Today is Ash Wednesday and the start of lent. If this means nothing to you, maybe you should wake up earlier on Sundays! I have seen a lot of comments from people as to what they are "giving up" for lent. I hope that these people get something out of this. Unfortunately, I believe that most people simply view this as another form of a New Year's Resolution that they have no willpower to keep for more than a few days.
This is a great intro to update you on my last post. I will not be giving up my truck or gas for lent. At least, not yet. When gas climbs to over $4.00 per gallon this summer, then we will stop and rethink.
Why do we as people shy away from a good challenge? For me with the gas challenge, it was because of convenience. I posted a challenge on this blog several weeks back about a sprint triathlon race in June. I got one person to say that he would do it. Now, based on his distance to travel, I am not sure if he will be able to, but I applaud and respect him for raising his hand. (BTW, there is still time if you want to do this.)
Challenges draw a line in the sand. They make us nervous and we tend to shy away for fear of failing. I do not like to fail. I think that is why I enjoy biking, and racing. It is a challenge to push what you think you can do, however you don't have the "loser" feeling. You are racing with people, but you are competing more against your personal best, not everyone else.
So, what are you challenging yourself with giving up for Lent this year? For me, I will be giving up procrastination. Carpe diem! Since today is half over, maybe I should wait and start tomorrow.
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ---e. e. cummings
counter
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Does anyone have some Pepto? I am tired of this gas!
This morning I drove Linds car to work. You see, Linds drove her car home last night on empty and then ask to drive my truck this morning. This however is not the point of this blog.
I crossed my fingers and drove to the gas station this morning on my way to work. After arriving without pushing the car, I started to pump gas at a rate of $3.62 per gallon! Now, Linds' car gets much better miles per gallon and has a smaller tank than my truck, but it still took just under $60 to fill the tank.
I am not that old and have only been driving since 1996. However, the per gallon price of gas in 1996 was $1.23 on a national average. If this number was adjusted for inflation, it would be around $1.78 in today's dollars. Looking at the inflation adjusted number, that is an increase of 203%. As most Americans are not making 203% more in income from 1996, this puts a larger dent in the wallet.
Having an office very close to my house, I am sure that I drive much less than the average person. In a given 7 day period, I drive around 120 miles. This is if we use Linds' car for much of the weekend around town driving. This works out to be around $125 per month on gas. Most of the time, it is more like $200-$225 with random around town driving or weekend trips. In 1996 inflation adjusted dollars, my gas expense would only be $57.60.
Do you smell that? Yes, so do I. A Challenge!! I wonder if over the next 30 days, I can spend only $57.60 on gas? In order to do this, I will need to reduce my weekly mileage to 55.38 miles. Wow! That is not that much. Friday is my big mileage day. I take R to school and then drive to work. If I go home for lunch, I will drive 36 miles on Friday.
If I take this on, I will start on Monday the 20th. as it is easier to start something like this at the beginning of the week. I will blog again on Sunday and let you know. Until then, I will lay off the Mexican food to reduce my gas!
I crossed my fingers and drove to the gas station this morning on my way to work. After arriving without pushing the car, I started to pump gas at a rate of $3.62 per gallon! Now, Linds' car gets much better miles per gallon and has a smaller tank than my truck, but it still took just under $60 to fill the tank.
I am not that old and have only been driving since 1996. However, the per gallon price of gas in 1996 was $1.23 on a national average. If this number was adjusted for inflation, it would be around $1.78 in today's dollars. Looking at the inflation adjusted number, that is an increase of 203%. As most Americans are not making 203% more in income from 1996, this puts a larger dent in the wallet.
Having an office very close to my house, I am sure that I drive much less than the average person. In a given 7 day period, I drive around 120 miles. This is if we use Linds' car for much of the weekend around town driving. This works out to be around $125 per month on gas. Most of the time, it is more like $200-$225 with random around town driving or weekend trips. In 1996 inflation adjusted dollars, my gas expense would only be $57.60.
Do you smell that? Yes, so do I. A Challenge!! I wonder if over the next 30 days, I can spend only $57.60 on gas? In order to do this, I will need to reduce my weekly mileage to 55.38 miles. Wow! That is not that much. Friday is my big mileage day. I take R to school and then drive to work. If I go home for lunch, I will drive 36 miles on Friday.
