da blogs da thang

MANTIS – RIP

The passage of time and probably the cold nights finally done him in. Mantis was such a fixture in my gazebo that visiting friends would always check on his whereabouts. For a while he was just another mantis until one day he impressed us by snagging a bee in mid-flight employing stealth ninja moves. In fact, this picture was taken on that day. He is probably regaling that tale in mantis heaven. Goodbye mantis… some called you a showoff but you will always be a cool ninja to me.

THE BLUE DEVIL…

… was sold yesterday. Here is a picture of it being resurrected (by Mako) after 2 years of just being parked in my driveway.I will miss it but I’m sure it will by serve the new owner well. Not only was it a great utilitarian vehicle but also ferried me safely on several journeys out of town. Always reliable and with a powerful core that would always kick in when needed. So, the days of late night tail-gating meetings, stress free drives to and from work and play as well hauling equipment and sundry goods are over… at least for me and the blue devil. Here’s to good times, memories and adventures we shared.

Though I have to say that basically at heart I’ve always been a pedestrian… having grown up in a city where public transportation and convenient walking access was the norm. In fact, when I got the blue devil friends were surprised because they didn’t quite envision me as much of a driver… let alone a truck driving man. I have owned several vehicles since my early solely pedestrian days and as useful as they were… I really only utilized them “only when needed”. So it will be back to the pedestrian life for me… at least for now.

And so it goes…

… it does sound strange in this day and age. Some have said the height of blogging phenomena is over and that now is the age of social media like Facebook and such… but I’m pretty sure I’ll still keep blogging. Truth be told (before I started blogging) I was always keen on some sort of cyber platform to share my musings. So, I was really quite happy when this format came along… and it took very little time to figure out how to post.

Over the weekend I skimmed through various “eras” of my blog… and noticed the changes… at least it’s continuing evolution. Nothing drastic… but there has been change. Not better or worse either but change has definitely occurred in the content.

I think it is safe to say this blog has evolved from a somewhat more presentational mode to a more personal one. Does this mean I was less honest than I am now? I don’t think so. I have always tried to be honest… and I think there is more comfort now being so in this format than when I first started. Back then part of concern was also mired with boundries – what I would share and what I would not. I think as time  has rolled along those boundries have been firmly established freeing me to express what I want without worrying if I have crossed some self imposed line.

I remember thinking that here was a medium of expression that was wide open for experimentation. I have explored some of that… and there be still more to explore. But it was something (like most forms of creative expression) that blossom best with self imposed limitations. Not unlike a music composer determining that the new piece he is composing will be written using a certain scale or a playwright limiting the number of words a character might use with every dialog exchange.

In some ways it is no different than in the real world of socialization. There are things I will not broach in mixed company. Not because they are taboo but more because I find them 1.) boring, 2.) will lead to a non-ending argument or 3.) is really none of anyone’s business.

So, on with blogging I go. I’m hoping to make more of a routine… perhaps not daily but a routine nevertheless. This is just a note to tell all 3 and a half of you who actually turn up here that I’ll continue… and to thank you for coming by.

Taken moments ago. Aren’t you glad I showered and dressed for the occasion? (Whatever that might be.)

Yep… thems new pants.

… (at 10 minutes past midnight) that one gets to celebrate longer than the average person.  Yes, even though it is the 3rd in this time zone… technically it is already my birthday. Believe it or not I only realized this a few years ago. (What a dumkopf!)

Though to my defense, you are also talking about a person who doesn’t make a big deal about the date commemorating his birth. I have actually gone a couple of weeks in the past oblivious… then suddenly waking up one morning with the thought “Oh yeah… it was my birthday a couple of weeks ago.”  Actually it has happened on more than one occasion.

But of late I have actually enjoyed the fact (explained above) that (if I choose to) I can string this out from now till midnight tomorrow. I’m not planning anything… but if you choose to lavish me with gifts (your company, food and/or money) I will accept them with thanks and grace.

And what of the 53 years I have inhabited this mortal coil? The world has changed. (None of my doing.) I have changed. (I now have to use “Dollar Store” glasses to aid me in reading the fine print.) But all in all… I’m alive. (But I celebrate that everyday.)

My Birthday Wish? That for one day (tomorrow – the 4th) everyone I know treat everyone they know and come into contact with… in the best human ways.  Be it in the real world or in the cyber one. (Yeah, YOU on Facebook, twitter, etc…) What do I mean? No political or religious rants or postings (and if someone does… you wish them well… especially if it runs counter to your own ideology.)… No “us vs them” of any sort. (Political, religious, racial… not even with sports teams.) Celebrate instead the humanness that binds us together. So, think about it today… and maybe even do it tomorrow. (Yet another perk to being born half a world away.)

It is probably too much to ask… but here’s hoping.

Cheers!

If you are here looking for what my yearly prediction is… here ya go:

“A seemingly tumultuous year when long held absolutes dissipate. Whether the results are positive or negative is wholly dependent on one’s acceptance and willingness to “roll with it”.  Those who actively “do” will be aided by the lightness from the shedding of old baggage which may just lead to innovation.”