The Reality of Life.....

With the holiday's right around the corner every day I'm reading about gift giving. Things you should buy and things you should not buy.

Yesterday Monster.com had advice for interview follow-up gift giving.

Today it's office gifts. Items you should never give to co-workers.

Anything sexual
Perfume or cologne
Items that violate company policy
Things with strong scents
Insensitive items

There are lots of reasons why these gifts should stay at home, or even better, the store. There are lots of alternative suggestions by self proclaimed experts.

A life coach is quoted as saying anything sexual could be perceived as sexual harassment.

Someone from the Southern Institute of Etiquette and Protocol offered the opinion that giving perfume "May remind them of their ex or give them the idea you want something more than a business relationship."

As for items that violate company policy a business and career coach writes, you should only give items that would be appropriate to show in a business meeting.

Strong scents are covered by a just plain consultant who gives this advice: people may be allergic or bothered by candles or flowers.

Some of the gifts they suggest are; picture frames, staplers with a lifetime supply of staples, Forever Stamps and movie tickets.

I agree there are inappropriate office gifts. I don't know why anyone would need these experts to point them out. All anyone needs is a small amount of common sense.

Ah, if I was thirty years younger. I would be a C.S.C. or Common Sense Consultant.

Friday, November 22nd will be the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. I'm old enough to remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news. I watched non stop (reality) television over the next several days. 

The past two weeks I've watched several excellent documentaries on the assassination and the Cuban Missile Crises.

According to a PBS show it took approximately TWELVE HOURS for a message sent from the Russian Embassy here in the U.S. to reach Moscow. They wrote a telegram that was picked up by a Western Union bicycle messenger. Twelve hours.

Today we use Twitter to instantly save a contestant on "The Voice."

No wonder there are so many consultants and experts today. There's so much shit out there its easy to get overwhelmed. We need all the help we can get.

Reality television sure has changed over the years.

I'm not a fan of reality entertainment. I don't like the drama and don't think its reality. I'm reality, my life is reality. If I was a reality show no one would watch. It would be boring as hell, nothing would happen. 

Now we see Chuck sitting in front of the computer. Now he's eating lunch. Now he's going to the bathroom (no you can't follow me) and now he's making dinner. Oh, Wanda just got home. Now we see Wanda sitting in front of the computer.

I'll not list my least favorite programs because I know some of you watch them, and that's fine. It's entertainment. But don't take them seriously.

From "TV Guide" November 11-24, 2013: Nothing But the Truth, Reality TV's 60 most startling moments.

1. Jon and Kate Gosselin announce their divorce on "Jon & Kate Plus 8"
2. Sue Hawk delivers her "snakes and rats" speech on "Survivor"
3. Justin Timberlake cries on "Punk'd"
4. Kelly Clarkston wins the first "American Idol"
5. Pat Loud asks Bill for a divorce on "An American Family"

Two of the top five "startling" moments involve divorce.

The other five of the top ten are moments from "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire", "The Bachelor", "The Real World: Seattle", "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" and my favorite, "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica" 

Jessica Simpson ate a can of tuna fish then asked, "Is this chicken....or tuna fish? I know it says tuna, but it says 'Chicken....by the Sea.'"

Is this reality? Could anyone that stupid manage to put on pants?

As a public service I'm listing some of the other "startling moments" over the years of reality television. You may want to stop reading now.

Steve-O (don't know him....O is his last name?) swallows, then vomits up, a live goldfish on "Jackass" (2000). Sorry I missed this.

Paris Hilton visits Walmart on "The Simple Life" (2003). Oh look, insignificant people.

Monica Lewinsky hosts "Mr. Personality" (2003). He called his Mr. Happy.

Contestants drink liquefied rat on "Fear Factor" (2004). We have a wonderful Zinfandel to go with your rat.

Mini-Me Verne Troyer rides a scooter naked and pees in a corner on "The Surreal Life" (2005). And I was sorry I missed the vomiting gold fish? How could I have missed this fine piece of programming?

TV Guide lists an additional FORTY-FIVE. If you're interested in more important, meaningful and entertaining television moments I'm sure you can find them on-line, somewhere.

Don't we all sometimes wish we had done more with our lives? On occasion I do. 

Aside for a few very lucky, or very driven, or very lucky and driven people, the majority of us are going to live ordinary, sometimes mundane lives. 

The secret is to be happy with what you have and be satisfied with your life.

That's reality and no one needs an expert or a consultant to explain it.