The Lady or the Tiger

When faced with the choice of the Lady or the Tiger, the main character of the story clearly knew what he wanted, just didn’t know which door held a warm embrace and which held claws and jaws.

But what if each door is clearly labeled and you still don’t know which one is best?

That’s the choice I face…between 2 very good and positive choices, and I can’t do both.

I have a family reunion coming up next month, and it’s out of state. Going to the family reunion is a good ambition…renewing old acquaintances and forging new bonds, kids getting to know their cousins, aunts and uncles, spending time with the wife and kids when it’s not all about bills, chores, and errands,etc. Besides, we REALLY need a getaway.

Here’s the obstacle…to go, we need $$. We need to do $600-800 in car repairs, and the trip will cost $900 (and that may be a conservative estimate).

Now, by show of hands, how many of you have that kind of money just sitting around earning interest?? Come on, raise them high…Anyone? Anyone? (Bueller? Bueller?)

I didn’t think so.

If we go, we would have to go deeper into debt to make the trip, and I need a second job anyway, as we are not really making ends meet. I am looking for one, but having a hard time finding something that I can do, given my time constraints and other limitations.

If we don’t, not only will we miss out on the stress relief and the bonding time, but there will be a certain amount of depression about having missed out on vacation and reunion yet again.

So I am forced to choose between 2 equally good options…bond with family, or improve our financial situation. No matter which one I choose, I have to turn my back on the other. And they both have claws…much like the Lady and the Tiger.

Thanks to Matt Ephraim and Phoney Nickle for allowing use of the pics.

Facebook (vs blogging)

I haven't posted on here in a while, as I tend to get my online fix from Facebook. I had looked to the blogosphere for some interaction, and that need/want is filled much better on Facebook. I still miss the writing part of blogging, and would like to do more of that. I have no idea if I will blog regularly, but I may blog just to write from time to time.

On my mind now is the Facebook phenomenon. I am loving it, as I have found so many friends that I had no way to contact. Some of them, I had thought if finding, but had no idea where to start. Some of them, I had actually tried to find, to no avail. Now, they're coming out of the woodwork! I have even "met" some new cousins and other relatives, as they marry into the family. I'm looking forward to meeting them in person at the family reunion coming up later this summer.

My last blog entry was on the death of an acquaintance from Flagstaff AZ where I used to live. I was rather surprised and saddened to hear of his passing, and needed to get my feelings sorted out. I took the post down (see previous post) with the intent of posting it again later, as a sort of tribute to this good man. I looked at it just now, and have decided it's too personal to post. Still, it helped me put my thoughts in order and sort out my feelings. You can't get that on Facebook. Not really.

I still like to write, though, so I will keep my toe in this pool too. For those of you who have read my blog (all 4 of you), feel free to add me on Facebook (just let me know your real name, so I don't delete the invite!).

Thanks to Facebook and Churl for the use of the pics.

sad news

I just learned today that a friend of mine died this morning. I learned about it in Facebook...his brother put it in his status msg. I wrote a blog about it, but his widow asked that the Facebook note be taken down, as she was getting phone calls and wasn't ready for that yet. So...I have deleted my post as well, just to make sure it doesn't become a negative for her. I may repost it later.

Let me tell you about my relationship with Sleep.
We had a deep friendship, but we have drifted.
You could say we have a nodding acquaintance,
And when we get together, it is often brief and restless.

I frequently wish for more,
But with how busy and hectic life can be…
Sometimes there’s just no time.
Oh well, one can dream.

Stress? What stress?

Several weeks ago, a coworker asked me in an IM what had been stressful in my life…is that a loaded question or what?!? Here’s the gist of my response:

My Durango died an unspectactular but fairly final death on Christmas eve day so we got rid of it, we had to buy another used car (with money we didn’t have) which had to go in the shop after only a day and a half (which cost $600 we didn’t have), we got hit with unexpected bills in Jan and Feb totaling another $1400 (which we didn’t have), my daughter is talking (again) about going to Australia for college, then decided she isn’t going (for now at least), my son is being difficult with everyone, my sister in law asked my brother for a divorce out of the blue, and in the last 2 weeks, I have had hives that lasted for days and bronchitis.

How are you?

In the end, we decided that as long as we can laugh about it, there’s hope.

Allow me to wax political for a moment

I know I haven't posted on here in a while...I have become addicted to Facebook and all the people I am reconnecting with. I love it, even though my wife teases me about my addiction.

I have also fallen behind on checking my email...I haven't had enough time for it in a long time, but it's gotten worse lately - I had 535 unread emails this morning...after deleting the junk. These are funnies or commentary type emails, as well as more traditional communication.

One that I read today had this video included:

Here are the thoughts I sent to my friend...I don't usually get so soapbox-ish with friends, but wanted to put my feelings out there in a tactful way, seeing as we differ on this topic. Let me also say that I don't usually get so political on my blog, but I wanted to share this one.

Here is what I said:

I have mixed feelings about this video...we criticized him for not having experience, and now that he is surrounding himself with experienced advisers,he 's getting slammed for that too. I support the idea of surrounding himself with experienced people, but am not happy that many of them came from the Clinton admin.

As for the stimulus package, I have mixed feelings about that too. I am worried about the national debt, but am looking forward to what it can do for me. Since we have cut our income (of necessity), we can't handle the debt we have, and have gotten in deeper for the long term (or middle term) in trying to manage the short term. We are trying to learn better habits, but could use the stimulus help while we "learn to fish."

I didn't want the man in the office, but I like quite a few of the things he is doing...some changes (like limiting lobbyist influence for example) are ones that have been talked about, but no one has ever tried to do them. I like some of what is being done with the stimulus package, but there is the usual political wrangling and everyone is trying to get their pet projects on it as a rider.

Do I like all of his actions and stances? No. But overall, I think he's better than I thought he would be. Sadly, many in my own Republican party are looking bad when they dig in their heels and hold on to the party politics rather than assessing his ideas on their own merits...just like each party has done with the other party for years and years.

George Washington warned us about using a 2 party system. I wish we had listened.

I NEVER liked Clinton or anything he did in office...yes, I was one of THOSE. I'm sure you can think of some in your life who are that way with our current or most recent president. Now, I have come to be one of those who believes that we should support whoever is in office...not blindly, (being a blind follower is almost as bad as being a blind opposer) but by being engaged intellectually in what is going on in our country, state or city. I believe that we should give their ideas an honest chance, considering them on their own merits instead of just dismissing them because of who made the suggestion, or because their party.

Can you tell that I hate politics? You have no idea how much I wish we had listened to George Washington.

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