"Long" Weekend Ponderings...

It was nice to get President's Day off from work... especially since I had to work on Saturday. Can I just say that working on Saturdays SUCKS??? It's really not fair. Jarrett worked all weekend too, but at least he got paid for it. Hmmm...

So, once again, the weekend is nearly over, and it's time to get back to the daily grind. Some funny things from this weekend...

- I went to "Da Bronx" ... that was pretty interesting. Nice Target store there, though! I stocked up on some clothes from the Luella collection... I tried to buy makeup, but everything was picked through and tested - GROSS!! We did eat dinner at the Target Pizza Hut, though... for like, $7. Don't ask me how I ended up with two personal pizzas, two drinks, and two breadsticks for that price, but whatever... I'm not questioning it. It was like 14 degrees outside, so I would've paid $20 just to stay indoors, but it was refreshing to have a cheap meal and get to stay indoors, too!

- I saw a taxi... with chrome rims! That was way weird for me... usually, you only see busted up hubcaps, but this guy really cared about his cab, I guess!

- I read THE GLASS CASTLE by Jeannette Walls. Awesome memoir/autobiography! I couldn't put it down and had to read it in 2 days. If you haven't read it, definitely check it out. I have such great admiration for people like Ms. Walls... to hear about the tribulations that she and her siblings went through, and then to see the successful person that she has become - that is truly an inspiration. Part of me is also saddened to hear about the poverty that is in our country. I'm not referring directly to the Walls family here, because I think they were far richer than any other family in some respects, but about the general population of the communities where they lived. Reading the news and seeing things on TV, we as Americans are led to believe that starving children are only in third-world countries... that we are so prosperous and well-educated and cultured... it's all such a joke. I don't know... I feel like there is so much more we, as citizens of this country, and as humans, can do for each other. I don't have a lot, and I work hard for what I have, but some of these people are destitute compared to me. What is my role in all of this? What is yours? There comes a point in life when we are cognizant enough of our surroundings to directly and significantly impact them. Choosing to ignore what our responsibilities are seems to be the norm of our society. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a victim of this selfishness. I live in the bubble called Manhattan, where everyone is wrapped up in what they look like, where they live, and how big their bank accounts are. Honestly, what is the result of our daily toiling? So that we can buy more designer handbags? Or have the latest trendy jeans?

Just some things I need to get off of my chest. I know I've been thinking a lot about going back to school... sometimes I wonder if pursuing an MBA is a frivolous thing. I wonder if I should study Public Policy and be someone who is actually out there, driving what is happening in our country, rather than trying to land some six-figure job so that my [Prada or Louis Vuitton] wallet can get fatter. As I've been doing some self-evaluation, I have also been reviewing my life purpose and priorities.