Driving alone is cathartic, if allowed to be. The endless miles open a door to a multitude of streaming thoughts. Random, deliberate, fleeting, enduring. These thoughts can lead nowhere, or to the next thought. Sometimes these thoughts lead to the solution to a sticky problem. Sometimes they lead to more problems. More questions.
The thoughts can be benign. My oldest son learns from a friend that he can earn big money for donating blood. For him, it is the answer to not having or being able to get a job. He is elated that he can do it twice a month....or at least until his veins scar or collapse.
They can be random. They start with a question. How do people eat junk food as a regular diet? Do they do it for convenience? Don't they think about health...at all? This thought hit me as I swigged my diet Dr. Pepper and munched on Bugles punctuated by peanut M&Ms. It further annoyed me when I threw in the fact that I haven't exercised in almost a week and am feeling quite flabby.
But, meaningful thoughts can supercede the mundane thoughts. Well, meaningful to someone, somewhere. Meaningful enough for me to spend time thinking as the miles click by. Or, in this case, as I pull out of Buccee's on I-10 and see the hitchhiking couple on the side of the road before the entrance ramp. They were young and epitomized the term 'misfit': dirty, long unkempt hair, ragged clothes. Bohemian. The girl stood holding a cardboard sign with barely visible writing while her male companion sat in the shoulder of the road. Who will pick these two up....who do they think will pick them up? Not me, for sure. Most likely not anyone coming out of Buccee's in their minivans packed with family members. All I could think about was how badly they must smell and what terrible things they could do if I did give them a ride. My mind froze with images I had seen from Criminal Minds and Law and Order. I certainly don't want to end up that way. I briefly thought that maybe they could just ride in the back of my truck. They can't really harm me from back there. But, then again, no. What if I got in an accident? I never did think it safe to let people ride in the bed of the truck. I pulled away with one last glance in my rearview mirror and hoped that some trucker would give them a ride and that they wouldn't have to be outside when the approaching storm hit.
Many of my streaming thoughts circle around my issues: family, work, home. What I have to do tomorrow and what I did today. Or, often members of my family encroach on my silence with a phone call or text, needing my input or wanting resolution to a problem that seems insurmountable on their own. I wonder what help I can be hundreds of miles away; but, it seems to pacify them and kick off more streaming thoughts.
Quite often, my thoughts turn to God. Beseeching His help for me or someone I have promised to pray for; unloading my worries and concerns on Him with the hope that the resulting freedom and peace will satisfy me enough not to worry or be concerned about those issues anymore.
Moreover, the streaming thoughts that can run rampant during my solo drives are those thoughts that get sidelined every day by all of the mundane responsibilities that clutter my existence. I have no time to let my thoughts wander aimlessly. The solo drives afford me the privilege of reducing my multi-tasking to an n of 1: driving. I can do most of it on autopilot and just let the thoughts stream through, as fast or as slow as they choose to go. While I drive my car, they drive me.
Monday, February 28
Friday, February 18
Lost In The Fifth Ward
Of course, he didn't admit he was lost, only that he was taking a detour. But I knew. I knew just by watching the boarded windows and dark, deserted alleys roll by. Why would he want to take us through this scary place? Aren't detours supposed to be pleasant? Pretty? Graffitti on crumpled fences grasped my attention and sinister beings lurking on the street corners seemed to follow our car like they knew we didn't belong in their neighborhood. Their gazes held me hostage. These were not landmarks I knew, nor did I ever want to become familiar with them.
I was unsure if even my father, my hero, could get us out of this one alive.
Although it felt like an eternity to me, the time we spent lost was probably only a few minutes. But, those few minutes have remained in my memory. I have never felt the same type of fear and sense of being alone.
Until today. But first, a little history.
The Fifth Ward is in Northeast Houston and is one of six wards originally established in Houston in 1837. The wards were simply a way of geographically dividing the city for political purposes. It is still used in many American cities. After the Civil War, the Fifth Ward was settled almost entirely by freed slaves. It became a 100% black working class neighborhood, its residents working in the nearby shipping channel and other industrial areas. It remained this way through much of the 20th century. Although it was viewed by its residents as a proud black community with over 40 black-owned businesses, it garnered a reputation as the "bloody fifth" because of rising crime and violence within its borders. After desegregation, its problems grew despite attempts to regentrify it from within. Today, any Houstonian will cringe at the mention of the Fifth Ward. It represents crime, poverty, violence, and drugs.
I have been to many undesirable places in Houston as a teacher for my company. While many times I am uncomfortable in the low-income areas I teach in, I have never felt unsafe. Not so in the Fifth Ward. And particularly not so getting lost there.
I made every turn GoogleMaps told me to. But, by the time I realized the directions had led me astray I was already perspiring, nervously looking around my car at stop signs, and wishing I had brought my Taurus .9mm like I should have. Drive by braille, my preferred method of navigation over the standard GPS unit, was wholly deficient because the fear factor kept me from keeping track of street names like I usually do. But, I wonder if even a GPS would have figured it out. In any case, I would have felt so much safer and less alone as a white woman in a bigass redneck pickup truck driving seemingly aimlessly, if not definitely lost, in this high-crime area, if I were accompanied by my piece.
