Evelyn turns one year old!

Last year at this time, Liz and I were preparing for the addition to our family and were just under a week away from her due date.  It was a Thursday and Liz and I had lunch together followed by a trip to the store to get Liz’s new glasses. It felt like a regular day to us.  Later that evening (8/1) and Liz and I were working on a puzzle in the dining room.  Liz began to have some discomfort and moved to the great room. The pains that she began to have were not going away and before we knew it, we were preparing for a trip to the hospital to see if we would be meeting our baby girl.  It was late in the evening and after a regular work day, so we were in “bedtime” mode.   I hopped in the shower (knowing that I might be in the hospital for an extended visit) and we packed up our things and made our surreal trip to the hospital.  It was happening…it was really happening!

  

When we got to the hospital, we checked in and Liz’s pains were begging to intensify.   We went through several medical exams and waited it out.  After almost being sent home, Liz was finally admitted to the hospital and taken to her room.  Liz had been given a medicine that made her drowsy and she was completely exhausted already.  She was so tired that when she got her epidural at 3AM , she was practically asleep.   Fast forward to early morning, everything had been going perfectly until the first push.  At that point, the baby’s heart rate dropped and the room was saturated with doctors within what felt like a few seconds.  Everything started to move fast, talks of emergency C-sections were thrown our way along with scrubs in my direction.  Everything normalized again, but our doctor strongly recommended a C-section, so that's what we went with.  We left the room and went down the hall to where Evelyn would be born. At this point in the process we were both very nervous because of the speed at which things happened.  Liz was put in the OR room and I was left in the hall and told I could come in when they were ready for me.  Liz was worried about me not being the room and I just remember sitting in a chair in the hall, alone, scared and all the while knowing that my whole life was in the room just behind me.  I can say with certainty that this was the longest 15 minutes of my life.  I took a picture of the view from my chair in the hallway.  I wanted to capture that moment because there were so many emotions and my life was about to change forever. The picture was taken just before I entered the room.  This was about 5 minutes before Evelyn was born. 

 I was finally called into the room where everything went well (with exception to the falling curtain lol) and we met little Evelyn for the first time.  Her cries were music to our ears. So many emotions, so surreal, so tired….so happy. 

There was a surprise though!  Evelyn actually turned out to be a pretty cute baby.    Both Liz and I were not what you would call poster children for Gerber, so we were pleasantly surprised at how beautiful she was. Here I am...Liz's picture is conveniently missing...

So here we are…Time passed quickly and our little baby is now going to be one year old.   As most parents would say, it seems like just yesterday that we were taking her home from hospital and settling into our new life.   It was certainly a year of adjustments, but a year of many firsts and many smiles with one cute little girl in the center of it all. To us, she is perfect and she truly has been such a good baby.   It's been so much fun watching her grow, learn new things and become a little person. She has already given us so many special moments and we know that we have a lifetime of those moments to come. Life has taken on a new meaning and we thank God each day for our little monkey :)

Galaxy S4 vs. iPhone 5s

When you’re comparing the new iPhone with the Galaxy S4 (or high end android), you’re essentially comparing a Honda Accord to a Lexus at the same price point.   The iPhone will be good and reliable (like a Honda) and that’s about where things end for the positive side to the phone. Android is also reliable, but has so many more features.   Apple has gotten away from the main thing that made them great, which was innovation.   If you’re really paying attention, you’ll notice that they are thriving on their success from the past and successful marketing.  They are selling an image.  Look at the packaging.  Look at the store front. Look at the Hype around product releases.   It’s all image and marketing!  Apple’s commercials on TV are a minute long presentation on how their phones take the most pictures or play the most music. On the other hand, Samsung/Android keeps showing commercials with new innovative features and reasons why they’re actually a better option than the iPhone.  Apple stock has been falling and they will continue to drop so long as they stay on the same path. They haven’t really done anything new and exciting in a very long time.  They used to be my favorite phone hands down, now...not so much.

