Sunny disposition.

I saw a guy this morning with Ash Wednesday ash on his forehead. All I can ever think when I see that is that Ash Wednesday = an advertising coup for the early Catholic Church. Akin to flair on your TGI Fridays waitress: "Ask me about our jalepeno poppers!"

Random thought:
Escalators are to escalate your movement up the stairs. It's even in the name. What's needed is a homeless person, hired by the CTA, whose entire job it is to stand behind people at the bottom of the unmoving escalator queue and say, "if you don't start moving forward soon, I can't be held responsible for my actions. Pass it on." If/when it gets to the top of the line, it'll be so far removed from a threat of physical violence, but by then, the line is moving.

Control, control, you must learn control! Bah.
I recently was watching an episode of "The Universe" on the History Channel, and it showed some graphic renderings of what would happen should the Earth be hit by a gamma ray burst from a star going supernova (something that happens with apparent frequency, though given the vastness of the galaxy, the chances are pretty slim we'll get hit anytime soon). The intensity of the burst would instantly vaporize those in its path, and burn off the entire ozone layer. Within minutes, millions would be dead; with days, the entire planet. And there is no defense (unlike comet or asteroid collisions, apparently, though how they're watching the entire sky to see them coming, given NASA's limited budget, is beyond me). We'd be dead. Period. It's a touch more intense than the "a car could hit you in the crosswalk, so live for today" mentality.

There are things in the world we can't control. I can't control when the train is late. Or if it's freezing outside. Or if the store is out of my favorite cheese. So why get bent out of shape about it? I have control over a limited number of things in my life. If I focus my energy on those, and don't let the stuff I can't control get to me, won't life be sweeter?

Lately, I've been going back to the gym. Starting to see some results, feeling pretty good. Maybe that coupled with the new situation at work has been a bit of a catalyst for me to generally have a better outlook on things (simple things like being allowed to wear jeans any day of the week does wonders for morale, let me tell ya. And being useful and needed in the workplace is pretty damned sweet, too).

But I've found myself... I dunno, smiling more. It sounds ridiculous, and it almost sounds like I grabbed a page from "The Secret"- which premise I find completely bunk; you don't simply get good things by putting good out there- you have to *do* something as well. But the attitude is helpful. Just generally having a more positive outlook has made it a lot easier to deal with people, to get that kind smile from the pretty girl on the subway, strike up conversations with people, get along with my boss (which has oddly become considerably smoother, now that I'm a regular employee and she has to rely on me a lot more). I've read reports here and there that claim, if you're feeling down, fake feeling happy, and your mind won't know the difference. I think that's a load of crap, but I do know I've felt better the past few days, overall. Genuinely, not just faking it.

Maybe it's just taking my vitamins every day (or the placebo effect thereof). Who knows.


If it rains, I shall be wet. If the sun shines, I will dry. And all the while, a great wind blows. — paraphrase of a quote from someone whose name I can't recall.


Oh, by the by, I updated a ton of my links. I'm sure I'll post something or other about them when I have more time to do so. Check 'em out; enjoy.