Walking in Circles

As you're well aware, folks today lead busy lives. We have become a generation of multitaskers. And we've had to, out of necessity. Employers have always been, and now employees, if they want to make themselves valuable to a company, are also called upon to do a little juggling. At times, life gets so chaotic, from over scheduling, from others demands, and top it off with our daily grind, and sometimes we're puzzled as to which leg goes into which pant leg first. When you feel a little overwhelmed, it seems you're walking in circles, and not sure what to do next. Of course, there has been studies, (someone needed a job, and decided to ask for grant money), and the studies reveal all sorts of maladies one may suffer from extended periods of multitasking. So the people most concerned about our health, are telling us to slow down. The rest of the world wants to know if we can add one more task in our spare time. Hmmm, attempt to make 80% of the people happy 50% of the time, or focus, and try to make 50% of the people happy 80% of the time? OK, time to shift gears. Have you ever had such a busy week, by the end of the week your eyes were not even pointing in the same direction? Then finally the weekend, and you have barely anything planned? All of a sudden, there is, what is sometimes referred to as 'me time'? I worked my tail off all week, got things bandaged up, and ready for Monday, but what am I supposed to do for the next 48 hours? If I don't think of something, I'm going to end up walking in circles for the whole weekend. It appears, walking in circles is a pattern I follow for a large amount of my life. I guess I need to be conscious of this, and when the work week is over, at least have the presence of mind to change directions.

Name Dropper

This could also be titled 'Six Degrees of Separation'. We all know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, who actually is someone. And, of course, we have to share with our friends and family to try to impress them. Ninety nine percent of the time, this usually does little to impress, unless the person making the boast, actually comes through with some tangible evidence. Needless to say, I sometimes get caught up in the fabrication wheel, and am probably spreading a falsehood, or at the very least, a partial truth. I guess if I don't sin, how would I ever be able to ask for forgiveness? Nonetheless, here we go. A painter buddy of mine, who lives just about 8 blocks from me, AND is an extremely reliable source, (never mind the fact that he sucks down paint fumes for a living), filled me in on some information about another neighbor close by. The painter did some work in this person's house (a single fellow), who happens to travel for work, and is on the road for at least three weeks per month. His sister lives there also, and takes care of the domicile while he's away. After making small talk with the sister, he discovers some unknown facts about the homeowner. Apparently, his work hauls him around the country because he happens to be the road manager for the Dave Matthews Band. OMG! (I'm screaming like a teenage girl right now). So , I guess now I'm going to have to start casing the joint, and stalking this individual, just so I can say that I've met the road manager for DMB. Then, after making a fool of myself, and getting the police called on me several times, I will probably find out the facts. He's not really the road manager for DMB, but just a diehard fan who wants to be a roadie someday, and may have inadvertently said, "DMB sure would be a good gig to land". And to think, I came within a few blocks of someone who wants to know someone famous. That's something to brag about!

How To Say It Not Wrong

I heard a saying on TV, (where else) last night that made me think of Yogi Berra. "It's better now, than the best its ever been." Of course, Yogi was the king of quotes that made no sense, yet made perfect sense. I think I'm going to consciously try to make up sayings, depending on whether the circumstance lends itself, and twist things to make people give it a double take. It obviously came naturally to Yogi, considering how many quotes are recorded. I might have to work at it. Sometimes only great comedic minds can conjure up this stuff. So time to get the cerebral calisthenics going, and undo some of the gray matter wrinkles, and rewrinkle them. Be patient. Given enough time, I'll come up with something. Just remember, yesterday was yesterday, today is today, tomorrow won't be here until Wednesday.

Party With Mardi

N'awlins is rocking! There hasn't been this much commotion since that crazy voodoo woman, Katrina, came to town. Unless you're a Louisiana native, or a crazed Saints fan, I would stay away from the state for a couple of weeks, and let those folks get whatever is in their system, out. A Super Bowl win just eight days before Mardi Gras? Is that enough time to clean up New Orleans before they trash it? Is that enough time to let your kidneys heal from the 'bender' most folks are going to do? I am thrilled for the Saints. First time to the Super Bowl, and they win it! Hopefully this will give the city a shot of pride in the arm, that was so brutally squashed out of them in 2006. Definitely a bright spot for at least a short term. I, personally, have never been to New Orleans. I've come close. Whatever interstate runs east and west along the gulf coast, I've driven that, and it skirts to the north of the city, and turns into, I think I29. We didn't stop. I've heard good comments, and then I've heard some pretty disturbing things about New Orleans, the French Quarter in particular. The sensible, responsible side of me wants to stay away and not waste money on a vacation I might regret. The curious side of me wants to see it firsthand, and determine for myself the level of degradation. Besides, there are other destinations higher on the list. And, I'm sure the rumors are true, but that's the case with any big city, whether you have the tourist attraction characteristic, or not. Regardless, 'Who Dat' nation, enjoy your moment in the sun, but remember: no peeing in the street, and don't spill too much beer. You are still below sea level.

