Rediscovering Yogurt

Ah yes! I made the plunge. I have returned to regularly eating yogurt after about almost a couple of decades. My wife started the hype by ordering (what I'd like to call) the Breast Cancer Awareness Edition of the Yo-plait 15-pack. She offered me a couple to ween me of my addition to ice cream, or at least to gain market share. After the second month of helping her with returning the clean covers via mail, I decided she ought to be paying be commission or something at this point.

Finally during the third month, she literally popped a spoon of peach-flavored yogurt into my unsuspecting mouth. Not only was it good, it was yummy and not bad (to paraphrase the old '80s nutrition commercials). Being the guy that I am, I of course didn't admit that much to my wife. Soon enough I found myself sneaking one or two out of the 24-packs. When I finally got caught, I declared I was simple deducting my commission for services rendered.

Can't Break The Day-Two Threshold

For the last week, every time I'm just about to make the second day with my A Complaint Free World.org bracelet on the same wrist, something gives. Yesterday it was an exchange with my daughter. Today, with an hour to make the two-day mark, it was an exchange with my wife. Tomorrow we try again.

Not For Nothing

I completed a nine-month, Microsoft .NET, masters-level program last year. The intent was transitioning back into IT (esp. application development) after a longer-than-I'd-like hiatus. Half-way through the program, I got the perfect job as a Product Support Engineer that gave me exposure to T-SQL, C#, Java, and the business world of online search.

I was actually enroute to be transitioned into a Junior Software Engineer role, when the bottom fell out of the economy and I became one of the departed (see the movie for the full gist).

I've been through two recessions before, so this one didn't really phase me emotionally, as much as people expected. Don't get me wrong, I had a plan and I'm certainly working it. Plus, my wife, next to God, deserves the lion's share of the credit. For you Red Sox fans, she nailed the Green Monster when it was needed.

What really irked me was not only that I was unemployed, but that for the first time in my life I had student loans in the five-digits. Just after I had spent the better part of four years cleaning up my credit, too. Now, I was going to have to go through a tougher gauntlet than before to get an opportunity to return to application development.

I'd been getting miffed by the loans and then asking God to forgive my fretting. After all, I wasn't complaining when the same course helped me land my previous job.

Then last night, I got a call from a friend. When I returned his call, he asked if I knew C#. I told him, I spent the better part of 2008 doing nothing but C#. And since no one was paying me currently to code C#, I might as well help where I could with what I knew.

So via WebEx, I helped him with some randomization issues, hiding and revealing form objects, and passing parameters by value. It was almost three hours of work, and he thanked me when we were done. He's the type of friend that didn't have to thank me, but he did. I told him, that I should be the one thanking him. Instantly, I saw my student loans in a different light. It was the price I was willing to pay for a friend in need.

I Can Go At Least One Day Without Complaining

I couldn't manage much past that. I made it up to two days without complaining, criticizing, or gossiping, but kerplunk! I had to switch the my A Complaint Free World.org bracelet to the opposite wrist. This is tough, but I'm sticking with it.

The Art of Non-conformity

So I'm getting my weekly fix of Seth Godin's Blog, when one of his posts pointed me to Chris Guillebeau's site The Art of Non-conformity and his first manifesto. It made my day, and worth checking out. Especially before you are tempted by circumstance to make a decision that errs on the side of mediocrity.

It's What's Inside That Counts

Two words. Susan Boyle.

I also made it past the one day mark without
complaining, criticizing, or gossiping to anyone.

Thank you God.

It's Hard Not To Complain

It's almost a week, and the best I can do is about twenty hours without having to switch the A Complaint Free World.Org bracelet to a different wrist. Well, real change does take time.

Forget About What You Had

I was watching Oprah (don't ask) last week with my wife, and the guest was Suze Orman, the Personal Finance lady (my moniker). I have heard her speak, and the audience (in my opinion and experience) seems to be women. Plus my sister reads her voraciously.

She was there to give people some concrete to-dos in light of the recession. What to pay off, how to manage cash, etc. Then she made a statement that stuck with me. She said, focus on what you have, not what you had. Now this is different from, focus on what you have not what you don't have. It's much harder to live life in the now without what you once had, than to fantasize about that which you've never tasted. However, the former is good medicine for contentment, while the latter is the thirst the may never be quenched.

Spreading The Praise

I happened to stop over at my sister's place on an errand for my wife, and inadvertently walked in on my sister and nieces' weekly bible study. They were discussing the fruits of the spirit, and specifically how to combat criticism.

It was a perfect time to plug the "A Complaint Free World.Org" bracelet. I explained the concept to everyone and my experiences with it so far. While it was politely received by all with a variety of positive and quasi-neutral responses, it was my youngest niece who astounded me. In spite of the challenges, she courteously waited until everyone had spoken (at length) before she responded, "Uncle, can you order me a bracelet?"

