It's the weekend and I'm thrilled beyond measure. Work went pretty well this week. I was consistently busy and was able to accomplish a lot. Still, there was a feeling, just under the surface, of discontentment. I think it's source was the collective realities of me not getting paid adequately and not feeling appreciated. The latter reality is the far less severe of the two -- I actually do feel appreciated, but just not where it counts -- and my productivity has had more to do with my sense of accomplishment than with being a team player. It's true that I need to be moving on, but it's equally true that I'm grateful to be working at all and, compared to some of the jobs I've had, this one isn't so bad.
Moving on. Today is Craig's birthday (he's either turning twenty seven or sixty eight - can't remember) and after pontificating over it for several hours last night, I decided what to give him as a gift: a sneak peak of my new book, How To Live: A Practical Survival Guide (For Craig And Others). My publisher agreed to let me share some hand-picked selections from the book to celebrate this auspicious occasion. So, here you are Craig, birthday boy du jour. Enjoy, and most importantly, learn.
ON SWIMMING
Swimming offers cool, relaxing enjoyment, and contributes to our overall health, but it can be a dangerous activity. The most important thing to keep in mind is that we aren't capable of breathing water the way we breathe air. That is why it is absolutely essential to hold your breath (see chapter 4 on breathing) when under water. The length of time you remain so can range anywhere from thirty seconds to over a minute, but one thing is certain: without the aid of a foreign breathing apparatus, you will drown (see chapter 8 for more information on drowning) if you stay under water too long. You will know it's been too long when you feel a massive amount of pressure in your lungs, overwhelming panic, and a loosening of the bowels.
ON HANDSHAKES
A key aspect of any introduction or greeting is the handshake. It is not a sign of aggression when someone offers you their hand, despite your natural inclination to flee or defend yourself when this happens. Occasionally, and this will be rare, the offered handshake may be fraudulent (e.g. the hand is pulled away just as you are about to grasp it), but do not allow this to dissuade you. It is important you accept almost every handshake. It is a sign of respectful acknowledgement. Remember, the quality of our existence as a species depends on how well we interact.
ON FOOTWEAR
Because we need to wear shoes (see chapter 10 on the evolution of humankind), it is important that you a) wear the correct size and b) match each shoe to the correct foot. Determining your shoe size can be done with a ruler or tape measure ( see chapter 21 on determining measurements), but I recommend you visit your local shoe store and allow a professional to measure your foot. It's an experience you'll always cherish. As far as matching your shoes to your feet, this is easily done. Our feet have a slight inward curve. The left foot curves to the right and vice versa. Your shoes should do the same. Some find it helpful to write an "L" and "R"('L' indicating 'Left' and 'R' indicating Right) on their shoes as a visual tool. (For advice on tying your shoes, see chapter 22 on shoe tying.)
ON PETS
Nowadays, it is common for humans to share their living quarters with other species. Dogs, cats, birds, fish, and even reptiles can be found in households across the world. This is precisely why you should not be alarmed if, upon entering someone's abode, you encounter one of these animals. A healthy degree of wariness is always wise with any living thing, but in most cases, these encounters won't initiate the predator/prey dynamic found in wilder climes. On the contrary, the encounters will often be pleasant and even therapeutic for all involved. It is always useful to remember that these animals have been domesticated and are not usually a threat to our well being. So, relax and pet that dog or pick up that cat.
Okay, that's all I'm legally able to share at this point. Happy Birthday, C- Biddy!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
I see your hair is burning, hills are filled with fire, if they say I never loved you, you know they are a liar
Not much to report today short of saying I did well observing my thoughts and actions and trying to be kind and understanding with my fellow humans and with myself.
Time to go watch the American Paranormal episode about Sasquatch that is being heralded by all the Squatchers in the know as being pretty damn good. I'll find out.
In the meantime, know that I've read about fifty pages of Carrion Comfort and it was compelling right out of the gate. And also know that the older I get, the more life tastes like a dream.
Time to go watch the American Paranormal episode about Sasquatch that is being heralded by all the Squatchers in the know as being pretty damn good. I'll find out.
In the meantime, know that I've read about fifty pages of Carrion Comfort and it was compelling right out of the gate. And also know that the older I get, the more life tastes like a dream.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
It doesn't matter what they say, in the jealous games people play, our lips are sealed
The section of The Power Of Now I read last night was about dealing with positive and negative cycles in life. This morning, when I was having computer issues, I had the sneaking suspicion my day was going to exemplify the latter cycle. I was right.
My ride to work found me, like usual, wondering and worrying about the health of my car. It's a concern. When I got to work, I was called into Jeff's office, whereupon he laid into me about a couple of mistakes I made the day before. This was a first.
Aside from his tone, which suggested I frequently screw up (I don't), what bothered me most about the experience was how I reacted to it. To start with, I wished I had defended myself on at least one point. Hindsight, of course, is 20/20, but if I had corrected Jeff about something pertaining to one of my mistakes, while at the same time accepting responsibility for it, I don't think I would have felt as lousy as I did.
Make no mistake (unlike me, who made at least one and a half), I wasn't angry at Jeff for reprimanding me; he had every right to. Again, it was more my reaction that bothered me. I spent a good part of the day either reliving or rewriting the event. I wished I had gotten past it much sooner, especially since I've been working pretty hard at living in the moment and not letting my thoughts have their way with me like the the sodomites had their way with Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption. I know, I know: it's a process. I can't expect sweeping changes over night. All I can do is observe my behavior and hope to learn from it.
My day wasn't terrible, just overcast. More than anything, what's bumming me out is my financial situation. I'm so broke. I'm not freaking out, but it's not easy or fun being poor. I know Biggie said mo' money, mo problems, but I figure if I'm going to have problems, I'd rather have the ones people with money have.
So it's job search time. I'll be looking in earnest for part and full time jobs. And also, while I'm at it, I should really start thinking more about setting some goals for myself.
