Belated card

Belated
Originally uploaded by pigstubs.

fuji

I picked up my camera again for the first time in a while yesterday. I took lots of pictures, and it was good.

I missed it. And I didn't quite realize it till then.

The act of creating something brings rest to me somehow.

I like learning things about myself. Sometimes the revelations are difficult to take in, but even ones about the things I wish I could hide or cut out is good after I reconcile myself to them.

Creepy? or Creative?

I had a discussion tonight with my Mom.  She doesn't understand why anyone would want to put personal information about themselves out on the internet where just anyone could read.  When told about privacy settings and the like, she doesn't understand why anyone would put personal information about themselves out on the internet for acquaintances or new friends to read.  Her philosophy seems to be, if you wouldn't say it to someone's face when you first meet them, why put it out there?

So I've been thinking about it. 

I told her that part of the appeal, I suspect, for young people is that it helps you define yourself: "Ok, so what DO I like to do? I need to fill in this box, what is important to me?"

(or, at the very least, it helps you to define the part of yourself that you want others to see. I know that I have tried to think of the most indie of my favorite musical artists to throw into my 'favorite music' section. I wouldn't dare mention that I think Justin Timberlake is rather catchy sometimes...) And as the diversity in this world comes closer and closer to everyone's fingertips through modern technology, all the choice can be debilitating, overwhelming. Adolescent development fascinates me, and I think that my psychology colleague is onto something when he says that personality is expressed through popular culture preferences.  So, About Me sections and profiles pages are really an exercise in exploration and commitment of different personalities. Developmental psychologists think these are good things. 

Also, I made the argument that just because something CAN be misused, or used for bad purposes, doesn't mean that you shouldn't ever use it. If that were the case, then don't eat chocolate, ride in airplanes, or talk to boys. You cannot live your life in a cave. You cannot protect yourself from every evil and still develop completely.

But still, these points do not answer the question, why do it?

Why not take personality tests privately, make lists of your favorite movies in a notebook and share it only with your best of friends? Why not use the internet purely for direct communication with people you actually know?

I think that we were made to live in community and in relation with other people.  God made Adam, and then said "it is not good for man to be alone."  I think that we are made with a longing to reach out and connect with those around us. And if I have no one in the same room with me, I know that thousands of you out there are still up and relatable, even when my family is asleep or on the other side of the country.  When my friends all go out of town on the same weekend, I can connect with you through facebook. or blogging. or twitter. or livejournal. or flickr. I can form some kind of relationship, however fragile, with another actual human being because I am willing to put a bit of myself out there on the internet for just anyone to read. 

What do you think?

packing

If I could pack a week and a half early, I would. 

I like to be prepared.  I want to know what I'll be doing on my trips, insofar as it would affect my wardrobe, in advance so that I can make sure I have appropriate clothes.  I want to know what other things I should have with me (computer, meds, running clothes, books, etc.) so that I will not be lacking any thing.

I make lists, I add to them, I check things off when I pack. 

I like to be prepared.

In recent years (read: since I moved to NH) this list-making and preparedness has served the purpose of helping me not over-pack.  Flying from NH to AL involves at least 2 flights.  Having the smallest amount of luggage possible to heave around the airport, or rely on baggage handlers to transfer, should make my day easier.  And since I'm prone to throwing anything and everything and 2 extra outfits in, list-making helps me whittle down my selections.

So if I packed early, I could edit what I will need.

I think another reason I want to pack early is because it might somehow magically make the travel date arrive early. Wouldn't it be great if tomorrow and not Thursday was the day I could be at home with my parents and sisters and a decorated house? Maybe if I'm packed, time will speed up!

I love reading. I like escaping into the stories of other people's imaginations. I typically only read fiction. The escape doesn't seem to work as well if it's nonfiction. And I love mysteries. There is a definite end to the story when the clever detective uses "the little gray cells" to catch the crook and put him/her away. I'm impressed by the mental acuity of the good guys, and sometimes even the planning of the bad guys. And then when I finish reading, I marvel at the author's ability to weave it all together.

This is the mystery I am currently, supposedly, reading. It is a mystery novel featuring my favorite couple, Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane Wimsey, created by Dorothy L. Sayers.  I recently re-read all of Sayer's mysteries that featured the couple, and enjoyed them immensely.  Sayers died before she could finish all the Lord Peter/Harriet stories that she had planned, so her descendants asked Walsh to finish two of them.  This is the second.  It takes place during World War II in England. And I just can't get into it.

