Leap Day

Leap Day. Not really sure what to make of the whole thing. I can't tell you where I was 4 years ago at this time celebrating such a glorious holiday. Well, if you can even call it a holiday. It's not like I had the day off or anything... well, I didn't have President's Day off either, so who really knows what constitutes a holiday nowadays, but I digress...

The two perspectives about Leap Day that resonate with me the most are the following:

• The Leap Day. All because Earth takes 365 1/4 days to orbit the Sun, and we ignore the fractions 'til they add up to 1. 

•  Leap day: An extra day of work this year without extra pay.

Yep, those about sum it up for me. We ignore the fact that it's not magic that created this day, but science. Then we work more than usual and get paid the same amount.

I know that NBC and 30 Rock want us to run around in our blue and yellow celebrating (don't worry, I did cave and wore blue and yellow because it's humorous), but I just don't really get it. Don't get me wrong, I understood the humor in the episode and laughed out loud quite a few times. I also have been looking for Leap Day William so I can get some candy, but to no avail.

People keep saying today is a chance to "take a leap" and do something you wouldn't consider doing any other day. I think that's a bunch of BS. Really? You have to wait once every 4 years to do something that you've wanted to do but were too chicken? Ridiculous. Not only that, but I then ask people what they are going to do to "take a leap" and their responses are even more ridiculous. No, eating a greasy hamburger when you normally only eat healthy does not constitute as "taking a leap". The more people talk about this day that doesn't seem to be anything important, the more annoying it becomes. Maybe I'm a cynic. Maybe I should find a reason to celebrate every day, especially the rare ones, but for some reason I can't get on board.

I think I may be more interested in getting on board if I lived near Disneyland. That is one thing about this day that is fairly amazing: Disneyland is open for 24 hours. Yep, 6am to 6am. I am slightly disappointed that I didn't know about this until yesterday because I would have taken a trip down there to ride Space Mountain at 3 in the morning when there are no lines, but o well. Maybe in 4 years...

 

 Listening to Passion Pit.

Lessons We Can Learn

My friend sent me this today. Sometimes these cutesy little stories show up in your life at the exact moment you need them... this was one of those times. 

Here's the story:

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 2 Beers. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. 

When the class began, he wordlessly 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 a unanimous 'yes.' The professor then produced two Beers 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---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and 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. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse 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 Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers with a friend.

Listening to Trevor Hall.