·         The battery life is better on the S4

·         The S4 is far more durable than the iPhone.  IPhones are fragile and break easily when dropped.

·         The screen size is much better on the Galaxy

·         There are more customization options on the Galaxy

o   There is an Easy mode if you’re worried about things needing to be simplified (not necessary if you have even a small grasp on technology)

·         You are not roped into using iTunes on the Galaxy

·         Maps & navigation are better and more accurate on the Galaxy

·         The camera is better on the Galaxy

·         You can add and remove  a memory card in the Galaxy

·         You can remove the battery and replace in the Galaxy

·         You have to go to a “genius bar” to have your iPhone fixed .

·         Parts and add-ons are more expensive for Apple products.

I remember years ago wanting to customize my smartphone to be like an iPhone. Now, I see absolutely no reason why I would.   Additionally, from a support perspective, I have seen issues with Apple’s compatibility when it comes to Microsoft based products which are most commonly used in the business offices.  My whole team of IT professionals has moved to the Galaxy with exception to 1 stubborn person who refuses to change.  My friends who have had every version of the iPhone since the first model have made the change to the new Galaxy and haven't looked back.  Times change and so do the elite brands. 

With all that being said, buy what you like!  I’m sure Apple fans will step in and try to refute some of the details, but if they are they’re not being helpful to your decision making process.  Apple products have become entirely about image. If you don’t believe me, reread the first paragraph and watch for these queues in the real world. Android software is miles ahead of where it was years ago and those who complain about droids generally had a bad experience a long time ago or bought a lower end model.  An iPhone is considered a high end model, so comparing “Apples to Apples”, Android wins every time. 

 

It's Just a Car..

“It’s just a car”

Ever since I was a young child, I had a love and appreciation of cars.  I had the biggest collection of Hot Wheels and Micro Machines out of anyone that I knew.  My bed sheets and window treatments were that of exotic sports cars and my father had bought me automotive games for the computer that showcased all the wonderful characteristics that make up an automobile. My father would point out nice cars when they drove by and he told me story’s from his younger years about the cars that he owned. I was the only kid that I knew who had a “Power Wheels” to drive around in at a very young age.   Is it any surprise that I became an automotive enthusiast?

                When I was 14 years old, I was told that whatever money I saved for a car, my father would match.  At 14 years old, I’m sure my father thought that was a safe bet, but I was motivated young individual. My inspiration came from my mother’s friend who owned a red Dodge Stealth that I saw just one time, and from that moment on, I was hooked. She told me that I could buy it from her one day, so that was my plan.   For the next year, all I did was look at car prices, specs, performance statistics, etc.  Kelly Blue book, Edmunds, Car and Driver, Road and Track….I couldn’t get enough.  I knew the price & details of any car on the road. At night, I could tell you kind of car was driving down the street just by the shining of the headlights (and I still can for the most part) J

As soon as I hit 15 years old, I went out and got a job.  Most of the kids at my age were just working on being kids and were not motivated to start their working career.  I remember being the first of my friends with a job.  I watched my bank account grow, knowing that each time it did, I was one step closer to getting the car that I wanted. I went to school, played 3 sports and worked when I could.  I still managed to have time with friends, but my bank account was growing.  When it came time to pull the trigger on a car, my father had a different plan in mind. It was spring of my junior year and I had just returned home from my spring training baseball trip to the Carolina’s. While I was away, my father had worked with his cousin to secure a car for me at a local auction.  I will never forget standing in the kitchen with my mother when I saw my first car pull in the driveway.  I knew it was mine because my father was driving, the car had nice wheels on it and it certainly wasn’t a rental.  It may sound ungrateful, but I really wasn’t thrilled with what I saw. I remember looking at my mom and saying “ that isn’t my car, is it?”.  Now you’re probably thinking, “man, what a spoiled brat”, but let me explain.   I had a list of 22 cars that I was interested in and this Thunderbird that showed up in the driveway was an imposter because it wasn’t on the list.  It was Sky blue, big, and it wasn’t what I had been saving my money for.   I also had to pay for half of it, so it wasn’t just given to me.  Now, in truth, it was a pretty nice first car (wasn’t expensive) and I think what my father did was wise in that he wanted me safe car for my first vehicle. I ended up liking the car ok, but it wasn’t what I had been saving my money for.   