I would have taken pictures of the area I was in, but somehow that didn't seem a safe choice at the time. The idea was accompanied by visions of some gang approaching my truck while I was otherwise occupied with the "take picture" button on my phone, and me pointing the camera out only to see in the viewfinder a bunch of thugs pointing a gun at me.
Instead, I drove slightly too fast through the residential neighborhood, on the phone with the receptionist at the school, who was neither friendly nor understanding of my plight, trying to figure out where I had remembered seeing the street name she had just told me. Where's my gun again? Damn, I know I should have taken it...
I made it there unscathed, with the exception of the close exchange with my past. Not many of the residents whom I passed noticed much about my presence, nor even seemed to care as they walked their streets and sat on their stoops. I'm pretty sure the presence of me and my truck won't make it to what passes as their dinner table conversation. I'm glad I blended in on the outside and that they didn't smell nor see my trepidation. I guess they just didn't see me as much of a threat, or even a worthy target. I wondered if it would have been different if it was at night, like the time we were lost in New York. I was glad I didn't have to get too much closer to that memory. At least, back then, I had my father to turn to for protection. This time it was just me.
The students at the school were polite and helpful; a pleasure to teach.
Each time I go there will be easier as they begin to recognize, or at least accept, the white woman on their turf. I will feel much better going there now that I know exactly which turns to take, at exactly which landmarks. No more convolutions, nor more aimless meandering.
Hopefully I will continue to be ignored in the neighborhood, even as I plow through preceded by the roar of my V8. Who knows, maybe before I am done with the contract I will feel comfortable enough to stop and take a picture. I can see it now: one hand on the camera, the other on the .9mm.
Now ain't that a fitting image?
Tuesday, February 15
Temperature Control
Everyone was out running this morning. After weeks of frigid weather, the temperature was cool and the skies were blue.
I should have been out there too; but due to an unfortunate choice by my youngest son, I am required to drive him to school for the next week.
Even though I know I want to be out there, my procrastinative imagination set in creating all manner of fantasies and excuses for why I can't be out there. Like a nagging mother, it reminded me of how much cleaning I have to get done, it suggested that finishing my bible study homework would be a better choice, it wondered aloud whether it wouldn't be better for me to make the menu and shopping list for this week. Stuff like that.
I almost fell for it. And, if I had, I would have had those feelings of guilt creep in, just like they always do, the minute it becomes too late for me to do it after all. Not today.
However, I did start late. 11AM. In a few shorts weeks, maybe a month if I am lucky, 11AM will be too late to be outside exercising because it will be just too hot. My nagging mother might win.
As I walked out the driveway and down the street, I almost hesitated. It was warm; about 70 degrees. I would definitely burn off my water weight today.
I started running and immediately felt the heat. I caught myself getting whiny about it. Why does it have to be so hot? Why can't there be a real spring here in TX? Where is that cool weather when I want it? I wished briefly for a thermostat on the outside temperature. How nice it would be to set it to my desired coolness just for my run.
How hard to please we are. A few weeks ago, we were all bitching about the cold, and the ice. We were wishing in unison that the weather would warm up. Then, in comes the warm weather and here I am, complaining about it.
There are things I could have done to fix it. I could have pulled myself out of the house earlier this morning instead of arguing with my nagging mother. I could have just put my foot down and said no to that conversation. After all, who is in control here anyhow?
Halfway through my run I had to strip my outer tech top off, coming down to my sports bra. I laughed as I realized that the cars with male drivers in them were slowing down, ever so slightly, as they passed. Not that I am anything to gauk at, mind you. But, we know men, and I bet they were not unhappy about the warm weather and its special repercussions.
I was blessed with the hint of cool on the stuttering breeze and the misty spray from the fountain at the reservoir.
In the end, I was glad I made the effort. I sang some praise for the warm weather. I know that if it had been cold, I for sure would not have gone out to run.
So, thank you Texas spring. I know you won't be here long but I promise from now on to enjoy you at all costs.
I should have been out there too; but due to an unfortunate choice by my youngest son, I am required to drive him to school for the next week.
Even though I know I want to be out there, my procrastinative imagination set in creating all manner of fantasies and excuses for why I can't be out there. Like a nagging mother, it reminded me of how much cleaning I have to get done, it suggested that finishing my bible study homework would be a better choice, it wondered aloud whether it wouldn't be better for me to make the menu and shopping list for this week. Stuff like that.
I almost fell for it. And, if I had, I would have had those feelings of guilt creep in, just like they always do, the minute it becomes too late for me to do it after all. Not today.
However, I did start late. 11AM. In a few shorts weeks, maybe a month if I am lucky, 11AM will be too late to be outside exercising because it will be just too hot. My nagging mother might win.
As I walked out the driveway and down the street, I almost hesitated. It was warm; about 70 degrees. I would definitely burn off my water weight today.
