Psychosomatic Wit: friendship

Showing posts with label friendship. Show all posts

Something Wrong With Facebook

It has to be talked about. It is taking over our lives!

What's wrong with Facebook? How much time do you have? There are a lot of things that I could talk about. A lot of people gripe about its internet security issues. I, myself, refuse to download the Facebook message app to my phone because of all the crazy access it wants.

Then there is the whole changing culture thing that it shares with Twitter. We are so ADD as a species now that if we can't say something in 140 characters most people won't even mess with us. I have discussed with friends how that mentality has put a damper on the whole blogging culture.

HEY!! I am not done yet!! Bear with me!! I will try to be brief!

No, today I will talk about the whole insipid commands for us to "like something or share something or else" nonsense that we are inundated with. What is that all about? " 'Like' this if you are against animal cruelty." " 'Share' this if you love your mom." Really? I can't love my mom or detest animal cruelty if I don't play your game? I am halfway scared to find someone picketing my house!

It is like being caught up in a Seinfeld episode. Remember when Kramer didn't want to wear the ribbon on the AIDS walk?

WALKER #1: Hey, where's your ribbon?
KRAMER: Oh, I don't wear the ribbon.
WALKER #2: Oh, you don't wear the ribbon? Aren't you against AIDS?
KRAMER: Yeah, I'm against AIDS. I mean, I'm walking, aren't I? I just don't wear the ribbon.
WALKER #3: Who do you think you are?
WALKER #1: Put the ribbon on!
WALKER #2: Hey, Cedric! Bob! This guy won't wear a ribbon!
BOB: Who? Who does not want to wear the ribbon?

It's madness, I tell ya! But that isn't all of it? You also have to throw in the personal element. Your friends lose their minds if you don't "like" or comment on something they put up. "What's wrong, you don't like my cat?"

I would be tempted to reply, "Yeah, a helluva lot more that I like you right now. Your cat doesn't have inane expectations of me and define our relationship

with them."

Facebook behavior is so predictable, too. I can guess about 40% of you are thinking, "If you don't like Facebook, then you don't have to be on it!" No, I don't have to, but then how would I know how many people will end up liking this blog post?

Friendship, Gas Prices, and "Dude"

Some things that are on my mind . . .

I want to thank those of you who expressed your concern over my current situation. I want to publicly thank them and tell others where they can find them. If you want to read blogs from good and caring folks, try these:

Sayre - She's been part of my blog family from the beginning.

Jaquandor - He runs a very interesting and popular blog. He doesn't comment much, but that makes his comment here very special.

Kristen - I can't link to her because she has a private blog. We butt heads on a lot of issues, but I love her and wouldn't know what to do without her comments.

Michelle - She is my true friend from across the Atlantic. She has earned my trust in short order - which must mean she is a great gal!

The Real Mother Hen - Her name says it all. She is the only blog friend I have where I have a standing invitation to come out to her place for a visit! (Not that I blame the rest of you guys! :) )

Kristarella - This one has a good mind, a good heart, and a spirit connected with God.

Chris - a fellow dude (which is rare in blogland), a good cook, and an excellent charactor. Check him out.

Hoosiergirl - maybe the most friendly and outgoing gal on the net. I envy her ability to put it out there and make friends out the wazoo! She always makes me smile.

Bassman (the instrument not the fish) - Russell is relatively new to my blog world. Truthfully, I have a hard time reading his blog because he is estatically happy with his love life and upcoming nuptuals with his beloved Matchgirl. He is really good and genuine guy.

Thanks guys!

Changes

I am considering a change to my "NEWS FLASH". Instead of the "L" for "love", I am considering it standing for "lunacy" - even if it is just temporary.

It is time for the diet/exercise program to surface in my life. It is warm enough now to be doing things outside. Now, if it would just quit raining! Dang it, boy! This isn't Seattle, why all the rain?

Ramblings

Is there anything funnier than the "Dude" (Bud Light) commercials on TV? You know, the ones that offer a million messages that can be sent just with the word, "dude"? I rather enjoy commercials that are more concerned with entertaining me, than trying to sell me something. You can check one of these out here.

There starting construction on the bridge I must travel on every day. They did this to the other span last year and it makes for a grueling summer. You can read about me complaining about it last year here. What's the odds that someone is eager to "hear" me complain about it and hit that link?

