Archive for July, 2008

Getting Back to It

Monday, July 28th, 2008

MUSIC: KISS

(Not geographically correct but it is as close as I can get at the moment)

So I am slowly (and a bit reluctantly) getting back to things after my recent vacation. I may not have fully recharged the internal batteries. It was a nice break though from the routine. The vacation was not absolutely perfect. But then again what event is? And how did I do in regards to what I said I wanted to do in my last posting.

  • I did finish reading the book Ghost Rider by Neil Peart even though it took a couple of days post vacation to do so. It has given me some things to ponder about. Too much to explain. Or even want to on top of it.
  • I did catch A fish. (8″ smallmouth bass) I am still no threat to the fish population.
  • I did get to go kayaking a couple of times. (More on this in a future posting)
  • Did not listen to MP3 player much at all.
  • I did not do as much photography as I would like to have. The Northern Lights were not able to be seen since it was a full moon while I was there. But I like a clear and starry night. And I forgot to take a photo of it. My fault.
  • I did not turn on the laptop computer for 10 days. So I did not do any writing. That I did not like. But a computer break was very much needed. And not that I am home I need to get back into it.

An interesting dynamic also took place. I was there with my friends and their families. This is the longest I have been subjected to “domestic living” since I moved out of my parents’ house over 10 years ago. It is pretty much a “foreign” condition for me to be in. It was also the longest I have gone eating 3 meals a day with people since I stopped working at a summer camp over 15 years ago. I eat a majority of my meals alone so I am not use to that much noise while eating. It was over-stimulating to say the least. I am not complaining. It is just not the way my life is structured. More power to my friends for doing it but it is just not for me. It was just all and all a different experience. I will leave it at that. Any more detail will just lead to an unwanted argument down the road.

Finally.

    This is a picture of my friends’ dog whose name is “Smudge”. He also made the trip. This dog for some unknown reason “loves” me. And unlike the other “dogs” in my past he does not require a 10 drink minimum. He goes “off-the-wall berserk” just at the mere mention of my name. So he was part of my entertainment for the vacation. Go figure. At least he is amusing to be around.

Time Out and Regroup

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

MUSIC : Your pick. Rush or R.E.M. (with Eddie Vedder)

I know I seem to note that it seems like I fall behind in my writing. And well I am behind once again. It is frustrating on scale I can seem to describe. But I need to take a “time out” from things. I have a lot of things to do over the next few days. I am planning on going on vacation. And I need it. The internal batteries are running low on me at the moment.

I wanted to get a few things written before hand. And I am just not going to make it. You know you can try to do everything and end up achieving absolutely nothing. So why continue being frustrating? I need to step back temporarily and reevaluate the writing.

I just about finish re-reading Chuck Klosterman’s book Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story. I like the book a lot because he attempts to take a look at the relationships within his life while he is on a road trip to visit sites around the country where famous rock stars have died. It may sound a bit morbid. But it really does not end up being that way. And the tone of this book may influence the future attempts at my own writing.

But back to the upcoming vacation. I am going with friends up to Temagami Ontario Canada. I know my friends have to program a lot to keep their kids occupied. And my suggestion to see how many days kids on Benadryl will stay quiet was shot down. What about doing this in the name of scientific study? They may not admit but I am sure it may be option. I am trying to keep my options open. But there are a few things I am looking forward to doing.

  • I am not going to miss an Internet. And I need to stop checking my website stats two and three times a day. And web surfing is another thing I need to break from.

    But I am going to try to do some writing. Just small pieces though. Nothing that would be considered time involving.

  • Loaded up the MP3 player. Mostly Rush and Johnny Cash. Eclectic. Not that I going to there to tune out but music tunes me in. And that I need right now.

    The problem is 2GB player has been become small for allow the music I really wanted to load on it. Size does matter.

  • I have the book set for my trip. It seemed fitting. Ghost Rider by Neil Peart. It is the road journal of drummer from the band Rush as he goes on journey of rediscovering his own life. It seems fitting for a Canadian road trip.
  • Taking the camera to do some photography. Hopefully get to see the Northern Lights again. And more of the local sites.
  • I am determined to have my Hemingway Old Man and the Sea experience and catch a fish or two. I am going to fish until I get one no matter how long it takes. And hopefully I get something that is not considered “bait”. It reminds me of a time when I was about 5-6 years old and went fishing with my uncle and cousin. I caught a fish that seem to take forever to real in. Remember I was 5-6 years old. And I was so proud of my effort. My uncle took a photo of me and my catch. 20 or so years later I saw that photo again. That fish most people would most likely call “bait”. Size is relevant. But once again I was young.
  • Kayaking around the lake even if I have to go on my own. Once again it is that Hemingway thing.

     

The rest I am going to leave to chance for the week.

But sitting in a chair by the lake with a cold beer is definitely in.

Quick Observation

Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

Once again, I find myself behind in my blog postings. It has been a sad story of a broken wash machine, refrigerator, truck and promises. Sounds like a typical day in a trailer park. And I do not want to live in one of those to make things more accurate in my life.

Trust me, the ideas are there but they are not ready to be published.

But I have to post something.

And here is the realization I have come to.

                 CELLPHONES ARE BABY MONITORS

                                  FOR ADULTS!



Believe it or not. You can live without the electronic “woobie“.