Using the rest of the gift card Janelle got me for Christmas (the perfect gift!), I picked up Dan Simmon's Carrion Comfort, a book Stephen King has called one of the top three Horror books of all time. I was going to pick up Hyperion, which was on the shelf two days ago, but some fucker bought it before me. The nerve! Because Simmon's body of work crosses genres, I thought, before I left the store in disgrace, to look in the fiction section, where I found Carrion Comfort and Drood in hardcover. Since the latter was priced at nearly thirty dollars, I thought it wise to continue with my plan to wait a week or two for it to come out in paperback, when it will be about three times cheaper. I'm excited to read Carrion Comfort. I've heard a lot of good things about it. I finished The Terror last night and if Carrion Comfort is half as good, I'll be in for a treat.
Okay, it's off to other ventures. I think I may watch Hari Kari tonight. Cheers.
My ride to work found me, like usual, wondering and worrying about the health of my car. It's a concern. When I got to work, I was called into Jeff's office, whereupon he laid into me about a couple of mistakes I made the day before. This was a first.
Aside from his tone, which suggested I frequently screw up (I don't), what bothered me most about the experience was how I reacted to it. To start with, I wished I had defended myself on at least one point. Hindsight, of course, is 20/20, but if I had corrected Jeff about something pertaining to one of my mistakes, while at the same time accepting responsibility for it, I don't think I would have felt as lousy as I did.
Make no mistake (unlike me, who made at least one and a half), I wasn't angry at Jeff for reprimanding me; he had every right to. Again, it was more my reaction that bothered me. I spent a good part of the day either reliving or rewriting the event. I wished I had gotten past it much sooner, especially since I've been working pretty hard at living in the moment and not letting my thoughts have their way with me like the the sodomites had their way with Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption. I know, I know: it's a process. I can't expect sweeping changes over night. All I can do is observe my behavior and hope to learn from it.
My day wasn't terrible, just overcast. More than anything, what's bumming me out is my financial situation. I'm so broke. I'm not freaking out, but it's not easy or fun being poor. I know Biggie said mo' money, mo problems, but I figure if I'm going to have problems, I'd rather have the ones people with money have.
So it's job search time. I'll be looking in earnest for part and full time jobs. And also, while I'm at it, I should really start thinking more about setting some goals for myself.
Using the rest of the gift card Janelle got me for Christmas (the perfect gift!), I picked up Dan Simmon's Carrion Comfort, a book Stephen King has called one of the top three Horror books of all time. I was going to pick up Hyperion, which was on the shelf two days ago, but some fucker bought it before me. The nerve! Because Simmon's body of work crosses genres, I thought, before I left the store in disgrace, to look in the fiction section, where I found Carrion Comfort and Drood in hardcover. Since the latter was priced at nearly thirty dollars, I thought it wise to continue with my plan to wait a week or two for it to come out in paperback, when it will be about three times cheaper. I'm excited to read Carrion Comfort. I've heard a lot of good things about it. I finished The Terror last night and if Carrion Comfort is half as good, I'll be in for a treat.
Okay, it's off to other ventures. I think I may watch Hari Kari tonight. Cheers.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Dread lion
Had a good weekend, but my Monday began with me waking up from a haunting dream, in which I was roaming the dark corridors of my unconscious, spending time in my (archetypal) parent's house with a love from long ago. I say it was a haunting dream and it was. I felt like a ghost, like I always do in dreams in that house. Dark rooms, shadowy figures, resurrected feelings that have died long ago. Inexpressible mostly, so I'll leave it that.
Back to the weekend. Got to see Craig, Foley, Rachael (who stayed at our place Saturday night), and Mara at various intervals. The group of us, sans Craig, who was only at our place for a short time, and Mara, who I hung out with later, ate dinner at Tip Top Thai. Yummy Pad Thai, yummy company. That will be the last time I get anywhere near the word yummy for a long while. I promise.
After dinner, my three companions ventured down to Salem to watch Aviv's band play. I wanted to go, but had found out too late. Instead, I hung out with Mara, who I'd made plans with earlier in the week. It was kind of a bust --Mara was, how shall I say, a little sleepy, nay very sleepy, and, consequently, there wasn't much social activity going on. We watched episodes of Parks and Recreation and Community. Afterward, I suggested to Mara she go to bed and told her I was leaving. There was no reason for me to be there. She could barely keep her eyes open the whole night. I found out today that she's been in bed with the stomach flu. She must have been on the brink of it when we hung out.
Later, I hung out with Rachael and Janelle until four in the morning. I didn't go to sleep until about four thirty. I almost called my mother for a chat, but decided against it for the obvious reason of not wanting to freak her out. A call that late, or early, depending on your perspective, usually means something bad has happened. The only reason I thought to call her in the first place was because she goes to bed around 7:30 or 8:00 and wakes up around 1:00 or 2:00. She would have been wide awake around four but, alas, I made the right choice not to call her then. It's tough getting her on the phone, though, given our conflicting schedules. Sometimes I call around six thirty and my dad will tell me she just nodded off while watching the news. Hard to get a hold of, that one.
I finished The Brothers Karamazov today. I honestly thought I wasn't going to reach the end. A good story, but it just felt so long! My new lunch break book is The Pillars Of The Earth, a book I put down for awhile. I'm about halfway through it. Another BIG book, but more of a page turner and less cumbersome. I'll probably finish The Terror this evening. I can't say enough good things about this book. I like Dan Simmon's writing so much, my next two reads will be by him. First up will be his Sci-Fi -Canterbury Tales-inspired-Hugo Award winner Hyperion and then Drood, his next book after The Terror. I want to read that first, but I'm going to wait a couple of weeks for it to come out in paperback.
Finally got around to watching part one of Kobiyashi's epic The Human Condition. Good stuff. I look forward to parts two and three. I might watch another of his films, Hari Kari, tonight if time permits.
