Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Another (even shorter) Dog Poem
The silly dog stares at the wall, she's been like this since lunch
Some say there's a mouse in there, but it's really just a hunch.
She has quite a simple mind and is rather quick to cower.
Sunday we got a new orange couch. She barked at it for hours.
Some say there's a mouse in there, but it's really just a hunch.
She has quite a simple mind and is rather quick to cower.
Sunday we got a new orange couch. She barked at it for hours.
Be the change you want to see in the world.
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately... about who I am, and who I'd like to be. What could I be doing better.... what should I be doing less of... etc. I'm in my mid thirties and I should really get going on all of that. The title of this post is a Ghandi quote, and one I've been giving much thought to.
Another version of this phrase is: "If you want to change the world, start with yourself."
One of the many things I'm taking from this is that instead of focusing on fixing a problem head-on (as we do), it is better to start by focusing on how we react to said problem. We have no control over other people's opinions, beliefs, greed, motivations.... any more than we can control the weather. We do have control over how we react though. Our own actions are the only thing we really do have control over. And, just like our own actions can play a part in future weather patterns (industrialization, pollution, etc...), our reactions to problems should have some factor in what happens next in society.
Maybe?
Just random thought.
Now I have to go shovel 20 cm of wet snow (now ice, as it's -16° C) that mother nature dropped on us overnight. Guess what my reaction is to that!
Another version of this phrase is: "If you want to change the world, start with yourself."
One of the many things I'm taking from this is that instead of focusing on fixing a problem head-on (as we do), it is better to start by focusing on how we react to said problem. We have no control over other people's opinions, beliefs, greed, motivations.... any more than we can control the weather. We do have control over how we react though. Our own actions are the only thing we really do have control over. And, just like our own actions can play a part in future weather patterns (industrialization, pollution, etc...), our reactions to problems should have some factor in what happens next in society.
Maybe?
Just random thought.
Now I have to go shovel 20 cm of wet snow (now ice, as it's -16° C) that mother nature dropped on us overnight. Guess what my reaction is to that!
Monday, February 18, 2013
pi(e)
Carmi's Thematic Photographic is up for the week and the subject this time is "letters, numbers, and other characters". I have chosen pi.
(Above is the chocolate mixed nut praline pie we had after supper - It was a VERY good pie - but this doesn't really count as my thematic photo).
Seriously though, I do miss working with numbers... real, imaginary, complex, irrational... you know, "fun" numbers.
Some time in September of 2009 I decided engineering might not be for me and paused my studies. I'm still not sure what convinced me to trade in that slide-rule for a chef knife... I think I'll blame Disney Pixar's Ratatouille (it was the "always-on-repeat-movie" of the time).
At any rate, I still have that old slide rule... I might just finish that degree yet. Or something else that involves crazy math. I'm not sure. The point is, I'm crazy.
pie chart
(Above is the chocolate mixed nut praline pie we had after supper - It was a VERY good pie - but this doesn't really count as my thematic photo).
Seriously though, I do miss working with numbers... real, imaginary, complex, irrational... you know, "fun" numbers.
Some time in September of 2009 I decided engineering might not be for me and paused my studies. I'm still not sure what convinced me to trade in that slide-rule for a chef knife... I think I'll blame Disney Pixar's Ratatouille (it was the "always-on-repeat-movie" of the time).
At any rate, I still have that old slide rule... I might just finish that degree yet. Or something else that involves crazy math. I'm not sure. The point is, I'm crazy.
"When struggling in the darkness, why not search for light?"
I really need to find a new job.
I'm really feeling that I'm in the upper-echelon of corporate consumerism doing what it I do right now. If my daughter had a "Bring your Dad to School" day - I think I'd call in sick. You see kids... I make money by putting your parents into debt for things that society has told them they need to show their love and/or prove their success.
I bought into this paradigm for a while. I have a diamond ring, a selection of cufflinks and an even more awesome selection of watches - wool suits, silk ties, pocket squares. It's stupid. I was happier as a broke cook - going to sleep at 11:00 PM and waking up at 3:45 AM - I just wasn't as comfortable. That's just it really. I've traded pride and my moral compass for a more comfort life and it feels ... gross.
