It's a very tasty apple. And it seems that with every bite, somehow it manages to grow larger.

What started out as a project by a couple of guys just chillin' around and doing the college thing, has turned into a force that has undoubtedly changed the way the world functions. Google has changed the world. It's a bold claim, but it's been made before, and I'll make it again.

The driving force behind Google seems to be a desire to take a problem that we didn't even know we had, and create or acquire and develop on top of another service in order to solve that problem. Back before Google Maps there was Yahoo! Maps and Mapquest (and some other ones that aren't big enough for me to remember off the top of my head.) These services were good, they were usable, and most people were satisfied with them, but Google has gone above and beyond them. Sure, the directions are never perfect, but neither are the ones from the other guys, but when I need directions I turn to Google.

When I need to do product research, I turn to Google. Google Groups is a great place to find reviews, or just a web search to bring up the relevant pages on Amazon or epinions or all those other sites. Looking for an image? Google. Entertaining video? YouTube (you know who owns them, right?) FeedBurner, Blogger, GrandCentral, Google Documents/Spreadsheets, the list is much larger than that, and it keeps growing.

Google keeps track of the traffic statistics for this blog. They also provide the ads that I make absolutely no money from (and am going to rearrange and make less obtrusive with the new layout and design.)

I've gotten all the way down to this point in the post, and I just remembered the biggest Google service that I rely on - Gmail. I'll ramble on for pages about how much I love Gmail, so I'll just say that I think it's an incredible email service.

What worries me though, is that all companies come and go. Google is strong now, they're the biggest player in this market, but what happens when they start to falter? Will someone else rise up and dominate the internet, the worldwide market place? Will someone else change the way people interact with each other and the way we share and spread information? Or will Google just become an unstoppable force?

Just from looking at the clothes that I wear, it's easy to tell that I've still got that student mentality going on. T-shirt and shorts, t-shirt and jeans (sometimes), t-shirt and khakis (with as many pockets as I can find) - that's pretty much how it goes every day. Sometimes I'll toss on a long sleeved shirt on top, and probably roll up the sleeves, but for the most part I'm a t-shirt guy.

Why?

It feels good. It's comfortable. I'll dress up when I feel the need, like when I'm doing something special with someone special, but other than that, it's pretty rare.

I think 90% of the shirts that I wear are either from thinkgeek.com or free shirts I snagged from various bands. My posting mojo is really low tonight, sorry about this. :P  …. Anyway, thinkgeek.com, I recommend checking it out. Right now they've got their t-shirt grab bag sale going on. You pay $6, you get a random t-shirt design. I couldn't help myself, I ordered 4 this morning, and I also ordered a free STFU Beer Stein.

I've been bombarding myself with information and experiences these last few weeks. And because of that, a lot of information (most of which sounds like good old common-sense stuff) has started to work its way in to my daily life. I've noticed a dramatic improvement in my outlook, my happiness, and my overall well-being.

A lot of it, even though it makes perfect sense, is hard to hold on to 24/7, and I have noticed times where I go against what makes sense and fall back into my old patterns. But change takes time, so I don't let that discourage me at all. I think it's impossible for me to list all of the things that have contributed to the changes that are going on, since I don't think I'm even aware of all of them, but here is a list of a few.

Only you can make yourself happy

People put so much time into working towards that one thing, or that one person that always eludes them, but that they are certain is the key to making themselves happy. I was guilty of this. VERY guilty. Do you want to know what the "ultimate secret to being happy" is? You have to decide that you're going to be happy. Start the day with a smile, get excited by challenges that come up, take charge of how you're feeling and own the day. This one is easy to fall back from, but I can tell you that it gets easier and it gets better once you make the decision to take control of your happiness.

If you've got some happiness going on, share it!

