A day of rest & recuperate. And nothing accomplished.
& now it's beddy-bye time. :)
take care, :)
John
8 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2008-01-18 21:21 |
| Subject: | not much |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  worried |
Well, necessaries and a short office visit didn't look like much, but they were enough that nothing much was accomplished today.
Worse, sleep was lousy last night.
Tireness.
And time for bed. :)
take care,
John
post a comment
A day of trying to get things done -- and a certain amount actually done.
My room is now better organized; I found a certain chunk of stuff I was looking for; and got some bills done.
But there are still some very important things I have not found, and lots of organization still to be done.
But that remains for the future.
take care,
John
post a comment
For the thousands -- or multiples :) -- who read this journal, apologies. I was feeling lousy, with the feeling-lousiness easing off only this weekend.
But for now, I'm still sorta tired, which means this post will be brief. :)
take care,
John
post a comment
| Date: | 2008-01-12 21:06 |
| Subject: | redux (ick) |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | worried |
Another strangely long day. Nothing outside. Nothing inside.
Tireness. :(
Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.
take care,
John
post a comment
| Date: | 2008-01-11 20:50 |
| Subject: | ook |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | worried |
A strangely long day. Nothing outside. Necessaries, chauffering, a teeny bit of paper, but it added up.
Tireness. :)
Hopefully, tomorrow will allow more of a sense of accomplishment.
take care,
John
post a comment
Not too bad a day. Sorta full. I finished up a task outside, shopped, erranded a bit, chores, etc.
But no paper.
Apparently, rain tomorrow, and only one chauffering, so maybe I'll get some paper done.
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? proved to me again why I could down in flames. What's on the back of a $20 bill? I'm not even very sure what's on the *front*! (Jackson on front. White House on back.)
But I *was* absolutely clear that I did not know Stonewall Jackson's first name -- unlike the celebrity contestant -- Billy Bush, who, I think, I've never seen before. I wudda tuk the money & run. He didn't & lost lotsa money. (Jackson's name was Thomas, it turns out.)
take care,
John
post a comment
Hmm.... Not too bad a day in some respects. Nice weather, and I got some more long-standing tasks done. Hopefully, I'll try to finish up some of them tomorrow. That will leave a lot of leaves, but realistically, I think they will stay where they are for the rest of the winter.
Next, is this a rant? Or just a review?
PBS has a series, The Pioneers of Television. So far, I've seen the sitcom segment, and tonight I saw the late-night television segment.
The late-night segment was interesting to some extent in that it showed how politicized some of the host could be. (Sorry, I can't remember the one who stood out.)
But the thing that interested me was how ignorant I am on so much stuff that was important during my kidhood, twenties, and thirties -- when I was still theoretically watching television. In other words, I am being forcibly reminded of just how little impact television has had on me -- even as it was having a serious impact on so many people. This stuff is terra incognita to me.
I've mentioned the friend who thinks I should pay more attention to current television. Maybe I could do equally well by looking at much earlier television.
A universe to think about -- although I don't think I'll ever get the time.
take care,
John
post a comment
| Date: | 2008-01-08 22:03 |
| Subject: | nuther day, nuther rant |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | worried | | Music: | Hans Zimmer, Pirates of the Caribbean (At World's End) |
Fairly decent day. Pleasant weather allowed me to work outside nicely.
But driving in the country, I *was* tempted by seeing the woods. I really wanted to out wandering on foot.
Rantwise, tonight we are getting the stuff from New Hampshire -- drawn out, dragged out, all before the count is in.
Now, there are some people who like this. I never have. As of, I think, 8pm, the thing was over. It was just the counting. When you've got something definite, tell me then. If I had money riding on a horse, I wouldn't need a detailed description of the race, and I've never really understood those who want that description. It's totally ersatz.
When I was in politics, I had to be away Tuesday nights. I would work through the day, leave in the early evening, come back around 10:30-11, and get the final results. No faked suspense, no hyped up illusion that the blow-by-blow description of results coming in was somehow real. The vote count is real; the tallies and reports are bookkeeping.
Now, maybe if I were a specialist, I would want all those details. They might give hints of vote rigging or whatnot, but in general, the reporting is just mindgame maniplulation. Even for the specialist, the details can be acquired the next day and examined carefully then. Few things can be accomplished election night.
