Pet Peeves

There a number of things that bother me like any other human being. For a while I've been contemplating whether or not to post some of them because many of them come from people I know.  I've wondered how people will react (not that I have that many followers or anything), but in the end it doesn't matter to me.  (If people want to unfriend me on Facebook, let them.  I don't get upset by that and think that people who do get upset over that have other issues.  I will keep in touch with the people I truly care about.  Ok, enough sub-blogging...back to the main topic.)  So here are some of my pet peeves and associated sarcastic or not so sarcastic comments.  I also understand that I may very well be guilty of these as well.  I certainly try not to be, but I am human.

• Double standards - This is one of my top ones.  It is extremely irritating when people think the rules don't apply to them or they are an exception to the rules or they find a way to "work around the system".   One example that I'm sure will rile people up is the whole gay marriage thing.  Those who don't agree with gay marriage are often referred to as bigots, while those who calling them that name are just as bigoted as they claim others are because they are not willing to consider the other side's point of view either.
• Hypocrites - People who practice what I described above.  In my opinion, these first two typically go hand in hand.
• Holding grudges - I will admit this is easily the one I am most guilty of.  While I often find myself telling others (to myself) to get over it and move on, I almost always immediately thing of something I hold onto and still feel at least somewhat bitter about.  (I could easily rattle off about half a dozed things dating as far back as 20+ years ago.)  I do try to work on changing this part of me, but it is very hard.
• Arguments based on false assumptions - I have no problem following an argument that is logical.  However, if you base that argument (or opinion or whatever) on false assumptions (things you assume to be true that are in fact false), you lose credibility with me.
• Extremists - I'm not talking about religious (i.e. Islam) extremists.  I'm talking about people who when they tell you something, make it seem as though it is the best thing ever or the worst thing ever.  I understand things don't always go our way, but that doesn't mean it's the end of the world.  When things dd go your way, it's not the lottery or a life-changing event every time.  It gets old really quick and makes me realize that they probably are also guilty of the following pet peeve.
• Attention seekers - This does not just apply to the extremists.  There are also those people who while having a 1 on 1 type conversation will speak louder so that others (whoever is around) will hear them.  The worst is when they make the statement while looking at you when you're not in the conversation or look at you right after like they expect you to make a comment.
• (Facebook specific) Kid pictures...tens, hundred, thousands per day - Those of us with kids love our kids.  I think that's pretty standard, at least among the people I know and hang out with.  However, if you spend all day posting pictures of your kids and/or telling everyone how special they are, it gets annoying...quickly.  We all post pictures of our kids (or nieces/nephews) and I think that is to be expected, but at some point it passes the point of obsessive.  Hopefully I'm not guilty of this one, although I would understand if people claim that I obsessively post about the Dodgers.  (I won't argue with that one this year.)

That's probably enough for now.  I'll let you start chewing me out for my bigoted, hypocritical, extreme opinions...judge me as you will.  Have at it!

The Dodgers Truly Historical Run

Obviously, I'm a bit more excited this baseball season than most.  The reason, in case you have been living under a rock, is because the Dodgers have been so hot for nearly two months now that they are being compared to records and stats that have happened in over half a century.  So, with all the stats being stated, I thought I would try to compile some of them here to give you a better idea of what I'm talking about.  I'm pulling these stats from a number of places.  (Plus, being a math geek and number nerd, this stuff is awesome!)  Here we go.

