Morning Edition - 2/23/06

When Animals Attack
Yes folks, humans are animals too. Unfortunately, they act more like the four-legged creatures we’re accustomed to seeing as the “classic” definition of animals than we sometimes care to admit. Yesterday’s On Blast led to a back-and-forth that had the potential for hurting feelings – all unnecessarily. The object of yesterday’s little attack – Freakin’ Rican. Freakin’ and I agreed to go the gym together and after our schedules conflicted, we pretty much began going on our own. What I wasn’t aware of – well, until much later – was that Freakin’ was apparently hurt by my decision to take on this project on my own. My decision was based solely on my need to get the goal accomplished – that is, get in shape ASAP. So plain-and-simple, let’s not take everything so personally, let’s realize our goals independently (if necessary) and let’s be the strong individuals we allege we are when we’re faced with criticism. After being called selfish, fat, rude, old, worn, etc., I’ve learned that the only real opinion that counts is my own. I appreciate comments made by my friends and consider them when making decisions, but the decisions are all mine. Make your decisions yours as well. For the past several months I’ve been living openly, freely and joyfully. It has helped me feel stronger, look sexier – not because any major physical change has occurred, but because my inner self is exuding a new sense of confidence. Let’s vow to grab our lives by the horns before we’re looking back on wasted time and old regrets.

Manners Moron
Why does NYC’s subway system come to a complete stop, delaying thousands of passengers, when one sick passenger aboard one of our trains has a little incident? The question came up during my ride into the office yesterday. As we sat over 20 minutes in a dark tunnel, the smell of urine permeating from a homeless man who managed to squeeze his way into our subway car, I kept asking myself – sometimes out loud – why can’t we pull the sick person off the train to await medical attention at the nearest train stop platform? Instead, we sat patiently – one train behind another – waiting for help to arrive for one sick passenger. Word to the ill…. if you’re riding in my subway car and I catch you acting sick, I’ll sit you on the bench of the next stop. No point in you being ill and us being unemployed.

Read it and Let’s Tell it Like It Is
Next month we will begin our own little blog book club. This will be a simple club that will read one book every three months or so. Hey, even slow readers will get a chance to keep up. Each Friday, we’ll discuss three or four chapters and the book will serve as our On Blast that Friday. March will be our month to revisit one of my favorites – E. Lynn Harris’ Invisible Life. Amazon.com has the book (new) for just over $11 or you can buy the book used for $1.50. Either way, there’s no reason you can’t join in on the book and the fun. Please purchase your copy by Friday, March 10.

On Blast
Dating with children. How important is it to you that the man/woman you’re dating likes your children? What happens if your children and the person you care about don’t get along? Would you consider a negative relationship between potential step-parents and step-children grounds for terminating a relationship?

Keep passin’ the open windows…