We have a couple of people here at my office who are obsessive courtesy flushers. That is to say, as they are going #2 they flush every 3-5 seconds, or each time something drips/falls/plops/splashes into the toilet...whichever happens more frequently. Part of me is annoyed by the Obsessive Courtesy Flusher because I feel like they are wasting a lot of water. I am also slightly annoyed because I sit within earshot of the bathroom, so I can hear each time an Obsessive Courtesy Flusher is dropping a load, and I do not like my day interrupted at all by the thought of someone else dropping a load. However, part of me feels like maybe I am the A-Hole that is pissing everyone off by only courtesy flushing when I deem necessary.
Maybe this is the problem. We need to, as a society, develop a universal definition as to the appropriate and necessary times to utilize the courtesy flush. Should we flush each time something exits the bunghole, or should we stop being so sensitive and wait until the entire process is done before considering to flush? And should there be other factors that need to be considered? For instance, if someone is hungover should they flush more. Or if someone ate Taco Bell for their last meal, should they be forced to flush more than someone who last ate Cafe Express? And what are adequate punishments for not adhering to the Universal Courtesy Flush Mandate? As a society we have a lot to consider.
Or perhaps I have spent entirely too much time on this subject already. Nothing like a little bathroom discussion on a Friday afternoon.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
57) 2011 Resolutions
The year cannot properly start without resolutions. Generally when setting goals, I like to review my last goal and see how well I may or may not have achieved that goal. I do not want to do that here. Resolutions are designed to allow us to move forward, and that is fully what I intend to do. So, no examining how shitty I was at my 2010 resolutions.
1) My most important resolution centers around my career. I am forever working toward something (no matter what realm of life we are talking about). For the longest time I was not certain exactly what I wanted my career to be (big picture). Now I have a good 5-year goal, which will hopefully set up the rest of my career. I work for an ad agency and have been working the past year and a half on a new client, building them from the ground up. The process has been tough, but rewarding. My resolution for 2011 centers around strengthening my position within the agency as it relates to the growth of this client. I wish to be an integral part of developing the relationship between the agency and the client, while at the same time developing the processes by which the agency executes this clients business. My goal: to be someone within the agency that pitches new business opportunities and moves from client to client in 5 year windows setting up the team within the agency, making it viable and self-serving before moving to a new business opportunity. For 2011 specifically, I want to move myself into the position of running our media team. It is going to be hard, and it is going to take many things happening at the same time. And it is going to take some luck. But I think I am up for it.
2) I started a small writing project a year and a half ago (before I started my job) and I would like to finish it. I have not written in a couple of years, but feel like I have a project I am interested in completing. I am 20-30 pages in and am liking the style in which I am writing. This style is much different than any of my previous projects. I would like to finish this novel/novella in 2011.
3) For my birthday I got an electronic drum set. I have been playing on average 4-5 days a week, 20-40 minutes per session. I have definitely improved, but I wish to be good enough to play in a band within the next 3 years. I need to improve drastically to make this happen.
4) I would like to learn how to make Scotch. For Christmas I got a home Scotch making kit. I have mixed the ingredients and have my first attempt resting in a tiny oak barrel. I am pretty sure it is going to taste like complete shit, but I am interested in learning this year how to not make it taste like complete shit. In fact, I would like to make it taste decent, maybe even good. Just so you know, I am not taking the barley and rye and distilling my own alcohol using the standard 3 year and 1 day required by Scottish law to make Scotch. However, I am taking the pre-distilled liquor, mixing it with pre-provided mash, adding a few of my own ingredients and then letting it mature in a tiny oak barrel in my house. This is not a professional endeavor, purely a recreational one. I feel strongly that any endeavor that yields alcohol is a good one, unless that alcohol tastes like complete shit. Which leads me back to my 4th resolution.
5) I would like to eat more blueberries and spinach. These are power foods that are extremely healthy. Blueberries are known to increase brain health. This is important to me, as my family is predisposed to Alzheimer's. Included with this is my need to address my cholesterol. I was recently tested for insurance purposes and my levels are higher than optimal. I am not in the danger area yet. I do not need to be on medication. However, I do need to seriously consider addressing my behavior so that I do not ever reach dangerous levels of cholesterol. Basically, I want to ensure that my body lives long enough to see my mind go crazy...