How To Be A Better Husband and Dad

A funny thing began to develop once I got downsized. It appears I have become a better husband and father. Not because I developed a second brain or I channeled Dr. Spock. I simply have more time to devote to the practice. Gotta go, the kids are up.

A Complaint Free World Dot Org

My "A Complaint Free World.Org" bracelet arrived today.

Well, bracelets. I had ordered one, at the attempt to be the example, rather than just order one for my wife as well. When two came, I asked her if she'd like to take on the challenge with me. She just grabbed the second bracelet. I told her, "I'd read the suggested rules if I were you."

I had already decided to take the challenge about a month ago during our family road trip down South. I had a good 1000 miles to think about it as the audio book, by the same name, played. Per the letter that came with the bracelet, below are the suggested rules

1. Begin to wear the bracelet now, on either wrist


2. Every time you complain, gossip or criticize move the bracelet to the other arm and begin again. Keep moving the bracelet from wrist-to-wrist until you keep it on the same arm 21 consecutive days.


3. If you hear someone else who is wearing a purple bracelet complain, you may point out their need to switch the bracelet to the other arm; BUT if you're going to do this, you must move your bracelet first because you're complaining about their complaining!


4. Stay with it. It may take many months but when you reach 21 days you will find that your entire life is happier, more loving, more positive and more abundant

I'll be tracking my progress on my blog under the "A Complaint Free World" tag. Pray for me.

A Passion For Porsches

It's funny. It took this recession to re-ignite my passion for Porsche. My first Porsche was a 1984 911 Carrera (1/48 scale). It was white, with blue/red racing stripes, courtesy of my parents, on Christmas Day. A durable little thing that survived (barely) countless drives, zooms, turbo boosts (you Knight Rider fans know exactly what I'm talking about), and lendings to younger relatives and friends. The last I saw it, last year I think, it needed serious bodywork, a new paint job, a new rear axle, and two, new tires. It's now somewhere in this house thanks to my daughter. That's the final status of things I haven't personally misplaced, but I can no longer easily find in the house.

My next Porsche came just six years later (although then it felt like a lifetime) in 1990. It's was a Porsche 959 (1/36 scale), white. It had "PORSCHE" across the face of the spoiler. The license plate read "IM NUTS". It was a gift, from my mentor at the time, for graduating high school. He had listened to me for the past two years, joke about getting a Porsche once I had graduated.
It's the only Porsche still in my possession.

By 1994 I realized it was easier and cheaper to get a fast motorcycle than the slowest Porsche. Since God has a sense of humor, I ended up renting a jury-rigged (but technically road worthy) motorcycle, with an automatic transmission, for my motorcycle endorsement road test. It turns out the owner of the motorcycle school (a side business) also owned a auto school. He was so busy and understaffed that day (plus he was just a really nice guy), he ended up taking me in his white Porsche 944 (1/1 scale) to pick-up the motorcycle. I almost cracked my skull on the A-pillar getting in the passenger seat. It was my first and only ride in a Porsche. The interior was blue leather, and in decent condition considering it's age. However, it had the suspension of a ten-year-old's, un-motorized go-kart.

In 1996, I bought my next Porsche, on the ferry from Harwich, England to Hoek Van Holland, Netherlands. It was a Porsche 928S (1/36 scale, I believe), black, with racing decals all over. It is the only Porsche I've ever bought. I wasn't crazy about so many decals, but it was a 928. A few years later, I ended up giving it to a young boy as a solution to the problem every parent knows. The problem of, "mine!"

Then somewhere at the intersection of the reality (and sometimes) tragedy of life, and all too often, short lifespan of childhood dreams, I forgot all about Porsches.

Again, since God has a sense of humor and works in mysterious way, I ended up in 2004, helping a relative fulfil an Ebay deal. I just happen to be in North Miami, and soon returing to Boston, with no luggage. The seller met me at the mall in a yellow, Porsche 911 Twin Turbo (1/1 scale). It was pristine. Two years later (with no prompting for me), I received as a gift, from a high school buddy, a...yellow Porsche 911 Twin Turbo (1/12 scale). It was remote control, and faster than I expected (read: outdoor use only). Unfortunately, my daughter developed an obssession for it. Rather than have my wife stress about her breaking it, I gave it to her.

Then last year at a new job, I noticed a Porsche I had never seen in my life. It looked like a distorted 911. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me, and it was really another marquee trying to imitate the guys from Stuttgart. I walked up to it. It was black with tinted windows, and across the butt read, "CAYMAN." An extension of the 911 line I thought? An entry-level 911? It was a 911, but it wasn't. A little more curvy and bulbulous. Same delicious Porsche, 19-inch wheels to be sure. I think I took the five minute walk to the same spot it was parked, every single day the weather was good, until winter came.

Today as I write this, I just purchase my first Porsche magazine in probably a decade and a half. On the drive back from the bookstore with my daughter, I noticed a Porsche dealership. I smiled. As I look back in time and at my 1990 Porsche 959 (1/36 scale) next to me, I think of the old Porsche magazine ad. There are no old Porsches, just new owners.