Random Rant

Soooo, I'm driving to the bank, through my quaint middle class municipality and I spy something pull out in front of me that I have seen many times: a vanity license plate with two sets of 3-letter initials. "I hate you!" I scream at my windshield. Why? Why do I hate this anonymous, SUV driving suburbanite housewife whose concept of individuality and flair is to pay an extra $35 so that the initials of the couple, in a unique and apparently not repeated before them manner, make up their license plate? How could I despise someone who's idea of originality has been repeated by like-minded folks for the past, what, 15 years or so? Is it possible this cute concept predates the Look At Me '90s? Sure, the Go-Go '80s were full of vapid egotism, but didn't the Nineteen hundred and nineties signal the crest of blatantism? How interesting it would be to poll every single vehicle in these United States that is adorned with these metal monograms and list the predominance of additional 'signals'? Bet we would find that the most popular sticker is BUSH/CHENEY 2004, followed by those insipid ribbon magnets that declare patriotism and blind support for those sent overseas whether they like it or not, along with the Ducks, et.al. Unlimited folks and the My Kid is a Big Fat Cheeser At Random School stickers. Join in, everyone, declare your affiliation and stop worrying whether you're unique or not--the bandwagon never gets too full for another sheep in sheep's clothing!!

"Peanut Butter Catholic TIme…

…with a baseball bat!" So this past weekend, my fiance and I went to Pgh PA: she had been hired to sing in the Catholic wedding of an old theatre pal. SIDENOTE: My baby can sing like the dickens, especially classicly. What pipes!! So we stayed in the choir chancel behind the altar where she stood next to the organist and I played pocket Yahtzee. There was a closed circuit tv so that the theatre oops--I mean, church could be monitored during the ceremony. My baby did a great job, despite that fact that 2 new songs for which she hadn't prepared were dropped in her lap the night before during rehearsal!! Anyway, it was funny to listen to the organist accompany her in that crazy Grandma Falsetto, which was 'ok' until the organist tried to sing the low parts and completely lost it <>. But the most amazing part of the experience for me was the Ceremony Itself. Listening to the medieval take on relationships between the sexes, the words coming out of a man's mouth that were written by really, really old men long ago purporting to be words that The Higher Power would have said himself but who can't/won't because Men do such a great job of translating his will, etc.; all of this made me feel like a teenager again, attending mass against his will (not my parents, but usually catholic cousins or a close friend who's dad died or was getting married), all giggly, irreverent, disbelieving…I mean, come on, people! Even if there really is a God/Higher Power, who are Men (some Women but far and away more Men) to think that they can 'divine' his will, intentions or meanings? Doesn't that automatically anthropomorphize an Unknowable Being into the base realm of us humans? Wow, talk about Ego on the Run. Anyway, suffice it to say I giggled, I mouthed humorous asides at the Pretty Lady singing, and even got a glare from Her Royal Highness The Organist for 'sprawling' across one of the choir benches. Man, Catholics sure make some uncomfortable furniture!

Rework, rebuild, renew

re:work--a new start in a new business, Melaleuca. This is a catalog based business that produces wellness products, ie. those that are better for you and your family's health, MUCH better for the environment and, if you choose to make a business of it like Megan and I are, can also provide you with financial wellness. The compensation is referral oriented, so there is no selling, no pressure, no keeping track of others. This 20 year old company has an outstanding track record and product line, along with a consistent Fortune 500 top rating and a Fortune 500 corporate managment team. Melaleuca is NOT a Multi-Level Marketing company (I have experienced two of those and it was awful). It is something I am genuinely proud to be a part of.

re:build--while building my new financial future, I am also rebuilding my corporeal self. I have been subscribed to Men's Health magazine for several years now and recently yanked the May workout poster of the that issue and have been killing myself in our living room 3 times a week. While I am in decent shape for a 45 year old, I grow tired of pinching that little tire that lives around and above my hip bones. I also have realized that my endurance sucks. So, pain is my new friend. Since using Melaleuca products, I am able to breathe again (allergy related asmtha), so I must build my body and heart back up. After all, I have a wife-to-be considerably younger than I am and I will be damned before I let someone refer to me as her Dad.

ew:new--new habits arise from the workouts (timeliness and dedication) as well as from using Melalueca products (daily vitamins, the ocassional workout or meal replacement bar) and sitting down at my home desk and working on the business. I have committed to this opportunity as my chance to build a future where I need not worry about: retirement, whether or not I can afford to take us out for a $60 dinner or a $100 concert, whether or not my cars will run or that I can afford to fix them, whether or not I can be home for my boys as much as I want (or they can stand!). There is no boss to stand over me and make sure I am taking the necessary steps to build my business. Yes, Megan asks how I did at the end of the day and my mentor Lou follows up to see if I will be able to meet my goals, but all in all, it is up to me. I like that. I like staring down the second half of my life with full control of the reins, a glint in my eye and a bulge in my shorts…

BRING IT!