I started running and immediately felt the heat. I caught myself getting whiny about it. Why does it have to be so hot? Why can't there be a real spring here in TX? Where is that cool weather when I want it? I wished briefly for a thermostat on the outside temperature. How nice it would be to set it to my desired coolness just for my run.
How hard to please we are. A few weeks ago, we were all bitching about the cold, and the ice. We were wishing in unison that the weather would warm up. Then, in comes the warm weather and here I am, complaining about it.
There are things I could have done to fix it. I could have pulled myself out of the house earlier this morning instead of arguing with my nagging mother. I could have just put my foot down and said no to that conversation. After all, who is in control here anyhow?
Halfway through my run I had to strip my outer tech top off, coming down to my sports bra. I laughed as I realized that the cars with male drivers in them were slowing down, ever so slightly, as they passed. Not that I am anything to gauk at, mind you. But, we know men, and I bet they were not unhappy about the warm weather and its special repercussions.
I was blessed with the hint of cool on the stuttering breeze and the misty spray from the fountain at the reservoir.
In the end, I was glad I made the effort. I sang some praise for the warm weather. I know that if it had been cold, I for sure would not have gone out to run.
So, thank you Texas spring. I know you won't be here long but I promise from now on to enjoy you at all costs.
Monday, February 14
Driving Solo Part 1: Music and Speed
Last week, I started my weekly commute to San Antonio. For the near future, I will be a fixture on I-10, chasing the sun on my way there and watching it fade behind me on my return.
Nothing beats the beauty of a Texas sunset...except maybe eight hours of solo, blissful driving every week.
I can't wait. Really! The solitude and the speed of long road trips have always drawn me, intoxicated me. If I can drive cheaper than I can fly somewhere, I usually do. I once drove back from Chicago, a 22-hour trip, with my 3 kids, at night, no stopovers. THAT was stupid, I admit, and I will never do anything like that again. But, I can say that I did it, crazy as it was.
Many people say they hate driving. They can't sit long and they get bored. I do admit that the long periods of sitting are getting more difficult for me as I age. My butt starts screaming loudly at me after about 3 hours, harmonizing with my moaning leg cramps. I do what I can to relieve them but nothing works better than stopping to get out and walk. On this last trip, I decided to bring a pillow next time.
I can also understand the boredom part. After all, there are few things to keep the mind occupied while driving solo. Can't have a conversation. Can't read a book. Can't surf the web. Activities are limited.
One of the main activities one can do while driving solo is listening to something~~to your self-talk, to music, to books on tape. Music has 2 sources: the radio and the CD/USB. I am old fashioned and do not own an iPod, even though my car stereo has the capability. Instead, I have all my favorite CDs in a case that I keep in the back seat. I listen to my favorite radio stations as far as I can on my way out of town. When they begin to crackle and become annoying, I switch to my CDs, randomly changing the music genre from hard rock, like Saliva, to Christian rock, like Blue Tree, to classic rock, like Rod Stewart. I could drive forever like that if it weren't for the necessity of stopping for things like gas and toilet and stretching.
I rarely use books on tape because I find the concentration I need to get something out of it takes away from my ability to stay sufficiently tuned to my driving.
Which brings me to the other part I love about driving solo.
Speed. I love to be in motion. The faster the better. Walking, running, cycling, driving. Forward momentum and speed is like a drug for me.
When I drive with my kids in the car, or anyone else for that matter, I keep my speed under control. I don't want to give my teenagers the wrong message and I don't want to scare my other passengers. When I am driving solo, I don't have that concern. Once I get out of the greater city area and the constrictive speed traps patrolled by cops with itchy fingers on the trigger of their radar guns, I can layer on the speed and fly. On average, I only do about 10 over the limit. But, in a situation where another motorist is driving stupidly or insensitively, say by texting and weaving while driving or playing speed control in the left lane, my speed becomes a tool and generally reaches higher limits.
Heck, I made it back from San Antonio in 3 1/2 hours. Lots of lane hoggers.
Like I said, speed.
I find that the music I play substantially affects my speed. Each Day by Blue Tree wrenches at my soul, moving me into the right lane and slowing me down to the speed limit as I try to keep the tears of joy from blinding me; anything by Saliva or Nickelback fires me up and tends to speed me up while I spend more time in the speed lane and weaving through the now slow-moving traffic. Some other drivers on the road might label me bipolar.
So, if you are ever on I-10 and you see my big ass truck flying by, you have a better idea of where it is all coming from.
I am reveling in long moments of bliss and solitude as I head into or away from my most recent harrowing life experience.
Click here to buy Blue Tree's God of This City!
Nothing beats the beauty of a Texas sunset...except maybe eight hours of solo, blissful driving every week.
I can't wait. Really! The solitude and the speed of long road trips have always drawn me, intoxicated me. If I can drive cheaper than I can fly somewhere, I usually do. I once drove back from Chicago, a 22-hour trip, with my 3 kids, at night, no stopovers. THAT was stupid, I admit, and I will never do anything like that again. But, I can say that I did it, crazy as it was.
