Archive for December 2010
A Diversion
Sure, it’s winter here. We are in the midst of a winter storm warning, receiving a fresh dump of new snow, which will be followed by high winds and plummeting temperatures. I am quite pleased that it is again occurring on a Saturday, so I can sleep in, as opposed to engaging in the battle of trying to get to work. Let it snow, I say.
I still have fresh memories of the warmth of Portugal to rely on in times of winter extremes. Last night I was back into the images from our trip, creating a new ‘Words on Images’ for Ian that I’ll share with you all here… A diversion from snowy weather, especially for my local readers who haven’t headed south for the winter. Judy, you can use this as an antidote after looking at too many traffic cam images.
Words on Images
Falling Short
Strings of random electrons that turn out to be not so random often lead me to create something out of what I thought was absolutely nothing and I have been known to exclaim to Cyndie that absolutely nothing is precisely all I’ve got when I have been sitting in front of my computer for an extended period of time. Some weird law of the universe seems to have it that the times it most seems like I’ve got nothin’ just happen to be the very times that real gems will materialize. Sometimes I just need to get out of the way.
You never know what is going to happen next. Conversely, if I try too hard, or find that I have developed certain expectations for a result, the outcome has a high probability of falling short.
It’s a balancing act. Isn’t everything? We are all some version of the tight rope walker.
I’m not sure why I insist on practicing with my eyes closed.
May you find yourself in complete balance today, without needing to try hard at all. A real gem just might materialize for you, when you least expect it.
What’s It All About?
I’m not convinced that it matters whether or not I know that angry Democrats rebel against Obama’s tax-cut deal with Republicans. Or that Google delays netbook plans for Chrome OS to mid 2011. How about my awareness of the US appeals court ruling that the Food and Drug Administration can only regulate “e-cigarettes” as tobacco products and not as drugs, and thus cannot block their import? There were 55 people listed in the local obituaries for yesterday, and I didn’t know a single one of them. I could hold a door open for an elderly man in a public place and have no idea that he was a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor. (If he was 18 when it happened, he’d be 87 years-old now.) I can interact with an employee at work and not have a clue they had been involved in a domestic dispute the night before. I have walked past people who are experiencing inner despair and not paused to notice.
Then, when I am all alone in the darkness, I sense it all. It’s as if there is a time lag and when I stop long enough to free my attentions from the distractions of the day, it all catches up. Energy doesn’t vanish, it is transferred from one form to another.
With luck, I overcome the urge to be overwhelmed with grief for the drama of our human foibles, and I come to rest in the simple solution of feeling love for all those who need it. Love is what it is all about.
Fine Line
I woke up a couple of days ago and something seemed out of sorts. You know that sense you have before actually getting sick? There is nothing specific to point to that feels wrong yet, but you can still tell. “I’m getting sick.”
At that point, I imagine that if I had a microscopic view of myself, I would be able to see why I feel the sensation of getting sick. Before we even break out with that sore throat, or cough, or fever, there are things going on at the cellular level that we can detect, even though we can’t specifically identify.
On Sunday I became so tired in the afternoon, I fell into a totally involuntary nap, sleeping even though I had no intention to do so. My appetite has not been there at meal time, yet showed up with a vengeance at odd hours. However, Monday morning, I had no reason not to go to work. Since it was Monday, and I was going to work, I packed for the usual morning soccer games. Soccer felt like I’d aged a decade since the last time I played. Again, there was nothing specific to point to, but I felt slow, extremely tired, and enjoyed little success.
This is the time when I feel our self-talk can have greater impact. If I were to keep telling myself that I was getting sick, my body would easily oblige me. Conversely, I choose to focus my attention on the fact that days are passing and no specific symptoms of illness are materializing. Microscopically, my cells are doing what cells do to fight off any tiny invaders and everything is performing the way it is supposed to.
I believe there is a very fine line between getting sick and staying healthy when it comes to the regular onslaught of minor viral infections that we face on any given day.
For not feeling quite my normal peak healthy self lately, I must admit, I still feel pretty good. Nana nana nanna na.
Passionate Appreciation
In case you didn’t catch the first, or second, mention that I have made here about the VideoSong artists, Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn, since I discovered them about a week ago, I am going to make it a bit easier for you to get on the Pomplamoose fan bus. Here is one of my current favorites. Take a few minutes to watch and listen…
Another day
shows its face
I’m half awake
Half in space
And if you told me I was beautiful well that would just
be in poor taste.Another hour
Flying by
I’ve yet to shower
Yet to dry
And if you told me I was wonderful I probably would
wonder why.I am yours
You are mine
I am yours
You are mine
So it’s alright.Another plate
In the sink
We’re half the same
Half distinct
And if you told me I was perfect I’d assume you’d had
too much to drink.Another day
Fades away
We’re half asleep
Half in space
And if you told me we were dreaming I would pinch you
to prove we’re awake.
A Saturday Status Report
The weekend has arrived.
Shoveled the driveway last night.
Slept in this morning.
Still tired.
Morning sleep interrupted by vibrating cell phone.
Alarm company for day job calling to report unauthorized entry.
I authorized the entry.
Crawled back into bed under wonderfully warm covers.
Fell back to sleep.
The weekend has arrived.
Privilege
Sometimes I find it hard not to frame everything about this great big complicated world, from my limited personal perspective. But hey, it’s only natural. I am what I am.
There are moments when I get a sense that everyone in the world is focused on the same hot topic, even though there are a great many people who have little, if any, exposure to events beyond their immediate physical space. Heck, there are people in my own community that don’t have the financial ability to have an internet connection in their home, even if they are lucky enough to own a computer.
At first, it struck me as rather odd to witness financially impoverished remote mountain people in Nepal making regular use of cell phones. There are surprises to be had with regard to the technology found in underdeveloped regions, as well as with people surrounded by the latest technical trappings, who can’t afford to participate.
Realize this, folks… those of us who log in to the internet on a regular basis are members of a privileged group of people in the world. There is value in not continually taking that for granted.
Relative Something 