Never Grow Up

My favorite movie as a youngster and probably even today is Peter Pan. I liked Pirates. I liked the fact that they could fly. The movie had Indians, crocodiles and a hide-out for the lost boys. It probably incorporated all the different fantasies that any child could have.

Today, while my brother and sister-in-law braved the malls to buy their youngsters Christmas presents, I volunteered to babysit. My three year old nephew searched through a DVD collection and picked out the movie Peter Pan and of course I obliged. He had already watched it several times and could repeat some of the lines. Still, his eyes would grow in wonder at Peter Pan's ability to fly, the pirate and Indian scenes, and the swashbuckling sword fights.

When his five year old sister teared up at Tinkerbell's brief demise, he stared at her and wondered why she was so sad. He clasped her hand and whispered "she comes back".

The first time I saw Peter Pan, I was about three years old. I am pretty sure it was at Radio City Music Hall. My father was working in a hospital in New Jersey and we often made the trek to New York City to watch shows. I loved the show from the start to finish. I ended up getting several story books, coloring books and even bed sheets.

And yes, my nephew is right on many levels. Stories like this do come back, or rather, they never leave.

Funny Shaped Ears

I've become more and more frustrated with the earphones of my iPod. They seem to sit funny in my ears, or maybe I'm not wearing them right. In the commercials, the people wearing them seem to be able to move, dance, spin, hop, skip and jump without the buds falling out. Whenever I use mine, I am constantly arranging them so that they stay in my ears. Maybe my ears have some birth defect that others don't seem to have.

I've really never heard any other complaints to the earphones. And in defense of these earphones, they have quality sound. I also don't know how to pick out other earphones. Plus I am a one-stop shopper. I like everything to come in one box...I think that is the way things should work. I wish I could be like my father (or rather afford the things that he can)--he uses Bose earphones with his iPod and iPhone. But I don't have the money and really I don't like shopping all that much. I'm the guy that goes to the Gap, J Crew or Ralph Lauren--where everything can mix and match. Like I said, everything should come in one box. Maybe I'm just lazy. But I really do despise shopping.

So my dilemma is...exercise without music, or continually readjust these earphones to stay in my ears. I know the simple answer is to go out and buy a new pair of earphones (but I'm not that good at selection and I hate asking for directions/advice from salesmen). Maybe I'll ask for a new pair of earphones for Christmas.

Holiday Season

We haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet, but already some of the radio stations are playing Christmas music.

I don't mind Christmas music, in fact I like it. But there is a radio station that is now playing it 24 hours a day, every day until the day after Christmas music. Yes, I will admit that early in the morning I will listen to it, but still it's a little early.

And now everyone is talking about black Friday...a day of complete shopping madness. I would not like to go out on that day, no matter what the sales.

I still want to celebrate Thanksgiving first...and have that fried turkey that my brother-in-law always makes.

Busy

I've been so busy lately, that I've basically eaten all my meals out or from a drive-thru. So a majority of my salary has gone to tips.

The other day I was eating in a restaurant and I probably had the worse service I have ever had. The waitress never asked me if I wanted a refill on my drink (I had to flag her down three times to ask). She didn't refill the bread basket (no biggie, not a big fan of rolls anyway). Lastly, she only stopped at my table to take my order and drop off the bill. The couple in the table beside mine were also frustrated. The lady had to ask for coffee refills and also ask for sugar (twice).

When the waitress came to my table to drop off my bill, I counted out the exact change for it. I was determined not to leave a tip. However, when I looked up at her face, I could see that she was tired, worn and probably had a bad day. I told her I needed just a second before I would pay. When she left the table, I calculated 20% and then flagged her down to take the bill. I told her I wouldn't be needing any change and smiled.

Because I was so busy myself, I had forgotten that other people could also be pulled in different directions, have a bad day or just fall behind. I hope that she's caught up and maybe having a better day today.