Degrees of Freedom

Isolation Life

Isolation Life

Solar Return

Another trip around the Sun is complete, and what a year it has been. Songwriting, Night of Philosophy and Ideas, SOPHIA kicked things off; MRIs, CT scans, a spider bite, a discovery of lies, emergency room trips, and a hospital stay made things wonky; the Jedi Council, Arby's with old friends, cemetery walks, adventures in knitting, a mountain retreat, like-minded companions, daily phone calls, adventures with AirBNB held me; Writing, a Bard, basketball, a dog; the shredding of February and the perpetuity of March. I couldn't have dreamed last year, and at times I found the whole thing unbelievable, nearly contrived in its terror and its beauty, never tame or timid.

If last year was surprising and surreal, I can't imagine what the coming solar journey is going to look like in this new World That Is. 

Onward!

Proof that i own jeans

Desperately Seeking

Back in 1996, when I spent late-summer through mid-Autumn in the Twin Cities, I worked at MicroVoice, a company that provided the personal ad creation and management for dozens of newspapers around the country. I know, I know: In this day and age it's difficult to imagine that if you were desperately seeking someone, you had to put an ad in the paper and hope someone saw it and liked it well enough to respond. It took time. It took money. It took planning. It took words. It took patience.

Folks didn't really have any more of that then than they do now, but now we have the internet, and we can frequently skip over that other-person factor altogether and go straight to porn or escort services. It's efficient even if it's lacking in other ways. MicroVoice isn't around any more, and that's sad, and even Fortune saw it coming.

I wrote about the experience of writing personal ads at one point, more as a reminder to myself of the dangers of wanderlust, especially when combined with rapidly approaching unemployment, and it turned into a celebration of the family that I had collected along the way. The piece isn't really a piece as much as it is broad brush strokes of personality, trying to capture the impressions of the members of my Accidentally-On-Purpose-Family portrait as they came to me, before they slipped away.

I read the piece in a workshop, and the part that has stuck with me are the ads themselves. For good or for ill, I'm writing a personal ad a day now and it's pretty hilarious, at least to me. I'm looking forward to sharing them with the Writing Group on Saturday. I have no idea if they will come to anything, ever, but that's not important right now.

#TBT

2005

Baby, it's cold outside.

Things not said

This week has seen some interesting happenstance elements: I keep running into people from high school,and it's wonderful; conversations have been deep and heartfelt and honest; I have talked about things openly that usually I don't even bother to think about much anymore.

These last include some off-kilter beliefs of mine, that the Genesis Device has already been activated, that the Bible is actually only four books, and that we don't actually have anything left to lose, so we should just be wonderful and loving to ourselves and each other.

My Weird Life

Met up with a high school friend for some holiday catch-up over bagels and coffee, then we all trundled to the arboretum to let the four year olds run around while we talked. Conversation was the usual, about work and families and parents, but being my life, it had some pretty odd sentences on all our parts. I think the one that wins the day was "The Back Street Boys and InSync teamed up to make a zombie-western movie." That's a keeper.

I Owe It All To The Road

9 Reasons Why Falling In Love With a Traveler Provides A Whole New Experience

• 

We are all picky about who we decide to be in a relationship with. A lot of people may catch your eye but not many persons will catch your heart. While it is important to find someone whose interests align with yours, have you ever given the thought of being in a relationship with a traveler? A whole new experience awaits you, and here is why:

They are compassionate humanitarians

They want to give a piece of themselves to the world. It is not about turning away a meal, refusing to pay for a service or talking down to a stranger they just met, rather it is about appreciating nature, animals and the human race.

They are natural problem solvers

A lot of traveling has taught them how to adapt and survive. And one of the ways to navigate through an entirely new territory is to solve common problems such as identifying unsafe situations, booking a train ticket in another language or being able to negotiate with locals.

They see the world from a different perspective

They have a more holistic view of life. Traveling for a traveler is more than just a hobby, it is a journey into uncharted territories. And every encounter with you will be a moment of shared experiences.

They are great at appreciating little things

Their satisfaction is not in the sophisticated things of the world. But they would gain excitement even in such little things like how the sky is blue or how grand the mountains are. They appreciate the world for its simple pleasures.

