Abbreviations:

I remember when I was in school having teachers teach us the traditional abbreviation of our state, "Mich.", and then teach us the new fangled two digit "MI". They made a point that the government wanted everyone to use the two digit way now. That would likely have been in about 1980 or so.

The two digit system for state codes went into effect at the post office in 1963 and for the rest of government in 1987. The 1963 innovation accompanied the zip code institution.

Just something weird I was remembering.

That Really Grinds My Gears

I felt like starting a list of things that are pet peeves for me. Don’t know why. Maybe I’m just an angry white male today….

1. People who fly around me in town at upwards of 60 mph only to slow down to 50 mph right in front of me for the next 12 miles.

2. When there is one speck of snow on a parking lot and everyone just ignores the painted lines.

3. Business owners who think they own you just because you’ve frequented their establishment.

4. Women who fish for compliments.

5. People who take up two parallel parking spots when they could easily fit in one. Also people who park too close in the parking lot.

6. Drive through attendants who say, “Pull forward to the LAST window.” How am I supposed to know which window was the last until it’s too late?

7. Waitresses who ask if I want a refill on my iced tea. Bring it. If I don’t want it…I won’t drink it.

8. People who expect me, the customer, to know what I want and need (like model numbers and part numbers etc…). If I knew that, I wouldn’t need help at the store then would I…and you could be at home collecting unemployment.

9. Guys who let women carry heavy things without offering to help.

10. NY Giants fans who take life a little too seriously.

11. The "one upper". Guys who start every part of a conversation with, "you think that's bad..." or "you think that was big...". Always got one better than everyone else.

12. People who make stupid lists…

EMOTION

I don’t know what is “mini” about a mini-stroke or Transient ischemic attack.

Seems dad had one on Sunday. I need to get to the doctor and get things straightened out with me. I love my wife too much not to.

Our mortality breeds emotion.

Love and Marriage



When I was a kid, I observed situations where wives or husbands were unfaithful and I was shocked at how the offended spouse would sometimes just deal with things, putting it behind them, and the marriage would continue. It was easy as a kid to flippantly assert that I’d throw him or her out and find someone else.

I’m older now. Over the years I’ve grown to rely on my wife. I’ve grown to need her companionship and her respect. I need to love her and I need to be near her. Lately, I’ve observed several situations involving spouses being unfaithful, and I thought. Here are my conclusions:

1. Without my wife, I would die.
2. If, God forbid, I ever found myself as the offended spouse, I don’t know what I’d do.
3. I have appreciation for the way I’ve watched people older than me handle situations.

I wonder if I’m starting to really feel what the two becoming one is like. I feel conjoined to her…no…I am joined with her.