Pressure Drop (Old Robert Palmer Song Title)

So, are you the type of person who believes that life is a series of random events, or do you believe that there is some sort of grand design? I believe both. Or, to put it another way, a mix of the two. I'm not sure I can explain that. But simplicity is not a natural quality of human existence. Life gets complicated without any serious effort on our part to make it so. However, how complicated it gets is something we usually have a little control of. At least to some degree. If things get way out of hand, you can always run away. I once read that there's no problem too big to run away from. I think it was a Peanuts comic strip. 
One of the central desires for most of us human creatures is to find meaning in, and for, our lives. Meaning, and purpose. And sometimes, we get to choose what events, people, and personal experiences have meaning for us. Sometimes we don't. As for purpose, sometimes we get to choose what we do with our lives, sometimes it's chosen for us by way of that "grand design" concept, and sometimes it's chosen by default. But one thing' certain. As soon we feel set in our course, life intervenes and changes our world. Life may be a one way journey, but it does not go in one direction only. And there are many roads
And so the journey. Like all humans in this new age of the "much smaller world", I am evolving. Somewhat, anyway. Change is a good and necessary thing. But like most humans, I don't greet change enthusiastically most of the time. And because I am evolving (slowly, very slowly), this blog is evolving as well. Originally I started it as a means of helping some ESOL (English as another language) learners expand their knowledge of English. Along the way I seem to have picked up some readers from all over the world: Russia, Germany, the UK, and a number of other interesting places, of which I wish I knew more. This unanticipated larger audience, has actually affected how I've been writing this blog. I can only describe it as some form of mutated stage fright. Not to worry. I promise to go back to my frivolous and irreverent approach immedeately or sooner. 
The world is a strange and wonderful place. And not always a happy place, and definitely very rarely a peaceful place. But, we share it. And it's good that we do. It would be pretty lonely otherwise. No one's an island, and all that. I am one of those people who sometimes wishes I were an island, but lucky for me, it is not to be.
Anyroad, this is enough seriousness on my part for awhile. There's nothing like being laid up for a week with a bad cold to put a dent in my sense of humor. Luckily, that will improve. 
For anyone wondering why the title of this post was Pressure Drop, I received an email from the founder of a new site telling me I had picked up over 20 new followers of this blog from said site. Hence, pressure did drop on me to get out this post. The other reason for the title is that I love that song, which is why I would like to dedicate this particular post to the late, great Robert Palmer. Somewhere, in another place, I imagine him singing, with a large band behind him, surrounded by beautiful women. 
Be well, & be kind to each other.     

The World Is Not Perfect (or: Anger Can Ruin Your Day)

I could not be President. In fact, I shouldn't be in any position of power. I have anger issues. I really don't know how President Obama keeps it together. In his position, I would already have had anyone associated with the Tea Party wacked, or disappeared (same thing really). And probably a number of the non-Tea Party Republicans as well. So, you can see, I should DEFINITELY NOT be president. Lucky for me (& the rest of the world), I have no desire to run for office.
In the political realm, I do what I can, which amounts to voting, signing a petition or two (usually on-line), and that's about it. Oh, I pay attention to what's currently going on, but I do my best not to follow it too closely. Preferably not closer than a mile or two. I just get too angry. And there is too much wonder, beauty, and magnificently strange weirdness in the world to pay attention to the mundane and crass pettiness of the human behavior found in what passes for politics in these modern (there's a word for you) times. 
Humans. You can't live with them, and well... if your my friend Albert, or any of his friends, you definitely can live without them. Albert, of course, is a not so small black bear, who is quite a champion for animal rights. Doesn't think much of humans, however.
Anyroad. I have things to accomplish, fascinating conversations to have, and many wonderful books to read. It doesn't look like the world will be ending in the next few moments, and until it does, or I do, I will forge ahead, do my best to enjoy life, and immerse myself in whatever experiences I can. Will I get angry upon occasion? I expect so. But I am learning to let it go. The world is a wondrous place. And life is too short to waste it on the moronic.