I’m one of those creatures whose regular sleeping habits have been pretty constant since I was in my mid-twenties. Mostly it involves about 5 hours a night with at least one power-nap during the day. Any more than that and sluggishness rules my day. However, on occasion I will afford myself an extra hour like I did this morning. So, that’s what I’m counting this week.
Archive for January, 2009
Da Count – that extra hour
30
Jan
there is a direct link to sunshine…
28
Jan
… and my mood… especially if the sky has been overcast for more than 3 days. I noticed it when I experienced my first winter here… a particularly dreary one when we were socked in with fog and overcast skies for almost 2 months straight. The depression actually caused me to become physically ill. Yeah, I’m one of those. I seriously doubt the more northern climates would find me at optimum… at least for those dark months.
The sun came out yesterday and my mood lightened instantly. (Sure, take the pun if you must.) Possibilities became tangible again… and not just because I could sun dry the laundry either. Though I have to admit the realization of that did put an extra spring to my step. Work output in other areas rose significantly as well. I think that’s proof enough, don’t you?
There may be more later. In the meantime… here is something to watch.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
ok… I’ll throw you a little something
27
Jan
Part of my time has been taken setting THIS up. There are also other projects I’m getting while also tending to Mum. Yeah, it has and continues to be a challenge but it’s life… and it still moves forward. Short post, I know… and postings and visits may be sporadic for a bit. Just sayin…
Anyway, if you are in the Big NO… come out this weekend for the kick-off with this.
I don’t really have much to say…
25
Jan
… so, I won’t. Perhaps that will change in the morning. We’ll see. Anyway, hope you all have a good start to the week though.
random stuff – useful & time wasters
23
Jan
Haven’t done one of these in a while… so, here goes!
- Here are some household tips and and uses for everyday things you should be able to find around the homestead.
- If you missed “Life on Mars” or at least the first 7 episodes… go here to catch up before the season continues on January 28.
- Keep track on how the new American President is keeping his campaign promises with the Obameter.
Have a great weekend.
Da Count – simplifying life
23
Jan
It has been a constant goal of mine for a while now. To simplify.
In my younger years my aspirations involved a complex web that I thought would lead to a certain sense of sophistication. As the complexities mounted so did my stress levels. A certain amount of stress is good… and over abundance… not so much. It really gets in the way of creativity and deviates from one’s own authentic-ness.
The title of Solitaire’s blog “To Thy Own Self Be True” comes from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It is a line spoken by Polonius to Laertes (his son) just before his departure back into the real world. Within the context of the play it can be argued the line is the crux of the plot… one the protagonist never follows thus causing chaos until it is too late. Drama Lit. aside… the speech is actually one of the best (and simple) recipes to leading a simple and authentic life.
Anyway, as the years and experiences have mounted there are several lessons I have learned. The first is that there is very little need to complicate one’s own life because life itself will throw you a twist or two just to challenge you. It is also a fact that complications do not make you a “deeper” individual… just a frazzled one. Hubris will always do you in… and above all, true elegance is in simplicity.
In my practical world this “simplification” of my own lifestyle (from the one I lived before) that I embarked on about 3 years ago in many ways has made me “recession – ready”. LOL!
I do not at all regret the steep learning curve I took to arrive at this realization. My count is actually and eventually arriving at it and that it continues to be refined.
EDIT: NOON
Just because I am a Rogue “has-been” doesn’t mean I can’t show this off. The 2009 Rogue Muse was unveiled today. (How much of “has-been” am I? I actually has to nick this from the Beehive site… lol.) So, when are they taking t-shirt orders?
the drips I hear outside…
22
Jan
… tell me if I can or can’t. More accurately it is a combination of the spaces between drips and a gut feeling. So, just a while ago I heard, “drip……… drip, drip ……………………..drip….” That told me I had five minutes. I put on my coat and pith of choice, mounted the saddle and headed out. It was a half hour ride. Perfect to get the circulation going. I finish my ride. Roll the bike back into the garage. Take off my coat. Sit down to blog and as I do I hear outside, “drip……………….. drip, drip…. drip, drip, drip….. ”
Opportunity offered, recognized & taken. Sometimes it pays off… sometimes it doesn’t. Today it did.
Perhaps later I’ll post some more as an edit or a new posting.
I wrote myself a note of excuse yesterday…
21
Jan
… but today it’s back to work. Primary shooting has been accomplished on the video project… though there is still some pick-ups and minor shooting still to do. Hoping all that will be accomplished over the next few days. In a meantime there is a lot of video to review, mark and upload before any editing begins. It’s all about groundwork. Once all that I need video and sound-wise has been filed in folders… the real work begins.
IMPRESSIONS OF YESTERDAY
Between the internet and TV I was watching the historic events of the day from 5 AM. It was both impressive and moving. Those of you who know me also know that for the most part I am non-partisan and that I am rarely sappy nor sentimental. That being said… I was moved. For a moment I felt sympathy for those who consciously deprived themselves the opportunity to witness the history of yesterday simply because they can’t let go of their disappointment over the results of the election.
In my view… those of us who watched got to see another (and significant) promise in the idea of America become realized. It will be a jolt to the the status quo in more ways and cultural groups than one. It is a jolt that will have reverberations on a wider scale for years to come. No longer can the excuse of race be used to refuse one’s climb out of the “non-opportunity” cultural ditch. That in itself is significant and once the euphoria of yesterday settles… there will be many cultural pockets who will have to face loosening a grip on “values of victimization” that has just been made moot. Am I saying that we have arrived at a “post-racial” point in time? Hardly. There is still a long and challenging road ahead. But I do think we have arrived at the first of many crossroads on this journey. Redefinition and reorientation will be essential to move forward.
Many were looking for the definitive inspirational sound byte in the speech and were disappointed when one didn’t emerge. I on the other hand was impressed with the “it’s time to grow up, people” tone that was posed not only to those here but globally. I was also heartened to also see the ” the opportunity of America are the ones we make” message I have always believed… and what the result of this election was really about.
Anyway… quoting one Mr. Gump… that’s all I have to say about that.
go witness history…
20
Jan
… because no matter what your political leanings… there is no denying the events of today is a significant stitch in the quilt of the continuing American story.
Cheers America and Happy Inauguration of your 44th President!
transitioning within a transition
19
Jan
“Yes we can… have a dream!”
No, that’s not meant to sound cynical or snarky… though you can if you choose to take it that way. For a while now I have been convinced that my generation (has and) is living through a transition. It could probably be argued that the 20th century was and this 21st will be ones of major transition.
“But doesn’t every age and century go through transition?” you may ask. Yes… though the “status quo” from previous centuries (after any major shift occurred) ruled and lingered longer… much longer than in the last 100 years.. I will even even propose that in that time (the last 50 years in particular)… everytime a certain status quo was established a challenge to it emerged almost instantly. The tumultuous tone of the times can be directly attributed to this constant struggle between the two… a contentious dance between “the way it used to be”, “the way it is” and with “the way it can be” types. The last few decades has seen this more than any other era.
Ironically even between the “I have a dream” and the “Yes we can” generations there exists a definite and uneasy clash of cultures. Times and shifts in the various collective consciousness are moving rapidly. Will it all plateau into a new universal status quo? I have no idea. All I do know is that we are living through exciting times… a time when history making moments seem to happen everyday… the celebrations of today and tomorrow in this country being just one example.
Just something I pondered when I awoke this morning.