§ Culture
Saturday, April 16, 2011
We Exist
Sometimes I get all philosophical and wonder what is the point of life? Where did we come from, where are we going, what is the point of it all?
I don’t think about these things all the time, just on days like today. The sky is overcast and I’m sitting at home alone. I’ve just finished loading the dishwasher in my townhome, which I’m pretty sure was installing in the early 90’s as it has about as much cleaning power as if i set my dishes outside to be washed by the rain. I hear the rythmic sounds of the washing machine doing a load of work clothes. I smell and taste the baked bbq chips, the bag tells me baked is better for me, I’m eating. I see my adorable black cat Evi curled up sleeping away this late afternoon.
Our sences really are a magnificent thing aren’t they. There is so much to experince in our world. It’s downright astonishing how so much of our lives we take these simple things for granted. Such a shame really.
And I contemplate…
Be it fate or devine intervention two people were brought together and as a result of their meeting I was created, you were create, we were all created. Stop every once in a while and think about that simple point. You exist! There was a point in time at which you didn’t. You were in the most literal of terms, nothing. However, now you are here and you will always be here. Even after we die, we will have placed our mark on this world and it will forever be changed becuase of us.
I’m not trying to inspire you to greatness or convince you that you need to “change the world for the better” I meerly am pointing out that whether you cure cancer or just manage to raise 2 kids by yourself by working at a dinner for 10 hours every night, the very fact that you exist means you are making changes to this world. Just becuase one won’t be written about in the history books doesn’t make that person any less important. They are both important, it’s just the perspective you or I take.
Fame, money, sucess, importance, beauty, strength, winner… these are all just words, yet we attach significance to them, we convince ourself that these are things that we much attach to ourselves, to strive for. It’s all phony bullshit people, yet even myself I live for these things. You can’t help but do it. Society teaches us these things from the moment we are created. I’m not saying it’s good, I’m not saying its bad, it just is what it is. And that’s my just my take on the situation that is life.
I’m just here philosophizing on existance. I just can’t help but find it so amazing and mind boggling that I exist. Every day i will interact with probabbly hundres of people. I will talk to them, I will see them walking on the sidewalks, I will drive with them on the asphault roads and highways. Right now I’m sitting on my couch in my living room writing this, in all probability 20 feet away in the mirrored townhome connected behind me, someone sitting on their couch too. I have no idea what that person is doing, we will probabbly never meet but we are now connected for all time. Our connection is as simple as the fact that we both exist.
Life is complex, life is simple. Life is confusing, life is clear. It’s all dependent on your persepective at the moment you are in. I’m not here to give you advice so don’t try to read to deep into this… hold on a minute here… seriously pandora, I love your music service but the constant ads suck and are distracting. Sorry what was I saying… or right! Don’t try to read too deep into this post. I’m just feeling very fluid today and without even thinking I started writting this thought stream down for whatever silly reason.
Then like a puff of smoke all that philosophical daydreaming passes away, stupid ads breaking my daydream! The washer has stopped so it’s time to do another load of laundry.
And that’s alright by me.
Posted by
AlanBarber
on 04/16/2011 at 02:54 PM
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Friday, October 01, 2010
OctoBeard 2010 - Day 1
Sweet googlely moogely what have I done?!?!? I look hideous. Now I remember why I have facial hair. I look like a fracking fool!
Oh well it’ll be fine in a few weeks time.
Posted by
AlanBarber
on 10/01/2010 at 06:30 AM
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Thursday, September 30, 2010
OctoBeard 2010 - Day 0
I’ve decided to participate in the great celebration of all things manly… OctoBeard! I will shave my beard on October 1st and then grow it back over the next 30 days.
Honestly I can’t remember the last time I had a fully shaved face and it’s quite scary. I’ve become very accustomed to having facial hair. This is going to be one very strange experiment.
So here is day 0 to show what I looked like before I shave tomorrow.
Posted by
AlanBarber
on 09/30/2010 at 07:24 PM
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Christmas Gifts 2009 - Part 2

Along with the wonderful Guitar given by my girlfriend this christmas I received the following items.
Fridgedaire 8 bottle wine cooler
4 Monoramed “Old Fasioned” glasses
Popcorn & Popcorn Maker
Bottle of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Burbon Whiskey
and a few other minor things
Thank you family and friends for your gifts!
Posted by
AlanBarber
on 12/31/2009 at 06:51 PM
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Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas Gifts 2009 - Part 1

My girlfriend, Adrianne, is such a sweet and wonderful woman! She got me what has to be the most perfect gift, a guitar! It’s a 41inch acoustic Maestro by Gibson.
I attend many computer conferences every year with a decent group of developers from the midwest. Many of them besides being great programmers are downright amazing musicians. At most conferences we end up hanging out at hotels or some local’s house to party and a few always bring their guitars to jam. I’ve always wished I could join in with them and rock away the night.
my girlfriend, Adrianne, remembered me talking about this and so she went out and bought me a guitar. I am a lucky guy to have such a thoughtful lady in my life.
Posted by
AlanBarber
on 12/26/2009 at 11:33 AM
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