I have a regular reader from Nebraska, but I don't know who it is. It is driving me crazy for no apparent reason. So, if you be the one, let me know with feedback or email me. I would greatly appreciate it and would be your friend for life.

I filled up my gas tank today at a station that was slow changing their prices from $3.11 to $3.32 like most had already. You know, I wish they would get Hurricane Katrina cleaned up already. You remember Hurricane Katrina, the reason that gas prices jumped $1.50 - $2.00 per gallon in one day. The prices have never come back down. It is all too fishy. I will be glad when someone who doesn't have ties to the oil industry moves in at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenune, Washington D.C. I know many will say it has nothing to do with the president, but I am not a believer in coincidences.

Upcoming

I am going to have a countdown on the most searched posts from this blog. I will do the top 3 or 5 - haven't decided yet. They keep popping up on google searches so there must be something to them, no?

In the next NEWS FLASH, in addition to the "lunacy" change, I am going to endorse a presidential candidate.

Also, I am in the mood to lay all opinions out on the line. If you want my opinion on something, ask me in feedback or send me an email. I will tell you whatever (God, politics, sports, love, family, marriage, race relations, books, movies, I can't think of anything off limits). This offer is for a limited time only - you have to catch me in the mood and right now you have. I will do two or three of these - if I get that many.

Dude.

Beginnings, Endings, Big Brother, and Gun Control

NEWS - The debate has heated up in my last post concerning the 2nd Amendment (right to bear arms). The Supreme Court is expected to clarify the controversey around this in this session. See my take and the ensuing debate between Kristen (of course) and myself in Second (2nd) Amendment Right or Myth.

ENTERTAINMENT - Well, Evel Dick and I were both right; he implied that he would be back on Big Brother and I stated that if he did, it would be in the lame cameo appearance role. You can see that little exchange here, and yes I have a few reasons to believe that it was really Evel Dick.

WORK - I am kind of getting a little behind in my work. It really has never been like this before. I am usually a "stay ahead of the game" kind of guy. I really don't know what it is. I guess I am just tired and distracted.

SPIRIT - I am starting to draw closer to God. I have made some decisions that has caused some strain and pain, but it is in line with a biblical approach to life. The world screams when you move in that kind of direction and I do feel the strain. However, I do believe that it will be worth it in the long run.

FAMILY - My sister is getting back from her extended trip this weekend. She is the "good" sister that helps out with my mother and the other family members in need. I am hoping that it will give me some help, but anymore, I don't count on it.

LOVE - Life is funny. As those that have been following along at home (or at work as the case may be), last time here I defended my wife and tried to show her loving side. Well apparently, for some reason, my wife and I didn't see things the same way (I thought they were starting to get better; she didn't). She informed me that she was done and that she is getting out. Life is funny, but I am not laughing.

ANGUISH - See: "LOVE"

SPORTS - On the bright side of things, I am doing very well in my NCAA basketball tourney pools. Might come in handy for lawyer's fees.

HOME - Recently, I have hit it off with one of my commissioners. We seem to have a lot in common and can talk to each other at deeper level than most friends. In a recent conversation, he heard me mention my first car that I still have and that I have been trying to get it restored. He got excited and said, I have the garage and the help; let's get it going! Nice to have a good friend like that. He is older, wiser, and I think a good mentor-type guy. I have never had that; I was always the mentor-type for other people.

NEWS FLASH #23

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 - Well, as someone brought up regarding my predictions, another one (about copycat killing) may have come about when more shootings erupted after the Omaha mall shooting. There have been two since, one was a church killing spree. An armed guard killed the gunman after he killed a number of people in two locations. On the surface, it looks like the guard saved some lives. I can't argue with that. Still, I just don't see a gun-wielding security guard in a church. It just seems so unchristian.

"What would Jesus do?"
"He'd pack heat and blow that mother away, man!"

I just don't see it. Still, I am thankful that the gunman didn't have the opportunity to hurt and kill more people.

ENTERTAINMENT - Has anyone seen "Shrek the Halls"? I missed it the first time and if I hadn't done a little detective work, I would have missed recording it last night. It was listed in the paper and the guide as "To Be Announced". My wife and I like to see Christmas specials. Rudolph, Grinch, Charley Brown, Scrooge (the Alistair Sims one) and George Bailey ("It's a Wonderful Life") are holiday musts for us. I am just wondering if the Shrek special will be that, too. Anyone?

