Fall 2013 November 16 Saturday

54 degrees.  Amazing how the weather can change!

Saturday morning, a good time!  I had planned to get get some things done this morning (like getting my new iPad Air up and running) but got caught up in responding to e-mail from yesterday (and I hate to say it, but some from Thursday also!).  Such is life.

Hopefully I can catch up on my newspapers, magazines and mail today.  With all of the meetings and just being busy I am woefully  behind.  Of course, they will just be tossed today if I don't read them. That is the most effective way I know to deal with accumulated newspapers and magazines.  Normally I would have tossed he newspapers yesterday, but I made a slight exception today since I just didn't have time yesterday to finish up.  They will be out by noon today no matter what, read or unread.   I have too many tendencies of a "hoarder" to let anything accumulate.

Still listening to "A Brief History of Time".  I am also reading a rather interesting book, " The Laws of Subtraction" (by Matthew May).  His comments on how minimal may be better are interesting.  I haven't read enough of it yet to really develop a comprehensive view of the concept, but it has been interesting so far.  

Going to download a copy of the latest Doris Kearns Goodwin Book (The Bully Pulpit, I believe) to listen to.  I also bought a "hard copy".  She really is an interesting historian and i have read all of her books at least once.

I first heard her speak at a conference and have heard her several times since in person and of course see her on tv all the time.  At the same conference I also heard Beck Weathers ("Left for Dead", which started me on reading a number of books on mountain climbing.  I have absolutely no desire to be a mountain climber, but I enjoy reading about it and watching it.  Kind of like boxing, I never want to do it, but I love watching it and wonder what and why anyone would torment themselves so much.  Boxing has the excuse of making money, but very few mountain climbers (other than guides) make much money at their sport.  It still is fascinating to read about and Beck Weathers and Doris Kearns Goodwin gave me a lot to read!  Doris Kearns Goodwin books on Presidents (Johnson, FDR, the early days of JFK, Lincoln and her book on baseball) are super, but take some time to read.  I wish she would do one on Truman.

After seeing her at a conference, she actually sat right next to us at the airport restaurant (a TGIFriday's).  Like sitting next to any celebrity, we told her we enjoyed her talk and then didn't bother her.  It was fun meeting her though and she was very nice.

I always have a problem getting used to the early darkness, and the worst part it here.  I always can't wait until Dec. 21 before the daylight starts getting better again.

Fall 2013 November 10 Friday

48 degrees.  

Middle of a 3 day weekend, which is always nice.  For some reason, I overslept a bit this morning.  I normally wake up without any kind of alarm clock.  Today was one of those weird days when I looked at the clock and thought it said "2:56 a.m.".  I got dressed to walk, looked at the living room clock and it said "1:00 a.m."!  (I hadn't seen the  12, but had seen the 2).  Of course, I went back to bed, but overslept about 20 minutes, which sets my whole schedule back, although on Sunday I can adjust for it.

I haven't used Google+ that much and will need to look at it some more.  I have avoided using it a lot, because (like for having this post automatically posted to Google+ like I do to Tumblr, I would have to to through all kinds of gyrations.  Kind of like Amazon, they seem to want to control your entire life. I am always surprised when Amazon "recommends" items they seem to think I would be interested in.  They are almost never right, they are assuming too much.  

I think one reason I like walking and bicycle riding it is time when I can think (even while listening to a book or music, I still can think without interruption etc.) I can frequently "write a memo" or decide on an action while walking or riding a bike because it seems the lack of intrusions and interruptions provide me a chance to consider all the alternatives and possible consequences etc.

I've been thinking about the persons who live a 'minimalist" life style and don't let "things" control them.  (I am listening to a book that says the urge to own and attachment to things you own is a basic instinct in humans)  I am also reading (slowly but surely), the book "The Laws of Subtraction" and also listen to the Steve Jobs biography who lived somewhat of a minimalist life style and whose Apple products reflect that (sometimes a little too much!).

I have been trying to "unpile" my life, but even books I haven't thought about reading/rereading for years and never well are almost impossible to get rid of.  Of course information I "may" use is even more difficult to get rid of.  Sometimes I wonder if it would be easier to select the "best" of what I want and make the selection that way.  Somewhere I read about someone who puts everything he owns into two suitcases and throws everything else.  I don't know about just two suitcases, but I could, for example, have seveal large boxes and put all the books I want in the boxes and give away everything else.

I also have noted, it is much easier to get rid of stuff if you think it is going to a "good home" and is for someone who actually wants/needs it and will read it or take care of it.  To a small degree, it is easier to recycle something than simply trash it.

I get rid of newspapers and magazines by simply throwing out the old one when the new one comes (actually, I recyle newspapers and give the magazines to the library, as I do the books.  We try to give all clothes etc. that have some life left to the Disable Veterans who come around once a month or so.