I Hate Creative People

I just watched a short video that made me remember that I hate creative people. Creativity doesn’t come easy for me, and I would say that I am not a creative person, I can be referred to as what is called an innovative emulator. I like to take the other guys creation and build on it to make it better. That is pretty much what General Motors does with car design. Their history was to let Chrysler do all the exciting new stuff like starters, alternators, push button transmissions, and much more. GM would sit back, and wait to see how the public reacted and if it was favorable they took the design and made it work better. They became the world’s largest car maker using that philosophy. They also made a whole bunch more money than did Chrysler.

Even so, I want to be creative, but I have to work my ass off to create something. I should say work my mind off, but I think you might know what I mean. Now that GM has lost the title of the world’s largest car maker to China they will have to be very creative to beat them at the game. Out of curiosity I searched the internet for car companies in China. I counted 74 on Wikipedia. Some of them are even Chinese. Most are existing companies from the world. The number one car builder in China today is Volkswagon. The peoples car is being accepted by the Chinese buyers more than any other brand. GM has three models that are on the charts but very low, Buick, Chevrolet, and Cadillac. Isn’t that all that GM sells anymore, anywhere?

My wandering mind just created a diversion that steered me off my creative course. Instead of discussing creativity I am spouting off car statistics. Like I said above, I hate creative people. I want to be one of them so bad, but my left leaning brain won’t tolerate any competition from the right side.

The closest I can come to being creative is my youngest grand daughter. She is one creative person I love. Her talent is amazing. Ever since she was born I have nurtured her toward being creative. No matter how crappy her drawings were, I complimented them. I always found something in them to rave about. Today, she is a talented artist, photographer, video specialist, and writer. On top of that she is a Mathlete which blows me away because I always believed that creative people can’t add or subtract.

So what provoked me to expound on this hatred of mine? Watch the short video above. It shows an older man who used some pretty simple tools from everyday life to fill his world with fun. I am so jealous. The video tells the whole story.

Customized Shoes by Jenna

A Matter of Definition

 We all know the English language is  complicated. Too many words  have different meanings. Put the words together into a string called a phrase and it really gets complicated. Here is an example of a phrase used in recent  news to demonstrate what what I mean; “Enhanced Interrogation Technique.”

A Matter of Definition

Making a Good Day Better!

Today, I planned to get a number of things done. It started with a breakfast omelet loaded with chopped garlic, onions, with wheat toast and coffee. Cooking the omelet was a good thing, and provided me with a sense of accomplishment followed by the reward of eating the omelet. Next, I watered my house plants, and soaked my orchids under the spray on the sink. I sent my daughter-in-law a birthday card. The kitchen was calling me back, so I chopped onions, garlic, carrots, celery, and put them in a large pot with green peas and a ham bone loaded with meat. Once the goodies were covered with water, I put it on the stove to boil and simmer.

While the soup cooked, I mounted a fixture for my new flat screen TV. At this point, my day slowed to a craawl. My son-in-law came over to finsih installing an electrical outlet for the TV. He is one of my favorite people so I spent time talking with  him about ponds, and the HVAC business. While he worked, I sat reviewing my income tax statements so I could mail them to the IRS. I also wrote some big fat checks to pay taxes. Jeff disappeared for a short time, but came back with my grandson. I actually got a chance to work on homework with my namesake.

 After a brief review of the meaning of antecedents on the internet, my grandson and I were underlining pronouns and their antecedents when the phone rang. It was the leader of my Wednesday night supper group asking if I minded if we brought the wives with us this evening. Of course the answer was yes.

My list of goal steps for the day went to hell this afternoon, but I can’t get into a snit about it because the activity that came to me was more important than my original plans. How much better could it get? Visiting with my oldest grandson, followed by dinner with my wife and friends. Goals are good, but fun with family and friends is better. Visiting with family and friends is one of my “high payoff activities.’ In fact it is number one on my list of “high payoff activities.”  This activity carries the highest priority and is the most important thing in my life. All else pales in comparison.

What are your High Payoff Activities?