I had another great meeting in my new department today, and I had a chance to get the layout of important places on campus (food, coffee, post office, bookstore) as well as to get my keys and see the office I will be sharing with other adjuncts. It's a decent-sized and appointed office, looks like there are 3 people in there.
The rain has been miserable, although I have really no cause to complain since we didn't get hit with the damaging floods from downstate and northeastern PA. Thank gawd Elmira didn't get hit (see the devastation from 1972's Hurricane Agnes). Actually, yesterday was sunny in Ithaca and today we've just had a brief shower. It's so strange: beautiful blue skies with white puffy clouds, then suddenly a big black thunderhead will roll through and dump rain for awhile, then keep moving on. Better than the absolute downpour we had a couple days ago, though.
I've been in a sort of weird limbo lately. Not depressed, but feeling restless and unfocused here and there, with patches of focused energy that allow me to get things done. Honestly, all I really want to do is sit in my chair on the patio and read.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Inner Smile
My beloved MacBook arrived yesterday morning, and I am currently typing my first blog entry on said machine. This computer is everything I had expected, and with Bizarro's help, I'm hooked up with Firefox and soon I'll be able to print.
I had a better morning than I have had in a long time. I had a counseling appointment, which was perfectly timed given that I've been feeling very down lately. It's been my experience with a few different therapists that I do a lot of the "work" in figuring stuff out, with some gentle prodding and suggestions. I never seem to recognize how much I really do have on my plate until it's pointed out to me, and then it's like "Oh yeah, no wonder I've been feeling [insert negative emotion here]. I better take some self-care time."
Yesterday I was feeling pretty awful, and really wanted to take a nap. Instead of doing that, I went out in the sunshine and drove to the Co Op grocery, where I bought some good-for-me bread and picked up a bunch of free literature on holistic-new age-freaky stuff. From there I decided it was high time I finally visit Snow Lion, which is headquartered here in Ithaca and has a store on the premises. I bought some Green Tara incense and a shrine image of Green Tara (over the water). Very nice! I also inquired if there were any other known Kagyu practitioners in the area, and the young man took my name and email to pass on to someone who would know. I also talked to the out-going president of the Tibetan Association of Ithaca about tutoring ESL in the Tibetan community, and he said he'd pass on my info.
I've identitified a few things that have been getting me down and some solutions. They are, in no particular order:
1. Loneliness. Solutions: Write! Also, branch out into the community and attend classes or events that might provide good places to meet new people. Be patient! I will meet more people at my new job in a couple of months.
2. Boredom. Solutions: Write! Also, remember that some fun things are coming up in the next month and a half, and that every day can't be a carnival o' fun. Take pleasure in the small things, especially those things that will be harder to have/do when summer is over. Meditate every day! Make a schedule of certain things that are routine each day, but don't try to structure every single day. Get ready for classes this fall.
3. Lack of self-confidence in my writing, questioning my future as a writer. Solutions: Write! Meditate and read inspirational books for writers, which Bizarro is always bringing home.
4. Nihilistic "everything in the world sucks so what's the point?" attitude. (It may be impeccably Goth, but it's not very healthy.) Solutions: Write! Remember: the world is Samsara, I am not perfect nor should expect anything to be. Take pleasure in the smallest of moments, be IN those moments, don't sweat the small stuff, and don't worry about the future. It isn't here, yet and will probably be better than my worst imaginings. Plus, it's the journey that really matters, not the result or the end. If I waste the journey whining about it, the end is going to suck, anyway.
...and on that note, I am going to write now. With an Inner Smile, if not an outer one.
I had a better morning than I have had in a long time. I had a counseling appointment, which was perfectly timed given that I've been feeling very down lately. It's been my experience with a few different therapists that I do a lot of the "work" in figuring stuff out, with some gentle prodding and suggestions. I never seem to recognize how much I really do have on my plate until it's pointed out to me, and then it's like "Oh yeah, no wonder I've been feeling [insert negative emotion here]. I better take some self-care time."
