Music and explicit lyrics

car music audio controls

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What is the deal with music and explicit lyrics these days? It seems as though, as a listener, it is becoming harder and harder to avoid. If you look at the top 50 on iTunes and on Amazon (“Best of What’s New to Prime”), at least 30% of the music has the [Explicit] tag with the title. So what gives?

Why does an artist feel the need to express themselves this way? Yes, I know about the whole Freedom of Speech thing, but that isn’t really the issue. The issue is the fact that the explicit lyrics aren’t necessary. It doesn’t improve the song. It doesn’t make the message of the song more meaningful. Music sold without the inclusion of such language in the past and music did well without it.

Perhaps it is just a genre thing? Maybe. I looked at the “50 Great Modern Country Songs” on Amazon music and there was only ONE with explicit language in it. Interesting.

All I know is that it is irritating to me. It perhaps should be irritating to you as well.

 

Just jump on this bandwagon

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Friday.

Of a three day work week.

Why can’t they all be this way? I mean I could really get used to this since it has been a fairly regular practice of as of late. How so?

Because of the holidays, there have been (at least for me) THREE weeks of three day work weeks. Whew! Say that fast 10 times!

Let’s break it down. In the last 7 weeks, three of them have been three day work weeks. I say we just make that the regular schedule. Like forever.

Now that is a bandwagon I can get on!! Who is with me??

Work Email Syndrome

email blocks on gray surface

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I bet after describing this you’ll know you have it too. It should be a real affliction, if it isn’t already. I don’t know. I didn’t look. All I know is that I have it.

I don’t know about your place of employment, but mine uses all sorts of forms of communication. Skype, Zoom, Outlook, video chat, messenger, paper, notes, etc etc. But one thing that I really dislike is going back to work…wait, I almost stopped there. Because, I mean, really, who likes going to work?

But I digress. Anyway, going back to work because of all the email that has filled up my inbox. I mean really!! Do we need to send this much email in ONE DAY? I don’t like being sick because I get back to work and have 300 emails to wade through. It takes me days to catch up!

So, I fear going back to work simply because of email. That’s a syndrome, right? It has to be. I probably need a counselor for this. Maybe I need a doctor’s note to take more time off. Maybe I’ll sue my managers and the company for emotional distress related to email. It’s overwhelming.

I think I better start a support group.

“Hi, my name is _______________ and I suffer from WES.”

Hmmm, why don’t I feel better yet? Oh wait, because I have to work and have 314 emails to go through. DANG IT! If I close my eyes and wait a few seconds, will they be gone?

When is it enough?

bind blank blank page business

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Question of the day: When is it enough?

Let’s put some context into the question…

When is it enough charity? Gifting? Generosity? Especially, when it comes to adults who should, by now, be able to fend for themselves and stop making choices in life that keep them from being able to do it? Thus, requiring additional help (on a seemingly regular basis).

Does the answer of “enough” matter if they are a stranger? An acquaintance? A good friend? Family…children, grandchildren, parents, siblings? Sure, I understand every circumstance is different and have their own complexities, but there has to be a line, right?

Where does the line get drawn and how do you draw it? Do you just continually allow it to happen?

Can I just stay in bed?

notebook writing computer

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It’s cold out.

It’s dark out.

It’s raining….still.

It’s Friday.

It’s the last day of a short week and the day before a four day weekend.

Can I just stay in bed and call it a day? OK, I’ll get up and go pee have some coffee just so I can say I got up today BUT really, can I just stay in bed and call it a day?

I’ll phone it in.

I’ll telecommute (as long as I can stay in bed).

How about we just pack it up and quit.

I’ll start again next year. (LOL, like that joke isn’t as old as the ages).

Today, well, today is just dumb.

No one should have to work today.

I hereby grant all of you a day off. Congrats! NO go home and do no work.

Unwrapping the aftermath

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Well, folks, the stockings are down and the presents opened. It was chaos from the start and there is a ton to do now that all are gone.

Not sure about your family, but mine appears to just swoop in to open presents and consume food before jetting off to other places and people to visit, which leaves a tornado of debris scattered about the house and hours of cleaning after the fact. That isn’t to say that there weren’t also hours of prep before everyone even showed up…so when taken all into account there were probably four times as many hours preparing for and cleaning after than there was actual time spent with family.