Felt such a surge of oneness while meditating last night that it actually spooked me. It came upon me, a vast, all-encompassing wave, and my mind, not used to relinquishing control, perceived this feeling as a threat and pulled the plug. It's okay, I'll get there again.
I felt a steadiness all day, despite the dream I had in the morning and despite other concerns, one of which involves my father's health. A product of meditating, I think, and my shifting perspective of life.
I managed to watch some football yesterday. I found the match ups intriguing, especially the Jets/Colts game. Not the biggest football fan in the world (that would be Jim "Sully" Sullivan out of Cleveland, Ohio), but I do enjoy the sport on occasion.
Okay, readers, you've had about enough of me and I've had enough of me, too. Good night, and good luck.
Back to the weekend. Got to see Craig, Foley, Rachael (who stayed at our place Saturday night), and Mara at various intervals. The group of us, sans Craig, who was only at our place for a short time, and Mara, who I hung out with later, ate dinner at Tip Top Thai. Yummy Pad Thai, yummy company. That will be the last time I get anywhere near the word yummy for a long while. I promise.
After dinner, my three companions ventured down to Salem to watch Aviv's band play. I wanted to go, but had found out too late. Instead, I hung out with Mara, who I'd made plans with earlier in the week. It was kind of a bust --Mara was, how shall I say, a little sleepy, nay very sleepy, and, consequently, there wasn't much social activity going on. We watched episodes of Parks and Recreation and Community. Afterward, I suggested to Mara she go to bed and told her I was leaving. There was no reason for me to be there. She could barely keep her eyes open the whole night. I found out today that she's been in bed with the stomach flu. She must have been on the brink of it when we hung out.
Later, I hung out with Rachael and Janelle until four in the morning. I didn't go to sleep until about four thirty. I almost called my mother for a chat, but decided against it for the obvious reason of not wanting to freak her out. A call that late, or early, depending on your perspective, usually means something bad has happened. The only reason I thought to call her in the first place was because she goes to bed around 7:30 or 8:00 and wakes up around 1:00 or 2:00. She would have been wide awake around four but, alas, I made the right choice not to call her then. It's tough getting her on the phone, though, given our conflicting schedules. Sometimes I call around six thirty and my dad will tell me she just nodded off while watching the news. Hard to get a hold of, that one.
I finished The Brothers Karamazov today. I honestly thought I wasn't going to reach the end. A good story, but it just felt so long! My new lunch break book is The Pillars Of The Earth, a book I put down for awhile. I'm about halfway through it. Another BIG book, but more of a page turner and less cumbersome. I'll probably finish The Terror this evening. I can't say enough good things about this book. I like Dan Simmon's writing so much, my next two reads will be by him. First up will be his Sci-Fi -Canterbury Tales-inspired-Hugo Award winner Hyperion and then Drood, his next book after The Terror. I want to read that first, but I'm going to wait a couple of weeks for it to come out in paperback.
Finally got around to watching part one of Kobiyashi's epic The Human Condition. Good stuff. I look forward to parts two and three. I might watch another of his films, Hari Kari, tonight if time permits.
Felt such a surge of oneness while meditating last night that it actually spooked me. It came upon me, a vast, all-encompassing wave, and my mind, not used to relinquishing control, perceived this feeling as a threat and pulled the plug. It's okay, I'll get there again.
I felt a steadiness all day, despite the dream I had in the morning and despite other concerns, one of which involves my father's health. A product of meditating, I think, and my shifting perspective of life.
I managed to watch some football yesterday. I found the match ups intriguing, especially the Jets/Colts game. Not the biggest football fan in the world (that would be Jim "Sully" Sullivan out of Cleveland, Ohio), but I do enjoy the sport on occasion.
Okay, readers, you've had about enough of me and I've had enough of me, too. Good night, and good luck.
Friday, January 22, 2010
But in the years that passed, since I saw you last, you haven't moved an inch
I'm glad it's Friday. I had a decent work week -- it went by quickly, no catastrophes -- but if you were to gauge how thrilled I am that the weekend is upon us, it wouldn't seem so. If the weekend was a precious little baby, I would cradle it in my arms like a and pepper it with kisses and coo softly in its ears. Ok, now that I think of it, I'm not sure the two equate, but I'm lacking ambition tonight and will it slide.
Went to TT's the other night to see Spira perform. She was playing percussion (snare and tom) for a guy who played electric guitar and sang. I can't remember his name, but that's okay, it's not essential to the story. The songs were no-frills punk and the guitar was cranked to eleven, saturated in distortion. Spira played well; it was her first time playing drums, however stripped down, in a live setting.
They played for about a half hour, which was just about the right length of time. There weren't many people present and the singer, let's call him Rudy, looked a little bummed out, but I think it had more to do with the punk ethic. During the chorus of one song, which was something to the effect of " I don't want to go to Central Square", he looked imploringly in the direction of the bar, hoping, I think, his name dropping the location where the club resides would get everyone to congregate to the stage. "Hey, did he just say something about Central Square? And did I detect a note of apathy in his voice? Fuckin' cool! Let's go pay attention to his music."
I had fun and enjoyed the energy of the set. Rudy played punk very well and with passion, but I came to see Spira. I was really proud of her. She had texted me this message prior to the show: "Please come! I'm so nervous!" I was surprised she was that nervous. She didn't seem so during the set, but afterward, her disposition was the same as someone who'd just skydived for the first time: a mixture of relief and elation.
She gave me a ride home (I had hitched a ride there with Foley, who was meeting someone at The Middle East) and we talked about how great it was that she fulfilled one of her dreams. "I can die happy now", she said. I took that as my cue to shoot her in the face. I like making people happy.
Tonight is Conan O'brien's last show. At least I think it is. I've never been a huge fan of his, but I like him enough to feel a little bad about his exit. I hear Bindy Irwin is going to be his replacement. Nice!
