Stuff That Matters in Life

Though bamboo has been used in buildings in China and elsewhere in the world for millennia, it has not penetrated the industrialized construction market (though bamboo scaffolding is used in Asia in the construction of high-rise buildings)

A USC prof is researching and promoting the use of bamboo in place of steel for construction. (Do you have any comments, Dan?)
When we were in Hong Kong a few years ago, the sight of bamboo scaffolding going up a high rise building was unbelievable. We are not talking a few stories high, but the bamboo stretches up 20-30 stories high that seemed to sway in the breeze.

Would you walk on that??

I hope they tie the sticks together with really tight knots!

I also worry about running out of bamboo for the pandas if the use of bamboo becomes widespread.

“Gravity and the sun are our enemies.” – enemies of our skin and of aging.

My friend demonstrated Jafra skin care products on me. I “exfoliated” my face, spritzed on something, dabbed on anti-wrinkle creme, rubbed on royal jelly that “penetrates to the third level of skin cells.”

I am fighting back against the enemies!

I drove to the Crenshaw area yesterday to meet a client. Not far from her house, on Crenshaw Blvd., I see a humongous church building, a multi-level parking structure, and several buildings on Crenshaw Blvd. bearing the church’s name.

This West Angeles Church of God in Christ has over 22,000 members. I am glad to see Christians having such a presence and influence in that community. However, my client who lives just a few blocks away from the church, is not a believer.

A caller asked Dr. Laura what to do:

She is pregnant and her shacked up boyfriend just told her he is leaving her. She had been living with him and his small children from a previous relationship…

Why do these people get into these messes? Why are girls so desperate for a man? Can’t they tell a loser when they see one?

“Morals should be seen as wisdom, not as annoyances.”

It is interesting how we remember things when it becomes relevant to us.

Everytime I see dirty dishes in the sink, I remember my mother. I want to procrastinate washing them and say, “I’ll wash them later.”

Then I remember what my mother used to say.

Whenever we have people over for dinner, she would wash the dishes immediately after the meal is done. While everyone sits around the table chatting, she would be in the kitchen doing the dishes. My dad, as well as all the friends there would tell her, “Sit down and relax. Don’t be in such a rush to wash the dishes.”
Her reply was, “It’s my job whether I do it now or later. If I relax now, I would still have to wash them later.”

I think of that whenever I want to walk away from the sink of dirty dishes. If I don’t do them now, I will still have to do them later.

Ten years ago, I would not remember my mom saying that. But now that it is relevant to me, events and words spoken over 20 years ago suddenly comes back to my mind. And it’s such a minor incident too, why would I even remember that?

What we say and do may in fact have more effects than we realize. People may not react to them at the time, but when they cross that road, they may remember your words and example, whether good or bad.

Have you ever noticed that when you are anticipating an exciting event, such as a trip, a presentation you have to make, or an important test, the dreams you have about it are never good?

I dreamt last night that on the way to a speaking engagement, I got a flat tire. The day before, my dream was while I was speaking, there were so many crazy distractions I couldn’t give the main point of my presentation before the time was up. The other night, the dream started out positive – the room was full with people waiting for my talk – and then I realized I was late and not prepared.

I want a dream where everything turns out great with a happy ending.

At the office today a man called, soliciting for work, asking if we were hiring anyone to paint or do small jobs. I kindly said we don’t need anyone at this time.

Then he started cussing me out with very obscene language.

Where did that come from? Why do people think they can treat other people any way they want? Is there no respect, dignity and decency in this world?

Sure, this guy may be mad at not being able to find work. Maybe he’s made a zillion calls and hasn’t gotten a job. Maybe he received a nasty reply from the phone call he made before this one. Whatever his situation, he is not justified in spitting out his anger at me. Proper self-control and respect for decorum apparently is not in this man. He certainly burned all chances of ever getting work here.
Lately, I’ve been feeling tired, not sleeping well, and have a mouth full of canker sores. I feel justified in being abrupt and impolite with my family. While I do try to hold my tongue, remembering to say something nice or don’t say anything at all, I realize I have lost self-control with my words as well.

So I learned a lesson from that awful phone call that didn’t help me start the day off well.

I forgot to mention this. When we went to Lake Gregory a couple of week ago, we successfully located a geocache. That was a highlight I don’t want to forget.