I know I just said that other people can't make you happy, but you have to take that in the context it was presented. If you're miserable, it doesn't matter what comes along, or how happy it makes you feel - that underlying miserableness will destroy it after awhile. But, once you have a solid foundation, that's when the real magic can start to happen. Once you get to that point, if you find someone that makes you happy it's much more likely to be able to work out, and in the process you'll be able to brighten their life. And that's what it's all about, it's no good to just be happy by yourself, to truly reach the next level you need to be able to bring someone else in to share the experience with.

Worrying doesn't do as much good as your instincts seem to think

I was a chronic worrier, and I'm still fighting to overcome this. Worrying is great if you're facing impending danger and need your body to get all chemically imbalanced in order to deal with it. But a lot of the time worrying is just a habitual reaction to a fear that probably doesn't make much sense anymore. Someone tells you that they're afraid of clowns - you might laugh - but if they're going to have a possible run-in with a clown, they might be worrying them self sick. I had way too many "clowns" in my life that I was afraid of, and worrying about facing them didn't do me any good.

Don't screw things up because you're thinking too much

I also had this horrible habit of thinking things out way beyond what was rational. I destroyed a relationship because of this and the worrying (these two go hand in hand to destroy a person.) It got to the point where I was so off the mark, that I started trying to protect myself from something that wasn't even a problem. I was thinking things like "Well, I'm probably just driving her nuts.. so I won't call her. If she doesn't hate me, she'll call." And, let me tell you, that's one of the stupidest things I could have ever convinced myself to think. Like all the others, I'm still trying to fully integrate what I've learned about this into my life, but it's gotten to be much better.

Sometimes life gives you more than one chance to make things right

The biggest regret that I have involves losing the one thing that mattered the most to me. But I think I've been given another chance, a chance to make things right. The difference this time is that I'm more prepared, I know more about myself now, about how I react in certain situations, and I think I can catch myself now before I fall into any self-destructive patterns again. I believe in fate when it's convenient, and think that if something is meant to be, if you're supposed to end up in Place A or have Object B or accomplish Amazing Thing Z, then it'll happen. It might take a few tries, but what is right for you will come into your life when it's the right time.

Drinking, having fun, and riding big-wheels - It has to be one of the best ways to raise money for charity that I've heard of.

These kind folks are riding big-wheels and reliving some of the best moments of their childhood, all while raising money for the Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation.

Check out their website at bigwheelrally.com and have a look at the video below

Sometimes I like to eat my lunch at home. Even if it means driving to one side of town to go to Culver's and then driving all the way to the other side to pull into my garage. It's like 5 miles, but part of me feels like there may be something wrong with it. It doesn't really matter though, it's more of a comfort thing.

I noticed a package on my front porch when I pulled in today, which kind of surprised me a bit. All I could make out was the green and white coloring on it and the word "pledge." The first thing through my mind was "crap.. another group that has figured out that they can guilt me into donating to worthy causes." I was wrong. It was free stuff.

Maybe a month ago, I ran across the site eatjustonemore.com which is a promotion from del monte (the fruit people) and starkist (the tuna people. They were offering (they're out now) a "starter pack" for healthier living, which included a pedometer, recipes, coupons, that kinda stuff. I wanted the free pedometer, so I gave their marketing department all the information they needed to make a few bucks off of me.

So that's what was in the box. A pedometer, a notepad of shopping list sheets, a pamphlet with recipes and coupons (there were coupons for dog treats and stuff too, I didn't read any of it, so I'm not sure if they are suggesting that I eat them to be healthy), an ID badge type clip with a loop off of it (no idea what this is for), a silicone wrist band, and… drumroll.. a packet of tuna.

Someone sent me tuna in the mail.

Don't ever send me tuna.

Really.

So, that's pretty much the highlight of my day - I got a box with a pedometer and tuna in it. Top that.

No lolcats today.. but still cute

Capers the otter (click the picture to go to the youtube video)

And the panda-puppy

We've had what I'll call a love/hate relationship.. but she's back, and I'm glad. We had a long talk, and she's had a few adjustments made, so I think things will work out this time. Hopefully she doesn't flood my apartment again. Here we are, me and my dishwasher, reunited at last: