Once again, I've come up with some possible book titles. Please take a look and see which ones are of particular interest to you.
1. Goodbye Alonzo: Healing Strategies for When Your Lawn Rabbit Moves On
2. Feet and Toes: A Photographic Extravaganza
3. Efficient Barking for the Modern Dog: Knowing When It Matters and Making It Really Count
4. Dressing Your Rabbit for Halloween: Finding a Costume You Both Will Like
5. Planning Your Indoor Gazebo: A Sensible Approach to a Curious Living Space
6. When Chicken Goes Wrong: Overcoming Your Poultry Fears
7. Autumn's Hidden Danger: Frightening Stumbles on Beautiful but Slippery Leaves
8. The Potato: Finding The Beauty In an Ugly Tuber
9. Birthday Cakes: Don't We All Want Only The Icing, Isn't It Time We Admit This Is True?
10. A Squirrel's Guide to Autumn: Safety and Scheduling Tips for your Busy Gathering Season
11. Sunshine in a Shell: A History of Eggs
12. "They're Organically Sourced and Air-Purifying" - And Other Ways to Explain
Your Embarrassing House Fly Problem
13. Your Leafy Friend: How to Get Closer to An Indoor Houseplant
14. Chair or Bleachers: Solutions to Some of the Baseball Spectator's Common Dilemmas
15. You and Your Nasal Passages: An Important Relationship and One Oft-Neglected
16. When Smoothies Go Wrong: My Life-Changing Experience with a Blender Piece Gone Wild
17. The Pig as a Pet: Ways to Explain Why It Is A Good Idea
18. Nap Like a Pro: Tips for A Happy Rest (With New Bonus Feature: A Study in Drool)
19. Harrowing Crafting Stories from People Not Well-Suited to Crafts
20. My Thoughts on Lettuce (First Time in Book Form)
Your feedback is welcome.
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to all!
JAHD
Flowers in California
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Desperate Situations
This past week, 111 people (and probably many more) died after a boat ran into trouble and sank between Africa and Italy. There were 155 survivors. The boat was only about 600 metres from shore when it met its tragic end. The passengers on this boat were attempting migration to Europe. These attempts are not rare:
"Thousands make the perilous crossing each year, seeking a new life in the prosperous European Union. Smugglers charge thousands of dollars a head for the journey aboard overcrowded, barely seaworthy boats that lack life vests. Each year hundreds die undertaking the crossing." (Toronto Star, Article By: Luca Bruno Andrea Rosa Associated Press, Published on Sat Oct 05 2013)
In addition to feeling sad for the many victims of this tragedy, I have concern for the plight of all the people who board these boats. How bad are their lives in the countries from which they come? How dim do their prospects appear? What makes it seem worth the risk to pay the money and crowd onto these dangerous boats?
It would be good, if it were possible, to improve the safety of these boats. Perhaps that should be attempted. It wouldn't address the reasons though why people board them. It wouldn't address the desperate situations in the countries these people leave behind. A tragedy like this can bring to our attention that people in some countries live in terrible conditions. We can then consider what actions may be taken to change that.
Whatever happens in the future, this tragedy has taken place. I feel bad for all those who lost their lives. I am very sorry that their dreams ended as they did.
JAHD
"Thousands make the perilous crossing each year, seeking a new life in the prosperous European Union. Smugglers charge thousands of dollars a head for the journey aboard overcrowded, barely seaworthy boats that lack life vests. Each year hundreds die undertaking the crossing." (Toronto Star, Article By: Luca Bruno Andrea Rosa Associated Press, Published on Sat Oct 05 2013)
In addition to feeling sad for the many victims of this tragedy, I have concern for the plight of all the people who board these boats. How bad are their lives in the countries from which they come? How dim do their prospects appear? What makes it seem worth the risk to pay the money and crowd onto these dangerous boats?
