Take a month or three

three pics of Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon 9/6/2005 What a struggle it is to muster the motivation to head back to work after a long holiday weekend. I was just getting used to chilling! That's what's wrong with the American work culture. We rarely if ever take enough time off from work to gain an entirely different perspective. We don't do this for a number of reasons. One being that most people can't afford to be off that long, and, of course, many employers don't offer us that much time off in the first place. I can count on one hand how many of my engineers will take more than one week off at a time even though some of them have five and six weeks vacation coming this year. I am the same way. But wouldn't it be nice to take an entire month off of work, or even better, how about three months? You could drive across country at a leisurely pace or perhaps even sail to Europe. What's more, you might even fall in love! Nah!!! What was I thinking? I don't care who you are, that's crazy talk right there. Seriously though, I think the biggest benefit would be the opportunity to form a new perspective on our life. Getting away does that. Instead, though, we take our one week vacations, and just about the time we totally forget about work and all its silly little issues and problems, it's time to mentally prepare to go back. And even though we like to quote the phrase, I've never met anyone who on their death bed said they wished they'd spent more time at the office, most of us never take heed. Hmmm??????????????? Grasp the moment. Don't look to far ahead. Smell the roses today. blah, blah blah... It was nice waking to the aroma of freshly brewed hazelnut coffee this morning. That alone excited me enough to get up and get moving some time around 545am. Some days I just can't wait for that first cup of coffee. In fact, what am I thinking? That's most days!! Of course I have my little quirks. I never have coffee until I have exercised and walked Sparky. It's like my right of passage. Jean-Jean the hot tub machine called me to day to confirm an appointment to fix my hot tub once and for all tomorrow. He asked that I have it drained and the three leaky hoses marked somehow so they're certain what needs fixed. I assured him that I would follow through. Josh, my brand new guitar instructor called early evening to confirm our first official lesson for this coming Thursday. We're on! He's planning to arrive around 6PM and we're gonna go for an hour every other Thursday and see how that goes. Hopefully it will work out for both of us. Tonight promised to provide another spectacular view of Venus and Jupiter. Tonight's added bonus will be the insertion of the crescent moon. As you see from the pics, it didn't disappoint. What I would've given to have seen this view from the country, without all the light pollution. And just so no one forgets, this week is NFL kick-off week! Received an invite to cousin Susan's wedding in Pleasant Gardens, North Carolina. The wedding is planned for Saturday, October 1. I may go, but I am not for sure at this point. Come to think of it, I don't think that I have ever met Susan. She is a bit younger than all of her brothers and sisters. However, I do know all of her siblings and of course her mom and dad. That might be a fun weekend trip. I'll survey other family members to see who might be going. I talked with Lindsey today, too. My intent was just to touch base and tell her that I loved her. Song of the day: Cold Play, Green Eyes Honey you are a rock Upon which I stand And I come here to talk I hope you understand The green eyes Yeah the spotlightShines upon you And how could AnybodyDeny you I came here with a load And it feels so much lighter Now I met you Honey you should know That I could never go on Without you Green eyes Honey you are the sea Upon which I float And I came here to talk I think you should know That green eyes You're the one that I wanted to find And anyone who tried to deny you, Must be out of their mind Because I came here with a load And it feels so much lighter since I met you And honey you should know, That I could never go on Without you Green eyes, green eyes, ohohoh... Honey you are a rock Upon which I stand