Thursday, August 05, 2010

Depressed or Just Plain Cheap?

I cut my own hair for the first time in my life today. Needless to say it was a total disaster. What was I thinking? I have been semi-bald twice in my life before... this is only the third time in my life I had a haircut like this.

Haircuts used to cost $15 including tip. I bought a $10 hair clipper yesterday. it sounded like a very good deal. I could have a return on investment with just one haircut!

I know I have been a little depressed lately - the ill effect of being jobless for this length of time, and with not a single prospect or good lead in the job hunt. Could it have been my depression that pushed me to take drastic action on my black velvety locks?

Did I cut my hair out of depression or was I just plain cheap?

Monday, July 19, 2010

Free Stuff

Lately, I've been hooked by a new addiction - freecycle.org. This site connects people with free stuff they want to give away and people who need stuff, for free. The site encourages members to think twice about throwing away used but otherwise still usable items with the goal of recycling (the more accurate term is re-using) items and keeping our landfills from becoming bigger. The site prohibits the selling of the stuff.

Since joining the site, I have given away one bistro set composed of 1 high table and 2 high chairs. I have received 1 old but fully functional desktop computer which I gave to my 3 year old son. He uses it to access online educational tools. I'm currently waiting to receive a once-used rechargeable hand-held vacuum for our car.

There are a lot of stuff offered on the site for free! Unfortunately I don't have a pickup truck to get bigger items such as sofas, cabinets, bicycles, beds, etc. My wife won't let me buy a pickup for fear that I might become a hoarder like those featured on cable.

Although Freecycle is for a worthy cause, it highlights one disturbing fact about life here - people have so much useless stuff (useless to them anyway). People park on their driveways because their garages are filled with stuff bought, used once, and then "put away" in the garage never to see the light of day again. Stuff such as "revolutionary exercise equipment" with dubious claims of 5-minute workouts are peddled by the home shopping network and QVC.

Consumerism has encouraged people to buy stuff they don't need with money they don't have. This has contributed to the great recession we are experiencing now.

This reminds me of an old George Carlin stand up routine.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

The Jedi Path

In ancient times, students of the force possessed a most valuable book passed from master to padawan. After the destruction of the temple, only one copy survived...

The Jedi Path

coming in September

19 Facts You May Not Have Known About Star Wars

This from asylum.com...

19 Facts You May Not Have Known About Star Wars

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Random Photos


Cheap Thrills


Guiding Light


Bridge to Nowhere


The Thinker


We are all prisoners of our own desires.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Restarting (or at least trying to...)

It's been more than a year since my last blog post. Life has changed dramatically over the past year that I found little time to think and write down my thoughts. I don't know if this is a blessing or not but I now have PLENTY of time on my hands. So here I go again.

I'm starting a new life in a new city and under new circumstances. It's an exiting time as I navigate my surroundings, getting used to the new ways of dealing with the same old routine... surviving.

I can't say that I am entirely happy with this new situation. There are a lot of things I desire that I have yet to accomplish. But I can say this for sure, I'm doing this for and with the most important people in my life, which makes all the difference.