ME!!!
Johnny, let's show the contestant what he won.
Well, behind the door is ...A BRAND NEW JOB!!! (much clapping from the studio audience)
Sometimes my life really does feel like a game show but for today at least, I am okay with it.
A little back story is in order.
Last April I retired from the Royal Canadian Navy and began to live life as a civilian again - man, I thought is was tough being a sailor, this civilian crap is way worse <g>. After 20 years, I acquired a few skills, a few interesting ways to look at life and a few friends. One of these friends called my up and told me of a position that was needing a warm, friendly and totally awesome computer tech. Since I fit all three qualifications, I wandered myself down to the person who managed that chair, smiled and said, "Look no further, I am here." It turned out that the manager was someone who I worked with in the closing days of my military career, someone I got along with very well. He was happy and he knew it so he clapped his hands. He dragged me around the shop and introduced me to the rest of the crowd, all of whom used to work at the same location at the same time as I did. We were all happy and we all knew it, so we all clapped our hands. (isn't life grand?)
The manager set to find a way to get me into his shop. He looked and looked and looked some more and finally he found a way. I was hired as a temporary casual for 4.5 months (micky mouse government crap). Sweet, an relatively easy job, great people to work with, lots of learning, and my pension to boot.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Friday, 16 November 2012
Monday, 24 September 2012
For all of the things Mr Gates has done, this has got to be the best. How many people do you know who really really need to have this read to them?
1. When you receive a letter from your God saying it will be fair, then it will.
Unfortunately, Gods pencil is missing so don't hold your breath waiting for that letter
2. Getting out of bed without a hangover does not count as accomplishing something
3. Not unless you are really lucky
4. Teachers aren't allowed to fail you any more, the Boss can and will fire you for being a douche
5. Today it may be called just taking care of business, the business of supporting yourself
6. Take responsibility for yourself, no one else will and still respect you
7. When you step into your parents shoes, you will realise just how cool they really were
8. You get what you work for and winning the lottery will not make you a winner
10. "Reality TV" if you really think this is real, you really need to shut it off and go outside
11. You may not work for a nerd, but it will be a nerd who is going to fix your computer for you
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
When will Death come for you?
Today I heard of a private company in Ontario (where else in Canada would such stuff come from) where you can go and have them give you a percent chance that you will acquire condition X. Great, now you get to walk home having been told your chance of X is 60%. How is that going to make you feel? What good will come of it, will you change your life, will you even try?
We all have been told that smoking is bad for you, your chance of getting lung cancer increases hugely. You walk into that company in Ontario and they will tell you that your chance of getting lung cancer is 80%. George Burns, a wonderful man, great actor and comedian smoked three or four cigars a day, every day for decades. He had the knowledge available at the time but chose not listen to someone say "Oh, you are smoking, your chance of getting lung cancer is 80%." Mr Burns lived the way he wanted, did the things he did until he was 100, then he said enough and went to be with Gracy. Would he have been any different? Would we have had to been without his wit and charm because he was afraid to live?
Life is a terminal condition, for everyone. We are born, we live, we will die. Live your life the best you can, eat the best you can, exercise, and above all remember to smile at yourself at least once a day.
All the rest of it, its just numbers and somebody else taking a guess.
When your life timer runs out of sand, Death will pay you a visit to take you where you wish to be. Don't spend your time watching the sand run out.
We all have been told that smoking is bad for you, your chance of getting lung cancer increases hugely. You walk into that company in Ontario and they will tell you that your chance of getting lung cancer is 80%. George Burns, a wonderful man, great actor and comedian smoked three or four cigars a day, every day for decades. He had the knowledge available at the time but chose not listen to someone say "Oh, you are smoking, your chance of getting lung cancer is 80%." Mr Burns lived the way he wanted, did the things he did until he was 100, then he said enough and went to be with Gracy. Would he have been any different? Would we have had to been without his wit and charm because he was afraid to live?
Life is a terminal condition, for everyone. We are born, we live, we will die. Live your life the best you can, eat the best you can, exercise, and above all remember to smile at yourself at least once a day.
All the rest of it, its just numbers and somebody else taking a guess.
When your life timer runs out of sand, Death will pay you a visit to take you where you wish to be. Don't spend your time watching the sand run out.
Monday, 10 September 2012
What is it all about?
There is only 1 great constant in the world.
No, it isn't taxes, nor is it Death. The only thing that you can always count on is change. It happens whether or not you wish it, or are ready for it. Change has happened, will happen and is happening. The weather changes, the value of the dollar changes, people change and it is this I will speak of now.
