Found on desk…

Found in my desk calendar

These struck a nerve for some reason… 

Stay interested and interesting!

John

Being social

Relationships are very important in our everyday lives, at work and at home. I find that the better you get along with people and the easier you make it for them to work with you, the more willing they are. Everyone becomes more productive and understanding. This applies at home too.

Compared to many of my friends, I do much more socializing online using tools such as Facebook, Friendfeed, Twitter, etc. I find like minded people very easily and am able to spark up conversations about common interests. Being naturally introverted, I often find it difficult to do this in more open situations, at a bar for example. This is a great reason to attend Barcamps or Tweetups. At least you know that people share your interests and starting discussions will be much easier.  At work, I have much more in common with my fellow worker, but the culture in a large, long established company is different from what I gravitate towards, so it takes some work to identify those who share my passions.

So the big question becomes: How to make it better?  Well, there are probably many responses.  I tend to prefer just leaping in and asking a bunch of questions.  You just have to prepare yourself mentally and say that you really have nothing to lose.  If the person does not share your interests, perhaps there is some disappointment, but at least you know up front!   Curiosity pays off personally and professionally.  If you find that you are not comfortable or not feeling fulfilled, then you should start looking at other opportunities then figure out if it is worth the change.  There are many factors involved, so take the time to think about it! 

Another rambling post is out there for better or worse!

Stay interested and interesting!

John

Long haul

It has been a while again. Sorry for that! I have just been busy with my daughter’s activities, school and work. Also, I had a road trip to Chicago and New York! It was great fun.

At work, I have to admit that I am now challenged quite a bit and enjoy my job a lot more. I am overwhelmed at points, but actually get great support.

At home, I really need to start painting my walls. White just doesn’t cut it anymore. Now the debate about colour vs. earth tones comes up. What to do? I’m not a decorator, I’m a geek!

At school, it is all about psychology of work, which is really interesting, but I am having trouble getting motivated to write my term paper. Good thing I have a team to back me up and push me along. I like school, but some subjects pique my interest more than others…

That is about it for now. Busy! Busy! Busy!

Stay interested and interesting!!

John

Honesty

Honestly, I like to think of myself as honest.  I like to believe that I tell it like it is in a diplomatic way.  Being honest doesn’t mean you’ re an ass, it means you are truthful and open.  That being said, I know I have my flaws with honesty.

There are certain situations when politics comes in to play and we need to back up the team, tow the line or simply play the game.  Where it counts are with the people we respect and love.  These are our true friends and family.  They deserve every ounce of honesty we can give them.  We have to keep their feelings in mind, but, in the grand scheme, lying is worse than sparing someone’s feelings.  I would rather someone tell me the truth and it hurt than to be lied to.  How will I ever make myself better if I don’t know or refuse to accept it.  Sometimes, it will not be easy.  Sometimes, we need a swift kick in the ass to understand and get going.  I apprecite the kick, though most times it hurts.

Also, we need to figure out who are friends are and defend them honestly.  We have to back them up wholeheartedly.  I am guilty of not always doing this, but I want to change.  I am trying to change.  But, again, it is hard and painful.  I needed a swift kick in the ass, and, last week, I got it.  I am appreciative because now I realize that I was not avoiding pain and making things easier.  I was making it all worse.  I was letting it stew.  No more.  I am going to try harder.  So should you.

Stay interested and interesting.

John

PS: If you can get your hands on full seasons of Entourage (HBO), watch them!  There are some great messages in there and it is a great show.

Blogging

I would love to do this more and always have a lot of ideas.  My issue is actually being disciplined enough to sit down and write.  I have been reading a lot lately and I guess I just have not put a priority here.  I have also been travelling for work more lately, so something has to give.  Also, I don’t do this from my work computer or when I am on the road.  Maybe I should, just for cathardic reasons… 

How about books?!  The last book I read, Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore, was a great discovery.  It is a funny love story about vampires.  Hmmm…  Have a look at the Amazon review here.

Stay interested and interesting!

John

Found on the web – Awesome!

Bunny condom commerical

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John

Bacon

I love bacon, but realize that it is not the best thing for my health, so I limit my consumption to once a week and 3 or 4 slices.  However!  I may have to try this:  Bacon Weave!!

I can feel my arteries clogging just looking at it.

Bacon rulez!!

Stay interested and interesting!

John

Time keeps on ticking…

I used to be am a fan of Pink Floyd.  I have seen them in concert (awesome!) and have a few of their albums.  I am not a rabid fan, but I have to admit that their music is great to listen to at work and to relax.  I don’t do the drug scene, so I will have to take your word for it that Another Brick in The Wall is even better when high.   That all being said, there is a song called TIME that makes me think too much.  What is time?  Why is it so important to us?  How can you ignore it and still live in civilized society?

I don’t have the answers to those questions, but I don’t have meanderings, thoughts and ponderments (I know, not a real word…  Just put a “sic” next to it…).

First, I posit that we DO feel time differently depending on our mood and amount of change in our environment.  Just as reality is a moving target, I think time is indeed variable, but somehow we “synchronize” with the world around us as we go about our business.  Have you noticed that “time flies when you are having fun”?  Or that time seems to stand still at certain moments, like when watching water boil?  Many people make comments that time has flown by since High School for example.  My first response is to realize how much time has gone by and I seem to agree.  However, if I step back and think about how much has changed and all the experiences that I have had, it actually has not gone by that fast.  This tends to get me thinking about tangent stuff like what I coulda, woulda, shoulda done…

Second, time is important.  It is essential in coordinating our actions with others.  It is the fourth dimension we absolutely need to make meetings work.  I could tell you to meet me at the corner of Main and Water streets on the fourth floor of the building (Long, Lat, height), but if I don’t give a time, we could both be waiting a while!  However, I do believe there are times when we need to bow to our inner clock and just relax.  Vacations are an amazing opportunity to “forget” your watch, eat when you are hungry, sleep when you are tired and drink / dance / love at the earliest opportunity!

Third, I don’t think you can ignore time very much in our society.   If you do anything with technology, time is essential.  Time to download, upload, view, update and even write down your thoughts (guilty!).   All that being said, please refer to the paragraph above…

Well, time keeps on ticking and I have to get some work done.

Stay interested and interesting!

John

I am tired

Weird thing.  Every January I see to get REALLY tired and a little sick.  Generally, it takes two or three days for me to sleep through it and then I am good for a year.  I either have to manage my time better, have some sort of circadian rythm deficiency in January or I need to take more holidays.   I am going to pick the vacation reason just because that is what I feel like.

Now, what to do on vacation?  I could book a trip south somewhere like I have done in the past three years, but last March’s separation leaves me without a partner in crime.  This begs a few questions.  Do I try to get a friend to come with me and hope I don’t book during gay week?  Though that may be fun, but I am not gay (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) and don’t know how long I would get along being south without at least SOME bikini clad girls to ogle.

Maybe I just need a nap…

More to come!

Stay interested and interesting!

John

Comic relief

Sometimes, we just need to look at cute animals with captions:  icanhazcheeseburger.com has it for you!

Stay interested and interesting!

John