[Seattle]

imported post

You will be fine James, deep breath, reflect....smile, you have a good life.

CJ

TVDinner wrote:

Monday monday monday, crazy week ahead with a lot of work, a super short week, the holiday, and maybe a baby coming, but who knows. will update more later. have to run now to a meeting.

 

[Seattle]

imported post

"i will have a good day!!"

Yes you will!
CJ

WATCHURSELF wrote:

Deep Breath in - i am breathing deeply inwards, deep breath out - i am breathing deeply outwards,

deep breath in - i am acquiring much needed energy from the Universe, deep breath out -i am exhaling used up tired energy to the universe to be re-cycled

everything is as it should be - i will have a good day!!

 

[Seattle]

imported post

Our "almost 2" does the same. She is so wound up most of the time and loves interaction. I have to stop sometimes and remember that we are her world.........and go into monster mode and chase her around the house.
It's a constant barrage of Papa, Papa, Papa...........:b

CJ

WATCHURSELF wrote:

oh just wait - it gets better

my son is 9 and its always papa this and papa that!!

sometimes you just gotta stop and listen cause they are what its all about!!!

 

[Seattle]

imported post

Good stuff as always James; thank you.
I traveled the world for 2 years for business. I was gone for 6 weeks at a time. I saw a little bit of everything. On my last trip, upon my return I kissed the American soil.

CJ

TVDinner wrote:

Because We ARE Americans
Because we are Americans we perceive the world around us in a warped way. Our view of life, which is occasionally both unique and distorted, has made us the envy of many people around the world.

We have slowly over time forgotten what it means to earn a living through hard work, sweat, and elbow grease. Reality television, the media, and MTV have influenced the young people in America to dismiss the concept of excellence. They now expect the symbols and substance of success to be handed to them, no matter how foolish they look to achieve it. A new luxury car is more important then three healthy square meals for hungry children. We expect instant gratification, rather than giving 110% to achieve more then we ever dreamed of. The antics of OctoMom, John and Kate, and Simon Cowell have clouded the vision of a large percentage of our nation’s young population.
Because we ARE Americans.

Why make the effort to understand foreign cultures when we are obsessed with the private worlds of entertainment stars and “winner take all” lives? Why waste time studying history when yesterday’s winning lottery numbers are more important? Project Runway, Big Brother, and WWE Raw regularly score higher ratings then the local evening news. National news broadcasts are so dismal that they are almost impossible to sit through. “If it bleeds, it leads”, is the new media mantra. Sadly, even after the terrible morning when the Twin Towers fell, Ben Affleck stirs more interest for most Americans then Bin-Laden.
Because we ARE Americans.

Presidents are no longer elected based on their policies or what they stand for, but for how they look and how much money they spend. Slick television commercials focus on negative issues and personal attacks instead of realistic solutions. The an$!ysts and talking heads babble endlessly about the results of last week’s opinion polls and the most recent corporate and political scandals. All while Republicans and Democrats alike ignore real issues such as unemployment, the national debt, shrinking natural resources, and crime. Their lips seem to be moving yet nothing meaningful is actually said, year after year after year.
Because we ARE Americans.

One day it’s carbohydrates, the next protein or fats. Can you eat the egg yolks or not? Are we decreasing the length of our lives to be thin now? Do we care? Today’s craze is tomorrow’s health crisis. Extreme Makeover and “before and after” television shows are all the rage. Exercise? Why? It’s easier to jump from the South Beach diet to the plastic surgeon’s operating table. The Surgeon General has been replaced by The Zone and low carbohydrate diets. What is more important these days: an Atkins approved product or one approved by the FDA? The answer is obvious...Atkins of course! When Jared from Subway loses over 200 pounds, he is more influential to the dietary and health practices in our country than Lance Armstrong or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Can we all say the word “irony” together.
Because we ARE Americans.

Marriage is not longer sacred. Historically we would assume the same political beliefs as our parents. If mom and dad were Democrats, then so were you. Now we pass along something far more serious to our children – divorce. It seems that our priorities have gotten all out-of-whack. When did we stop caring? When did we stop compromising and taking the time needed to make relationships last? Do we fully understand the hardships associated with a generation of single parent children? Getting married used to mean more then just a sparkly ring and fancy certificate. Now, keeping track of how many times J-Lo and Britney have been engaged is glorified in magazines and on TV scorecards. We passionately and pointlessly debate if gay marriages are acceptable when we should be concentrating on keeping ANY marriage together. The divorce lawyers and the diamond companies are laughing all the way to the bank.
Because we ARE Americans.

Churches and synagogues are no longer sacred ground for our children. Sports greats get arrested regularly. Music and entertainment stars are no better. Positive role models don’t seem to exist any more. The local police, please. Donald Trump, whatever. George W, don’t make me laugh. We curse regularly and are generally unfriendly without reason. We distrust without pretense and never seem satisfied with the daily grind. We live FAR beyond our means.
Because we ARE Americans.

We always seem to rally together in response to tragedy. Yet while others have been suffering for centuries with seemingly no end in sight, we still expect their sympathy when disaster comes knocking on our front door. Our news media gives full coverage of three deaths from a tornado in Mississippi, while barely mentioning or just outright ignoring 3,000 deaths in India or the Sudan, Our memory is selective and arrogant. In our frustration and outrage we expect the same people who would celebrate and revel in the burning of an American flag to mourn along with us.
Because we ARE Americans.

Bottom line, we think we are better then everyone else. We effortlessly fall back on catch phrases like “freedom of religion” or “liberty and justice for all”. In the same breath we belittle the traditions, religions, and cultures of all those who don’t look, think or smell like us. How quickly we forget that our history books are filled with the persecution of our own people because of racism, discrimination, and unfair profiling, much of which still exists today. Yet we still hold true to one belief. One simple value that is inbred into each of us from the second we are born on American soil - that we are better then everyone else in the world.
Because we ARE Americans.

