Is your life this mayonnaise jar?

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the coffee:

A professor stood before his Philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. "The golf balls are the important things - God,your family,your children,your health, your friends,and your favourite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained,your life would still be full.

"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house,and your car. "The sand is everything else-the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued,"there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

"The same goes for life. "If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,you will never have room for the things that are important to you. "Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand. One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple cups of coffee with a friend."

-Thanks to Xela for this.

Potter Lake Again

 


Is beautifulest a word? 

Potter Lake

 


Please spell pretty... 

Allen Fieldhouse: Renewed

 


Allen Fieldhouse recently underwent major renovation. As you see, it looks cleaner, brighter and ready for a mighty Jayhawk Basketball season! 

And once again...

 


Jayhawks vs Iowa State: 24 - 21, i.e. WE'RE BOWL ELIGIBLE! GO JAYHAWKS! 

Mile High Fraser!

 


A flagship of the campus - Fraser Hall can be seen from miles away!  

Knock! Knock!

 


Rumor has it that someone I know has a key to this building even though he/she is not a student, teacher, staff... 

Rock Chalk!

 
 

Black Friday

Everyone has a first. I had a first too: I participated in the annual Black Friday shopping madness. It was absolute and complete madness according to many television reports. Fortunately, though, I did not experience trampling and running over. But, I also did not wake up at some unrealistic hour (read 5 AM). Instead, it was a relaxing 9 AM stroll to the stores followed by tremendous spending.

In fact, I'll say it now: I think this year's retail revenues and profits should be incredible. For some reason, it seems as though the few people I talked to all went out and shopped this year, something they hadn't done in the recent past. In other words, I'm long retail, especially BBY for you home gamers! (That's Best Buy for the rest!)

On a similar theme, I'm thinking about JCP - JC Penny - given the volume of shoppers I experience earlier today. This will have to be on the radar screen for the days to come.

Apology & 'Money Plant'

To the devoted readers: a big big BIG apology for not updating for over three weeks. That's rather irresponsible of me, but what can I say - I live in Washington! Eventually, the ways and means of Capitol Hill get to me, no pun intended!

I seem to have a devoted reader who leaves anonymous remarks - the last one asked that I post something. Who are you?

I've been thinking about several things and now it's really more of a messy mingle in my mind about where to begin.

However, I would like to present something. In some cultures, it is often thought that having the so-called 'money plant' brings good luck to a home or a family in terms of wealth. Could it be possible that this purportedly lucky plant can be within monetary institutions? How weird is that! The very people that control the larger population's wealth rely on some charm to bring them some green too - not chlorophyll green, but dough.

Google This: A Picture

I have an idea for Google, the most wonderful, brilliant, stunning, fantastic, wealth-making company whose stock price now sits at $400 a share. It needs to work on creating a search of pictures. So instead of searching by using words or typing a description of the object in question, a user could input the image and search it. In addition to leading to exact hits, assuming the technology works well, it could potentially change the way business is done and the way in which we operate. One would no longer have to remember names of places or things, but simply snap a pic or two and then search for them to find more details. Of course, the objects would have to be somewhat unique. Faces, for instances, would be great. Met someone who might interest you? Google Picture them and find out if they're worthy of your time without having to know their name! Love a particular entree at the restaurant? Take a picture of it (before you eat it!) and then search for the recipe... The list is endless, but you get the picture, no pun intended!

1776: It happened here

I spent some time by the Potomac River in and around Rock Creek Park last weekend. It was one of the most powerful experiences for a very historic reason that dates back to the beginnings of the nation. To think of George Washington and his army of men crossing it, maneuvering around it, shedding blood... the list goes on... is very surreal especially when sitting right by the same water source that was pivotal in the Revoluationary War and, subsequently, the formation of the US. It's quite a remarkable story. Moreover, it was incredible to feel the peace and hear the silence and ruffles of leaves dropping from the multi-colored trees. And, all this inside the always bustling city of Washington! Need some peace and time to reflect? Visit Rock Creek Park!

Want to create change?

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." - Leo Tolstoy.

