fuzzy L0G1c

I don’t know what it is about listening to Dark Side of the Moon which makes me want to blog.  I guess I should listen to it more (or less for those who are not exactly fans of my blog).  Regardless your opinion of my blog, it’s safe to say that I’m been missing in action lately.  There’s not doubt about it.  It all just seemed to snowball out of control really.  I’ve been incredibly busy at work.  I think I’ve taken less-than 4 days off since July and that’s including all the major holidays between then and now.  By the end of the day and on the weekends, I’ve just had no desire to get on my blog and be witty, strangely remarkable, semi-creepy or otherwise oddly interesting.  From there the Social Blogging Experiment hatched between Kim and I became more of a chore than a pleasure.  As I got further and further behind on questions, I wouldn’t allow myself to blog about “other stuff” until I got caught up.   But since I was so far behind, I never got caught up and just stopped blogging.  So, to my dear reader, rare friend or weirdo who accidently found my site while surfing for some sort of  ”fuzzy logical porn” (whatever that might be…)  I apologize.

But anyway – I’ve been very busy and very worn out.  It’s not so much the work, but the constant, near-endless “fire fighting”, politics and constant pressure to deliver.  I mean.. it’s nothing new.  I’ve been under serious pressure before.  I’ve dealt with more politics than I care to admit and I actually enjoy fighting “fires” at work.  But this has been a bit different.  Without going into detail, it’s been like I’ve been trying to sculpt Jello blindfolded.  (I’m blindfolded, not the Jello. That would just be silly.)  I suppose it will work, and it will work okay for a while.. but in the end it’s still Jello and it’s a constant battle to make sure it doesn’t giggle itself into goopy madness. ( Oh – and for those of you keeping score at home, that was, in-fact not the worst metaphor I’ve ever used on my blog.  Close! But no cigar.)  But as I was saying – this is nothing new to me.  What is new to me is the lack of a “light at the end of the tunnel”.  It’s wearing on me.  I’m not healthy, I’m snapping at my family and I’m letting it get me down.  It’ll all work out in the end, it’s just got me in a bad place right now. 

So to you my solitary reader, you my friend whom I’ve guilted into reading my blog and you the weirdo.  Don’t give up.  I’m still here.  

BTW – I just hit the guitar solo during “Money”.  Coincidentially, this post also sync’s up perfectly with the Wizard of Oz.  Just start reading after the 3rd Lion Roar.

Wow – Where did 2008 go?  2008 seemed to zip by faster than most for me.  So where have I been lately and why haven’t i been blogging?  Well quite simply I’ve been crazy bananas nutso busy with work lately.  Working long hours and not takeing any time time off.  I’ve taken 3 days off since Thanksgiving.  They include Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years day.  Unfortunately that means I’ve got (even further) behind on PSS responses and haven’t been able to spout my typical nonsense on my seldom-traffic’d blog.  Hopefully there is now a light at the end of the tunnel, but it will take a few weeks to be sure.  

Anyhow, I think one of my biggest personal successs of 2008 has been the continuation and growth of the Project Say Something concept.  I appreciate everyone for pitching in (my fingers originally typed “bitching in” oddly enough) to the project and I hope to see it continue in 2009.  Of course in 2009 I will also continue to make and break promises about catching up and keeping up.  Woot! 

Welcome to the future! Now where’s my hovercar!?

I literally stumbled upon this will using stumblupon.com .  It totally cracked me up.  However it does capture my feelings about the election fairly well.

So while many of you devoted readers (reader?) were not around in December 2007, when I originally posted this.  I thought I’d take a look back at a PSS questions about who I would vote for, and my predictions for the presidential election.  While you are welcome to read the full post here I figured I’d pull out the highlights and comment on them now.  The day before the election.

