My manager tonight told me that I reached my productivity goal for the first half of the day.
I’m not sure if I should be pleased or frightened.
Useless Observations
Crappy is Better Than Zero
Hey Kids,
I apologize for yesterday’s post.
Once actually awake, I reread the post. Wow, error fest.
I’ll confess. It was written at 2 AM and I had been awake since 4 AM the previous day. I think I may’ve been getting a little punchy. Add to that, I wrote the post with my phone and with its shattered screen.
I do not think that those conditions mean that I it shouldn’t be noted that the post was a mess, but I will say that, at that moment, in those circumstances, I produced the best work I could.
I have since reread the post, edited the errors, and smoothed out the wording. So you can go back and see it, but the embarrassing errors have been fixed but others, of which I am ignorant, may have been created.
Funny thing, the very act of writing that post goes along with the point I attempted to make. Sometimes you just have to do it to have results. And results, although not perfect, indicates you are doing. And doing is more than half the battle; without it, there is no battle.
I committed to write a post for each day. If I had decided that I was too tired, or that my phone made it too difficult, or I claimed brain-dead status; any of those reasons would’ve meant I failed.
The post was crappy but it was done.
And today in correcting the crappy, the point weaved into my head once more. Tonight I find it my inspiration to write this post and to evaluate a few other goals that I have set for myself. Just do it. Then do it again and again. Until the results produce that which you want.
I wrote this post tonight in near same circumstances.
I’d say the crappy post worked after all.
Day 327
30 Year Warm-up
Hey Kids,
30 years ago, between the dates of January 14th and 16th, I left the United States and ventured to Geneva Switzerland and ultimately into France. 
30 years ago I struggled with the french language, I struggled a little with the bizarre assignment of a 19 year old to preach the gospel, and yet had my entire life in front of me.
I’d spend the next two years living among the French people and learn their language. I’d learn it enough that even today, a French word can displace an English word from memory when I least expect it.
30 years ago, the world became a little smaller place and possible to conquer in the immense time I expected life to give me. I was an American abroad. I walked with a Reagan swagger. Contrary to the reported politics of the day, I was welcomed into more French homes as an American than one was was lead to believe.
Kids on the street would ask if we knew the popular celebrities they saw on American TV shows and movies. When they learned I also hailed from California, and even larger excitement an hope would emerge. It was fun. It made me believe I was special and that the world was at my command.
Then life happened.
Other than a short business trip to Quebec, I have yet to leave the country again. I don’t and never did know any celebrities.
So did any of that stuff 30 years ago matter?
I pursued some endeavors but I could’ve done it with more hunger and assertiveness. I could have stayed up on my French better. I might have even gone back to France. But I did none of these things. And now there is no way to reverse that time.
Spilled milk I say.
Looking back to the events, feelings, and memories 30 years ago I can take away one thing: I did it then. I actually went to France. I learned and spoke a foreign language. I could do it, and many other things again. And I can do new and equally exciting things too.
I can finish another book or 100. I write blog posts and articles. I can be my own celebrity. People already ask me to sign my books they buy. And the world is excatly the same size today than it was 30 years ago.
Nothing has changed bit my own perspective.
There was no special magic 30 years ago.I just pursued my dream at the time. I can do that now.
Day #326
Phone Blues
Hey kids,
For the second time.within a year I dropped my phone and shattered the glass.
The first time was a fluke but this second time I asked for it.
The lesson: keep the promises you make to yourself.
A long time ago I promised to never run for a bus. I swore I would never degrade myself to be one of those people chasing down a bus, running along side, or banging on the side begging for the door to be opened.
I most definitely would not be the one running like a beggar running across a patking lot, despritly trying to flag down an approaching bus, like a dog begging for a scrap of meat fat fron the dinner table.
But I did this morning and out of my pocket flopped the phone and onto the cold asphalt, face down.
It still works but the lesson was not lost. Never run for buses, they are not worth it.
Ever.
Day 325
When It’s Deserved
Hey Kids,
McDonald’s has always been home to the cheap burger. I’ve lived on the dollar menu during certain times of my life. In fact without MickeyD’s and Del Taco, I’m not sure how I would’ve survived.
But it’s not quality food.
Today we did the build your own burger thing. It cost us $20, which I cringed over for a moment. We took our seats and waited our 8-10 minutes.
Wow! I expected very little and instead had a delious, restaurant quality burger. No, really. It was real quality. Better than my last 5 Guys or Chili’s burgers.
