It is unfortunate that those we fear, or hate, or shun, so often hold the key to understanding who we are. The fear, of understanding ourselves, runs deep.
The differences between humans and the other beasts.
One cannot intellectualize, or learn from the experiences of others, the actual experiences necessary to understand that if you are not careful you get what you want.
Adrift in the Bathtub of Life
Someone once had the epiphany that as soon as you figure out how to bribe a kid to do something–they have the audacity to change the rules and you have to start all over.
What that person wasn’t enlightened enough to tell me was that when we become adults we have to stay aware that the rules also get changed–without our permission or without announcement.
Isn’t this the sort of thing that should go out over CNN or FOX News or at least those sources of REAL news like You-Tube or Facebook?
Aren’t there laws against changing the rules? After all it can be very disconcerting when you are in flight, with landing still hours away, and you find out that the plane in which you were comfortably snoozing is now a parachute and the wind is whistling through your hair. I guess we should just be thankful that the chute opened. That is called being prepared–many are not.
The lesson in all this is that the more tuned-in, vigilant and prepared we are for the rule changes in our lives, the easier it is to stay afloat in the bathtub of life–to re-invent ourselves.
I wonder if people who are used to breaking the rules, or at least bending the rules, are more adept at embracing rule changes when they do happen. Or, are they just as vulnerable as the rest of us?
When the rules change and you find yourself with “nuthin”–living under a bridge, or in your car–I can tell you from experience that you can re-group, figure out the new rules, and find new ways to keep a roof over your head and food in your belly. When you have found yourself in this place you also become acutely aware that learning the new rules is NOT guaranteed.
The people that daily jump off the bridges they sleep under is a testament to this fact.
It is an absolute myth that we are never given more than we can handle–it happens ALL the time, to all kinds of people.
Also having been in that place, I can tell you that finding the right place at the right time requires that you be there.
Sometimes people embrace the changes in their lives by being lucky–by being in the right place at the right time.
In difficult times it is imperative that we be in the right place at the right time–luck may not be enough–and you may have pissed off all your friends and family by then. Being “comfortable” becomes a luxury as opposed to something to which we are entitled–and certainly not something to be taken for granted.
We all have opportunities to be in the right place at the right time–having the skills or the presence of mind to recognize these opportunities when we see them is the only real question.
By Charles Buell
Have I reached the complaint department?
Since there is likely no IT department I will have to settle for the complaint department.
After all, when a product is purchased and delivered, it would be nice if all systems worked as designed until the end of its useful life; or at least be repairable in a reasonable time frame and by qualified persons. These qualified persons would be the ultimate “Geek Squad.”
I realize that many components appear to be “self-repairing,” but come on really? The guy at my local auto-body shop does a better job with the cosmetic stuff. When he is done with repairs, one is hard pressed to find the dings, scratches and other signs of abuse. Some shops even change out an entire engine successfully—but not this useless piece of crap.
I am willing to bet that the missing “user’s manual” actually states that parts are not “really” replaceable. What about the “Lemon Laws?” Surely someone must be accountable!
Regarding the owner’s manual, there is something I would like to say. Trust me, I looked everywhere and I could find none—perhaps it remained with the packaging—perhaps one could still be sent to me? Better late than never as they say.
I think a lot of pain and suffering could have been averted if one had an owner’s manual from the get go. Although, perhaps the reason it is missing is because most people would not want to know what they are getting themselves in for. While it is not my intention to nit-pick the entire product, there are few things that I do feel I have every right to whine about.
If we were able to find this missing owner’s manual, the cover would likely say: “A project for life,” —right under the title, “You Are Now Screwed—Enjoy!”
At any rate, now to the BIG complaints:
1. Why is there a physical component and a mental component? Please forgive me, but this is truly messed up. These should have been ONE COMPONENT–that is correct 1 component! Having a brain that can be conscious of needing one’s diaper changed for 20 years or more at the end of one’s life, is almost as stupid as having a body that cannot function because the brain has left the building 20 years before the end of one’s life.
