The Darkness Box

Not that I have done anything. To b/post about. As such. But this is also my diary, is it not... so I'm just thinking about weekends: we have a house and a garden and cat and dog and family, and friends, too, and a boat... but since my working days are made on schedules and deadlines and endless meetings and responsibility to organize this and that, weekends I do not like to do anything at any given time, nor feel like organizing even a family dinner. I love it when it happens though...

So I like to wake when I feel like it - and then eat the breakfast and do things at my pace... then walk the dog preferably for some two hours... and I like the gross garden-work, like gathering dead leaves or trimming hedges or shoveling snow - but I do not want to feel rushed and forced into doing any of that either. Thus our garden is not one of the model ones in the neighborhood...

But I did wash the boat yesterday! And I just might go and gather the dead leaves... on the other hand, that is so much easier if one does it after a frosty night, hauling wet maple leaves is pretty heavy. Hm...

I remember reading "Wind in the Moon" (Eric Linklater) as a kid, and in that book animals taught the two sisters, Dinah and Dorinda, how "not to do anything". Somehow that caught my imagination, and I was convinced it was a skill to be learned. Which I did - like, if one is waiting for something and has nothing to do, then not doing anything - not fidgeting, thinking tasks and doing them etc. Finland traditionally is a society where idleness is frowned upon - idle people are up to no good. Even nowadays - or especially nowadays - I think sc. free time has become for many just another timeslot full of things to accomplish and get done: you must have a hobby, you must be creative, have quality time, become an accomplished cook, or skier, or do gym or whatever. AND go out and have ostensibly fun.

Ergo: maybe I'm not just lazy, maybe I did learn the skill of not doing anything... ;)

So I'm lazy too... I'll be posting this same thing here and in DA. ( Ramble on )

Why does the stupid lj insist on developing new features? Especially this "do you want to know who visits and reads you journal"? Well, I don't - but I don't like having to take a stand here either. I restrict those posts I feel need a specified audience - my friendlist is very limited - I'm not aiming at social success or do viral marketing like one does with fb - and who the heck might read a post directed at nobody in special and everybody in general really does not concern me one bit.

We live in a nice nice area of the city, detached houses in their gardens. This would be a real Truman nightmare, were it not for the old worker's hall/ present dancing hall premises across the road. Thus weekends we have dances, birthdays, weddings - and people coming and going. Especially in the summer. And what truly gladdens me is every time some immigrant originated people have a party: my god the women are beautiful and dress so well - the men look like diplomats - the kids giggle and play. There is music, food, and nobody fights. I'm so glad those people exist!

1. Dear people walking dogs.

I know we have right-handed traffic. But unless YOU'RE left-handed, the dog is walked on your left side. Thus you take a firm grip of the leash with your right hand, and then another firm grip with your left. Which puts the dog walking neatly and solidly right by your side. Left side.

Thus when our two he-dogs meet, a. I can manage my eager idiot by keeping a tit-bit under his nose with my RIGHT hand, b. the dogs do not get in direct contact, and c. you can keep your misbehaving out-sized animal by the other side of the road.

Oh, and when your mb o-s animal starts howling with murder, please don't stop right there but pull the idiot with you and walk away. You're the boss. Or, should be.

2. Dear people pushing Greenpeace or Amnesty or whichever.

If you see a person carrying a baby-bathtub almost as big as she, a bulky back-bag, and walking with all her might towards the station, do NOT ask her "if she has a minute to spare". Which part of her indicates she does?

In sum: in the morning I met four idiots walking stupid dogs pulling here and there and had to handle the situations all by myself. At noon, on my way to the station I was held up by SIX youngsters asking if I had time to spare. Haha. Now I have, and here's to you! :P

So dear DA-friends in Azkatraz and elsewhere - just yesterday evening my choice for not attending was qualified: my daughter Amanda had her firstborn, a boy. I have not pestered them with more details, though I'm dying to know - if it has black hair like Amanda did and the same wise eyes - or is it blond like the father, Roope - how was the labor and the birth and what will the name be!

Today we'll go and see, and I'm definitely taking pics!

Oh well. I'd just like you to know I do not like being allergic.