Many people say they hate driving. They can't sit long and they get bored. I do admit that the long periods of sitting are getting more difficult for me as I age. My butt starts screaming loudly at me after about 3 hours, harmonizing with my moaning leg cramps. I do what I can to relieve them but nothing works better than stopping to get out and walk. On this last trip, I decided to bring a pillow next time.
I can also understand the boredom part. After all, there are few things to keep the mind occupied while driving solo. Can't have a conversation. Can't read a book. Can't surf the web. Activities are limited.
One of the main activities one can do while driving solo is listening to something~~to your self-talk, to music, to books on tape. Music has 2 sources: the radio and the CD/USB. I am old fashioned and do not own an iPod, even though my car stereo has the capability. Instead, I have all my favorite CDs in a case that I keep in the back seat. I listen to my favorite radio stations as far as I can on my way out of town. When they begin to crackle and become annoying, I switch to my CDs, randomly changing the music genre from hard rock, like Saliva, to Christian rock, like Blue Tree, to classic rock, like Rod Stewart. I could drive forever like that if it weren't for the necessity of stopping for things like gas and toilet and stretching.
I rarely use books on tape because I find the concentration I need to get something out of it takes away from my ability to stay sufficiently tuned to my driving.
Which brings me to the other part I love about driving solo.
Speed. I love to be in motion. The faster the better. Walking, running, cycling, driving. Forward momentum and speed is like a drug for me.
When I drive with my kids in the car, or anyone else for that matter, I keep my speed under control. I don't want to give my teenagers the wrong message and I don't want to scare my other passengers. When I am driving solo, I don't have that concern. Once I get out of the greater city area and the constrictive speed traps patrolled by cops with itchy fingers on the trigger of their radar guns, I can layer on the speed and fly. On average, I only do about 10 over the limit. But, in a situation where another motorist is driving stupidly or insensitively, say by texting and weaving while driving or playing speed control in the left lane, my speed becomes a tool and generally reaches higher limits.
Heck, I made it back from San Antonio in 3 1/2 hours. Lots of lane hoggers.
Like I said, speed.
I find that the music I play substantially affects my speed. Each Day by Blue Tree wrenches at my soul, moving me into the right lane and slowing me down to the speed limit as I try to keep the tears of joy from blinding me; anything by Saliva or Nickelback fires me up and tends to speed me up while I spend more time in the speed lane and weaving through the now slow-moving traffic. Some other drivers on the road might label me bipolar.
So, if you are ever on I-10 and you see my big ass truck flying by, you have a better idea of where it is all coming from.
I am reveling in long moments of bliss and solitude as I head into or away from my most recent harrowing life experience.
Click here to buy Blue Tree's God of This City!
Thursday, February 3
Messy Kitty
Aren't cats supposed to be clean? Tidy? Isn't that one of the reasons why "cat people" choose cats over dogs? That is how I always understood it. Along with other characteristics, such as independence and intelligence, cats hold a specific allure for certain people.
The allure of cat ownership has always alluded me. It wasn't the thought of scooping clumps out of litter box (although I did have my reservations about the odor in the house which I heard could be hard to control) because I had always had to do that in one way or another as a dog owner. Someone -- and I was always that someone -- had to clean up the dog poop out of the backyard, even to this day with 3 teenagers in the house. And, of course, sometime in the past two decades, it became a law to clean up after your dog even outside of your property so we dog owners lost our ability to keep the poop out of our lawns by walking the dog in a common area. In that instance, I would rather scoop clumps than walk 1/2 mile with a warm, smelly one wrapped in a plastic bag and stuck in my pocket.
My main problem with cat ownership has always been my refusal to be socially manipulated by an animal for whose sole care I am responsible. In my mind, that animal owes me respect, at a certain level; not the other way around as cats would have it.
An example of a thought I might have had as a cat owner: "I will do the manipulating here, thank you very much. I own you. You can't avoid me. You will come here now for attention."
Unfortunately, those same thoughts are probably floating around in most cats' heads. Which is why I have always been a dog lover. Dogs seek attention without being asked. They honor and adore their humans, even when their humans are not nice to them. If told to go sit down, they will keep coming back for attention. Annoying? Kind of. But, is that their place and do they know it? Yes.
After an entire lifetime of avoiding cat ownership despite incessant requests from my children, we adopted a kitten some time ago. He followed my daughter home from a friend's house one day, or at least that is the story she gave me, and he never left. He was only about 5 weeks old and cute as a cartoon. I could NOT say no.
While he was "growing up", I was patient with him. I tolerated the occasional accidents on the carpet and the smelly gifts hidden in a pile of clothes. I bit my tongue at the litter all over the bathroom floor. I was even suprisingly calm when I encountered my first hairball, and then even calmer when I found the second one (now I knew what they look like). I rationalized these events: "He is still a kitten. This will all go away once he matures."
Many of these did, either because he grew out of them or I adapted. The accidents and gifts stopped. He probably was satisfied that he had sufficiently marked his territory off, and those markings would show the dog who was boss, and that now he could relax a little. I have not seen another hairball (note: seen. Doesn't mean they aren't out there, lurking and hardening) since I started feeding him special hairball food.