The following summer, I decided to take a trip out to see my sister in Rochester, NY.  How convenient that there happened to be a 3000GT (sister car of the Stealth) for sale in Rochester not too far from where she was at a local dealership.  I showed up at the dealer with my friend and the car had been sold and wasn’t even there to drool at. To make matters worse, on the drive home, a deer had decided to jump over a guard rail in front of my car at 72mph and effectively totaled my car.  I remember limping the car home and parking it in the street (leaking coolant everywhere) and then running inside with tears in my eyes and hugging my dad and telling him I ruined the car.  At that point in time I felt like I would never end up with the car that I wanted.  Without going into all the details, I was able to take the insurance check from the totaled Thunderbird and I bought myself a Dodge Avenger.  It was the closest thing that to a Stealth that I was allowed to buy.  I liked the car, but the entire time I owned it, I was still figuring out how to get my stealth.    My neighbor down the street (who was a kid my age) ended up getting a 3000GT.  I was devastated because I would see him drive by every day and be jealous of what he had.  I couldn’t figure out how it was fair that someone who wasn’t even an enthusiast had the car that I wanted and was just two doors down from where I lived.  That might have been a blessing in disguise, because I think my father knew how painful that was for me and he caved and let me get the car that I wanted.  Now, it could have been because I was in my college years and he was letting go, but the end result was the same.  With that said I got my 3000GT and drove that for a few years before my Stealth Twin Turbo finally showed up. I had finally reached my ultimate goal after 6 years of working towards getting that car.   At that point in time, I was in my sophomore year in college and I had already paid off my car. 

I owned the stealth for just over 3 years and probably would have held on to it forever if the engine didn’t blow up on my birthday.  With the engine blown on the stealth, I did what any responsible kid living at home would do and went out and bought a Corvette :-P .  Now, truthfully this was probably the craziest decision I ever made with cars…. but it happened anyway.  I once read that “you’re not a true automotive enthusiast until you buy a car you cannot afford”.  Well….I received my certification for enthusiasm here I suppose.     I drove that for a year and half and then the real world caught up with me when my student loans kicked in.  I had to get rid of it, work harder, make more money and that was that.   I sold it and kept on with the history of cars until I finally was able to afford another corvette 7 years later.

So that is the very condensed history with my cars. I could have gone into the S2000 years after the Vette, which I ended up selling to move out to Rochester and free up some money to buy Liz’s engagement ring.  I could talk about the short stint with the GTO, Drama of the Lancer Evolution, or history of the Infiniti that I traded for so I could have a better car for work.  But…I need to get to a point here somewhere.