However, despite everything that I have said, oppressed people from all over the world keep coming to America's shores. They just keep coming. Even with all of our painful shortcomings and deficiencies, we remain a beacon of hope to millions of less fortunate people who look to our nation as a path to a better life. Our way is still the desired way, for all that might be wrong with it.
Because we ARE Americans!

 

[Seattle]

imported post

Hard to read James, nevertheless a necessary read. Thank you.

CJ

 

[Seattle]

imported post

I agree; with Alli learning new stuff everyday I hate missing anything she does. But still gotta work and travel is part of it.........at the very least have a safe and meaningful trip and then get back home!! LOL

CJ



TVDinner wrote:

Watching football, spending time with the family and packing today. I leave at 5am tomorrow for a week long trip to FL, Alabama (to go to our 2 offices in those states) and eventually New Orleans for a big conference/convention.

I have to admit that I really REALLY hate being away from home now.

 

[Seattle]

imported post

OK Rick.....you're dumb!!!LOL:%:%:%:% (too easy)

Still love ya man!!!


CJ


CurrentTime wrote:

TVDinner wrote:

Watching football, spending time with the family and packing today. I leave at 5am tomorrow for a week long trip to FL, Alabama (to go to our 2 offices in those states) and eventually New Orleans for a big conference/convention.

I have to admit that I really REALLY hate being away from home now.

Call me dumb, but I had no idea we could respond to folk's Blogs!

I can really appreciate your feelings of not wanting to be away from home. I hope that you have a safe trip and that you get back ASAP to your loving family!

 

[Seattle]

imported post

Brrrr.....James! Well, you know the ole saying, better you than me! LOL
Chapstick, gloves and hot coffee should be in your pack. Be safe pal!

CJ

 

[Seattle]

imported post

2 votes my friend!!! Good Luck!
I will network this thing out............

CJ

 

[Seattle]

imported post

The easy answer is there is no one answer. Everyone has a different capacity for caring or as you say "feeling bad".
I don't believe that a person's response to random horrific acts or events is a cross section of that person's ability to care. I think we are built differently and we all have a different ways of dealing with sadness and grief. It would be impossible to care for everyone and everything on a personal or intimate level. You would go crazy. But that does not mean that one cannot legitimately feel grief for a stranger or a circumstance. The recent earthquake, I watched them pull children from a fallen building and it brought tears to my eyes. I had to turn it off; I was not avoiding the issue, I understand and accept what has happened. I cannot watch Holocaust or Hiroshima footage, it's just how I'm wired. I think of it in terms of I care as much as I am capable for random terrible circumstances, then I need to let it go. Some people are wired to care or feel bad only for those that they are familiar with....not unusual at all. And some just don't care at all for anyone. We are all different.

 

[Seattle]

imported post

More like 12:30pm............wanna trade?



CJ



TVDinner wrote:

what a day, what a day, and it is only 3pm...

 

[Seattle]

imported post

Amen to that!

Having our daughter has really taught me to be more patient, not perfect but more patient.


CJTVDinner wrote:

I wish I was not so short fused sometimes. Can really ruin a nice situation quickly.

 

[Seattle]

imported post

Wow!! It was like a Freeks Royalty Lunch!!!

Man, I wish I could have been there but then the whole 'Royalty thing" would have been thrown right out the window!!!:%:%:%


CJ

TVDinner wrote:

This is what happens when 3 Freeks get together for lunch, lol

Kinetic Seiko, Eco Drive Citizen, Automatic Stuhrling, Automatic 7750 Invicta, Automatic Benarus, Automatic SWI

 

[Seattle]

imported post

Perfectly brilliant James

CJ

 

[Seattle]

imported post

Alli's pretty cool too.........

...........and a Ham (nevertheless adorable).

CJ

 

[Seattle]

imported post

Thanks Rick....proud would be an understatement.:b

CJ


CurrentTime wrote:

Cute kids, guys!

Looks like Sky's got your back, James! Might she be around this weekend?

CJ . . . you gotta be a proud Pop . . . Alli is adorable!:b

 

[Seattle]

imported post

Problem is James that you and I try to take a reasonable stance on an unreasonable circumstance......tends to wobble the brain.
Their reality is no where near ours.

Great post.

CJ

 

[Seattle]

imported post

In the end.....if ya got it, spend it.
It is troubling knowing that the money could set up several families for life while in their case it only means a few hours of fun. It's all relative......some could comment on the money we spend on watches and come to similar conclusions.:b

CJ

TVDinner wrote:

Seattle wrote:

Problem is James that you and I try to take a reasonable stance on an unreasonable circumstance......tends to wobble the brain.
Their reality is no where near ours.

Great post.

CJ

I agree 100%. And in this case I TOTALLY understand the $$ being spent since this is my industry and I actually KNOW some of the vendors that have been hired. I am VERY HAPPY for them and the fact they were hired. That is fantastic, especially when everyone's business is down overall. But what really bothers me is that they cold spend 1/2 of what they are spending on EVERYTHING (substitute with less expensive option, or just change all together) and still have an event that 99.9999% of the world will never ever ever ever ever experience.

 

[Seattle]

imported post

Sign me up.....I can seat 6.



CJ


CurrentTime wrote:

Sounds like a road trip is in order to crash a wedding! :l

 

[Seattle]

imported post

Hey James....how about "irregardless"? That drives me crazy!!!:BE

Derived from the word regardless which means "in spite of" or "without concern", "regardless of".....
There is no "irregardless". So "Irregardless" would mean exactly what? The opposite of regardless yet most use it in place of regardless.....:BE

Too early and too much to ponder, I have other world issues to conquer.

CJ