Stages of Life

Stages are my life. They have been for a very long time, ever since I got into my current profession as a young adult. Sometimes the stages look like this.


They bring the world's most popular musicians, actors, actresses, comedians, speakers, and performers up close and personal. They bring a cast of characters like Big Bird, Barney, and Mickey Mouse to life for children to enjoy and learn valuable life lessons. They bring local and national politicians to the public, convincing us to vote for them or informing us of what they are doing for us. They are altars for clergy-persons of all faiths and denominations celebrating high holidays and mourning the loss of influential people like politicians and celebrities.


Sometimes the stage looks like this. They feature the beauty and artistry of ice dancers and figure skaters. They bring together a school or community to rally around the home hockey team against their rivals. They dazzle us with fastest and most athletic skaters in the world playing the sports they love the most, sometimes just for fun and sometimes for profit.


Sometimes the stage looks like this. Giants in life running, jumping, shooting and rebounding... bringing a roomful of people out of their seats and on their feet with their sheer wizardry and skills. Dramatic blocked shots, thunderous dunks, and buzzer beating three points shots are the center of attention on these stages.


Sometimes the stage looks like this. The theatrics of muscle bound wrestlers playing out modern day drama plays happen here. The sweet science of boxing and the newly popular melding of mixed martial arts into ultimate fighting take place in the squared circle.

The ironic part of it all is that although my career relies on stages, I would rather not be on stage. I can build a stage and book the entertainment to be on it. I can advertise the shows, and sell the tickets for people to come and watch them. I can park their cars when they arrive, and feed them their favorite snacks. I can keep them safe and comfortable. About the only thing I can't do is entertain them. The stages in my life are for others to occupy. Being behind the scenes is fine for me... thank you very much.

Paradox

I get very torn at times. This is the view outside my window this sunny Sunday afternoon. The mobile home has been parked in the same place for at least two weeks, possibly more as I haven't kept track. I truly do feel sorry for this couple. I have no idea how they came to be in this circumstance, but living your life out of an old travel trailer begging for money is tragic. It hurts me that people have to live this way, seeking the charity of others to eek out the most basic of existences. The other morning he was actually outside sweeping the sidewalk near the trailer like it had become his own backyard. It was so sad.

Then, on the other hand, I don't want this thing parked in front of my home. I don't want people panhandling and begging right outside my very window. A public street it not a mobile home park. What kind of neighborhood is this becoming if this is allowed to continue? What if other wanderers hear about this and bring in their campers? Recently the windshield had one of those bright neon orange stickers on it, so the police are aware of its presence. Why don't they do anything about it? There has to be some sort of zoning laws or codes that prohibit people from just wheeling up one day and setting up camp in a residential neighborhood.

So there lies the paradox. I have pity for these people, but I don't want them here. Do I not say anything as they try to survive, or report them to the police to get them out of the neighborhood? I wish people didn't have to live like this, but I also wish they had not picked my block to do it. Should I be selfish, or selfless?

No time to cry

I didn't get the job I had been hoping to get. I found out today that they have selected another candidate. To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement. To say I'm devastated would be fairly close to the way I feel right now. It was the PERFECT job for me. I would have gotten to return to doing what I'm trained to do and what I enjoy. It would have been in Denver... and I love Colorado. For the past 10 years since I left Colorado Springs I've always said that if I had the chance to get back to the Rocky Mountain state that I would. Get this... the best part of the job would have been that I had no staff. That's right, no personnel issues to deal with because I would have been just another indian and not a chief. Can you imagine finding a job that lets you do what you love to do, in a place that you love to live, and you get to discard the most troublesome part of your life? It was the PERFECT job. Now, can you imagine how it feels not getting the PERFECT job?

The folks in Denver have been great. From all of my interactions with them, they have been first class and professional in every aspect. They are a tremendous group of people and whomever the candidate to work with them is he/she will be very lucky. The selection committee did take the time to point out that they were impressed with my presentation and interview with them in June. Apparently not impressed enough. I honestly don't know what to do next. I obviously can't afford to quit where I am at now, even if it is killing me at a rapidly increasing rate. But there's no time to cry. No time for my standard depression driven pity party for weeks. It's time to move onto the next opportunity, with a resume in at Nevada-Reno for a similar type position. It's not the perfect job, but closer to what will help to make me happier.

Time marches on, and someone got their perfect job today. Maybe I spent too much time daydreaming about how tremendous this was going to be. Maybe I set myself up for a bigger disappointment and heartache than I needed to. I know that vision of a better life was getting me through some trying times this past month. I don't know what to do next. I don't know how to ward off the dark thoughts that will creep in to occupy the place of the idyllic vision. But I'll try, because there's no time to cry.

Still open, kinda

I haven't been a very good or enthusiastic blogger lately. I'm not really sure what's going on, but obviously it's not exciting enough to put into words for the world to read. For the 10 faithful readers over the past week, you certainly are a dedicated group.

Someday something will happen that you'll want to read about. It could be later tonight, this weekend, next week or next month... I don't really know. I'm reading your blogs, and commenting on most. I'm alive... just treading water, keeping my head above the waves.

By the way, just after noon today it was 12:34:56 on 07/08/09.

Hi Megan... Hi Blottie... Hi Leah... Hi Kylie... Hi Cece... Hi Karen... Hi RC... Hi Merelyme... Hi Annie

All American Weekend

Home Made Garlic Hot Wings

Firecracker 400 from Daytona

Cold Miller Lite

Fireworks from my patio

Giants vs. Astros on Sunday

That's what I call an All-American Weekend

Let's move along

Michael Jackson.

He's dead... I get it.
He changed the face of music... I get it.
Many people are sad he's gone... I get it.

Guess what... he's still dead.
He didn't come back three days later so he's not the savior.
Can we move along now and deal with the issues of people who are still alive?

Recycle

Disney made one movie... and they have been retracing it for years.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.