Not so long ago, for a man to look lustfully at another man was a sin (unless you were a priest. but that is a topic for another day). What is so wrong about that? If Steve really likes Earl, what harm are they going to do to you? How is their love going to ruin the love you have for your chosen one? Betty and Anne, they have been together for 15 years now. How is their life so wrong? Is it because the Bible says so? The same book that says you may beat your wife with a rod no larger than your thumb, the book that says you may sell your daughter as a slave, that touching a pigskin is wrong (say goodbye to football)
Why are so many people so scared of Steve and Earl and Betty and Anne? It has to be fear as there is no logic behind it, there is no physical reason for it, there is no rule from nature that says it is wrong so it has to be fear. Fear of something different, fear of things changing. Yes, things change, that is the way of nature, the way of life. Woman are now allowed to vote, it is no longer permissible to own slaves, we can live under the sea and on the moon. All of these things were unthinkable, frightening things but we changed.
For all of you out there who are scared of the future, grab your woobie and teddy bear and hang on because change happens. It is scary but it is a natural state of being. Do your best to be brave because Steve and Earl and Betty and Anne are just people, just like you and me. They don't want to hurt you and they don't want you to hurt them.
Be brave
Change happens
Enjoy life and let others do the same
No, it isn't taxes, nor is it Death. The only thing that you can always count on is change. It happens whether or not you wish it, or are ready for it. Change has happened, will happen and is happening. The weather changes, the value of the dollar changes, people change and it is this I will speak of now.
Not so long ago, for a man to look lustfully at another man was a sin (unless you were a priest. but that is a topic for another day). What is so wrong about that? If Steve really likes Earl, what harm are they going to do to you? How is their love going to ruin the love you have for your chosen one? Betty and Anne, they have been together for 15 years now. How is their life so wrong? Is it because the Bible says so? The same book that says you may beat your wife with a rod no larger than your thumb, the book that says you may sell your daughter as a slave, that touching a pigskin is wrong (say goodbye to football)
Why are so many people so scared of Steve and Earl and Betty and Anne? It has to be fear as there is no logic behind it, there is no physical reason for it, there is no rule from nature that says it is wrong so it has to be fear. Fear of something different, fear of things changing. Yes, things change, that is the way of nature, the way of life. Woman are now allowed to vote, it is no longer permissible to own slaves, we can live under the sea and on the moon. All of these things were unthinkable, frightening things but we changed.
For all of you out there who are scared of the future, grab your woobie and teddy bear and hang on because change happens. It is scary but it is a natural state of being. Do your best to be brave because Steve and Earl and Betty and Anne are just people, just like you and me. They don't want to hurt you and they don't want you to hurt them.
Be brave
Change happens
Enjoy life and let others do the same
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Your Friend
It sits on your desktop, or your lap, or in the palm of your hand - the computer.
It keeps your appointments, it keeps your little black book, it allows you to keep
in touch with friends, family and Joe Black living on the other side of the world
and yet..
Do you really know what is inside of it?
For those of you who have seen the movie TRON, do you not ever wonder if that
computer working for you or are you working for it? Is it just a machine, doing as it
has been programmed or is there some independent thought somewhere inside?
Every time you send a message somewhere, parts of it can get lost - where do
those lost bits go and when they get there what do they do?
A long, long time ago when the earth was just a blue ball floating in space, there was
nothing in the seas that covered most of this planet - nothing but little bits of this and
that. Something happened that caused two of those bits to together, and then a third
bit added itself. Eventually enough bits got together to form something that had
rudimentary intelligence.
Skip forward 4 billion years (give or take a few hundred million) and humans show up
on the planet. Humans grew up, evolved and got smarter(with a few notable exceptions) and they built this vast open space called the Internet. Vast, huge, full of little bits going to here and there, and little bits just hanging around not doing much but being there waiting for something to happen. Something to happen that will cause two of those little bits to get together.
It keeps your appointments, it keeps your little black book, it allows you to keep
in touch with friends, family and Joe Black living on the other side of the world
and yet..
Do you really know what is inside of it?
For those of you who have seen the movie TRON, do you not ever wonder if that
computer working for you or are you working for it? Is it just a machine, doing as it
has been programmed or is there some independent thought somewhere inside?
Every time you send a message somewhere, parts of it can get lost - where do
those lost bits go and when they get there what do they do?
A long, long time ago when the earth was just a blue ball floating in space, there was
nothing in the seas that covered most of this planet - nothing but little bits of this and
that. Something happened that caused two of those bits to together, and then a third
bit added itself. Eventually enough bits got together to form something that had
rudimentary intelligence.
