Textually Active

It took me awhile, but I finally caught on to text messaging, and have found it very useful. So now I use 3 of the multiple features on my phone:) It comes in handy when you need to ask someone a question that usually requires a 'yes', or 'no' answer. I occasionally have to deal with a couple of individuals throughout the day, who, once they have you on the phone, you're captive for the next 15 minutes. They blab non stop, and say the same things over and over. Sometimes I get off the phone with them, and think, "What was the answer to the question"? For people like this, only texting should be allowed. They have to make it short and concise. I am fully aware that texting while driving is illegal, and in the past, I've been guilty of such criminal activity, but now I try to wait til I'm at a destination, or at the very least, stopped at a red light, before I respond. Some may consider texting the 'only' way to effectively communicate these days. It may be quick and to the point, but it loses the sincerity of the human voice. For instance, a person may be hesitant to tell a lie face to face. It's a bit easier over the phone. Texting has taken the guilt completely out of it! Think of your grandparents' generation. When they were young and dating, they would actually take the time to sit and write a letter, or send a card with their feelings and sentiments. Years later, they can still dig that card or letter out of the closet, and feelings of endearment may come over them again, as it did so many years ago. Todays texters, do you think they look back on the text messages from years ago, and get to relive those magical moments? Nope, your mailbox if full - time to delete. So the more we're attached to inanimate objects, the less the world has to practice loving and showing consideration for one another. All I'm saying is, the more technology advances, and the general populace embraces it, I feel there's a price to pay. Texting definitely has a benefit, but human contact is far superior. There's a time to shut your text hole, and open your pie hole.

The Weekend

Most people work for the weekend. You start hearing TGIF on Thursday afternoons. And this is true for the majority of America that works a 9 to 5 job. Self employment, on the other hand, plays by a different set of rules. Your 'weekend' is going to vary drastically from the established weekend everybody else follows. Let me explain. This particular weekend, I have to go look at a job this afternoon. These folks are in a hurry to get their bathroom whipped into shape so they can put it on the market to sell. Once we iron out a few details, they're going to pull the trigger, which means the ball has just been putted on to my green. If my work load were a little heavier at this moment, I would be there Sunday morning, tearing their bathroom apart, getting it ready to put back together on Monday. Self employment is not bound by 9 to 5, Monday thru Friday. You tackle it as it walks through the door. The work comes and goes in waves. Sometimes tsunamis. I hardly ever work a 40 hour week. If we're slow, 30. If we're busy, as much as 70 to 80. Holidays are just another day. I have, at one time or another, worked on every single holiday. It's not that big of a deal to me, but the people who are enjoying their day off with their families, you would think the last thing they would want, is to hear power tools being run in their house on their holiday. Self employment can bring some rather big challenges concerning work load. There has been stretches where I've worked 35 - 40 days straight, with no days off in between. Unfortunately, there have been days where I did not see my children. Up and out the door early, home by 11 PM. On the flip side, there have been weeks where my children are sick of seeing me and ask, "When are you going back to work Dad"? Then there's the dreaded paperwork. I hate paperwork! My desk is a constant clutter. I feel as if I'm shifting piles from one location to another, just so I can feel like I've accomplished something at my desk. Computers were originally designed to greatly reduce the amount of paperwork involved in running a business. I think its just added another layer of work to the secretary, namely me. You have to record things in a computer, and keep hard copies in case your computer crashes, or, the IRS wants a peek at what you've been up to. Many times, weekends are spent, what I like to call, 'Doing my homework'. So now that I'm finished ranting about 'Living the Dream' of being you own boss, I'm putting on my game face for the day. Enjoy the weekend all! It is Saturday, right?

Mother Tongue

Last night, over dinner, I was talking with a friend about the English language, and what would be considered proper 'English'. In other words, what 'English' is considered to be spoken correctly, or as close to correct as possible. The 'English' spoken in Great Britain is who we have to thank for bringing English to this country. So technically, it's the older, possibly original, English spoken by anyone. Does this mean those of us in the Midwest have an accent? We're all very well aware if you travel to different portions of this country, you're going to hear different accents and nuances in the English language, some subtle, some not even recognizable. My friend brought up an interesting point. He says 'fact'. I don't know that for sure. The 'English' spoken in the Midwest is the most recognizable, and is the easiest form of 'English' to actually learn. Then there's the Aussies who have bastardized the British accent to the point of making the language funny. And how about those Irish? To me, it sounds as if they're just making up words to fill in the blanks, because they don't know the proper 'English'. The Cajun people, I don't even know where to start, but they are fun to listen to. So if the English language is so diverse, and seems ever changing, how about other languages? Do they have the same identity crisis? The French spoken in Quebec, is it the same French spoken in France? The Portuguese used by the Brazilians, did it survive the trip across the Atlantic, or has it morphed into a dialect? I just want to know who is speaking correctly, and who needs speech therapy.