The only thing that has not subsided is the litter on the floor. At first, I thought maybe it was due to the size of his litter box. After all, it was a kitten-sized one and he had grown quite a bit. I bought a bigger one, with "walls" on it. Surely that would keep the litter in. He is a cat, after all, and will eventually learn to be neater with his efforts to cover up his deposits.
All of my thoughts are, to date, in vain. Mojo continues to be a messy cat. Emptying the clumps ultimately involves a broom and dustpan. It doesn't seem to matter how frequently the box is cleaned, or how much litter is in there, or whether the litter is "fresh" or not.
Under all circumstances, the litter ends up all over the floor.
Messsy kitty. Bad kitty.
After some research, I discovered litter boxes out there that are completely covered. I will have to quit my complaining and go spend some money to appease my need for cleanliness.
The worst thing about having to do that is the cat will not appreciate it. And, to make matters more insulting, I can see the cartoon bubble above his head already: "Stupid human."
Despite these nuisances, they do not outweigh the nuisances of dog ownership. These nuisances are different and require education and adaptability. And, even though he is a messy kitty, there is a certain comfort I get when he comes up to me every morning, while I am making lunches, to greet me with a "meouw" and a face rub. I am still not sure whether that is really a greeting, or a manipulative way to let me know that he is damn hungry and wants his breakfast...now. But, whatever it is in his mind, I will accept his affection and enjoy his company when he is willing, regardless of the litter on the floor, and be thankful for the opportunity to give a stray animal a home.
 |
| Mojo |
The allure of cat ownership has always alluded me. It wasn't the thought of scooping clumps out of litter box (although I did have my reservations about the odor in the house which I heard could be hard to control) because I had always had to do that in one way or another as a dog owner. Someone -- and I was always that someone -- had to clean up the dog poop out of the backyard, even to this day with 3 teenagers in the house. And, of course, sometime in the past two decades, it became a law to clean up after your dog even outside of your property so we dog owners lost our ability to keep the poop out of our lawns by walking the dog in a common area. In that instance, I would rather scoop clumps than walk 1/2 mile with a warm, smelly one wrapped in a plastic bag and stuck in my pocket.
My main problem with cat ownership has always been my refusal to be socially manipulated by an animal for whose sole care I am responsible. In my mind, that animal owes me respect, at a certain level; not the other way around as cats would have it.
An example of a thought I might have had as a cat owner: "I will do the manipulating here, thank you very much. I own you. You can't avoid me. You will come here now for attention."
Unfortunately, those same thoughts are probably floating around in most cats' heads. Which is why I have always been a dog lover. Dogs seek attention without being asked. They honor and adore their humans, even when their humans are not nice to them. If told to go sit down, they will keep coming back for attention. Annoying? Kind of. But, is that their place and do they know it? Yes.
After an entire lifetime of avoiding cat ownership despite incessant requests from my children, we adopted a kitten some time ago. He followed my daughter home from a friend's house one day, or at least that is the story she gave me, and he never left. He was only about 5 weeks old and cute as a cartoon. I could NOT say no.
While he was "growing up", I was patient with him. I tolerated the occasional accidents on the carpet and the smelly gifts hidden in a pile of clothes. I bit my tongue at the litter all over the bathroom floor. I was even suprisingly calm when I encountered my first hairball, and then even calmer when I found the second one (now I knew what they look like). I rationalized these events: "He is still a kitten. This will all go away once he matures."
Many of these did, either because he grew out of them or I adapted. The accidents and gifts stopped. He probably was satisfied that he had sufficiently marked his territory off, and those markings would show the dog who was boss, and that now he could relax a little. I have not seen another hairball (note: seen. Doesn't mean they aren't out there, lurking and hardening) since I started feeding him special hairball food.
The only thing that has not subsided is the litter on the floor. At first, I thought maybe it was due to the size of his litter box. After all, it was a kitten-sized one and he had grown quite a bit. I bought a bigger one, with "walls" on it. Surely that would keep the litter in. He is a cat, after all, and will eventually learn to be neater with his efforts to cover up his deposits.
All of my thoughts are, to date, in vain. Mojo continues to be a messy cat. Emptying the clumps ultimately involves a broom and dustpan. It doesn't seem to matter how frequently the box is cleaned, or how much litter is in there, or whether the litter is "fresh" or not.
Under all circumstances, the litter ends up all over the floor.
Messsy kitty. Bad kitty.
After some research, I discovered litter boxes out there that are completely covered. I will have to quit my complaining and go spend some money to appease my need for cleanliness.
The worst thing about having to do that is the cat will not appreciate it. And, to make matters more insulting, I can see the cartoon bubble above his head already: "Stupid human."
Despite these nuisances, they do not outweigh the nuisances of dog ownership. These nuisances are different and require education and adaptability. And, even though he is a messy kitty, there is a certain comfort I get when he comes up to me every morning, while I am making lunches, to greet me with a "meouw" and a face rub. I am still not sure whether that is really a greeting, or a manipulative way to let me know that he is damn hungry and wants his breakfast...now. But, whatever it is in his mind, I will accept his affection and enjoy his company when he is willing, regardless of the litter on the floor, and be thankful for the opportunity to give a stray animal a home.