It would be good, if it were possible, to improve the safety of these boats. Perhaps that should be attempted. It wouldn't address the reasons though why people board them. It wouldn't address the desperate situations in the countries these people leave behind. A tragedy like this can bring to our attention that people in some countries live in terrible conditions. We can then consider what actions may be taken to change that.
Whatever happens in the future, this tragedy has taken place. I feel bad for all those who lost their lives. I am very sorry that their dreams ended as they did.
JAHD
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
On Meeting Outside The Pancake House
I walked towards the pancake restaurant. We both knew where it was although I don't think either of us had pancakes during our time in that city. As I walked, I wondered if I would recognize the person I was meeting. It had been over 20 years since we'd seen each other. Some changes could be expected.
I entered the building and saw and knew him right away. The years were gone. A friendly connection was still there. I was happy to see him again.
This reunion wouldn't have happened if not for the encouragement of my friend (his sister) and my brother. Normally, we live thousands of miles apart. For a few days, we would be in the same city.
Even with the encouragement to get together, we could have avoided following up, I could have given into my shyness, the whole thing could have gone by the wayside. We would have missed out, though, on a happy afternoon of coffee and conversation. We would have missed out on a chance to reconnect.
When we don't take opportunities, we don't know what could have been. People don't hold up signs to remind us. It might be better (but weird) if they did. The trip to see my brother and his family would have been good anyways. But this visit made it better. I'm glad I picked up the phone. I'm glad to have a happy memory instead of an unknown absence in my life.
JAHD
I entered the building and saw and knew him right away. The years were gone. A friendly connection was still there. I was happy to see him again.
This reunion wouldn't have happened if not for the encouragement of my friend (his sister) and my brother. Normally, we live thousands of miles apart. For a few days, we would be in the same city.
Even with the encouragement to get together, we could have avoided following up, I could have given into my shyness, the whole thing could have gone by the wayside. We would have missed out, though, on a happy afternoon of coffee and conversation. We would have missed out on a chance to reconnect.
When we don't take opportunities, we don't know what could have been. People don't hold up signs to remind us. It might be better (but weird) if they did. The trip to see my brother and his family would have been good anyways. But this visit made it better. I'm glad I picked up the phone. I'm glad to have a happy memory instead of an unknown absence in my life.
JAHD
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Letting Opportunites Go By
I guess that's how it goes. A local continuing education facility had offered flower arranging courses. Some of them were for a day or even a morning. It would offer a quick trip into that activity and as I know very little about flower arranging, a small sample of it was what I'd want. I love flowers and colours; maybe I would like flower arranging. The idea was in my head.
I did nothing about this. At all. But I knew that the courses were offered. Today I decided that yes, I want to take one. I want to see what's it about. It turns out that those courses aren't offered anymore.
It was so easy to keep this idea, this possibility way at the back of my mind. And it's not a huge issue for me - I don't plan to pursue this field. I was interested in seeing what it was like though and I let a chance go by.
For me, this is a reminder to try to "Seize the Moment" a little bit more. The moment passes. Sometimes it's too late. I'm tracking down other flower arranging courses but I've already learned a lesson. Perhaps it is all for the best as I might sneeze a lot if I worked with flowers for an extended period of time. But I might have learned to make beautiful arrangements too and I'm sorry I missed that.
JAHD
I did nothing about this. At all. But I knew that the courses were offered. Today I decided that yes, I want to take one. I want to see what's it about. It turns out that those courses aren't offered anymore.
It was so easy to keep this idea, this possibility way at the back of my mind. And it's not a huge issue for me - I don't plan to pursue this field. I was interested in seeing what it was like though and I let a chance go by.
For me, this is a reminder to try to "Seize the Moment" a little bit more. The moment passes. Sometimes it's too late. I'm tracking down other flower arranging courses but I've already learned a lesson. Perhaps it is all for the best as I might sneeze a lot if I worked with flowers for an extended period of time. But I might have learned to make beautiful arrangements too and I'm sorry I missed that.