• The Dodgers record on June 22 (when this hot streak all started) was 30-42.  After today's win, it is 71-50.
• On June 22, they were in last place in the National League West, 9.5 game behind the first place Arizona Diamondbacks.  After today's win, they are in first place, 8.5 games ahead of the second place Diamondbacks. (They took over first place on July 22.)
• Over the past 49 games, they are 41-8.
• Over the past 49 games, they have made up 18 games in the standings.  Before tonight, they had made up 17 games in a 48 game stretch.  The last team to do that was the 1995 Braves who made up 17 games in a 37 game stretch.
• During the streak, the Dodgers set an all time Dodgers record by winning 15 straight road games.  (Keep in mind the Dodgers have been around since 1890!)
• Before tonight's game, their 40-8 streak was the best since the 1942 Cardinals went 41-7.
• At the All Star break in mid-July, the Dodgers were at .500, 47-47.  Since then, they have gone 24-3.
• In July, they were 19-6.
• So far in August, they are 14-1.
• They have now won 9 straight games.  The last time they won 9 in a row was May 2010.
• Side note, and kind of interesting: during their streak, they have beat pitchers by the names of Lee, Harvey and Oswalt.
• The Dodgers collected their 15th shutout of the season tonight, which is tied for most in the majors with the Indians.
• The Dodgers now have a better record than all three division leaders in the American League.
• The Dodgers have the best road record in the National League: 34-25.
• Their 8.5 game division lead is the second largest in baseball behind the Braves 15.5 game lead in the National League East.
• If the playoffs started today, they would face the Pirates (who have not been to the playoffs since 1992), whom they are 4-3 against this season.
• With 41 games left to play this season, the Dodgers magic number (combination of Dodger wins and Diamondback losses) is 34.  One way to look at this is if the Dodgers were to go 34-7 the remainder of the season, they are guaranteed to with their division and therefore make the playoffs.  If the Dodgers only go 21-20 the rest of the season, the Diamondbacks would have to go  30-12 in order for the Dodgers to not make the playoffs.

 I'm sure there are more, but maybe I can add to this as the streak continues.  Many people now seem to be saying that the Dodgers are World Series bound.  That would be awesome considering the last time they were there was 1988, 25 years ago, when they won it against the A's.  However, there is a long way to go to get there.

I went to my first Dodger game in 1984, 29 years ago.  I have never seen them play as good as they are right now, which is why I am trying to enjoy it as much as I can.  Seasons like this are very rare.  Also, it's kind of nice that the Angels are doing so poorly, which makes any comments from my Angel-fan in-laws empty.  The Angels current record, entering tonight's game is 54-66. They are currently losing in the 9th inning (to a team that already has 81 losses) and if they lose tonight, they will be 54-77.  Another way to look at this is that if the Angels and Dodgers were in the same division, the Angels would be 17 games behind the Dodgers.  Yes, it is a good year indeed.

However, the Dodgers' second season, the playoffs, begin on October 1.  You think I'm crazy into the Dodgers now, wait until the playoffs...especially if they do well.

Feeling Better and Looking Forward

I have been feeling much better the last few days.  It seems like I get into a bit of a funk every once in a while, and sometimes it's when I've missed my meds for a few days.  Other times, it just things wearing on me.  With that being said, the last few days have felt pretty normal and the family has noticed as well.  Thank you to those who have expressed some concern. 

That's been helped a bit with work lately. Our department manager retired a couple of weeks ago and we weren't told until her last day.  However, it appears that it was either retire or be fired.  Regardless, the new boss, who has been temporarily promoted and will probably get the job officially soon, is much more approachable.  So I've been asking questions and having good discussions with her.  It has encouraged me and gives me hope for my future there.

Plus April is going to be a great month.  Even if my birthday wasn't next month, the fact that we will be spending one weekend in San Diego and another in Arizona, is going to make it an eventful month.  I love traveling, but unfortunately, we aren't able to take a lot of trips due to finances.  Thus, April will be awesome! Oh yeah, and two Dodger games over a 3-day period!

The Daily Challenge

Can you tell blogging has not been a priority of mine lately?  9 months since the last post.  Oh well.  A lot has gone on since then, but there's no need to rehash it since you probably already know what about the move and transition back to Whittier, which has been great.

Anyway, I just felt the need to spill my heart right now, which usually doesn't mean good things, and that would seem to be the case here again.  Sorry to seem so negative, but this seems to be a good outlet for me to let things out which is much better than holding it in and letting everyone at home suffer with me.

As you probably know, I went through major depression almost 4 years ago now, and since then I have being on medications and seeing a psychiatrist regularly.  Since going through depression, I think I have changed in the sense that I am more irritable and don't care as much about who may be upset with what I say, with the exception of my wife and kids.  All this to say that is why I don't feel the need to be as concerned about what people think about what I say. This is who I am; take it or leave it.

