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Lizard Brain

I know, I know. It’s been awhile. In fact, I’ve done a spectacularily good job of ignorning all my blogs and writing in general. Something happened about 6 months ago that completely knocked me for a loop. I was laid off. I’d worked a the same company for 15 years and losing my job was quit a blow. I was extremely fortunate to find another job, almost immediately, so I’ve spent all my mental currency learning the ropes at a new company. That’s my story at least. Then I saw this Seth Godin video and I had to consider there might be another possibility.

Seth Godin: Quieting the Lizard Brain from 99% on Vimeo.

The 36 Rules of Life

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

2. Don’t worry about what people think, they don’t do it very often.

3. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.

4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

5. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you’ve never tried before.

6. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.

7. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.

8. A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.

9. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.

10. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

11. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.

12. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.

13. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.

1 4. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.

15. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.

16. A balanced diet is a muffin in each hand.

17. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.

18. Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.

19. Junk is something you’ve kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.

20. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.

21. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

22. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.

23. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.

24. Someone who thinks logically provides nice contrast to the real world.

25. It ain’t the jeans that make your butt look fat.

26. If you had to identify in one word the reason why the human race has not achieved it’s full potential, that word would be ‘meetings’.

27. There is a very fine line between ‘hobby’ and ‘mental illness.’

28. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

29. You should not confuse your career with your life.

30. Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.

31. Never lick a steak knife.

32. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

33. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

34. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she’s pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

35. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that deep down inside we ALL believe we are good drivers.

36. Your friends love you anyway.

Formal Apology

This was just too good, I had to share. By the way, if you are expecting an apology from me, you should know that my current backlog is about 6 months. If you still haven’t received your apology after that time, please know it is in the mail. You can make a formal request to receive a copy of apology, however, the backlog for that is about 9 months. Please be patient.

Stand By Me

I saw this video today and it gave me goosebumps. It’s a beautiful reminder of how we are all connected, whether by music, love or compassion. We are all part of the human race, divided by miles but still one people.

Dear Sadie

When I think of loyalty and unconditional love, I will always think of you.  You were protective, but gentle and always cared for your family; whether it was looking out for Hershe, making sure she got plenty to eat and wasn’t too abused by the puppies; keeping Sammy & Bear in line or standing guard at the foot of our bed.  You soaked up love like a sponge, never getting enough to satisfy your soul.  In fact, you had a few tricks to get extra loving, like getting all the dogs to bark outside while you snuck in quietly for some “good girl” pats;  instigating a “fight” to clear the room or laying on top of us so no other dogs could get near.  We always joked that you thought you were a lap dog because you wanted to be on top of us.  You just didn’t know how big you were, laying in the little bed or sprawled across the sofa.  

I hope you were happy with us and I’m so sorry your life was short.  Even though you had gotten sick months earlier, I never imagined you would die.     I think part of the reason you died is because we left you this weekend and I will always regret that.  I hope you forgive us for that.  It just didn’t seem possible that we would lose you.

I do believe all dogs go to heaven and so I know you are soaking up the sun, chasing birds and kickboxing in dry grass.  I can’t wait to see you again.  I promise extra hugs and kisses when I do.

San Diego 2009

It’s becoming something of a family tradition: going to San Diego for Alan’s birthday. This year it was a last minute plan because Mom had points to use before the end of June.  We stayed on Shelter Island, right across from the Bay and we soaked up the view.  Friday we arrived in time for a late lunch at Anthony’s Fish Grotto. I’m the only one who enjoys seafood, but A & T each found land animals to eat. K wasn’t able to do much eating at all, considering she was just 10 days post op.  She was quite a trooper though, with only one melt down at meal time.  While we were on the Boardwalk, we also checked out the ships, shops and bought souvenirs.  Then it was off to the hotel and we all crashed, since we were operating on about 3 hours of sleep each.  