Skip forward 4 billion years (give or take a few hundred million) and humans show up
on the planet. Humans grew up, evolved and got smarter(with a few notable exceptions) and they built this vast open space called the Internet. Vast, huge, full of little bits going to here and there, and little bits just hanging around not doing much but being there waiting for something to happen. Something to happen that will cause two of those little bits to get together.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Stop Steven Harper Day
So someone has come up with the idea of calling Canada Day "Stop Steve Harper Day". On that day, I will go to my local celebration and enjoy the festivities. I will go up to all the protesters and ask each one of them
"Did you vote at the last general election?"
I had a look at the official tallies and for the last general election, about 60% of registered voters got up and made their mark. When you add in those who are not registered and are eligible to be so, the number is close to 50%, 1 person in 2. That means of everyone of those people who are unhappy, 1/2 of them have absolutely no right to say anything.
When you don't make your way down to vote, you give up your right to complain when things happen that you don't like. If you want the right to complain you have to make the effort to get down and vote.
Getting back to the protesters who will be down at the Canada Day celebrations, everyone of them that I ask and get the answer of NO, I will blissfully ignore.
And before anyone asks, I did vote. And not for Harper
"Did you vote at the last general election?"
I had a look at the official tallies and for the last general election, about 60% of registered voters got up and made their mark. When you add in those who are not registered and are eligible to be so, the number is close to 50%, 1 person in 2. That means of everyone of those people who are unhappy, 1/2 of them have absolutely no right to say anything.
When you don't make your way down to vote, you give up your right to complain when things happen that you don't like. If you want the right to complain you have to make the effort to get down and vote.
Getting back to the protesters who will be down at the Canada Day celebrations, everyone of them that I ask and get the answer of NO, I will blissfully ignore.
And before anyone asks, I did vote. And not for Harper
Monday, 30 April 2012
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Remember to breath
A long time ago when I held the title Yeoman I had opportunity to show several classes of young officers the value of breathing. Most of the time, they paid heed to my instruction.
Over the past two weeks, I have had to remind myself numerous times to breath.
Funny how stupid it seems to have to tell yourself that.
When you start to see spots, when your vision starts going wonky, let go of that breath and take a new one. At this point, the tax man has not found a way to tax them so go ahead and take a new one, take two.
Your body will really appreciate it, especially when you remain upright instead of face planting on the side walk.
Breath
Hold it a few seconds
Release
Repeat
It is the way it should be
Cheers
Over the past two weeks, I have had to remind myself numerous times to breath.
Funny how stupid it seems to have to tell yourself that.
When you start to see spots, when your vision starts going wonky, let go of that breath and take a new one. At this point, the tax man has not found a way to tax them so go ahead and take a new one, take two.
Your body will really appreciate it, especially when you remain upright instead of face planting on the side walk.
Breath
Hold it a few seconds
Release
Repeat
It is the way it should be
Cheers
Saturday, 28 April 2012
Give a Little Bit
"See the man with the lonely eyes
Take his hand, you'll be surprised"
A wonderful song by Supertramp, one that gives me pause to reflect on the years that have past
In the world of today, it seems that the overriding thought is "More is better" You turn on your TV and are constantly bombarded by adds saying you aren't thin enough, wealthy enough, smart enough, virile enough or even worthy of notice. We get to see the Snookies of the world, the Paris Hilton and enough people look at them as if they are what we need to aspire to become.
When was the last time you went shopping for groceries and thought "Hey, someone took the time to grow this for me. That is a person who should be stroked for their contribution to the world"
The builders who are out there, the healers, the person who ensures that the little old lady gets across the street safely (yes, Boy Scouts are still out there), these are the people we need to look up to. The people who give a little of their selves to help another person. When I say a little, really that is all it takes. Hold a door open for a mother with both here hands full of energetic children. That 30 seconds of yourself you give can make the world of difference for that mother, and what did it cost you?
BIGGER, FASTER, BETTER....YOU MUST BE THIS, OR HAVE THIS OR YOU ARE NOT WORTHY.
You don't need to be the biggest, or the fastest, or the shiniest. You do not need to measure up to what is being thrown at you. What you do need is yourself. And when you give a little of yourself, you get back far more than you give.
Try it
Give a little bit
And be surprised
Take his hand, you'll be surprised"
A wonderful song by Supertramp, one that gives me pause to reflect on the years that have past
In the world of today, it seems that the overriding thought is "More is better" You turn on your TV and are constantly bombarded by adds saying you aren't thin enough, wealthy enough, smart enough, virile enough or even worthy of notice. We get to see the Snookies of the world, the Paris Hilton and enough people look at them as if they are what we need to aspire to become.