WORK - Work? What work? I have some projects I am working on for February, but things are pretty smooth.

SPIRIT - This could double as the NEWS portion like last time, but I am just not getting Mitt Romney. He states he is proud of his LDS faith. Fine. However, when asked about certain things about it, he dodges like someone NOT proud of it. I don't get it. Ask me anything you want about my beliefs and I will tell you. Some of it, I don't think you would understand or accept on the surface, but so be it. Truth is truth. I would think that Romney would welcome the opportunity to set the record straight instead of having people believe the worst of it, but no. He says it isn't an issue. BUT IT IS! He even made a speech about it because he KNOWS it is an issue - whether it should be or not. If I were him, I would announce that I was going to hold ONE press conference for anyone to ask me about my LDS beliefs and will only address the presidential issues after that day. I would have some clergy member up there with me since I wouldn't be expected to have all the answers. I would give these questions two hours and then be done with it.

FAMILY - I don't think I am ever going to have kids. I am too much of an expert in how to raise other people's kids to have that kind of responsibility that will only serve to hurt my credibility as a child rearing expert.

My friend has a kid that he brings to ballgames with me. However, she hates me because I am seen as competition for her dad's attention. I try to include her into the conversations, I bribed her with a stuffed bulldog (the team mascot), and other treats. No good. She still wants her daddy all to herself and says hateful things to me. I could deal with it a couple of years ago when she was eight-years-old. Now she is ten and there is NO DIFFERENCE.

My friend doesn't like it, either, but told me that he doesn't know what to do about it. I told him that he needs to tell her if she wants to continue to come to the games that she needs to be polite (and she is the rudest child I have ever seen). If she can't be nice, she won't come to the next game. He told me that he does tell her that. Then I responded, BUT YOU STILL TAKE HER THE NEXT TIME!! She doesn't believe a word you are saying so she has no incentive to modify her behavior.

He just changed the subject.

LOVE - The last few days have been marvelous. Of course, my wife has been out of town since Saturday. Anyone want to come and hang out with me in Evansville for a few days? I have the house to myself for another week - when she gets back from seeing her brother graduate from basic training.

ANGUISH - It's Christmas season and the seasonal stuff is all over the radio. However, there are a few tunes that I must turn off when I hear them. One is "Feliz Navidad". UGH, the repetitiveness and harshness of voice burn into my brain. Another one is the "Twelve Days of Christmas". I hate repetiveness; do you see a pattern here? Finally, I can't stand "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer". It is so white trashy that it makes my skin crawl. There! I got that off my chest.

SPORTS - There is a big rivalry here between Indiana and Kentucky college basketball. I love it when IU beats UK like they did Saturday. They beat them like a drum. I didn't get the same kind of enjoyment out of it this year, though. Despite my intern having to wear an IU shirt all day in the heart of UK territory (she lost the bet), I can't enjoy my team beating a team so bad as UK was. It was like the varsity over the masters in rugby from "Monty Python's Meaning of Life". Ahh, just go rent it!

HOME - I am growing a dislike for property. Too much money, too much responsibility. If my marriage fails (and I am hoping it does NOT), I am going to move into an apartment and stay there the rest of my life. No maintenance, no taxes, no trap. I will move if I want without obligation. Apartments are the way to go. I have been so foolish!

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NEWSFLASH #9

NEWS - Gas prices are lower than they have been, despite reports a few weeks ago that we should expect record highs. That is where they get us. They build a very bleak image of how bad it is going to be and then do the opposite so we feel fortunate. I saw that today I could get a regular gallon of gas for $2.59 and for a brief second I believed that things were good. Gas is still about a $1.00 per gallon overpriced, and when we do see the record highs in the near future, we will be somewhat desensitized to it due to these recent propaganda and pricing shenanigans.

ENTERTAINMENT - I haven't been too entertained recently. I entered the 20th century (yeah, that's right, 20th) by obtaining a regular XBox from my nephew. I tried to play a game a couple of times, but I haven't been able to get into it. I am an old, regular Nintendo guy that has a directional pad on one side and only TWO buttons on the other. I think that is all I can handle with any degree of expertise.

WORK - It is fine at the office now. The rough patch is over and will not gear up again until September. I like my job - especially in the calm periods.

