Not that we know all that much about either. But we have recently started running again (well, run/walking) and we are verily all fired up about it as we have made a deal with God that every time our computer crashes we will do something useful while waiting for it to come back up, whether that is laundry, washing dishes, straightening up the living room, or going for a workout.

And yea, verily, we hates the housework we does.

And so. So to the quote o’ the day, in which our protagonist (far too whingey and self-absorbed to be a hero) learns at least one of the many lessons that a Marathon can teach one.

From the Guardian:

Surrounded by very short young women, whose legs must have been half the length of mine, I told myself I was pathetic if I couldn’t keep up with them. Thompson is not impressed. “If you are then passed by the short-legged women that might be soul destroying,” he cautions…

“When you get overtaken by six vikings carrying their own boat it does take you down a peg or two,” says Loosemoore. “You’ve got to prepare yourself for that before the marathon. The real battle is against yourself. You are going to be overtaken. There will be extremely good marathon runners in rhinoceros costumes. Try not to be distracted by that.”

Maybe you had to be there, but I found it funny.

: : : : : : : : : : :

Remember these? I wrote these at the end of 2006, hoping that I would complete a few. Here’s a breakdown of what I did and did not accomplish this year, and why. Just in case you were wondering, this post is more for me than for you, so sorry.

1. Get that six-pack I’ve been working on for the past 6 months. Didn’t accomplish this one, unfortunately. I tried, but life got in the way and I just stopped doing it. I’m so sorry that I didn’t keep it up, but there’s always this year.
2. Finish writing my book. I never even got started. I created my plot outline, had the story all ready to write, but I never got that cup of coffee and that good music going and wrote. Kinda sad, really, if you think about it. The plot outline is still hanging up. I wonder if I should just start writing and see what happens?
3. Read 50 books. Got to 35 or so, but never made this goal. Again, life got busy so I couldn’t exactly read as much as I had planned. Still, 35 is nothing to sneeze at. Hopefully I can make fifty this year.
4. Read 100 books. See above.
5. Get something published, even something small. Nothing here, either. If I couldn’t make time to write, I couldn’t get published either. Sad, really.
6. Take a roadtrip this summer. Nope, nowhere special. I stayed in town and did school work over the summer. I have a boring life, it seems.
7. Volunteer my time with a worthy secular organization (I’ve done enough church volunteer time to have a degree). I volunteered with my school for a good portion of time, and I also serve as the president of my Phi Theta Kappa chapter, so I’d say this one is accomplished.
8. Make 5 new friends. Done, done, done! More than five, actually. So I’m proud of myself.
9. Organize my living space for optimum productivity. Somewhat. My room went through five or six reorganizations. I suppose that’s a bad thing, but at least I have more organization than before.
10. Get a date. Good as done. Got two boyfriends, too, both of which were asses. I’m happy, what can I say?
11. Take a class in something I’ve never done before. Done, took Consumer Psychology last semester. Good fun, good teacher, good class.
12. Limit my television time to less than three hours a week. I failed this one miserably. I love my TV too much.

All in all, I got a few things done. I volunteered, got a date, made new friends, took a new class, read thirty-five books, and overall had a good time. Here’s to a good new year!

Alas, that would be me, the fat lady. I usually have curves, but the past couple of years I’ve gotten rolls instead. Not what I’d call a fair trade, but then, I could get off my plushly-upholstered butt and get some exercise, yes? Speaking of which…

I’m not sure if the Cybergypsy intends it to be a Christmas present, but I can see the stationary bicycle that was in the garage is now out on the patio; the unfortunate thing is, unless I remember to buy a tarp, it will simply rust there, same as everything. I know he has no intention of using it, that’s for sure. Unfortunately, until he gets his own space, there’s not enough room in the apartment to put it in here; well, not and use the bathroom.

I could use the patio. It’s a Chinese building: I’d hardly be the first. We really should give new members a user’s guide that includes the words “just because it has a drain doesn’t mean it’s a bathroom.” Urk.