1) My most important resolution centers around my career. I am forever working toward something (no matter what realm of life we are talking about). For the longest time I was not certain exactly what I wanted my career to be (big picture). Now I have a good 5-year goal, which will hopefully set up the rest of my career. I work for an ad agency and have been working the past year and a half on a new client, building them from the ground up. The process has been tough, but rewarding. My resolution for 2011 centers around strengthening my position within the agency as it relates to the growth of this client. I wish to be an integral part of developing the relationship between the agency and the client, while at the same time developing the processes by which the agency executes this clients business. My goal: to be someone within the agency that pitches new business opportunities and moves from client to client in 5 year windows setting up the team within the agency, making it viable and self-serving before moving to a new business opportunity. For 2011 specifically, I want to move myself into the position of running our media team. It is going to be hard, and it is going to take many things happening at the same time. And it is going to take some luck. But I think I am up for it.
2) I started a small writing project a year and a half ago (before I started my job) and I would like to finish it. I have not written in a couple of years, but feel like I have a project I am interested in completing. I am 20-30 pages in and am liking the style in which I am writing. This style is much different than any of my previous projects. I would like to finish this novel/novella in 2011.
3) For my birthday I got an electronic drum set. I have been playing on average 4-5 days a week, 20-40 minutes per session. I have definitely improved, but I wish to be good enough to play in a band within the next 3 years. I need to improve drastically to make this happen.
4) I would like to learn how to make Scotch. For Christmas I got a home Scotch making kit. I have mixed the ingredients and have my first attempt resting in a tiny oak barrel. I am pretty sure it is going to taste like complete shit, but I am interested in learning this year how to not make it taste like complete shit. In fact, I would like to make it taste decent, maybe even good. Just so you know, I am not taking the barley and rye and distilling my own alcohol using the standard 3 year and 1 day required by Scottish law to make Scotch. However, I am taking the pre-distilled liquor, mixing it with pre-provided mash, adding a few of my own ingredients and then letting it mature in a tiny oak barrel in my house. This is not a professional endeavor, purely a recreational one. I feel strongly that any endeavor that yields alcohol is a good one, unless that alcohol tastes like complete shit. Which leads me back to my 4th resolution.
5) I would like to eat more blueberries and spinach. These are power foods that are extremely healthy. Blueberries are known to increase brain health. This is important to me, as my family is predisposed to Alzheimer's. Included with this is my need to address my cholesterol. I was recently tested for insurance purposes and my levels are higher than optimal. I am not in the danger area yet. I do not need to be on medication. However, I do need to seriously consider addressing my behavior so that I do not ever reach dangerous levels of cholesterol. Basically, I want to ensure that my body lives long enough to see my mind go crazy...
Monday, January 3, 2011
56) 2010 Year In Review
Spent some time last week thinking about New Year's Resolutions. My mind kept returning to 2010 and how great it was for me. The following is an impromptu list of things I experienced in 2010, and how I would like to work toward making 2011 be just as great.
* Vacations: New York City and Mexico. I've never been good at going on vacations as I am too cheap to spend money and not particular fond of flying. We went to New York early in the year. I went to Yankee Stadium and Ground Zero. We ate at a couple of New York's finest restaurants, as well as eating from the infamous street vendors. We went to the Museum of Modern Art and McSorley's, one of the oldest and most interesting pubs I have ever visited. The Mexican vacation was an all inclusive that involved a lot of lounging on the beach, eating at the different restaurants and drinking lots of whiskey. A truly fancy resort.
* Sporting Events: I love sporting events and I cannot imagine a better year than my 2010. I saw several Mavericks games from a suite and 2 courtside (hard to watch a game any other way after sitting courtside). The last couple of games I got to walk to the long media table where I know one of the best local sports writers covering the mavs. Felt good telling the high class suite that I was leaving to discuss latest Mavs news with an insider during the game. I saw a Cowboy game in the new Cowboy stadium, also in a suite on the Star level. Not kidding, our parking space was 15 yards from one of the entrances. We were so close they searched our car for bombs using a special bomb canine. I already mentioned Yankee Stadium, which was impressive. My most impressive experience occurred when my brother surprised me with Game 6 tickets to see the Rangers defeat the Yankees to go to the World Series.
