19 years and counting.  Here’s to at least 38 more.

Wow, nice night I had.

Not.

Yet another totally sleepless night.  Zero sleep, until about 11 or so this morning.  Actually broke down and took a sick day.  (Which is probably dangerous as hell given the current situation…) I don’t normally do this unless I’m really, believe it or not. sick.  I guess being goofy as hell from no sleep qualifies as sick.  Doesn’t it?

And so it is.  We stand here firmly entrenched in the midlife that we’ve prepared for ourselves.  Like it or not it is what it is and given the alternatives available, such as not standing here firmly entrenched in midlife and just firmly being firmly entrenched in a cold dirt hole, I think it’s a good thing.

I’ve a high school friend, Tom Garrity, who apparently is quite successful in his public relations firm in New Mexico.  I’ve another friend, David Lloyd, who lives in the Netherlands and is some financial guru for Shell.  Ken Mueller, a fraternity brother is a grand potenate of Time Warner cable.  Various and sundry other people that I grew up with are likewise successful in their careers.  Scarlett Huntman, Beth Crocker, Marie Weichman, Doug McCoy…all friends who have been doing what they do and doing it well for some time.  Congratulations to you all.

I, on the other hand, cannot point to a storied and successful career.  It took me a long time to accept that what I wanted to do, what I wanted to be was okay.  I didn’t have to be what my parents thought I should be; nor did I have to bow to the definition of success that others sought.  It took a long time (until i was almost 40) to admit that I wasn’t going to be the sort of business man who looked forward to endless meetings; three piece suits and traveling about on a constant basis.  I really don’t like to wear a tie.  So be it.

As I write this my wife and I are a day or two shy of being married for 19 years.  Granted every day has not been one of joyful cavorting and revaling in marital bliss.  But that’s not realistic.  We have established over the nearly two decades a deep respect for and of each other and, I’m sure it goes with out saying but I’ll say it anyway…love.

I write this not as a maudlin kind of tale but as one that is celebratory.  I celebrate the fact that; more or less, I’m doing what I want to do.  Granted some days more than others, but you get the point.  I’m thankful for the 19 years that I’ve been married to a wonderful woman and have two daughters that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

So yeah, hello midlife.  I’ll pass on any crises that you might have.  I will have another beer though and maybe a pretzel?  Yeah, that’d be nice.

Link:

I’ve had a horrible experience with e bags and would recommend that you go to zappos or some other retail outlet.  Hell, go to goodwill and get some $3 bag.  You’ll be happier.

Details:  Purchased a laptop bag, came on time (roughly) but the zipper in the large back pocket was broken.  I called, they sent another one.  Problems with this one.  I returned both and received an email stating that my account would be credited.  This was almost a month ago.  After talking to the acct reps who had horribly thick accents, I was promised a call right back.  I’ve yet to receive said call.  An email from a “customer service specialist” indicated that they had refunded the money, I’m back at square one.  Don’t do business with ebags.  You’ll regret it.

Hey, I just post ‘em folks.  A tip? of the hat to Ken Mueller.  Blame him, not me.

He Loves A Fat Girl

Odd Video Part 2 - Old School Division

Fish Heads, Fish Heads. Roly Poly Fish Heads. Eat them up yum. *Hey it’s sunday, relax, enjoy the stupid vids. We’ll get serious again on Monday. Well..Tuesday maybe. Certainly no later than December…

It might be just a tad early…isn’t it…no…wait…

Okay, we’ll wait a bit but Obama is officially ahead by a 2-1 margin as he carries Dixville Notch, VT

Obama: 15
McCain: 6

Still….link at Boing Boing

Whateve your political leaning, get off of your ass tomorrow and vote. No excuses. If you don’t vote, you suck.

Mental As Anything - a gift from down under. 1979 or so.