In any case, the Christmas haul now includes a pressie I bought for myself, one upon which I have had my beady little eye-stalks for some time. This:

Yes, it is the famous Sacred Heart of Cthulhu tee, about my longing for which I have previously blogged. It was, of course and naturellement for this is the way the Universe works, in strange ways, particularly relating to me and Cthulhu-themed casual wear, the only thing in the store not on sale, but a sigh, a wistful “oh, I guess it’s not on sale?” and a twisting of coppery-blonde locks resulted in a meagre 10% markdown. What the hell, I was going to buy it come Nodens or Ragnarok. At my age the mere idea that hair-twirling could cause a twentysomething salesboy to give me 10% off is itself worth 90% of retail.

This was, of course, purchased with the complete aggregate of all my Christmas money, leaving me just enough to pay my bills and live off CG’s food for the next week or so. At least I’ll lose weight: right now, he’s soaking some seaweed that looks like sheets of green, striated rubber. It is his intention to use these sheets to make nutburger buns… although if the final product isn’t a helluva lot more appealing than the ingredients you’d have to be a nutburger to put the damn things anywhere near your mouth.

As well, I got a deck of trick cards, two books on true crime (one a how-to), one book about death, a squid tee, a bottle of perfume (a public service as much as a gift, and thank GOD; if my perfume level drops below a certain point, the scent of fish becomes overpowering and you may make of that what you will), one book about health, one book about snobbery, an MP3 player, a Sears gift card, an AT&T card which I hope I can use in Canada but am not sure, and three restaurant gift cards. So I will be fat, fragrant, and funky.

So, no change.

I also got lei’d, but that’s another story.

And, as I am a known Christmas nut, I am determined to keep the holiday going until the last of the gift cards has been drained dry. If I find myself at Milestone’s in the middle of June spending a few Christmas bucks, you’ll find me requesting the calamari with a side of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”

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Now, I have my good points. Among these is my ability to shop. I’m not just a tireless shopper; I’m not just a savvy shopper; I think it fair to say that I am, in fact and in actuality, an expert shopper. If I can’t get it for you at 50% off or in exchange for something you have lying around the garage, it does not exist.

So, it is a fact universally acknowledged that a savvy shopper at the subsistence level of poverty in possession (however temporary) of a hundred bucks and change, must be in search of some highly practical purchases.

at Winners:

1. pink lace bra from France $19 marked down from $100
2. blue lace over green satin bra from France $19 marked down from$95
3. banal beige utility bra to partially justify purchase of the above $9 marked down from who gives a rat’s ass?
4. “Olive or Twist,” a book of cocktail cartoons from the New Yorker $5.99 marked down from $39
5. large wooden sign reading “IMAGINE” $14 marked down from who cares? I had to have it.

additionally:

1. 1 bottle Jack Daniels for medicinal purposes $28, full price
2. 1 small bottle Martini & Rossi Italian vermouth for flavouring purposes $7, full price
3. 1 bottle bitters $9

Yep, nobody can say I’m not a practical shopper! And tomorrow, if there’s any left, I’ll get groceries!

It is again time to make resolutions. How did my last years resolutions (2007) came through? And what have I decided for year coming (2008)?

Follow up of 2007 

Last year I made 6 resolutions for new year (2007 Resolutions, little late) they came through little differently. I did not try to change me much, I did find ways to handle my feelings and I blogged about the issues touching me, but about clean surroundings I failed badly especially in autumn, I did not go out to meet new people that much more and taking responsibility of my work did not quite come through. Yet I tried and that is the most important thing, I think.

My New Year 2008 Resolutions

This years resolutions are:

1) Try not to chose the easiest route. This does not mean that one should do things the hardest way, but that one should think about adding little challenge most of the times. (The most important).

2) Eat breakfast.

3) Give worrying and anger their time. Notice the feelings, but don’t let them rule.

4) Continue not changing me. Hang less on the self image and let it break down if necessary.

5) Try to meet new people and try to keep connection to people important to me.

6) Learn to ways to keep it clean. Don’t try to eat an elephant, when cleaning.

