Life lessons

I am starting to learn from others. Sounds funny, but I never really got that before. Usually, I would only learn by going through the experience. Thus I have had a lot of good (and bad) experiences.

Gratefully I think that has all changed. Two major events stand out in my mind.

First, I started reading a book where suicide plays an important role in the storyline. Obviously, no one talks about 'off-ing themselves' regularly, but I think many people have at least given it a brief thought when going through a trial. The book has forced my to rethink a lot of the things for which I am grateful. They all seem so petty when I put everything in the right perspective.

Second, a friend of mine recently had an affair that will end his 25 year marriage. This is a full blown affair, not just some flirtatious thing with the office worker, but a full blown crazy sex on the beach, stealthy vacations together type affair. He hasn't talked about it with anyone except for me. Legal proceedings are being held quietly, but it is clear that his family is broken. The other day I asked if the sexual gratification was worth it. His immediate response was that it wasn't and that he missed his soon to be ex wife. During a brief downturn in his long marriage, he started entertaining his doubts and desires. He let himself violate his principles and obligations for a brief moment of satisfaction and (not necessarily sexual) gratification that he thought was lacking in his marriage. I think that all of us want to be wanted and appreciate it when someone lets you feel that way. I think he wanted that from his wife and when that was absent, he went somewhere else. No one is winning in this situation.

Now, when I think about the alternative realities in which I could exist, I have two strong events that time me to my path dependent future. I am glad to be able to learn from others and not have to experience it all.

the Bavarian queen

It finally happened, I brought home an older woman. Dearest followers, may I introduce you to my 37 year old Bavarian queen.

Her interests include the open road, sunny days, the twisties, and a little throttle now and then.

She's got some pretty big jugs (450 CCs on each side) that hang low and straight out to the side.


I have a wide seat, she has a wide seat. It does make her a little curvy, but who doesn't like a little curve?

Yes, she's been around the block a couple of times, but I still like her. A lot.

Obsession

I have been overwhelmed with everything motorcycle. I can't think straight, I can't work, I can't sleep- okay, I can sleep, but motorcycles haunt my dreams.

In my search for the perfect bike, I came across the coolest bicycle ever. I want one. I need one. But if I get it, I'll still want the perfect motorcycle.

Be careful what you wish for

With unrest in Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, and now Jordan. Some may think that other countries should follow this lead and overthrow their governments in order to usher in democratic reforms. Governments are also scrambling, trying to prevent these problems from spilling across their borders.

Not that I am against change, but a sudden overthrow of many governments may not be what we all want. On average, a dictator is almost always better than chaos. In the 'good old days,' Saddam kept the violence down by getting rid of troublemakers. Even at present, the Saudis are very effective in keeping order by rooting out troublemakers. Democracy requires that we allow these people a say in government, but herein lies the problem... incorporating all idiots into the process doesn't make the process better, it just makes it more fair. Fairness doesn't ensure a successful rule, in fact it sounds like a horrible idea. Just look at the political problems back home (either California, or the USA) for an example.

Inexperienced leaders trying to incorporate diverse opinions and rule by consensus in unruly countries just doesn't sound like a great idea to me. No representative can represent all of the interests of all of their constituents... it is simply impossible. Someone will always be left out, and someone will always have a grievance against government. I'm not against overthrowing a government to remove a bad leader - this is the essence of the democratic process. I am against the results of such large scale civil unrest. These are; crumbled states wherein all suffer a lack of general security, reduced infrastructure capacity, threats of violence from extremist groups, a false belief that democracy will solve all problems, and an eventual return to strong-man style leadership.

Don't accuse me of being a Pollyanna.

S.A.D in effect - high school style

With my wife's acquisition of a puppy, a couple of weeks of rainy weather, and an overwhelming amount of work that I'm not finishing, I have fallen into a funk. Luckily, I am teaching an undergrad class that permits me a little instant gratification. If it weren't for that class, I would really be down.

When I was in high school (Ohio), I began to recognize a seasonality in my attitude, as reflected through my music tastes. The spring was full of light or happy music, the summer turned to classic rock, the fall was a mixed bag of a 'heavier' music, but by the time that winter came, I was driving full-speed into bass-laden, hard-driving, almost hateful music - the louder the better. Before I know about SAD, I knew that one reason my music library was so diverse was simply due to the change of season. If I was aware that my choice of music, my state of mind, and the seasons were all intertwined. Now this may be obvious to everyone, but to me it is was an important revelation.

So, about two weeks ago, I recognized that I was cracking open some of my old high school music. Some of which I haven't listen to for more than a decade. While it is fun to get some of my emotion out through loud music, it probably isn't the best 'tool' to use.

Normally, I wouldn't have this attitude, but I'm ready to be done with this winter.

Not a record, but a close second

Today's travel time to work 1h50min. The record is 2h02min, but that was during rush hour. Today I left my house at 4:30am, hoping to avoid the rush. This is the second day in a row that a wreck caused the clog. Today it was a tractor trailer. Yesterday it was a 7 car pile-up. By pile-up, I mean that they were actually on top of each other - hood under bumper style.

20th Anniversary for a working stiff

About this time 20 years ago, I was applying for my first job. When June rolls around, I will be able say that I have been employed (or on full-time voluntary service) for 18 out of the last 20 summers. For the last 15 years, I have had two summers of unemployment, but only because I was in transition from undergrad to grad school, and later from L&C to CSUF. There were about 6 months of unemployment outside of those summers, but otherwise I've been employed. I don't know why I thought this was interesting. I feel old.