Basically, some people just like to go through an emotional roller coaster, and getting all the preliminary details from the tube allows them to think it's somehow more than self-generated mindgames.
I'm not one of them.
Mind you, it is socially and politically desirable that these junkies provide an audience for the dealers on the tube. The sheer presence of this hoopla cuts down on some vote rigging and keeps the process open to view. But there are plenty of junkies. They don't need me.
Come election night, if I'm awake, I just switch to CDs, as years ago, I switched to cassettes, and before that to LPs.
And in the era of 78s, it was my bedtime. :)
take care,
John
post a comment
| Date: | 2008-01-07 22:00 |
| Subject: | ok day, with rant |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | worried | | Music: | Hans Zimmer, Pirates of the Caribbean (At World's End) |
Well, necessaries, and actually some work outside!
The weather was quite warm, nearly 60. The sweater I was wearing became uncomfortable.
The only problem is that my calendar looks suspiciously thin. I know I haven't entered two appointments, and I suspect there may be more.
Ennyways, let's do a rant -- on the tubenews.
I don't know if it happens elsewhere, or even if it happens elsewhere in RI, but in the sation that gets listened to here, they're big on teasers. Ok, detestable enough, particularly (as I think I commented some time back) when the story itself is presented lousily.
But there's another aspect that is really annoying. The teaser can be for something cute (rescuing an animal, say) or for something grim (fire, building collapse, murder, say). They repeat the teaser couple of times before presenting the story itself. They give just the overview. It almost always sounds like it's from Rhode Island or nearby.
In fact, though, the story itself is from anywhere *except* Rhode Island. It can be from California, or Oregon, or India. Again, I detest teasers, but this stuff comes pretty close to plain, flat, dishonest. Tacitly, the news is saying, pay attention: Maybe this story is about people you know.
Yeah, like.
And these clowns expect me to believe them.
Again: Yeah, like.
take care, :)
John
post a comment
| Date: | 2008-01-05 21:26 |
| Subject: | the day, etc. |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | worried | | Music: | Hans Zimmer, Pirates of the Caribbean (At World's End) |
OK, so some necessaries, and a lot of time doing stuff on the computer.
I don't really dislike messing with data, but it seems I'm always trying to fit four hours of work into three or so, and being late in getting around to it. :(
The weather has been warming up, so hopefully Monday or Tuesday I'll get outside for some work that should have been done right around Thanksgiving.
'Nuther idea for my most-likely-never-to-be-accomplished cartoon series.
The Choirmaster/Music Director:
Text: Most of [x]'s music choices go over well.
Frame: His back to us, we see the people at the Informal Reception After Mass. The little knots of people, with passers-through smiling, waving, coming up to talk to him, etc.
Text: Some times, they are *very* well received.
Frame: All are turned to him (and the reader), smiling, beaming, cups of tea raised to toast him. A line is forming to talk to him.
Text: Some times, however, his choices seems a bit odd.
Frame: They're all looking at him, dumfounded, perplexed. One or two passers-through look like they are doubtful about whether to speak with him.
Text: And then again, there are certain "other" occasions.
Frame: All are angry, snarling; perhaps a hangman's noose is held aloft in the midst of the assembled congregants.
take care, :)
John
post a comment
| Date: | 2008-01-04 21:55 |
| Subject: | paper, inch by inch |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | worried | | Music: | Klaus Badelt, Pirates of the Caribbean (Black Pearl) |
Well, the car was at the garage most of the day, so that meant staying home, so that meant paper.
[sigh] Well, it's gotta be done. And although I didn't get much done, what I did get done was important. And, ooh, with a tone of paper to sort through.
Too much paper, in fact, so I resorted to the telephone! Remarkable idea, that. :)
And I've continued sorting & sifting and hope to continue tomorrow.
take care,
John
post a comment
| Date: | 2008-01-03 21:31 |
| Subject: | smarter? |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | worried | | Music: | Klaus Badelt, Pirates of the Caribbean (Black Pearl) |
Not too bad a day, I guess. Necessaries, shopping, etc. But not sort & sifting. Maybe in divine retribution therefor, there was also no Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Some football thing bumped it. Huh?! Something as trivial as football to preempt 5th Grader?! Tape the football game and put it on later! :)
I checked out some reviews of 5th Grader, and the views of important People seemed basically negative.