7) Pray for “enemies”.

Other Plans

You may have noticed that I did not make resolutions like loosing weight. I try to get fitter and better shaped, but that is constant battle not resolution.

Changing job (look comments on: Surfing in the Office Time) was in my resolutions list and I removed it for that reason. It is not resolution - attitude change, but plan. It is not easy to leave secure job whit nice go-workers, even if you don’t like what you do, but I plan to do something. I also plan to travel somewhat.

Does it Work?

I think making resolutions is nice, but writing them down is more effective, making them public even more. Even if one is not always able to come throug - or like me forgets the resolutions she made. Maybe I should check my progress more often and not just yearly?!

 Ps. If you need help making your resolutions, you might check this: 101 must take new year resolutions for you. And the psychology tips how to make them last: How to make resolutions that will last: Don’t wait until New Year’s Eve.

So, after my strong(ish) performance in NaBloPoMo, I’ve been MIA for a bit… But here we are, at the new year, and I hope to be around these parts a bit more regularly…

I went on my big road trip, which was awesome–stories and pics to come. Had a great holiday with the fam, got a lot of work done, and am getting ready to do more. YAY!

Reflecting on last year’s resolutions, I didn’t do so well. I didn’t make 50 books, though I’ll finish the book journals for all the books I’ve finished in 2007 and count them up soon and report. I did ok–but not 50. I got a library card, and other than that, not so much. Sigh.

But I won’t let that get me down. I won’t give up on the endless cycle of self-improvement. In that spirit, I’m embarking on the 101 in 1001 project. I will accomplish 101 things in 1001 days, between January 1, 2008 (today) and September 28, 2010. The website for the general 101 in 1001 project is here, and there’s also an LJ community devoted to those starting today.

So, why do I think I can do this? Well, first, there’s a support group. Then, there’s a longer time period. And I’ve been very careful to do things that are only within my control. (ie, no “get a boyfriend” items on my list.) Plus, I’ve got my never-ending belief that good things happen, that the good guys win the game, that the life I imagine is always possible.

In addition, I realized that a lot of times, I make resolutions that require discipline, a removal of things I like or that make me happy. It’s time to reframe that. Kristy, one of my favorite bloggers, talked about No Joy 07 last year… And that’s the way I often thought of resolutions. So, I’m changing it to ALL JOY 08. Some of the end results are the same, but I had to think about, ultimately, what would make me happy. These 101 things will, at least momentarily.

Ok, friends, that’s it… I’ll upload the big list in a few more minutes!

This time last year I made a list of some easy-to-stick-to resolutions I planned to follow to the letter.  These have also been floating around what used to be my desk (until Jim bought a piece-of-shit Vista desktop and took it over) so I would remember what I had said I would do.  Before I decide what I will undertake this year, let’s review last year’s aims and see how I did, shall we?

1.  End the year better off than I started it

Believe it or not I am ending 2007 much better off than I started it, thanks to a lot of luck and self-control.  In March I received a not inconsiderable windfall and ever since, financial prudence has ensured that I haven’t gone into the red again.  In twelve months I have gone from debt with no end in sight, to a credit balance and a regular savings plan.  It can be done!  And before you write it off as my simply getting some inheritance, I managed to rinse £2,500 back from my bank and credit card companies thanks to Martin Lewis.  I cannot overstate how much money you can reclaim if, like me, you have been a bit careless in the past.  Don’t just sit there: claim your money back!

2.   Actually go to the gym

And after starting on such a high, I must now grovel for forgiveness.  I have paid £17 per month for the gym, and actually completed a total of three workouts.  That means I have paid £68 for on-and-a-half hours on the treadmill, one hour on the cycle and the same on the rower.  Not exactly a return, is it?  Jim has been a model of good behaviour and gets up at 6.30am every day to hit the gym before eight o’clock.  I hit the shower at eight o’clock and still struggle to make it to work before nine.In my defence, it’s not been a total loss.  My gym subscriptions helped subsidise cheap classes in different sports like trampolining, on which I did enrol.  And I took Nathan, too - on the whole I think I probably recouped some of my money.  And had a GREAT time!