Celtics tonight. KG's return from injury. Will I watch it. Perhaps. Or I may read from The Terror. I'm loving this book! Or I might watch a movie. I have two Kobiyashi films in my possession :Harakiri and The Human Condition. Perhaps I'll give one of them a shot.
With that, I'm out this piece!
Went to TT's the other night to see Spira perform. She was playing percussion (snare and tom) for a guy who played electric guitar and sang. I can't remember his name, but that's okay, it's not essential to the story. The songs were no-frills punk and the guitar was cranked to eleven, saturated in distortion. Spira played well; it was her first time playing drums, however stripped down, in a live setting.
They played for about a half hour, which was just about the right length of time. There weren't many people present and the singer, let's call him Rudy, looked a little bummed out, but I think it had more to do with the punk ethic. During the chorus of one song, which was something to the effect of " I don't want to go to Central Square", he looked imploringly in the direction of the bar, hoping, I think, his name dropping the location where the club resides would get everyone to congregate to the stage. "Hey, did he just say something about Central Square? And did I detect a note of apathy in his voice? Fuckin' cool! Let's go pay attention to his music."
I had fun and enjoyed the energy of the set. Rudy played punk very well and with passion, but I came to see Spira. I was really proud of her. She had texted me this message prior to the show: "Please come! I'm so nervous!" I was surprised she was that nervous. She didn't seem so during the set, but afterward, her disposition was the same as someone who'd just skydived for the first time: a mixture of relief and elation.
She gave me a ride home (I had hitched a ride there with Foley, who was meeting someone at The Middle East) and we talked about how great it was that she fulfilled one of her dreams. "I can die happy now", she said. I took that as my cue to shoot her in the face. I like making people happy.
Tonight is Conan O'brien's last show. At least I think it is. I've never been a huge fan of his, but I like him enough to feel a little bad about his exit. I hear Bindy Irwin is going to be his replacement. Nice!
Celtics tonight. KG's return from injury. Will I watch it. Perhaps. Or I may read from The Terror. I'm loving this book! Or I might watch a movie. I have two Kobiyashi films in my possession :Harakiri and The Human Condition. Perhaps I'll give one of them a shot.
With that, I'm out this piece!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
I'm going down low, where your sleep meets its mental
Two days in a row of lousy commutes. Snowy, icy, slushy roads; tailgating, reckless drivers. Through it all, my pure heart has maintained its glow. Still, like I do every year around this time, I've been wondering why I haven't emigrated to warmer climes. The thing is, right about when I'm fed up enough to take measures toward that aim, Spring arrives, and all of winter's trespasses melt away.
I feel like my steps toward enlightenment have gone backward these last couple of days. It's always the same: the ego reasserts itself intensely because it sees it's life is in jeopardy and it will not relinquish it without a fight. It will attack me with everything it's got, every dirty trick in its arsenal, until order is restored. Question is, am I ready to fight back as if my life is in jeopardy? Know what, I think I might be. Stay tuned.
I woke up feeling down. I was coming off a bummer of a dream and it affected part of my morning. Fortunately, I can't recall the dream.
Going to read from The Terror. I'm really enjoying this book. Simmons is a great writer and this is a great story. A page turner, to be sure. Reminiscent of Stephen King at his best.
Talked with my sister tonight. She seemed concerned about our dad's health. I told her I find myself, the older our parents get, being actively concerned about their health. Not all the time, not obsessively, but more than I have in the past. She said she does the same. It's natural. People age, people die. It's just not a reality one likes to pontificate over or readily accept.
After playing Stratego this past weekend, I'm hungry for more. I'm thinking of starting a Stratego club. As it stands, I know I can enlist Craig, Scott, and Foley. That's a good lineup. I just love the fact that I know people who enjoy this game as much as I do. It was my favorite growing up.
Peace.
I feel like my steps toward enlightenment have gone backward these last couple of days. It's always the same: the ego reasserts itself intensely because it sees it's life is in jeopardy and it will not relinquish it without a fight. It will attack me with everything it's got, every dirty trick in its arsenal, until order is restored. Question is, am I ready to fight back as if my life is in jeopardy? Know what, I think I might be. Stay tuned.
I woke up feeling down. I was coming off a bummer of a dream and it affected part of my morning. Fortunately, I can't recall the dream.
Going to read from The Terror. I'm really enjoying this book. Simmons is a great writer and this is a great story. A page turner, to be sure. Reminiscent of Stephen King at his best.
Talked with my sister tonight. She seemed concerned about our dad's health. I told her I find myself, the older our parents get, being actively concerned about their health. Not all the time, not obsessively, but more than I have in the past. She said she does the same. It's natural. People age, people die. It's just not a reality one likes to pontificate over or readily accept.
After playing Stratego this past weekend, I'm hungry for more. I'm thinking of starting a Stratego club. As it stands, I know I can enlist Craig, Scott, and Foley. That's a good lineup. I just love the fact that I know people who enjoy this game as much as I do. It was my favorite growing up.
Peace.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
O' love is teasing
Earlier tonight I watched Enlighten Up, a good documentary about a neophyte exploring the different forms of yoga. Good stuff. It inspired my yoga session afterward. Now it's some coffee, some writing, and then maybe getting around to watching Kobiyashi's The Human Condition.
Scott came down from NH yesterday. It was great hanging out with him. Foley dropped by with the board game Stratego, maybe my all time favorite, and we played for a couple of hours. I was beaten handily twice, but I still had fun. Janelle and Aviv hung out upon their return from seeing Avatar. Scott ended up staying over, and the two of us watched Curb Your Enthusiasm, a show he'd never seen, into the wee hours. A good night.
Feeling like some female companionship. Ah, some day.
That's it for me, this rainy eve. Peace.
Scott came down from NH yesterday. It was great hanging out with him. Foley dropped by with the board game Stratego, maybe my all time favorite, and we played for a couple of hours. I was beaten handily twice, but I still had fun. Janelle and Aviv hung out upon their return from seeing Avatar. Scott ended up staying over, and the two of us watched Curb Your Enthusiasm, a show he'd never seen, into the wee hours. A good night.
Feeling like some female companionship. Ah, some day.
That's it for me, this rainy eve. Peace.
Friday, January 15, 2010
I'm calling from the fun house, I came to play
The thing about enlightenment, and I touched upon this in my last post, is that reaching it is so simple it's difficult. Is that a paradox? Yes, I think it is. Please correct me if I'm wrong. To continue, I'm discovering first hand just how difficult it is. I've got a map, which I don't doubt is an important part of the equation, but the terrain is a bitch.
Meditation teaches us how rampant our thoughts run, how the ego has complete control, the inmate running the asylum. Still the mind, be present. Sounds easy on paper, but it's like someone explaining to you that the key to staying dry in the rain is to not let the drops touch you. Because I've been trying to be more aware of how adversely the near-constant deluge of thoughts that affect me, I understand a lot of why the world is the way it is and why it's important to be present, to be conscious. I'm giving it a shot.
--
The possible Bigfoot footage I wrote about in the last post has proved to be a human wearing a back pack. Ostensibly, he was a member of the film crew who somehow found himself in the shot of caribou migrating. Man, I was hoping it was going to be the real deal, primarily because the film (part of a documentary called The Great North) was shot with an IMAX camera, which weigh about a hundred pounds and offer an amazing amount of clarity at great distances. A closeup would have left no doubt whether this was a human or undiscovered primate. Well, it's good to know what it was. Most purported footage of Bigfoot tend not to pan out. Out of the welter of clips out there, especially with the advent of YouTube, only about 5% is worth looking at.
--
It's Friday and I'm happy to be home. I look forward to not being woken by an alarm clock. That will be nice.
I'm almost finished The Brothers Karamazov. I've been reading it since, what, November? Mind you, my time with it has been limited to lunch breaks, but still, it's been a long time. My copy has tiny print and pages so thin, they're almost transparent. I say I'm almost finished, but looks can be deceiving. It'll probably be another week until I finish.
I watched District 9 last night. Pretty cool, but I liked it about 15% less than I thought I would, which I'm pretty sure translates to 3 stars out of 5.
Spira called. We hadn't talked since the "Avatar incident", something you don't know about (all you need to know is that is was quick, in hindsight kind of funny, and didn't really bother me too much). We made nice and talked about her getting a dog and other stuff. It was good just talking like we used to.
Shane came down last night. Great seeing him. And it looks like I'll be seeing Scott tomorrow. We plan on knitting and gossiping about Tiger Woods and Jersey Shore. You're jealous.
Going to watch a movie tonight. Don't know which yet. Hmm.. maybe Che or The Human Condition. Or maybe something else. I'll let you know. Try not to lose sleep over it, though. I need you well rested.
Meditation teaches us how rampant our thoughts run, how the ego has complete control, the inmate running the asylum. Still the mind, be present. Sounds easy on paper, but it's like someone explaining to you that the key to staying dry in the rain is to not let the drops touch you. Because I've been trying to be more aware of how adversely the near-constant deluge of thoughts that affect me, I understand a lot of why the world is the way it is and why it's important to be present, to be conscious. I'm giving it a shot.
--
The possible Bigfoot footage I wrote about in the last post has proved to be a human wearing a back pack. Ostensibly, he was a member of the film crew who somehow found himself in the shot of caribou migrating. Man, I was hoping it was going to be the real deal, primarily because the film (part of a documentary called The Great North) was shot with an IMAX camera, which weigh about a hundred pounds and offer an amazing amount of clarity at great distances. A closeup would have left no doubt whether this was a human or undiscovered primate. Well, it's good to know what it was. Most purported footage of Bigfoot tend not to pan out. Out of the welter of clips out there, especially with the advent of YouTube, only about 5% is worth looking at.
--
It's Friday and I'm happy to be home. I look forward to not being woken by an alarm clock. That will be nice.
I'm almost finished The Brothers Karamazov. I've been reading it since, what, November? Mind you, my time with it has been limited to lunch breaks, but still, it's been a long time. My copy has tiny print and pages so thin, they're almost transparent. I say I'm almost finished, but looks can be deceiving. It'll probably be another week until I finish.
I watched District 9 last night. Pretty cool, but I liked it about 15% less than I thought I would, which I'm pretty sure translates to 3 stars out of 5.
Spira called. We hadn't talked since the "Avatar incident", something you don't know about (all you need to know is that is was quick, in hindsight kind of funny, and didn't really bother me too much). We made nice and talked about her getting a dog and other stuff. It was good just talking like we used to.
Shane came down last night. Great seeing him. And it looks like I'll be seeing Scott tomorrow. We plan on knitting and gossiping about Tiger Woods and Jersey Shore. You're jealous.
Going to watch a movie tonight. Don't know which yet. Hmm.. maybe Che or The Human Condition. Or maybe something else. I'll let you know. Try not to lose sleep over it, though. I need you well rested.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
Okay, I'm back; you can let out your collective sigh of relief. Sure it's only been several days, but having been hooked on huffing paint fumes, I know well the rotten taste of withdrawal, albeit far less severe than what you're going through. My humblest apologies, dear readers. I will take pains to write more consistently.
And I will, but you're not getting much out of me tonight. It's getting late -- I've already gone for a run, showered, and eaten -- and if I expect to be able to watch District 9, a film I've been dying to watch, but inexplicably have put off doing so for over a week, and put a good dent in Dan Simmon's engrossing thriller, The Terror, I'll have to make this short and oh so sweet.
I'd also like peruse the internet for used VCRs on behalf of my parents. Theirs broke and my dad bought one at Radio Shack for a hundred dollars. Mind you, he couldn't find one anywhere else, but if it had been up to me, I would have kept looking rather than go to that store, where they overprice the fuck out of their goods, which, in my opinion aren't very good. So, they're returning the VCR, which happens to be meant for computer, not television, use, and are looking to get a DVD/ VCR combo. After all the help they've provided me with recently, I'd like to be able to find them a VCR.
I wanted to recap this past weekend, which found me in Nashua with an all-star lineup of friends, but I'm looking at the clock and realize I'm out of time. Too bad. I also wanted to get into my road to enlightenment, which, despite being advertised as a simple thing, is actually not. I believe that it is simple, it's just the ego that makes it a convoluted shit storm to obtain. I'm keeping my head up, though, and realize it's the journey that's important.
Ok, I'm out. Maybe next post I'll regale you with my thoughts of the new footage of a potential Sasquatch, lost crushes, my thoughts about the supposed "white messiah" message in Avatar, and much, much, more. Stay tuned.
Post script: Somewhere along the line, this blog has surpassed the 10,000 mark as concerns the number of hits it's received. I feel bad that I missed it. Maybe I should have a cup cake, or something, to celebrate.
And I will, but you're not getting much out of me tonight. It's getting late -- I've already gone for a run, showered, and eaten -- and if I expect to be able to watch District 9, a film I've been dying to watch, but inexplicably have put off doing so for over a week, and put a good dent in Dan Simmon's engrossing thriller, The Terror, I'll have to make this short and oh so sweet.
I'd also like peruse the internet for used VCRs on behalf of my parents. Theirs broke and my dad bought one at Radio Shack for a hundred dollars. Mind you, he couldn't find one anywhere else, but if it had been up to me, I would have kept looking rather than go to that store, where they overprice the fuck out of their goods, which, in my opinion aren't very good. So, they're returning the VCR, which happens to be meant for computer, not television, use, and are looking to get a DVD/ VCR combo. After all the help they've provided me with recently, I'd like to be able to find them a VCR.
I wanted to recap this past weekend, which found me in Nashua with an all-star lineup of friends, but I'm looking at the clock and realize I'm out of time. Too bad. I also wanted to get into my road to enlightenment, which, despite being advertised as a simple thing, is actually not. I believe that it is simple, it's just the ego that makes it a convoluted shit storm to obtain. I'm keeping my head up, though, and realize it's the journey that's important.
Ok, I'm out. Maybe next post I'll regale you with my thoughts of the new footage of a potential Sasquatch, lost crushes, my thoughts about the supposed "white messiah" message in Avatar, and much, much, more. Stay tuned.
Post script: Somewhere along the line, this blog has surpassed the 10,000 mark as concerns the number of hits it's received. I feel bad that I missed it. Maybe I should have a cup cake, or something, to celebrate.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Are you also frightened?
More car issues. This time, the struts on the front end went. I was leaving for work yesterday, about fifty feet from my house, when I heard a loud "crunch". I entertained the idea, albeit briefly and in vain, that I'd run over something like a glass bottle or a TV set. I quickly realized it was nothing of the sort; something had broken, and when it broke, it sounded ugly.
I was able to get the car back to my house, though in hindsight, I should have left it where it was. I remained calm despite the very real possibility my car was wrecked for good. The ramifications of that scenario weren't pretty. I called work, Triple A, and my dad. And then I waited.
As I did, I thought about how fortunate I was the incident happened where it did. Really, the odds were overwhelming it would have happened where I drive the most: highways and busy main roads. If it had happened on the highway.....well, I shudder to think of the damage that could have caused. I am lucky and feel gracious no one got hurt.
The question these days regarding my car is whether to keep putting money into it. I've been through a similar situation before with my last car and the answer is never cut and dry. I paid over eight hundred dollars for this latest round of repairs, but I think, given my situation, it was the only course of action short of forgoing repairs and hoofing it. I need the car and can't afford another one. Not right now.
I saw it coming, my car collapsing. It hadn't handled well in a long while and whenever I'd be driving on a bumpy road, I'd hear rattling underneath. Unsettling. Needless to say, every time I got in the car felt like a risk. As it happened, it was. Again, I'm a lucky man. It could, and probably should have, gone another, more dangerous, way.
--
Janelle and I went to see Avatar last night at the Capital Theater in Arlington. What an event! My first real experience with a 3-D movie (I saws Jaws 3 in that format, but it doesn't count). The second the film started, I was blown away. The 3-D effect was incredible. So was everything else about the film. We watched in wonderment like children. I want to see it again and again.
--
I've got District 9 and The Human Condition, the first of a trilogy by Kobiyashi. Also, more of season three of The Tudors, a truly great show. Things to watch, and plenty to read. And meditating -- been doing that a lot. Trying to be mindful, alive in the moment. Not easy, but no wonder: I've been unconscious almost my entire life. Most of us have.
Looks like a night run for me. I'll wait a bit for my supper to digest and then I'm off.
I was able to get the car back to my house, though in hindsight, I should have left it where it was. I remained calm despite the very real possibility my car was wrecked for good. The ramifications of that scenario weren't pretty. I called work, Triple A, and my dad. And then I waited.
As I did, I thought about how fortunate I was the incident happened where it did. Really, the odds were overwhelming it would have happened where I drive the most: highways and busy main roads. If it had happened on the highway.....well, I shudder to think of the damage that could have caused. I am lucky and feel gracious no one got hurt.
The question these days regarding my car is whether to keep putting money into it. I've been through a similar situation before with my last car and the answer is never cut and dry. I paid over eight hundred dollars for this latest round of repairs, but I think, given my situation, it was the only course of action short of forgoing repairs and hoofing it. I need the car and can't afford another one. Not right now.
I saw it coming, my car collapsing. It hadn't handled well in a long while and whenever I'd be driving on a bumpy road, I'd hear rattling underneath. Unsettling. Needless to say, every time I got in the car felt like a risk. As it happened, it was. Again, I'm a lucky man. It could, and probably should have, gone another, more dangerous, way.