Yesterday I was feeling pretty awful, and really wanted to take a nap. Instead of doing that, I went out in the sunshine and drove to the Co Op grocery, where I bought some good-for-me bread and picked up a bunch of free literature on holistic-new age-freaky stuff. From there I decided it was high time I finally visit Snow Lion, which is headquartered here in Ithaca and has a store on the premises. I bought some Green Tara incense and a shrine image of Green Tara (over the water). Very nice! I also inquired if there were any other known Kagyu practitioners in the area, and the young man took my name and email to pass on to someone who would know. I also talked to the out-going president of the Tibetan Association of Ithaca about tutoring ESL in the Tibetan community, and he said he'd pass on my info.
I've identitified a few things that have been getting me down and some solutions. They are, in no particular order:
1. Loneliness. Solutions: Write! Also, branch out into the community and attend classes or events that might provide good places to meet new people. Be patient! I will meet more people at my new job in a couple of months.
2. Boredom. Solutions: Write! Also, remember that some fun things are coming up in the next month and a half, and that every day can't be a carnival o' fun. Take pleasure in the small things, especially those things that will be harder to have/do when summer is over. Meditate every day! Make a schedule of certain things that are routine each day, but don't try to structure every single day. Get ready for classes this fall.
3. Lack of self-confidence in my writing, questioning my future as a writer. Solutions: Write! Meditate and read inspirational books for writers, which Bizarro is always bringing home.
4. Nihilistic "everything in the world sucks so what's the point?" attitude. (It may be impeccably Goth, but it's not very healthy.) Solutions: Write! Remember: the world is Samsara, I am not perfect nor should expect anything to be. Take pleasure in the smallest of moments, be IN those moments, don't sweat the small stuff, and don't worry about the future. It isn't here, yet and will probably be better than my worst imaginings. Plus, it's the journey that really matters, not the result or the end. If I waste the journey whining about it, the end is going to suck, anyway.
...and on that note, I am going to write now. With an Inner Smile, if not an outer one.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Another day, another box of tissues
I am still sick with this goddam cold virus. It's really pissing me off. I felt a little better yesterday, well enough to do some grocery shopping and then to the mall with Bizarro to pick up a couple things from the craft store I needed. This morning the sore throat is as bad as ever, along with the runny nose. Jeezus H. Crist.
So last night I was all excited to catch a new show on Court TV, entitled "Haunting Evidence." The premise is that a medium, a "paranormal expert" and some other similarly-titled dude go round trying to pick up clues on cold cases by paranormal means, communing with the dead, and so forth. The show spent 25 minutes with the 3 bozos saying the same damned things over and over in different locations, with the narrator confirming that they had hit on something already known about the case. The three psychic wannabes picked up 2 or 3 "new" clues that investigators promised in the last 30 seconds of the show would be followed up. That was it. So totally boring and completely anticlimatic!
I wish we could get the Travel Channel so I can see "Most Haunted." Now THAT show rocks. I think I've already written about it on this blog, but basically it takes place in England with a larger group of paranormal wannabes running around notoriously haunted buildings, verbally taunting the evil spirits, using night vision, recording devices, and seances to stir up the local spectral entities. It's totally hilarious and a blast to watch.
Next week, my favorite PBS show "History Detectives" begins airing their new season. Here's to summer television!
Today I need to get some work done, if I can tame this headache with some Tylenol.
So last night I was all excited to catch a new show on Court TV, entitled "Haunting Evidence." The premise is that a medium, a "paranormal expert" and some other similarly-titled dude go round trying to pick up clues on cold cases by paranormal means, communing with the dead, and so forth. The show spent 25 minutes with the 3 bozos saying the same damned things over and over in different locations, with the narrator confirming that they had hit on something already known about the case. The three psychic wannabes picked up 2 or 3 "new" clues that investigators promised in the last 30 seconds of the show would be followed up. That was it. So totally boring and completely anticlimatic!
I wish we could get the Travel Channel so I can see "Most Haunted." Now THAT show rocks. I think I've already written about it on this blog, but basically it takes place in England with a larger group of paranormal wannabes running around notoriously haunted buildings, verbally taunting the evil spirits, using night vision, recording devices, and seances to stir up the local spectral entities. It's totally hilarious and a blast to watch.
Next week, my favorite PBS show "History Detectives" begins airing their new season. Here's to summer television!
Today I need to get some work done, if I can tame this headache with some Tylenol.
Who's on first...the next generation.
This is from an email I received this morning. I think it's pretty damned funny.
George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening?
Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.
George: Great. Lay it on me.
Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.
George: That's what I want to know.
Condi: That's what I'm telling you.
George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes.
George: I mean the fellow's name.
Condi: Hu.
George: The guy in China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The new leader of China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The main man in China!
Condi: Hu is leading China.
George: Now whaddya' asking me for?
Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China.
George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?
Condi: That's the man's name.
George: That's whose name?
Condi: Yes.
George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader
of China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he's dead in
the Middle -East.
Condi: That's correct.
George: Then who is in China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir is in China?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Then who is?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of
China. Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.
Condi: Kofi?
George: No, thanks.
Condi: You want Kofi?
George: No.
Condi: You don't want Kofi.
George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk.
And then get me the U.N.
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi?
George: Milk! Will you please make the call?
Condi: And call who?
George: Who is the guy at the U.N?
Condi: Hu is the guy in China.
George: Will you stay out of China?!
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: And stay out of the Middle- East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi.
George: All right! With cream and two sugars. Now get on the phone.
George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening?
Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.
George: Great. Lay it on me.
Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.
George: That's what I want to know.
Condi: That's what I'm telling you.
George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes.
George: I mean the fellow's name.
Condi: Hu.
George: The guy in China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The new leader of China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The main man in China!
Condi: Hu is leading China.
George: Now whaddya' asking me for?
Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China.
George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?
Condi: That's the man's name.
George: That's whose name?
Condi: Yes.
George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader
of China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he's dead in
the Middle -East.
Condi: That's correct.
George: Then who is in China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir is in China?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Then who is?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of
China. Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.
Condi: Kofi?
George: No, thanks.
Condi: You want Kofi?
George: No.
Condi: You don't want Kofi.
George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk.
And then get me the U.N.
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi?
George: Milk! Will you please make the call?
Condi: And call who?
George: Who is the guy at the U.N?
Condi: Hu is the guy in China.
George: Will you stay out of China?!
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: And stay out of the Middle- East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi.
George: All right! With cream and two sugars. Now get on the phone.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
James Bond Almost Bites It (again)
JB: "You expect me to talk, Goldfinger?"
GF: "No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die!"
The Fleming Effect from Mr. KissKissBangBang
JB: "You expect me to talk, Goldfinger?"
GF: "No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die!"
The Fleming Effect from Mr. KissKissBangBang
I.M. Goth
 | You scored as Fantasy Goth. You are a Fantasy Goth. You may or may not actually be a goth, but "normal" folks see you as one of those weird kids, and you are probably considered a geek by quite a few.
What subcategory of Goth best fits you? created with QuizFarm.com |
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
New Hotness
I officially ordered my new MacBook today, and should be receiving said wonder in about a week.
I've been away, visiting my friend Jen. Good weekend, all around, although I came back sicker than when I left and by yesterday morning it had fully manifested as a nasty head cold virus thingie. I'm feeling a bit better today but I need a couple more days of recouperation to feel my old self.
I've begun a new blog, which will be one for writing and creative notes, rather than personal ramblings. As that grows, I'll put a link here.
Right now I need some Emer'Gen'C and a snack.
I've been away, visiting my friend Jen. Good weekend, all around, although I came back sicker than when I left and by yesterday morning it had fully manifested as a nasty head cold virus thingie. I'm feeling a bit better today but I need a couple more days of recouperation to feel my old self.
