I've been doing so many things since before Christmas that blogging just seemed to fall by the wayside. I decided that there would be no New Year resolutions because invariably those only last a day or two.
Instead, I decided that February would be my month of action. So starting today (I only just thought about the month of action thing over breakfast), this month will be my starting point for loadsa stuff.
Like, as I'm in New York and the biathlon is in Fort Kent, I'm heading up there today to spend the rest of the weekend with snow, skis and rifles. Who knows, I may even get a little skiing in myself.
Then it's back to the UK. And in all honesty, I have to knuckle down and reduce the chubby factor associated with these cheeks. Trouble is when my writing is going well, and it is :) my eating keeps pace. Too much snacking, not enough walking. Maybe I should buy a treadmill, then I could write and walk.
Then again, maybe not.
Friday, 11 February 2011
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Snow
Normally I love the snow, and for the first couple of days it was fun. No trains, no way the car was moving from the garage, just snuggle up in a comfy couch and enjoy. Three weeks (yes, 3 weeks) later and my enthusiasm is beginning to wane.
I know there are those who have snow for months on end, but that's not our norm. In fact, living near the beach as I do, we rarely get to enjoy the white stuff. The city council are beginning to get the hang of clearing the streets, I just wish the guys would use their brains. They clear the snow and ice to the edge of the pavement, creating huge mounds. This requires significant mountaineering expertise for any pedestrian unfortunate enough to find themselves needing to actually cross from one side of the street to the other. Luckily, I have crampons and the required skills to deal with such impediments - although I have not yet found it necessary to carry my ice axe, any more snow and that too might become an essential accessory for the determined pedestrian.
Some of my fellow writers have commented on how this change in climatic conditions has made them think about how they portray weather in their writing. It's a good thought, and made me wonder if I was neglecting some vital elements in my story telling. I mentioned this to my friend who is an expert in glaciers. I truly wish I hadn't. I really didn't need to know about the jet stream currently occupying a different position to normal, nor that the outcome of this meant that the cold will last until late January at least. My friend was less forthcoming on the long range prospect of a white Christmas - more snow, he told me, is down to local circumstances but chances are the remains of what we currently have will hang around for some considerable time yet.
My nephew thinks that we all could learn from Santa Claus, afterall no matter the weather every Christmas Eve he manages to deliver the presents all around the world. Here's hoping he isn't disappointed.....
I know there are those who have snow for months on end, but that's not our norm. In fact, living near the beach as I do, we rarely get to enjoy the white stuff. The city council are beginning to get the hang of clearing the streets, I just wish the guys would use their brains. They clear the snow and ice to the edge of the pavement, creating huge mounds. This requires significant mountaineering expertise for any pedestrian unfortunate enough to find themselves needing to actually cross from one side of the street to the other. Luckily, I have crampons and the required skills to deal with such impediments - although I have not yet found it necessary to carry my ice axe, any more snow and that too might become an essential accessory for the determined pedestrian.
Some of my fellow writers have commented on how this change in climatic conditions has made them think about how they portray weather in their writing. It's a good thought, and made me wonder if I was neglecting some vital elements in my story telling. I mentioned this to my friend who is an expert in glaciers. I truly wish I hadn't. I really didn't need to know about the jet stream currently occupying a different position to normal, nor that the outcome of this meant that the cold will last until late January at least. My friend was less forthcoming on the long range prospect of a white Christmas - more snow, he told me, is down to local circumstances but chances are the remains of what we currently have will hang around for some considerable time yet.
My nephew thinks that we all could learn from Santa Claus, afterall no matter the weather every Christmas Eve he manages to deliver the presents all around the world. Here's hoping he isn't disappointed.....
Thursday, 18 November 2010
Mechanical refill
There was this guy on the train. Big guy. He was obviously trying to lose weight, he turned down the complimentary biscuit in favor of some berries he'd bought. A whole punnet of raspberries and one of strawberries. He first polished off one of those huge chicken salad baguettes, full of mayo. Then the berries. He tipped both into the one punnet and didn't stop eating 'til they were gone.
My journey's only 20 minutes and he had consumed all of this in half that time.