When was the last time you went shopping for groceries and thought "Hey, someone took the time to grow this for me. That is a person who should be stroked for their contribution to the world"
The builders who are out there, the healers, the person who ensures that the little old lady gets across the street safely (yes, Boy Scouts are still out there), these are the people we need to look up to. The people who give a little of their selves to help another person. When I say a little, really that is all it takes. Hold a door open for a mother with both here hands full of energetic children. That 30 seconds of yourself you give can make the world of difference for that mother, and what did it cost you?
BIGGER, FASTER, BETTER....YOU MUST BE THIS, OR HAVE THIS OR YOU ARE NOT WORTHY.
You don't need to be the biggest, or the fastest, or the shiniest. You do not need to measure up to what is being thrown at you. What you do need is yourself. And when you give a little of yourself, you get back far more than you give.
Try it
Give a little bit
And be surprised
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
What Does A Man Need?
For all of you who are bombarded with the adds showing what a Real Man is,
and what a Real Man needs, take heart.
There is a simple answer.
A man needs a partner.
A partner he can trust
A partner he can pour his soul out to
A partner who will listen
A partner who will question
A partner who will kick him in the butt when he needs it
A partner who will give him a shoulder to cry on, and who will not think less of him for doing so
Once you have found that partner, you need to work to keep him or her
You have to tell them you love them
You have to trust them
You have to listen to them
You have to question them
You have to be there when they pour their souls to you
You have to kick them in the butt when they need it
You have to give them a shoulder to cry on, and not think less of them for doing so
And that is all a Man needs
and what a Real Man needs, take heart.
There is a simple answer.
A man needs a partner.
A partner he can trust
A partner he can pour his soul out to
A partner who will listen
A partner who will question
A partner who will kick him in the butt when he needs it
A partner who will give him a shoulder to cry on, and who will not think less of him for doing so
Once you have found that partner, you need to work to keep him or her
You have to tell them you love them
You have to trust them
You have to listen to them
You have to question them
You have to be there when they pour their souls to you
You have to kick them in the butt when they need it
You have to give them a shoulder to cry on, and not think less of them for doing so
And that is all a Man needs
Monday, 24 October 2011
Saturday, 22 October 2011
The Magic Words
A la peanut butter sandwiches....nope, not that one
Hocus pocus.....nope, not that one either
Please.... ah, there it is
Please, smile and thank you will get you a long way along the great road of life.
"Hi, can you please help me?" will probably go a lot further in getting your issue dealt with than "Hey, get off your ass and fix this"
The smile is the second part of the magic. Walk up to that harried clerk, the person who has dealt with 20 cranky angery people and smile. The first reaction you will get is "oh, a nice person, someone who isn't going to yell at me because of some elses mistake. I will do my best for this person."
"Thank you" is the final element of the magic. That gives the over worked, under appriciated clerk a feeling of peace and happyiness and the thought that the job is worth doing and maybe, just maybe they can make a differance in someone elses life.
Go on, give it a try. You just might be surprised at how well it works
Hocus pocus.....nope, not that one either
Please.... ah, there it is
Please, smile and thank you will get you a long way along the great road of life.
"Hi, can you please help me?" will probably go a lot further in getting your issue dealt with than "Hey, get off your ass and fix this"
The smile is the second part of the magic. Walk up to that harried clerk, the person who has dealt with 20 cranky angery people and smile. The first reaction you will get is "oh, a nice person, someone who isn't going to yell at me because of some elses mistake. I will do my best for this person."
"Thank you" is the final element of the magic. That gives the over worked, under appriciated clerk a feeling of peace and happyiness and the thought that the job is worth doing and maybe, just maybe they can make a differance in someone elses life.
Go on, give it a try. You just might be surprised at how well it works
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Safe injection sites and other crimes against society
It is good to know that drug users in Vancouver have a nice safe place to shoot up.
It is nice and warm, clean water and a nurse sitting there to help them if they OD.
How much is that costing you?
That nurse, why does she sit there when she could be doing something important
like helping your friend survive a car accident?
Why are we forced to pay for this to happen again and again?
Here in Victoria they hand out free needles to drug users and yet people who are forced to give themselves their own medical injections must pay for their own needles.
The spread of this pandering to the the lowest common denomination must stop. How long will it be before one of these "people" we have paid to get high comes to your home and attacks you so it can get its next fix?
I have heard the term harm reduction. The money that gets shoved into these people each and every day can be used for something of value - like that lady over there with a small child who no safe place to call home.
Tell your local public servant where you want your taxes spent.
It is your money, they are there to serve you
Monday, 10 October 2011
Sunday, 9 October 2011
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