I write so much drivel lately that I couldn't put my wishes for 2013 any better, even though Carlin's words are a few years older. Umm... apparently NOT written by George Carlin. Nice sentiment though. :)  http://web.archive.org/web/20040930232902/http://www.georgecarlin.com/home/dontblame.html

SOMETHING TO PONDER: George Carlin

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin

"Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it. "

Not really sure that anyone follows this silly online journal of sorts, but it's time for a very, very, very brief update. I'm down to revisions on my chapters one, two & five! I am half way finished with chapter three, which will allow me to either write the transitional chapter regarding 19th African American literature & canonical US and British works that use similar imagery and language that will gloss through specific images in Dumas, WW Brown, Charlotte Brontë, Mary Shelley, EA Poe, Harriet Jacobs, Harriet Beecher-Stowe; or, become an introduction to the current chapter five, which deals strictly with the resurgence of African American culture and literati's fascination with the Haitian Revolution during the Harlem Renaissance. 

The season of Saturnalia is upon us. I buy a toy or toys for anonymous kiddos, however, I do not necessarily participate in many mainstream practices of the occidental celebrations of this holiday. My family and friends understand my position on the preoccupation of our capitalistic celebrations of Christmas, and I appreciate that they know I will call them, but I won't send them a card because I believe cards in general are wasteful and then become clutter to those who give a mass-produced paper object such strong sentimental import. Rather than buy people things once a year, I try to tell my friends and remaining family how much I love and appreciate them throughout the year... and I do give gifts; ie, KL gets random RUSH items whenever I come across something cool, LL get's smiley face things, Mom gets nice shoes and her car cleaned out, her shrubberies trimmed, her plants watered, a compost hole dug, her French drains cleaned out, she knows where the guns are, ha. I deal with her WWII realities of anti-waste and necessity, and also I'm her occasional strong arm-- neighborhood bully chick who first writes a passive aggressive note to neighbors who park in front of her house, and waits to see them park facing the wrong direction, then calls the cops. My sister has everything so I respect that and don't get her anything. She wouldn't like it anyway, and I so respect that because that's what I tell people all the time-- "If you really want to get me something take me shopping, or give me the freaking money, or better yet go walk dog at the humane society or take your well-behaved pet to a nursing home on a Saturday," that is spreading love and joy. Just because your mom thinks you'll look adorable in something like that pink rabbit pajamas set the poor kid gets in "A Christmas Story" doesn't mean that your dwindling space will allow for something so intensely useless... and I'm not even going to elaborate on how annoying that would be in a city like Copenhagen, where people live in even smaller spaces than the post 1980 constructed domiciles that US citizens have adapted to.

Oh boy! Rambling is so very much fun, but I am back to the glorious process of revising, revising, revising... pretty sure I'll rant some more about December issues, and then include a list of everything I want for my birthday, which should really be a national holiday... (sarcasm), and it kind of is-- at least Punxsutawney Phil & I think so.