Variety:
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117932949.html?categoryid=32&cs=1
The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/08/arts/television/08heff.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Fie on them. :)
It's apparently popular, so maybe some reviewers may do an eventual about-face as was done with some early Star Wars reviews.
I like it because it's the sort of game (the only one on television I can recall) where I think I could win. But at the same time, I realize I could down in flames on a 1st-grade question.
I assume that all the standardized national tests gives them the questions. But every so often, I do wonder. One question asked whether a viola or a cello was larger. Third graders are expected to know the appearance of instruments in the orchestra?
More frequently though, it's simple thoughtlessness on my part that would trip me up. A question in Measurements required finding the minimum number of coins in 99 cents. And someone who grew up with them still forgot about 50-cent pieces!
A question about which of four states was farthest east had me giving Mississippi (I think) because the word "farthest" made me instinctively thing "farthest away." All the other states were more to the east, true, but they were *nearer*!
Sorta like the old instruction: "No! Your *other* left!" It was my "other east."
Nonetheless, it's still nice to have questions where I know most of the answers. :)
take care,
John
post a comment
Not too bad today. A long office visit, some necessaries, and I even sent out the last Christmas card. Yes! I found the address I was looking for!
But the sifting and sorting and tidying must continue. There are still things I can't find.
A bit cold out today, and 'twill be colder tomorrow. But maybe rather mild next week -- which opens up the possibility of work outside.
take care,
John
post a comment
| Date: | 2007-12-31 21:56 |
| Subject: | gee! |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | worried | | Music: | Klaus Badelt, Pirates of the Caribbean (Black Pearl) |
I did a shopping binge today, and in something of a first, I actually got everything I set out to get!
The weather was OK for a teeny bit of yardwork, so that was a nice way to end the daylight,
Mind you, there is still much to be done, yardwise, storegoingwise, and severalotherwayswise. (Even close to hand, I still haven't found the address I'm looking for.) Naetheless, it was not too bad a way to end the year. Now the question will be how I *start* the next year!
So, for anyone here, Happy New Year's!
(Good for only one day, of course.)
and
Happy New Year!
(Good for the whole 366 days.)
take care, :)
John
post a comment
| Date: | 2007-12-29 21:43 |
| Subject: | and another |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | worried | | Music: | Klaus Badelt, Pirates of the Caribbean (Black Pearl) |
Not too bad a day, I guess. I continued on the sifting & sorting, but that was really a byproduct of searching. I was trying to find an address and some other stuff. No luck in that regard, but I did find an address that I thought I didn't have here in RI.
And surprisingly, I actually got a little done on the Augean Spare Room.
I've still got some letters to write -- hopefully, tomorrow.
take care,
John
post a comment
| Date: | 2007-12-28 21:46 |
| Subject: | step by step |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | worried |
Well, most of my Christmas cards are mailed. And since there are twelve days to Christmas, they're not even late! :)
I still have a couple to send that call for longer notes, and an address to find, etc., but at least I did get most of the cards sent.
Besides cleaning up the card tasks, of course, there's lots of other stuff to be done. For the moment, that stuff is mainly indoors and paper. If the weather agrees, though, there's a certain amount of stuff to be done outside. But the inside stuff has the immediate priority.
Now, whether I'll get anything *done* remains to be seen, of course! :)
take care, :)
John
post a comment
So, some necessaries, but some work on cards, too.
The weekend looms. I hope I can get some of these cards out tomorrow.
take care,
John
post a comment
| Date: | 2007-12-26 22:33 |
| Subject: | digressing |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | worried | | Music: | Klaus Badelt, Pirates of the Caribbean (Black Pearl) |
Christmas cards took a back seat to sheer sort & sift. I suppose I could have given more priority to the cards, but they're late, and I was coming dangerously close to not being able to find things.
So, whatever else, the paper is tidier and I even got some bills paid. And looking around, I feel more comfortable.
But tomorrow, I think I should really be getting back to the cards.
take care,
John
post a comment
Not much time to write anything -- getting ready for Christmas Eve Mass.
So, if it's your persuasion, Merry Christmas!
Remember, there are Twelve Days to it!
Otherwise, "Season's Greetings"!
take care, :)
John
post a comment
|
|
|
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
walkerj's journal