• Altered moods

    Recent history has ushered in more than its share of mood altering drugs for children. However, kids and their moods are no exception. If you can name a disorder your local pharmacist can name a couple of cures in a bottle, with an optional safety cap. There is one mood altering drug that has been with us for centuries. I am talking about sugar.

    Who among the parents of the world have not sugared up a kid, only to see their efforts rewarded with a torrent of destructive energy? Less common is the similar effect in adults, but it happens. Take this morning for example. A week of traveling and a morning of bicycling left me a bit drained. Then someone shows up with freshly baked, fully sugared donuts from the local supermarket chain. (If you are not familiar with the Publix Bakery, then it is quite simply your loss.) Now I’m sugared up and I’m ready to rock and roll!

    Accept no substitutes! Kneel before the king of all sweeteners!

    If you suffer from chronic fatigue, ask your doctor if sugar would be right for you!
    Possible side effects from sugar usage include weight gain, bad dental hygiene, and the mother of all energy crashes.

  • Coping strategy

    I have a bad memory. There are things that I have in place to overcome this failing, but like all things human they are not perfect. There is a certain couple that will be celebrating a wedding aniversary tomorrow, number four if I’m not mistaken. I offer this entry as an incredibly lame substitute for what will surely turn out to be another failure of my memory tomorrow. I could call, but I can’t right now and I may forget later. I could even put off this entry until tomorrow – the actual day of significance. No, one of those coping strategies is to act on something when you do remember. That would be now, however bad the timing may be.

    If you don’t know what I’m talking about then I’m not congratulating you. Not that you don’t have a good congratulating coming to you – I just don’t know about it.

  • Record straightening

    In the end, it was a good trip. Per usual, I was nervous being the outsider on that first day (as I’ve already explained). Some of my first impressions were not as good as I had hoped, but in hindsight I can’t discount the fact that my somewhat aloof manner contributed.

    The second day left me with much more favorable impressions. During the discussions I overcame my fear of speaking up, and spoke. Merely speaking is not really what distinguishes the two days for me. The difference was that I spoke with a greater degree of self confidence – with more self assurance. There were a few times my points were well received and there were others where they were not. What is important for me to remember is that this is how a discussion works. Adults talk about their thoughts and ideas. Sometimes folks agree and sometimes they don’t. Here’s the key: was everyone listening and did everyone give the ideas discussed their due consideration – based on the merits of the idea as they are presented? After day number two I am glad to say my answers to those questions are a resounding yes.

    Here’s the other thing, I’m usually uncomfortable judging folks with so little shared context. I feel a little bad about how I felt on Monday evening, particularly after Tuesday went so well. I guess it’s true what people say; nobody’s perfect.

    This entry has little use as entertainment or as catharsis, but I thought it important to post in light of Monday’s entries and my subsequent change of mind. Yes, even if precious few ever read either entry.