What IS Good Enough

     Think we can agree, good enough is in fact good enough. Otherwise it wouldn't be called that. And we should all strive for a simple existence. A waltz through mediocrity, if you will.

If the professor says it's good enough, you KNOW it's good enough.
If the parents say it's good enough, it's definitely good enough.
If you think it's good enough, well that's that.

     Is a tiny apartment in the city good enough for a dance party? You bet! Though the cloud of sweat was a little grosso-stinko, and it definitely could have been prevented if we had A/C or a window. But, hey, it made a pretty great story.

     And the thrift shop offers a wonderful array of good enough. I often pick up a full bag or two of good enough. Take this outfit for example. So fetch, so posh. So disturbing, I must admit. But you can't get such quality ridiculousness from anywhere else.

     We did run into a problem though. Who was going to buy them? The hat turned out to have a bit of what seemed like baby food on it. (Really could have been anything.) So we just put that right back where it came from. The vest, however, was in decent condition. It was one of those "I saw it first!" - "But I look better in it!" - "But you're a man!" sort of issues. Probably the biggest dilemma of 2013 looking back on it now. In the end, my darling Chris let me buy the woman's vest that we were fighting so venomously over. I know what you're thinking... How could a friendship survive such a hardship? Bet you'd like to know! I'll never tell.

Eyeliner Belongs to the Eyes

     I think we can agree that the placement of makeup onto one's face is relatively straight forward.  For instance, lip stick goes on the lips, eye shadow and eye liner go on the eyes.  There are a few tools in the vanity that might be questionable and perhaps even scary, but for the most part makeup is pretty direct.
     Now, the application of makeup is a different story.  To some, the application of makeup is even an art form.
     In my studies, which have been vast and ongoing, I have come across three groups of people.  The first group is the "No Makeup" group.  The people in this group generally do not wear makeup.  They may wear makeup for special occasions, but it is not a part of their everyday routine.  Some people in this group should definitely make it a part of their everyday routine, unless of course they fall into my third group.
     The second group of people I will discuss is the "Makeup Wearers of America" group.  I like to refer to the "Makeup Wearers of America" as "MWA" and so should you.  "MWA" will put on their game face everyday.  Whether it be a full out beauty blitz or a light color touch, the "MWA" prefer to sport a healthy glow.  They cringe if they must leave their house without even a dab of lip gloss.  "MWA" enjoy their cosmetic crusade and they present themselves tastefully.
     My third group of people are the Clowns.  They enjoy their makeup way too much and this results in over application.  The amount of makeup they use daily could just about cover an entire circus troupe.  When they are finished with their glamour regime, they look in the mirror with an appreciative beam.  Clowns think they work wonders with their polished pusses, and I guess they could if they wanted to bring their talents to the tent.
     Everyone has seen a Clown.  And, once spotted, it is hard to take your eyes off of them.  You really can't help but stare.  The situation might not even lend itself to staring, but you are hopelessly trapped.  Church, for example, is not a staring arena.  One can cast a holy or reverent glance around the church.  Perhaps even take a pious peek through the pews.  Stare?  No way!
     So what does a person do when they see a Clown at Mass?  (The older lady, across the aisle.  Those drawn on eyebrows that are about five feet above the natural brow bone.  The ridiculous arch of the eyebrows.  Maybe if she were to use neon yellow eyebrow pencil she could contact McDonald's to be their new walking billboard.)  A person can pray extra hard at Mass, asking the HS for some self control. They will probably have to send one up to the BVM as a reinforcement though.  You can be sure that Old Scratch is sitting pretty watching this scene unfold.
     How about when your boss is a Clown?  (Smart boss.  Knows her stuff.  Hair and clothing in fine order.  Eyeliner worn under the eye like a football player.)  This boss sends a mixed message to her staff.  Her employees are ready to talk spreadsheets and budgets, but are now questioning whether or not to ask about touchdowns and tackles.  Eventually, the staff will become numb to the boss' look, like farmers with horse manure.
     To conclude, let's just be thankful for the fact that the Clown population is only about ten percent.  If it were any greater we would definitely be overcome with VOS, visual overload syndrome and we might be tempted into the carny life.  Amen.
   




   
     

Care - another word I can't stand.