I love riding the bike. Obviously, summer-time is the time to go and have long rides - no slippery slopes, no mud-puddles, no dark lanes, icy winds that take your breath away and freeze your fingers - you get the point, no?

Only, I always forget, that doing a longish ride in the summer means inhaling tons of everything in the air in the most efficient way possible. Oh well.

On the bright side, otherwise I feel so good... and them damned plants won't last forever, come August I'm already on the winning side....

Finished, sent, over and done with! WHAT a relief! An article I wanted to do but never found the time to do and had promised to do and should have done 6 months ago... Am thankful for kind (or desperate) people for waiting and extending their deadlines far into the other side. But am way more thankful I've got it done!

Now I can:

1. Clean. Wash windows, arrange tools in garage and porch, in fact clean the porch - clean the goddam kitchen! and sauna, and...

2. Do some repairs - how about painting that staircase finally? Oh, take off the disgusting plastic carpet from bedroom? Yes!!

3. Do nothing :D in between that is... = go biking, walk the dog, go swimming, fishing

I'M FREE AT LAST!

You are Strength

Courage, strength, fortitude. Power not arrested in the act of judgement, but passing on to further action, sometimes obstinacy.

This is a card of courage and energy. It represents both the Lion's hot, roaring energy, and the Maiden's steadfast will. The innocent Maiden is unafraid, undaunted, and indomitable. In some cards she opens the lion's mouth, in others she shuts it. Either way, she proves that inner strength is more powerful than raw physical strength. That forces can be controlled and used to score a victory is very close to the message of the Chariot, which might be why, in some decks, it is Justice that is card 8 instead of Strength. With strength you can control not only the situation, but yourself. It is a card about anger and impulse management, about creative answers, leadership and maintaining one's personal honor. It can also stand for a steadfast friend.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

So, now I'm Strength. I do get that, every now and then. Otherwise I'm the World, or Justice. The funny thing is, I cannot think what I am choosing differently? But this feels perfectly right now.

Zapping I just chanced on a documentary on Janis. As in Joplin. And remembered that I love Aretha Franklin - and James Brown - but Janis is beyond words. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxdCWdaUv18 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjD4eWEUgMM&feature=related - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-g7Q7hXn7o&feature=related ...

What I wonder is - had she been balanced, "straightened up", off drugs - would she have sung like that? I'd give my soul to have her feel happy - but I do not want a world without the way she sings.

Yay! Today was the first day this year one did not have to brace oneself to walk outside. While I love winter and cold, I have to say a change is good. There was sun during the day, and it is still not really cold.

Of course I missed most of the day, being inside for all of it - interviewing candidates for the new MA program that will start next autumn. I think we got some interesting and excellent persons and the rest a satisfactory bunch of 10 people. One piece of free advice though: when preparing yourself for an interview, please do not use make-up and other smelly substances to the amount of leaving a trace behind you... might be appreciated by Ryanair, but believe me, not in a university level School of Art and Media.

1. The worst reading experience that you have ever had?
I tend NOT to read books I hate. I might say most stuff by Henning Mankell – Swedish writer who writes higly appreciated detective novels, and I admit at some level they are well written – only it is all about violence. I’ve had it with series, movies or books on serial killers who tear up their victims in ever new violent ways.

( and more )

This is kind of funny - but I liked the questions! Dunno about the result - of course Bagheera was one of my childhood heroes (nothing to do with Disney, the original character in the Kipling book).

You Are a Black Panther

You see through people. You understand others' motives and plans. You have a knack for predicting the future. You just know what people are going to do. People are attracted to you. You are naturally able to influence other people's thoughts. You have the charisma to be a beloved guru or dictator. It's all about how you handle it.

( and a lot tmi )

D&D Home Page - What Class Are You? - Build A Character - D&D Compendium

Indeed, I am! I have bent a printer, exel and now the oil-heater to my magical will this very week! And it is Friday the 13th, such a lovely date! ( Read it in full )

:D - so me! Nicked from redqueenmeg

Ok, because I prefer really lj to facebook, I'm going to put the ( name meme here: )

Kissed any one of your LJ friends? No.

Been arrested? No.

Kissed someone you didn't like? No.

Slept in until 5 PM? No. But did sleep until 4 PM once! ( and even more )