Earthquakes

It's big news now. It's constant news. The networks, the paper- they are all talking about the earthquakes going on around the world. So here's the question: What would you do right now, as you are reading this, if the earth started violently shaking?

I asked a co-worker this question, and he said he would run down the stairs (that are lined by glass windows), and go outside to get away from the building (where there are power lines and chemicals galore).

If the earth were shaking, he wouldn't have made it down the stairs, even if the glass wasn't a majorly overlooked part of his plan. A couple of weeks ago, I fell down a few of my stairs and hurt myself pretty badly- and the ground was stable at the time! I can only imagine trying to get down a full flight of stairs (yes, I've counted: 21 stairs).

So in America where we have good sturdy building codes, we "duck, cover, and hold on tight." Get under something sturdy and hold on to it if you can. If there is nothing to get under, try to get against an inside wall and protect the head and neck from falling debris.

I am currently going through classes called CERT or NET training. They have these classes around the country, and it's free. My family has a much better chance of surviving and helping others to survive a disaster because of these classes.

So what would you do if disaster struck right now? Are you prepared?

Grief

It's amazing how the body works with the mind. When we're heart sick, our bodies react. "Oh, we're sick... better mess up the stomach- no the whole digestive system and make a whopping headache to go with it."

Ugh.

Bar Staff

What is with people these days? I understand that the bars are seeing a bit less business, but this is ridiculous.

I don't frequent bars very much, but I love to sing Karaoke. One of my favorite KJ's moved over to a different bar, so I went there to see him. Now three is the magic number for me. I'll give almost anything three shots. This place had its third and final shot.
The bartender is inattentive and sometimes downright rude, even when it's slow. Last time I was there, they had the COOK tearing up the floor where people were trying to play pool and the stage area where people were supposed to be able to sing. I sat there anyway, after all, the KJ is my friend. I sat there until the concrete dust and high pitched squeal from the equipment the cook was using to tear up the floor got to me.
I found the manager and complained about this. He looked me in the eye, and promptly, without saying anything to me, went to the wall to play a game. WOW. Ignored by the bartender and the cheesy-car-salesman-looking-manager.

So tonight, I decided to go to my old haunt instead. The same waitress who always ignores me was ignoring me again, so I went to the bar and promptly got a drink from the bartender.
The KJ has no semblance of order. He was letting the stripper girl sing when she wanted, the cowboy got do-overs and the super drunk girl just grabbed the mic and sang with everyone. He announced the order and who was on standby. Then after the next singer, he announced a totally different order.

Now I tip really well. I tip a dollar a song, and a dollar per glass (I drink a lot of water and usually one alcoholic drink when I go out). Why would I be treated so poorly? I think I'm just frequenting the wrong places, which happen to be convenient because they are close and I know most of the people who sing there.

Sigh, time to find a new place with a courteous staff. Wish me luck.

Weapons

I was in a class where we were working on disaster training. We were splinting each other's imaginary broken limbs in groups. One guy in our group took out his pocket knife to form some cardboard to my leg, and the other lady in our group got all upset, exclaiming that he had a weapon.
I corrected her, telling her that in this case it was a tool, but she was having none of that as she backed away.

How does she chop her vegetables?! Yeah, a pocket knife is a potential weapon, but so is my coffee cup! So is the hot coffee in my cup. Every thing around us is a potential weapon, yet this woman freaked out about a simple pocket knife being used as a necessary tool.

Gun control is the same way. People freak out about those who go through the hoops, get trained, get registered and licensed to obtain the right to carry a handgun. What they are afraid of is the bad guy with the gun, who just stole it out of some dummy's closet, and didn't bother to be legal about it.

If guns are banned, criminals will still have guns. The black market will surge with business. It's backwards, but ignorance and fear seem to rule these issues.

A bit of logical thinking would go far, and thus, these are just my thoughts on the issue.

It's all good from this side of the closed doors...

I have so much to think about and write about. Right now I'm thinking about relationships.

My friend had a great relationship. They have been married for 11 years. I found out today that she has been a victim of domestic violence all this time. Christians especially "keep up appearances," and I was no different when I was in that type of relationship.

The question I have is this: is there really such a thing as a good, satisfying relationship? Or is that only the illusion for the world to see and it's all crap behind closed doors? Is true happiness a fleeting thing that lasts six months and then becomes mediocre at best, and dysfunctional at worst?

I just don't know.