Wednesday, February 2
Rolling Power Outages
The storm of the century is upon us. Nationwide, temperatures have plummeted and snow and ice are continuing to take over life as we know it. Chicago, New York, Boston, Tulsa, have incurred billions of dollars in damage as a result.
But, up in northern Texas, specifically Dallas, the airports are shut down and streets are sheets of ice. Drivers battle the ice, and each other, on the roadways to the amusement of onlookers. As long as no accident results, watching someone unsuccessfully continue to try to get up a hill of ice is somewhat amusing.
And, one big question looms in everyone's mind: what will happen to the Superbowl?
While the rest of the country is dealing with these horrendous burdens, we living down here in Houston have our own worries. We, too, have been plagued by intense, record-breaking cold for days. No ice, no snow. {There is a reason I live in the South} We throw on sweaters and try to dig out our coats. Can't remember where the gloves are but here is a scarf. We walk around with our arms clutched around ourselves as we try to retain our body heat and we brace ourselves against the frigid wind. At least the sky is blue and clear.
You get the idea.
However, with that icy cold comes more energy use. The first response here is to turn the thermostat up; our houses down here are not built to withstand and insulate us from the cold. When enough people do that, energy supply is most likely affected.
The Energy Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT...change that to a 'P' and you get EPCOT) determined at some point in the last few days, as the temperatures started going down, the necessity of rolling power outages throughout Texas. The extreme temperatures in our state (all due to global warming, I'm sure) along with excessive use of energy by paying customers has destabilized supply in our great state. The Council deemed it critical to preserve the energy balance by switching off supply to random neighborhoods for indeterminate amounts of time beginning this morning. Thank goodness the Council excluded hospitals, nursing homes, public service facilities, and water treatment plants from this inconvenience. Read more....
I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I am not normally one who complains about stuff like this. I understand the basics behind the perceived need and I really do hope that, despite the inconveniences, our energy source in Texas was stabilized as they had hoped.
However, the critical side of me, the evil flipside of my personality, can't help but point out some cracks in the facade and characterize how "the best laid plans of mice and men" can be distorted. Sorry...my cynicism roars during times like these.
It was considerate of them to exclude hospitals and other public service facilities, but why not exclude the schools as well? After all, schools are public facilities. If they can pick and choose locations like a hospital or a water treatment plant, they should also be able to pick out the schools in the area. Instead, they bussed students in some schools to other schools for the duration of the outage. So, while they are conserving the balance of electrical power, they are burning gasoline and releasing air contaminants. I would say that one cancels out the other. Let's not even go into the disruption to the students and staff at the affected schools.
Furthermore, on the topic of exclusions, what about the traffic lights? I understand how this might be more difficult to efficiently "exclude" because traffic control is most likely on the same grid as residential and commerial. In other words, it doesn't have its own source. But couldn't someone come up with a better plan? Maybe place traffic police at the major intersections of affected areas? I wonder how many traffic accidents resulted in Houston alone due to people either not knowing how to handle the intersection, being rude, or just not paying attention and blowing right through.
And then there are the minor annoyances...like having to reset the clocks on the oven and microwave twice today and showering in the dark at 6 a.m. Thank goodness the Comcast modem has a battery backup or I most likely would be complaining more loudly. My sister-in-law had the best one: the aftereffect of the power outage that occurred while she was at level 12 on the treadmill.
In the whole scheme of weather-related inconveniences nationwide, our problems down here are relatively mild. At least we can still get out of our back doors, into our cars, down our driveways, and to the store. We are in positive double digit cold, and we don't have to stock up on toilet paper and booze in preparation for in-home incarceration of indeterminate length.
In sight of this, I won't complain too much and will just be thankful that rolling power outage is the only insult we have to endure because of the weather.
Photo courtesy of photos.nj.com
And, one big question looms in everyone's mind: what will happen to the Superbowl?
While the rest of the country is dealing with these horrendous burdens, we living down here in Houston have our own worries. We, too, have been plagued by intense, record-breaking cold for days. No ice, no snow. {There is a reason I live in the South} We throw on sweaters and try to dig out our coats. Can't remember where the gloves are but here is a scarf. We walk around with our arms clutched around ourselves as we try to retain our body heat and we brace ourselves against the frigid wind. At least the sky is blue and clear.
You get the idea.
However, with that icy cold comes more energy use. The first response here is to turn the thermostat up; our houses down here are not built to withstand and insulate us from the cold. When enough people do that, energy supply is most likely affected.
The Energy Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT...change that to a 'P' and you get EPCOT) determined at some point in the last few days, as the temperatures started going down, the necessity of rolling power outages throughout Texas. The extreme temperatures in our state (all due to global warming, I'm sure) along with excessive use of energy by paying customers has destabilized supply in our great state. The Council deemed it critical to preserve the energy balance by switching off supply to random neighborhoods for indeterminate amounts of time beginning this morning. Thank goodness the Council excluded hospitals, nursing homes, public service facilities, and water treatment plants from this inconvenience. Read more....