  This article is an explanation of how and why I have a fun car and a way to express this to those who may question it.  It also aims to explain why cars mean so much to me.   This is my passion and just as everyone else has their own vices, cars happen to be mine.  It doesn’t come without a price, but it was something that I have been working for since I was a young boy.  I made a long list of sacrifice’s to be able to have my car.  A lot of my friends would spend what money they had from their minimum wage jobs on “going out”.  I never did that.  That’s not to say that I didn’t go out and have fun, but I was never spending money at the bar drinking away my hard earned dollars. I was saving for my car and that was my choice.  I didn’t go on trips every year like a lot of my friends because that was a lot of money that I could save for my car.  I even went as far as NOT playing college baseball so that I could work more and have money for my car.    Those were sacrifice’s that I made from the time that I could start working all through my college years.  I was committed and hard working towards my goals and thus was able to achieve them. Rather than people being happy for me, they generally only focus on what they can’t comprehend.  People see me now with a Corvette and feel the need to make comments regarding finances.  Here is what they don’t understand.  My Corvette probably has a smaller monthly payment then their new Toyota Camry.   Of course, that is just an example that I’m using, but I know that the people who make comments, generally don’t know very much about the automotive world. Is a brand new Corvette expensive?  Yes, it is.  This is exactly why I purchased mine when it was 7 years old with just fewer than 30k miles on it.  I drove half way across the country to find one that was the right deal for me. Yup…I’m that crazy :-P.  Additionally, all the money that I had saved up over the years and put into cars was still there, so that was rolled into the new car payments.  In truth, it’s really very affordable to someone who has worked hard for one and made it a priority.  Both Liz and I know what is affordable and without knowing what we make or spend our money on, it’s impossible for someone else to make that assessment.  Just keep in mind that I live with an adorable CPA and that we are both planners.  Liz understands what it means for me to have a “fun car” ;)

For me, those “A to B” cars just never did it for me. If you’re not a car person, you might not understand that, but cars have done a lot for me throughout my life.  There’s “more than meets the eye” when it comes to a true enthusiast.   I learned that if you work hard enough towards a goal, that it will pay off if you keep at it.  I learned discipline in my spending and the sacrifice of giving up some smaller items to attain a bigger goal.   I experienced the responsibility of ownership and at a young age.  I took pride in that ownership and learned to take care of my possessions. I developed a habit for cleaning and appreciation of being neat and organized. Ask Liz if she minds that ;)  I learned to keep track of maintenance and everything that goes along with owning a car.    I also was able to have the experience of running my own business and having people come to me for service/help. (This was back when I had my own detailing business).  Cars also helped me develop my visual side as well.  I spent a lot of time on design and learning how to use Photoshop so that I could better visualize what I wanted things to look like.  I also found my way into photography from being inspired by pictures others took of their cars and I wanted to do the same.  I began to really gain confidence and skill with both design and photography, which are now other outlets that I have and love.  In the end, the lessons and experiences that I’ve gained with cars has helped me in all aspects of my life and weren’t limited to the automotive realm. 

Cars also filled a very big void in my life. My college years weren’t exactly easy as the world as I knew it was turned upside down and changed forever.  With my parents now in different locations and my sister in Rochester, the family core was gone. In addition to that, my friends were all away at college and had reached the point in their college careers where they stayed at their respective schools for the summer.  My out was cars, and they were the one constant that did not change.  Despite whatever was going on, I could get in my car and go for a drive and those issues seem to melt away for times when I was behind the wheel.  I could find peace in something that I loved and really enjoyed.  It’s true that I could have gone out and made bad decisions, but I chose to cling to cars.   Eventually, cars led me to a local car group that became very large over just a few years.  I made plenty of new friends who were local and shared the same passion that I did.  These were people who understood a side of me that many did not.   Rather than crawling into a hole and vanishing, I ended up as the center hub for my group of car friends who all became so much more than just car buddies. We were essentially family as I would see them just about every day. We would always find something fun to do, car related or not.  Some of my best memories to this day are those found with the people that I met through cars. 

In the end, this is my passion and it’s something that I’ve worked hard at for what is now more than half of my life here on Earth.   It may not be for you and that’s ok, but hopefully you understand a little more about what this part of my life means to me and how it translates to where I am today.  Everyone is entitled to work for whatever makes them happy.  I encourage anyone who has a goal, to work hard towards that goal, even if others may not understand why it’s important to you.  “It’s just a car” does not apply here ;-)

America 2012

     The choices for this year’s president were difficult as both sides provided extreme options on major issues.  At the end of the day, WE as a NATION elected President Obama to a second term.  While I can tell you that I did not vote for Obama, I can say that I’m not entirely disappointed with some of the things that he brings to the white house.  I am however disappointed in the way our Americans are treating each other. 