I am a natural on the tramp (and have some natty socks, too).  Next month: somersaults!

3.  Read more

Honestly, I haven’t had the time.  I have read sixteen books this year.  Not exactly staggering, is it?  But I have learned Sign language this year, which did require some of my reading time, I suppose.  Sixteen books: 1.3 books a month.  I can do better.

4.  Write more

Well, I’m not as far along with the novel as I would like, but I have joined a writing group which I really enjoy.  I know that writing groups have a bad rep - weekly meetings in the church hall where you make tea and talk about eachother’s divorces -  but it really has brought me on leaps and bounds in my writing.  The downside is that now I have to go back and rewrite whole sections of my novel because, having developed so much, I can see all the problems with everything I’ve written already.  At least it’s a good pain, eh?

***

So, what will I undertake in 2008?  There’s no point in committing to read and write more since I will have to do that now with the new writing group.  I can’t really finish off 2008 better off since, visa permitting, I will be moving to Australia before Christmas; and there’s no point in committing to the gym since it is apparent that I just don’t bother unless it involves jumping twenty feet in the air on a giant spring-loaded mesh.  Creative thinking is required, so here goes:

1.  Downsize

If the Australian Government agrees to grant us visas, Jim and I will be moving to Down Under in 2008.  At the moment, our little flat is busting at the seams with piles of thing; some sentimental, but mostly junk.  I’m not a hoarder on the whole, but you know how it is - you think something might be useful one day, or it has some tenuous sentimental link, or you might wear it again even though you shrank it/stained it/burned a cigarette hole in the arm (bastards).  This year, I pledge to reduce my stock of ’stuff’ to shippable levels so that when we need to send it over to the other side of the world, we can do it in a couple of crates, rather than having to charter a ship of our own.

2.  Move my blog to its own website

I bought the domain, I’m just not technical enough to get it quite how I want it.  At the moment I’m struggling between WordPress and Moveable Type.  I like WordPress and it would be easier to move with, but the sidepanel thing on WP annoys me.  Have you noticed that all the type appears in a column down the centre of your screen?  I hate wasting all that space at the sides and Moveable Type goes right to the corner!  Revolutionary!  If anyone has an answer, let me know.  I’m pretty desperate.

3.  Apply for my MA

I want to do this and if we go to Australia, I am applying to University of Sydney.  If not, there are several places in the UK that I have thought about.  Now I have the means, and hopefully a more mature ability, it is stupid not to do something about it.  Enough stalling: time for some action.

4.  Get a six-pack

Alright, I know I said I wouldn’t promise to go to the gym, but when I get to Australia it will be the start of the summer.  There’s nothing I can do about my being the whitest thing on the beach, but I can certainly avoid looking like a bleached-out blimp.  I know all it takes is a few months of diligent work and I will be trim and super, but I’m just too fucking lazy.  2008 is the year of the workout!

Happy New Year!!!!

With a month of power reading to finish up the year, I finally made it—50 books in 2007. Here are some stats:

Total pages read: 10,782
Average pages per book: 215
Longest book: 676 pages
Biggest reading month: December, with 10 books
Slowest reading month: June, with 1 book

I have to say, I didn’t always have a lot of time for reading, and there were points when reaching my goal seemed doubtful, but I really enjoyed dedicating myself to it. And I felt most relaxed when curled up in bed with a book on a lazy Saturday morning.

I’d recommend attempting a book a week to anyone. Especially if you don’t make it difficult for yourself: Of the 50 books I read in 2007, 17 were categorized as nonfiction, three were plays and 18 were graphic novels. If I’d attempted to read 50 classics, I’m sure I would have flaked out.

I’ve been thinking about whether I want to continue the reading streak in 2008, and I’m still undecided. I’m certainly going to continue recording what I read in this blog, but I have a feeling there might be a big project or two that eats up my free time. Stay tuned…

You may not know this… but I have the cutest puppy in the entire world.* Really. The cutest.

