An Eclectic Mix

Several of my friends are going through trying times. Observing their pain makes me so grateful for all the things that I have. The best thing I can do is to remain positive, visualize them healthy, wealthy and happy, and continue on. There's really nothing else I can do. I've asked, they've responded, and I've rendered what was asked of me.

Mostly I've been contemplating compassion of late. What does it truly mean when considered in the framework that is my life. I do grokk the universality of Tao. However, the specific application of it to my life is where it gets a little tricky.

Are there any other Taoists on my flist? If so, I'd like to sit down and have some meaningful and insightful conversation either in person or via IM.

Ciao for now.

Welcome to my new readers from popfiend's friending frenzy.

I have a love/hate relationship with LJ. I want to write more, in fact, I write a lot in my head on the commute to/from work. But it never seems to get here. I don't want to rant, I don't believe in adding energy to an already negative vibe. But it seems like people want to read more about drama than they do about the things we should be grateful for.

I've been told to "write for yourself, not for others." Really? Why would I use a medium such as LiveJournal for that? The whole blessed point is to be read, to be heard, to be discovered, to connect. If I want to keep a journal for me (and I do), I have pen/paper or even the private setting on LJ for that.

So please, comment, connect, read... tell me what you want more of, tell me what you want less of. I'll warn you. I rarely use LJ-cut. This is my journal, feel free to read it or not as you see fit. I've always hated LJ-cut, never saw the point really (unless it is to hide NSFW stuff, but IMHO, that's what filters are for).

Speaking of filters, I've got 'em. If you're new here and want to learn more, just let me know. Honestly though, 99% of what I write is here. Unfiltered, available for the world to see.

I've recently embraced Taoism fully, and I don't really view things as good/bad any more as others might. It's more like "these things are, and I want them to continue to be" or "these things are, and I no longer wish to give them energy," or "these things are not, but I wish them to be." As for "these things are not, and that's just fine by me" - I really don't think about that stuff much.

I suppose I'm very "New Agey" as some people might look at it. But I've gotten where I am by reading thousands (yes, thousands) of books on comparative religion. I've been a Protestant preacher, I'm ordained by the Universal Life Church (not that that is difficult, but it's something I did), and I've been called a guru by various people throughout my life.

I'm trying to get several different websites under way. There are currently also three books in progress, an eclectic mix of self-help, productivity and one title that just currently refuses categorization. I'm hoping to wrap up all of these books by the end of the year. Next year, I think I'll focus on fiction, but my life is always subject to change.

My website, www.onmyownterms.com is going to be all about accepting and embracing personal accountability. It's about being self-centered, without being selfish. There is a difference. One of the things that has recently inspired me is a post from the Dalai Lama on facebook:

"We can't be useful to ourselves unless we're useful to others. Whether we like it or not, we're all connected, and it is unthinkable to be happy all by oneself. Anyone concerned only by his own well-being will suffer eventually. Anyone concerned with the well-being of others takes care of himself without even thinking about it. Even if we decide to remain selfish, let us be intelligently selfish - let us help others."

Ciao for now.

I turned in my On-Star vehicle on 12/18/2009. I did not realize that I needed to cancel my On-Star services, I figured that they would be cancelled by GM when the vehicle was turned in. I was still receiving email from On-Star every month. So today, I figured out that I had to call their toll free number to stop the On-Star services for the HHR. I had pre-paid for services through 11/19/2010, because I had originally intended to keep the vehicle. When I called On-Star services today, they cancelled as of 12/18/2009, no questions asked, and are issuing me a $168 refund!!!

I realize I haven't posted in a long time. I also know that I want to post every day. But I have come to understand that I can't post negativity. If I'm not up to being positive, if I've had a crappy day, I'm not going to inflict it on you, my readers. Yes, a lot of people use LJ to vent. I've done so myself in the past. But that's not me any more.

Needless to say, life has been "challenging" of late, but I'm hoping that small downturn is over.

So, I'm 49 now. How did that happen? Oh yeah, time marches on.

Planning on cooking out with friends in Lawrenceville for the 4th, looking forward to it. Happy to have another long weekend ahead of me (we're getting July 5th off as a holiday at my company).

My absence wasn't completely due to crap. There are some good things going on that keep me very busy. I just need to get those things done so I can talk about them here.

Ciao for now.

"Unsolicited advice is merely an opinion." - Me

Things have been challenging for me lately, but nothing I can't handle. Just don't have the bandwidth to post as much as I would like. I think I'm going to roll back with the new format and take some time to 'bank' some content so that if things get hectic, I can still stick to my schedule. Will restart on my birthday (just a few weeks away).

Ciao for now.

Today's feature: Sunday's Summary

Well, since the summary really consists of yesterday and today, there's not much to report. I tried to get my hard drive working again to no avail, I've contacted a couple of data recovery firms for quotes, plus, I've reached out to a couple of friends who might be able to help.

I wound up getting very little other than relaxation accomplished today. But I'm OK with that.

Getting to know me...

I am adopted. My parents brought me home from the hospital at five days old, and I've never really had the desire to find my biological parents. At one point my parents told me that my biological parents had been killed in a car crash that resulted in my birth, but I don't know if that is at all true. I think it is odd that it has been said many times that I look like either my father or my mother, since I'm not related to them.

My readers

No birthdays today. No new readers.

Boost the signal! Help me expand my readership by recommending me to someone on your friends list who you think would enjoy reading my journal.

Quote of the Day

"You are not paid to work hard. In fact, you are not paid for effort at all. You are paid for results. It's not what you do; it's what you get done." - Larry Winget

Sadly, I wish this were true. More often than not, we are paid for our time.