Up A Creek

Every once in awhile, you find yourself in a predicament, and not sure how you got there. Sometimes you may pick up on something you notice isn't quite right, change your course, and avert potential disaster. Other times, you walk blindly into the spider web and start doing the dance. Well, as humiliating as this is, I'm plunging into it. I needed to use the bathroom yesterday, for some R&R. There wasn't much time to kill, so I hastily entered, and assumed the position. As I merrily went about business, I knew I would have some time to kill. Being the multitasker that I usually am, I like to kill two birds with one stone. Sometimes I grab a magazine, the mail, or just read the back of the shampoo bottle. This particular trip, I forgot to bring my periodicals, and the bathroom contained no new reading material. So there I sat for a few moments pondering what I should consider to be my next blog entry, when I noticed a potential problem on the horizon. The roll of toilet paper was no longer a roll, but could be measured in sheets, two to be exact. I quickly panned the area for what could possibly double as toilet paper within arms reach. I felt a little like the lion who showed up a couple of hours late after the kill. There was nothing! Then the dread came over me. I thought, who would be so inconsiderate to leave only two sheets of TP, and not grab a second roll, and get him warming up in the bullpen? Then I reasoned, it could be my youngest, because she's too short to reach the cabinet where we keep the rolls. It could be my oldest, because she's a teenager and it's all about her. It could have been my wife in the middle of the night, who probably wanders the house in her sleep before returning to bed. Or, there's a remote chance, it could have been me, but I'm sure the bathroom was used prior to my inhabiting it. Regardless, I'm up the proverbial creek without a paddle. So now the challenge arises. Something has to be done. The cabinet is two steps away, and I have to be completely vertical to reach the much needed product. I'm not thrilled about what is going to soon take place, but it has to be done. Just the thought of the uncomfortable feeling of standing up was filling me full of dread. I thought for a moment, what would MacGuyver do? Oh, stop being a baby, and just do this! Well, after retrieving the TP, time to tidy things up. I was working out the worst case scenario, thinking clean up was going to be twice as much, and this may be a multiple flush incident. How do I go about this and keep clothes and appendages clean? OK, lean to the left 17 degrees, flex certain muscles, stabilize, bend at the elbow, start at the most northern point, and with one, non stop motion, wipe - DON'T LOOK - and drop. Repeat, then change sides. Finished, and I can now join the rest of mankind, and get on with life.

Creme de la Creme

I'm going to rant a little bit about food, but this could apply to several different things. As time and life go by, we will eventually run, smack in the face, with the best of what's around. (I felt a reference to Dave Matthews might be appropriate for this). After moving into our neighborhood almost 16 years ago, a little Italian restaurant, Lo Sole Mio's, opened just 3 blocks from our house. The food was decent and the portions generous. They quickly became Omaha's best Italian restaurant, rising to 'rock star' status overnight. I might add though, there are a few others out there that produce a very respectable meal, but maybe a little different style of Italian than I'm used to. So when I use the word 'best', that's in my estimation only. And in my estimation, they still have the best tiramisu around. About three years ago, I did work in a friend's house and he introduced me to a new Italian restaurant, Bianca, in northwest Omaha. At that moment, Lo Sole Mio's stumbled and fell. The portions weren't nearly as heaping, but that's OK. There's enough fat Italians in the world, why add to the pile? The atmosphere was very modern, yet quaint. One clever move, they projected an old black & white movie on the wall, with Audrey Hepburn, Sabrina maybe? All in all, a very pleasant experience, and then, the best of what's around. Keep in mind though, the best of what's around, might not be the 'best', just the best of what's available at that time. Soon thereafter, we went on a little road trip to KC, with another couple. We were there to see a Dave Matthews show (of course), and they wanted to introduce us to an Italian restaurant. They were a bit apprehensive because they knew I was a total, stuck up, self proclaimed, self important, pompous, Italian food snob. They took us to a place called Lydia's. We were there early because we had the show to catch later. Beautiful restaurant, very welcoming, and quite a bit bigger than the two previously mentioned. Keep in mind though, bigger does not usually translate well when experiencing food. When quantity goes up, quality usually goes on vacation. This food blew the doors off of anything I've ever ran across my taste buds! I've only had the opportunity to go back one other time. We later found out, Lydia Bastianich happens to be the mother of chef Mario Batali's business partner! So at present, Lydia's is the creme de la creme and Dave Matthews is the best jam band around, in my estimation. But how do you know it's the 'best'. There is ALWAYS something better. Keep in mind, if you've actually had the 'best', life from here forward is going to be a major disappointment. So keep your eyes and ears open, and your head on a swivel. Certainly Omaha, and a three hour radius of Omaha, is not the cultural center of the world. I do feel, though, I have discovered the best of what's around.

Florence Nightingale

This has been a rough week. The flu bug decided to make a house call and stopped on our doorstep. Stupid me, I let him in. My bad. So Tuesday was the unexpected arrival. I got up, went to work, had a somewhat productive day, met a friend and his wife for lunch, went back to work, and got off a little early. Ideally, this is the kind of day that actually makes going to work worth going to work. But about three in the afternoon, my throat felt a little scratchy. I was home a half an hour later, informing my wife of the status of my throat. Immediately, she morphed into emergency room nurse mode, and dumped everything from over the counter, under the counter, witch doctor potions (just kidding), and even made homemade chicken noodle soup, because she read or heard some 'fact' about the medical benefits of chicken noodle soup for the cold and flu. Actually, it's true. By nine that evening, I was running a fever, chills, and could feel a rattle settling into my chest. Thank you flu bug for ruining my 'perfect' day of work. So its been a couple of days now, and outside of coughing and hacking every thirty seconds, I'm recovering pretty well from the bus I stepped in front of. But, .... now the rest of my family is suffering. So , I guess it's my turn to don the Florence Nightingale nurse's uniform, (metaphorically speaking) and help them on the road to recovery. So we've put up the quarantine sign, and have strictly enforced a 'No Kissing' regulation. Well, off to practice my nursing skills. I've never given a shot before, but I'm eager to try!