SPIRIT - A number of things are happening on the spirit front. First, I remembered why I started a spiritual blog. Jaquandor, form Byzantium Shores gave me some interview questions in this post. A big chunk of that post concerned my spiritual life. However, nearly all of the comments skirted the spiritual questions which required the most thought from me. I must sound like a religious whacko to most of the 'Wit readers. They don't call me "Psycho" for nothing, I guess.

Additionally, I when I read Stephanie's comment on the last post below about my PersonalDNA, it touched me. She wrote, " 'Low Trust'. I understand, but it still breaks my heart." First I wanted to email her and tell her that her comment was a very "FRIEND -ly" thing to say and how much I appreciated that - it is funny how one realizes that he doesn't have as many friends as he used to since he got married. However, I got to thinking, "Is it bad that I do not trust?"

As divinity would have it, when I opened my morning devotion, it stated this:

THE DISCIPLINE OF DISILLUSIONMENT

"Jesus did not commit Himself unto them for He knew what was in man." John 2:24-25

. . . , but the disillusionment which comes from God brings us to the place where we see men and women as they really are, and yet there is no cynicism, we have no stinging, bitter things to say. Many of the cruel things in life spring from the fact that we suffer from illusions. We are not true to one another as facts; we are true only to our ideas of one another. Everything is either delightful and fine, or mean and dastardly, according to our idea.

The refusal to be disillusioned is the cause of much of the suffering in human life. It works in this way - if we love a human being and do not love God, we demand of him every perfection and every rectitude, and when we do not get it we become cruel and vindictive; we are demanding of a human being that which he or she cannot give. There is only one Being Who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Why Our Lord is apparently so severe regarding every human relationship is because He knows that every relationship not based on loyalty to Himself will end in disaster. Our Lord trusted no man, yet He was never suspicious, never bitter. Our Lord's confidence in God and in what His grace could do for any man, was so perfect that He despaired of no one. If our trust is placed in human beings, we shall end in despairing of everyone.

This is where I think I am or am striving to be. I don't say bad things about my wife who is causing me much hurt presently. She just confirms what I already know. People can't be trusted - not completely, anyway.

FAMILY - My family doesn't really know what to do for me. I feel sorry for them because I know what that helplessness feels like when you want to comfort someone but are powerless to do so. I pray that God eases their frustration in that area.

LOVE - Read "Spirit" above, because the second paragraph I think applies to my wife. I think that she demands perfection in me and our relationship. When she doesn't get it, no matter how hard I try, she becomes cold and uncaring. She sent me an email (she is still out of town) that explored how divorce MAY not be such a sin afterall. Whe wanted to know what I thought about it. I replied to her email thusly, "Dear (wife), I love you. Jeff"

ANXIETY - I am frustrated with myself right now because I have no motivation to do some things that I need to do. I bought some tools to work on my house (that I am still trying to sell), but haven't even taken them out of the car yet. My car is also dying a lot when I am driving. It makes getting to work on the highway a hazard. Sure could use that Jeep.

SPORTS - One of the players on my NFL team, the Bengals, was due to come off a year's suspension this past week, but was turned down by the commissioner. This stinks in many areas. For the player, Odell Thurman, he did everything he was asked to do during his suspension and is not getting rewarded for it. I can't recall anyone else ever getting this severe of a suspension for substance abuse. For the team, Thurman is a great player and only played one year (his rookie year). With him, the defense could improve enough to make a run for the title. Without him, I don't know. For me, I bought three Thurman jerseys on clearance. If he came back, they would be worth a pretty penny on Ebay.

HOME - I am having a hard time sleeping at my (our) house. The wife is gone and it is hard to be reminded of what is going on between us. Sleeping in the bed just reminds me that I am alone in it.

Sam I Am

Samuel Clements (a.k.a. Mark Twain) has an often referred to quote of "The news of my death is greatly exaggerated." I thought I would devote this post on that very subject.

Last week I wrote an entry called "Death." It had the most feedback of any single post I ever had. Most of it was how I would be missed if something ever happens to me - which was nice to read. Then I came upon this piece of feedback from TheWriteJerry, "You're kind of freaking me out. Seriously. You've had us worried as it is with posts hinting at troubles at home and troubles inside of you. Now a post about your death. Stop being so vague. Please. Let us help."