Saturday was a low key day. We drove around Point Loma and found a nice little bluff to look out on the Pacific.  The waves were awesome and we watched surfers and fishermen doing their thing.  A & I decided we are definitely going to do everything in our power to move to S.D. in a few years.  He’s already planning to set up shop on the beach, with just a table, chair and laptop, he’s in business.  The girls think I should set up on the boardwalk selling souvenirs to tourists.  I’m not too sure about that.  I think I should just lend moral support to A.  We soaked up a few rays and then headed over to Coronado Island which turned into quite an adventure.  A remembered the entrance to the bridge was hard to find, but he didn’t quite remember which exit to take (Cesar Chavez BTW).  We cruised around a few dicey neighborhoods before we found it.  We were going to do dinner at Peohe’s again, but the wait was too long, so we shopped for a bit then had BBQ. It was actually the perfect day because we took in the sights, enjoyed the cool ocean breeze and each other’s company.  

Sunday was SeaWorld.  We met Sharon and her sister Jo at the front gates.  A was having back trouble and K was just exhausted, so we were pretty mellow.  We tried to see most of the shows, but left Atlantis for another visit. It was weird because all the shows seemed shorter and kind of dull.  Amazing to think that a killer whale flying thru the air or dolphins jumping and spinning could be dull, but it was.  K, T & I did ride Shipwreck Rapids once, but none of us wanted to get soaked, so once was enough.  Plus we were all squashed together in the seat, which wasn’t pleasant. By the end of the day, we were fried: physically (sunburned) & mentally.  

Monday morning we met S & J for breakfast then took a Trolley to Seaport Village.  A & I had never been there before, which is amazing considering how many times we’ve gone to San Diego.  It’s a cute little collection of shops and restaurants.  We took the Seal tour, which is a land/water vehicle that drove us back to Shelter Island and then trolled around the bay.  The best part of the tour was a floating bait shop which attracts groups of sea lions.  The sea lions were all chillin’ out and there were several cubs in the group.  We also saw an area where the Navy trains dolphins to do reconnaissance.  All we could see of the dolphins was an occasional fin poking out of the water, but it was way more exciting than the shows at Sea World.  I know, weird huh?  

We stopped for lunch on the way out of town and talked to go back again in July.  I think we were all a little disappointed with the trip.  We were planning on taking Courtney & Chloe to Disneyland this summer, but we’ll probably take them to SW and maybe Legoland instead.  Of course if we do go back this summer I might not get A home again.  

Sadly when we got home Sadie wasn’t doing well. She didn’t greet us at the door, and she was very lethargic.  T kept her company and K brought her water.  She died at four in the morning, coming into the office to say goodbye to A.  Now some of our favorite family memories will be tainted with one of our saddest memories: losing our beloved Sadie.

Productivity Principles

As it turns out, writing five articles a day is more difficult than I thought.  I’ve been off work all week, hanging out at home w/ K as she recuperates from surgery and I still haven’t written five articles a day. How am I going to manage it when I’m back to work and have less time?  I’m not giving up; I’ve just got to find my groove.   This week has gone by so fast, and I haven’t gotten anything accomplished, aside from rest and relaxation.  I always feel guilty after taking it easy.  It seems like there is always so much to do and so little time, but really whether or not I clean the kitchen or mop the floors doesn’t matter in the long run.  I have to believe that my writing will matter in the long run. No matter if anyone reads what I write, it is the way I make sense of my world. 

Taking action is non negotiable. Knowing what, when and how to take action can yield huge rewards.

What - The Pareto principle (also known as the 80-20 rule) states that 80% of outcomes result from 20% of actions.  It’s critical to know what actions produce those results.  Watching movies, reading books, napping (all of which are my favorite activities) don’t yield results.   I don’t count them as a total loss though, because I will write movie or book reviews.  Even so, reviews are not the focus of my writing, so even though I take the time to write them, they don’t yield much value.  My writing time is better spent writing articles, short stories or books. While I dream of writing and publishing novels I don’t spend a great deal of time writing fiction because my income comes from articles.  This is where it gets a bit tricky, focusing on long term goals rather than short term. 

