Fashion Undies!

Why didn't I think of this?!?

So easy! Guys have been wearing patterned boxers forever and colored briefs but why not patterned briefs? It would seam apropos as the generation first introduced to underoos is now men, that we shouldn't have to give up on cool looking undies.

DESIDERATA

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of the time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery, but let this not blind you to what virtue there is, many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in times of sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be good to yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrman, 1927

Chevy SSR Raffle

Want to try and win this car?!?

For $100 this Chevy SSR could be yours. As part of General Motors ongoing support of Affirmations they have donated the SSR for a raffle. The proceeds from which will go to help support the Capital Campaign for the Centers new home.

To date few tickets have sold, and sales are limited to 1000, so either way your odds of winning are good. Why not take a chance?!?

Just a helpful suggestion

Never eat tuna fish immediately before doing anything that may require you to where a dust mask.

Speaking of Taxes

Just found out that on top of having a portion of my trip to San Antonio tax deductible for job search reasons, I could potential deduct the remainder due to doctor prescribed relaxation treatment (we call them vacations). Oh my! Of course I still need to justify the expenditure as unemployment isn't going to go too far, all the same it may be a good thing for me.

Oh my! It is big!

It's no wonder gay men are drawn to Toronto!

What to do, what to do

A* is off to TO this weekend. He will be taking the Hummer and cannot stop talking about it. Myself on the other hand will be spending the weekend at home. Normally this would be a good thing as we do spend a fair amount of time together so time apart is appreciated; however I've spent the last month at home without a job. While I have definitely spent some time working on finding a job and interviewing I have also spent quite a bit of time inside this otherwise empty house. It gets to bit dull after awhile.

That said I have many other issues to attend to in my life right now and should definitely avail myself to the time that I have. Going to the gym, working on the home renovations, and doing so various stuff on-line are definite things that I WANT to do. It is only a matter of coordinating those things with the rest of my expectations that I need to balance. I suppose that should be more than enough to keep me occupied for the next week let alone until Monday! So be it.

San Antonio

Thoughts on Texas. It may not be the most liberal state in the country and the political shenanigans that have gone on there lately leave much to be desired. All the same it might be nice out there who knows?!? At least I certainly do not. Well, that may change. I have previously thought about going somewhere for a vacation and why not Texas? It will be plenty warm, although really anything would be warmer than here and it does have a lot to do. Not to mention the fact that I would like to interview out there and thus may be able to deduct some of the expense from next years taxes. (Having just finished 2004 it is fresh on my mind)

So let's have a go of it. I want to do a little more research to make sure I don't waste my time and it would be nice to be able to know I will have money to pay for the trip but hey isn't that the point of the trip. Take a chance...

Moving Forward

It seems more and more clear that I should look beyond where I am right now. I have thought about getting out of town, both for the weekend and forever. It would make sense then to perhaps intermingle the two in the form of job interviews or at least prospecting. I have in the past thought about going the Toyota way and know that the last great hope for the industry lays in that direction. They have a new project going up in Texas which is both some where I've though about visiting and living in previously. This may be that chance. I still need a few things to come into alignment but we can work on that right?!?

How do you plead?!?

Things went smoother than I would have expected but then it is my impression it is more about bringing in revenue rather than punishing, preventing or rehabilitating. Due to a paperwork glitch I had the lesser of the two issues dropped and the other reduced. Fees and penances have yet to be levied as I have been asked to participate in a "mock trial" at one of the local high schools. This should be interesting. According to consul things should be more lenient as a courtesy for participating. Let's hope so. Still I would have almost rather had this over so that I could get on with it. Waiting and wondering is the worst part of it all.

On an interesting side note we got to see one of the "dancers" from the Troll Coast... I mean Gold Coast get it for a page long list of items. Not surprised, still he didn't seem to care for the sentence and looked quite scared. My guess is he was a Top, and I stress was. (giggles)

Tick tock

Tomorrow is the big day. Or at least the next big day in what will ultimately lead up to The Big Day. I'm nervous to be sure, but oddly calm. I suppose much has to do with the fact that I cannot do much about the past and the future outcome is yet to be determined. Worrying about it to much beyond planning and putting that plan aside until needed is pointless. I do want it to be over and tonight it is starting to hit me again that this is still going to require my full efforts and will obviously effect me for the rest of my life. Let keep our fingers crossed shall we!?!

