A Tale of Two Hairdos, Part I.

In my absence of blog participation, I did have a little experience concerning hair - both mine and my wife's. I am not sure the best way to describe this, so I will go in chronological order.

MY HAIR

I have had basically the same hairstyle for years. I am a guy and really there isn't a whole lot of choices. I mean, as I get older, the hair is getting a little thinner. This bird's losing feathers every day. So, why should I spend a whole lot of time being too concerned about hairstyle? It just isn't a guy thing - or at least the kind of guy I want to be. ;)

Don't get me wrong; I'm far from bald - not that there is anything wrong with it. I mean, there better not be because I am afraid it is in my future. I have a nice, rich brown hair that is pretty thick on the sides and in the back but it seems that I am growing taller in the middle - not my hair, me! It looks like I am growing up through my hair like a mountain through the clouds. All this means, is that I should just do what I can, avoid the dreaded comb-over, and just enjoy my hair while I have it.

Good plan? Nope, not according to my wife. She wants me to put "stuff" in my hair, "style" it with my hands, and get that "younger" look.
Let's look at these words in quotes one at a time. STUFF - this is some hideous stuff that comes from a jar. I don't know what it is called, but it would be cheaper if I just followed around people with colds and caught their sneezes in this jar, because that is what it looks and feels like (minus the chunks, I guess). However, before I can use this "stuff", I must first put "leave-in" conditioner in my hair. Okay, whatever.

Now for the next word: STYLE - this is really bad nomenclature because her idea of "style" for me, is really what I consider to be "anti-style". I must pull my slimey hair up in all directions so it looks like I just got out of bed - but I guess this bed is more like a bed of lettice with creamy italian dressing already applied. So, I tell my wife, "It looks like bed head when I do that!" She replies, "I think you are sexy in the mornings. Trust me, it is a legitimate hairstyle, and it looks good on you." Okay, whatever.

The final word: YOUNGER - okay so this one is self-explanatory, and I guess I can buy that I look younger when my hair is like this. Why? Because only young'ns with "greasy kid stuff" use that junk in their hair, except for the occasional mob bosses that do the slimey comb-back thing. Plus, only kids leave the house combless, straight from bed. So there you have it!

It is important to my wife that I look younger because of our age difference. I don't mind looking younger myself if I could, but I am not sure this is the best way to go about it.

You want to see a picture? LOL, not on your life. It is bad enough that I have to try to command a little more respect around the office with my new hair-don't. I don't need to spread that kind of mess into the blogosphere on top of it.

So why do I do it? Let's face it, with my marriage, I have to pick my battles. My wife is the one that has to look at my hair. I avoid mirrors like the plague. If it makes her happy,- if anything can, I can do my part.

Next time, my wife's tale of the hair. Stay tuned.

NEWS FLASH #15




NEWS FLASH is basically news or thoughts that may be changing over time - an update or an evolution of thought that covers a multiple of topics. It is what makes a blogger tick and it is the reason why we read. So, with that in mind, I came up with NEWS FLASH as an acronym that stands for what is going on in life:


News (or current events)
Entertainment (movies, TV, celebrity, etc.)
Work (thoughts on the job or employer)
Spirit (thoughts on God and/or the supernatural)
Family (or friends)
Love
Anxiety (a rant or a trouble)
Sports (also considered should be contests, reality tv, recreation, cards, games), and
Home (house, yard, or even another family type of thought.
___________________________________________________________________
I can't believe how neglected this blog is. Still, some people STILL check it every day. Thanks for that. I apologize for my neglect; it just couldn't be helped. I also think very highly of you guys who do check and comment despite my absence. I haven't been able to read other blogs for a couple of weeks, yet reciprocity is not a concern of yours. I am humbled.
Now for this week's NEWSFLASH:
NEWS - Recently, the Iranian president, Mahmoud Amadinejad spoke at Columbia University. Columbia received a lot of guff from people who say that they should have not given "an enemy of the US" a platform to speak. To me, it is a dangerous position to have. For a country who champions the freedom of speech, to not let this leader speak is the height of hypocrisy. As it turned out, he spoke and didn't say anything significant. He did say that Iran has no homosexuals which the audience found laughable.
ENTERTAINMENT - My wife and I agree on a movie that we want to see. We both are interested in Michael Clayton. It is George Clooney's new movie. The previews give you just enough to interest you, but not enough to ruin the plot or turn you off.
WORK - I maxed out on my evaluation. As a matter of fact, I got a perfect score. That sounds good, but the administration isn't going to be happy about that. No one has ever gotten a perfect score before, so they probably will think that my commission did not take the evaluation seriously. I think they did, however. They gave a four page explanation of why the score was so high. The administration has a theory that evaluations should be tempered down to always leave for improvement. I, and my commission, understand that philosophy, but also find it disingenuinous. I'm sure it will be fine.
SPIRIT - I think I am having a crisis of spirit - not to be confused with a crisis of faith. My faith is fine. I really don't think it is possible to break my faith. God has revealed Himself to me in such a tangible way, that it would be insane to deny His reality on the basis of personal circumstance. I may not understand His ways, but that doesn't disqualify His genuiness. The reality of God is not on a sliding scale no more than the reality of my biological father is. He just is.
My crisis of spirit stems from the stress that I have been under the last year or so. I shudder to think where I would be without my faith, but for others to see me, they may not be saying, "Hey, I want what he is drinking." It should be more that way in my life. It used to be.
FAMILY - My mother is having surgery in a couple of weeks. It is just lazer eye surgery for calcium build-up, but she has certainly been through enough (34 hours of brain surgery and subsequent complications). Still, I thank God that this minor, outpatient, nonintrusive surgery is all that she currently requires.
LOVE - After a blissful month, the relationship went south again. It started with her birthday last week. I worked hard to make it special, but I guess I wasted my time. Making her birthday special is akin to constructing a house of cards; one small slip and the whole thing crashes down. I honestly don't know if I have enough to handle another meltdown on her part.
ANXIETY - I think you can guess.
SPORTS - My Bengals are falling apart. My Reds are out of it. I am not coaching this year. I was supposed to go to Cincinnati to see the Monday Night Football game this coming Monday. My nephew gave me a ticket and I was going up with him and his wife, but I don't think I am going now. I just can't afford it. The last two times I got together with my buds to watch football at an establishment, I only ordered a coke. Things are getting tight.
HOME - I am now contacting investors to buy my house. The first guy told me, after I mentioned to him that I am contacting a number of investors because I am in such a hurry to sell, told me that he wasn't interested in "competing" with other investors for the property. I told him that he advertised so I thought he was ALREADY competing with other investors who advertise along side him. He didn't respond. Then, I called another one and didn't mention the bit about contacting investors. He should call me anytime with an offer. I hope it is enough for me to consider. In the meantime, the woman I have been trying to sell it to is apparently interested again. Wish me luck!







Checking In

I warned last week that I may be scarce for a couple of weeks. I guess that is true. This week will also be tough, although maybe not at the end of the week. There is a couple of things I want to get out today, though.


1. I did this blog interview thing a week before I got busy. I was hoping it would surface BEFORE my business began. Of course, life doesn't work like that and apparently, neither does Blog Interviewer .com. Most of you are familiar with it by now. Check it out and vote for me. I don't think I will win anything, but seeing that people vote makes me feel good. (ready everyone? 1. 2. 3. "Awwwe!!").





2. Sorry to see that Steph is on hiatis. Her blog is Remedial Rumination. I would include the link but it is just a shell now. :(


3. Oh, and why is it that everytime I cut the grass, the dogs have to relieve themselves. Not only that, but they have to do it on the part that I still have to cut - bloody canine conspiracy!


That's it for now. Stay tuned next time when you will hear Lulu say, "I wish they would make Psychosomatic Wit in a paperback."

NEWS FLASH #14




NEWS FLASH is basically news or thoughts that may be changing over time - an update or an evolution of thought that covers a multiple of topics. It is what makes a blogger tick and it is the reason why we read. So, with that in mind, I came up with NEWS FLASH as an acronym that stands for what is going on in life:


