I Didn't Really Care Who Won...

I'm a Saints fan.
But the Superbowl menu read;
Free Remy Martin V.S.O.P.,
BBQ AND Smoked Ribs (Beef and pork),
Links,
Chicken,
Chicken Gumbo,
Seafood Gumbo,
Baked Beans,
Dirty Rice
Corn Bread
Salad
Fruit Platters
Vegetable Platters
Pies and Cakes.

Two more weeks to go.
The "Fat Season" used to be from Halloween till New Years Day.
In most areas it has expanded till the Superbowl.
Along the Gulf it goes until Mardi Gras.

So the Giants won. Hooray... (But I do like the fan pictured above.)
I enjoyed the game because I had the party at the club sponsored by local businesses.
I had pretty girls volunteer to dress up and serve drinks without being paid.
I collected $15 a head and made a mint at the bar.
As far as Superbowls go - I had a great time.

Life Sucks

I still have bills, injuries, family problems and appliances to replace.

I still have disappointments, desires, dreams, ambitions and goals,

Life IS NOT all rosy and it rains on me just as it does anyone else.

 I could go through life with the conviction and piety of Paul - but what fun is there in doing that?
(Although Paul seemed to have more of an 'Eff-It' approach to the Gospel than did someone like Peter.)

My girl calls me "Tigger".
"He's a tiger - but he has fun with it.", she says.
She says that I don't seem to understand that there are some things which I will not be able to do.
There are some problems I will not be able to solve.
And there are some things that I will not be able to have.
"You're Special", she teases me, "Different rules seem to apply to you", the women seated at the bar agree.
"John' John, JOHN!!!" they say in the tone that Jan Brady jealously complained, "Marsha, Marsha, MARSHA!!!".

I know these things - I have failed a lot (A LOT).
But what's the point of focusing on life's difficulties when it's better to focus on ones goals?
What's the point of being depressed when it's better to just appreciate what one has and to focus on what one is working towards?
The economy may suck, the ecosystem may be about to collapse, isms (racism, sexism,...) may be at an all-time high, world war may be imminent - but why be so bitter and afraid?
Why live as though one has to suffer along with everyone else?
Why not live every day as though it were your last?
Why not fight hard as though one was predetermined to fail?
Why not just enjoy life?

Sun Worhip

"Got ist tot." Nietzsche

Is It Art? (Design v. Decoration)

 I like good design - but I hate superfluous decoration.
While reading JK's blog, I came upon the question about whether something is 'art' or whether it just 'is'.
Salma could be considered as a work of 'High Art'.
Good form, no wasted effort and a visual experience which elicits a positive response.

 Don't get me wrong - I love big breasts... (A LOT) - but at some point they fail to have a reason for being.
When they are this large they become superfluous decoration and not good design.
Breasts this big would be thought of as being 'Low Art'.

 I prefer women with short hair - I hate weaves.
It seems as though many unattractive women hide their lack of good looks behind a nest of fake hair.
I also prefer minimal make up.

 Sometimes decoration is intended to hide an inferior product.

 Good design works with it's environment.
While many would think of modern design as lacking insight or effort, it's appeal comes from the maximum result with the minimal use of material.

 Victorian (Or Queen Anne) style is thought by many as being a form in which a designer shows off his mastery of material.
Many would think of this style as being 'art' - but is it really art if it has become obsolete?
Or is it just superfluous decoration?

New Club Member?

Remember when political pundits were complaining that Obama refused to wear the ubiquitous flag lapel pin common among politicians?
What was the big deal?
The Old School pin was a normal rectangle worn parallel to the ground.
Today, most pins are worn slightly skewed - almost replicating other symbols from other groups or societies.

Higher Gas Prices?

Refinery workers along the Gulf Coast are set to strike at many refineries throughout the area.
If no agreement is met before midnight tonight, most workers will continue to work on a day-to-day basis at many plants.

"Make" a Job

Anyone can make money - just be good at what you do.
After being in town for a while, I wanted to work as a bartender.
The thing is, I hadn't worked in a few years so my employment record was kind-of spotty.
I just gave up on working and decided to stay focused on my rental homes and volunteer work instead.

One day I walked into a bar and said, "Y'all need help.".
The owner told me that they were not hiring.
"No I didn't ask if you needed help, I was telling you that you NEED HELP.", I replied.
"I'll work for you for free for two weeks to teach you and to train your staff.", I offered.
After my first day, the owner offered me a job tending their bar.
"You cannot afford me. But I'll help you out for the next three months for free.", I replied.

After turning their business around I didn't work again for about three years.
It was about this time that everyone seemed to want to open a club or bar.
The name that came up most often was mine as being the one to start a bar with.
But I changed my title to "Bar Consultant" and charged even more money than most new owners could afford.
I worked out profit sharing deals which only had to be paid to if I delivered sales.
Club after club prospered and I became known for turning bars around.

My current ownership obligation only came about because my most recent deal was structured in a way that allowed me to gain a larger share of the profits.
The owners liked to gamble, shop and travel so when my bonus was due, they did not have the money to pay me.

My most recent opportunity came from another bar owner who asked me to open a bar tending school.
I would have ten students in each two hour session with each student paying fifty dollars per session.
The university extension program would get $25 to pay for building space and supplies.
I would have to teach six sessions per week (three two-hour session per day - twice a week) and be paid in cash at the end of each day.
I'm busy enough as it is but I'll think about the relatively quick and easy (12 hrs. - $750) money.

Fame

I have no use for it.(Even if it's just local.)
As my club seems to be doing better and better, requests for photo shoots and television appearances have become more common.
"Want to be in my commercial?", "Can I get a picture for (fill in the blanks) social section of their magazine/newspaper/tabloid?",  "I have a sister/niece/cousin you should meet.", are some of the most common first lines in many conversations these days.
Being horrifically ugly - I don't like having pictures taken of me.
Being very unpopular - I don't seek attention.
Being the third poorest person on the Internet - money is not my motivation.

I'm sure there is something wrong with me psychologically (which is probably true with most of us) but I'd just prefer to do my work without getting caught up in the never-ending cycle of status seeking.

Smarter?

 Smart refrigerators,

 Smart cars,

 Smart phones,

 Smart televisions,

 Even smart toilets.

The need to purchase all of these things only leads to one thing - DUMB PEOPLE.