I've begun a new blog, which will be one for writing and creative notes, rather than personal ramblings. As that grows, I'll put a link here.
Right now I need some Emer'Gen'C and a snack.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Road Tripping
Despite that fact that I'm still fighting this bug, I am driving to see Jen today. I'm tempted to call it off because I don't really feel well, but if not this weekend, I don't know when we'd be able to hang out this summer. I hate going someplace (even someplace fun) away from home when I don't feel so great.
In the meantime, here's something to cheer us up:
Meat is in the eye of the beholder.
In the meantime, here's something to cheer us up:
Meat is in the eye of the beholder.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
A Window on the World
This morning I got up at my usual early hour and went to the car repair place for them to replace the switch on our driver side window. For weeks, now, we've had to contend with keeping the window up because once we put it down, it wouldn't go back up. Now it's fixed and wow! I can drive with the wind in my hair again! Woo hoo!
I'm annoyed because I was supposed to hear from my best friend Jenny about going to see her this weekend. She was supposed to call me Monday night but didn't, then I called her last night (twice) and got her answering machine and no call back. In the meantime, I have another friend who lives in Syracuse who has invited me up but I can't make any decisions until I hear from Jen. I haven't been to her home in about 6 years, so it's high time and we both need the female company, I believe.
Gorgeous day today. I have to meet with my folks at my New School this afternoon, which I'm looking forward to. At this point the only thing that's dragging me down is tha lack of a computer (currently using Bizarro's). This will soon be rectified, I hope.
And now for the retro image du jour:
Whiskey A gets you out of the Matrix, Whiskey B puts you back where you were
I'm annoyed because I was supposed to hear from my best friend Jenny about going to see her this weekend. She was supposed to call me Monday night but didn't, then I called her last night (twice) and got her answering machine and no call back. In the meantime, I have another friend who lives in Syracuse who has invited me up but I can't make any decisions until I hear from Jen. I haven't been to her home in about 6 years, so it's high time and we both need the female company, I believe.
Gorgeous day today. I have to meet with my folks at my New School this afternoon, which I'm looking forward to. At this point the only thing that's dragging me down is tha lack of a computer (currently using Bizarro's). This will soon be rectified, I hope.
And now for the retro image du jour:
Whiskey A gets you out of the Matrix, Whiskey B puts you back where you were
Monday, June 05, 2006
Creating Space
Yesterday morning I was bemoaning the sad state of my desk. I decided that since my computer was OLD and BUSTED, it needed to be removed from my desk to make space for the new laptop, which I hope to purchase in the next couple of weeks. I took the humungo monitor down and put up the shelf that wouldn't fit before, and rearranged things so that I now have a beautiful space for writing, which will easily accommodate a MacBook without destroying the space.
So, welcome MacBook!
Had a really nice afternoon with Momazoo yesterday, including a hastily made spaghetti dinner with salad and wine. We played Upwords (I won by 5 points) and had a lovely visit.
This morning I had to go the lab to get blood work for my doctor's visit later this week. I am sad that my doctor is closing her practice. Bizarro and I are trying to find a new doctor. What a pain.
Not much else going on. Today is sunny, thank GAWD, since it's rained for four days (or longer)? Too bad the Ithaca Festival got rained on this year.
So, welcome MacBook!
Had a really nice afternoon with Momazoo yesterday, including a hastily made spaghetti dinner with salad and wine. We played Upwords (I won by 5 points) and had a lovely visit.
This morning I had to go the lab to get blood work for my doctor's visit later this week. I am sad that my doctor is closing her practice. Bizarro and I are trying to find a new doctor. What a pain.
Not much else going on. Today is sunny, thank GAWD, since it's rained for four days (or longer)? Too bad the Ithaca Festival got rained on this year.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Old n' Busted
My computer has died, so I don't have regular access and therefore am not posting much to the blog lately.
I'll be back when I get the New Hotness (MacBook 13").
Until then...
I'll be back when I get the New Hotness (MacBook 13").
Until then...
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