JAHD
Monday, September 16, 2013
Fleeing from the Keyboard
I'm having trouble writing. For a while, I've been starting to write and then, the ideas, the words don't flow and I leave the computer. I don't finish what I start. I don't experience the joy.
I want to trust that the flow will begin again. There is no formal guarantee of that but I choose to trust. I sense that the words are starting to come now. I'm pleased that this is so.
Perhaps I have read too much about writing lately. Perhaps I have read too much about many things lately. But that's ok. It is part of the journey.
I won't force writing. If I have little to say, that's ok for now. I'll wait. And tell myself it's ok.
JAHD
I want to trust that the flow will begin again. There is no formal guarantee of that but I choose to trust. I sense that the words are starting to come now. I'm pleased that this is so.
Perhaps I have read too much about writing lately. Perhaps I have read too much about many things lately. But that's ok. It is part of the journey.
I won't force writing. If I have little to say, that's ok for now. I'll wait. And tell myself it's ok.
JAHD
Monday, September 9, 2013
A Good Enough Birthday But...
It's not that it was a bad day. It had some nice parts. The weather was beautiful. My husband and son tried to do things that would make me happy. I really enjoyed a big family walk and watching my son play baseball. Still, my birthday wasn't as exciting as I'd wanted it to be. What did I want? What should have happened? What would have really made it feel special? It was weird looking at the date various times and seeing my birthday stare back at me. So, this is the big day. Why wasn't it so big?
Some people might say that as an adult, no one should expect much of a splash for a birthday. That kind of thing is for kids. They get the presents, the parties, the excitement of reaching a new age. Maybe. Maybe we should leave it to them. I wonder, though, if maybe we should dedicate a day, just one day, each year in which we honour each person and make them feel special. We don't make them tell us what they want to do. We take the time to show them that we already know what they like to do, who they are and that we really want to make them happy. It's something we want to offer to them.
I don't know exactly what I wanted my birthday to be but yesterday wasn't it. To be quite honest, I want to be celebrated. I think we all should be. I think we're all amazing. We should be reminded of that at least once a year.
JAHD
Some people might say that as an adult, no one should expect much of a splash for a birthday. That kind of thing is for kids. They get the presents, the parties, the excitement of reaching a new age. Maybe. Maybe we should leave it to them. I wonder, though, if maybe we should dedicate a day, just one day, each year in which we honour each person and make them feel special. We don't make them tell us what they want to do. We take the time to show them that we already know what they like to do, who they are and that we really want to make them happy. It's something we want to offer to them.
I don't know exactly what I wanted my birthday to be but yesterday wasn't it. To be quite honest, I want to be celebrated. I think we all should be. I think we're all amazing. We should be reminded of that at least once a year.
JAHD
Saturday, August 24, 2013
A List of Random Thoughts
I have some thoughts to share with you this evening. I make no promise that they will enrich your life in any way. With that disclaimer out of the way, please proceed.
1. As I lay in bed the other night, reading, I saw a creature flying around up near the ceiling. While its size appeared similar to that of a Canada Goose, its disposition seemed much more menacing. It turned out to be a moth. (I did not have my contact lenses in at the time.) Now, as the days go by and I have to go to sleep each night not knowing where it might be and how evil its intentions are, I live with the dark threat of its presence. I know that this situation may not end well for at least one of us. I fear it may be me.
2. I ventured away from my usual grocery store today and shopped elsewhere. I was there at a busy time and the store is very big. I got a sense that shopping there is a bit of a competitive sport. Scraps of various fruits and vegetables littered the floor and it looked look quite a battle had been raging for a while. Strangely, I liked it. It was nice to feel some energy in the food shopping experience and I will return to that store. After purchasing expired juice, moldy cheese and being charged way too much for a watermelon at my normal store, I'm ready for a change. I'll try not to trip on the scattered produce and think things should go quite well.