They can be independent

Rather than be jealous, needy or clingy a traveller gives you the space you need when you need it. Travellers are free spirits and spend time to find comfort and peace in their own company. They value freedom and are very conscious about pursuing a path that will make them happy.

They are attractive

It depends on how you consider the term “attractive,” however you should understand that travellers are a unique breed and they have lovely and beautiful souls. They are confident, tolerant and adaptable. Through their journeys they have been able to build relationships and turned strangers into life-long friends. What better way can you determine attractiveness than these?

They are romantic

Yes travellers appreciate nature’s beauty because of their travel schedule and places they have seen. It is not about going to dinner or watching movies, it is actually in such priceless beauties as watching the sun rise and the sun set. It is actually in enjoying walks along the shores of a white beach. With travellers you are certainly going to have priceless moments which can be the foundation to any solid relationship.

They are adventurous

You may have been terrible at making new friends or forming new social circles. You may be reserved, placid and taciturn. However, when you are in a relationship with a traveller, expect adventure and the journey into new territories. Travellers are fun and they will ignite your relationship with enthusiasm and endless excitement. So if you want to embrace the world for what it has to offer, learn to appreciate a traveller.

They are not pretentious

Travelling presents challenges and situations that will make you less pretentious. Travellers are original and genuine. Pretending or acting to be what they are not can be a barrier to enjoying the pleasant thrills along the way. Falling in love with a traveller makes you see another person for what they are and how willing they are to discover not only the world but themselves.

Altogether falling in love with a traveler takes you out of your comfort zone and makes you appreciate the world around you in a whole new way.

hooray for rain

We walked out this morning to a good soaking rain coming down, feeling for all the world as though it was not a passing fancy but that it had decided to sit and stay a while. Which is all to the good in my book. Not only do we desperately need the rain in this area, I'm a big fan of the grey overcast days that send most folks into the doldrums. I'm enjoying soup and hot tea at the moment, and feeling completely in my element.

On the way to work, I discovered a cute feature of the Smart car. I knew that it has an automatic setting for the wiper speed, just as it does for the headlights, but I hadn't really been in a meaningful rain yet since purchasing it. Bruiser handles quite nicely on the wet roads, and the sensors that pick up the amount of water got a bit of a workout when we went up and down the goat trail that is my path to work. As we went uphill, the wipers would slow their pace, sensing less water from the steep upward angle. Then, comically, as we would head downhill, the sensors would get flooded, and the wipers would swish for all they were worth, seeming to scurry in and say Whoosha, Woosha, Get Ridda That Rain. It was a delightful drive in, despite spilling coffee on my blouse.

Megan

I'm not into MySpace and haven't been for years, so this most recent atrocity of internet bullying resulting in suicide only just now came to my attention. I am horrified, of course, and appalled at the people, mostly girls and women, who would do such a thing. But the worst of it is that i'm not surprised. Not in the slightest. What does surprise me, though, is that this has finally been taken seriously enough to produce charges against the cowardly perpetrators. Way to go, Los Angeles. I'm so glad we don't have the internet at home. On the way to the bus this morning, the boys asked if they could each get their very own tandem dump truck load of topsoil for their birthdays. While i informed them that "dirt cheap" was misleading, i laughed and enjoyed hearing their plans to make their own version of a Meerkat Manor. When i think of how fragile our children are in the face of peer pressure, it just crushes me.

random rant

You know what confuses me? Not one of the online book sellers (barnes & noble, amazon, powell’s, abe books, bear pond books) that I frequent has a collection of various award winners. For instance, I’d really like to add the entire list of the Nebula Award nominees to my wish list, and purchase a few of them at a time. And maybe even get the whole collection for the local library if I’m in a particularly flush and giving way. But no. This seems impossible to do unless I make the list myself.

Probably a good rainy day activity.

Other collections that I would like to purchase and eventually own all of: Nobel, Pulitzer, Newberry, Caldecott, Booker, Edgar, Agatha, Hollins Authors, and Oprah’s Book Club. (Okay, so maybe hollins authors isn’t something that has a worldwide appeal or anything, but the rest of them are darned spiffy.)