Don’t believe me? Here’s a photo as proof:

Obviously, a puppy so cute is in need of a christmas present - and while it is technically before christmas, the surprise has already been ruined for her… as you’ll see below.

I had some bulky organic wool (from an ex who’s parents had an organic sheep farm) and I thought that a dog toy would be the perfect use for it… so I made her a sheepy…

It turned out pretty darn cute! The specifics:

Pattern: Felt Flock (Bev G.) - this is available as a fiber trends pattern, but I had the pattern in Donna Kooler’s Knitting Encyclopedia gifted to me by my sister a few years back.
Needles: Size 11 US plastic circulars that I got at an auction…
Yarn: Gift
Mods: None.  I’m really pretty thrilled with the pattern.  I’d recommend it to others.

She loves the sheep! Want proof?

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope it’s a good one!

*This is actually my sister’s puppy - since I live in the residence halls at IU (in an apartment) I am not allowed to have puppies… But still, it’s like my puppy.

Remember those slippers that I knit a while ago?

These ones?

Since I’m up, I just wanted to share the mods that I made, per my knitting group’s fantastic advice:

Don’t they look just perfect now?  These buttons came from a good friend - someone who makes me feel much like these slippers do (warm and comfortable).

Today is Global Orgasm Day. Don’t forget about it!

At least, don’t fake it

Four books left to make my resolution to read 50 this year; nine days left in which to do it. Will I make it?

I’ve got a half-dozen books in line to read over my Christmas break, which extends from now until the end of the year. If I buckle down (and don’t try to read anything, say, over 400 pages) I think I’m gonna be able to do it.

THE LOWDOWN
Published: 1960, 118 pp.
Obtained via: Kevin
Date started: 12.15.07
Date finished: 12.22.07
What I liked: This is a fun adaptation of the Scopes Monkey Trial. I’m embarrased to say that I don’t know enough about the historical even to know when and how much creative license the authors took.
What I didn’t like: No complaints, though I have to say the second half of the book went much faster than the first.
What I learned: Logic always wins.

Top 10 list of historically set new year’s resolutions of years past.TOP 10 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION LIST

1. Lose Weight and Get in Better Physical Shape

2. Stick to a Budget

3. Debt Reduction

4. Enjoy More Quality Time with Family & Friends

5. Find My Soul Mate

6. Quit Smoking

7. Find a Better Job

8. Learn Something New

9. Volunteer and Help Others

10. Get Organized

So did I meet my resolutions? I set forth the following goals for 2007, and as the year is drawing to a close I decided to pull the list out and see how I faired. Here is what I came up with:

1. Get a job that pays enough to pay all my bills on time, instead of cycling them each month which to pay.
Done As of Feb.

2. Write more, I have a book that I’ve been writing and I really need to stop making excuses and just finish the thing so I can go back and start editing the parts that suck.
Basically I did this. I stripped the story down and started over from a new point of view (same plot).

3. Read 20+ books, not a very ambitious goal as I read 28 last year, but it’s a reasonable goal.
I weighted in just under my target at 15 books this year. I got a real job that actually makes me work during the day, and I don’t get to read anymore while I wait for them to find something that I can do for them.

4. Find new and interesting ways to show my wife I love her.
I don’t think I found interesting ways, but I did find a few new ones.

5. Save up money to move the hell out of California, so I can actually afford to live and start thinking about having a kid.
Started this project when wife got job in Oct, and we actually have savings in our account for the first time in a while.

6. Drink more good beer (as opposed to most of the beers out there) because beer makes everything better; that and Jack Daniels
Failed: I have sampled more beers yes, but I have not found any that I say I like. Nothing quite comes close to either Guinness or Macesen’s XXX Stout. I like my beer dark, thick, sometimes chocolaty, and smooth.

7. I will focus on making my life situation better, making my wife happier, and work on being able to accept compliments for what they are instead of shrugging them off.
Let’s see, new Job, new Apartment, New clothes that fit, and paying all bills on time: I think that counts as a better situation all around.