Oh how so true, so true. While I don't intend this to be a quotations page, I do think it's always good to keep some in mind. Tolstoy speaks much truth, I think most people would agree with him. Instead of analyzing the above aimlessly, I'll let you think about it.

More pretty trees... in fact, the grass is green too! 

A gorgeous autumn afternoon... also serves as evidence that the sky is blue, clouds are white and trees are green (and slightly yellow) in the Fall.  

A Bad Mix: Seasons & Colors

I often hear people, especially females (haha, how do you plan on spelling that, womyn!), talk about seasons having colors. They'll say things like "oh, I like your outfit... it has fall colors" or "I want my wedding to have spring colors." What is this business about coloring the seasons! How did it come up and what's the logic behind it? So, let's do a quick breakdown of each season and the colors seen in it.

Winter, December - March:

Sky: blue
Clouds: white
Rain: scentless, colorless
Trees: mostly bare, but any leaves were green.
People: black, brown, white

Spring, March - June:

Sky: blue
Clouds: white
Rain: scentless, colorless
Trees: green
People: black, brown, white

Summer, June - Aug:

Sky: blue
Clouds: white
Rain: scentless, colorless
Trees: green
People: black, brown, white

Fall, Aug - Dec:

Sky: blue
Clouds: white
Rain: scentless, colorless
Trees: green
People: black, brown, white

Seems to me that all four seasons exhibit the same colors. So, where do you people get this notion of assigning colors to seasons?! There's no such thing! Nothing. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Absolutely nothing. Feel free to throw some light on the issue.

Glass Shrapnel: In or Out?

An anonymous poster (see blog below) ponders how the glass shrapnel that has been cause for concern for over two weeks has disappeared. This, interestingly, has been something that I've wondered about as well. There are, of course, three choices. One, it could've just stayed in my thumb. This is doubtful given that I feel no pain or pinch upon applying any pressure. Two, it made its way into my body. Very alarming. What if it's now floating around in my blood along with the blood cells, etc, and is enjoying its ride in me? Unfair! Like a little dead fish, except in me. In my blood, not sucking it, but swimming in it. Eventually, it'll end up in my heart or some other useful organ i.e. not the appendix. Very concerning. But, now if I disappear you know why. And of course, the third and best scenario is that it managed to get away, to which I say 'coward, face me if you can!'

Mmmm Chocolate

Have you ever been deprived of chocolate or just not had any good chocolate in a while and then all of a sudden... Boom! Charlie brings his chocolate factory to you? That's my situation: I've been indulging on some of the finest Halloween candy brought to work by my colleagues, who presumably stole their kids' candy. Regardless, one must appreciate little kids' efforts for going out to get chocolate so that some dude in an office can enjoy life's delicacies. I must say, I do have a new perspective on life... mmmmm chocolate!

Religion, glass, sunlight

"There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic. We believe our work should be our example to people. We have among us 475 souls - 30 families are Catholics and the rest are all Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs—all different religions. But they all come to our prayers." - Mother Teresa.

Divisions, separations, divides, segregation, discrimination - all ways and methods of secluding people one from another. Yet, when we look at one of the most spiritual people of our time, Mother Teresa's advice is not that one is above others or that one is better than her or his neighbor. Instead, it is one of compassion and love for all, to all, regardless of any religious, gender, racial, professional, or other affiliation. Her constant message has been love for all and the above excerpt, I think, gives a good glimpse of her attitude towards living.

Onto other matters - the shrapnel/glass that once was a great consumer of my time has now disappeared - magically. However, I worry it'll be back, taking from Marcy Davis: "Problems that go away by themselves come back by themselves." I feel somewhat cheated, actually. I was hoping that I'll be able to remove it somehow and have a great feeling of accomplishment. Instead, it magically disappeared! Can't complain that I have my time back, though.

Daylight savings time - it now gets dark at 5:30pm - unfair. I really don't think I could live in Alaska, certainly not during the winter. I can bearly endure less than 11 hours of daylight, how would 15 hours of darkness go by! Although living in Anchorage would be somewhat interesting:

- Hi, I'm Tom!
- Nice to meet you, I'm ...
- As in like a ship and this city?
- Yes, somewhat, kinda, perhaps, maybe...

That's all for now; so long!