When - Knowing when your mind is sharp and you’re at your peak performance.  For me, I work best mid morning and early afternoon.  Too early in the morning and I just imagine crawling back between the covers. Too late in the evening and my mind shifts to neutral while I idle in front of the TV.  Working during my peak hours produces more quality and quantity.  I schedule my day to ensure I optimize my performance, with routine tasks (checking email, paying bills, preparing queries) done in the morning, writing through lunch and then personal tasks (chores, errands, dying my grey hairs) done in the evening.   Without a plan for your day you can burn hours before doing any actual work.

How - I turn off the TV, radio and phone.  I ask my kids to give me some space and remove as many distractions as possible.  At home I maintain a consistent, productive environment.  The habit of getting a cup of coffee, sitting at my desk and booting up my computer puts me into work mode. Each step is a switch, turning on my creativity and productivity.  I work in bursts, allowing 30 minutes for each task, whether I complete it or not.  Limiting the time spent on each task keeps me engaged and energized.  My self imposed limits create tension, which inspires me to take action; quickly and efficiently.

No amount of planning can replace action.   Even on days when I don’t feel inspired I try to write.  Most days I’m able to get into the groove and accomplish something.  Not everything; never everything, but something.

 Tips to be More Productive - And Write More!

Going Broke (again)

My most recent goal is to write 5 articles a day: one each for LH, PF or HUB, WP or SQ, Icebarrel & Fictionway. So far I’ve managed just 1 article a day. It’s better than nothing, which is what I’ve accomplished the last few months. A’s business was such a booming success, it became my focus. Now it appears we’ll be going out of business thanks to the FDA. I wish it had lasted longer because we certainly needed the income and A certainly needed the boost to his confidence.

Money has always been a touchy subject in our household, even when we have enough. I guess it’s because we know how quickly it can be gone and we’re both afraid of being broke. Though I have to admit, some of my most valuable life lessons occurred because we were broke. They were lessons learned the hard way, but they’ve stuck with me all these years.

Don’t borrow to spend more than you can afford and know exactly how much you spend and how much you can afford.

It seems simple enough now, but at the time A & me were learning these particular lessons, they were completely foreign to us. We had massive credit card debt, two new cars in the driveway, two homes and three mortgages. Then A lost his job and we had a pile of unpaid bills, threatening letters and foreclosure notices. We started small, figuring out exactly how much we needed each month for the necessities: rent, utilities, food and gas. Everything else was considered a luxury, including: clothing, eating out, vacations and entertainment. When the kids needed new clothes, I shopped at Goodwill or Savers. I’m not embarrassed by that, because you do what you have to do.

Eventually I took out a hardship loan on my 401K to pay most urgent bills; we sold both our new cars, lost our real estate in NM and tried our best to start over. There’s no such thing as a clean start though, because those bad debts followed us for years. And those hard times haunt our memories.

We’re both afraid of what the future holds, but I do know that we will make it through together. We’ve faced hard times before and they passed. At least we know more today then we did before. We’re not in debt, we only spend what we can afford and we know just what we spend and what we can afford. Sometimes we have to make do with less, but that’s a small sacrifice. Come to think of it, maybe it’s no sacrifice at all.

Blank Page

I opened my day timer today and saw a blank page. I am usually confronted with a page full of scribbles, appointments, reminders and goals. Seeing that blank page this morning reminded me that every day is a new beginning and we choose what we write on it.

I can fill my day with unfinished business of the past or I can start today with an eye on the future.

How many blank days have I filled with regrets, unfulfilled desires or unresolved conflicts? Too many to count. I’ve wallowed in regret for a past squandered in idle pursuits and grieved the books unwritten, the games never played and the friendships never forged. I’ve focused on the shortcomings of my circumstance rather than the blessings bestowed. I’ve refused to forgive my father or the boy in 5th grade who called me fat. I hold tightly to every slight, insult and betrayal, rather real or imagined so they may never be forgotten.