12/2007 Snippet:

Republican or Democrat? Not really thrilled with either party, but 3rd parties don’t really have a chance in the presidential election.  Republicans have essentially tromped all over the constitution and made it a point to fear-monger at every opportunity.  Oh, and lets not forget about being repeatedly lied-to over Iraq.  Everyone was so pissed with the Republicans that they got their asses handed to them in the last midterm election.  Enter the democrats!  Saviors of the constitution! Champions of the people!  Finally going to stand up to the evil Republicans!  And what did they do?  Jack shit.. In fact, if you look at some of the senate and house tapes from early-on after midterms, they are an embarrassment.  So, I’m left with the choice of Effective but Evil vs. Total Incompetence. Hrmm.  Evil it is.

Verdict:  WRONG! I’m voting for a democrat.

12/2007 Snippet:

Obama: I like him.  I think if we as Americans end up electing him it will show we’ve come a very long ways.  I think he’s still a little green though.  I think he needs a few more years experience before getting the top seat.

McCain: You gotta respect a guy who has gone through what he has and is still mostly sane.  I also respect his views on torture and really took Romney to task on waterboarding.  I also like his campaign finance reform.  He’s probably the most-honest, straight-forward and ethical candidate on the ticket.  All great reasons why he’ll never win.

Verdict:  WRONG-ish! I think my assessment of Obama is 90% accurate.  I think my opinion of McCain has dropped considerably this election.  It’s really too bad he’s losing his soul at the same time he’s losing his election.

Snippet: 12/2007

2008 Presidential Election: Clinton & Obama (VP) on the Democratic Ticket vs. Romney & Some Super-Christian guy to placate those voters who “just don’t trust a mormon”.

Verdict: WRONG! Silly me.

Final Prediction on the Eve of the Election:

If Democracy still works.  Landslide Obama.

The time has come to stop being afraid.  The time has come to stop basing your beliefs on lies, half-truths and unfounded fears.  Vote for Hope.  Vote for Change.  Please.

Throughout my life I have had trouble with friendships.  Making them, keeping them and not sabotaging them has always been a significant challenge for me.  While I am certain we have all struggled with this from time to time, I feel I’m particularly bad at the “Friendship Thing”.  Have you ever had someone you consider your “Brother” move away and not tell you?  Are you certain whenever the phone rings that it’s not for you?  Simply because you can’t think of anyone who would bother calling you?  In fact I write this note in a rather sleepy state due to this issue once-again popping into my head and allowing me much sleep.  It’s not easy to sleep when I’m reliving all the friendships I’ve had blow-up, fade away, not reciprocate or others that just go to shit.  The methods change, but the end result is typically me left with the only person who can stand to be around me; my dear Amber.  My one truly successful friendship – and one I cherish endlessly.  Well that’s not fair to those who still consider me a friend and tolerate my presence.  Thank you, but I think that’s only because I’ve stayed far-enough away as to not drive you away yet.  Give it time, I’ll find some way to unravel what loose threads exist between you and I.

In retrospect, it’s always me that does that damage.  It’s always me that expects too much from those who loosely associate with me.  I commit too much of myself in the unfair expectation that the commitment will be returned and unfortunately get upset, sad, depressed, defensive, when it’s not.  Simply because I will do anything to help my friends, doesn’t I shouldn’t expect the same in return.  In fact it’s completely wrong for me to think that.  In the end, friendship means different things to different people.  It’s not right or wrong – it’s just different.  Friendships aren’t family – I get it intellectually, I just wish I’d get it emotionally.

So to those friends who have come into my life only to have me suffocate, smother, sabotage or simply fail to nuture our friendship, I’m sorry.  Thank you for the time we had and I’m sorry for the time we don’t.

Back when Noah was in Short-pants I asked set the PSS Theme of:

“If you caught you spouse cheating on you, would you forgive them and remain married?
What if it had been going on for years?
What if they continued after you caught them?”

Well – this is a rough one for me because it hit really close to home.  My beloved spouse, Amber, has been cheating on me for years.  I’m not talking about a mistake here or there…  I’m talking about consistent patterns of cheating.  So.  I guess we are still married, so to answer the first part of the question.  Yes, I’d stay married.  Yes, even if it had been going on for years.  As for catching her… She’s pretty smart about it.  I’ve never directly caught her cheating one me, but all the pieces add up.

