RedJen's Rearview Mirror

Today I stayed home and worked in my PJs. Amazing how much I got done once I actually got to work without interruptions every 5 minutes...

Nate was right, Pope John Paul I died after only 34 days as the Pontiff.

It seems crazy to me how much we treat people with kid gloves. I heard something on the way home from work last night. To paraphrase: we walk around with zippers on our mouths, in effect censoring ourselves far more effectively than any government ever could.

People are not afraid of repercussions from the government. If there is one thing that is pounded into every child’s head, it is than the First Amendment guaran-damn-tees our freedom of speech. I’m not sure that this freedom of speech is being evoked to express ideas, it seems to me that more often the First Amendment is used as a club as the reason why we are entitled to attack anyone who expresses a view counter to our own.

No it isn’t the direct hand of government, this is worse. When it is no longer safe to offer an honest opinion, how much do we lose? How can we have new ideas when no one speaks up for fear of being stoned in the streets? So much lip service is given to tolerance how everyone has the right to be unique (just like everyone else), but have you ever noticed that very few people are willing to respect the views of someone if their ideas do not match?

Tolerance is a farce and a poor final goal. I don’t have any interest in being tolerated. We tolerate things we don’t like, but cannot change and we resent being forced to do anything.

Until we learn to respect the differences between people and allow people to have ideas without trying to bully them into silence, there is no real freedom of speech. The art of communication is getting lost as people strive to avoid offending everyone all the time. It may be the meek that inherit the earth, but it will be the timid who silently give it away first.

A girl asked a guy if he thought she was pretty, he said...no.

She asked him if he would want to be with her forever....and he said no.

She then asked him if she were to leave would he cry, and once again he replied with a no.

She had heard enough. As she walked away, tears streaming down her face the boy grabbed her arm and said....

You're not pretty you're beautiful. I don't want to be with you forever. I NEED to be with you forever. And I wouldn't cry if you walked away...I'd die...

SO NOW I WILL SAY:

I like you because of who you are to me....A true friend.

Remember: A good friend will come bail you out of jail.... But a true friend will be sitting next to you saying ... WE screwed up! Proud to be your Friend!

I've learned....That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned....That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned....That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned....That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned...That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned....That the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

I've learned....That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned....That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned...That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned...That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned....That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned....That there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks.

I've learned...That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned....That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned...That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned....That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned...That I wish I could have told those I cared about that I love them one more time before they passed away.

I've learned....That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned....That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned....That I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.

I've learned....That when your newly born child holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned....That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth happen while you're climbing it.

I've learned....That the less time I have to work, the more things I get done.

I severly need to vent, but due to the nature of what I need to vent about, I can not do it here. Talk about sucking!

For the record nothing is "wrong". I’ve been very careful from the start of my online journal about discussing things here that could cross the line between exercising my freedom of speech and volunteering to have my income suddenly slashed. I’ve been under a confidentiality agreement since I started working in North Carolina. It turns out that this caution has been with merit as there is someone who has tried to stir up trouble for me based on the opinions and observations I’ve posted here. To be honest, the restrictions placed on me aren’t that restrictive. Most of the time, by removing names and certain details, I can write about anything I like. In this case, removing the names and details doesn’t leave much to write down.

After editing the details, here is the story: Work currently consists of lots of immediate deadlines and very little time to react. I’m working my ass off to be able to make the deadlines and as quickly as I make one, two more pop up. If I can make it through the next few weeks, things should settle back down to a more sustainable pace.

I’m looking forward to: Vacation in June
I’m supposed to be reading: Coyote Kings of the Space Age Bachelor Pad by Minister Faust
I’m actually reading: Not much
Watching: Numb3rs, Battlestar Galactica
Current health project: Revamping my diet to include less animal products
Pictures that need posted: Updated photos of Blue and Mya
Long overdue chore: Mowing the lawn

It has come to our attention that you are no longer filling your assigned role of all giving and ever bending source of all. In light of your shameful lack of responsibility, we demand that you forever foreswear the sacred name of Giving Tree and use another name that does not besmirch the shiny fluffy cuddliness that is engendered within the name G. Tree.

This missive actual comes at a convenient time, as traditionally, the bearer of the title Giving Tree will burn out from their all giving nature or have hacked themselves into little pieces in order to give something away to everyone they see at about your current age. In fact, the G. Tree Arborists Society has already identified your successor, so you need not fret that we’ll be without a G. Tree.

We suggest that you choose a name more closely associated with the person you have matured into. Something that draws upon the strength of character to stand against preconceived notions and to do what is right for the right reasons, even when others refuse to acknowledge the truth you see. It would appear that you have grown beyond the tender shoots that usually make up the Giving Tree and into something tougher and less bending. If you do not find a more suitable name, perhaps you shall be the tree that stands in the storm and chases away the clouds, in order to protect those who stand around you, helping you remain strong in the gale force winds.

Sincerely,
J Kudzo
President of the Giving Tree Arborists Society

This summer, PayPal is going to be experiencing a little competition from this new site, GreenZap.

I remember signing up for PayPal back in the day and getting $5 to join. Well, GreenZap is giving everyone who preregisters $25 for signing up and no bank (or credit card) information is requested.

I figured it can't hurt, so why don't you go sign up too? After all, who can't use another $25?

Check out GreenZap