News (or current events)
Entertainment (movies, TV, celebrity, etc.)
Work (thoughts on the job or employer)
Spirit (thoughts on God and/or the supernatural)
Family (or friends)
Love
Anxiety (a rant or a trouble)
Sports (also considered should be contests, reality tv, recreation, cards, games), and
Home (house, yard, or even another family type of thought.
___________________________________________________________________
NEWS - It appears that this country is heading toward a recession. Not only are interest rates high, prices of staples like milk and gas are high, the housing market in which I am being victimized about is horrible, but now we find out that unemployment is on the rise. Sheesh! With this quagmire in Iraq - and the nearly 4000 Americans dead because of it, the infringement of freedoms because of questionable "homeland security" tactics, the corruption of the presidential cabinet, and now the economy tanking, is there any doubt that GW Bush is one of the worst presidents in US history?
ENTERTAINMENT - I will contain myself from making any Britney Spears comments today after her bad performance last night on the MTV. Nope, I will return to Big Brother 8 (US). I know most of you don't watch it, but that is your problem. :P I just want to say that the Donatos are among the worst human beings that have ever played the game. There, I feel better now.
WORK - Getting busy! My blogging may suffer for the next couple of weeks. I have multiple meanings culminating with the BIG meeting (and my evaluation) next week. On top of that, I am screening intern candidates. Interns historically suck, so I am not optimistic.
SPIRIT - I am sad about the passing of D. James Kennedy. He was too political for my liking for a while, but he spent a lot of time on interesting topics the last few years (e.g. evolution/creation). He was very intelligent and made intelligent, not emotional arguments. As a matter of fact, I deal with this issue on my latest post of my "Present Truth" blog. I, by chance, got to meet Pastor Kennedy when he was touring with the "Delta Queen"riverboat when it made a stop in this town. He was a nice guy and I am sure he is enjoying being "home".
FAMILY - The father-in-law was in town this past weekend. I always enjoy his visits. We had the occasion to go out to breakfast Saturday - just the two of us. It was nice to get to know him more. I am hoping he moves here after his retirement in a couple of years.
LOVE - Well, the great relationship has waned some. I guess that can be expected. The honeymoon can't last forever, can it? However, things aren't bad. They are certainly better than months and weeks passed. Maybe it is normal. I wouldn't have any idea what "normal" is like so it is hard for me to say.
ANXIETY - I am really getting concerned about the money situation. We have only one mortgage payment left in savings. My wife still hasn't found a job. I think she is too picky. I don't remember holding out for a "fun" job in my past job searches. Sometimes I think she needs to be reminded that marriage is a partnership, not an entitlement program.
SPORTS - The NFL is here and my Bengals are on Monday Night Football tonight. I hope they perform better than my fantasy team. Going into tonight, I am in last place. However, I have guys playing tonight that may help me climb out of the cellar.
HOME - I am meeting with yet another realtor this week. If she is as gloomy about the prospects of a quick and equitable sale as the others, I think I am just going to sell to an investor and forget about it. I do hate being in debt over a house I will no longer own, though, but what are you gonna do?








What goes around . . .

From time to time, I like to touch on things that snake through my mind on a given day. Today, we're back on the road.

On the bridge this morning, I finally got a charge out of the traffic. As many of you know, I am not a fan of traffic nor the bridge construction that is going on during my daily commute. Well today I found a kindred spirit.

Some of you will not appreciatiate this little story. You like to drive aggressively. Some of you will think that my kindred spirit and I were out of line or are just outright jerks. However, maybe you should look in your (rear view) mirror and re-evaluate. ;)

As I was driving in the far right lane, I noticed a lady driving a late-model van in the narrow lane next to me. I saw her just at the time when this angry look came over her face while she was glaring into her rear view mirror. Then she did it; she slammed on her brakes - sending a message to the teenage driver behind her that was riding her bumper. The tail-gater slammed on the brakes and the message was received.

Oh how happy I was to see this exchange. Yes! We defensive drivers need to stand up and unite. A short time later, we did just that.

The teen, not liking the message that was sent, decided to drive a little closer. "Ohh," I thought, "It's on!"

It was my duty, at that point, to make sure that the lesson sticks. So, my kindred sister and I drove side-by-side through the entire construction area at the whopping speed of 36 mph. Before you judge me too harshly, know this: The speed limit in this zone is 35 mph, the lanes on the bridge are so narrow that there is no passing allowed in the construction zone - no lane changing. So you see, my counterpart and I were only obeying and ENFORCING the law. Many drivers are aggressive and they ignore the speed limit and lane changing limitations. They create a hazard for the law-abiding citizens. Well, not today. I was absolutely giddy.

The state police watch this stretch like hawks. It is a double-fine zone, so my partner and I probably saved that blasted teen some bucks and perhaps car privileges if there were strict parents involved.

Today was a good travel day. No speeders and dangerous passers on the "parking space" width lanes; it was just a pleasant commute. Plus, there was a pretty shade of red visible on the face of an offender. Tomorrow will probably find me glaring at Friday's version of the travelling idiot show, but today all was right in the world.