I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I am not normally one who complains about stuff like this. I understand the basics behind the perceived need and I really do hope that, despite the inconveniences, our energy source in Texas was stabilized as they had hoped.
However, the critical side of me, the evil flipside of my personality, can't help but point out some cracks in the facade and characterize how "the best laid plans of mice and men" can be distorted. Sorry...my cynicism roars during times like these.
It was considerate of them to exclude hospitals and other public service facilities, but why not exclude the schools as well? After all, schools are public facilities. If they can pick and choose locations like a hospital or a water treatment plant, they should also be able to pick out the schools in the area. Instead, they bussed students in some schools to other schools for the duration of the outage. So, while they are conserving the balance of electrical power, they are burning gasoline and releasing air contaminants. I would say that one cancels out the other. Let's not even go into the disruption to the students and staff at the affected schools.
Furthermore, on the topic of exclusions, what about the traffic lights? I understand how this might be more difficult to efficiently "exclude" because traffic control is most likely on the same grid as residential and commerial. In other words, it doesn't have its own source. But couldn't someone come up with a better plan? Maybe place traffic police at the major intersections of affected areas? I wonder how many traffic accidents resulted in Houston alone due to people either not knowing how to handle the intersection, being rude, or just not paying attention and blowing right through.
And then there are the minor annoyances...like having to reset the clocks on the oven and microwave twice today and showering in the dark at 6 a.m. Thank goodness the Comcast modem has a battery backup or I most likely would be complaining more loudly. My sister-in-law had the best one: the aftereffect of the power outage that occurred while she was at level 12 on the treadmill.
In the whole scheme of weather-related inconveniences nationwide, our problems down here are relatively mild. At least we can still get out of our back doors, into our cars, down our driveways, and to the store. We are in positive double digit cold, and we don't have to stock up on toilet paper and booze in preparation for in-home incarceration of indeterminate length.
In sight of this, I won't complain too much and will just be thankful that rolling power outage is the only insult we have to endure because of the weather.
But, the storm of the century is supposedly coming our way on Friday. Stay tuned....and let's all pray that the Superbowl can still be played.
Photo courtesy of photos.nj.com
Tuesday, February 1
5 Ways To Procrastinate Efficiently
"Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle." Abraham Lincoln
"In delay there lies no plenty." William Shakepeare
"Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging of an uncompleted task." William James
As you can see...procrastination holds a negative connotation: unproductive, irritating, frustrating, inefficient. But, there come times when everyone does it. Some do it more often than others. For example, my experience shows me that teenagers do it the most often and their reasons for doing so are not always clear. Even though I would like to always label their actions just plain lazy, I know they must have other reasons that I, in my adult mind with adult things to do, cannot comprehend anymore. All I see is things left undone for so long that many times I end up doing them myself.
And some never do it at all. As I see it, every person who procrastinates does so for different reasons: boredom, laziness, frustration, exhaustion. It is personal.
I procrastinate more often than I would like. Every time I do, I get right back on the ball after I kick myself in the ass and admonish myself for being lazy. My reasons usually differ; and there is much rationalization that gets done while I am in the throes of procrastination. This constant battle has brought me to a point that I think I can offer advice to my fellow procrastinators on how to do it more efficiently and with less self-depracation.
#5 Maintain a list. I usually have a daily bucket list from which I cross off items as I complete them. For days on which I procrastinate, I am obviously not going to cross anything off because all I did was sit in front of the TV, sleep, or read. When my procrastination is spent, I pick up the list right where I left off, add the procrastination exercise I just finished (whether sleeping, reading, TV, computer, etc.), cross it (them) off, then move on. In this way I can fool myself into thinking I accomplished something.
Another thing to try is similar to information chunking. This technique is used to make things easier to memorize or learn. It can be applied here by rearranging the list in different ways to make it more achievable. Combine an easy chore with a more complicated one, always doing the easy one first. Or, if you have to run errands outside of the house, do the errands that are in the same area of town, re-evaluate, and then move to the next area.
#4 Act like you deserve it. It is easy to get in a pattern of hating procrastination. We avoid, even villify, things we hate. We have been conditioned to avoid procrastination in order to be more productive. It is not easy to trick yourself into acting like you deserve something that you have been trained to hate. But, honestly, how much can one person do in one day? Some days you will go over and above and get everything done. You deserve a pat on the back, right? Congratulations!
What does that need to always produce results do to us over time, though? It can wear us down, overwhelm us. The constant barrage from mobile phones, the feeling of always being "on call", complicates this feeling. Just like the slow erosion of a rock by water or air, our constitution can dissipate if we don't build it up. Allow procrastination into your life once in awhile. Each one of us deserves to take a break from life, just like we deserve that dessert, or that quiet time at the end of the day, or that lunch date with our friends.
#3 Do it well. Think of procrastination as a day off, or even a mini-vacation. Try to schedule a day of procrastination. This way you can plan it, make it something worthwhile. Or, if the wave of procrastination comes on suddenly, take it head on. Engage it. Make it feel welcome...for a little while.
