How did I get here?

Do you ever think about how you ended up where you are?

When I was in college, I started with an Environmental Science major. Like every other college students, I changed my mind and decided I didn't want to save the planet - I wanted to speak French. All the time. I was good at it and it seemed so intriguing to be able to speak a different language.

Then I got practical. I was pursuing French and Mathematics, two things I did well in and liked. But one semester I had to make a choice between a class that would lead to a French degree and one that would lead to a Math degree. Not wanting to become a high school French teacher, I chose the Math class.

But then I discovered Computer Programming! I took a Programming class as part of my Math degree and loved it. I aced every test (or close to it :P), loved every class, didn't excel in every lab, but who cares! Yet by now, changing majors again was just not an option. At least not if I wanted to finish on time. So I stuck with my trusty Math major.

Fast forward to my current job, which is not specifically in any of those disciplines but has brought me back to programming. I will be doing more programming soon and am eager to delve back into that methodical world. Funny how I can end up doing something I wanted to do in the first place, in a completely roundabout way.

And then it all gets me thinking about past relationships, without which I would not be where I am now - I love where I am now. So regardless of how I may feel about those past relationships, I will always be grateful that they led me here. But that's a whole other post....

you will have been all of these

Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and wrong. Some time in life, you will have been all of these.

- Robert H Goddard

I really like this quote because it is something I aspire to. I may not be religious, but I can guarantee that I try to be considerate of others and conscious of my choices and will raise my child to do the same.

I bring up religion because it seems to come up a lot lately, especially in politics. I will never understand why calling yourself religious or claiming to be a member of a particular faith equates to "being a good person" in the minds of some people. Religion doesn't make you a good person. Going to church doesn't make you a good person. Being tender, compassionate, sympathetic, and tolerant can make you a good person. Your actions determine the person you are.

Oh I'll touch him Ricky. I'll touch him wherever I want.

A commenter on my previous Macgruber post reminded me about the Macgruber movie being made, and I must say, it looks QUITE AWESOME. Powers Boothe, Val Kilmer, Ryan Phillipe...what an awesomely bizarre cast.

Click here to go to the YouTube page or watch below:

The Needs of Children

I need to update my blogroll a bit. One of the blogs I currently follow is PhD in Parenting. The author and I have quite a few beliefs in common, so I usually enjoy what she has to say.

The blog entry Child's Hierarchy of Needs was really interesting to me. I liked the hierarchy she came up with:



As she points out, our children are dependent on us to meet those needs. I have always felt that children are not as manipulative as some adults seem to think - that if you put yourself in their shoes and fully realize (or remember) how it feels to rely on someone else for everything, perhaps their actions would be a bit more understandable.

Macgruber for the 21st Century

The last SNL had Charles Barkley doing a few Macgruber sketches with Will Forte. Hilarious!

Macgruber!

Making lifesaving inventions out of household materials

Macgruber!

Gettin in and out of ultra sticky situations

Macgruber!

He has a black employee now!

MACGRUBER!

__________

Macgruber!

His harmless little joke really got him into trouble

Macgruber!

He had to take some #%*@ing class because of stupid corporate bs

Macgruber!

He makes his jokes in private now!

MACGRUBER!

__________

Macgruber!

He took a couple months off and he did lots of soul searching

Macgruber!

He spent some time in Africa and learned about their culture

Macgruber!

He's facebook friends with Spike Lee now!

MACGRUBER!

Mailing Lists

Since I do so much on my BlackBerry these days, I'm really noticing how many mailing lists I'm on - especially for things I don't really care about. I've joined tons just to be notified of travel specials, get the introductory coupon or discount, or 'just in case something comes along I'll be interested in'. I no longer need to be notified of travel specials, find coupons and discounts easily when I need them, and, well, how often does something really come along that makes me think 'gosh that one email made the other 3 billion worth it!'? I've managed to clutter my phone, as well as my email inbox since I don't check it regularly, with junk mail after junk mail.

Time for a little clean up (read: unsubscribing).

NaNoWriMo

So I joined NaNoWriMo. Think I've written anything? NoNoNoNo.

I mean, really, have you seen my blog lately?!

I'm hoping to change all that.

www.nanowrimo.org/