Thoughts at the end of my 41st year on Planet Earth…

Supplemental

Wow!  Three in a row, all on the same night…

Now that I have Windows Live Writer on both my Netbook (it came bundled) and my Desktop (had to finally install Vista SP2 to get it), I figured I ought to be a bit more active in updating my blog.

So what have I learned in this 41st year of life?

For one thing, I’ve learned that my beard seems to be too coarse for the average electric razor… or even the average blade.  Why it took so long for me to realize it, I’ll never know.

I’ve learned that while it’s not all that stylish on a person like me, a “High & Tight” haircut is very easy to maintain and helps keep a person cool during the hot summer months.

I’ve learned that my mother probably isn’t long for this world, and that she’s come to terms with it.  Her condition is, after all, hereditary, and she’s been living with it for 70-some years.  Though, as she gets older, it affects her more and more.  I’m not sure my father has come to terms with it, though.  He knows, intellectually, that it’s just a matter of time, but I suspect he’ll be an emotional wreck when the time comes.   As will my sister.  Me, I’ll probably take a walk down to Shawbucks or over to Forte and have a beer to shed a few tears into, since I adamantly refuse (with her blessing) to attend her funeral (or any, for that matter).

I’ve learned that my parents’ technophobia knows no bounds.  Now that I finally gave my parents a computer… they almost never use it, and when they do, it’s almost exclusively for games.  I could have found a second-hand Nintendo system and they’d be just as happy.  My dad is starting to learn how to surf the web, though.  Maybe I can talk him and Mom into going to computer classes at the local library.

(Ooh…  Note to self: Take the netbook to the library and sign up for their WiFi network.  I think it’s different than the MyJamestown WiFi that covers downtown.)

I’ve learned that my sister and her family have a nice place.  I visited with my father while they were gone (he had agreed to feed their dogs and was also giving me a ride for some reason, so he just combined the two).  Still, it is way out in the country and has far too much of a rustic feel to it (despite the leather furnishings and HDTV in the living room).  It fits their personality, though.  She inherited a love of all things country from my parents.  Give me sci-fi any day.

I’ve learned that it is no fun suffering permanent damage to one’s sinuses due to the H1N1 flu.

I’ve learned that I hate living in a gerrymandered district.  If we’d been left in NY-29, we’d have a new Republican congressman now, but, instead, we’re stuck with Brian Higgins for another two years.  If I wasn’t batshit crazy, I’d run against the bastard myself…

I’ve learned that I’m much too impatient.  Not really.  I’ve known that all along.

I’ve learned that isn’t not that hard to live without a microwave oven.  Still, I’ll be exceedingly happy when I buy a new one next month.

I’ve learned that there’s something about Skype that this desktop absolutely hates.  For some reason, it will cause a Blue Screen of Death every time I run it.  Good thing it came preinstalled on the Netbook…

I’ve learned that I have some amazing friends.  Some I can talk politics with, while others, I definitely can’t.  They know which is which.

I’ve learned that one of those friends is the most generous person I have ever known.  She has already spent close to $500 dollars for my benefit, including train tickets to New York for a vacation together that we haven’t taken yet.  I’d have to say that it’s largely due to her influence that I’m doing as well as I am today.

And I’ve learned many other things, far too numerous to list.

As I face the beginning of my 42nd year, I can’t help wondering if I’ll see the end of it, but then I’ve been wondering that at the start of every year.  One of these days, the answer will be “no”… but I’m okay with that.  Though some may call it a sad, lonely, worthless existence, I’ve had a fair life so far.  Who knows?  Maybe something will happen to make it better.

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.