A Day in the Life + Trump on Trump
It feels a lot later than 7:30pm. It's getting dark outside, because it's rainy and it's also August and thinking about being September soon. I have water on to boil for tea. It feels like a good night to stay in and read a fairy tale. Or write about my day, because I haven't posted that way very much.
Today I slept in, and then I ran three miles, and then I read a book called "Hey Harry, Hey Matilda," which is about fraternal twins who email each other about their lives - it reads a little bit like country mouse and city mouse, except these two siblings are confused thirty-somethings having a pre-midlife crisis. In the end they remain confused and unemployed. A story about what culture would have you believe millennials are.
After, I went to an oral surgeon for a pre-consultation about getting my wisdom teeth removed. I am not thrilled about the procedure - light anesthesia low-key freaks me out, but I understand that it's a procedure to do while you're young and healthy or to do later, when you will regret not having done it years before. So it goes. The oral surgeon seems like a really nice guy. Also, the dentist chairs they have are covered in leather and seems really posh. There might also be wrist straps on the arms, but I tried not to notice them.
I prayed this afternoon. I don't like to say that, because it doesn't seem "cool" to the cool crowd and it doesn't seem humble to the humble crowd, but it was an important time of my day, in which I got to praise my maker, say thanks for every wonderful thing that has happened today - which has been pretty great - and to ask Him to look in on some things that have been weighing on my heart. If you really believe in a God who made the earth, moves mountains, and raises the dead to true life, he's worth visiting every single day, even if just for a check-in chat.
Then I read several chapters of Trump: The Art of the Deal. This book was written in 1987 and it's got a credited ghost-writer, but it reads really easily and sounds like Trump, and I'm reading it to see what his ideas really are. I love - it seems quite honest, and I feel I am learning quite a bit about our president's character, at least as it was in 1987. At that point he was still married to his first wife, which makes me much more inclined to like him as a person. But hearing him tell his stories of fabulous deals he's made, the things he's done and people he's met is really fascinating.
One of his tactics to getting a deal or promoting a deal is "truthful hyperbole." This guy is a walking contradiction, but he makes it work. He followed that tactic up with remembering that you still have to "deliver the goods." You can exaggerate all you want, but if you don't deliver, people will notice.
As far as it relates to his presidency, I still have no idea. I like to think I know what to think, but I'm still rather conflicted about his moral character. I have confidence in him as deal-maker, but not as much confidence in the motivation behind the deals except the want to win. I'll leave with the three quotes on the dust cover of the book, which are interesting in light of his political actions and personality.
Trump on Trump: "I like thinking big. I always have. To me it's very simple: if you're going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big."
This sort of stuff is what gets a man into the White House.
"I play it very loose. I don't carry a briefcase. I try not to schedule too many meetings. I leave my door open... I prefer to come to work each day and just see what develops."
Interesting theory for application in running a country. I'd be interested to actually be a fly on the wall in the White House for a day or two.
"I don't do it for the money. I've got enough, much more than I'll ever need. I do it to do it. Deals are my art form."
Reassuring yet concerning in the same phrase. No one wants a President who is doing it for the money - but doing it just to do it, with littler underlying motivation is almost more concerning. Where are his roots? This is my main squabble with the man. What is he living for?
Today I slept in, and then I ran three miles, and then I read a book called "Hey Harry, Hey Matilda," which is about fraternal twins who email each other about their lives - it reads a little bit like country mouse and city mouse, except these two siblings are confused thirty-somethings having a pre-midlife crisis. In the end they remain confused and unemployed. A story about what culture would have you believe millennials are.
After, I went to an oral surgeon for a pre-consultation about getting my wisdom teeth removed. I am not thrilled about the procedure - light anesthesia low-key freaks me out, but I understand that it's a procedure to do while you're young and healthy or to do later, when you will regret not having done it years before. So it goes. The oral surgeon seems like a really nice guy. Also, the dentist chairs they have are covered in leather and seems really posh. There might also be wrist straps on the arms, but I tried not to notice them.
I prayed this afternoon. I don't like to say that, because it doesn't seem "cool" to the cool crowd and it doesn't seem humble to the humble crowd, but it was an important time of my day, in which I got to praise my maker, say thanks for every wonderful thing that has happened today - which has been pretty great - and to ask Him to look in on some things that have been weighing on my heart. If you really believe in a God who made the earth, moves mountains, and raises the dead to true life, he's worth visiting every single day, even if just for a check-in chat.
Then I read several chapters of Trump: The Art of the Deal. This book was written in 1987 and it's got a credited ghost-writer, but it reads really easily and sounds like Trump, and I'm reading it to see what his ideas really are. I love - it seems quite honest, and I feel I am learning quite a bit about our president's character, at least as it was in 1987. At that point he was still married to his first wife, which makes me much more inclined to like him as a person. But hearing him tell his stories of fabulous deals he's made, the things he's done and people he's met is really fascinating.
One of his tactics to getting a deal or promoting a deal is "truthful hyperbole." This guy is a walking contradiction, but he makes it work. He followed that tactic up with remembering that you still have to "deliver the goods." You can exaggerate all you want, but if you don't deliver, people will notice.
As far as it relates to his presidency, I still have no idea. I like to think I know what to think, but I'm still rather conflicted about his moral character. I have confidence in him as deal-maker, but not as much confidence in the motivation behind the deals except the want to win. I'll leave with the three quotes on the dust cover of the book, which are interesting in light of his political actions and personality.
Trump on Trump: "I like thinking big. I always have. To me it's very simple: if you're going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big."
This sort of stuff is what gets a man into the White House.
"I play it very loose. I don't carry a briefcase. I try not to schedule too many meetings. I leave my door open... I prefer to come to work each day and just see what develops."
Interesting theory for application in running a country. I'd be interested to actually be a fly on the wall in the White House for a day or two.
"I don't do it for the money. I've got enough, much more than I'll ever need. I do it to do it. Deals are my art form."
Reassuring yet concerning in the same phrase. No one wants a President who is doing it for the money - but doing it just to do it, with littler underlying motivation is almost more concerning. Where are his roots? This is my main squabble with the man. What is he living for?
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