3. I remain astonished that Chunky Monkey ice cream is banana-flavoured. I would never have guessed at the connection between monkeys and bananas that led to this name and thank my friend Patty for kindly pointing this out to me. Who, other than Patty, knew? As it turns out, I don't care for banana-flavoured ice cream and would only like it less if it really lived up to its name and contained pieces of monkey (or any meat really). Some items should never be brought together. In my opinion, chicken and pizza also fall into this category.
4. This morning (Saturday) at about 7:30, people starting using chainsaws at a house across the street. Whatever they were doing was over with quickly. As this was my first day off since I left my Saturday job, I was somewhat disappointed by this morning ruckus. It is legal to do this that early on a Saturday morning but it seems mean. Perhaps what's most concerning about all of this is that no trees appear to have been altered or removed at that house. I'm not sure I want to know for what purpose the chainsaws were used.
5. I have reason to believe that people are sneaking into my house and stealing selected items of clothing. I have many reasons to wonder why anyone would do that. Moments ago, as I was putting clothes into the washing machine, I remembered a top that I hadn't seen for a while. There is another top I had already declared to be lost. These are not valuable items but I bought them because I wanted to wear them and that's difficult now. Perhaps I will have to institute better inventory control methods. It's sad when it comes to this inside one's home.
6. After accepting and enjoying medium roast coffee at Starbucks a few times when the dark roast was not ready, I began to wonder if perhaps medium roast was my preference after all. I ordered it the other day and it's true. How could I not have known for so long? Are there other choices in my life that I should question? There are a variety of tomato colours out there - have I been wrong to stick to red all these years? What about eggs? And maybe I could have loved lop ear rabbits after all - I've stuck to ones whose ears are well-supported. Apparently there are many things that need reconsideration now.
7. Aside from the fact that I have long loved rabbits and I keep them as pets, I consider it an honour that a young jackrabbit (whom we've named Alonzo) feels comfortable spending a lot of his time outside our house. While occasionally he gets alarmed and will scamper away when we are near, often he continues lying down as we come and go and talk to him. He seems to know he's pretty safe here and last week even stayed still as three men in a furnace cleaning truck arrived out front. I see neighbours of mine chase rabbits away - I value the comfort of a wild animal so much more highly than a perfect lawn. I am glad Alonzo has us.
Those are my thoughts for this evening. I sense that I will have a lot more to say in the coming days so, you know, you have been warned.
Happy Sunday night!
JAHD
1. As I lay in bed the other night, reading, I saw a creature flying around up near the ceiling. While its size appeared similar to that of a Canada Goose, its disposition seemed much more menacing. It turned out to be a moth. (I did not have my contact lenses in at the time.) Now, as the days go by and I have to go to sleep each night not knowing where it might be and how evil its intentions are, I live with the dark threat of its presence. I know that this situation may not end well for at least one of us. I fear it may be me.
2. I ventured away from my usual grocery store today and shopped elsewhere. I was there at a busy time and the store is very big. I got a sense that shopping there is a bit of a competitive sport. Scraps of various fruits and vegetables littered the floor and it looked look quite a battle had been raging for a while. Strangely, I liked it. It was nice to feel some energy in the food shopping experience and I will return to that store. After purchasing expired juice, moldy cheese and being charged way too much for a watermelon at my normal store, I'm ready for a change. I'll try not to trip on the scattered produce and think things should go quite well.
3. I remain astonished that Chunky Monkey ice cream is banana-flavoured. I would never have guessed at the connection between monkeys and bananas that led to this name and thank my friend Patty for kindly pointing this out to me. Who, other than Patty, knew? As it turns out, I don't care for banana-flavoured ice cream and would only like it less if it really lived up to its name and contained pieces of monkey (or any meat really). Some items should never be brought together. In my opinion, chicken and pizza also fall into this category.
4. This morning (Saturday) at about 7:30, people starting using chainsaws at a house across the street. Whatever they were doing was over with quickly. As this was my first day off since I left my Saturday job, I was somewhat disappointed by this morning ruckus. It is legal to do this that early on a Saturday morning but it seems mean. Perhaps what's most concerning about all of this is that no trees appear to have been altered or removed at that house. I'm not sure I want to know for what purpose the chainsaws were used.