      What has been hard to digest is the mindset behind a lot of today’s voters. Not what they are voting for necessarily, but the vehemence in which they have voiced opinions.   Earlier in the week I was slightly enraged by an article that was written and implied that anyone who voted for Romney and claimed to have a favorable position on Gay marriage was a hypocritical and indecent human being.   While I do stand for equality, there were many other issues on the table that I am concerned about in addition to this one topic.  The point of the article made it seem that unless you had gay marriage as your #1 issue, you were wrong.  I quickly pointed out to the author of the article, the irony of defending someone’s individual rights and then taking exception on other individuals (who already agree with the issue), but have different priorities.   The intolerance of accepting someone’s reasons to vote is contrary to what they are preaching.  It was also interesting to see the same people (more than one) who gave praise to this article and then posted a “who should you vote for” poll that was based on an array of issues which could be weighted based on importance.  That would imply that there was more than one issue to vote on, I suppose J

      If this election has done anything, I hope it has made obvious to the 2 major parties that America is more down the middle of the road than the options they are given come election time. 50/50 would suggest that.  It’s time for the representatives of this nation to listen to Americans and stop playing the game of getting their party elected.  Let’s start working together, get this country on track and stop making it a battle between two extreme options.  This election was not the Boston Red Sox vs. the New York Yankees, but it certainly had the same feel to it.  The political banter between the two parties, false stories, items taken out of context, etc, should not have an impact on voters.  People need to be smarter and not influenced by anything other than the facts, but that's not the world we live in.  Politicians shouldn't be trying to "trick" the public, they should be trying to help us. In all honesty, we shouldn't be forced into two options. Yes, we can vote for other candidates, but there will never be an independent that wins unless there are some major changes in the system.

      I don’t care if your vote is against what I want, but know the issues and how it affects your life.  If you preach respect, then respect others rights to vote for something that you don’t agree with without telling them they’re idiots. There are some pretty wonderful people with completely different perspectives.  It would be interesting to see how the country would vote strictly on the issues.  Much like the tests you can take online which address the issues and then tell you which candidates you should be voting for. Instead of pulling the lever for a candidate, you pull it for issues and the right candidates would be selected.  Wouldn’t that be an objective way to pick the best candidates? Isn’t that our real goal?   We have that technology available to us.  Oh and BTW....When is the last time your vote changed based on a negative add or lawn sign? 

For those of you claiming you “won” the election, I have news for you.  You haven’t won anything and you’re NOT on a different team.  We are all Americans living under the same roof.   As a friend stated earlier, we still have issues that need sorting out and a divided America.  The goal should not be to gloat over winning an election, but to work TOGETHER to get this nation back to where it’s capable of being.  In some respects, I think we have moved forward, but not without moving back in other areas.  God Bless America and all that we’re capable of. 

 (BTW I wasn't going to post this given the sensative nature of the topic, but I had typed it out last week and found it on my computer so here it is.  No comments for this one! )

A Genuine Thank You

So I turned 31 today and unlike last years “excitement” of flipping that 2 over to a 3, there really isn’t much hoopla about turning “30+1” J. Despite having to work today around coworkers who didn’t realize it was birthday, I ended up having a pretty good day!  The craziness at work that I have been experiencing lately decided to ease up for a day and allowed me to reflect on all the birthday wishes that I received. I read every single birthday message that was sent today and sincerely appreciate each and everyone’s efforts to wish me a good day. With each message received, a memory of all of the wonderful people I’ve met in my life and good times shared with them was brought back to me.  I have been receiving Facebook messages, emails, phone calls and text messages from the moment I got up this morning to just a few minutes ago. I also got to spend some time with Liz and her parents as they hosted us for a wonderful dinner and evening.    With all that, there was no way that I was going to have anything less than a wonderful day!

