Fun LinkŽ

Željko | Brief Bio ::

Full-time job:  Mechanical Engineer at CroMaxx*

Part-time job:  E-Newsletter Content Provider for Me.

Željko consumes a lot of information every day. On MY lucky days, I get an e-newsletter from him with the hottest linkŽ on the web. Custom to my taste in humor and fully packaged with commentary by Željko. 

Today is YOUR lucky day ... because you get  a hand-pickin' of those same linkŽ AND a picture of this handsome handsome man sittin' poolside.

Happy Memorial Day!

Enjoy the linkŽ:

1. He called labeled this image "genetics." I thought he was passive aggressively making fun of my family's tradition to match for every major holiday. Either way, neat pic.

2. When I can't  figure out how to pronounce a Croatian word, this is a good reminder that I'm lucky I'm not dating  someone who speaks .... what is this, Mandarin? Kate?  Jonas?

3. I've employed a similar phone convo technique. Not nearly as funny, but I'll share nonetheless ... 

I grew up in an old kinda scary haunted-looking house. Before we, or at least I, had cell phones.  I was given way too much responsibility at way too young of an age or maturity level. My logic in this story is indicative of that. Any time I was walking into my home alone and/or with any or all of my three younger brothers, I'd start a fake conversation with my  dad. I'd say things like:

- "Wow, dad, it's so cool that you just won that fight. You're so strong." or

-  "Aw, dad can I see your fully loaded gun!?" or

-  I can't believe you'e killed 10  bad guys with your bare hands."

All of this  was, of course, supposed to scare any 'bad guys' away before they made a move on little 'ole me. Lucky for me, no break-ins. Probably because of my plan.

4.  Teammates. Bros. Watch closely. 

5.  Ronlosophy ...  Swansonethics ...

6.  Our Song.

7.  Redecorating.

8.  Surreal.

9.   The bug that died for the sins of all bugs.

10. Kids These Days.

11.  Virgin Oil.

12.  Neighbors.

P.S.

*CroMaxx is a company that manufactures, services, sells, assembles pumps, gears, custom cylinders, replacement cylinders, PTOs {power & takeoff} and a bunch of other super neat mechanical engineering-esque things.

My understanding of the biz is obviously limited. I just wish they'd embrace their Inner-Queens and sing about how they sell hydraulics & pneumatics PRESSURE.

Wanting {and} Trying

{WANTING}

Season 2 / Episode 9 of Louis CK's show, "Louie" ... Louis/Louie* runs into an old comedian friend of his. Eddie. Eddie and Louie started out in comedy kinda together, but Louie's path has just been a bit more successful. 

A lot of this show's writing is a bit dark, most of the plot is depressing, and it's uncomfortably honest at times. I think that's what I like about it so much. It's funny, but never cheesy. The show is just ... raw. Very bold, very real, very raw.

This conversation between Eddie and Louie really stuck out to me:

L:  So what do you need?   

E:  I don't need anything. I just wanna talk to yuh. I wanna tell you somethin'. 

L:  Ok. 

E:  Ok. ok. 

L:  Yeah, I'm listening. Go ahead. 

E:  Look man, I'm cashin' in. I'm done. I'm 40-shit years old. I got nothing. I got nobody. I don't want anything. I don't want anybody. And that's the worst part. When you, when the want goes. That's bad. I mean, like suffering, that's one thing. Or not having is one thing. But when you just don't care any more...

They go on for a bit. Naturally, there's a reference to a soft penis... what would comedy be without those references? 


{TRYING}

Similarly, in a recent episode of MADMEN, Roger Sterling talks about the moment it's appropriate to ever stop trying. He seems to conclude that it never is, thanks to his recent LSD trip. 


Roger, of course, thinks that to "never stop trying" in this particular instance, is to get a BJ from a married woman. NOT my point.


WANTING {and} TRYING

Point being ... you're lucky if you have any want. 
And it takes courage to turn that want into something you try.


The desire to do matters long before whatever you end up doing. It all matters, but without the motivation, without the impetus, the inspiration, the drive -- well, what is anybody doing without that? More pointedly, why is anybody doing without that? 


So I'm impressed. Impressed with all of the people in the world who are not only lucky enough to be overflowing with want, but who take the risk of occasionally trying. And then, you people who DO things that really rock. Well, you're the greatest. Don't even get me started on the people who go on step further and reflect ... follow-up ... constantly improve. Way to go.


Well, I'm off to a kickball game. You keep wanting and trying. It'll make whatever you do so much more meaningful.

P.S.

*He always goes by "Louie", right? But sometimes he spells it "Louis" ... is it because he's subliminally telling us all that SAINT LOUIS is the greatest place in the nation?