5. I have reason to believe that people are sneaking into my house and stealing selected items of clothing. I have many reasons to wonder why anyone would do that. Moments ago, as I was putting clothes into the washing machine, I remembered a top that I hadn't seen for a while. There is another top I had already declared to be lost. These are not valuable items but I bought them because I wanted to wear them and that's difficult now. Perhaps I will have to institute better inventory control methods. It's sad when it comes to this inside one's home.
6. After accepting and enjoying medium roast coffee at Starbucks a few times when the dark roast was not ready, I began to wonder if perhaps medium roast was my preference after all. I ordered it the other day and it's true. How could I not have known for so long? Are there other choices in my life that I should question? There are a variety of tomato colours out there - have I been wrong to stick to red all these years? What about eggs? And maybe I could have loved lop ear rabbits after all - I've stuck to ones whose ears are well-supported. Apparently there are many things that need reconsideration now.
7. Aside from the fact that I have long loved rabbits and I keep them as pets, I consider it an honour that a young jackrabbit (whom we've named Alonzo) feels comfortable spending a lot of his time outside our house. While occasionally he gets alarmed and will scamper away when we are near, often he continues lying down as we come and go and talk to him. He seems to know he's pretty safe here and last week even stayed still as three men in a furnace cleaning truck arrived out front. I see neighbours of mine chase rabbits away - I value the comfort of a wild animal so much more highly than a perfect lawn. I am glad Alonzo has us.
Those are my thoughts for this evening. I sense that I will have a lot more to say in the coming days so, you know, you have been warned.
Happy Sunday night!
JAHD
A Trip to the Bookstore - Gone Wrong
For me, going to a bookstore is a simple pleasure. Sometimes I buy an item or two (or more); sometimes I come away with ideas for future purchases. Occasionally I come away disappointed because I felt like discovering a tantalizing new book and couldn't make it happen. While I fear for the future of bookstores and admit that I myself buy a lot of books online due to price differences I can't ignore, the stores are still here and still wonderful and I still love going to them. Or, usually, I love going to them.
The pleasure of this evening's trip ended almost the minute I walked through the door. A pleasant - no sweet, sweet makes it worse - young woman greeted my husband and me. Although I tend to be a bit of a lone wolf when shopping, I can appreciate the warmth of a friendly greeting. But this woman was greeting us from behind her nicely arranged display of the book she was promoting, had written, and was probably really hoping we would buy.
While I responded to the greeting, I did not head over to the table. Instead, I headed to the product section of the store. My strategy was that she would then think I don't even like books and only came to bookstores to look at flowered cushions and odd teas. Do people do that? I then proceeded to sneak back through other sections of the store to the bestsellers at the front that I wanted to see. (I also enjoy looking at magazines but under the circumstances, a move in that direction was too risky.) We left the store through Starbucks. It seemed to be for the best. (Incidentally, I did get a coffee out of the deal. It was good.)
Now, if my attitude seems cold and callous and surprising considering that I like to write too, I would argue that the actions I took were out of kindness. If I did go up to table and the sweet woman told me many details about her book, it would be worse for me to reject the purchase at that point. Then, I would be rejecting something about which she is excited, something on which she has worked hard. This way, I avoided an author's table; that is what I do. The chance I would want to buy the book is small - there are many books - and I don't want to feel pressured to do so. I did what I felt I had to do.
With me being me, I felt bad about what I did. When I met up with my husband, we discussed the situation (a lot of the discussion was really me going on and on and him gently agreeing). While the subtle nuances of it all did not affect his emotional wellbeing in the way it affected mine (they seldom do), he felt that the table need not have been that close to the entrance. I think people should feel free to enter and browse in a bookstore without feeling obligated right away.