I can tell by the look on your stunned faces that you don’t believe me.  What?!  Amber cheating on Shane?!  I don’t believe it!  I know.. but its the truth!  Let me explain.  Every game we play, she totally kicks my ass.  At Uno, I think she occasionally puts down 2 cards at a time.  In Clue I think she marks the cards.  When we play Hearts and / or Spades.. I’m totally lost.  She cheats so bad I sometimes wonder what state I’m in.  (Alaska, right?)  Dont’ believe me still?  Just try to play Tetris against her.  You will never win.. ever.  Never ever.. She’s such a big cheater!

President Bush, responding to crisis in Georgia (the Country, not the State) said:

“Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century.”

Wow! Now THAT took some balls. Not because he’s standing up to Russia, but because his foreign policy has been nothing but bullying and intimidation.

Is it possible he’s finally learned the error of his ways? No No… Why start now?

The real tragedy here is that the U.S. can do next-to nothing to slow down the crisis in Georgia. With our troops already spread too thin in two wars in the middle-east we lack the military might to posture effectively. With our many abuses over the last 8 years concerning torture, politicizing of Intelligence data, unprovoked wars, bullying other countries, and numerous breaches of our OWN constitution we simply lack the credible moral authority to shun Russia’s moves.

Oh Well… At least he didn’t start snickering mid-sentence  That’s a plus for him.

So this will be one of my few serious posts. I promise we’ll return to our regular programming in the days ahead. Anyhow, here goes.

I am boycotting the Bejing Olympic games. I’m not going to watch them, read about them or otherwise support them. It’s too bad too since the Olympics are one of the few Sporting Events i actually enjoy. If you choose to our not, is up to you and I really won’t fault you for it.

Throughout the years the Olympics have been more than just a sporting event. It’s been a place for the world to come together in peace. In fact, the charter of the Olympics is “The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.” If that’s the Charter, then why… China?

China, while an economic and military powerhouse, still does not have freedom of the press, freedom of religion or grant it’s citizens the right to assemble. This post would get me arrested (or worse!) in China.

So at the end of the day. I can’t bring myself to watch the Olympics and I encourage you to do the same.

Some Informative links:

• Commentary: Why we protest China (Where I stole most my content)
• Senator: China orders hotels to help spy on Internet users (Hey Look! Our “Friends” are spying on us!)
• U.S. won’t confirm report of Chinese hacking (It’s Friendly hacking I’m sure. Probably registered us on Myspace as “Beans McFarty”.)
• China, Russia, U.S. focus of human rights report (Ah damn.. We’re in here too)
• China censoring Internet access at Olympics (So much for my billion fuzzyl0g1c.com subscribers in China)
• Pollution, Internet, doping dominate Olympics lead-up (Maybe if they scented the smog it would be better)
• China announces emergency Olympics smog plan (Olympians generate smog?)
• Report: China human rights have not improved (Wow… I’m stunned)
• Bush: Olympic boycott would insult Chinese (I guess I’m off Bush’s Christmas list)
• Forced labor fuels development, U.S. report finds (Just sad.)

Tragedy! Horror! Despair! I no longer have a bowl-full of cherries!

There are no cherries this year!  For the first time in my 31 years of existence, my family’s orchard will not be selling cherries by the roadside.  Who is to blame?!  Global Warming?!  Mysteriously Vanishing Bees!?  Democrats?!  YOU?!

No.. Turns out there was a windstorm mixed w/ a late-spring freeze which prevented the bees from coming out of their hives to peak pollination time.  As a result the bees didn’t work their brand of tree-luvin magic this season.  Lousy good-for-nothing won’t get outta bed cuz it’s too cold bees!

What the bees fail to understand is that the annual cherry harvest is an institution in my life.  As a kid I helped pack and sell the cherries in our roadside stand.  As an adult, I completely reworked our marketing and selling practices to drive-up sales and replace antiquated notions of cherry selling.  (trust me, it’s complex.)  Never in all my years have we NOT had any cherries to sell.  There will be no cursing at each other, no long hot hours under the sun for next to no $$.  There will be an abundance of free time to run, jump and climb trees! (or not)

Strange… Strange…