Pittsburgh Stuff, part I

They Come in Installments

It's been almost ten days already so I guess I'll pool my thoughts together at least temporarily. But what has happened in ten days? We got a brand new president, friends came to visit, and a few things here and there. There I go again: I love the three part lists. Something quick to mention is that today I got a delayed start time at work for the ice & snow, and then we were even let go early at 1500 hours. Might it ever happen again?

I don't have a lot of words for the inauguration of the new guy. I think the one word I can muster up more than a week after the event is pride. Can you remember the last time you actually felt that kind of pride for our country? Some that know me would report I steer away from blind patriotism and such ramble, but it was truly an astounding event, and I wish us the best.

In my circle, I finally got some close friends from Indy to visit me. Although we bashed skulls a few times on petty things, I was extremely happy to have them visit me. They vocalized having fun and how the trip wasn't too far--reasonable. I showed them my place of employment, some great food places, the stadiums, and some other noteworthy spots...basically the best we could do in the winter. If only friends like that were at my disposal more often.

Something that also happened in that time frame was that I got my first performance appraisal at work. I was quite restless about it because I don't generally receive too much feedback as it is. Out establishment is rooted in the US Navy, a culture that is quick to point out the bad and rarely praises the good. I sat down with the boss for a closed door conversation and...I'm doing a good job. "I didn't realize we had given you this much to work on," "You really hit the deck running," and "You've shown great initiative and have really picked up on a lot that was thrown at you," were just a few of the feel good phrases that were tossed my way. At this point in the job, it was vital for me to hear things like that. It's hard going in to work every day, busting your tail, and not hearing if you're doing the right thing or working hard enough. I modestly accepted and agreed and walked right back to my desk.

Look, now that I've got myself talking, I've got even more things I'd like to dump out of my head. "So Much to Say" just presents itself all too often. My furnace continues to keep me on my toes around here. The maintenance folks have visited a total of 4 times now, and the furnace still refuses to turn on after cycling off a few times.

A Reincarnation

Living by oneself is a dangerous endeavor. While potentially rewarding and satisfying, it presents plenty of time to let one's mind wander into dark places. Holding back deep thoughts of anger, aggression, existence, and worth promotes degradation of your spirit.

And this is why I'm back. At the very least, I need a method of mental purging. These days, I find myself ready and willing to have an entire conversation about something that's been in the back of my mind for a while but have not yet had the opportunity to expunge from my thoughts. IMHO, others are to blame--I have tried. Everyone is too busy within their own world to make an effort discovering the deep thoughts occupying another's mind.

In the deep of winter, I find my soul blackened by the cold.

What you've become
Just as I have
Are you and I so unalike?
I don't hear you
Just as I am
Afraid if we dance we might die
What the world gives to you
Don't you know
When you give life
Then you become what you are?