Lordy, lordy...

It's strange to realize I have made middle-age.

I honestly cannot believe I'm that old, but the calendar doesn't lie. Come October 25, I will have been on this earth for 40 years. Trust me, I'm just as surprised as you will. I for some reason think I am still in my 30s. And looking in the mirror does not really dissuade me from that.

For the most part when I look in the mirror I do not see an old man or at least middle-aged man. I see no left lines I see no wrinkles I do see a few gray hairs; actually a lot a gray hairs. The only real physical difference I notice is the weight gain. I like to say it's just because I'm too lazy, but sometimes, in my more morose mods I think to myself I was trying to fill a hole that tore open my soul several years go. But I digress-that hole is nearly disappeared.

You wouldn't be able to judge my age by my attitude and behavior. In fact, the one thing I can never be accused of is acting my age. For example, about a week ago I was paying some bills at the local bank when I heard a frog croak. I spent the next 5 min. after hearing that looking for the frog  just so I can see it and possibly hold it for a bit. Not really a mature thing to do but it was kind of fun looking for it. No, I never really act my age. I can, if I want to, but really why? It's not as much fun.

No, there's only one time I actually feel my age, if not a little bit older. That's usually first thing in the morning. Maybe it's just not wanting to get out of bed (or the arthritis) but man do I just feel ancient. Then again, I think that's actually universal, so maybe I shouldn't worry about it.

So here I stand, about to enter my fourth decade of life. I look at it like the man who fell off the building and can be heard saying as he falling " so far, so good". I know my life is not nearly complete, that I have much more to do. Hopefully I'll get most of what I want done in life done, and enjoy doing it. We shall see...

Mushmouth?

Hello.

I have just recently purchased and installed Dragon Naturally Speaking on my laptop.  I have been slowly configuring it to me, but still posts I write using this have a bit of errors which I have to keep correcting.  For shits and giggles, I decided to just talk and not correct what was being said to show how bizarre it can get.  So without further ado...



And in an old tag and I am now used Estrella NaturallySpeaking ramp for products and in lien of half awake for five days. And what I decided doodled this is negative Hoshino show what exactly it looks like on Antonin on frustratingly corrected when I speak right now. I'm still larding nanomachines Gretchen the system is still learning from the town I noticed to do this little posting the show what it looks like on an ad on rock and hopefully people may understand.

It's rather unusual that I've done this I had to switch between three different headsets before finally deciding on using what my bloomed the reason I chose this is because it's wireless on and turn my head not look screen all eponymous horse I need to. Plantation WriteNow to look at the screen and make sure nothing is messed up is great but I won't do it. It's, like madeleines in a way. I won't know what actually says when it's all done because I probably will forgotten what I said average. Most like the bead undecipherable mess, but it instilled that funding more to laugh at least. 97 agonist. And so far I have noticed and problems with this. Problem number one is that I talk way too loud minds is but then again I do not mind, all subtle I should expect that is not smart on with me and thing else. And the promises sometimes it picks up words from people speaking on people speaking. A lot has been limited with the jawbone but still occasionally happens sure when no you cannot use this I am not only played my game and sometimes I forget that I'm talking to someone else… And if you're in.

Sun is delete is unedited let people see it as his hoping that. Disabled allow looking back in. And in an and in an and. I've also noticed for some reason when I use the heck the Bluetooth it keeps inserting the word and.

Hopefully all get this thing down pat soon...

Yes-man? NO.

Hello.

A couple weeks ago I was having a conversation with a young lady I consider a friend.  Throughout the course of our conversation, she started talking about how she was going to stop caring about people and only worry about herself. And then in the very next breath, she would complain that nobody ever seem to care about her and what was going on with her life. Well I called her on it, and as a result she got very mad at me. She got so mad she stopped talking to me, saying that if I was a true friend, I wouldn't be talking like that to her. And this conversation got me to thinking.

People have been saying that they want friends, but it's not friends they are looking for. They are looking for people who will agree with them. People who will never doubt them. People who'll never confront them. People who will always enable them. In short, they are looking for yes-men.

Now maybe I'm an unusual case, but I've always had a different opinion about how friends should act towards each other. True friends are willing to face the negative consequences of being truthful. A friend is someone who will call you on your bullshit . The problem is that one of the things people hate more than anything is being called on their bullshit and flaws. It seems honesty is not always the best policy. And I speak of this from experience.

It's never a pleasant experience to be called on your shortcomings. But I am also a realist enough to know that sometimes it is a necessary thing. In fact, I am ultimately grateful that someone is willing to do that for me. It is a high sign of respect from a friend when they are willing to face my potential anger to steer me in the right direction. Ultimately, the results of a friend willing to do that is that it helps me grow as a person. And that's not a bad thing.

A yes-man, on the other hand, just wants you to be as you are-or more accurately, as you wish you are. They may think they are being helpful, then they think they're doing the best thing for you. But ultimately they are doing nothing but harm to you. For how can you grow as a person when you are being told you are already at your best? While having yes-men around may make you feel good and short-term, in the long run they are detrimental to you. They allow no growth in a positive direction. In fact, by glossing your mistakes they allow said mistakes to grow and become worse, making you lesser. And that's not something I wish to be part of.

So while I consider it an honor that you would consider me a friend, I must be up front and let you know that I will be honest towards you, for good or for ill. I do not do this out of maliciousness. I do not do this to cut you down. I do this because it is the right thing to do. I can never be a yes-man.

You'll have to look elsewhere for that...