Happy Wedding Day, Jerks.

Given it was Dave and Jenny's wedding this past weekend, this post is their present, the gift of alternate perspectives.

I have a book here at work that is called Taxi Driver Wisdom - basically phrases uttered by Cab Drivers in NYC with respect to a bunch of stuff, all eminently quotable. I found this years ago in the `Weird' section of the Bookshelf, in Guelph. The most applicable follow:

- Everything comes out the same, no matter whether you make it hard on yourself or not.
- You marry out of your greatest love or your greatest fear.
- The mouth is the most dangerous part of a person.
- We starve each other and then we feast on each other.
- You say what you like to hear.
- When there is something you want, it seems it is everywhere.
- Each day is like another bud on the tree: impossible without the tree beneath it.
- You can take the girl out of the cheap underwear, but you can't take the cheap underwear out of the girl.
- If you're a smart person, you can see what's smart about the next guy. If you're secretly afraid you're a moron, okay, then to your, everybody's a moron.
- You see in other people what you want for yourself.
- If you chose a new life, you must not have wanted the old one anymore.


Also, I want to include an email I received from Dave Gibson a couple of years ago, while we were still roomies, and before either of us became a couple.

-----Original Message-----From: Dave Gibson [mailto:gibco@sympatico.ca]Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 11:23 AMTo: Becker, StephenSubject: RE: Colonel Angus & The Bling

Hi Steve--

Thanks for the message, I will have a look at the sheet. I haven't looked at my account yet today--so I hope that that first cheque has gone thru okay...At the end of the month I tend to get eaten up with sevice charges etc..so, sometimes I count on more than is available. Anyways, I do appreciate your benevolence on all of these matters. As I alluded last night, I have to start feeling better about myself so that I can be more successful in other aspects of my life. I initially picked up my current job as merely a buffer between my "real" projects--inevitably those other projects became few and far between--and I got down on myself. Going back to school was a really important and risky part of my recent life--and although it was a great experience--I expected too much from it. Mostly, I tend to look for external things to "fix" whatever is wrong with me inside--so, I tend to pour a lot of myself into things like relationships or lousy jobs--that maybe don't merit so much of my psyche. It was easier to ignore my problems when I worked 50 hours a week and made a lot of money--but, they were still there. I guess now I'm at the point where I can either try and help myself..or get worse. I know that sounds dramatic but--as time goes by, I'm starting to feel wistful about some of the things I'm missing out on--considering that I'm capable of a lot more. Right now, I'm going to put a temporary moratorium on using all my resources looking for industry work..and, just concentrate on making some more money. Anyways, to the doctor tommorrow and to the temp agency...and--we'll see what falls out.

As for our living arrangements--I too have found them to be absolutely great. Our compatibility is pretty amazing. I have been upset with myself that you have shouldered more of the financial burdens in recent months--During the last few days--I've been torn up about doing anything to damage our friendship. I do intellectually feel that this will be seen as a minor glitch during a long and swell living arrangement---over the weekend, I got pretty dark and wondered if I'd eventually have to move in with my parents! (I know that isn't happenening, but--I'm a dramatic guy) I guess because I know that aside from lame employers...the problem really lies with me. I'm too easy going when things are going poorly at work--it isn't a pleasant feeling working full time and still not being able to make my expenses! Case in point--I still feel guilty about these transcripts--why should I feel guilty when they don't pay me? WHO KNOWS?

Anywyays, this e-mail is way too long. So, I'll get out of your hair. Thank you again for being great.
DG

Makes me wonder what's changed, eh?
Finally, to conclude, a few words from a convocation speech Steve Jobs made earlier this year:

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.