On a completely different note, David sent me the biggest arrangement of flowers i have ever seen. They are simply beautiful, and the whole office smells wonderful. Wow. I confess that it's true: you send a girl flowers, and she smiles. No one knows why.

The florist tried to deliver them yesterday after i had already left, which is just as well: the cold was hitting me so hard i wouldn't have been able to enjoy them. Today was perfect. Last night's early bedtime and the long hot shower this morning before work seemed to do wonders for my head cold. Perhaps the coming storms won't leave me sniffling and aching all over again, and i can spend the time creating a booklist.

It had to happen eventually.

Okay, so I was wrong. Well, more in the wrong time zone, but that’s nothing new for me. Anyway, the eclipse tonight for the eastern shore will start at ten. I’m still looking forward to the living room picnic, of course. And it finally happened; I was asked the question by a coworker yesterday: "Star Wars or Star Trek?” I responded without missing a beat, "Even if you take A New Hope versus Next Gen it’s still a pretty harsh question, but if you’re talking about Little Ms. "I am a senator" (in fetish clothing), well, that’s just a waste of good celluloid. Frankly, Star Trek is philosophy and Star Wars is a spaghetti western, so it’s really a question of what you’re in the mood for." I looked around at my colleagues, who were either silent or shaking with laughter, which I suspected was more at me than with me. I looked at Ray, the systems Librarian (one of those overcome with mirth and said) "No fair. That was a trap, and now I have a big NERD sign on my forehead and now no one will talk to me." It was a lighthearted moment at my own expense, and really wasn’t all that painful – nor wholly unexpected. I like the folks I work with. And they accept that I am a true-trekkie-blue NERD. 

N.B. No, I do not and have not ever owned a pair of Spock ears. This just had to be stated up front.

due to the hurricane. . . .

This weekend's near hurricane-force winds put a severe damper on most activities, but David and I didn't notice much. We spent Saturday at home cooking, talking, enjoying each other and browsing at some land for sale nearby (too many restrictions and too overpriced). We left home on Sunday, where i got a much needed news fix while David played tennis. The blustery winds seem to be propelling Obama's campaign, and I can't wait to vote tomorrow. I also heard that congress passed the tax rebate, which is actually not a rebate at all, but an advance which is being covered by tacking the bill onto the national debt. O puh-LEEZE. enough already.

Confession: I have never contributed in a political campaign before in my life. I gave $50 to Obama, wishing it were more, and thanking the tuned-in Obama supporter who matched my contribution.

When we arrived home after a fun-filled browsing at Lowe's, one of our favorite outings together. We looked at high-efficiency, stackable washers and dryers and figured the lumber costs for the mudroom project. We looked for tankless hot water heaters, drolled over the 12-jet jacuzzi corner tub for two, and had lunch before heading back up the mountain where we discovered that we didn't have power. We napped until the boys came home, and started the generator and some dinner. While the rest of Craig county was without power -- and many of them without water or heat, as well pumps and furnaces need electricity too -- we watched Firefly and made chili. We enjoyed all the comforts of home, though at the cost of a gallon of cas an hour to power the house, I am investigating some wind and solar combination alternatives.

After tuck-ins, David and I finished watching Perfume: The Story of a Murderer which is weird and cool all at once. It is creepy and engaging, and beautifully filmed, a feast for the eyes, and filled with twists for the mind. On Saturday we watched more of Heroes (we're irrevocably hooked) and David brought me An Officer and a Gentleman which was as delightful as it ought to have been.

No more excuses

I don't do the whole New Year's Resolution thing, usually. Ash Wednesday and Lent always seemed more my time to be reflective, think about where i'm headed and how my steps are taking me there (or not). Since my teens, I've challenged myself not only to think of what i'm giving up, but what i can take on to be more the person I want to be. So, starting now I'm spending my time instead of my money: for an hour a day I'm thinking about finances. Don't groan: it has to be done, and in my case, what with having a career and assets and suchlike, it is high time i took this on. Thankfully, Simple Dollar has made this really straightforward. It's too early (Ash Wednesday isn't for a whole week), and the program is too short (Lent is 40 days, not 31). No more excuses: The time has come.

now that's sexy

Performance. Power. Efficiency. Beauty.
When I grow up, I want to buy a Tesla Roadster.

good thing we bought hot chocolate.