I bought no books or, for that matter, flowered cushions and odd teas this evening. I might head to a bookstore again as early as tomorrow to make up for this failed trip (I have a coupon - it will expire!) and I hope that nothing as unpleasant happens on that visit. I love books, I love their possibilities and I love being able to freely explore them. I wish this author the best of luck with her new book and I applaud her for all the work that's gone into it and the courage it takes to sit there. And yes, maybe I did a horrible thing. But all I wanted to do was look at books.
JAHD
The pleasure of this evening's trip ended almost the minute I walked through the door. A pleasant - no sweet, sweet makes it worse - young woman greeted my husband and me. Although I tend to be a bit of a lone wolf when shopping, I can appreciate the warmth of a friendly greeting. But this woman was greeting us from behind her nicely arranged display of the book she was promoting, had written, and was probably really hoping we would buy.
While I responded to the greeting, I did not head over to the table. Instead, I headed to the product section of the store. My strategy was that she would then think I don't even like books and only came to bookstores to look at flowered cushions and odd teas. Do people do that? I then proceeded to sneak back through other sections of the store to the bestsellers at the front that I wanted to see. (I also enjoy looking at magazines but under the circumstances, a move in that direction was too risky.) We left the store through Starbucks. It seemed to be for the best. (Incidentally, I did get a coffee out of the deal. It was good.)
Now, if my attitude seems cold and callous and surprising considering that I like to write too, I would argue that the actions I took were out of kindness. If I did go up to table and the sweet woman told me many details about her book, it would be worse for me to reject the purchase at that point. Then, I would be rejecting something about which she is excited, something on which she has worked hard. This way, I avoided an author's table; that is what I do. The chance I would want to buy the book is small - there are many books - and I don't want to feel pressured to do so. I did what I felt I had to do.
With me being me, I felt bad about what I did. When I met up with my husband, we discussed the situation (a lot of the discussion was really me going on and on and him gently agreeing). While the subtle nuances of it all did not affect his emotional wellbeing in the way it affected mine (they seldom do), he felt that the table need not have been that close to the entrance. I think people should feel free to enter and browse in a bookstore without feeling obligated right away.
I bought no books or, for that matter, flowered cushions and odd teas this evening. I might head to a bookstore again as early as tomorrow to make up for this failed trip (I have a coupon - it will expire!) and I hope that nothing as unpleasant happens on that visit. I love books, I love their possibilities and I love being able to freely explore them. I wish this author the best of luck with her new book and I applaud her for all the work that's gone into it and the courage it takes to sit there. And yes, maybe I did a horrible thing. But all I wanted to do was look at books.
JAHD
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Learning from a Bowl of Sugar Snap Peas
I think I learned what it means to eat.
It all started after dinner this evening. Feeling the need for more nutrition after a dinner of poor food choices, I put some sugar snap peas in a bowl and began eating. I didn't eat many. Something occurred as I ate though.
Sugar snap peas, while not an especially crunchy or difficult food to eat, require some more chewing effort than I, a lazy eater, sometimes wish to expend. This evening as I chewed them, I began thinking - about food, about how it becomes our body, about its goodness and wow, I came to understand the role of food in our lives. It is simple. We eat - we must eat and it matters what we eat.
I don't know if I can adequately explain what I experienced. Perhaps it was an example of mindfulness. It was nice. I hope that it was the beginning of a changed and more appreciative relationship to food. I'm grateful that I can nurture my body with sugar snap peas. I'm grateful to have had this experience. I'll try not to devour a bowl of potato chips to celebrate.
JAHD
It all started after dinner this evening. Feeling the need for more nutrition after a dinner of poor food choices, I put some sugar snap peas in a bowl and began eating. I didn't eat many. Something occurred as I ate though.
Sugar snap peas, while not an especially crunchy or difficult food to eat, require some more chewing effort than I, a lazy eater, sometimes wish to expend. This evening as I chewed them, I began thinking - about food, about how it becomes our body, about its goodness and wow, I came to understand the role of food in our lives. It is simple. We eat - we must eat and it matters what we eat.
