That’s a funny question for a 40 year old man to ask himself, but that is what I seem to be asking myself as I look forward to graduating with my associate’s degree this Spring.
I am looking into something that would require a really big life change. I am talking it over with my wife, but right now she seems to be ambivalent about it. We’ll see.
We don’t have a TV, so we watch many of our favorite shows on Hulu. We noticed this little cryptic commercial that popped up in the last week on Hulu that has a green background, then a little animated plug, then the number 3 pops up to the left of the plug, then the number two pops up to the left of the 3.
So I read it as 23Plug. Great, what’s a 23Plug? Well, we noticed something that looks like a date under “23Plug” so we had to wait until 8/11 to find out. Today is 8/11 and I see that some General Mismanagement executive held a press conference about how the upcoming Chevy Volt will get 230 miles to the gallon. The 23Plug was behind him, I guess the plug is supposed to be a zero.
This goes to show just how terrible GM is. They put up a cryptic commercial about their miracle product that we wont see for another 2 years. They knew that oil is a finite resource, yet they abandoned their hybrid car project years ago and kept producing giant SUVs. Back in the 90s when the “Big Three” American automakers were required to share technology, Toyota wanted to be a part of it. But the Americans wouldn’t let them because they weren’t American. So Toyota went on to develop the Prius (which is now in its 3rd generation) and we won’t be able to buy a Volt for another two years. No wonder GM went bankrupt, they ended up giving us what we want instead of what we need. Also, during the past ten years Toyota has surpassed GM to become the world’s largest automaker.
The Volt better be the best car GM has ever produced. They have been saying that it will save the company, but the company has already died and been revived.
Here are a few pictures Trina and I took while roaming about town.
Trina and I were on our way to the big library downtown and we just happened to catch the Holiday Train when we transferred to the Brown Line train. Enjoy!
I took this photo in 1991.
This is an outtake from a photo session I did a few years ago. I had Aracaly and her husband Tim stand together beacuse I wanted a picture of them together just for me. Now you can see it! Cute, huh?
I like to touch my surroundings; It’s an odd behavior to many people. but I feel a need to do it. When I am riding my bike, I like to tap leaves on trees as I am riding past. When I walk down a hall, I like to touch the walls as I am walking. I like to tap on tables, or on my legs. When I am riding the bus or train, I tap out poly-rhythmic patterns with my hands and feet to a song in my head.
I found out that this behavior is not “normal.” But I have to ask, “What is normal?” I like to feel my surroundings; it makes me more comfortable. I like to play along to my “mental song playlist.,” or whatever is playing on my iPod. Is this so bad?
I used to think that being odd was a bad thing, but I have learned that my differences can be an asset. I found out fairly recently that I can channel my obsessions into something productive, instead of of making them trivial. I have always been interested in politics, economics, and history. “They” have a name for those things in academia, Social Science.
I have developed a talent for seeing the “big picture” while still being able to delve into details. This talent has led me to ponder unifying theories. Quantum physicists and social scientists have been grasping for a unifying theory in their respective fields. I can see a unifying theory in Social Sciences, but I am having a hard time expressing it. As I study political science, math, economics and history, I am seeing a big picture develop based on my knowledge of the arts; I am coming closer to unifying things. I may be completely wrong, but it sure is fun trying!
I have been trying to write a book review for my history class. I was distracted all day and I decided to go to the 24 hour Starbucks in order to minimize the distractions. As I settled into my work, I started feeling queasy. I barely got two paragraphs typed when I felt a dreadful stirring in my gut and a cold sweat developing on my forehead. That could mean only one thing; pack up my stuff and get to the restroom, NOW! I was lucky there was an open restroom, the place was packed. I was barely able to get the door locked when I erupted in the most spectacular Technicolor yawn, I didn’t even have time to put down my backpack! I couldn’t believe my aim was so good, and thank God the seat was already up!
It just kept coming. I was seeing everything I ate that evening, and I was in total disbelief of my condition. I am so glad I had the presence of mind to get to the bathroom when I did. I must have looked like a mad man packing up my stuff in a panic and rushing off to the restroom. In my rush to get to the toilet I dropped my coffee, that I took barely three sips from, in the trash.
I finally regained my composure and went to the register and bought one of their overpriced tins of gum to combat the wretched taste in my mouth. I popped two pieces in my mouth and left quickly. As I was walking down the sidewalk, I first felt like I wasted my time coming all the way down here only to get sick. I started to feel better and decided to duck inside a diner instead of getting on the bus that just pulled up, that’s where I am typing this. After an English muffin and a diet Coke, I feel better. I got another paragraph written and now have a direction for my paper, so the trip was not completely wasted.
Not too much has been going on except classes and studying. I am still settling into the new life.
This weekend I have been struggling with writing a paper on Thomas Jefferson. I finally got an outline and a few paragraphs written. I ended up watching a Ken Burns documentary about Jefferson and the writers block was still there. But after my total Thomas Jefferson immersion and several long walks, I finally have a direction for the paper.
All this for a lousy 2 page paper. I guess the writing process will get faster with time.
I finished my first week of class and it is everything I thought it would be. I am really enjoying school, I fell like I am doing something I should have done a long time ago. I am glad that I really have no other life commitments holding me back. I am able to go full time and completely concentrate on my studies.
It looks like my days as a bike mechanic are over because I injured my right hand. It may be carpal tunnel, arthritis, or tendinitis; I don’t really know, it just hurts and I am adjusting to doing fewer things with my right hand. I have to hold drinks in my left hand now because I will randomly drop things. I also switched the brake levers on my bike, so the left lever is the rear and the right is the front. If it wasn’t for ibuprofen, I would be really unhappy!
I am slowly organizing my room. Since the move, things have been shoved under the dresser and couch and randomly piled into my drawers. It got really bad this week, so I vowed to get organized this weekend. So far it is taking shape, I found a metal box to keep important stuff in and I am getting some shelves put up on the wall.
So, yeah, life sounds boring, but I am really enjoying it. Things are quieter and more orderly, the way I like them.