Maybe it's because I get the feeling that I have read it before (I was convinced that I hadn't), maybe it's because the mystery I read before the Lord Peter series also took place in London during World War II, maybe it's just because I'm finally burnt out on mysteries...whatever the reason, I don't seem to want to read this one.

So since I already own several books that I have yet to read, I thought I'd get some input into what to start next. Here are your options:

1. I have been wanting to re-read the Harry Potter series. (Ok, so technically this doesn't fit in my criteria of 'haven't read yet. but this is my list, so I can ignore my own rules...) So I could start with HP#1.
   
2. I also have the boxed set of the Wrinkle in Time series, which I have never read, but when I told my sister and brother-in-law that I was tempted to get it just because I loved the cover/box design, they told me I MUST get it and MUST read them, post haste.  They also got a set for any future children they may have, which will be named something creative like Blakey Axel.  So, I could start that series.  And since they were written for children, I should be able to get through them easily.
   
3. Or, I could pick and choose short stories from the Best American Non-required Reading 2008.  I got the 2007 version for Spring Break last year and read it cover to cover. Cool idea. They have a Best American for pretty much everything these days. If you don't like Non-required Reading, maybe you'll like Sports Writing or Spiritual Writing, or Mystery Writing. (ooh! Mysteries!)

So. Those are the options. 

What do you think?

forgetful

I have seasonal amnesia.

Every year, in the midst of winter and early spring, I forget how HOT it gets in New Hampshire summers. And then the heat comes, and the humidity comes, and the doors swell in our apartment, and the ceiling fans and open windows and closed blinds don't seem to help, and I sweat in my sleep, and I am taken by surprise.  I have to dig out my window unit a/c, like a Southern wuss who is used to central air conditioning, and I have to bite my tongue when I want to complain about the lack of that wonderful invention here in the North.

Every year, in the midst of summer and early autumn, I forget how very COLD it gets in New Hampshire winters.  And then the first snowfall comes, and the first sub-zero windchill comes, and the wind comes, and it's completely dark at 5pm, and I am taken by surprise. I have to re-learn how to dress myself for the cold, and I question my past claims of "Oh yeah, I could totally live here for good.  I'm getting used to the winters."

death

I've been trying to memorize Romans 8 with a friend of mine lately. 

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:5-6

Something happened to me this weekend that got me thinking about these two verses. The what is not so important, but the thoughts that came from it are.  

I could act upon my desires, desires which are perfectly good and right when responded to in the right context, but to do so would make a bit of my soul die.  Acting on God-given desires in a fleshly way is to deny that the God-given way of acting on them is not worth it. or viable. or good. or best. 

It would kill a bit of me to deny the best way.  I would have to suppress the part of me that wants to do good to act this way.  Of course, to suppress the part of me that wants to be fleshly is also to kill that part of me...but it's good part to kill. It's the part of me that will die anyway. 

So. I could probably say all of this better when I'm not so tired, but such is life.  I am tired now. I have time now. 

sharing

I LOVE THE OFFICE.

Probably because of the whole Jim/Pam slowly budding romance - I get emotionally invested in tv shows. And also, it's funny. It makes me laugh even as I cringe. And the Jim on Dwight pranks are sometimes just so perfect (i.e. the fax from the future).

Regardless of why, I. love. the office.

I have found that there is a moment from The Office that relates to almost any real-life moment. I am constantly interjecting "Oh! That's like that time on The Office when..." into conversations.  I have learned to ignore the eye-rolls.

I also LOVE sharing the things I love with others.  I am a firm believer that humans are made to exist in community, in fellowship, with other humans.  So I love it when my friends love the things I love. The joy of watching The Office is enhanced when I can watch it, or at least talk about it, with other people. It strengthens the bonds between us, however superficially, and may even bring nuances of the show to the attention of either party. 

All this to say that I'm quite excited that some friends of mine have been bitten by The Office bug and are devouring the episodes as quickly as their busy lives allow. Looking forward to some great, hilarious conversations!

hello?

One of my lj friends wrote a RIP post. Another lj friend agreed.

So I guess I'll be exploring blogger more now. 

I might change the title though.