8. 2007 shall be the year of renewal for me. I shall stop worrying about where I have been, and focus on where I am going. Mistakes will be learned from, not dwelt on.
I always struggle with dwelling on mistakes. I have moved past a lot of the mistakes I’ve made, and finally moved on in many regards. I think I’ve made this year about what “Can” be done, not what we can’t do. We have come a long way this year, and I am looking forward to what changes are in store for us for next year. What are my Resolutions for next year? That’s a good question, I haven’t thought about it yet. I’m still reflecting on the great things that I have been blessed with this year.

So did I make it for this year? I think I did.

What I’ll be knitting this year (forgive the coding - I have family who read this now):

• Dashing
• Shedir or Knucks for my sister (if I have time, Shedir might be for my brother)
• either a set of ornaments for my mother or finishing her sweater or a set of slippers
• 6 Dishcloths (for cousins)
•  A knitted/felted sheep for Mitzy - with some source of sound inside
• A baby sweater (and/or finishing the baby blanket)
•  Something for Keith and something for Steve

P.S. - So, grad school is busy

I’m hosting a Crafting Bee this Saturday! Inspired by all of the DIY (do-it-yourself) crafting events I read about in this blog, and after spending hours admiring the Wardrobe Remix creativity of GrayGoosie, Lorimarsha and other California gals over on flickr, I decided that if I couldn’t be a part of the West Coast crafting happenings, it was high time to make something happen right here in my own backyard.

 So I sent out a slew of emails and the RSVPs are rolling in. All crafts and projects are welcome. New projects. Projects languishing in a basket, just waiting to be finished. Or maybe, a project that is simply more fun in the company of others. Bring ‘em on!

There will be a gigondo pot of homemade soup and fresh-baked muffins available for noshing from 12 noon til 5:00 p.m.

What will I be working on? Not the Aran Island mittens - those are for solitary concentration only!  No, I’ll be finishing up two Sock Monkey quilt tops for my nephews.

If you live in southern New Hampshire, and the idea of attending a crafting bee appeals, and I overlooked your name for the distribution list, leave a comment here below.

Dicks Sporting Goods stores (DKS @ $32) stock price is up 7% from after I reported on its earnings. The sporting goods retail stock has been slipping with all the other major giant retailers such as Sears Holding (SHLD @ $112) and Macy’s (M @ $30). Since earnings it has risen about $2 after being upgraded the second day after earnings by Citigroup (C @ $31). Practicing the play on options/real trade you would of made a 75% ROI on JAN 30 CALLS for DKS. Bought around $2 and sold around $3.50. Of course you would of traded this if you had your head screwed on straight and were not in demolishing belittling DEC 30 PUTS for Apple Inc. (AAPL @ $171.50) up probably 6 pts from where I bought the PUTS which are going to $0. Yes - yes - yes the likely hood that I could of took a small loss, well big to most people, at -$300 on a $1000 trade (-30%). I’m currently at a value of $250 for my 10 contracts. I think Apple is a hot company, but I was 100% sure this second run one the last until the New Year. I was definitely wrong. I think I need to take a long break from trading any stock. Even a majority of my stock practice plays are failing. I’ve also noticed all my very short-term plays (in and out within 1 1/2 day) for the most part 90% work earning an average of around 5-10% per trade because the stock market is currently going up and down so much that by the 4-7th day in my option practice trade my options intrinsic value is becoming less and less even if the stock is going my way. Something I think is what makes Dick’s Sporting Goods a “hot pick” that is bound to go up is because its brand name is advertised all over ESPN’s basketball and football games. It’s subconsciously telling little boys and girls all over the world to buy from Dick’s. I have a Dicks Sporting Goods in my hometown of Virginia Beach and I have to admit its really simple nice store with a very good selection priced for the average consumer.