I think we can agree that the word care is very important. To begin with, it is both a noun and a verb. That's big.
 There is even an organization by that name and it stands for something, but, I don't know what it is, so whatever.
The use of the word care begets profundity. It is almost a statement unto itself, except it doesn't really fly as a single word statement. That would make it a command with you understood and would be a little awkward, as in, "Care." How do you tell someone to care? Let's just forget that one, but it is still a power word.
Now how* the word care is used inflates it to even bigger than big, say, large. Observe, "I care a lot." Wow!
 "I can tell you really care." Good for you! Understood.
"He, she or it always cares." They or it deserve recognition?!
When you get free time, try it with We and you plural, etc and see how powerful a word care is.
You can raise yourself above others by declaring you care. You can appear magnanimous by pointing out that another cares. Or on the dark side, you can impugn another by questioning if he, she or it does, in fact, care. Obviously responsibility comes with use of the word care.
What's remarkable about what we've covered so far, is that while nothing at all may have been done by anyone, just the fact that they may care is more than enough. 
You may have noticed that I used an asterisk above. It refers to how the word care is used. I am loath to digress, but it is important to point out reoccurring wrong usage. I could care less. Just stop that.
So, in the spirit of making myself bigger, I committed myself to caring, and when I got free time, I cared. But I found caring is like exercise. Sometimes I forgot. Sometimes I got distracted. Sometimes, I needed help, like a buddy system. They say people perform better in the company of others.
To step it up, I set time aside to care. Once I have it scheduled in I can't miss. So, my designated care time is Tuesday, after work and before dinner. Try not to call then, thank you.
To step it up one again, I designated a place for caring. It used to be called the green chair. Once in a while it is called the Vinyl Viggen. Long story, Short Final. But now it will be called the care chair.

 

 



 You see, I have the time to care and the place to care. I'm all set.
I've been doing this for quite sometime, now. Months actually. So, yes, I am a bigger person. I am a bigger person because I care.



To step it up even further, next month I plan to find something to care about.



Wet Socks: Battlefield Kitchen

            I think we can agree that of the many occurrences one can experience on an average day, hands down the most dreadful is stepping in a small pool of water with socks on.  Wet socks provide for a most unpleasant cold sensation of damp cloth on your feet, inevitably chilling your little piggies; moreover, the whole event is made that much worse due to the factor of surprise that the nearly invisible collections of water use against our socks.  Chances are if you are walking around your house wearing only socks (you should be wearing other clothing as well, tsk tsk) you are trying to relax and take a load off.  Maybe it's brisk and snowing outside, and a great old movie is airing on television- the ingredients for a perfect winter Lazy Sunday.  At that moment, nothing can come between you and that sweet spot on the sofa where you can rest your head ever so gently on the cushion and maybe even take a stroll through the highly sought for land known as "sleep purgatory" briefly.  Just a little hot cocoa and you will have fully exercised your relaxation muscles. 

            Upon entering your kitchen and fishing the cocoa packets out of the cabinet, you turn to grab the jumbo marshmallows (you deserve them) and fatally err- one regretful step later your warm and cozy afternoon indoors has been transformed into a cold, soggy nightmare, like something out of a Goosebumps novel (but with fewer puns).

            So what in the world drove the universe to scheme against you and the stars to align to lead you to this unfortunate, downtrodden state?  Unfortunately scientists have not determined exact cause for mysterious puddles of water appearing on kitchen floors that seemingly appear to be dry, in fact, there are no recorded studies on this matter either.  What is important to keep in mind is that wet socks are truly awful.

            Perhaps I am looking at this issue from a "first-world problems" point of view, where even the slightest obstacles in life are viewed with disproportionately strong feeling and despairing emotion.  I would argue that stepping in water and having no option but to absorb the blow with one's socks is a universal struggle, the type of situation with which anyone with hard floors or even a recently used bathroom can sadly sympathize.  It's simply an irreversible accident.  

           Now, someone without an extensive history of wet socks (a.k.a. swamp socks/ damp dogs/ soggy mutts) might imprudently ask, "Well, can't you just get some new socks from the sock drawer and be finished?"  The answer is a clear and resounding, "NO!"  It takes significant time for my feet to warm up my socks, so I want to be able to enjoy their warming comfort for the rest of the day; switching to a brand-new pair means enduring the fifteen minute gap with cold, dry socks until their temperature rises from use.  The only known fail-safe solution to the "fifteen minute polar gap" is to keep the dryer running on tumble with several pairs of socks eternally drying  (**Note: I do not personally recommend this method of wet sock prevention). 

            For now, all I can say is Godspeed to my fellow sock-wearers.  Be vigilant of rogue water spills, stay dry, and sport your socks proudly, my brothers and sisters!!!

Warning: the following image may make some viewers uncomfortable...

George may have lost the battle here, but his spirit was never broken.

He continues to wear socks around the house to this very day.

Dylan's Deep Devotion

     I think we can agree that the love song of the century is none other than "In the Moonlight (Do Me)" by Dylan from Modern Family. He starts out soft and calm like the beginning of his relationship with our dear Haley. Then it builds and the ballad grows into a torrent of furious passion. Dylan is a musical genius, a wonder of words, a delight to the sight. (Okay, well he's not really looking too fabulous in this particular video, but that doesn't mean that it can't be art for the heart.) So without further ado, I give you Dylan's "In the Moonlight (Do Me)."

     You can't tell me you didn't ooze at least one tear while watching that splendor. He even tops it off with a few pelvic thrusts (well more than a few) to show how deeply he cares about his sweet little angel. Such a deeply emotional song. I'm breaking down just thinking about it.