2. What is up with having to sleep a third of one’s life? How about just simply living two thirds as long, but never sleeping? Surely this must have been an option when original designs were being discussed? It leaves one in the curious position of concluding the original designer was a bit of a sadist—or interested in other things. Tinkering and experimentation should be left to inventing things that don’t matter so much.
3. Disease? Does this go back to the missing owner’s manual again? Surely the fact that even unborn children can be ravaged by diseases that can kill and cripple, leaves one wondering about the true abilities of the 
designer. Would the owner’s manual show us how to avoid these issues?
Why do so many products get allowed into the market place without adequate beta-testing and safeguards? Seems ELEMENTARY my dear Watson! While I can appreciate the concept of “planned obsolescence,” it seems only logical that product useability would be at least as long as that of a Redwood.
4. War? OK—this is a biggy. Why is a brain that is capable of pondering its own remote belly-button not capable of embracing that we are all one belly-button? Nuf said?
5. Finally, what is up with farting? On second thought at least that and sex are fun.
So all and all, if I could, I would send this thing back for a full refund. Actually I prefer a replacement, because hey, it ain’t been all bad—and this time WITH an owner’s manual.
By Charles Buell
Living on the edge–danger and opportunity
Most of us are “adrenalin” junkies–and those that are not are probably either in denial or not aware of how the body works. One can even make an argument that the pursuit of adrenalin is not only human but is what drives us to do much of what we do. I can’t really tell which comes first–so perhaps it is a “chicken or egg” thing.
Regardless–whether it is eating, climbing corporate ladders, sky-diving, rock climbing, gambling, sex, fast cars, relationship arguments or reading books we are all looking for that rush–it makes us feel “alive.”
Living one’s life “ON THE EDGE” produces lots of opportunities for adrenalin rushes. Most of us, over the course of our lives, have created ways to maintain these rushes at appropriate levels. In the end they usually destroy us. As Neal Young said, “It is better to burn out–than to fade away.”
I think the “ideal” is when we can get our highs in ways that don’t show how oblivious or ignorant we are to the consequences of what we choose.
I am sure that everyone knows the consequences of choosing our adrenalin rushes from something like cocaine or key parties—-as opposed to choosing them from something like playing soccer or long hikes in the mountains.
Some of our choices sustain us–while others tear us apart.
Being “oblivious” is like the tree on the edge of the cliff–everyone else can clearly see what is coming–can see our future. Why can’t we?
We–theoretically–can move away from the cliff when necessary–the tree is oblivious and cannot.
Charles Buell
Most of us are “adrenalin” junkies—-and those that are not are probably either in denial or not aware of how the body works. One can even make an argument that the pursuit of adrenalin is not only human but is what drives us to do much of what we do. I can’t really tell which comes first—-so perhaps 
it is a “chicken or egg” thing.
Regardless—-whether it is eating, climbing corporate ladders, sky-diving, rock climbing, gambling, sex, fast cars, relationship arguments or reading books we are all looking for that rush—-it makes us feel “alive.”
Living one’s life “ON THE EDGE” produces lots of opportunities for adrenalin rushes. Most of us, over the course of our lives, have created ways to maintain these rushes at appropriate levels. In the end they usually destroy us. As Neal Young said, “It is better to burn out—than to fade away.”
I think the “ideal” is when we can get our highs in ways that don’t show how oblivious or ignorant we are to the consequences of what we choose.
I am sure that everyone knows the consequences of choosing our adrenalin rushes from something like cocaine or key parties—-as opposed to choosing them from something like playing soccer or long hikes in the mountains.
Some of our choices sustain us—-while others tear us apart.
Being “oblivious” is like the tree on the edge of the cliff—-everyone else can clearly see what is coming—-can see our future. Why can’t we?
We—-theoretically—-can move away from the cliff when necessary—–the tree is oblivious and cannot.
– See more at: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1826833/living-on-the-edge-oblivious-to-the-consequences-#sthash.La60TYwd.dpuf