At first I was taken aback. I didn't know if he was hinting that I may be hinting about comitting suicide or something or if I was being dramatic about some diagnosis I had recently received.

Then, I thought about what it would take for me to leave feedback like that and I felt, pardon the cheese, cared about. So, I want to say publicly: Thanks Jerry, for caring about me.

Maybe others thought the same thing but didn't want to say anything. I re-read my post and thought it wasn't out of the realm of possibility that this stranger could be hinting at something tragic. I know some know me better than that, but it is foolish to think that all of you do.

For the record, I am not suicidal and I do not have some condition that is pointing to my death - that I know of. I am going to be around for a long time as far as I know.

I am not suicidal because I am nevercompletely hopeless. My Christian faith is grounded by the fact that my purpose here isn't completed until God takes me out of here. I also understand the blessing of suffering. I may whine about it, but I would never end it by ENDING IT. Part of me that hides beneath the melancholia is excited to see how God is going to lead me through it and present the blessing to me. I am not suicidal and am fundementally not spiritually built to carry it out. Let's put that concept to rest forever.

If I ever become gravely ill, I will post it in a "not so vague manner". A lot of you consider me friends; I respect that relationship too much to play with such a dire matter.

As for the last little tidbit from Jerry's feedback, "Let us help." NOW, you're talking! ;) I figure if I can raise $20,000, it will take care of almost every problem I have. It would get me out of student loan debt and the debt I incurred from the wedding and take the pressure off my suddenly unemployed spouse. So dig deep, friends! Help me just as Jerry requested! Show me the love! lol Today is the day! Why? BECAUSE IT IS MY BIRTHDAY!!

Maybe It Is Time

From time to time, most bloggers toy around with the idea of quitting. Life gets too hard, time problems, and internet stalking gives us pause about whether all this is worth it. I am no different. I am in the cross hairs of a gun that has the potential to shut this thing down - at least for a while.

As any of you who have read my blog in the last couple of months or so will attest, life hasn't been very kind to me lately. I climb each hill one by one and somehow keep on trucking with this little blog. I think it has been helpful to me and even some of you commented on how you get something out of it every once in while. That's great and it makes it a worthwhile endeavor.

Recently, I have noticed that I have gotten a little too fixated on the taxing things that are going on in my life. This effects me in a lot of ways. My blog can be interpreted as an invitation to a pity party. I truly don't want that. It can be just downright tiresome for people to read. I don't want that. However, more importantly, this whole exercise may have tainted my ability to perceive my own insensitivity. This, I can't tolerate.

I am a pretty sensitive guy. I have always found myself pretty much attuned to others' plights and have sincerely always wanted to be encouraging. On the inside, I think this who I am. On the outside, sometimes I am unable to discern what I am saying concerning how it may have an impact on other people.

I met with a friend at lunch today. I asked him for an opinion on how I should address an issue I have with someone in my life. I told him what I was thinking and he said, "I understand what you are saying and the logic behind it, but I don't think it is going to be received well. It surely will not have the desired effect that you are looking for." I was dumbfounded. My logic was flawless. Yet, that didnt' matter and finally the light bulb went off and I determined at that point that the recent stress in my life has had an adverse effect on my sensibilities.

It opened up my mind to a feedback exchange I had recently with another blogger. It wasn't testy, but I could tell that I wrote in the same such manner. At the time, I couldn't see what I was saying could be construed in any way other than what I meant. Now, I realize that I can't trust myself to know that. I may have hurt someone that I have truly come to care about. For that I am sorry. I tried to "fix" it and explain my intentions, but I guess it didn't take. What is worse is that I don't have the wisdom now to see whether or not I could have made things worse.

I have written all that to write this: It may not be in anyone's best interest for me to continue to blog and feedback until I get in a better place internally. I don't want to overreact, it is just something that I need to consider. The last thing I want to do is offend someone. It might be something as simple a concept as someone wanting to avoid getting pregnant. The only way to avoid it is to abstain. I will be mulling this over.

In the meantime, if I have been insensitive to anyone out there, I assure you it wasn't my intention. I am not making excuses, though. Words are too powerful to play with when impaired.

My first idea was to label this entry, "Thursday Thirteen - thirteen reasons I am giving up blogging." However, that would be a little insensitive. See what I mean?

Are You a Friend?

