I’m anxious as shit to get out of Ashland. I’m ready to be an official college graduate. I’m seeking a real, full-time job. I’m browsing apartment listings. I’m pricing health, life, and automobile insurance plans.
But… I worry that in my desires to move into the next phase of my life, I’m neglecting the good things I still/currently have in my life. I’ve got some awesome friends who are still around and/or returning to Ashland within the next couple days. This is the last extended period of time that I’m going to be spending with my parents. This is the last time I’ll be living nearly expense-free.
The point: Don’t forget about all of the good things in the present while looking to the future.
You don’t know what you got, ’til it’s gone.
Well, I put up some more pictures. It’s only mildly time-consuming to upload them. But, go check them out.
Beyond that, I finished reading Squandering… tonight at work. The gist of the book is that the author travels the US visiting particular people to find out what to do with a ’surplus’ of money when you have it. It was really good non-fiction, I thought, and would recommend it to… well, I guess anyone. I’m not sure there is a particular audience that would respond much better to it than others. Anyhow, it’s not really ruining the ending to say that you should spend, save, etc. your money the way that reflects your views and beliefs the best. Use your surplus to help you accomplish what you want out of life.
These are some excerpts that I have enjoyed in the first half of the book, Squandering Aimlessly by David Brancaccio.
His evaluations on the marketplace:
“Tom knew that you were motivated to visit this expo because you were, at some level, disappointed with your life.”
“An entrepreneur is not solely driven by the desire to make money or to make a project a success. He or she is probably someone who hates working for someone else.”
I enjoy his writing style:
“I can feel myself tumbling into another one of my infatuations of Shakespearean proportions, an out-of-control, tongue lolling, bug-eyed crush on a thing.”
“I know it had something to do with that incessant Barry Manilow blaring from a radio somewhere in the warehouse, music designed by the CIA to break the spirit.”
“Oh, for a place on the planet where folks would get my jokes. It’s a basic human need, like warmth & food.”
Others’ wisdom:
“Bob says if you brush your teeth and don’t drink, you can always find work.”
“Life is not a dress rehearsal.”
To what extent do you feel responsible to your fellow human? Any…? I asked Mom and she said that she is only inclined to help someone out if they would help her “if the roles were reversed.” I think this is a pretty common thought, but it worries me. I think it’s the fear that someone won’t give us the results we hope, or that we’ll feel somehow betrayed. Lending someone money when they’re in a pinch, it’s the right thing to do, correct? But, how often will the fear that you won’t get that money hold you back? To what amount are you still willing to do it? Should that person’s social status come into play? Should your relationship with that person have an effect on the decision? I guess, my gut feeling is that most of these things shouldn’t come into play… If you’re going to help someone out because they’re in a situation, you should… But, my brain tells me this is flawed. Feel free to respond. I wonder if my outlook will change tomorrow afternoon…
Finally. My own domain name. Don’t forget to bookmark theworldiswaiting.net. Hmm, interesting parallel that I finally got this site up and running (born on) my birthday. I’m not sure I’ve got much in store for the day, but I’m immensely happy to have things sort of working. The next post will be an update on all of the non-website-related happenings in my life. But, for now, I will return to coding pages so that there’s more than just this blog to look at. Also, look in the links section to the right if you want to browse the archives (includes all posts before today). The archives need some formatting work, but the content is as solid as ever. *grin*
Addendum: Every page on this site should be functional. If you have problems with anything, please let me know ASAP, so I can fix it. I put up a few pictures and plan on adding more soon, since I know how much everyone loves pictures…