I don't know if I can adequately explain what I experienced. Perhaps it was an example of mindfulness. It was nice. I hope that it was the beginning of a changed and more appreciative relationship to food. I'm grateful that I can nurture my body with sugar snap peas. I'm grateful to have had this experience. I'll try not to devour a bowl of potato chips to celebrate.
JAHD
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Thoughts of the Late, Late Night
I am awake and it is 1:49 a.m. More accurately, perhaps, my mind is awake. I don't know that I feel as energetic physically. But I have had lots of things floating around in my mind. Lots.
Among the things I've been pondering are the following issues, some of which you may wish to consider as well:
1. Why do football players wear padding? My son and I were discussing this recently while watching rugby players tear each other apart in a game. He's heard that football padding makes injuries worse. That makes it even more curious. And, in my opinion, it doesn't make the players look especially attractive.
2. What does a turtle look like from the bottom? It's probably easy to find that out but, until you do, you could carry around a completely erroneous image in your head. What good does that do anyone?
3. The growing prominence of spinach. Subway is giving it some of the attention this lovely vegetable has long deserved. I've had a difficult relationship with lettuce but I guarantee I'll never yank a piece of spinach out of a hamburger or sandwich. I don't think Popeye did justice to spinach. I've tended to picture it as a green, mush-like substance. And while it's clearly different from mucous, it's not great that mucous comes to mind. (It never is.) Raw spinach leaves are so much nicer than that and I welcome them to their new place of importance in the food landscape. Way to go spinach!
4. Captain Kangaroo - When I think of Popeye, I tend to think of his cartoons being shown within Captain Kangaroo's show (whether this took place or not, I'm not yet sure. I have to do more Internet digging.) Captain Kangaroo was one of the first shows I watched. The Captain and Mr. Greenjeans were important influences in my young life. I don't know whether that's a credit to them or not.
5. Whether I'm feeling creative again because I've been exercising rather strenuously, eating better or doing a visualization exercise involve chakras and creativity. Not knowing what factor or factors has/have made the difference, I want to keep working on each of them. It's good to feel alive again.
6. Whether I should go against my new rule (it's three days old!) of not eating after 7 pm. While a noble and perhaps a necessary rule if I want to lose weight, it seems that at times when I really can't sleep, eating a small amount gives my body something to do and seems to lull me to sleep. Lulling is good.
7. The power of cheese to lead to some interesting dreams. The mind can go to some offbeat places after eating cheese at night. Travel like that avoids some of the inconveniences of the more traditional forms. True, I didn't eat cheese last week when I dreamed about a grizzly bear being down the street and eating a live creature (animal? person?, I'm not sure; I know it wasn't something that normally gets eaten in the street) but that wasn't a great dream anyways. I want a dream where people and situations morph into new people and situations. Once someone gets eaten by a bear, their morphing days are over. Cheese leads to better outcomes in dreams; cheese rules.
After writing the rough version of point 7 last night (it didn't mention the unfortunate bear incident; I felt a need to add that this morning, wisely or not), my mind seemed to come to rest. I headed back to bed. Sleep continued to elude me for a long time. I didn't even have cheese dreams. I did not have a good sleep at all. Sigh.
Maybe if the temperature in our house was not so hot last night, I would have had a dream incorporating all or some of the above elements. Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Greenjeans and I would have eaten a great lunch of spinach leaves while discussing the creativity chakra (second). Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Greenjeans would have morphed into football and rugby players who want to discuss their uniforms. (Let's throw in a soccer player too simply because I challenge any man to look bad in a soccer uniform. Thanks!) At the end, a big turtle would enter, walking upright. We'd see it's underside and have our turtle questions answered. So much would have been addressed and probably very quickly. Oh, what a glorious dream that would have been.