--
Janelle and I went to see Avatar last night at the Capital Theater in Arlington. What an event! My first real experience with a 3-D movie (I saws Jaws 3 in that format, but it doesn't count). The second the film started, I was blown away. The 3-D effect was incredible. So was everything else about the film. We watched in wonderment like children. I want to see it again and again.
--
I've got District 9 and The Human Condition, the first of a trilogy by Kobiyashi. Also, more of season three of The Tudors, a truly great show. Things to watch, and plenty to read. And meditating -- been doing that a lot. Trying to be mindful, alive in the moment. Not easy, but no wonder: I've been unconscious almost my entire life. Most of us have.
Looks like a night run for me. I'll wait a bit for my supper to digest and then I'm off.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
We choose no kin but adopted strangers
A short post tonight; I've got things I want to do. Snow, bleak slate skies, more snow. The Sun peaked through the gloom for a short while today and then closed the curtain for who knows how long. I watched a few movies this weekend, sick hound that I was. Here they are:
1. Ballast - Slow, Terrence Mallick slow. That is a compliment. Touching story about a mother, her son, her ex's brother, and how they cope with loss and adversity.
2. Peaceful Warrior - Adaptation of Dan Millman's Way Of The Peaceful Warrior, with Nick Nolte as Socrates, the film's Mr. Miyagi. Pretty faithful to the book, which I've read a couple of time. Overall, pretty average, but well acted, and the fact that a spiritually nourishing movie that instructs as much as it entertains even got made is reason enough to applaud it.
3. Let The Right One In - Brilliant Swedish film about a bullied twelve year old boy who befriends a girl ostensibly his age that happens to be a vampire. This is what a vampire movie should be like. Dark and bloody and grim, but it's a love story above all else. Eff Twilight!
Watched a bunch of The Tudors, too. This show resonates with me on more levels than pretty much any show I've ever seen. Though the show is well received, I don't think there are many who'd recommend it as strongly. I won't argue with that. I just love it because of the time period, the acting, the complex story lines, the moral ambiguity. And with any great story, it goes where it needs to, at the expense of major characters and plot.
Had dinner with Mara last night in what I like to call the Japanese Quarter of Porter Square. There's a whole floor of a little mall that houses everything Japanese: stores, restaurants, bakeries. At one of the restaurants, I had a delicious chicken teriyaki dish. Afterward, we went over to Porter Square books for a little browsing. I picked up Dan Simmon's The Terror with the gift card Janelle so sweetly got for me for Christmas. I saw Eckhart Tolle's The Power Of Now on one of the shelves and told Mara I was currently reading it. She didn't believe me. I tried explaining to her that I was indeed reading it, but she wasn't buying it. "Why is it so hard to believe", I asked. "It'd be one thing if it was Ann Coulter's latest", I added. I'm not sure if she was messing with me or what, but it seems to me she finds that type of reading to be pretty silly. I'll have to investigate further.
Ok, as promised, short and sweet. Back to work tomorrow. I don't want to go, plain and simple. It won't be that bad, though. Sometimes I have to remind myself that this job isn't as unbearable as most of my others.
1. Ballast - Slow, Terrence Mallick slow. That is a compliment. Touching story about a mother, her son, her ex's brother, and how they cope with loss and adversity.
2. Peaceful Warrior - Adaptation of Dan Millman's Way Of The Peaceful Warrior, with Nick Nolte as Socrates, the film's Mr. Miyagi. Pretty faithful to the book, which I've read a couple of time. Overall, pretty average, but well acted, and the fact that a spiritually nourishing movie that instructs as much as it entertains even got made is reason enough to applaud it.
3. Let The Right One In - Brilliant Swedish film about a bullied twelve year old boy who befriends a girl ostensibly his age that happens to be a vampire. This is what a vampire movie should be like. Dark and bloody and grim, but it's a love story above all else. Eff Twilight!
Watched a bunch of The Tudors, too. This show resonates with me on more levels than pretty much any show I've ever seen. Though the show is well received, I don't think there are many who'd recommend it as strongly. I won't argue with that. I just love it because of the time period, the acting, the complex story lines, the moral ambiguity. And with any great story, it goes where it needs to, at the expense of major characters and plot.
Had dinner with Mara last night in what I like to call the Japanese Quarter of Porter Square. There's a whole floor of a little mall that houses everything Japanese: stores, restaurants, bakeries. At one of the restaurants, I had a delicious chicken teriyaki dish. Afterward, we went over to Porter Square books for a little browsing. I picked up Dan Simmon's The Terror with the gift card Janelle so sweetly got for me for Christmas. I saw Eckhart Tolle's The Power Of Now on one of the shelves and told Mara I was currently reading it. She didn't believe me. I tried explaining to her that I was indeed reading it, but she wasn't buying it. "Why is it so hard to believe", I asked. "It'd be one thing if it was Ann Coulter's latest", I added. I'm not sure if she was messing with me or what, but it seems to me she finds that type of reading to be pretty silly. I'll have to investigate further.
Ok, as promised, short and sweet. Back to work tomorrow. I don't want to go, plain and simple. It won't be that bad, though. Sometimes I have to remind myself that this job isn't as unbearable as most of my others.
Friday, January 1, 2010
One thing you can't hide is when you're crippled inside
My New Year's Eve was spent at home in the grip of a head cold that decided to assert itself full bore early in the evening. I'd had a few options concerning invites out, but once my health took a downward turn, I didn't feel like doing much of anything short of staying in bed. I managed to do some yoga before the malady really took to slapping me around.
I wasn't terribly depressed about staying in. I watched an episode of The Tudors, read a lot, and meditated. And slept. Exciting? Certainly not, but you've got to make the best of what's in front of you. Today, I feel slightly better. I went out early to grocery store for supplies, mainly liquids and throat drops. The rest of the day I spent in bed watching some of the Winter Classic and a couple of episodes of The Tudors. And I slept. Let it not be said that I haven't started the new year of with a bang.
Let's hand out some more awards.
