Cell Phones on Planes, What about Snorers?

I recently took a trip from Boston to Philly. I took the 6:35AM flight for a 10AM meeting. This means that most people who live in the general area, that are taking this flight, needed to get up around 4:30AM. Now I understand that this could make you want to get a little shut eye once seated but come on, if you are a snorer, you gotta take one for the team and not fall asleep.

The guy next to me is sawing some major logs. It makes it difficult to concentrate. Next I hear the guy in the seat on row behind me and across the isle chime in with his sleep songs. I almost wish that they did allow cell phones on planes. Yeah, I know everyone is up in arms about cell phone use on planes. People are struggling to figure out where does my personal space start and stop, but I would love to dial up my wife right now (who was kind enough to get up and take me to the airport) and tell her “Yeah, I am sitting here trying to do some work and I have an Orca orchestra around me.”

You know, it wasn't that long ago when airplanes had phones on them for general use. I know I used them to dial into a conference call when I was on a plane 24/7. No one really complained then. (Of course, this was when the technology bubble existed and there were 4MM planes in the air and you paid $1200 a ticket and had no one around you.

I have seen the decline of the airlines over the past few years, and for someone who really relies on air travel for work, this really sucks. I do see where road rage is soon to take to the air. I think the only thing holding people back are thosillustriousus TSA people who can throw your ass out of an airport for breathing wrong. The whole personal space thing is becoming a big issue. At what point do tolerancecivilityty, and good human kindness all come together so that 200 people can board a plane smoothly and easily to make everyone's travel day better. I tell you, I long for these days to come.

Well, I must get back to my laptop and try to concentrate with the orchestra around me. I only hope mbanningng on my keys doesn't wake them yahya, right!

Women and Fashion Magazines

Men and Women

I don’t know about you, but I am getting kind of tired of women telling me I don’t know how tough they have it. I hear all the ramblings of how they feel that they have to compete with the women on the cover of the fashion magazines. They have to be tall, they have to be thin, they have to have big boobs, they have to be blond, bla, bla, bla… On top of that they have to be good at their profession, they have to be good cooks great moms and they have to be good in bed.

The reality is, I do know how tough women have it and I try, very hard, though out everything I do to respect that fact. Yet, I am still getting the “You don’t understand…” bit and quite frankly, I am tired of it. I say howey! I don’t have these expectations. Society may, but I don’t. You know the whole story of Jack of all trades master of none. Well, I prefer if you are going to do something, do something that you enjoy, do it well and love it. If that happens, you’re a happy person and believe me the rest all fall into place.

Besides, why would they not think I understand? First, I hear it whenever there is a chance for them to say it. Second, do you see the covers of Men’s Fitness, Men’s Journal, and men’s magazines in general? Which magazine did the guy from King of Queens end up on? I think I saw him on the cover of People once (coupled with Kristy Alley by the way) but he wasn’t on any of these other magazines. Guys have issues with their metabolism slowing as they get older and smarter and spend more time at a desk job. It isn’t easy balancing work, fitness and home life, not if you want to do a really good job. The good looking guys on the cover of the magazines are also the same movie stars and celebrities that get paid to look good or only work 6 months out of the year and get to do all the other stuff. Show me the average middle aged guy, with two kids, holding a steady job that he actually likes, that cooks 3 meals a week, makes it to all the kids activities, is well read, has a hobby, is in shape and takes extra time to show his wife how special she is. You show me this and I will show you xxx. I think we all want to aspire to this but time slowly creeps up on us every day and it becomes impossible to execute on all fronts. I know it is what I aspire to and besides the fact that my wife doesn’t really care for my cooking, we don’t have two kids yet and I am 30 lbs overweight, I think I am firing on all cylinders.

All I am trying to say here is don’t take me for granted. I get it and I am trying to get better every day.