But today my page is blank and I realize I get to choose what to write upon it. I choose to write faith and hope that I will succeed in my pursuits. I choose to give thanks for the people who I love and who have loved me in return. And I choose to let go of a hurtful past so one day I might not remember it so vividly.

Moving forward in 2009

The last few months have been a little crazy for me. Actually a LOT crazy.  Our project went live in December, so I spent most of the month in the command center, asking more questions then I answered.  Actually, it was a great learning experience.  Fred asked if I wanted to be Operations Lead for S&OP this year and I agreed.  No more $, lots more responsibility and stuff to learn.  When I look back over the last two years though, I’ve come a long way already.  At least my job is challenging, and once in a while, rewarding.  Heck, with all the bad news, at least I have a job.   

Besides working like mad in December, I also had to deal w/ the holidays. It’s less and less like fun and more and more like work.  I think Christmas is just more enjoyable and special when there are little ones around.  I love my kids, and I love spending that time with them, but it’s just not the same. Christmas morning when they woke up at o’dark thirty and were jumping for joy to see Santa came, yet again.  Kids make Christmas magical.  We did have a day of baking which was fun. The girls invited over a friend and we made batches of cookies to share.  We put up both trees, but only finished decorating one.  At least that will make the un-decorating easier.  Unfortunately, B was in the hospital for a week with terrible pneumonia. The docs weren’t sure if she had TB or not so they kept her quarantined until they could biopsy her lungs. There’s still a possibility she has the big C, but I’m sure it was just pneumonia.  Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were at Mom’s.  They were low key, but enjoyable.  

Then we headed out to Albuquerque to do Christmas with A’s family.  Nothing like four Christmas’s in a row.  We spent a little time w/ P, T & the girls.  C is so excited about coming to visit us this summer.  I told A I’d like to take her and her sister to Disneyland this summer.  Kids make Disneyland magical too.  I sincerely hope we’re able to do that.  This might be K’s last summer vacation w/ mom and dad.  I doubt it, but you never know. She’ll be 18 in 4 months and lots can change after that.  

I’m really looking forward to the New Year.  I have great hopes for K after she graduates and T is doing spectacular in HS.  I intend to write, write, write and really make my blogs a success.  The extra income is nice, but ultimately I’d like to have something to fall back on if times continue to be tough.  I feel like I took a few steps back in 2008 and want to move forward in 2009.  

Before I make my list of resolutions I like to take a look back.  It’s too easy to focus on the mountain to climb in front of you, instead of focusing on how far the journey has already taken you.

In 2008, I changed my resolution strategy.  Rather than massive changes on day one, I planned to change one thing each month. I was much more successful than years past, because I changed more things and the changes have lasted longer.  Of course some changes  - Lose Weight, Exercise, Simplify, Organize, Write, Budget  - are works in progress, while others were slam dunks:

Quit Drinking Sodas

Monthly Date Night w/ Kids

Cook Dinner 5 nights a week

Chore a Day

Read More

Watch less TV

I’ve made a lot of progress towards simplifying and organizing, but there are loads (literally) more to do.  I’ve done considerable work on FW & ICE, but PF needs more attention and so does my fiction.  My 2009 goals look similar to 2008.    

Lose Weight

            Eliminate soda

            Reduce caffeine, sugar, sweeteners & carbs

            Eat more protein, veggies and fruit.

Get Fit

            Walk

            Dance

            Play

Develop Friendships

            Work

            Church

Finish Projects

            Paint

            Repairs

            Improvements

Budget

            College Fund

            Pay off debt

Write

            Finish SS

            Rewrite Betrayal

            Finish Wandering

            Publish

Read

            Non fiction book each month

Limit TV

Dress for Success

Organize/Simplify

            Photos

            Storage

FW/ICE/PF/NR/LH

            Open Bookstore

            Article a day

            Social Bookmarking

Speak Up

Meditate