If I take this on, I will start on Monday the 20th. as it is easier to start something like this at the beginning of the week. I will blog again on Sunday and let you know. Until then, I will lay off the Mexican food to reduce my gas!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
"The Greatest Love of All"
"Most of you know him as Joe the Policeman, on the what's going down episode of That's My Momma. Put your hands together for Jackson Heights' own, Mr. Randy Watson...Randy Watson!"
Sadly, this is the first thing that I thought of when I heard about Whitney Houston. For those that do not know this quote, it is from the movie Coming To America.
Why do people get so personally involved with celebrity deaths? The news this morning mentioned that the public funeral for Whitney Houston will most likely be at a big sports arena. Why? Have you ever gone to the funeral for someone that you did not know personally or in support of someone that did know them personally? I find this strange. If I attend a funeral, I would have known the person, or I would be there to show my support for someone that had a personal relationship with the deceased.
So, what are you doing this weekend? Oh, not much, shopping, cleaning, waiting in line to see Whitney's funeral. Hey, would you like to tailgate with me? Really?
Whitney's death was unfortunate at 48. But, I would argue that what is more tragic is the hundreds that are killed by drunk drivers or those that battle cancer and don't make it. Why don't strangers line up to attend these funerals?
Sadly, this is the first thing that I thought of when I heard about Whitney Houston. For those that do not know this quote, it is from the movie Coming To America.
Why do people get so personally involved with celebrity deaths? The news this morning mentioned that the public funeral for Whitney Houston will most likely be at a big sports arena. Why? Have you ever gone to the funeral for someone that you did not know personally or in support of someone that did know them personally? I find this strange. If I attend a funeral, I would have known the person, or I would be there to show my support for someone that had a personal relationship with the deceased.
So, what are you doing this weekend? Oh, not much, shopping, cleaning, waiting in line to see Whitney's funeral. Hey, would you like to tailgate with me? Really?
Whitney's death was unfortunate at 48. But, I would argue that what is more tragic is the hundreds that are killed by drunk drivers or those that battle cancer and don't make it. Why don't strangers line up to attend these funerals?
Monday, February 6, 2012
Hallmark invented Valentines Day
OK. I know that this is not really true. I have long disliked Valentines Day. I simply find it very ridiculous. The fact that there is one day of the year that you should show your wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, mistress, pool boy, Latin lover, paid escort, etc. how much you care about them is strange. I mean, conventional wisdom says that you should show these feelings all the time, not just on one particular day. So, that means this one day is not about you expressing your feelings, rather it is about society saying that if you do not buy flowers, chocolate, or jewelery for your "other",they will think that you do not care.
Now, there are two ladies that I love beyond words in my house. While one would be very excited to get a dinner at Chick-Fil-A, the other would not be impressed by that. So, being the reasonable person that I am, (unlike those in congress), I will compromise. No, there will not be flowers, chocolate, or jewelery, but the words of a great song by Jack Johnson.
I've got an angel
She doesn't wear any wings
She wears a heart that can melt my own
She wears a smile that can make me wanna sing
She gives me presents
With her presence alone
She gives me everything I could wish for
She gives me kisses on the lips just for coming home
She could make angels
I've seen it with my own eyes
You gotta be careful when you've got good love
Cause the angels will just keep on multiplying
But you're so busy changing the world
Just one smile can change all of mine
We share the same soul
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
We Share the same soul
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
We Share the same soul
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
Umm umm umm uhhhhhhmm
Happy Valentines Day.
Now, there are two ladies that I love beyond words in my house. While one would be very excited to get a dinner at Chick-Fil-A, the other would not be impressed by that. So, being the reasonable person that I am, (unlike those in congress), I will compromise. No, there will not be flowers, chocolate, or jewelery, but the words of a great song by Jack Johnson.
I've got an angel
She doesn't wear any wings
She wears a heart that can melt my own
She wears a smile that can make me wanna sing
She gives me presents
With her presence alone
She gives me everything I could wish for
She gives me kisses on the lips just for coming home
She could make angels
I've seen it with my own eyes
You gotta be careful when you've got good love
Cause the angels will just keep on multiplying
But you're so busy changing the world
Just one smile can change all of mine
We share the same soul
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
We Share the same soul
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
We Share the same soul
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
Umm umm umm uhhhhhhmm
Happy Valentines Day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)