Thinking back, I can remember birthdays in the past being about all the huge parties, presents and cake!  I can tell you with certainty that everyone’s positive messages and efforts to reach out to me today were just as, if not more impactful. From the common faces to the blasts from the past, you all made a difference!    Thanks again to EVERYONE for your thoughtfulness and for providing a reason to be excited about turning one year older.  You’re all wonderful and I’m lucky to have you in my life!

A shout out to music

Today was one of those mornings where I was confronted by the notorious Mr. Monday after a holiday weekend.  When I arrived at work, I was feeling very lethargic and it just seemed like I was never going to be able to get motivated for the day.  At that time, I elected to put on some music to see if it could jump start my morning.  Instead of using my desktop speakers, I chose headphones with the thought process that I would be able to fully absorb the music that was playing.  For some reason, putting the headphones worked twofold in that the music was absorbed clearly and the earphones seemed to keep the music trapped up in thereJ. Seriously, big time party going on between the ears.   Within a few minutes, I began to feel rejuvenated and ready for the day and then began to be really productive.  The tone was set for the day and it didn’t matter that it was Monday and I had a lot to do, I was ready and nothing was going to stop me or put me in a bad mood.

It always amazes me how inspiring music can be and what it actually does for us as humans and how important it is in our lives.  It doesn’t appear that music affects any other living animal like it does with humans.  Trust me, I’ve tried playing all kinds of music for Miles (my dog) and he has never once done anything inspiredJ.  The emotions that it can create are unreal. Can you image watching a movie without the soundtrack?  How about driving without your favorite tunes or working out to silence?   I think a lot of us take these things for granted, but I’m truly thankful for music of all kinds.  As my mother says, there’s a song for everything….I’m pretty sure she’s right…she’s my mom J

I know there are some people who don’t see music as a necessity and might not approve of budgeting for schools or the community. They simply don’t see the value in it, but they’re missing the big picture and probably haven’t thought about its effects past the classroom. Not only does music come into play for so many areas in our lives, but it also helps people to develop mentally.  For all that music has done for us, we all should be grateful and understand that it’s just as valuable as any other course in school and in some cases, even more so.  After all, it is the universal language J

The Me First Society

     Most of us were coached by our parents to work hard and be the best that we can at what we do. Try hard, set goals, always work to better ourselves. Be respectful of others and to treat others the way that we would like to be treated. These are concepts and teachings that seem to have lost their way as of late.   I have noticed a lot of contrast to those lessons and how the real world functions. Now I’m not someone who thinks the world is perfect and recognize that daily life will certainly provide its disappointments from time to time, but I think we’re letting things slide a little more than is responsible and acceptable. 

     Here’s a quick blurb about a day which is completely possible in today’s world: I know, for I have lived it many times and I’m sure that you have too.

      It’s 6:15 in the evening and you’re just getting out of work.  You’ve just had the most terrible day and going home to cook doesn’t seem like a good option.  Instead, you decide to go against everything that your body is telling you and you make a plan to stop at Micky D’s on the way home.  As you leave your office, you take note of a man changing the light in the ceiling just outside the doors that lead to the parking lot.  Standing just a few feet away from him are two considerate smokers who are puffing their clouds of health in his general direction. You notice that the ceiling above him is catching all the smoke right where he is working.  Fighting off the urge to say anything, you walk out to your car which is parked in the farthest parking spot in the entire lot.  Why?  Not because you really enjoy the walk or from lack of closer spaces, but because you value your car and don’t want it damaged by people who don’t care about their cars or yours. Life has taught you that people will not respect your things, so your motives are justified for parking there.  You get to your spot where your car is in the corner and to the outer most edge of the parking space. You see that a person parked next to you and took the liberty of keeping your car company and parking over their line and in your space.  You pause for a second, let out a sigh, get in your car and leave. 