Best Encounter With A Bear
Our camping trip in New Hampshire this summer. Didn't get to see it, but nearly everyone else did. The first sighting was when Baby Boy Z darted off into the woods after it, the second late at night while I slept like an angel of pure light. Good thing for the bear it didn't run into me. I would have choked the bitch out!
Best book
All four of the novels comprising The Berrybender Narratives. When I finished the last page of the last book, well, I almost teared up. Larry McMurtry, you had me at hello.
Best Brawl
4th of July, Mike's place. Like with the bear incident, I missed this one too. If only I had stayed a bit longer, maybe Mike would have had someone else on his side other than his girlfriend, who, from what I hear, threw down like a champ. Maybe, but I probably would have been a chicken baby like the rest of 'em. Probably for the best that I wasn't there.
"I Thought This Only Happened In Stupid Comedies" award
The other day I put a pair of pants on quickly, forgoing the boxers, and paid a dear price. During a visit to the bathroom , I unzipped my pants hard and fast and, well , I think you can figure out the rest. No? Okay, I'll come out and say it: My guy got caught in the zipper. Not going to lie to you- it really, really hurt. Did I learn my lesson? Absolutely not. No, rather than put on a pair of boxers as a preventative measure, I kept things as they were and guess what happened during another visit to the bathroom? Same spot, too. And it should go without saying that it really, really, hurt. I've done some pretty loutish things in my life, but this one forced me to take a good, hard look at myself. (I'm no Kreskin, but I'd be willing to bet Kate would rather see this award dubbed the TMI award)
"This Is Your Life" award
This one goes to Facebook. Very surreal when you see people from all sectors of your life, past and present -- friends, family, coworkers, etc. -- responding to the same thread. It's kind of cool and kind of weird. It's a new world.
Most Uncomfortable Experience
When Foley "complimented" a woman for not wearing a bra. Everyone in the room heard it; the silence was palpable. Oddly, she wasn't flattered by his kind words. I was sitting next to Foley, but at that moment I wanted to be six thousand miles away.
Proof We're All Cattle award
When Janelle and I saw Inglorious Basterds at the Showcase Cinema in Lowell, we could barely hear the movie with all the slobbering, chewing, and gnashing that was going on in the theater. I'd call it grazing, but that would be insulting to the animals that graze. They have more grace.
Best Disappearing Act
Luke Warm. One minute he was there and then "poof" he was gone. Been months since I've seen or spoken with him.
Best Network Television Show
Lost. This last season was its best. It catered to the true fans, which meant it wasn't dumbed down for casual and stupid viewers. No, either you were on board or you weren't. Heavy on the SciFi and convoluted as all get out. The next and final season is upon us. I am thrilled.
Ok, that's enough for one post. I need to go shower or eat or something other than this. Happy New Year!
I wasn't terribly depressed about staying in. I watched an episode of The Tudors, read a lot, and meditated. And slept. Exciting? Certainly not, but you've got to make the best of what's in front of you. Today, I feel slightly better. I went out early to grocery store for supplies, mainly liquids and throat drops. The rest of the day I spent in bed watching some of the Winter Classic and a couple of episodes of The Tudors. And I slept. Let it not be said that I haven't started the new year of with a bang.
Let's hand out some more awards.
Best Encounter With A Bear
Our camping trip in New Hampshire this summer. Didn't get to see it, but nearly everyone else did. The first sighting was when Baby Boy Z darted off into the woods after it, the second late at night while I slept like an angel of pure light. Good thing for the bear it didn't run into me. I would have choked the bitch out!
Best book
All four of the novels comprising The Berrybender Narratives. When I finished the last page of the last book, well, I almost teared up. Larry McMurtry, you had me at hello.
Best Brawl
4th of July, Mike's place. Like with the bear incident, I missed this one too. If only I had stayed a bit longer, maybe Mike would have had someone else on his side other than his girlfriend, who, from what I hear, threw down like a champ. Maybe, but I probably would have been a chicken baby like the rest of 'em. Probably for the best that I wasn't there.
"I Thought This Only Happened In Stupid Comedies" award
The other day I put a pair of pants on quickly, forgoing the boxers, and paid a dear price. During a visit to the bathroom , I unzipped my pants hard and fast and, well , I think you can figure out the rest. No? Okay, I'll come out and say it: My guy got caught in the zipper. Not going to lie to you- it really, really hurt. Did I learn my lesson? Absolutely not. No, rather than put on a pair of boxers as a preventative measure, I kept things as they were and guess what happened during another visit to the bathroom? Same spot, too. And it should go without saying that it really, really, hurt. I've done some pretty loutish things in my life, but this one forced me to take a good, hard look at myself. (I'm no Kreskin, but I'd be willing to bet Kate would rather see this award dubbed the TMI award)
"This Is Your Life" award
This one goes to Facebook. Very surreal when you see people from all sectors of your life, past and present -- friends, family, coworkers, etc. -- responding to the same thread. It's kind of cool and kind of weird. It's a new world.
Most Uncomfortable Experience
When Foley "complimented" a woman for not wearing a bra. Everyone in the room heard it; the silence was palpable. Oddly, she wasn't flattered by his kind words. I was sitting next to Foley, but at that moment I wanted to be six thousand miles away.
Proof We're All Cattle award
When Janelle and I saw Inglorious Basterds at the Showcase Cinema in Lowell, we could barely hear the movie with all the slobbering, chewing, and gnashing that was going on in the theater. I'd call it grazing, but that would be insulting to the animals that graze. They have more grace.
Best Disappearing Act
Luke Warm. One minute he was there and then "poof" he was gone. Been months since I've seen or spoken with him.
Best Network Television Show
Lost. This last season was its best. It catered to the true fans, which meant it wasn't dumbed down for casual and stupid viewers. No, either you were on board or you weren't. Heavy on the SciFi and convoluted as all get out. The next and final season is upon us. I am thrilled.
Ok, that's enough for one post. I need to go shower or eat or something other than this. Happy New Year!
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