Well DUH!!!

So it would appear that I am chronically depressed. That and $2.00 will get you a latte. I paid a lot of money for someone to tell me that I'm depressed! Now I will grant him that the diagnosis is slightly more involved than that and the whole of the diagnosis is dead on. I mean some of my friends or family probably don't know me as well as someone who may read that report. Thank God it's confidential. But, really! Did I need to pay someone for that information? Especially given that the result is... "You, should probably see a therapist to work through some of this and develop a plan to manage this." Isn't that why I came to you in the first place?!? Thanks Bud. No who do I make the check out to?

Happy VD

I had to... So Happy Valentine's Day!

I started a tradition a few years back of signing off on my e-mails with "Know that you're loved," on Valentine's Day. There are times when I take it off, more so lately with the many e-mails to prospective employer's but still I believe there is much value in it.

It started off as a response to many things that where going on in my life at the time. I was single and depressed (more later) and desperately needed to feel loved myself at the time. I knew I loved many others, in varying degrees, and so it goes that I send out my e-mail with a simple note.

I was also fed up with the Christian Right feeding us this "Love the sinner, hate the sin" BS, that clearly was the current lie-de-jour. I even recall one particularly vile so called Christian us the "I love you and that is why I want you to see the pain you are causing yourself. Don't you see how unhappy you are?" It was of course the perfect ruse. First establish a system that persecute a group and then tell them that you feel for their pain, while avoiding the root cause, and offer to help by changing who they are. So the statement that she loved me felt so false and shallow that I joked that we were loved.

The truth is I am glad that I did that and continue to use it as often as I can. So... Until next time.

Know that you're loved,

D

The rule of unintended consequences

Not having a job right now means that I can sleep-in if I want. Being the type of person who relishes sleep, but rarely having the opportunity to do so I rather enjoy being able to get up when I please. The down side to that is that I don't feel like I get enough done during the day. Sure I have a decent lead on a job right now so I best take advantage of the chance while it lasts but that is sort of like putting all of my eggs in one basket. Outside of job hunting, there are plenty of things that I can do around the house that I should be doing as well not to mention that A* might appreciate. The largest down side is that it is now almost 1AM am I'm not the least bit tired. Unintended consequence. I cannot fall asleep at night.

Having spent the last few weeks with NPR playing in the background I have begun to realize that most things these days have unintended consequences. Think about it - Social Security, the Iraq War, Smoking Ban's you name it and you can probably find some out come that was not only not anticipated but counter productive. I hope to go through some of these issues in more detail as they seem to be interesting to me and I hope to you.

Not that I think they are all unintended and that is where some of the most fierce debates will come.

Stay tuned...

Afternoon Tea at Tiffany's

Oh the fun I could have had. We met with the local store director at Tiffany & Co. to discuss their sponsoring Affirmation's Big Bash 2005. They were more excited about it than we were, if that it possible. Their initial response is that they will be donating a bar set put together from their collection of sterling sliver ware and crystal. I cannot wait to see what the final product will be.

It was real fun to be behind the scene's at the store, even the general office's have an air of sophistication to them. Being just before Valentine's Day they had several pieces pulled together for a spot on Channel 7, tomorrow. The diamond selected was 3 plus carets. My eyes are still spinning.

It's not Nick

I am baby sitting for my twin this weekend. The little guy is only 3 1/2, as he will gladly inform you, but it is already clear he will be a sharp one. His mother is a physical therapist and has taken the opportunity during the lull at various sporting events to teach him almost every bone in the body as well as some muscle groups. I love it. He will also quickly correct you that his name is not Nick it is Nicholas. That particullar trait I suspect comes from my brother who from birth on insisted that we reffer to him by his full name. (I know I was thinking that was kinda gay too, but hey...) Anyway it should be a blast and I hope to update with some of our adventures.