A little background before getting started

Recently I was talking to a friend about my concern over my growing cynicism with all things from politics, products, services, people and (you name it) everything in-between. His response was. "Of course your negativity has grown, you have lived more than 50 years."  His take on it, is that if you live long enough to be see every possible thing that can go bad, it will kick the very last bit of optimism right out of you. 

He may have a point. 

Oddly enough, my friends consider me the "positive one".  With that being said, two of my best friends are 70 and 83 years of age. (I am in my 50's)  Under the theory of age kicking optimism in the ass, I guess that the 75 year old and 83 year old would consider me "pie in the sky" positive. 

For anyone that is now thinking, I need to associate with 20 year olds that still haven't succumbed to the age=skepticism theory and still remain optimistic, I would say that most younger people would find me "old" and dull.  There is the chance that I would find them naive.

I don't really consider myself ancient (yet) but I will admit that things are changing more quickly than I am comfortable with.  I love  modern technology.  (truly LOVE it)  I adore my iphone, computer, even my front loader washer and dryer that play me a song when they finish the load.  Yes, I do love the progression of these wonderful consumer goods that make life easier and more fun.  I do, however,  have problems with having doors slammed in my face because the guy or gal (don't want to sterotype here) is so busy texting with both hands that they can't hold the door open for one more second past their sholdering it open to get out of said door.  The real story here is not that I have a problem with people using all this cutting edge technology but it is how and when they use it.  (really, one of the freakin weird items----the guy that texted his girlfriend across the table in the restaurant to tell her he was breaking up with her.  True story, he said he felt like she wouldn't yell at him in a public place)

The other BIG component here is my career.  (I should say my ex career) Up till about 2 years ago, I was a Realtor.  Actually, I still am a Realtor but there is very little work happening on my part.  Our part of the country has not been hit nearly as hard as other regions but there is still a very limited housing market and if you want to hear a lot of sad stories try listing or selling homes right now.   My broker told me a few months ago, if I have a problem selling/listing forclosures or short sales, I had better get out of the business.  OK, great suggestion. 

HMMM...to save myself from sounding like a anti people and things zealot (I am not) let me give you a little profile.  I live in the middle of America (a suburb of Kansas City), I am middle class economically, (have been every level from top to bottom though) I am sorta, kinda in the middle politically (think liberal Republican or conservative Democrat-take your pick), usually a passivist unless you really tick me off then I just become a  mouthy passivist. (Usually) all talk no action.
Married with 2 grown children.  (Still loving all three).  For the most part, my one big issue is that I find my tolerance for things/people/events declining at the same incline and speed as a jet running into a flock of birds.

 If I tell myself that I am going to wake up and stay positive and optimistic tomorrow morning, it will last about 5 minutes into the morning news program or the morning paper.    So this blog is going to track a positive thought or two or three, a negative thought (or two or three) and something that just strikes me as bizaar every day for the rest of this year.  (For days that I have to miss because of no computer access or laziness, I will make that day up when I am back online. 

Just to get the ball rolling, there are some positives that are for everyday such as good health and family so I won't elaborate everyday with those types of things.  Those are a given.  The same goes for the negatives.  I will try not to repeat the mundane things like it is cold out today. It sucks weather wise but I live in Kansas.  It gets cold here)

The Good for today Jan 29th

My house is less likely to burn to the ground today.  Turns out that that beautiful front loader dryer that sings me a little song upon the end of cycle had a faulty dryer vent on it.  Who knew?  I got a card in the mail a few months ago to tell me I was part of a class action law suit.  Turns out that the big box store I bought the washer and dryer from got sued over the type of  "foil" vent that they were using to install the dryers with.  So the case got settled and the big box service guys settled with everyone getting a new dryer vent.  Good huh?

The Bad for today Jan. 29th.

What did the lawyers get for the big box law suit? (Keep in mind under the good though, that I got a nifty new semi-rigid dryer vent hose) I bet those lawyers would have something different posted under the GOOD portion if they were writing this blog.

Actually, there are some "bigger" bad today in the world with the protests in Egypt today. I am mindful that there are huge bad things out there but for the sake of this blog and it's purpose to amuse myself  I am not dwelling on  world political happenings or world events.  From time to time, I will have to point out some of the local politics of Kansas City as we have just too much fun and bizarre here.

The FREAKIN' WEIRD for Jan. 29th.   The Freakin' weird for the day is the article in today's paper of the mother in Florida that shot her two children.  SAD yes, BIZARRE  yes.  She said she had to shoot them both as they were MOUTHY. (Just a side note,  I did notice that in the article she is over 50.)