Be All You Can (Want?) To Be

My brother  has a degree in Mechanical Engineering.   Is he an engineer? Well, yes he has the degree-and the ring, and probably the secret hand-shake too- so yeah, sort of.   Does he have an engineering job? Err... If I really stretch the definition then I can say yes, he does... but if I am honest with myself and most people I have to say no.

For the sake of simplicity I'll call my brother: J.  J decided he wanted to go to school in Montreal
(Video above was his final project), that he wanted to study mechanical engineering, and that this was the thing he most wanted to do.  But he decided all this when he was 17.   He's 24 now.   He's been out of school for over a year, and he has gone to a quite a few interviews for engineering...  Was pretty much offered a position... but didn't take it... why?  What is he doing with himself?

He is working for not much money on a schooner in ______, Maine.  Why?  Because it is fun.   Does he use any of his engineering skills... yes... engine work, unclogging the loo... but mostly it is just sailing, and  drinking, and living it up with tourists...

Is this a good use of his  5 years of schooling? Maybe.  Not really. 

I think to myself: "Hey he's my baby brother, he'll calm down eventually and get a real job."  But I know that most people look at him and think; "So  quit dicking around and get a real job.  Life isn't just about having fun.  Have some real responsibilities."

To which I also agree, but then again... Last April he did fall while free climbing at Fort Williams Park.  And for four months after that he couldn't do much of anything let alone move.... so maybe he is making up for that.  Maybe after a fall like that you need to prove that you are alive, and live for the fun of it.

What's For Supper?

I cook most of the meals at home, sometimes my husband makes something, but usually it's me.  I recently became a vegetarian-having watched a rag tag bunch of documentaries on environmentalism and food- so what I make is usually meat free.  The hard part comes with making something that adheres to my moral/diet code, and  at the same time my husband will eat.  Chances are there will be no beets for supper. 

 It seems like I have to get more creative now that I have cut-most- flesh out of our diet. In stead of  meat burgers;I end up having to figure out how to make vegetarian patties, that a. stay together, and b. taste better than cardboard.  Or introduce foods that meet with eyebrows-high-concerned expressions... Quinoa... Falafel... Lentils... Things  of that nature.

But the real difference that  I have noticed is with me.   I seem to be eating less.  Husband still eats the same amount, and  still enjoys the meal... but I am not eating as much as I did when chicken was part of the meal...

Bum, What?

A couple of weeks ago The Portland Tribune (free paper) published an article about the NW's problem with bums(road warriors, homeless, panhandlers).  I would like to applaud the writer and the paper for finally saying something.  The article puts forward that on the east coast (where I am from) the bum population would not be allowed to be this populous-particularly NYC under Giuliani. 

In Portland Maine, you see homeless from time to time, but they cannot ask for change, as Panhandling is illegal.  Last I was in New Haven Connecticut, oh about 2006, there was a large population of homeless.  But, and this is important, only during Yale's school year.  The bums lived off the students charity.   Most of those students-that I met- were from the west coast.

Portland, Oregon has a problem.   That problem is that this place is just so liberal that it tends to get passive aggressive about issues that should not be allowed to slide.  There are so many resources here for the homeless.  Places to stay, places to work,  places to be entertained, free food, free help to  get help to not be homeless, free medical care.... Free!  Free! Free!  The bums here have a good thing going.  And they know it.  Which is why they tell their other bum buddies; 'Hey come to Portland, they're push overs here.'

It is messed up that they cannot be ordered to leave places where they are being a nuisances to businesses.  It is  wrong to my mind that there are safety officers  for the sole purpose of giving them needles... to shoot up with.   Portland.  You need to stop being such enablers.   If this was Uncle Eddy with a drinking problem right now you would be giving him the keys to the liquor store.

I clipped out the article (well 3 times) and sent it to my family (NYC, Portland ME, and Miami Beach FL).  My parents never believe me when I talk about the bums here.  Well now they will.  And maybe enough people will nod with that article in The Portland Tribune, and we can stop  enabling Uncle Eddy.  Lets lock up the liquor store. 

And Kick the bums out of town.