To Honk if You Love Jesus

     I think we can agree that instructional bumper stickers are an outright lie.  In my experience, the drivers with bumper stickers commanding good works do the exact opposite of what their message purveys.  So, unless your car's ass states something funny, you can take your message and shove it, place it, lay it and/or toss it.
     Not too long ago, I was driving in the ShopRite parking lot.  Strategically operating an automobile while trying to preserve my life and not hit pedestrians and other cars is more accurate, but I'll use the word driving to keep things simple.  (Run on sentence anyone).  As I was driving towards the exit, a woman driver cut me off.  She was a little older, perhaps in her sixties.  And, she maneuvered her upscale, luxury sedan (Mercedes, if you will) with the greatest of ease and with the absolute, utmost disregard for anyone else in the parking lot. (My vision of this lady driver is along the lines of Lucille Bluth.)  (So, let's just call her Lucille for the rest of this passage, shall we?)
     Well, on Lucille's Mercedes' bumper, there was a sticker that gave the reader a job.  "Work for peace and fight for justice" or some such nonsense.  "Doesn't matter how you drive or who you cut off.  Just matters how we get our peace" was not a part of the bumper sticker.  Did Lucille forget about her bumper sticker's message?  Maybe Lucille was borrowing someone else's car?  I doubt it.  Lucille just wants others to think that peace is part of her mission because it sounds good.
     After Lucille committed her offense, I was a bit perplexed.  Did this person really just cut me off?  How could that be?  She had a bumper sticker shouting out the goodness of peace.  She wouldn't do that.  But yes, she did.  BIG FAT LIAR!
     More recently I observed another driver driving in direct opposition to their bumper sticker's message. This person's sticker read "LOVE" and this little missy could not have been more aggressive. She obviously was in a major rush but "LOVE" was the last thing on her mind.  First, she tried to drive into the trunk of my car.  I know there is great conversation in my car, so I assumed she wanted to partake in the great conversation.  But when I saw little missy (that's what we are going to call her, ok?) zoom out of my lane and then up into another person's trunk, I realized she was not after my witty chit-chat.  That was when I also realized BIG FAT LIAR!
     So to conclude my rant and to nip this heinous crime in the bud, if you see an instructional bumper sticker, be sure to drink your Ovaltine and "HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS!"

Guido Problems: How to Deal with Complainers

I think we can agree with Katie: conversations with serious talkers can be THE worst.  One particularly frustrating brand of serious talker is the classic “complainer.”  This person’s idea of a gripping conversation involves giving you an exhaustive laundry list of recent traffic jams they’ve encountered, observational comments on poor weather, and numerous other bland misfortunes that pop up throughout their days.

If you enjoy listening to this kind of verbal torture, then more power to you—you must have either the patience of a saint, or the hearing abilities of Helen Keller.  If not however, here are my top three go-to responses reserved for complainiacs.

Guido Problems

Ever have to listen to someone rant on and on about how they couldn’t find their car keys one morning?  These little rant sessions can seem to last forever when you’re on the receiving end.  While it would be nice to bellow “WHO CARES?” in response, society sadly deems this not socially acceptable.  An effective alternative I’ve recently begun to employ is to respond with a cryptic yet sympathetic “guido problems!”  Unless you are talking to an actual guido, this phrase won’t really suit the situation perfectly.  But it will probably cause the complainer to cock their head in confusion long enough for you to make an escape even more glorious than Andy Dufresne’s.

 

Womp Womp Womp

One type of complainer that is especially difficult to deal with is the “Debbie Downer.”  This person will complain at length to anyone who will listen, and if you make the fatal mistake of attempting to turn their frown upside down with a “look on the bright side” approach, they will undoubtedly counteract your positive point with a negative one.  Let me warn you now: there is no reasoning with Debbie—your optimism is futile.  Instead, try responding with a well-placed “Womp, womp, womppp!”  No, it’s not exactly a sympathetic response, but sometimes Debbie needs to be called out for her wompish ways.  Bonus points if you can play the trombone, as it really adds authenticity to a womp.

Well if You Think That’s Bad!

Perhaps the most effective way to defeat the complainer is to beat them at their own game.  It works like this: the complainer shares a banal story of misfortune with you.  You respond with, “Well if you think that’s bad…” then follow up with a fictional account of an extreme story of personal misfortune.  If you’re comfortable, dig deep in that imagination of yours and come up with a doozy all your own.  If not, movie plots work great as well!  See example below:

                Complainer: Oh man, I couldn’t decide between the chicken or the steak at the restaurant I went to last night.  I hemmed and hawed before deciding on the steak.  What a mistake—the worst steak I ever had!

                You: Well if you think that’s bad, you should hear about a similar tough decision I was recently faced with! So I was on this huge boat the other day, and found myself engaged to a wealthy man I didn’t love, when I met a handsome, penniless artist who looked a lot like Leonardo DiCaprio.  I had so much trouble choosing between them, but finally chose Leo.  Then the ship sank, and my new paramour died of frostbite.  It was dreadful!  But you know, sounds like you had a pretty rough night with the steak, wanna keep talking about that instead?

Boom!  Complaint: neutralized, and you can kiss Debbie Downer goodbye!