NEWSFLASH #13




NEWS FLASH is basically news or thoughts that may be changing over time - an update or an evolution of thought that covers a multiple of topics. It is what makes a blogger tick and it is the reason why we read. So, with that in mind, I came up with NEWS FLASH as an acronym that stands for what is going on in life:


News (or current events)
Entertainment (movies, TV, celebrity, etc.)
Work (thoughts on the job or employer)
Spirit (thoughts on God and/or the supernatural)
Family (or friends)
Love
Anxiety (a rant or a trouble)
Sports (also considered should be contests, reality tv, recreation, cards, games), and
Home (house, yard, or even another family type of thought.
___________________________________________________________________

NEWS – For the first time in 500 years, there is a female beefeater at the London Tower. Moira Cameron is now one of the guards. Not to be confused with the Buckingham Palace guards, the beefeaters guard, quite ceremoniously, the Crown Jewels. I assume that the reason Ms. Cameron was able to beat out the five men she was competing with for the prized position is that she surprised the royals by adequately writing her name in snow.

ENTERTAINMENT – Tuesday nights this fall will bring a new show on ABC that I hope will be as good as the potential of it promises. It is called “Carpoolers”. From what I can gather, it is going to be a male version of “Sex in the City”. Four guys carpool everyday and talk about their problems at home. They are all different with different problems and that is the part that promises humor. At first, I wondered if the whole show would be in the car, but it isn’t. Hopefully, this will be one that I can relate to. After all, my wife Tivo’s SITC and I guess can relate to it. I have never seen it so I must ask the women, should I be concerned that she does? ;)

WORK – Things are going to wind up again at work very soon. There is going to be a big meeting with my evaluation attached to it as I mentioned before. However, after this meeting (on the 19th), things should be relatively slow until January! YES, this year’s November meeting has been cancelled because it falls on the eve of Thanksgiving. That means “Thanksgiving” has a whole new meaning for me this year! Pass the cranberry sauce!

SPIRIT – A remarkable thing happened in this area recently. A friend of mine, who passively dabbles in Christianity, has been looking for a job. All of the sudden he gets about four different opportunities that look like they might head his way. Finally, he gets a job offer, but doesn’t know if he should take it because the other possibilities MAY be better financially for him. He calls me up for advice. I start going through with him the pros and cons, then all of the sudden, I launch into some spiritual discourse about God’s big plan and how God sees things that we do not. I really didn’t plan on doing that but the words just filled my mouth and I had to let them go. This type of thing doesn’t happen very often, but it happened that day. Sometimes, I have to listen to myself to know what I am talking about because it seems that these aren't MY words but words mystically appearing on my tongue.

Humorously, he abruptly tells me that he has to go because he has to meet someone for lunch and he is going to be late. This is the truth, but I joke with him how once I get preaching, he looks for a way to duck out.

He calls me the next day and tells me that up to the point he called me for advice the day prior, he had been desperately praying for some kind of sign on what to do. Then he said, “All of the sudden, I was sitting in the car on the way to my lunch appointment and it hits me. You, Jeff, was my sign! I got chills thinking about what you said and felt confident in accepting the position. I just wanted you to know that God used you to give me the sign I was desperately praying for.”

I felt humbled that God again used me in this manner. I am sure that this job is where my friend should be – although I don’t remember telling him that he should take it.

FAMILY – My sister and my wife are teaming up to make and sell purses. They are pretty stylish, so if anyone wants one . . . I like it because I want my wife to spend more time with my family that is now HER family. Tonight, my sister is going to help her color her hair, so that is going well I guess.

LOVE – Actually, things have really turned around in my marriage. We went to Holiday World on Sunday and it was absolutely wonderful. It was the first thing that we did as a married couple that really felt good with no tension. She has a renewed love for me that could have only come from the answered prayers of so many for our marriage. She even bought a necklace at the glass blower shop there at Holiday World where they write a name on a grain of rice and put it in a vial on a chain. She put MY name on the grain and wore it around her neck. It really made an impact on me. However, I still feel like an elder husband with a wife with Alzheimer's. When she remembers him, it is great but he doesn't want to get caught up in thinking that she's cured. With time and continued success, this feeling will go away - I hope.

ANXIETY – I still feel a little uptight about finances. My wife has been out of work for a while now. Had a neighbor not given us free passes to Holiday World, we could not have gone. I feel that my wife is a little too selective in her employment options. However, I must address one problem at a time!

SPORTS – Finally, the NFL starts this week. I normally have the NFL Sunday Ticket package from DirecTV, but the financial situation has precluded that. Still, come Thursday night, I will be sitting at sports bar with my buddies watching the Indianapolis Colts start their journey of re-defending their championship.


HOME – I am trying to contact still ANOTHER realtor today. After a meeting with this one, I will decide how much of a loss I must take on this house just to move on. Pray for me, those of you who do that sort of thing.




That's it for the first week in September. What is up with you?