Don’t get me wrong, time spent with family was great and the joy did finally come as the smiles and laughter filled the room. It did finally come. BUT, it was soon lost in the time spend cleaning floors, dishes, the fridge, taking out the extra 100 pounds of garbage, and putting the furniture back where it belongs.

Does anyone else have that feeling after Christmas where the “What did we just do?” dread of having to put life back to normal appears that it will take an inordinate amount of time? Like maybe you’re the only one that will be working into the wee hours of the night just so there will be some resemblance of normalcy the day after?

Fill ‘er up!

notebook

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You know how you have a day coming up that you’re gonna have off work?

How you look forward to that day because you get to sleep in, relax, enjoy your coffee, leisurely read the news or a book, watch a movie or tv show, or just take things slow and enjoy a different pace than a normal day?

Yeah, well, that day off can completely go in the other direction too, right?

How about the day of you look forward to gets all filled up with things that have to be done before the holiday comes and people come over and etc., etc., etc.? That it fills up so fast it hardly feels like a day off? Dashing from here to there, frantically trying to fit more things in on your list because you forgot this and that, and it all needs to be done!

Isn’t it amazing how life just kind of takes over even when you think you’re gonna get a break?

Well, today is that day for me. My to do list seems to be a mile long and all I wanna do is just it. Relax. Enjoy some quiet. Savor the change in routine….but not today!

What’s on your list that just HAS to be done today?

 

Yes, please, treat me

baked baking bread breakfast

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Actually, don’t. Stop it already.

Yes, I want all your office treats that you don’t want. No, I don’t want all the office treats that you don’t want. I mean really, it’s a battle that I have been waging for a long time.

Fellow office mates, “Hmm, I am not really into chocolate. I’ll give it to, Grumpy. He eats everything.”

Fellow office mates, “There are leftover cupcakes from the party. Grumpy, do you want them?”

I am trying to lose weight, so why does everyone bring their crap to me? Oh, well, maybe I should actually tell them NO instead of eating it. I just hate to waste food.

I am my own worst enemy.

Yep, I’m THAT dad

blue and gray concrete house with attic during twilight

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Temperature is an important thing. It can’t be too hot and and it can’t be too cold. That is why I commissioned as scientific study (not really) of the atmosphere in the house and I have set the thermostat to the perfect temp for every occasion and every moment of the day.

So, SO HELP ME if someone touches the freaking thermostat! Period. It was perfect where it was at both in temperature but also on energy consumption. Leave it alone!

I swear the next person I see touch the thermostat…IMA BOUT TO COME UNCORKED!! I’m gonna break their fingers, and the next person after that (since they didn’t learn from the previous example) will get their fingers cut off and feed to the dog (ok not really, but it sounds good)!

Just. Leave. It. Alone.

If you’re hot, wear less clothing. If you’re cold, wear more clothing. Just don’t touch the thermostat.

Anyone else have to deal with this? Am I insane? It is really that hard to just not touch?

 

I am a shoe person

black brown classic close up

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Ok, the title is (purposely) misleading. No, I am not the kind of guy that collects shoes just because they are cool or because I need one for every occasion. Read on for the explanation.

I was recently invited to a party. It was a gathering of about 40 people (adults and children) getting together to celebrate a special occasion and it was at the host’s home. they have a nice place and the carpet/floors are fairly new.

Usually when you go to their place the first thing you have to do when you get in the door is take off your shoes. This is rather irritating to me, for several reasons. One, I am a shoe person. I don’t like going barefoot and I don’t like just walking around in socks. Two, I am short so my pant legs either drag on the ground or I have to roll them up like a nerd waiting for a flood. Needless to say, it annoys me.

Anyway, I showed up and got to the front door and, sure enough, there were piles of shoes in the entry way. Dang it! Why invite hordes or people over and then make them take their shoes off?

I looked around. Hey, not everyone had their shoes off!

I didn’t remove mine. Because I am a rebel.

What do you think? Is the practice of asking your guests to take their shoes off OK or do you find it annoying too?