Ah. Monday morning has arrived. The excitement of blogging has worn away as the dull pain of reality sets back in. The high point was when my twitter account jumped from zero followers to one in a mere twenty four hours. That's 100 percent growth, ladies and gentlemen. Only in America can a startup double in size that quick. If I jump to 2, that may be growing to fast and I'll have to have a board of directors and staff. Me, Inc. is on fire. But,, now it's Monday. Rent and other bills are over due, and I have to work for what pays. It doesn't help me at all today, it goes on next months check. Everything I do seems to be about a hope for a rosier tomorrow. I may even start selling things. What did people do in a pinch before EBAY? From where you sit-you see a man who is out of time,of little means and spiraling downward fast. A man losing work and it's not the kind of work people clammar for anyway. A job that many would consider not suitable for a man of conscious and respect. A man with a spread out, dysfunctional family. A man whose kids hardly acknowledge his existence and he them. A Dad and brother whose distance is felt. He loves them all and thinks about them always ,but not much communication. There is a dog with a limp that seems attached to the wheelchair of the mans companion. They are all obviously happy despite the constant chaos. Chaos...Divorce and broken relationships all through his life but aren't they all broken until you get it right? A man that cars are afraid of.So many broken down cars. I imagine people see a lot. Truth is they probably do not notice. What they don't see is what I see in people, and myself. In my world, I finally see freedom. No competition. I have a smile on my face, even though I have some tough and deserved consequences coming my way.I have a smile on my face as I come to middle age and realize I still have the job I will always have. I am the CEO, the king, and lifetime leader of me. Every man or woman is the king or queen of there own world and absolutely nothing in the "real" world changes that. In the game of life, there are no losers. If you are still a contestant , you are a winner. There are only contestants and non contestants, folks. You really can't take it with you. We run ourselves and we get better at it. Nobody can walk a mile in your shoes....Take care of yourself, --Mark Burkenbine