Had a nightmare about Wanda and Darryl (actually mostly about one of their children for some odd reason) last night, so I think it's time to take a short break from Life with the Neighbors. I'll try to get back to it this weekend. Hey, I lived through this stuff, so a nightmare is no big deal, but still.
Today was busier than the average Wednesday. We had staff meeting at work, and the CEO was the surprise motivational speaker. He read us this story, which is a parable about living in the moment. A good reminder for all of us, I think. My company's fiscal year just ended, so we got a little financial report from our department manager. Apparently we had a good year last year. You don't hear that too much anywhere these days when it comes to finances, so that was reassuring. They are cautiously optimistic about another good year this year. Got home and opened my 401K statement only to see that I had losses in all categories, but that's OK. That just means more buying opportunities, right? Overall, I'm pretty amazed at how fast it's grown, even with the stock markets vicissitudes of late.
Speaking of larger issues, I ran across this youtube video of Krauthammer. He is one of my all-time favorites. It's nice that such brilliance is contained all in one person. It's short, less than a minute, and it's about the recent headlines from the head guy at NASA who was asked what direction President Obama gave him in shaping the direction of NASA under his presidency:
It's kind of hard to argue his points. But mostly what I like is the grace with which he makes them. This is one man whose grasp of the English language is incredibly strong, yet incredibly deft.
So, my 401K took another hit, financial reports seem to be taking a dip for the gloomier, and approximately one zillion people are out of a job. Maybe that's just my perception and way too subjective. I just have such a feeling that there's more to come with this "recession." It seems so deep and vast, across lots of nations. Troublesome.
Hey, these are not good thoughts for fun fluffy dreams, are they? I really am an optimistic person, I promise. For example: Every day when I am out and about and on my way to the nucleus of our town where all things of import take place, I pass this one certain house. It's modest, nondescript, old white siding and a small front porch. But for that second or two when I pass it, it has my full attention. That's because a long time ago, probably two years ago, one time I happened to glance over there and there was a cat hanging from the miniblinds in one of the front windows. It was splayed out flat against the window, belly and chin facing me, as each leg manned a separate corner of the window with just its front paws hanging on to the top of the miniblinds. EVERY DAY I pass and think, "Maybe today's the day I am going to look over and see that cat hanging from the miniblinds again." And EVERY DAY, it's not the day. But see? I am an optimist because I look with hope and expectation. And EVERY DAY I am rewarded with crappy old (broken) miniblinds. But one day he's going to be there again, waiting for me to drive by. I just know it.
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