Cicadas & Rascals & Steve Jobs

The cicadas are singing loudly in the trees, the grass is green, and the weather is lovely. Mary and Jonathan are off to Nashville visiting the sights and going to a Rascal Flats concert.

I'm a little more than half way through the Steve Jobs bio. I disliked dear Steve heartily for the first third of the book. I am able to appreciate his genius a little more now in the middle part. He is still an arrogant, emotional, unappreciative sob, but he has some good moments. And anyway, I guess he had a narcissistic personality disorder, and who knows what else. His passion for excellence and purity is attractive. An interesting tale and very well-written. The author of the bio certainly does not pull any punches. And people were not shy about telling how Jobs abused them, took credit for their ideas,  made mistakes, etc. etc.  Making mistakes. That's an interesting part of the story. Jobs made so many, but his passion compelled him forward and apparently his personality was not ruffled by them--no doubt he employed his reality distortion field. I think when we more mediocre folk make mistakes we become paralyzed or embarrassed about them instead of focused and energized from the lesson.

Here are a few quotes:

Steve was famous for his "reality distortion field"--he seemed to believe that the force of his personality and vision could change reality, but it did not always work: "The reality distortion field can serve as a spur, but then reality itself hits."

"He was so weirdly charismatic that you almost had to get deprogrammed after you talked to him."

"He lies not because it's in his interest, he lies because it's in his nature."

And when Jobs was headed back to Apple after being ousted years earlier, he wasn't taking a salary or any stock; he was just passionate about the industry and wanted to have a chance to move it forward. But his friend Larry Ellison, who was going back with him, worried about not making any money. So Steve says to him, "Larry, this is why it's really important that I'm your friend. You don't need any more money." Lines like that cover a multitude of sins.

Jonathan Arrives

Well after weeks and months of preparation, Jonathan arrived Saturday evening. Apparently all our efforts were worthwhile because there has been no sign of his allergies to cats. And dear Soccer the cat is relegated to the back hallway, the garage, and outside--much to his dismay. We had a cookout party with some of Mary's adults friends--teacher & Bluesman, Sharon and Doug, William and daughter Ruth, Stephen and Joyanna, Eliz & Aaron. Everything was lovely and the patio looked mucho great. The most amazing thing, perhaps, has been the weather. Instead of the dreaded dog days of Knoxville we have had low 80's and low humidity and plenty rain to keep things green. We have never had an August like this!

Jonathan and Mary went to the Sunsphere today, and tonight they are having the sibling get together. :) We have been having a wonderful time--Jonathan is the perfect mix of friendliness and fun--knows how to express appreciation and basically is a very great guy. He loves "his" room that we redid for him. :)

It's a relief not to be cleaning! My hands look rather bedraggled. Will post some pics here later.
I have been such a delinquent blogger.