When I started this paper, I recorded over the last one. I usually have a copy in two different places, but, of course, the time I don’t, this happens. I am not saying I go around expecting bad things to happen. I don’t hate life before it kicks me in the rear. I like to wait until it pounds my posterior to despise my destiny. This mistake happened before anyone else found out (remember our discussion on perfectionism from Thoughts from Life 5), but I mentioned it only because honesty outweighs perfectionism. What I’m talking about is sympathy.
I want sympathy from everyone reading this paper. Most people have computers or have used computers and can understand recording over or losing saved data. I try to think of myself as a strong person who doesn’t need others to validate me, but that’s not true. I, like everyone, need to hear people comforting me, giving me encouragement and praise, and listening to me complain. If I sat in a social vacuum (as opposed to sitting inside a giant vacuum cleaner) and never got a good or bad word on anything I did, I would never feel good or bad about anything. By this time in my life, I can guess what people might say about work I’ve done, but I don’t know for sure what they will say until I actually talk to them. Communication is the only tool we have to let someone know where they’re at in life. Most people cry when they talk to me these days. I don’t know what this means.
I hope you have enjoyed the first two paragraphs of this paper. They were brought to you by my fingers. They hope you enjoyed the words.
Sarcasm is a useful tool. It is also a dangerous weapon. If used properly, sarcasm can lend a refreshingly intelligent amusement to a conversation. If used without the proper inflection and audience, it can ruin lives and cause international incidences. If you’re too sarcastic too often, even a compliment can be looked upon as insulting. People are strange about insults. Rarely are insults given from one person to another without others being involved. Many statements can be interpreted as insults if taken out of context. Rumors fly and eventually groups form. Then, it’s this group against that group. Don’t get caught up in the cycle. Prevent the improper use of sarcasm by following two simple rules:
- Don’t use sarcasm on someone unless you know they understand the concept. Sarcasm on a dog just doesn’t work.
- Don’t use sarcasm on someone unless you understand the concept. If you’re too serious and believable or you’re talking to people you don’t know well, they are going to treat your statements seriously and believe them.
People have done it before, but I’m going to put absolutely no new spin on the discussion of apples and oranges. I just hope you don’t get out much. Why don’t people want to compare apples and oranges? If you dig deep enough, similarities can be found between the two. One could compare a donkey to a dinner fork. I could say walking is like picking your nose as long as I explain myself. In both exercises, watch out for foreign objects. Anything can be both compared and contrasted. People are just lazy. I, myself, tire of explaining how the idea of God is like a piece of blank tracing paper. We don’t always think of ourselves as lazy. I do, but I’m special. I will call myself lazy, a heathen, a freak, and a nerd. It doesn’t lessen my self-esteem. It’s like calling myself a public restroom hater as opposed to an astronaut. The similarities are clear.
This paragraph is dedicated to the fact that I will eat lunch soon. I’m looking forward to it and hope I can get in some Karaoke between chewing. My dad gave me three tapes of recorded Karaoke songs. I asked for them. I go home for lunch and usually watch something I’ve recorded on video. This lunch period, I just might sing a little song. Hopefully, my neighbors enjoy the hits of the Beatles.
To update you on my life at lunch (because I know you all care about every move I make, every step I take, and you’re watching me), I did not sing. I always forget how tired I get after eating. Why don’t we have siestas in the United States? Little work actually gets done right after lunch. Some people don’t even get an hour for lunch. We don’t really need to sleep during the siesta. Just the extended time off from the job would do us good. I wonder how siestas in other countries work in today’s modern society. With cars, people can work quite a distance from where they live. Is every office equipped with beds in these countries? What if you’re not a nap person? People could go to the gym and get a real exercise regimen in on their lunch/siesta. Errands could be run.
In case you couldn’t tell from the last paragraph, I am fascinated by time. It is the commodity I love and the element of my downfall. Time is the secret to a happy life and the cause of a tragic one. People who make the most of time (without becoming workaholics) are the luckiest people in the world. They are actually the most skilled people because it is a skill to schedule your time wisely. It takes practice and a strong will to live. You heard me right, a strong will to live. Strong-willed people don’t sit around the house wondering if they want to do something or nothing for the next few hours. They survive through tragedies because they have backup plans. If one series of events doesn’t take place as scheduled, another series of events is ready to go.
Strong-willed people can be annoying friends. You try to make plans with them and they say, “How does your December calendar look?” I’m quite a good friend in this one regard (as far as actually keeping up with friends and calling them, it is a different story). I don’t have a great deal of money right now, but even when I had money, I didn’t go to many places. I could usually be reached and was available when I wasn’t working. I’ve been able to keep busy when activities were thin. I just didn’t go anywhere. I have been both a strong and weak-willed person at times in my life. The end (not of this paper, but this paragraph).
I can’t hide it anymore. I’m nervous about something. I have a job on the horizon I’m going to like and I don’t know what to do. I need to call the person back and find out about the position, but I’m at work right now. I don’t have slave drivers for bosses who wouldn’t let me make such a phone call, but I still feel funny about it. I also don’t have an enormous amount of work I have to do (which can be discerned by me typing this paragraph instead of working). I’m trying to find just the right moment to call when other employees won’t really hear what I’m saying. I’m nervous about the phone call, anyway. I don’t want to make it worse by thinking about them hearing me. I think I have an opportunity right now so I’m going to go for it. Wish me luck.
Okay, I did it. I can work fewer hours and get paid more money. I’m out of here (here meaning the job I’m currently in)! Life is looking up. I am looking up for some reason. Oh no, something bad has to happen. I’m just kidding. I don’t believe in that stuff. Life can get better and better if you let it. My life is.
This may be one of the last few times I get to write my thoughts and (kind of) get paid for it. It’s been a good run and I’ll miss doing it. I don’t think in my new job I’ll have such down time where I get paid for nothing. I’m working at the County of San Bernardino and I’ve worked at the City of Redlands. The job I will go into is a business. Businesses don’t pay people to sit around. I always kept working at the County and the City, but sometimes there was just nothing to do. I’ll still probably wear a tie at the new job, but that’s okay. I’m used to it by now. Besides, I have the outfits. I might as well wear them. I’m going to be getting paid a lot of money (I’m not rich, but I’m closer) to do something I enjoy and do it for fewer hours than I’m working now. I might have to think about whether I’m going to accept the position or not. Okay, that was good enough time. I’ll take it. Me and my bills might just be friends or at least acquaintances again.
I’m waiting for a phone call from Patti (she’s my adoring wife) to tell her about my new job. I’m sure she’s waiting until later to call me, thinking I’ll procrastinate and not make the phone call until later. Boy, is she wrong. It only took me an hour and a half to work up the courage to make the phone call. Now she needs to call me.
I just called and accepted the position. I have to be there at 9:30 am on Monday. Oh dear, I’m suffering. That’s so early. I’m scared. What will I do with my extra hour? I could … oh, I don’t know … sleep! I just talked to Patti. She’s jealous of my new job. She wants me to still get up early because she has to get up early. I’m sure she’ll get over it.
Thoughts from Life 
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