Site of the Day

Foursquare.com is a neat little social media app that makes a game out of your daily travel. Keep track of your route (it's the mechanism I use to create my Google Maps at the end of the day), become 'Mayor' of those places you visit the most, and just generally keep track of your friends via Twitter/Facebook as it will automatically update your feeds when you check in. Nifty!

Today's Route

There is no route today, I didn't leave the house. Should have, but didn't.

Today's Accomplishments

• Spent 20 minutes cleaning house (maintenance)
  
• Spent 20 minutes cleaning house (catch-up)
  
• Read 20 minutes
  

Tomorrow's To Do List

• 10 minutes on my exercise bike
  
• 10 minutes on the treadmill at the gym
  
• Spend 20 minutes cleaning house (maintenance)
  
• Spend 20 minutes cleaning house (catch-up)
  
• Read 20 minutes
  

The Time Machine

From 2001 - Some humor...

THINGS TO DO AT WALMART WHILE YOUR FRIENDS/FAMILY TAKE THEIR OWN SWEET TIME

1. Get boxes of condoms & randomly put them in peoples' carts when they aren't looking.

2. Set all the alarm clocks to go off at 10-minute intervals.

3. Make a trail of orange juice on the floor to the rest rooms.

4. Walk up to an employee and tell him/her in an official tone, "I think we have a code 3 in housewares," and see what happens.

5. Put some M&M's on lay away.

6. Move CAUTION WET FLOOR signs to carpet areas.

7. Set up a tent in the camping department, tell others you'll only invite them in if they bring pillows from the bedding department.

8. When someone asks if they can help you, begin to cry and ask, "Why won't you people leave me alone."

9. Look right into the security camera and use it as a mirror while you pick your nose.

10. Dart around suspiciously while humming the theme from 'Mission Impossible.'

11. While handling guns in the hunting department ask the clerk if he knows where the anti-depressants are.

12. In the auto department practice your Madonna look using different size funnels.

13. Hide in the clothing rack and when people browse through whisper "PICK ME! PICK ME!!!!!"

14. When an announcement comes over the loud speaker assume the fetal position and scream "NO! NO! It's those voices again!"

15. Go to the fitting room and yell real loud....."Hey we're out of toilet paper in here!"

Things not covered elsewhere

Talked with Dad & Marlene today, they're planning on visiting some time in either September/October. Will keep everyone posted, I will probably host a dinner while they're here.

Ciao for now.

I think I just lost my external hard drive with years of pictures, my entire .mp3 collection (I still have the CDs, but would have to rip all 700+ of them again)... damn, just realized I don't have a backup of my audiobook collection (approximately 200 of them)...

Checking around the net, it looks like it will cost me AT LEAST $199 to recover the data. I just don't know if it's worth it. Seriously, no one ever looks at those pictures, no one really cares but me, it's just data, sitting there, memories. I know it had the backup of my last 2 PCs on it, a bunch of writing, lots of miscellaneous stuff.

Funny thing is, I was just planning on sorting that stuff out, discarding the stuff I wasn't going to use, and transfer the rest to the RAID on my current desktop box.

I'm definitely going to have to meditate on this. Perhaps the universe is telling me to let go of the past.

Ciao for now.

Today I reframed a couple of 8x10s of my Mom & Dad into a frame that would match my decor. Here is a pic that I took with my camera phone, it's not the best, but you can get a look at pics of my parents.




Ciao for now.

Ideas for the 'redesign' are coming along, premiering on May 1.

But now, all I want is to sleep.

Ciao for now.

I started with my personal trainer today. Ow?

3x a week for at least 10 sessions, and hopefully will be able to continue to afford it. The gym membership itself is only $15/mo., but the training sessions are $30 bucks a pop.

I had forgotten how much I love lifting weights. Love love love it... I've been on an endorphin high most of the day. I'm really serious about turning my life around. My plans may be delayed, but they'll still come to pass. I'm declaring this the 'year of me' - which I've tried doing before and failed miserably at. Lasts a little over a year from now until 6/25/2011 - my 50th birthday. I want to make lasting changes. This may cause me to give up the poor excuse of a social life I have between now and then, but the increased energy and health will more than make up for it in the future.

Ciao for now.

OK, new format is coming starting May 1. I still don't have all the categories squared away yet, and I haven't decided where the actual 'home' for my posts may be. Initially, it will most likely be LiveJournal, at least until I get my website squared away. However, because LiveJournal feeds nicely into facebook, I'm not exactly sure when I'll get all the feeds settled to my satisfaction.

Lots of stuff churning under the hood right now. Big deadline at work still looming on 4/22. I think after I get that squared away, I'll feel like I have more bandwidth to work with. So many projects, so little time. It's the story of my life, actually. Heck, I think it's the story of everyone's life.

I appreciated the feedback for the look/feel of the journal going forward, but I wanted to comment on something.

Yes, I realize that this is 'my' journal. While I appreciate the sentiment that I should 'write for me' - LiveJournal is not that medium. I write to be read and commented on. If I need to write for myself, I have a paper journal (which is actually mostly unused). This stems from a traumatic incident in my young life which involved a diary and a huge betrayal of trust. It also lead to the creation of the code that I live my life by (which I know I've stated here in the past, but bears repeating):

Never write anything down you don't want the whole world to read;
Never say anything you don't want the whole world to hear;
Never do anything you don't want the whole world to watch.

It's a level of personal accountability that keeps my life relatively drama free (at least of drama that I generate, I can't speak to collateral damage).

Much more to come. If you are reading this, know that I love you.

Ciao for now.