More OCD

Another thing I am obsessive about, as far as even wear goes, is on my microwave. Instead of pushing the 1 or the 2 all the time for the quick cook feature, I will use a combination of any of the numbers after 3 and stop the microwave before the time runs out. The only trouble with that is, it puts extra wear on the start and cancel buttons, so I only do it in moderation. I also make sure to evenly distribute use of my stovetop burners.

I am realizing this obsession is serious. It extends to the highway at times as well. Sometimes--not too often--I will drive with one tire exactly in the middle of the lane where most people's tires don't usually go. I dont' do it that often though because that makes the other tire drive exactly on the center or white line, and I don't want to wear those out either. Oncoming traffic is scarcely a factor.

My bed must be carefully slept on as well. Yes I rotate the mattress to avoid uneven wear. But I make sure to sleep at the edges and middle at different times. When I am sitting on my bed, I try to sit where my knees and calves would be if I was lying down because those parts of my body are not as heavy and don't wear as much on the mattress.

Should I see a professional?

Non-Disclosure Agreement

Life is great, but I can't tell you about it. I signed a non-disclosure agreement. lol

I spent this week in Tennessee getting business going and checking out the area. I found the area I want to live, and got the real estate contact information. Pending issues with my house here in Marshall, TX, I will be moving out there at the end of the summer.

In the same complex as my business meeting, I found Big Idea Studios, makers of Veggie Tales. Betty at the front desk took some pictures of me with Bob and Larry--the stuffed ones. They couldn't let me into the green room to have their digital images blended with mine.

I am actually and finally updating my blog because I cannot play paintball with Isaac on account of the rain.

I am doing an experiment right now. Have you had your keyboard long enough that there is an indentation from your right thumb on the space bar? My keyboard is so worn out in just over 2 years of use that I really have to feel for the bump on my "J." Anyway, it is taking me a lot longer to type this because I am using my left thumb for the space bar to try and even out the wear on it. Try it as you post comment to me.

I am nearly obsessive compulsive about even wear. To save my new carpets, I will walk closest to the coffee table, where the majority of foot traffic does not go. Going up the stairs, I will walk as close to the wall as possible because everybody else goes right down the middle. Of course, I haven't had new carpets in a while, so that is not a current obsession. What are your obsessive behaviors?

Day 6: Belize

Day 5 was another day at sea. We slept-in for a time, having stayed up so late the night before. We lounged on the deck, ate lunch, got ready for dinner. Then I went to Karaoke again for the 6pm session. I believe it was the second formal night of the cruise. After dinner every night Theresa and I watched the Theater show. She went immediately to bed after that because she wanted to make sure she was well-rested for what would be the highlight of her cruise: diving at Turnefee Atoll.

I was going to see the Mayan Ruins, and knew I had a long bus ride to get there. I wasn't concerned about my sleep. I did Karaoke until 1 am and then went to Medusa's Lair to dance. Again Tommy and Alex, the young ones, were there with their usual crowd. The night before I had met Michael from Connecticut who is an Attorney. I danced most of the night with him. This night, though, I danced with What's'isname from Boston. We said good night and went our separate ways, but when I got to my floor, he was coming down the other end of the hall with his "roommate" (male--remember I said he was from Boston, and that's how he talked). He didn't stop until he was at the door across the hall from mine. Funny.

The bus ride was very relaxing. I found a family (mother, father, son, daughter) at the ruins. I don't remember their names either. That's what I get for posting 3 weeks after my return. Here are some facts and pictures about the location.

http://www.delange.org/altunHa1/altunHa.htm

I was not really impressed with the tour guides, as they put a lot of emphasis on the practice of human sacrifice. To me, that was a very small part of Mayan culture and was not common until the decline of the civilization--hence the decline. My favorite part of the trip was on the bus back. We were stopped at one of the 4 stoplights in the whole country and I looked out my window and saw, amongst the minimally cared for buildings there was one with a bright coat of white paint and muted orange trim bearing a polished brown sign with the familiar golden words, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints. It was mission headquarters, and there at the door, atop the stairs, were two sister missionaries. No one noticed it, and I didn't point it out. I just enjoyed the feeling of being home in a foreign place. I belong to a worldwide church. That is real to me now.

