There is a saying; you can only kid yourself for so long. I have to reflect on that today.

And I should say this straight first... I am not commenting on myself.  No, I’m thinking of someone else when I think of this saying.

I think in terms of someone wanting something that is not the way they want it to be, to be something else.  They want in a affect a lie they are telling them self to be true,  and they want that lie to be true for them so badly that they of course believe in their own lie.

That lie becomes a foundation for more lies.  And eventually a narcissistic person emerges for all to see.  Everyone sees a delusional person.  But the person telling this lie... they’ve got them self convinced everyone else is on board with their lie.  They falsely assume everyone is buying into their lie.  But it is indeed a solo effort.

At first people try to talk sense into this person.  Eventually, and frankly, people don’t want to hear it anymore and tune the liar out.  People around the liar go on as if they believe you but they don’t.  They just don’t want the drama.   They know the truth and they know the only way for them to maintain the truth is simply ignore your lies.

But when does it end?  When does it catch up with you?   When do you finally “get it.”  When do you finally understand that it is you that needs to look in the mirror, not everyone else? 

This is a burning question that every liar must eventually come to terms with....   more »

I have a customer named Jessica Forde.  She is a French actress.  Her site is http://www.jessicaforde.com.  Some how over the years as I have with many customers we became friends.  Yesterday we were catching up as I helped her with a customer service issue. We talk about simple things, and I keep her abreast of my family.  Strange enough she and I talked last year and I can't help but think she saw my divorce coming.  Go figure. She lives in Paris and we got to talking about my opinions on France, the French people and the culture. 

If you know me, you may know that I know little of France outside of what my father told me when I was a young boy.  He traveled to France a few times and had a lot to share.  What little else I know of the country I know from pop culture, news and world politics.   I also had one story my ex told me of from a trip I paid for her to take with a girlfriend of hers.  She told me that when they spoke English the Parisians where rude to them, but when they spoke Russian, they were treated in a more dignified manner and got better service. 

I bounced this story off of Jessica and the stories my father told me.   In the end she taught me a whole lot and I must say my opinion of the French has been swayed a good bit.  Before this conversation my interest has been in visiting the south of France through the French Alps from northern Italy.  I've wanted to visit many smaller towns outside of Paris.  I even wanted to visit Paris itself for the museums and sights, but thought why bother if I'm going ...   more »

This is an open note to all my friends, girlfriends family you name it... :)

I am not skinny.  Stop using that word around me please. Do I call you all fat?  Yes I get the "that's not a negative Lars." comments, but I don't buy it.  You wouldn't say it if you didn't really mean, "Put on some weight".  

Not cool.  I'm working out like crazy and you all know it.  I'm rock hard and that seems to mean nothing.  I'm not skin and bones, I'm athletic.  I'm fit.  But you can't use those words can you?   What is the problem here?  Is everyone else just so pre-occupied with their own weight that they feel inferior to me or something?  What gives?  I got to the point I stopped and asked total strangers or people that knew me only slightly like my bank teller if I was skinny, her response, "You look better than people in magazines." 

So what is the problem here?  Look folks, if you are afraid to say something else just say it.   It's like you all got together behind my back and said..."Let's all call Lars 'skinny' this week."   When one person said it, I discounted it.  When two people said it I was thinking about it.  Now I'm hearing it more and more.  I eat right.  I eat healthy, I may do too much running and rollerblading and working out right now, but that won't last forever.  Give me a break would ya?  My arms and shoulders will get bigger and then what will every one complain about? 

Something is really weird here and it ain't me.  Not now anyhow.  Please lay off with the "skinny" word.  It wore me thin (yep, pun intended).

Lars

Have you been to the beach lately?   It seems to be getting harder and harder to find a secluded place you can enjoy on your own.  From the time I was a teenager with my buddies through my twenties and thirties I've seen the Delaware beaches become harder to access with less friendliness. 

Mind you I never liked our beaches, the water is dark, the water is cold and the surf is neither rough or tame; it has no character other than bland.    But these beaches are all I've got in driving range and for that I covet what little I got.   The beach towns get wider, the open space gets crowded out and before you know it, you have to walk a heck of a long way to a public space.  I can't say it's friendly to couples or families.   It's certainly no fun for groups unless you plan it out.  It comes down to having a beach home and fortunately I have a couple friends with that situation.  A buddy of mine working at a radio station and an old girlfriend that has been a friend for years... but that's me. What about so many other people stuck with a two hour drive and hoping a day trip will be fun?

Many times when I make a complaint I offer an answer.  Today I just have a complaint.  Bummer for us all.