Random Thought Thread

carnifex knifeworks said:
I'm in my early 40s and recently had my first child. We're planning on having more.

I've noticed as I get older, my inclination to be left alone, lack of interest in being "social", etc. has increased. It's not that I require isolation or that I want to be alone. I love my wife, my daughter, my dogs, and my friends. I like spending time with these individuals I'm close with.

I go to church every week, I'm not antisocial. I just don't feel motivated to bring new people into my life and it seems to me to be more effort than it's worth. Probably not a great perspective to have, but it's where I'm at right now. I just don't feel like explaining who I am, that I don't get offended easily, that I'm upfront and if I have an issue with you, I'll tell you, etc.

So here's my question for everyone. Do you think this is because I'm getting older? Is it because I'm so busy with starting my family and going to school? Is it just because I'm a jerk? I'm just curious about what everyone's opinion is.
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Well I'm 58 and I've been that way my whole life. I'm an introvert and prefer to be left alone. I'm the odd ball that can go to a function and nobody talks to me and I leave very happy. Wife tells me I come off rude but thats just who I am. When I do talk I'm very blunt and don't use a lot of fluff make you feel good words. I'm a commercial construction superintendent and when you screw up I tell you clear you screwed up and don't do it again. Being a gen x I really don't care about your feelings, just do your job. So as you can imagine my circle of friends is fairly small but those I do have I'm loyal to the core. My best friend happens to be my wife and when I'm home we do everything together. My projects are never in town so I'm in my apartment alone most of the time except when my wife is there.

So do I come off as a jerk or rude? Probably but you know what? I DON'T CARE.
Most think I'm unapproachable but I'm not. If you want to come talk to me I don't get mad I just don't need it. I don't like fake niceness.
Do I like meeting new people? Yes but again I don't need it.
 
Being rude to folks is not a feature, it's a bug.

It costs nothing to be civil...and I've learned from decades of interrogations that it's much easier to raise the temperature, (as needed), than to bring it back down.

(These days we are primarily shut-ins by choice...but those that matter, matter.)
 
Blues said:
Being rude to folks is not a feature, it's a bug.

It costs nothing to be civil...and I've learned from decades of interrogations that it's much easier to raise the temperature, (as needed), than to bring it back down.

(These days we are primarily shut-ins by choice...but those that matter, matter.)
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I don't go out of my way to be rude. I am working on not coming across as rude as I'm always needing the guys to listen to what I'm saying. I am a schedule controller so I'm trying to help everyone be successful. I can easily be a bulldog but I have learned I have to bark less often if I want people to listen and know I have everyones success in mind. You are correct it irritates me when someone comes out of the gate screaming and yelling what they want to happen. I have coworkers on other projects that do that and most of our subcontractors like to be on my projects. I like to cut up and have fun but then get to work and knock it out.

Thanks for that reminder Blues Blues
 
One of the (other) barometers which I keenly watch (other than the CPK marketplace) to read the tealeaves in anticipation of economic headwinds, is the price per barrel of crude oil. The downward trajectory toward $50 PB is worrisome and on top of that, OPEC+ just announced planned increase in production which will only flood the market with more oil!

While this may sound great for those who drive vehicles thirsty ICE engines, I would say not-so-fast to that! The oil companies have learned that people have gotten used to paying higher prices (until they aren't!) so what will most likely see will be this cat and mouse game of shutting down some refineries to control the supplies for gas (petrol). Here in CA (I do admit that we have other additional issues in here) it is not uncommon to still see $6+ per gallon of 87 octane in some rural parts! Here is San Diego, $4.80+ is commonplace for a gallon which is pretty much what the prices were when oil was in the high $70s PB!
 
Casinostocks said:
One of the (other) barometers which I keenly watch (other than the CPK marketplace) to read the tealeaves in anticipation of economic headwinds, is the price per barrel of crude oil. The downward trajectory toward $50 PB is worrisome and on top of that, OPEC+ just announced planned increase in production which will only flood the market with more oil!

While this may sound great for those who drive vehicles thirsty ICE engines, I would say not-so-fast to that! The oil companies have learned that people have gotten used to paying higher prices (until they aren't!) so what will most likely see will be this cat and mouse game of shutting down some refineries to control the supplies for gas (petrol). Here in CA (I do admit that we have other additional issues in here) it is not uncommon to still see $6+ per gallon of 87 octane in some rural parts! Here is San Diego, $4.80+ is commonplace for a gallon which is pretty much what the prices were when oil was in the high $70s PB!
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Ouch 6+ per gallon
 
Another Californian here, the other problem is that two refineries are closing in the next year (Phillips 66 in LA and Valero in Benicia). And the Chevron refinery in Richmond seems to be having trouble.

I dunno exactly what that does to capacity, but I know prices spike in the Bay Area every time the Richmond refinery goes offline, which seems to be most summers.
 
Blues said:
Being rude to folks is not a feature, it's a bug.

It costs nothing to be civil...and I've learned from decades of interrogations that it's much easier to raise the temperature, (as needed), than to bring it back down.

(These days we are primarily shut-ins by choice...but those that matter, matter.)
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“Be nice, until it’s time to not be nice” - James Dalton 😅

Back in college, I tried to always schedule my classes to fit between noon and 5pm, so I wouldn’t have to wake up too early, or have classes in the later evening.

That generally meant I had 10 minutes between each class, some of which were on opposite sides of campus.

I wound up becoming roommates with a guy who became a really good friend (we had the same mentality about almost everything. What’s even funnier is that we looked so similar, that classmates had a tendency to mistake us for the other person).

We were at a party one time, chatting with some gals, when one of them piped up, “You know, you guys are actually really cool and fun to hang out with. You should really try smiling more, though. I’ve seen the two of you on campus many times, but you always looked like you were on your way to kick someone’s ass, walking really fast with this serious look on your face”, and the other gals chimed in laughing, “Yeah, we had the same impression”.

We made a concerted effort to try smiling more, and found ourselves being approached a lot more frequently, lol.

I have to admit, though, it takes a conscious effort for me, even to this day. If I’m not consciously thinking about it, I’m told that I still look like I’m looking to kick someone’s ass. Apparently, I have the male version of RBF 😂
 
bluemax_1 said:
We made a concerted effort to try smiling more, and found ourselves being approached a lot more frequently, lol.

I have to admit, though, it takes a conscious effort for me, even to this day. If I’m not consciously thinking about it, I’m told that I still look like I’m looking to kick someone’s ass. Apparently, I have the male version of RBF 😂
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Tell me about it. I just came back from the DMV a couple of hours ago. My image on the new license, (as usual), looks like I just told a panhandler to walk away or suffer the consequences.

I love to laugh, and spend a good portion of each day cracking up, but I can't put on a smiley face on command. Never could, since even before the first class picture in public school.
 
Just back from a little walk.
Kobe got a couple biscuits.
Me and my honey got a dram of Eagle Rare.
Not much on day drinking, but it's fun once in a while.

Mama's meatballs, spaghetti and some old vine zin for dinner.

It could be worse.
 
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