Wow. Snow? Really?
Thank goodness it might happen on the weekend.

The job is good. It's mostly settling in and training so far, as expected, and I'm feeling good about both. I'm still getting physically accustomed to the schedule, and Monday night I fell asleep in my clothes while the boys and David and I were watching gargoyles. David had prepared an excellent celebratory dinner of steak and garlic mashed potatoes and green beans. The boys ate grilled hamburgers, and we were all quite content. I woke up a few minutes before my alarm went off, wondering why i was still in a hoodie and had a rubber band in my hair.

Last night I managed to actually stay awake long enough to put myself to bed. I got lost on the way home, which was draining in its own right, and then David was doing the anti-nit shampoo on Graeme (since TheEx didn't feel like it over the weekend, but helpfully washed Graeme's hair every night and afternoon, making it take an extra day to have the medicine work). It's kind of weird coming home to the whole family already doing stuff. In fact, I don't think it has ever happened before.

This morning David took Graeme to school to be evaluated by the nurse. He passed, and has been admitted again pending continued success, of which we are hopeful, and which TheEx did nothing to help ensure. It boggles the mind that someone who would actively and willfully deny medicine to a child would think he would have any business being a custodial parent.

Whatever other things might be going on, I am content. Our family is simply wonderful and we have been working together really well lately. We seem to be the poster family for the idea that it doesn't have to be perfect for us to be happy.

happy Halloween

i don't know what it is that makes me all sortsa of dippy and happy to be at home about Halloween, but it never fails. The boys are packed off to school with their costumes, looking forward to school parties and trick-or-treating later, and I'm just as happy as can be. This morning after we put the boys on the bus, I took David out to th front porch to show him the last glimpse of Orion doing a cartwheel. i told him about how Orion is always chasing the Pleiades. I like looking at the morning sky, and talking with David this mrning was especially nice, a very together time, and neither of us really wanted to part and get on with the business of the day.

This morning I'm working on updating the library site with the new domain name that the director chose. It'll take another couple days to populate at the server level (i'm so not good witht he patient thing), and I'm pretty pleased with the results. More importantly, the director really likes it and is getting all enthusiastic about other things to put up. Such is my measure of true success when it comes to the medium.

Later this morning I get to go to physical therapy for the elbow. I confess that I'm a little daunted, as I know those therapists are more interested with progress than comfort. (What's up with that? Like they want me to be healthy or something!) Tomorrow I have a LEEP procedure that is frankly scaring the bejeezus out of me. Never mind that it's sasfe, amazingly effective and all that other stuff: being scared has nothing to do with being rational. David is taking the day off, which is wonderful of him, and the boys have the day off from school as a teacher work day (more like not-deal-with-the-late-night-sugar-crankiness day), so mostly it'll be a day of slow-moving schedules, with lazing about.

The Historian: A Novel is an amazing work and I am totally engrossed. Perfectly timed for Halloween reading.

Reading, sipping and listening

I've been buried in the Stephanie Plum series pretty heavily, and am finishing up the tenth today. In honour of halloween, I searched a few links at Library Thing for recommendations and ended up checking The Historian: A Novel out of the Salem Library. I'm looking forward to reading it, and to exploring some of the other recommendations, especially Labyrinth and The Rule of Four, also checked out from Salem. I'm glad that the bookmobile comes to the Craig library, since once I start work next week I won't have the luxury of coming over to Salem as often as I have been.

Of course, the upside is that I'll have access to the Blacksburg area libraries, but I have to confess that I am a fan of Salem and Craig.

Speaking of starting work, David and I went to Starbucks this morning together. [I got a chai latte, which is just coziness in a cup. yum.] Starbucks is doing the whole iTunes giveaway thing, and it's really sort of cool. I asked David if it would sound dippy if we went to lunch 'together' by going to a coffee shop and using the wifi to talk, and he said not at all. Well, maybe he thought it was dippy, but not prohibitavely so. I'm also looking forward to listening to the same books when we drive and getting them from audible.