Ok, so now the topic that I really wanted to write about when I first signed on.  Recently (a few weeks ago) I was contacted by a recruiter for a position that would have been amazing and probably would have changed how we live for the better.  Fortunately, the process didn't last very long and I didn't even get an interview even thought the recruiter seemed pretty interested in me.  I have a great job that I really enjoy right now with Hyundai.  The only way I plan on leaving this job anytime soon is if somebody makes me an offer that I would be stupid to say no to because I like where I work and feel like I am a good fit with the team.  Plus with our department manager having retired a week ago (without warning), it seems like a good opportunity to further establish myself there.

However, the whole situation with the recruiter made me start reflecting (more than usual) on where I am at in life in two sense: personally and professionally.  Personally, I'm pretty happy.  I love my family and am so glad to have them in my lives. (And just to clarify, by family, I mean wife and kids.)  I wouldn't change anything.

Professionally I have issues that really get me down.  Like I said I do enjoy where I work now, but looking at the bigger picture of my career, it is nowhere near where I think I should be at this point in life.  I'm headed into my late 30's and seem to have made pretty much no vertical movement in the nearly 12 years I have been out of teaching. I am very glad I left teaching, especially with all the crap that profession is going through right now in California.

Based on the goals and direction I planned in taking my career once I knew I was where I wanted to be, I have been a failure, and I do not deal with failure well, which is a big reason as to why I went through and still battle depression.  I expect a lot from myself and expect myself to to succeed at whatever I try to do. Needless to say the setbacks I have had in my career are probably why I am where I am professionally now.  The big three that have caused setbacks: being fired from my job in '07, depression in '09 and being laid off (and unemployed for a year) in '10. 

If I had been able to get this job the recruiter had contacted me for, it would gotten my career back on track to about where I think I should be at this point.  That's where this emotional speed bump originated. 

The reason it seems to persist is because of another major fault of mine...the need to compare myself to others in order to determined where I stand in life.  It's something I wish I could change easily, but it also feels like me changing that fault is about as likely to happen as terrorists are to completely disappear.

So who do I compare myself to, you may ask? Pretty much anybody...friends, family, whoever.  I spend a fair amount of time on Facebook, probably too much time, and it seems like so many people have perfect lives.  They are taking trips, having family outings to these places that cost a lot of money, and just generally looking like they don't have a care in the world. I realize that's not always the case but I do generally respect those that post the occasional life struggle on Facebook.  It's a good reminder that I'm not the only one struggling in life. Regardless, everyday (lately) I see how short I have fallen of where I should be.  My job should be at a higher level; I should have been at my employer for at least 7 years, not 7 months; retirement is seeming less and less likely as we had to use a chunk of my 401k for expenses and although I am contributing to it again, it's not much because we have other things that need to be taken care of now.

Then there are the health issues I have to deal with: depression, as I already mentioned, and Atrial Fibrillation, which could technically kill me any time I have an episode.  I'm 36 (almost 37) and I have to take 11 pills daily as a result.  That's ridiculous!! My high cholesterol has been determined to primarily be genetic, atrial fibrillation is something I'll just have to live with unless they determine there is a need to do surgery, and the depression feels like something I'll always battle for the reason mentioned above. 

I know there are people who are concerned about my health, specifically being overweight and not having the best eating habits, so I care a little because they care, but at the same time, I don't care that much.  I hear it almost daily whether it be from family or friends at work and I've gotten to the point where I feel like rolling my eyes anytime it is brought up.  I'm just tired of it.

It's certainly not the life I pictured I would have at this point, but it is the life I have.  I trust that this is all part of God's purpose for me, but I'm tired of trying to figure it out; what happens, happens.  So everyday, I will continue going through this life enjoying it as much as I can, knowing the whole time that I am a disappointment (at least to myself).  Hopefully someday this will turnaround, but I don't see that anytime in the near future.  However, I do appreciate that God gives us the opportunity and hope of a new day.  That keeps my hopes up that things will turnaround eventually.