In the evening, the after dinner show was a hypnotist. A number from our group sat in the front row so that we could be picked. Most of us rushed the stage when he simply said that he wanted anyone to come and fill the 20 chairs he had on stage. Not a single one of the 20 of us gave an authentic show. I got pulled front and center to order food from McDonald's and get really mad at the guy for messing up my order. At best, it was a nice little drama exercise. It was fun, though because people recognized me after that. As if they didn't already know me. There were just a few channels on the cabin TVs, and one was where they played video of ship activities. I was on there twice for the survivor and fear factor. But my grand performance would not be until tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

Day 4: The Rich Coast

This morning we dock in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. The bay is much prettier than the harbor at Panama. Costa Rica is truly beautiful. The city is still a Central American city, but it is designed to appeal to tourists, and they keep it clean. Bananas are one of their top 3 industries. Number one is--tourism. I suddenly feel like they like me. They really like me.

Again we had a long bus ride through narrow and winding roads to get to our target destination. Again, it was an eye strain to keep up with passing scenery. It was almost all banana plantations. They put blue bags over the bananas to keep the bugs from getting them. I did not fall asleep, though because Theresa and I did a lot of chatting. We stopped for a classier potty break than the ones we experienced in Panama. There was a gazeebo with juice and stuff for us. While we were standing around two fairly cute guys asked me to take their picture for them.

Finally we got to our destination. The river did not look especially menacing, so I entered the raft with trepidation in check. Of course the especially sleek, curly-haired latino guide in his wetsuit soothed any anxiety that might have remained. Otto drilled us on commands before we pushed off. The last command was "high ten" where we all raised our oars to the center and sout "Pura Vida!" It means, literally, life is pure. Otto told me the slang translation was "It's all good."

The rapids didn't go very fast, they were only a class two--cruiseship liabilities and all--but it gave us time to scan the vegetation for toucans and sloths. Termite tree nests can easily take the form of sloths. Because it was the dry season, again and still, we learned an extra command: "Bounce." That's what you do to get the raft off of the rocks. sometimes it didn't work so Otto got his wetsuit wet and pushed us off while we bounced like children on a red Kool Aid overdose.

It only took us one time passing another raft to learn the command "splash." Oars double as water distribution weapons against slower moving rafts. In fact, we did not have to be commanded in all things, and began to take initiative. For a time, the semi-placid waters did look like rapids.

This excursion was the most fun, definitely. We returened to the ship famished and took full advantage of the buffet offrings. Then we took a little time to relax and prepare for dinner. We diverted from our normal routine and ate in the Supper Club, which was gourmet dining for a cost. As a group, we were a little too rambunctious for the setting, but I think most on the ship knew us by now, and expected that.

That night was a pool party. Trey got selected for the lipsync contest and won, because he was pretty good, and because he had an awesome cheering section. There was live music from a calypso sort of band until 1 am. I had just finished a liter of Supergreens, so I was good to go. My friends were plenty willing to call it a night, though. I wished them good night and went to seek adventure.

The club was closed because the pool party that night was the club. Karaoke was closed for the same reason. There was nothing to do! I went to my room and got the mp3 headphones they gave me (loan) to practice for my upcoming performance. I took my music down to the vaccant Karaoke lounge and worked my number. I herd running overhead. Elephants? Wildabeasts? I went to investigate. I the adult was having a terrible time finding something to do and, lo, at 2 am the 9-11 year-olds have supervised activity until 3 am.

I wandered around the ship and found the two guys who had asked me to take their picture being equally bored. It was actually a whole group of under age 25 bored people. We finally gave up and went our separate ways. Still.......

!Pura Vida!