I woke up this morning to fog! What an insult. And it wasn't the dense, lovely, romantic Heathcliff on the moors type. No this was wimpy and wispy - like someone nearby was burning a leaf pile. All of the beautiful snow was virtually gone. We keep getting hit with a foot of snow at a time only to have it disappear within a week. Ironically, I kept dreaming about snow last night. Not visceral dreams; it was more like watching a technicolor slide show of winter scenes. So many blue shadows, glaring white stretches, and trees laden with snow. The reality was me strapping on my Yaks and taking the dog for his run in the slush, ice, fog, rain. The I hit Sam's Club for some staples and navigated around family clusters eating the samples. What is that about? Is this their dinner out? That sums up my day. Unfortunately, my mood is dictated, to an absurd degree, by the weather. The fact that I've been living on 5 hours sleep a night for the past week doesn't help (but, that's a story for another day).
New Year's Resolution(s): None (big surprise, seeing that it is January THE SIXTH). I've nothing against them - it's just, where on earth would I start? So much to fix, so little time. Can you imagine how daunting the list would be?
1. Lose weight
2. Exercise
3. Eat right
These first three are pretty much the de rigeur of resolutions, aren't they? I mean, you could be planning to end world hunger, but you had better knock off those 10 pounds, first.
Then the list gets a bit tricky. We are supposed to get a bit more introspective at this point.
4. Be kind, patient, less critical (i.e. do not make snide comments about Sam's Club grazers)
This resolution is usually the first to fall to the wayside - and it usually happens without our awareness. Substantive change is difficult. So many of our interactions are of the ingrained, knee-jerk variety. It takes intense focus, will and insight to overcome them.
5. Develop focus, will and insight.
And the list goes on. Now, I fully recognize that lambasting this cultural tradition is really just a transparent attempt to shirk all of the work that needs to be done and I am not the type to make virtues out of my vices, nor to attack those brave souls who dare to enter that hazardous terrain of self-improvement so that they will not cast a critical and assessing eye on me and wonder to themselves what changes I will be making. I'm just weak, lazy and lacking in initiative.
Now, If I wake up tomorrow to beautiful blue skies I may rethink this whole issue.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Winter Blahs
I woke up this morning to fog! What an insult. And it wasn't the dense, lovely, romantic Heathcliff on the moors type. No this was wimpy and wispy - like someone nearby was burning a leaf pile. All of the beautiful snow was virtually gone. We keep getting hit with a foot of snow at a time only to have it disappear within a week. Ironically, I kept dreaming about snow last night. Not visceral dreams; it was more like watching a technicolor slide show of winter scenes. So many blue shadows, glaring white stretches, and trees laden with snow. The reality was me strapping on my Yaks and taking the dog for his run in the slush, ice, fog, rain. The I hit Sam's Club for some staples and navigated around family clusters eating the samples. What is that about? Is this their dinner out? That sums up my day. Unfortunately, my mood is dictated, to an absurd degree, by the weather. The fact that I've been living on 5 hours sleep a night for the past week doesn't help (but, that's a story for another day).
New Year's Resolution(s): None (big surprise, seeing that it is January THE SIXTH). I've nothing against them - it's just, where on earth would I start? So much to fix, so little time. Can you imagine how daunting the list would be?
1. Lose weight
2. Exercise
3. Eat right
These first three are pretty much the de rigeur of resolutions, aren't they? I mean, you could be planning to end world hunger, but you had better knock off those 10 pounds, first.
Then the list gets a bit tricky. We are supposed to get a bit more introspective at this point.
4. Be kind, patient, less critical (i.e. do not make snide comments about Sam's Club grazers)
This resolution is usually the first to fall to the wayside - and it usually happens without our awareness. Substantive change is difficult. So many of our interactions are of the ingrained, knee-jerk variety. It takes intense focus, will and insight to overcome them.
5. Develop focus, will and insight.
And the list goes on. Now, I fully recognize that lambasting this cultural tradition is really just a transparent attempt to shirk all of the work that needs to be done and I am not the type to make virtues out of my vices, nor to attack those brave souls who dare to enter that hazardous terrain of self-improvement so that they will not cast a critical and assessing eye on me and wonder to themselves what changes I will be making. I'm just weak, lazy and lacking in initiative.
Now, If I wake up tomorrow to beautiful blue skies I may rethink this whole issue.
Snow in Michigan
Twice now I've awakened to a world blanketed in white. Such loveliness. It amazes me how so many born-and-bred Michiganders HATE the snow. You would think that several decades of it would have softened them a little. The only drawback is reining in my 76 year-old mother (who lives with me). Our morning snow-days begin with my begging her to wait for me to have my coffee and cereal before shovelling. She is heartless. She typically gets a 45 minute jump on me. I shudder to imagine what the neighbors think. Last time she got 2 offers for help.
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