* Concerts: I also love music and got to see some great shows in 2010. I saw Rush for the 4th time with Craig and Mark. Always a great time seeing three of the most talented musicians tear it up on stage, even if Craig is off dancing with a wooden fence at the back of the venue. We saw Roger Waters perform The Wall in all its musical and theatrical glory. We saw Better Than Ezra for the 5th time, or was it 6th? Always a good show, and always fun being 10 feet from the stage. And how can I forget JookaBox, the band that describes itself as: Messy, Zombie Punk that will take Metal back to hell!
* Weddings: Stephen and Meghan had a beautiful wedding in Houston that brought the family together for a fun and important weekend.
* Job: Made huge strides developing our client and building them from a start up brand to one we hope to be a household name within 5 years. As I look to 2011 I would like to devote time and energy into strengthening our client, developing our team within the agency and making our agency more successful than 2010. This will be hard, but rewarding when we are successful.
* Music: I got a drum set and am in the process of learning how to play. I did a good job in 2010 practicing each week and I have definitely made progress. My goal is to be good enough within 3 years to play in a band as a drummer. I have 2 1/2 years left to fulfill this goal.
* Kids: We have done a good job in 2010 fending off family and friends from pressuring us into having kids. I am confident we will be just as successful in 2011, though I fully anticipate a more vigorous effort from them.
* Vacations: New York City and Mexico. I've never been good at going on vacations as I am too cheap to spend money and not particular fond of flying. We went to New York early in the year. I went to Yankee Stadium and Ground Zero. We ate at a couple of New York's finest restaurants, as well as eating from the infamous street vendors. We went to the Museum of Modern Art and McSorley's, one of the oldest and most interesting pubs I have ever visited. The Mexican vacation was an all inclusive that involved a lot of lounging on the beach, eating at the different restaurants and drinking lots of whiskey. A truly fancy resort.
* Sporting Events: I love sporting events and I cannot imagine a better year than my 2010. I saw several Mavericks games from a suite and 2 courtside (hard to watch a game any other way after sitting courtside). The last couple of games I got to walk to the long media table where I know one of the best local sports writers covering the mavs. Felt good telling the high class suite that I was leaving to discuss latest Mavs news with an insider during the game. I saw a Cowboy game in the new Cowboy stadium, also in a suite on the Star level. Not kidding, our parking space was 15 yards from one of the entrances. We were so close they searched our car for bombs using a special bomb canine. I already mentioned Yankee Stadium, which was impressive. My most impressive experience occurred when my brother surprised me with Game 6 tickets to see the Rangers defeat the Yankees to go to the World Series.
* Concerts: I also love music and got to see some great shows in 2010. I saw Rush for the 4th time with Craig and Mark. Always a great time seeing three of the most talented musicians tear it up on stage, even if Craig is off dancing with a wooden fence at the back of the venue. We saw Roger Waters perform The Wall in all its musical and theatrical glory. We saw Better Than Ezra for the 5th time, or was it 6th? Always a good show, and always fun being 10 feet from the stage. And how can I forget JookaBox, the band that describes itself as: Messy, Zombie Punk that will take Metal back to hell!
* Weddings: Stephen and Meghan had a beautiful wedding in Houston that brought the family together for a fun and important weekend.
* Job: Made huge strides developing our client and building them from a start up brand to one we hope to be a household name within 5 years. As I look to 2011 I would like to devote time and energy into strengthening our client, developing our team within the agency and making our agency more successful than 2010. This will be hard, but rewarding when we are successful.
* Music: I got a drum set and am in the process of learning how to play. I did a good job in 2010 practicing each week and I have definitely made progress. My goal is to be good enough within 3 years to play in a band as a drummer. I have 2 1/2 years left to fulfill this goal.
* Kids: We have done a good job in 2010 fending off family and friends from pressuring us into having kids. I am confident we will be just as successful in 2011, though I fully anticipate a more vigorous effort from them.
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