I ordered two patties, pepper jack cheese, grilled onions and mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, and Mac sauce.
I hated to finish. I was full but something that good, I’d be willing to hurt myself.
Yes it was McDonald’s, yet it wasn’t. The base burger is $5, add-ons add on from there. We got the large combo as well. The food proved itself worthy of the cost.
If you haven’t tried it, do yourself a solid and do it. McDonald’s did itself proud this time.
Day 319
Just When You Thought You Were Original
Hey kids,
Just when I thought I was so clever and creative, I find the word I believed I had pinned and used in such a unique way is just another word in a dictionary to be featured as the word of the day.
My dad once told me that no matter what you ever do, think, or say; someone, sometime already has.
This has proved itself over and over.
I like to think that, despite the repetitiveness and lack of originality, I still get to rub my own funk on it.
And no one but me gets to do that.
You know, with my own funk. Because they would have their own funk.
Never mind.
Day #317
Showtime
Hey Kids,
I’m taking some time to watch a little football while working on a few projects.
The speed of the game, the complexity of the strategy, and the refined talent of the players, have all transformed this game to a wonder of the human ability. It’s silly to try to compare the teams of the seventies, eighties, or any year other than the current year to the current year’s version of the game. It all speeds up, changes, and players get physically better each year.
What’s also silly is the posturing.
After near any play, the player who gained the advantage acts out some sort of victory dance of dominance. A blocked pass, a sack, a first down; it doesn’t matter. A show will be on display.
There have always been some sort of in-your-face display, but in the past they seemed more reserved or more reserved for actual important plays.
It might not be fair, like the game, to compare yesteryear to today. Players today are running a personal business and building a brand. TV and ESPN Sports Center time is the thing that can push a career and the earnings that go with it. Perhaps it’s necessary to make sure it’s clear who made that last play and get the 15 seconds of dedicated airplay.
As a consumer, however, I could do with a little bit less. But then again, it wouldn’t be the first time I went Old School.
Day 314
When the Clock Strikes Two
Hey Kids,
2 o’clock in the morning.
I know the witching hour is identified with midnight but I find between two and three o’clock much more spooky.
At 2, everyone who should be asleep is asleep. The stay-up-laters for the most part have accomplished what they needed and retired for the night. It is this hour that the night is near coldest and the alive world has conceded its domination of the world.
I think it’s at this time that spooks have dominion of the night, it is this hour that those who dare to remain awake are the most likely to see why they should be asleep.
This also happens to be my lunch hour.
Day 313
That’s How We Do It
Hey Kids,
Unless you can suggest a solution, don’t complain about a problem.
That is the conventional wisdom. I’ve even espoused the idea myself. But it’s not always true. Kind of.
If you’re complaining and nitpicking the efforts of others, being nasty or condescending about it, and have no real ability to suggest or implement change, keep quiet.
Here at the Store, the method appears to be so chaotic. I am constantly thinking there has to be another way. It’s hard to believe anyone came up with this system and wished it to be followed exactly as it is.
I can offer no real comprehensive solution, but I’m telling you; there has to be a better way.
Day 307
Overtime Shopping
Hey Kids,
I never quite understood the day after Christmas shopping.
People are actually out shopping for deals. Yeah, deals. And this t
ime for themselves, not to give away as gifts.
It’s not enough to have just finished the biggest segment of the retail year. Before the spoilage of the Christmas shopping is yet to ripen, these shoppers are out to wreck more carnage on the Retail Front.
I’m a capitalist. I believe in the market economy. I’ll defend it as the best system to sustain a people and their ideals, although, I walk down the aisles of the store where I trade my soul for lucre, and I look at the tons of crap that hang on the displays for sale. I know that every one of those items will be picked up and bought at some time. Useless junk that for some reason we believe is worth the money for which we worked hard.
I’m cheap. I hang onto my clothes longer than they can hang onto me, I wear shoes down until the sole has not only worn out its soul and lost its tread but begins to show sock. And yet I end up buying stupid stuff all the time because it’s there. I’m not above the marketing gurus that know how to get me to spend my money when I think I don’t want to.
I, however, have yet to feel the need to go non-grocery store shopping the day after Christmas for the thing that everyone else failed to buy for me. The deep discounts on the clearance Christmas chocolate, I confess, do tempt me so.
Day 306
Mike M Jensen 