Today is my birthday, and life is grand!

[Captain Chaos]

I am 38 today.

Birthdays prompt me to think about where I am in life.

In weighing out the pluses and minuses of my life, I have to conclude that I am doing pretty well:


Pluses:
- Not in physical pain, which I was for most of my adult life
- Great marriage
- Great kids
- Son on the way
- Good job in which I feel I make a difference in the world
- Good home
- About to get two missing teeth replaced
- Happy with my current progress in cultivating my will
- Happy with where I am spiritually
- We make ends meet

Minuses:
- Parents are dead
- Long commute
- Dysfunctional boat
- Wife and Mother-in-law (who lives with us) don't get along
- Job can be boring at times
- Finances are tight




When I weigh it all out, I have to conclude that life is, overall, pretty good right now.

How does your life weigh out?

[Epistemologist]

Quote by: Captain Chaos I am 38 today. Birthdays prompt me to think about where I am in life. In weighing out the pluses and minuses of my life, I have to conclude that I am doing pretty well:

It's a very useful thing to do.

Quote by: Captain Chaos - Not in physical pain, which I was for most of my adult life

That's a real plus. What kind of pain?

Quote by: Captain Chaos - Great marriage - Great kids - Son on the way

I think this is the most important series of pluses. Family should mean a lot to you, and it looks like you've got a lot. That's great.

Quote by: Captain Chaos - Good job in which I feel I make a difference in the world

That's great too. Just don't get too stressed out about it in a mid-life crisis.

Quote by: Captain Chaos - Good home

Notice how you say home instead of house. It's where your heart is; forgive the use of cliches.

Quote by: Captain Chaos - About to get two missing teeth replaced

Ah, fake teeth will be pretty weird, but they're better than nothing.

Quote by: Captain Chaos - Happy with my current progress in cultivating my will - Happy with where I am spiritually

Don't lose your will, because it's a key factor in the ongoing "struggle" of life. People who lose focus lose themselves.

Quote by: Captain Chaos - We make ends meet

That shouldn't be a problem, and it probably won't be in the future.

Quote by: Captain Chaos - Parents are dead

That's sad. But like in the Lion King, it's the circle of life. I'm sure they'd be proud.

Quote by: Captain Chaos - Long commute

Don't we all? Put on some nice music on your drive.

Quote by: Captain Chaos - Dysfunctional boat

You have a boat? That in and of itself is a reason to be happy with your prosperity. If repairs don't fix a thing, it's not a big reason to be a sad.

Quote by: Captain Chaos - Wife and Mother-in-law (who lives with us) don't get along

Do you get along with your mother-in-law? It's probably some petty argument that will tend to itself in time. Unless they're throwing knives or shooting at each other in your home, I think it's pretty natural.

Quote by: Captain Chaos - Job can be boring at times

That's why we have family. Maybe talk your wife when you're bored if possible, or just talk to co-workers, who I'm sure share your problem.

Quote by: Captain Chaos - Finances are tight

Whether you're really tight or are just frugal, try not to spend on unnecessary things. Then you'll be confident that you'll have enough for an emergency. If you already don't spend lavishly, just try not to get into an emergency I guess. But keep in mind you'll need money for the new son; just don't get too stressed out about it and start working everyday or something. There are costs to that too.

Quote by: Captain Chaos When I weigh it all out, I have to conclude that life is, overall, pretty good right now. How does your life weigh out?

Mine weighs out nicely. Happy birthday!

[Captain Chaos]

Quote by: Epistomologist That's a real plus. What kind of pain?

I had severe prostatitis for 20 years.

That's great too. Just don't get too stressed out about it in a mid-life crisis.

I think that mostly happens to people who do not continuously examine their lives. I am not worried about it.

Ah, fake teeth will be pretty weird, but they're better than nothing.

Implants! God bless implants. Like having real teeth.

That's sad. But like in the Lion King, it's the circle of life. I'm sure they'd be proud.

I hope so. I really miss my dad. Wanting to make him proud was a bid deal for me. I know he was proud of what I accomplished at CNN. I would love for him to know what I do at CDC.

Don't we all? Put on some nice music on your drive.

NPR and Neal Bortz

You have a boat? That in and of itself is a reason to be happy with your prosperity. If repairs don't fix a thing, it's not a big reason to be a sad.

I have a boat I never use. I am going to get it running properly if it kills me. If the Corp ever lets Lake Lanier come back to full volume, I will be able to park it right behind my house.

Do you get along with your mother-in-law? It's probably some petty argument that will tend to itself in time. Unless they're throwing knives or shooting at each other in your home, I think it's pretty natural.

Despite her annoying characteristics, I get along fine with her. I think she was not such a great mother for my wife, though. After the baby is born I am going to sit the two of them down and make them have a really honest and painful heart-to-heart.

That's why we have family. Maybe talk your wife when you're bored if possible, or just talk to co-workers, who I'm sure share your problem.

I have solved much of the boring aspects of my job by writing software to automate everything that can be automated. (I even got a small bonus for doing so!)

I have a low boredom threshold, as well.

[Epistemologist]

Quote by: Captain Chaos I had severe prostatitis for 20 years.

Good thing it's gone, especially since it hurt where it counts.

Quote by: Captain Chaos I think that mostly happens to people who do not continuously examine their lives. I am not worried about it.

Continuous examination actually might be a "symptom" of mid-life crisis, but doing it once in a while seems beneficial, especially if you end up satisfied with yourself.

Quote by: Captain Chaos Implants! God bless implants. Like having real teeth.

Just make sure they don't fall out. That would be awkward.

Quote by: Captain Chaos I hope so. I really miss my dad. Wanting to make him proud was a bid deal for me. I know he was proud of what I accomplished at CNN. I would love for him to know what I do at CDC.

Maybe he does see you today. Even if he doesn't, I'm sure he'd be proud.

Quote by: Captain Chaos NPR and Neal Bortz

Whatever makes you less stressed.

Quote by: Captain Chaos I have a boat I never use. I am going to get it running properly if it kills me. If the Corp ever lets Lake Lanier come back to full volume, I will be able to park it right behind my house.

Hopefully, they do. Then you could spend time at a hobby and possibly have fun on the boat if you get it to work.

Quote by: Captain Chaos Despite her annoying characteristics, I get along fine with her. I think she was not such a great mother for my wife, though. After the baby is born I am going to sit the two of them down and make them have a really honest and painful heart-to-heart.

She can't be that bad, or at least not as bad as Charles Manson's mom. I think she sold Manson for a pitcher of beer. Yeah, the birth of a grandchild usually bonds mothers and grandmothers.

Quote by: Captain Chaos I have solved much of the boring aspects of my job by writing software to automate everything that can be automated. (I even got a small bonus for doing so!) I have a low boredom threshold, as well.

Well, maybe watch The Office videos in your spare time if you're allowed to on your computer. In fact, I think it shows how an eccentric boss tries to minimize boredom in his office. It's pretty funny, and I think the link is here.

[Captain Chaos]

So, how does your life weigh out?


I don't mean it as a competition or anything, just as a chance for open reflection.

[Epistemologist]

Well, a minus is that I'm really busy. I've got lots of courses and exams to take.

But a plus is that I've got a loving family and friends, and my performance in what I'm supposed to do is pretty good. That is, I'm getting good grades. Also, I've got fun extracurricular activities along with soothing entertainment. I'm also not starving.

It's pretty good for me.

[GHook93]

Wife and Mother-in-law (who lives with us) don't get along

Tell me about it. My mother-in-law thank god doesn't live with us, but she is there so often it feels like it.