Conclusions: Well my DEC PUT is good until December 21st so I have a little less than 30 days for Apple Inc. stock basically to fall to around $150 to become profitable and sell out. I am 100% against depositing money into my account. I just “feel” like I am going to lose it! And any trader’s book says if you feel like you are not 100% confident about your trade you probably should not be trading and likely to lose. I know I have better trading skills then what I have been actually putting out. I need to put more research into trading a stock - before I trade a stock. Currently trades I consider won’t work to practice on ARE WORKING so I know it isn’t 100% my error either. The market is definitely a bit nutty with all this bad credit mortgage news and thriving tech companies.

Below is a 55 minute chart of DKS to show movement:

(Click on to enlarge)

Welcome to my dream cottage. It’s near the water and even has a bit of a waterview. It is a traditional Victorian seaside summer cottage. I love how it looks much as it probably did when it was first built in 1876. I found it online after returning home from the Writing Retreat. And in the spirit of believing in dreams and doing what I can to make mine a reality, I actually called the realtor, made an appointment, and in spite of Saturday’s stormy weather, hubby and I went to see it.

I can easily imagine the hours of writing, knitting, visiting and tea sipping that could be passed on the front porch. And doesn’t the bedroom balcony above just beg for early morning contemplation and writing?

 The dream cottage photo will be the central feature in my next vision board. Stay tuned!

I have been trying to read Freddy and Fredricka by Mark Helprin for like, forever. At least six weeks, anyway. I was really looking forward to reading it—I’ve heard a ton of reviews that said it was hilarious. All my friends who have read it think it is really awesome. But I think it is incredibly boring. And I think I may have to give up.

I can’t remember the last time I gave up on a book. Sometimes I’ve had a hard time reading a book, and I’ve put it away for a while, read a few other books, and then went back to it later. But I rarely actually give up on finishing a book. So I tried that with this book. When it was due back at the library, I renewed it. And then I renewed it again. It’s sitting on my nightstand, and every time I look at it, I am filled with dread. If I don’t have another book to read, I just don’t read, rather than try to read it. I just keep pretending that one night I’m finally going to be interested in it. But I really don’t think it’s going to happen.

I love reading, and so it’s hard for me to admit that I can’t finish this book. I was an English major, and I had to read Moby Dick over SPRING BREAK! (Tell me that professor wasn’t pure evil.) But I sat on the beach in Florida, with my Pina Colada, and I did what I had to do. I should be able to finish this book!

On the other hand, I read for fun. I’m not doing this for a class, so I should enjoy the things I read. I shouldn’t let it bother me or hurt my pride when I don’t finish a book. I finish plenty of others. And yet I feel guilty. Why?

Regardless of how guilty I feel, the book is due back at the library this week. And I refuse to renew it again. So you win, Freddy and Fredricka. I give up!

…NaNoWriMo time!! That’s right, 1st November heralds the start of a new creative endeavour! Time for Novel no.2 to enter the world from the hidden recesses of my mind! And having tried a chick lit last year, I’m thinking that historical fiction would be good. Hmmm, off I go then!

Photo and article copyright Suresh Gundappa 2007

one common complain I hear from friends is that It is so difficult to sit in Meditation for long. Friends say they tend to irritated , restless and totally awkward .

The reason you feel so much out of place is you have been used to noise. By sitting for few minutes ,eyes closed, You come in face to face to with the faceless reality. You feel lost and frightened, suffocated at the thought of no thought. You fear of silence is nothing but your fear of death.

Unless you die few times then you cannot know life. Life happens in your breathing, Death happens between breaths. if you can catch this gap then you have caught the mystery of life.

The moment you start getting comfortable with gaps between breathing then you will start getting comfortable with life. Just a little inward movement is all you need.

Strangely some of your fine experiences of life is also of silence. Watching beach, climbing hills, Laughing loudly for a joke, Orgasm with your beloved, All are nothing but Faces of silence. it’s just the quality awareness which is different here.

If you cannot know silence then you cannot know life, Life whispers in sound of silence. Life explodes in silence between breaths. Life vibrates in silence between two musical notes!

Meditation is missing what is obvious to mind! Meditation is art of removing dust screen from your eyes. Meditation is dieing each moment to live that moment fully.

