13 Days...

13 days and counting I've been coughing up gunk whilst my brain tries it's hardest to escape through my nose.  DEE-Lightful! 

Ah well it's not the worst it could be, but it's tiring...it wears on me.

It reminds me of something I heard the other day...about modern life and how one goal of our civilization seems to be making all of us as comfortable as possible.  A worthy goal, perhaps...however, there's a lack of character that seems to arise as a side-effect.

Case in point, here I am whining about my cold rather than being a man and sucking it up. 

The quote that crossed my mind was "growing comfortable with discomfort."  Something that certainly I could stand to do...

I frequently think of the novel "The Drawing of the Three" by Stephen King when I am trying to push through circumstances that I would rather not abide, but for whatever reason must.  I remember how the main character, the Gunslinger, was gravely sick and wounded...feverish with infection...and yet he was unrelenting.  He accepted his extreme discomfort and refused to give in to it, despite the near certainty that death would result. 

Do I have that kind of willpower?  Almost certainly not.  I'm a bit of a wuss, I admit.  I'd like to, though.  As I am getting older, perhaps my tenacity is growing as well....certainly experience tempers one's tendencies towards overreacting...

It's just doing what you need to do, despite circumstances.  Being comfortable with discomfort.  It's worth a shot...

SUPERMAN

Look, up in the sky!  It's a bird!  It's a plane!  It's...Superman's 75th Anniversary!

Wow!  The Man of Steel.  The Last Son of Krypton.  The Man of Tomorrow!  Kal-El.  Mild-mannered Clark Kent.  Faster than a speeding bullet!  Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!  This looks like a job for SUPERMAN!!!!  Up, up and away!!!

Superman.  Incredible!

I've been wracking my brains trying to think of a way to express what Superman has meant to me over the years.  Maybe I can talk about how hard it was for me to be an immigrant in the United States as a young child and so obviously different from all the children in small town, rural Utah.  Or how, conversely I was the outsider here in Toronto when my family returned to Canada, having been changed by the years spent in the U.S.A.?  In either case, I felt like the alien trying to fit in amongst humans...it sure helped to have a role model who was also an immigrant and who also had some difficulty fitting in...

 You know, Superman was created by an American and a Canadian...just like me!

 Perhaps I should talk about how Superman is not only a super hero but also a shy guy with glasses who likes to stay out of the spotlight and write about the things he sees?  How he's just a friendly guy who wants everyone to be happy and have a nice time and be safe!

Then again, I could go on about the moral implications of Superman...how he always tries to do the right thing and help others...how wanting to be like Superman inspired me to be good!  To never lie, cheat or steal...to be polite and respectful but also to be true to myself and my ideals!  To stand up for what I believe!  To be the hero of my own story!
 

I could even talk about Christopher Reeve and the movie Superman...how it's always been part of my life...how whenever I'm feeling tired or cranky I can just hum the brilliant John Williams Superman theme, (Up, up and away...SU-PER-MAAAAANNNN) stand up straight and carry on!  Just listening to the first few bars of that awesome french horn from the theme song can inspire a plethora of emotions...

In the end...there's too much to say about Superman.  He's too big!  How does the Man of Steel impact my life?  If I can't tell you, let me just show you...

75 years of Superman AND still going strong.  I'm happy to have been around for 36 of them so far!

SUPERMAN.  Wow!

Rainy Day

So it's April and my entire weekend has been washed away by gallons of precipitation falling relentlessly from the steel grey skies above.  I'm procrastinating about a trip to the grocery store because, even though I just got out of the shower, I don't want to get all soaked OUTDOORS for some reason.  Mostly because I'm a wuss, like an over-pampered housecat that's never gone farther than the screen door leading out back...

Well all of this nonsense better result in a whole lot of May flowers, that's all I'm saying...

So normally on my day off I'll head downstairs, grab some Tim Horton's, (sorry Quebecois, the apostrophe stays!) and then go for a walk which ends at the grocery store, where I get my food for the week.  Today, since it's raining, I'm trying to make little deals with myself in my head instead...first off, I'll definitely want to take the car rather than walk.  Then, since I'm in already in the car, I might as well head up to Toys R' Us and get that Lego Batmobile I've had my eye on...and I can get drive-through Timmies on the way, right?  Right!  So let's go!

BUT....

Ugh everyone drives so crappily in the pouring rain and howling wind.  Do I really want to drive anywhere?  Everything seems so far.  It's because of the wind.  The wind really, REALLY howls when you're sitting on the 19th floor.  It's whistles through the vents whispering "Stay home, Mike!  Don't go outside!  It's all misery and cold damp pain out here!  Stay indoors....stay indoooooorrrrrsssss..."

And I reply, "But I am OUT of TOILET PAPER!!!"  grumblegrumble.

Well, then, I've no excuse, do I?  That's it I'm off to the store.  For true! 

Think I WILL stop at Toys R Us first though...

Three down...

Hey boys and girls!

So 2013 is already 1/4 done...who woulda thunk it?  As per tradition, I'm gonna rate myself based on arbitrary conditions I came up with in 5 minutes back in January!  Ready?

1.  Have a minimum of $5000.00 in a separate savings account by the end of the year.  
Meh I don't even have a seperate bank account yet and I've been spending all of my disposable income since I finished paying off my debt last year on home improvements instead.  Bought new couches, some new bedroom furniture, various small items for the apartment...basically I'm upgrading the whole place, doing things I've wanted to do for years but been unable to afford until now.  The good news is I'm nearly at the end of that process, allowing me to start seriously saving money for the future!!  Next!! 

2.  Maintain a healthy lifestyle!  
Still procrastinating with all of the health-care professionals.  I'll get to it, don't rush me!  My exercise program and diet have been good though...I added more exercises, especially for lower body but some upper body as well...but then reduced the number of days I work out...giving my body more time to heal.  I also relaxed my insistence on maintaining my body weight at 150lbs +/-2.  Instead I'm just happy to be anywhere between 150 and 160lbs as long as my waist stays the same.  Superficial?  I don't know and I don't care...

3.  Try a few "new" interests.
It's been Winter and Hockey is taking up most of my off-time...plus I've been reluctant to go outside.  I did start a couple of new hobbies, but with the warm weather approaching I suspect I'll find more time for new activities.  I have a plan come May to buy a bicycle!

4.  Start trying to put more of my writing energies into a "big picture" project.  
Yeah I'm working on this one too...all shall be revealed in the fullness of time...

5.  Be flexible and don't be afraid to experiment. 
That's what she said!

Have a nice week!