After two nights of struggling to sleep, I appreciate this (in)activity more than usual. Sleep matters and because our minds are so good at dreaming (even more so when aided by cheese), I trust that our dream process matters too. Somewhere within, we're all creative. We have a lot to share. Sleep well, everyone, and dream lots! And please, watch out for bears. That's advice you won't go wrong heeding, whether you're asleep or awake. Enjoy!
JAHD
Among the things I've been pondering are the following issues, some of which you may wish to consider as well:
1. Why do football players wear padding? My son and I were discussing this recently while watching rugby players tear each other apart in a game. He's heard that football padding makes injuries worse. That makes it even more curious. And, in my opinion, it doesn't make the players look especially attractive.
2. What does a turtle look like from the bottom? It's probably easy to find that out but, until you do, you could carry around a completely erroneous image in your head. What good does that do anyone?
3. The growing prominence of spinach. Subway is giving it some of the attention this lovely vegetable has long deserved. I've had a difficult relationship with lettuce but I guarantee I'll never yank a piece of spinach out of a hamburger or sandwich. I don't think Popeye did justice to spinach. I've tended to picture it as a green, mush-like substance. And while it's clearly different from mucous, it's not great that mucous comes to mind. (It never is.) Raw spinach leaves are so much nicer than that and I welcome them to their new place of importance in the food landscape. Way to go spinach!
4. Captain Kangaroo - When I think of Popeye, I tend to think of his cartoons being shown within Captain Kangaroo's show (whether this took place or not, I'm not yet sure. I have to do more Internet digging.) Captain Kangaroo was one of the first shows I watched. The Captain and Mr. Greenjeans were important influences in my young life. I don't know whether that's a credit to them or not.
5. Whether I'm feeling creative again because I've been exercising rather strenuously, eating better or doing a visualization exercise involve chakras and creativity. Not knowing what factor or factors has/have made the difference, I want to keep working on each of them. It's good to feel alive again.
6. Whether I should go against my new rule (it's three days old!) of not eating after 7 pm. While a noble and perhaps a necessary rule if I want to lose weight, it seems that at times when I really can't sleep, eating a small amount gives my body something to do and seems to lull me to sleep. Lulling is good.
7. The power of cheese to lead to some interesting dreams. The mind can go to some offbeat places after eating cheese at night. Travel like that avoids some of the inconveniences of the more traditional forms. True, I didn't eat cheese last week when I dreamed about a grizzly bear being down the street and eating a live creature (animal? person?, I'm not sure; I know it wasn't something that normally gets eaten in the street) but that wasn't a great dream anyways. I want a dream where people and situations morph into new people and situations. Once someone gets eaten by a bear, their morphing days are over. Cheese leads to better outcomes in dreams; cheese rules.
After writing the rough version of point 7 last night (it didn't mention the unfortunate bear incident; I felt a need to add that this morning, wisely or not), my mind seemed to come to rest. I headed back to bed. Sleep continued to elude me for a long time. I didn't even have cheese dreams. I did not have a good sleep at all. Sigh.
Maybe if the temperature in our house was not so hot last night, I would have had a dream incorporating all or some of the above elements. Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Greenjeans and I would have eaten a great lunch of spinach leaves while discussing the creativity chakra (second). Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Greenjeans would have morphed into football and rugby players who want to discuss their uniforms. (Let's throw in a soccer player too simply because I challenge any man to look bad in a soccer uniform. Thanks!) At the end, a big turtle would enter, walking upright. We'd see it's underside and have our turtle questions answered. So much would have been addressed and probably very quickly. Oh, what a glorious dream that would have been.
After two nights of struggling to sleep, I appreciate this (in)activity more than usual. Sleep matters and because our minds are so good at dreaming (even more so when aided by cheese), I trust that our dream process matters too. Somewhere within, we're all creative. We have a lot to share. Sleep well, everyone, and dream lots! And please, watch out for bears. That's advice you won't go wrong heeding, whether you're asleep or awake. Enjoy!
JAHD
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