Sunday, 18 March 2012

• St. Patrick & the Lost Causes

  Hey. everyone! Back yet again with another "blog". (Like Mick Foley, I've grown to hate that word.) Will just let you know that this one is not going to be about what I did this week (not much to say there), & will in fact probably jump around a few years' worth.

  Anyhow, as has sort of become my "thing" (as much as "living Improv"?), guess I should ask if everyone had a good St. Patrick's Day. (Now realize this won't be posted until the day is over in my time-zone.) I must admit that while much of my family is Irish, I'm not sure I even own a green shirt, & have no clue what a blarney stone even looks like, etc.

  Anyhow, since I think I crossed some lines with my last blog, I'll mention this time that I had a conversation with my Mom today... Not about the stuff like I referred to in my last blog (fine line between funny & insane), but what you might call "hygiene" issues. Mom got on my back about teeth-brushing & stuff like that. I countered that I think I could brush for several hours a day every day, & it would make Zero difference, because "that ship has sailed".

  Among the conversation, she mentioned that (like I didn't know) "people notice it when they look at you". True, but you know who doesn't ever have to notice it? Me. I look in mirrors once in a while (often to see if I need to shave soon, etc.), but I don't have to. Frankly, I often choose not to. Know why? Same reason you don't look at car crashes & murder scenes (outside of TV episodes): You know it's not gonna be pretty. For the most part, that's what I'm about now. As Owen Wilson said in "Shanghai Knights", it's about "looking out for Number One".

  While I'm mentioning that movie, let me go back a few years... A little over a decade. If you do the math, that takes you just past the famous events of "9/11". I was at the local Toys 'R' Us store, buying a video game. (Not sure which one it was, but I probably still have it.) The cashier asked me if I wanted to donate to (forget the group's name) while I was at it, a group that was raising money for victims & their families. I agreed. (Probably said something like, "Sure. Why not?"; Still my usual response.)

  In the years since, I doubt there have been many times I've turned-down the option to do such things. Can I say there have been none? No, but I bet there have been few. If I had to guess, I'd bet many had to do with victims of Katrina, the Asian tsunami, the situation (forget it exactly) in Haiti, & the like. I'm not about to doubt I've also rejected opportunities to give to charities for cancer, AIDS, the homeless, & any number of other things. Why? Same answer. (Wishing I could link to earlier in this blog from within it. I could've sworn I learned how to do that in "Hyper Media" Senior Year!)

  If you're still reading this, you probably have the right idea about me. Just to be sure, let me clarify: I didn't cheer when Katrina & the tsunami happened. I am also not happy for the homeless or people with AIDS, & have lost more family to cancer than I care to count. So why not give to those groups? Because the money has to go towards better things for "Number One".

  None of us knows how long we have, & as much as somebody said to be "up there" might have it all planned out long ahead (betting I'll hear that if I make church tomorrow), down here, we still don't know when we're going. I take that a step further, & say if someone thinks you're going in 6 years, but you step off that sidewalk a second sooner, you're gone today. (Proof: Opening of the film "Closer", which may be why I never go to England.) All that said, you (or at least I) have to make sure you enjoy the time you definitely get to spend here, which is little more than now. (That speaks to why I got over Gonzaga losing today pretty fast, as The Monkees had already started.)

  I thought about this a great deal a few days ago. I read a blog written by aforementioned author (& former wrestler) Mick Foley. He was thanking folks that entered his raffle, where the winner won (among other things) tickets to the upcoming "Wrestlemania". I entered it on one of the last days, & also bought something he sold on EBay a while back; In both cases, the money went to RAINN, a group he volunteers and raises funds for.

  Again, don't get me wrong: As far as I know, I love the work they do, & the money I (& others) spent in the raffle will only help them do more of it. But as the situation sits, I may have issues with paying the cable bill, let alone buying meals I'll need in the next few weeks. Even though I am all for helping charitable groups, I may find myself regretting those donations in the long run.

  It's "times like these" I don't need reminders & discussions of my less-than-stellar looks, let alone my (supposed) Diabetes & other things that make my everyday life worse.

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