Friendship has been a common theme around my blog circle these days. I have already discussed the topic in general in my post, “For Sale: Friend, Low Mileage, $4000 OBO”. Lately, I have been considering the whole Internet friendship thing – particularly in the blogosphere. That’s YOU guys.

What is the status of our friendship?
Many of us are guarded. I have written cryptically in some posts, vague in others. A lot of you do not even have an email address available for people to write you. I am not much better; I set up a gmail account just for my blog life (psycho.wit@gmail.com).

I ask again; what is the status of our friendship? There have been Internet pals over the years that I have gotten chummy with. We have written emails, talked on the phone, and even met. I married one of them – although that isn’t what I set out to do.

Today, it is different. Everyone is guarded – including me. Things are less real. It is as if this is some online video game where we think, “I wonder if Jane is going to respond to my post.” Or, “I hope that Joe wasn’t offended with my feedback.” Shoot, some of us are so stat-crazy that we are fixated on the number of hits that we received on our last entry. I, myself, marveled at my “recent visitor map” page right before I started on this post.

What is the status of our friendship?

Recently, I have been going through some severe challenges in my life. Some of the more thoughtful of you have figured out what it is about to a certain degree. Is it because you care or is it that you love a challenge? Sometimes I get caught up thinking of some of you as more than an organization of letters on my screen and had flashes of “I ought to ask ‘Mary’ what she thinks of this mess.” Or, “John went through this sort of thing, I’ll ask him for his perspective.” Then I think, “What is wrong with you, Jeff? These people are video game characters. Step into the real world.”

What is the status of our friendship?

I guess we aren’t really friends, are we? We are part of an online community. It is kind of like a neighborhood. I am friendly with all my neighbors (that are interested in my friendliness, anyway). Yet, I don’t go to dinner with any of them. None of them know of my troubles, but many are polite enough to comment on today’s events or willing to wish me well when I am sick or perceived troubled, I guess.

Many in the blogosphere are loners. I have read some of your blogs in which you admit this. I, myself, am not a TRUE loner, but I have my loner moments. I do have a number of friends. People call and check on me. I met a friend for lunch even today – a REAL friend who I talked uncryptically about what is going on. However, there are others out there who feel TRULY alone. The blog community is all they have. Is it enough?

I don’t really have any answers. I do know that people need people. You can stay “safe” and still be there for your fellow human being. Reach out to someone today (if you are at all inclined to do so) or let him or her reach out to you. You might even get something out of it yourself.

For Sale: Friend, Low Mileage, $4000 OBO

Friendship is important to me. Isn't it funny when we catch ourselves assigning our values to others and then becoming shocked when it is revealed that others do not share those beliefs? This has happened to me recently about friendship.

For some people, friendships are like cars. You get one, are excited about it for a while, and then you let it go for something else. That's not me. If you are a friend of mine, you will ALWAYS be a friend of mine unless your behavior is toxic and it makes being around you unhealthy. Even then, the breaking of the relationship is only a step to reconciliation.

However, to wily nily end friendships is absurd to me. My best friend from my childhood is also named Jeff. I haven't talked to him since sometime in high school. Yet, if he called me today and wanted to meet, I would exhaust every effort to meet him. Why? Because he is a friend of mine and that is enough.

I have another friend who just flat out gets on my nerves. When he calls me, I cringe. He talks incessantly and will not allow you to get off the phone. I could say to him, "Look, this friendship has ran its course. It is not doing it for me." I dont' do that, however. Why? BECAUSE HE IS A FRIEND OF MINE. He has his faults as do I. However, there is something stronger there than to just be dismissed just because he sucks the life out of me sitting on the bloody phone.

How some people can go through life and burn bridges, I don't know. It is their life and they can live it any way they choose, but when they try to transfer that value (or lack thereof) to me, that's where I have problems. When someone asks me, "Why is keeping that friend so important to you?", I consider that a nonsense question.

As I mentioned earlier in this post, I have been urged to end a friendship because someone else has a problem with it (and not really a valid problem). I thought to myself, "what am I, in eighth grade, going around breaking up with friends?" Maybe I should toilet paper my soon ex-friend's house as a way of saying, "goodbye". Sheesh! Some of you may disagree with me about this issue. As a matter of fact, I have been surprised by the number of people who do tend treat friendships like cars. However, it doesn't matter if we disagree to me. I won't break up with you over it.