you - we don't need you to ask over and over again during a conversation or while you're being interviewed. It's annoying and it makes you look, well, (dare I say it?) STUPID. It's as if you truly don't know what you're about to say so you put in some "filler" words to give yourself time to figure it out.

These bad habits are hard to break. Imagine listening to our President give a speech or a pastor give a sermon, or a professor teach physics and having "know what I'm sayin'?" mixed in every other sentence. Holy crap - would not be good.

So stop it!!!!!  You are not doing yourself any favors by saying this and, eventually, you will wish you'd never started it in the first place - like when you're in that really important job interview!  I suppose if all you ever want to do with your life requires you to communicate only with people who probably WON'T know what you're saying - then you'll be fine. Otherwise, it's time to purge it from your conversation before it's too late!!

KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN?

Memory DNA

OK - so this isn't a tirade - I'm taking a small break from fuming to suggest something I've thought about for a long time.

Every once in a while, I find myself realizing that, not only am I doing or saying something exactly like my mom or dad but I actually feel like I AM them. I swear - at that particular moment, I'm filled with the realization that, not only did I inherit their DNA in terms of my physical characteristics but, also, their feelings and emotions and the ESSENCE of what makes them....them.

I've often wondered if DNA carries with it not only those tangible traits we're used to thinking about - eye color, height, ear bumps - you know, all those things that get pointed at when we're born, "Oh, look, she's got her mom's curly hair," - stuff like that. What if it also carries with it memories of those who came before us - or things they experienced or skills they acquired?

That would SO explain those people who feel like they've been somebody in a past life - or the books written about kids who suddenly speak French or play the piano like a virtuoso without ever having heard that language and nary a piano lesson. Nary - there's a word you don't hear very often - OK, back to my theory.

So, what do you think? Possible? Why not?

We may have decoded the human genome but we don't yet know what it all means. Imagine if, while looking for the mutation that results in a deformity of the 2nd right toenail, researchers also find material which seems to have no function related to identifiable conditions or traits. What if that new material is found to exist in EVERY DNA sample no matter where it comes from - human, bird, lizard, whatever?

What if that material is what makes us play the piano or speak a foreign language without any lessons or instruction because it contains MEMORIES? What if that material is what makes birds able to find their way to their migratory routes? What if that material is what tells baby turtles to head to that huge body of water and just start swimming? What if "child prodigies" have DNA with more of that material than "normal" kids? Hmmmmmm.

 So, there you have it. I say, it's an interesting concept. Yes? No? We'll see........

Tirade #2

America is a great nation. I truly believe that. HOWEVER, I think there's something really wrong with how we value what people do. For instance, there's nothing wrong with being a professional athlete or singer or actor/actress but, really, is what they do worth a bazillion dollars?

I know, I know, not everyone who does this for a living is making that kind of money, but what does our willingness to fork over lots of our hard earned $$ to watch or listen to these people say to our kids when, at the same time, we bitch about paying our taxes or the cost of gas. Hey, I agree - both those things make me mad, too - especially since we have no choice (anarchy?) than to pay for these things. What you do for entertainment, on the other hand, IS a choice.

I wonder how many people subscribe to some pay-per-view sports event or buy the latest CD or DVD and then feed their children hot dogs and boxed mac & cheese because they can't afford anything better. I wonder how many of these same kids want to be one of those highly-paid athletes/performers - I know I would! How many of those same kids dream of the day they could be a teacher or a policeman. Seriously - which would YOU want to be based on potential income?

There's nothing wrong with dreaming of making a lot of money and being famous - but how I yearn for that fame to come from something that makes us better as a country. I admit, I love a good movie, song or tennis match - they can lift the spirit and that's a good thing. I'd miss all that if it went away - but that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying, the value we place on those things is skewed. Let's pay our teachers enough money that kids talk about wanting to be one when they grow up because they can make a good income - and being a teacher is a much more attainable goal than being the next 3-point-shot wonder on on a pro basketball team.

It's almost like a drug - once hooked on all these things you become obsessed and you'll pay whatever it costs to get your fix. Sad. Instead of watching tennis, get your butt out there and play - you'll have fun and get fit, too! Couch potatoes with type 2 diabetes - that's where many of us are heading because we "watch" instead of "do". Wait - that's another tirade for the blog!

Tirade time.....America, wake up! Quit being led around by the nose by the media and sports conglomerates!!!  Instead of idolizing entertainers, spend your money on something that increases your brain power....imagine what would happen if we just cut back a little on all that crap - a healthier nation, a smarter nation, a more interesting population. Wow!  I'm psyched for that! 

If I keep writing these, someone is bound to have a tirade of their own about the fact that I am so negative. Oh, well!  Start your own blog!

Tirade Number One

Here's my first tirade - and it was chosen in no particular order of importance or "fume factor".

Sunsweet "Ones".  Those prunes that now come individually packaged instead of in a bag all snuggled together - you know what I mean, right?

Now, you have to ask yourself, why in the name of all that is prunish do the folks at Sunsweet think that this is really a better way to package prunes? Seriously - you have a wrapper you have to dispose of every time you eat one of those little buggers. Talk about waste!  Somebody out there do the math - how much more landfill is created by those "Ones"?!

And, really - do you truly think putting a prune in a plastic jacket makes them taste more like candy? Really? It's still a prune. Why on earth do you want to encourage waste, Sunsweet? Do you think you can fool kids into believing a prune tastes like candy? If they didn't before their special wrappers, what makes you think they do now? (OK - here comes the tirade part).

PLEASE, stop it!!!!  Are you listening???? Do you truly think Americans are idiots (oh, my God, maybe we are)????  AHHHHHH!!!!!!!

OK - I'm done with this "one"........

Tirades

I am going to begin a series of tirades - I just can't help myself. There are so many things that make me fume that I feel compelled to put it all in writing. Maybe I'll find others who feel the same way and, together, we can vent in a cohesive manner - maybe our venting will be heard by those who are making us fume and things will change? HAHAHAHAHAHA.  I almost believed myself there. So, stay tuned - tirades - like tsunamis - once begun, can't be stopped.