Steel Kaleidoscopes

If Months Were Colors

If months were colors, here is the palette:

January - White
Fresh start, lots of snow

February - Red
Valentine's Day, cozy evenings

March - Gray
Cabin fever sets in, sides of road are gross

April - Pink
Buds are blossoming under gentle rain

May - Blue
Optimism abounds as days get warmer

June - Yellow
Sunshine, beaches and good cheer

July - Orange
Searing, steamy summer days and nights

August - Gold
Heat reaches its apex, dog days abound

September - Purple
School colors, civic pride, productivity

October - Orange
Leaves in full color, Halloween

November - Brown
Cornucopia of harvest, turkey graces table

December - Green and Red
Christmas wrapping, elves and candy canes

Cautionary Reminder

Here's another one of those ads from the '30s.

Apologies

I had a dream last night that I was on a surfboard, riding some large waves, when I suddenly soared into the air traveling over the water and over the sand.

I landed next to a dad who was sitting next to a sand castle, one I assume someone smaller than him had built. In my haste to get up from the sand, I accidentally kicked in one of the castle walls.

My first instinct was to apologize, but I chose not to. It was clearly an accident, and the dad didn't seem concerned.

Sometimes I find I apologize for things that aren't really my fault, or don't require an apology.

My sense it's perceived as a sign of weakness, yet my intent is one of compassion, a humane gesture to keep the world spinning correctly on its axis.

It's a fine line.

Apologies can seem out of place in a hard-core business culture.

But if I do something that offends or make a mistake, it's natural for me to keep the world spinning correctly on its axis.

The dad didn't get an apology.

And I wonder if there's a life lesson in this dreamscape.

Still Chillin'

Here's another shot of Roscoe, the Bluetick hound, and Suryia, the orangutan.

Reindeer Games

Dasher: "Let's play Risk."

Blitzen: "How about we just play quarters."

Dancer: "How about Twister."

Prancer: "Monopoly. We have time."

Vixen: "I'd be up for Risk."

Rudolph: "Clue."

Donner: "How about a quick game of Trouble."

Comet: "Too noisy. Rummy 500."

Cupid: "Twister would be cool."

Blitzen: "I still think we should just play quarters."

Generation Chasm

Here's another one of those ads from the '30s. Amazing how times have changed.

Best Friends

Roscoe, the Bluetick hound, and Suryia, the orangutan, enjoy the outdoors in Myrtle Beach, S.C. 

Annoyances

Not to be negative, but it's time to revisit some pet peeves.

These are the things that annoy me:

• People who leave their backpack on the seat next to them when the train is full.
• People who loudly exhale when you ask them if you can sit there.
• People who pretend to be busy, but listen to everything going on around them.
• People who pull out in front of you when there's no one behind you.
• People using cell phones with no regard to what's happening around them.
• Girls who say "sweeeet" and call each other "dude." It's nauseating.
• People who use more than seven words when ordering their coffee.
• People who open their email as soon as it arrives in their in-box. It's not productive.
• People who assume you've read an email seconds after it's arrived.
• People who wear big bulky backpacks and stand in the doorway when the subway is crowded.
• People who whine.

Other than that, I'll do my best to enjoy my day.

Posture

Shoulders square, feet on the floor.

Head held high like it's attached to an overhead string, like Peter Criss during KISS' unplugged performance on MTV.

Walking tall, keeping your head behind your feet.

Perfect alignment.

Healthcare Reform

 

This is an ad from the 1930s.

Healthcare reform starts with improved communication and messaging.

We've come a long way, baby.