Resolutions, Schmesolutions....

I recently celebrated my 44th birthday (man, I can't believe I'd ever say that).  This isn't a birthday post but I had to thank all of you for the birthday wishes.  I didn't think I'd have as many as I got so it just shows the character of the people I get to associate with  on a semi-regular basis.  I also wanted to say it here because I didn't get to respond (or click the "like" button) for all of your posts.

New Year's Eve, and dad's birthday.  2014 has been an interesting ride:  The legalization of marijuana, the NSA, Benghazi, same-sex marriage, Fort Hood, Donald Sterling, immigration, Ferguson, Ebola, Michael Brown, Bill Cosby, ISIS, the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, North Korea, "The Interview", Malaysian Airlines Flights 370 and 17, Vladimir Putin, Boko Haram, The World Cup, all the celebrity deaths (Robin Williams being the most notable), and all other newsworthy items.

Through it all, dad's been in a care facility so my birthday wishes have to be blogged.... okay, so they don't HAVE to be, but it reaches a wider audience this way and for some reason (probably some form of narcissism) I want people to know that I love my parents.  They gave me a great childhood, so great that I still don't want to grow up.  I'm sure there are other external factors but the Star Wars dress up is pretty cool and it's an awesome fountain of youth (at least emotionally).

Through my nerdiness (and coming from the nerdiest state in the country) I have made friendships that I wouldn't have otherwise.  I've always known that I should treat everyone with respect (another product of dad).  I'm a white mormon kid from Utah so after interacting with such a diverse group of people I've been able to put it into practice.  I get to interact with people from multiple clubs and multiple walks of life and life stories.  I'm blessed to have done so and I think everyone should be blessed with such an opportunity.  I'd like to think that my experiences with the people there have diversified my outlook on life as well.  An objective third party may be necessary to determine if I've been at all successful.

My greatest fear is that I'll eventually reach the age that I won't fit in there.  It won't be because I'm shunned by any of the members - they're better than that.  If it happens it'll be for health or financial reasons (I refuse to let age be a factor).  I can't even fathom it would be because it stops being fun.

I have been blessed.  There is no getting around that.  I have had my challenges, to be sure - everyone has.  I think the biggest mistake people make is that they have to face them alone.  I know that sometimes the phrase "Let me know if we can help" sounds like nothing more than a trite platitude, but one of my resolutions is to use that phrase honestly.  I can't help anyone much financially but if there IS anything I can do to help someone in a time of trial I won't offer up that phrase unless I can follow through.

I'm not big on resolutions.  If you want to better yourself you don't have to wait until you have a new calendar to begin your attempts.  If I can help there, PLEASE let me know.  I'm all for self-betterment.  One of the biggest sins I believe we are all guilty of is ingratitude.  If someone deserves thanks, thank them.  I hope I haven't slighted anyone of a sincere thank you but if I have I offer up an apology and a sincere thanks.  I am the person I am today (for better or worse, but I'm working on better) as a result of all my life's experiences, and you all are a part of that, so THANK YOU.

I don't know why I feel the need to say this, but because I'm touting the subject of gratitude you'll never find me at a Black Friday sale mere hours after the holiday named THANKSGIVING.  People have been injured and killed at these things so no matter what happens now a precedent has been set.

I usually find something I don't like in the way I've written something and I'll go back and edit it later.  For now I'm feeling pretty lucid though, so I'll conclude now.  As tomorrow is the beginning of a new year I'll leave you with a message that can apply at any time.  It's from the Donny and Marie show in the 70's so I'll just post the lyrics.  If you're a glutton for punishment you can youtube it.  ;)

May tomorrow be a perfect day
May you find love and laughter along the way
May God keep you in his tender care,
'til he brings us together again.

Adieu.

This one's kinda short.

This has been dormant for quite some time.  I guess my initial purpose is always not to bore.  I know what I'm supposed to do to make that happen, I'm just not that good at doing it.  This'll be a short one.

In no particular order...

Don't ever intentionally try to use guilt as a motivator.  The whole "98% of you won't re-post this" does not define my (or anyone else's) humanity.  I have causes I'm partial to but there's no point to emasculating someone for a cause.  Before anyone asks, I don't believe the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge falls under this category.  More on that later.

We all tend to hang out where the love comes from.  Most recently most of the love I get (aside from my family) has come from my costume-wearing brothers and sisters.  We attempt to entertain the masses for good causes, and we get the benefit of seeing what we do make a difference, whether it's in money raised or hugs from children.  Truth be told, I'm not that good at it but I like to watch those that are and being in that circle is the best way I know how to learn. 

From a more traditional viewpoint I shouldn't even be involved in that setting.  I'm 43 years old.  There, I said it.  Nobody needs to guess my age anymore. I'll pause while you pick your jaws up off the floor......

This hobby I'm involved in caters more to the young. That's not to say we senior-citizen types aren't welcome (it's open to all if you've got a costume and a desire to benefit others with it) but most people wouldn't associate someone of my age with this pastime.  I hope my attempts to not come across as a creepy older guy are successful.  If not it might be time to hang up the Lobster.  ;)  Whatever happens, I'm choosing to go bald and / or grey gracefully.

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge:

I'm not even sure where to start with this.  To paraphrase, it began as a contest between golfers as a way to support their pet charities, and at some point social media was in the formula.  One of the charities ended up being ALS research because one of them knew someone with the disease.  Those facebook posts overlapped with the story of Pete Frates, a local rising baseball star from Boston who was diagnosed with it.  From there the challenge went viral as professional baseball players who knew Pete from college lined up to do the challenge, followed by politicians, celebrities and business leaders. 

Why do I mention the early beginnings of it?  Some are actually critical of it and refuse to donate, or criticize that those who do the challenge are merely in it for the cyber-glory.  Whatever reason one may have for not donating or doing the challenge are one's own reasons, but to say doing the challenge is a waste of time is missing the point.  My take on it is short - True, dumping ice water over yourself does absolutely nothing in and of itself for ALS research, but it raises awareness of a relatively unknown disease in a fun way.  Sure, the ice purchased for the challenge could have been donated anonymously and that may appear more noble to some, but it wouldn't have quite the traction.   Doom n gloom videos wouldn't get watched and the awareness would be where it used to be, which is to say, in the toilet.  Some choose to both donate as well as taking the challenge as a fun way to earn the right to challenge others.   If you're critical of where the money goes, donate to something else but don't criticize others because you don't agree with how or to whom they donate.

I am not a movie critic.  The fact that I liked TMNT should tell you that while I don't have the cinematic discernment of Siskel and Ebert, I'm able to enjoy my time at the movies instead of waiting for something to happen that'll mess everything up.  It's obvious that plenty of movies have been screwed up by a single scene or piece of dialogue (Star Wars on Blu-Ray, anybody?) but I'm not waiting for it to happen, so I can enjoy the 2-ish hour journey.  To be fair to the rest of you, in the future I'll refrain from putting my film opinions out there.  ;)

Let's get something straight right here and right now.  You will not change anybody's mind, nor will anybody change your mind about anything involving politics or religion based on anything you post about it on social media.  Just don't bash, it's not becoming.  Celebrate the diversity and learn to love each other.  If you don't it will be a miserable existence.