Recently, I’ve had some time to examine my life and some of the decisions I’ve made. Some early ones (early in my life) were pretty bad. My eyes were wide open afterward, but that’s about the only redeeming quality they had. Some later ones flew in the face of what society expected of me and when some of those failed, I have to say I was pretty devastated. I soaked back into the “normalcy” of the world. Since then, though, I’ve developed a kind of itch, you know, the one that feels like something is in your, um, collar? Yup, that’s the one, that really annoying itch.

I’m now faced with a decision to jump off the wagon or sit back and relax. I’m having a very hard time trying to relax. I have to face it, I’m more Hippie than Skippy.

According to Wired, Oxford researchers have listed the Top 10 most annoying phrases in the English language.

So, at this moment in time, I personally will use every single one of them in a post.

At the end of the day, and with all due respect, it’s a nightmare to read language like this. Some say I shouldn’t of. But it’s not rocket science and should be around to annoy everyone 24/7. I believe it will be fairly unique, and will absolutely be ignored by anyone with any sense.

NPR has a pretty good article up in the wake of Obama’s win. There’s a ton of goodwill and expectation out there. Will it be wasted while people wait around for things to be fixed for them? I was out in the yard yesterday and people came jogging by, pumping fists and shouting “Obama!” I’m glad to see it, but I think the question that needs to be answered after the dust settles is:

“Why not ask — or at least ponder — what we can do to help? Let’s get out of citizen-as-victim mode and think of giving as well as taking.” – Dick Meyer, NPR

The past eight years have been the most divisive I can remember in my lifetime. Much worse than what Ani DiFranco said of the Reagan/Bush years, “Watching capitalism gun down democracy” in Your Next Bold Move. Can we recover from the marginalization and cynicism and make a better world?

The election night “nah-nah-nah-nah-nah” felt pretty good, but can the tongue wagging stop and can we actually follow a man who wants us to do more than shop or put yellow ribbon stickers on the car? I think he said it wasn’t going to be easy. Are you ready for it? What are you gonna do now that the time for bitching is over?