#2 Admit to it. If you continue to deny it, it only transforms into a dirty little secret that you will have to hide from others, eventually from yourself, and then it will become something you learn to hate. Remember, every one procrastinates from time to time. If you have fallen into it, admit it, and move on. Do not give it any strength by keeping it secret, and ultimately feeling negative about yourself or your abilities to produce.
#1 Get back up and return strong. If you have done all of the above, it will be easy to get up aftwards and continue where you left off. Just remember, though, that your list may now be longer because of it all.
Procrastination does not have to be inefficient or damaging to your self-esteem. It can be refreshing and invigorating if done constructively.
Can you think of any other ways to make procrastination work for you?
I would like to close with a quote, but I couldn't find any positive quotes by upstanding or famous people. I don't believe this is because they never procrastinate, as we the people are sometimes led to believe. I think it just means that in their success, they learned the danger of too much procrastination. And, I completely agree with the dangers. Too much procrastination defeats all good. Just like too much of anything.
Here is a quote I like from Cool Quotes (URL:http://www.coolquotes.com/procrastination/1.html). Written by William Penn: "Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there."
Moral: Procrastinate just long enough to re-direct but not so long that you get passed by.
"In delay there lies no plenty." William Shakepeare
"Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging of an uncompleted task." William James
As you can see...procrastination holds a negative connotation: unproductive, irritating, frustrating, inefficient. But, there come times when everyone does it. Some do it more often than others. For example, my experience shows me that teenagers do it the most often and their reasons for doing so are not always clear. Even though I would like to always label their actions just plain lazy, I know they must have other reasons that I, in my adult mind with adult things to do, cannot comprehend anymore. All I see is things left undone for so long that many times I end up doing them myself.
And some never do it at all. As I see it, every person who procrastinates does so for different reasons: boredom, laziness, frustration, exhaustion. It is personal.
I procrastinate more often than I would like. Every time I do, I get right back on the ball after I kick myself in the ass and admonish myself for being lazy. My reasons usually differ; and there is much rationalization that gets done while I am in the throes of procrastination. This constant battle has brought me to a point that I think I can offer advice to my fellow procrastinators on how to do it more efficiently and with less self-depracation.
#5 Maintain a list. I usually have a daily bucket list from which I cross off items as I complete them. For days on which I procrastinate, I am obviously not going to cross anything off because all I did was sit in front of the TV, sleep, or read. When my procrastination is spent, I pick up the list right where I left off, add the procrastination exercise I just finished (whether sleeping, reading, TV, computer, etc.), cross it (them) off, then move on. In this way I can fool myself into thinking I accomplished something.
Another thing to try is similar to information chunking. This technique is used to make things easier to memorize or learn. It can be applied here by rearranging the list in different ways to make it more achievable. Combine an easy chore with a more complicated one, always doing the easy one first. Or, if you have to run errands outside of the house, do the errands that are in the same area of town, re-evaluate, and then move to the next area.
#4 Act like you deserve it. It is easy to get in a pattern of hating procrastination. We avoid, even villify, things we hate. We have been conditioned to avoid procrastination in order to be more productive. It is not easy to trick yourself into acting like you deserve something that you have been trained to hate. But, honestly, how much can one person do in one day? Some days you will go over and above and get everything done. You deserve a pat on the back, right? Congratulations!
What does that need to always produce results do to us over time, though? It can wear us down, overwhelm us. The constant barrage from mobile phones, the feeling of always being "on call", complicates this feeling. Just like the slow erosion of a rock by water or air, our constitution can dissipate if we don't build it up. Allow procrastination into your life once in awhile. Each one of us deserves to take a break from life, just like we deserve that dessert, or that quiet time at the end of the day, or that lunch date with our friends.
#3 Do it well. Think of procrastination as a day off, or even a mini-vacation. Try to schedule a day of procrastination. This way you can plan it, make it something worthwhile. Or, if the wave of procrastination comes on suddenly, take it head on. Engage it. Make it feel welcome...for a little while.
#2 Admit to it. If you continue to deny it, it only transforms into a dirty little secret that you will have to hide from others, eventually from yourself, and then it will become something you learn to hate. Remember, every one procrastinates from time to time. If you have fallen into it, admit it, and move on. Do not give it any strength by keeping it secret, and ultimately feeling negative about yourself or your abilities to produce.
#1 Get back up and return strong. If you have done all of the above, it will be easy to get up aftwards and continue where you left off. Just remember, though, that your list may now be longer because of it all.
Procrastination does not have to be inefficient or damaging to your self-esteem. It can be refreshing and invigorating if done constructively.
Can you think of any other ways to make procrastination work for you?
I would like to close with a quote, but I couldn't find any positive quotes by upstanding or famous people. I don't believe this is because they never procrastinate, as we the people are sometimes led to believe. I think it just means that in their success, they learned the danger of too much procrastination. And, I completely agree with the dangers. Too much procrastination defeats all good. Just like too much of anything.
Here is a quote I like from Cool Quotes (URL:http://www.coolquotes.com/procrastination/1.html). Written by William Penn: "Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there."
Moral: Procrastinate just long enough to re-direct but not so long that you get passed by.
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