I'm trying to eat healthy too. The chocolate bar I'm eating right now is my cheat treat. One square at a time. Slowly. Savor that chocolate taste. Chew at least 10 times. Swallow slowly. Let the brain register that the chocolate has landed.
I've had one square. 5 minutes ago. I'm thinking about the flavor. Still tasting its residue in my mouth. Sure, I could eat the whole bar right now. But would I feel any different having consumed all 6 squares? Well, yes because I wouldn't have the expectation of the 5 delicious mouthfuls to come.
I've put my chocolate bar away. I can look forward to the next piece later.
It occurred to me that the guy on the train wasn't eating. He was consuming what he had in a short period. He didn't savor his food, each mouthful was cleared simply to make way for the next. Did he need all he ate? The berries may have been healthier but in those quantities the sugar levels are pretty high. And he could have chosen the chicken salad minus the mayo. My wife got quite mesmerised watching the constant movement from berry box to mouth to berry box to mouth, over and over again. No pause. The brain not getting a chance to figure if the stomach is full or not. By the time the signal gets through, he'll be overfull and the food gone.
"Mechanical refill" said my wife.
My journey's only 20 minutes and he had consumed all of this in half that time.
I'm trying to eat healthy too. The chocolate bar I'm eating right now is my cheat treat. One square at a time. Slowly. Savor that chocolate taste. Chew at least 10 times. Swallow slowly. Let the brain register that the chocolate has landed.
I've had one square. 5 minutes ago. I'm thinking about the flavor. Still tasting its residue in my mouth. Sure, I could eat the whole bar right now. But would I feel any different having consumed all 6 squares? Well, yes because I wouldn't have the expectation of the 5 delicious mouthfuls to come.
I've put my chocolate bar away. I can look forward to the next piece later.
It occurred to me that the guy on the train wasn't eating. He was consuming what he had in a short period. He didn't savor his food, each mouthful was cleared simply to make way for the next. Did he need all he ate? The berries may have been healthier but in those quantities the sugar levels are pretty high. And he could have chosen the chicken salad minus the mayo. My wife got quite mesmerised watching the constant movement from berry box to mouth to berry box to mouth, over and over again. No pause. The brain not getting a chance to figure if the stomach is full or not. By the time the signal gets through, he'll be overfull and the food gone.
"Mechanical refill" said my wife.
Thursday, 26 August 2010
News Junkie
My darling wife gave me an ipad for no other reason than because she loves me. It's changed my life. I've become a news junkie. You name the news app. I've got it. LA Times, NY Times, The Guardian, Discovery News, MTV, CNN, BBC..... reading it all and loving it.
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
It's now July....
So I kind of guess that the new year resolution thing was a bit of a no show. It seems that the things I decide to do, turn out to be the exact opposite of reality. Pay more attention to blog = completely ignore it for 6 months or so.
So here's my new, half way through the year resolution. I'm going to ignore the blog. I'm also gonna make thousands of new resolutions.
Right.
So here's my new, half way through the year resolution. I'm going to ignore the blog. I'm also gonna make thousands of new resolutions.
Right.
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
My New Year Resolution
..was to pay more attention to my blog. I know it's February, just consider me a slow starter.
So. How you been? I'm freezing my butt off here in Scotland, looking forward to being back in California later this year.
My wife said have some soup for lunch, that'll warm you up. I burned my tongue. Hot stuff that soup.
So I thought what other hot stuff do I like?
My wife - hi sweetie.
Chillies - spicy pasta, yum
Log fires - especially on a snowy day
Oh, and soup when I'm cold!
So. How you been? I'm freezing my butt off here in Scotland, looking forward to being back in California later this year.
My wife said have some soup for lunch, that'll warm you up. I burned my tongue. Hot stuff that soup.
So I thought what other hot stuff do I like?
My wife - hi sweetie.
Chillies - spicy pasta, yum
Log fires - especially on a snowy day
Oh, and soup when I'm cold!
Monday, 13 July 2009
It's been a while...
The rain is pouring down outside. It's warm and muggy. Oh, yeah, and wet.