     Now off to the drive home where traffic is always busy, but you’re used to it by now.  You’re driving along and decide that going exactly the speed limit isn’t really your thing, so you move into the PASSING lane and find another car with the same idea as the car on the right going exactly 55 in a 55.  A pile of cars lines up behind the person and despite the car in front of you tailgating them and flashing their lights, the person doesn’t move over.  A few min later, as an exit comes up, the car finally speeds up and darts across 2 lanes of traffic at full throttle and exits by cutting off several cars and almost causing an accident.   You eventually get up to speed and are comfortably passing the car in the right lane, when they speed up ever so slightly just because they take offense to you wanting to go a little faster.  By doing so, you have to slow down and get behind them so that you don’t repeat the actions of the last guy who almost caused a major accident.  The second that you surrender to the car that won’t let you pass and get behind them, they slow down and you drive 54 mph until you reach your exit.  Eventually you survive the highway and make it to the exit where your food is waiting.
   
     Noticing that your gas tank is getting low, you stop to fill up before getting food.  You get out of your car and begin to pump gas.  There is a person blasting their stereo at the pumps and the guy next to you has chosen the ground as his personal trash can. As you leave, you spot someone with a cigarette in their mouth while pumping gas, so with that, it’s time to get out of there before you make the news as causality.   
      
     You drive away and finally reach McDonalds and wait in line. You order your food, receive it, and then head home to your house to finally relax from this crazy day.  You open the bag of food and the smell is just wonderful, but with one problem.  They got your order wrong.  You ordered a hamburger with no pickles or cheese…they gave you hamburger with just cheese…and lots of it!  Seriously?  I mean…SERIOUSLY?  You get back in your car, drive to the McDonalds and tell them what happened understanding that they make mistakes, but that you should get what you paid for.  The person snatches the hamburger out of your hand like you’re the one who was responsible and without saying “I’m sorry” or anything else for that matter, grabs you another one and sends you on your way.  You drive home, eat the hamburger which has now lost all the benefits and satisfaction of a perfectly unhealthy lazy meal and you would have been happier just being home and cooking or not eating dinner at all. You flip the news on and quickly turn it off due to all the negative news that seems to be the only thing that is ever reported on. The stories of murders, robberies and political finger pointing don’t appeal to you and certainly aren’t going to make you feel any better.  At this point in time, all hope is loss for decompression and relaxation and you find yourself spending a few minutes brainlessly searching online for nothing in particular, while flipping through channels on TV where nothing grabs your attention.  You fall asleep for a minute; fight it off a few more times and then head to bed. 

So while the story above reminds me of a day that could be found in the comical life of someone from the movie Office Space, it really does have a sad reality to it.  The simple fact that people are essentially in it for themselves.  That we live in a “Me First” society and it’s a world where someone does not consider how their actions will impact others and looks no further than themselves. In addition to that, there is no effort being made to be better at areas that need improvement.   There is just an acceptance that things are what they are. Shouldn’t we try to be better human beings?  Shouldn’t we work to be better in areas that need improving rather than lowering standards? For example, the fast food employee who just wanted to get you out of the way for the next customer.  Some people will say, “yeah but it’s just a McDonalds employee that’s what you should expect.”  Why? Why should we expect people to not do their best and allow for that to happen? Shouldn’t we have come to the realization that by allowing that kind of behavior, you will continue to have the same problems?  I hold them to the same criteria as anyone else and I don’t think we should continue to make excuses for those who don’t try. After all, we’re all human beings and nobody is above or below that point.

  Perhaps this would explain my more conservative approach to things, but I don’t believe in bending rules and making exceptions for people who are inconvenienced by structure.  Sadly, our society needs the influence of someone telling them "no" every now and again. My father faught me that lesson at a young age and I think it was a very valuable lesson.  I believe the more that we give in to peoples “special demands” the more we’ll see of the events above. It just builds on the concept of "me first" thinking.   It’s time for people to start looking at the bigger picture.  It’s time for people to start acting the way they should and to stop making excuses.  People to be accountable for their actions and start working towards being better.  We all can improve on something, so be better!  That is my challenge…you can take or leave it.  J