Love

Suresh

I keep meaning to get up to Decorah—a field trip to Seed Savers’ Heritage Farm has been on my list of things to do since I started gardening, and here has gone another season, and I never made it up there.

Hmm. I sense the start of a 2008 Resolutions list.

So it was with great regret that I got an email from the Seed Savers folks earlier this month announcing their Fall Harvest Celebration. Half-price seed packets. Squash and apple recipe tasting. Pumpking carving. A garlic planting lesson.

You’re killing, me, Seed Savers! Because I cannot make it to the party this year.

But if you’re a reader within reach of Decorah, you just might be able to go. The event will take place Saturday, October 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. More details are available on the Seed Savers site, and if any of you attend the festival, please stop by and leave a comment to let me know how it was!

Today has been declared Blog Action Day, an event in which bloggers around the world can participate in writing about a common cause on a common day. This is the inaugural year of the event, and the cause that has been chosen is to tackle issues relating to the environment. I feel strongly about the environment. It must be stopped! Down with the environment!

No, wait. I’m all for the environment. I was confused. I must have been thinking about uncomfortable shoes. Can’t stand ‘em. Or overcooked pasta. Yick. That just shouldn’t even be legal.

Where was I? Oh, right. The environment. I should write about how we, as a society, can make progress in protecting the environment. But I’m afraid I don’t have time for that. I have a work deadline looming, and I shouldn’t be blogging at all. So I must be quick, quick. Like a bunny. In a threatened ecosystem. So I give you a list.

Here is list of things that I should be able to manage to improve my own impact on the environment, improve my knowledge of the issues, and to help generally support environmental causes. What’s more, I will set myself a timeline to accomplish these things. I plan to do these things by the end of the year. There are 11 full weeks of 2007 left, so 11 seemed like a good number to aim for.

11 planet-friendly resolutions for (the rest of) 2007

1. cancel 10 catalogs or other junk mail items
2. explore additional local food options, such as for dairy and eggs
3. block drafts in windows in doors to reduce heat loss
4. give holiday gifts that minimize shipping and packaging
5. watch Al Gore’s documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” (I’m sorry to say I haven’t yet seen it)
6. write at least one letter (or email) to a company or politician about some action
7. Change our electricity options to include use of renewable resources
8. Give support to an environmental action group (whether with money or by way of petitions)
9. line-dry 1 load of laundry a week
10. reduce my usage of disposable products (I may try keeping a cloth handkerchief in my pocket instead of a tissue. At least if I leave it in my pocket when I wash my pants, it won’t dissolve and decorate the rest of the load.)
11. Cook my pasta al dente. This will both fight the evils overcooked pasta and reduce the time I have my stove on. (Okay, you caught me. I ran out of time, and don’t have a good 11th item in mind. But if I manage all 10 of the above items, I think I can feel like I’ve made some personal progress.)

When I did Race for Life back in June, I decided to sign up for some stewarding volunteer work at other events for Cancer Research. When I went to the volunteer stand to ask how I could get involved, I was told about a new event that they were looking to set up called Relay for Life. Apparently this has the name recognition in America that Race for Life has here, and so Cancer Research UK are hoping that it will become their next big fundraising platform. Anyway, I agreed to go to a meeting and find out more about it. The meeting was last week, and I’m now vice-chair and in charge of team registration for the very first CRUK Relay for Life, Cardiff!

I’m so excited to be a part of something like this. The other members of the committee all seem really nice, and also full of really good ideas to make the whole thing memorable and, more importantly, profitable! My mind is buzzing constantly, trying to think of new and better ideas than those I’ve had already, and I really can’t wait to get stuck into recruitment for the event. Hopefully within the next month we should have a date and a venue set so that we can start on some publicity, recruitment, etc as well as looking for corporate sponsors and generous donors!

Once more, I’ll keep you posted on this, my latest project!

As to the swim, that has suffered a slight setback in that I was unable to go swimming at all last week, and have just not had the time this week either yet. I’m hoping to be able to go tomorrow or Monday, and then have a whacking go at a large amount of lengths next week! Fingers crossed!