A cup of Star Wars hot cocoa should help for the moment.... That, and knowing this is all impermanent. Just a few more debts to pay off. Then I will start a long journey toward a career where I can actually contribute something of meaning to the human race... to the planet.
I'm really feeling that I'm in the upper-echelon of corporate consumerism doing what it I do right now. If my daughter had a "Bring your Dad to School" day - I think I'd call in sick. You see kids... I make money by putting your parents into debt for things that society has told them they need to show their love and/or prove their success.
I bought into this paradigm for a while. I have a diamond ring, a selection of cufflinks and an even more awesome selection of watches - wool suits, silk ties, pocket squares. It's stupid. I was happier as a broke cook - going to sleep at 11:00 PM and waking up at 3:45 AM - I just wasn't as comfortable. That's just it really. I've traded pride and my moral compass for a more comfort life and it feels ... gross.
A cup of Star Wars hot cocoa should help for the moment.... That, and knowing this is all impermanent. Just a few more debts to pay off. Then I will start a long journey toward a career where I can actually contribute something of meaning to the human race... to the planet.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
A long time ago....
Pretty much since birth, my son has been enamored by world of Thomas the Tank Engine. Everywhere we go he'd have a train in each hand, and could easily name 4 dozen engines (correctly) before he could count or recite the alphabet. When he plays, he talks with a British accent and borrows lines from the episodes that have been watched hundreds (and hundreds) of times. But then the other day, a miracle happened...
Earlier in the week, I had changed my Windows wallpaper to C3P0 wearing a Victorian suit....
When my son saw the new desktop his pupils dilated slightly, he commented something about the golden robot, and then it happened. He said, "Daddy, can we watch Star Wars?"
Yes!! These ARE the droids you're looking for!
We watched A New Hope - the 1977 cut, unedited. It was... magical. I was able to relive watching it for the first time. I was a year older than him when I first saw it. It was kindergarten and the whole class sat on the orange shag carpet in our school library as we watched Luke Skywalker drink blue milk on Betamax tape.
This is exciting to me - just though I'd share.
N.B. I'm not THAT huge of a Star Wars geek, although.... I have a Star Wars tattoo.... and my wedding cake had Star Wars action figures on it.... and every year for my birthday, I secretly hope it's going to be a Star Wars themed birthday.... (this came true for my 7th and 25th birthdays! - and maybe also my 36th?)
Earlier in the week, I had changed my Windows wallpaper to C3P0 wearing a Victorian suit....
When my son saw the new desktop his pupils dilated slightly, he commented something about the golden robot, and then it happened. He said, "Daddy, can we watch Star Wars?"
Yes!! These ARE the droids you're looking for!
We watched A New Hope - the 1977 cut, unedited. It was... magical. I was able to relive watching it for the first time. I was a year older than him when I first saw it. It was kindergarten and the whole class sat on the orange shag carpet in our school library as we watched Luke Skywalker drink blue milk on Betamax tape.
This is exciting to me - just though I'd share.
N.B. I'm not THAT huge of a Star Wars geek, although.... I have a Star Wars tattoo.... and my wedding cake had Star Wars action figures on it.... and every year for my birthday, I secretly hope it's going to be a Star Wars themed birthday.... (this came true for my 7th and 25th birthdays! - and maybe also my 36th?)
cutting carrots
Why "the carrot"? Why not "the potato" or "the artichoke"? I guess it could be either of those, from a certain point of view.
In very simple terms, it has to do with finding peace, balance, and satisfaction in every task at every moment... living in the moment. When preparing supper and cutting carrots, one should focus on cutting the carrots and take satisfaction that the carrots are being superbly cut. Don't think about the Monsanto seed they carrot grew from or the delicious stew that the carrot will go into. Be present. Cut the carrot.
This blog is my carrot and the keyboard, my knife.
In very simple terms, it has to do with finding peace, balance, and satisfaction in every task at every moment... living in the moment. When preparing supper and cutting carrots, one should focus on cutting the carrots and take satisfaction that the carrots are being superbly cut. Don't think about the Monsanto seed they carrot grew from or the delicious stew that the carrot will go into. Be present. Cut the carrot.
This blog is my carrot and the keyboard, my knife.
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