Thoughts #1

The heights of great men reached and kept,
Were not obtained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept
Were toiling upward in the night.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I find that I have no time anymore during the weeks. My schedule is set from when I get up until the time that I leave work. By that time, I'm too tired to do anything but seek about an hour of repose before retiring to bed. When I do go to bed, in my style, I throw on the West Wing or Boston Legal and watch until I fall asleep, but I have to be honest, lately I find myself only remembering about 5 minutes past the music before I fall into that sweet coma of sleep. I used to get in at least a couple of episodes each night.

I am certainly not unhappy with my current state of being, but I find myself wondering in awe. ME? Benjamin Ryan Suderman? Surely, the guy who used to be defined by trying to get out of work, asking off early, and ALWAYS striving to find ways to work smarter so that he didn't have to work harder is not working extra hours when none are forced. Surely, that must be someone else, who is even now only taking a small break from his work to leave a long awaited post to the multitudes. Who the hell have I become? And the answer comes to me...

Barry Dean Suderman

My father is the main person in my life that has taught me that hard work is not only demanded of man, but is one of the things in life that brings satisfaction. I was made by the hand of God and turns out... He made me to be able to put my head down and go to work. How amazing! I watched my father as a young man, thinking to myself, "Why does he work so much? Doesn't he know that life is not all about work?" I don't know that I've completely turned around on this particular sentiment, but I must say that I at least understand the motivation. It's rewarding!

I think how miserable a job is while watching the clock. All day, "When will it be quitting time?","When do I go on break next?","How long until I can get to the living of life?" Yeah, I know that I'm in the minority on this, and I certainly think that my opinion is my own and do not wish to spread, what I imagine other's would call, my mental disease. But I just don't want to live unsatisfied, and for the time being I've found something that makes me happy. So, yeah...

Rant #2

"Are you crying?" There's no crying in baseball!" -Jimmy Dugan

I understand that there are social rules when it comes to parties. For instance, if Kappa Alpha is throwing a massive kegger and you are on the "outs" with the chapter president, you are not allowed to attend. You can be a dick and try to crash it, but you most certainly do not have the option of showing up, grabbing a cup, pouring a beer, and asking the nearest group of guys how they liked the game last week. Fuck that! You stay home or you find some where else to go, but you don't fuck with social norms. For another example, if you stop by the table of an acquaintance in the cafeteria, and after a couple of minutes of chatter he tells you, "Well, Bro, I don't want to keep you...." You gracefully and quickly bow out. This is not the time to tell him, "No, you aren't keeping me from anything. I have all the time in the world."

Having said this, if an open invitation to a reoccurring event is given, you NEVER have the right to get pissed if you aren't invited EVERY SINGLE FUCKING TIME! Then, even if the person who gave the open invitation deigns it necessary to invite you again since your feelings have been hurt because you are acting like an annoying, sandy vagina, then you will, under no circumstances, pout at said event. That's just not cool, at all.

(Cooling down....) My suggestion is: Just sack up and go if you want to go, then try to forget any feelings of being slighted that may pop into your agéd, confused little mind, and enjoy yourself. Just chill out a little, and gain some perspective. I promise you, most assuredly that you will have better days, and you will not have to drum off the ear of your significant other with complaints.

But should you not take my advice then I will "strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to" piss me the hell off!

Signs of Civilization

I've finally found it! Civilization has finally manifested itself to me here in the Valley. After seven months of food establishments ranging from "Eh, I guess that this is fine..." to "Geez! This is barely edible!" there is finally an eatery that has distanced itself from the competition. The Wing Coop.

Ab and I went on a Sunday drive, shopping for various items, laughin' back and forth at what the other one had to say. We ended up out on the east bench on our way to the good REI store, when I thought to myself.... "Aaron and Merica told me about a good wing place! We ought to try it out." So, enlisting Ab in the endeavor with the promise of more time to listen to Justice, we headed to our new destination.

The menu was the first indication of restaurant normalcy. Unlike other Utah wing establishments, there were not just 2 flavors of wings. Instead, customers can choose from a veritable bevy of flavors ranging from mild ones that put more stock in different tastes to spicy ones that concentrate on burning out the taster's buds.

So, we ordered just an sampling of the vendor's wares, 5 for me and 5 for Ab, and we sat with anxious anticipation. I was more than willing to acknowledge my own reservations given that, after all, we were still in Salt Lake City, the Land of the Bland. The wait was, I must say, significant.... maybe 10 minutes for our order to arrive, but the time was broken up a little when a group of snowboarders asked the proprietor if he gave discounts to those that had just come from the mountain. Wittily, he answered, "Sure, but you have to prove it. I mean, how do I know you didn't sit at home all day, and you just have a good coat!"

Our order came, Ab's "Black Diamond" and my "Garlic Parmesan." They were heavenly! Finally, a place out here that prepares food in a manner that most other Americans are accustomed. It was as if the clouds parted over the East Bench and a voice came down from the heavens with glory said, "Even though most of you guys out here don't know me, I'm going to put one of the good things in life here, anyway."