So, with a few minutes left before I brave the great outdoors, I thought I'd revisit my blog. I can see that it's been neglected over the last couple of months. Not that I haven't thought about it. It's just I've been pulled in too many directions.
Like my friend, who has finally bitten the bullet and broken up with her partner - a term I use loosely. Whilst the words are out there, they have a lot of untangling to do. Eighteen years is a long time to be together and as a consequence there's a lot of belongings that belong to both. I'm not sure how you begin to unravel all of that. It got me to thinking though how often people find themselves in relationships they should have gotten out of before they even started.
My friend, let's call her Alice, got into this relationship because it's what was on offer. The only two women she's ever truly loved were unavailable (still are); and she settled for someone she didn't really love, but who made her laugh. Don't get me wrong, laughing is good, but it's not enough. Alice thought that she had to settle for whatever was left because the 2 people she really wanted to be with, didn't want to be with her. Personally, I think that's crap.
Maybe it's a rare thing, to be with the one you really want and for them to be with you, the one they really want. But if only one of you really wants to be there, and the other is settling for less than what they really wanted, how's that gonna work?
Relationships aren't easy at the best of times - oh sure, the first couple of years when lust is high and it's all fun and new, then it's easy. But when the first flush is over, what then? I think John Cleese has a point when he says that marriage licences should be renewable after the first three years. That's the minimum I think it takes for two people to truly get to know each other. Most relationships that breakdown do so around the three- four year mark. Round about the time when you get into the negotiation phase. The time when you realise that the compromise you made to start with in the full throwes of lustful desire, will be with you for the rest of your time together. That's when you have to ask if this is the relationship you want for the rest of your life. Is this the relationship you want to be in 30 years from now. If she gets sick, terminally sick, can you be there for her? What if she loses her memory. Needs you to feed her. Can you do that. For as long as she, or you, is alive.
Do you want to live here because you're both happy here - or just her? Or for that matter, just you?
My wife's waiting downstairs for me, so I guess I need to wrap up. Where do I want to be in 30 years? Still living, still enjoying life!
So, with a few minutes left before I brave the great outdoors, I thought I'd revisit my blog. I can see that it's been neglected over the last couple of months. Not that I haven't thought about it. It's just I've been pulled in too many directions.
Like my friend, who has finally bitten the bullet and broken up with her partner - a term I use loosely. Whilst the words are out there, they have a lot of untangling to do. Eighteen years is a long time to be together and as a consequence there's a lot of belongings that belong to both. I'm not sure how you begin to unravel all of that. It got me to thinking though how often people find themselves in relationships they should have gotten out of before they even started.
My friend, let's call her Alice, got into this relationship because it's what was on offer. The only two women she's ever truly loved were unavailable (still are); and she settled for someone she didn't really love, but who made her laugh. Don't get me wrong, laughing is good, but it's not enough. Alice thought that she had to settle for whatever was left because the 2 people she really wanted to be with, didn't want to be with her. Personally, I think that's crap.
Maybe it's a rare thing, to be with the one you really want and for them to be with you, the one they really want. But if only one of you really wants to be there, and the other is settling for less than what they really wanted, how's that gonna work?
Relationships aren't easy at the best of times - oh sure, the first couple of years when lust is high and it's all fun and new, then it's easy. But when the first flush is over, what then? I think John Cleese has a point when he says that marriage licences should be renewable after the first three years. That's the minimum I think it takes for two people to truly get to know each other. Most relationships that breakdown do so around the three- four year mark. Round about the time when you get into the negotiation phase. The time when you realise that the compromise you made to start with in the full throwes of lustful desire, will be with you for the rest of your time together. That's when you have to ask if this is the relationship you want for the rest of your life. Is this the relationship you want to be in 30 years from now. If she gets sick, terminally sick, can you be there for her? What if she loses her memory. Needs you to feed her. Can you do that. For as long as she, or you, is alive.
Do you want to live here because you're both happy here - or just her? Or for that matter, just you?
My wife's waiting downstairs for me, so I guess I need to wrap up. Where do I want to be in 30 years? Still living, still enjoying life!
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