As I've written over the past couple of posts, I've been reading articles from several bloggers on minimalism. I recognize the need to simplify my life and especially to pare down the amount of stuff I have and the number of distractions in my life. This weekend I heard this same message in a Beth Moore word study at Schottenstein Arena and from the pulpit at my church. When you start hearing it everywhere, you know you have to listen.
One of the things that Beth Moore mentioned was that if we are doing a thousand things, how can we expect to do any of them well? Wouldn't it be better to find one or two things and excel at those? I brag about working with 2 computers going with 4 workspaces each, yet I wonder why I feel like I have ADD when I try to only do one thing at a time. I find myself seeking the distraction.
When I think about focusing my energies, I start questioning all the stuff I own that is not part of that focus. I know that I have a pattern of changing hobbies and interests every two years or so, but that doesn't mean I have gotten rid of those materials. Anything that I do longer than that is usually something that I truly love. Looking at my stash, there aren't many things that fit that category.
A video we showed at church this morning suggests trading in the stuff and the distractions for something with meaning. This is where I'm heading. Are You A Trader?
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Travel light
I read this piece, The Tao of Travel, and was highly motivated by Leo Babauta's ability to pack light. I've done it before, not quite to his level, but I've been tempted more than once to throw caution to the wind and go for it: pack the least that I can get away with. This weekend seemed to be the perfect time. I was meeting friends to see Beth Moore in Columbus and staying with them overnight at the home of one of their daughters.
I grabbed my backpack and tossed in my regular travel 1quart baggie, my small makeup bag, a clean top, pjs, socks, and my Bible. Before walking out the door, I grabbed the charger for my cellphone, my knitting, and the wristband I needed to entry into the event.
I am proud to say that I used every single item that I took with me. There was nothing extraneous. There was, however, something I missed. As I neared Schottenstein Arena the thought occurred to me, "Did you pack underwear?"
Drat!
I grabbed my backpack and tossed in my regular travel 1quart baggie, my small makeup bag, a clean top, pjs, socks, and my Bible. Before walking out the door, I grabbed the charger for my cellphone, my knitting, and the wristband I needed to entry into the event.
I am proud to say that I used every single item that I took with me. There was nothing extraneous. There was, however, something I missed. As I neared Schottenstein Arena the thought occurred to me, "Did you pack underwear?"
Drat!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Simple Black Coffee
It's not what he said that got my attention. It's the title of his blog: Simple Black Coffee. I looked at the title. I looked at my coffee with milk and artificial sweetener and suddenly the latter felt very wrong.
I know that artificial anything is not good for you, but I use the "pink stuff". You know the one that was villainized in reports of rats getting cancer after the equivalent of 80 cans of pop ("soda" for the rest of you) a day.
"I don't drink 80 cans of pop. I'm fine," I rationalize.
Today's coffee is sweetener free. We'll talk about the milk later. After all, I need my calcium.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Finding Balance
I've run across some bloggers lately who are reigniting my thoughts about simplifying my life. I poke at the concept from time to time, but it's never seemed as real as it does now. I wonder if it's because the hubs and I talk about actually moving to the cabin by the lake (CBTL) and we know there is no way all the stuff in this 4 bedroom 3 floor house is going to fit into a 2 bedroom slab.
I started paring things down months ago, although you can't really tell it. It was easy to do after moving my office to a different room, and Salvation Army was coming anyway to pick up my old, too-large clothes. But there is a voice inside of me that keeps thinking that I should be selling my stuff on Ebay or CraigsList. Having worked in shipping for a couple years, I know just how annoying that can be. Add to that photographing, listing, and all the headaches that go with selling things online, I know I don't want to do it. Then I read Decluttering 101: to Sell or not to Sell. It gave me an interesting perspective on getting rid of stuff.
Miss Minimalist talks about the process of selling her stuff and how the loathing of the process now keeps her from buying new stuff. I realized that for me, selling my stuff seems like a penance for owning it in the first place. It's like the stretch marks and hangy skin after losing 100+ pounds are the battle scars for being stupid enough to gain all that weight in the first place. Selling this stuff is the cleansing I need to get me out of the chaos and into a simpler life.
I'm adding selling stuff to the list I've been thinking about. Over the next 6 months I will:
I started paring things down months ago, although you can't really tell it. It was easy to do after moving my office to a different room, and Salvation Army was coming anyway to pick up my old, too-large clothes. But there is a voice inside of me that keeps thinking that I should be selling my stuff on Ebay or CraigsList. Having worked in shipping for a couple years, I know just how annoying that can be. Add to that photographing, listing, and all the headaches that go with selling things online, I know I don't want to do it. Then I read Decluttering 101: to Sell or not to Sell. It gave me an interesting perspective on getting rid of stuff.
Miss Minimalist talks about the process of selling her stuff and how the loathing of the process now keeps her from buying new stuff. I realized that for me, selling my stuff seems like a penance for owning it in the first place. It's like the stretch marks and hangy skin after losing 100+ pounds are the battle scars for being stupid enough to gain all that weight in the first place. Selling this stuff is the cleansing I need to get me out of the chaos and into a simpler life.
I'm adding selling stuff to the list I've been thinking about. Over the next 6 months I will:
- scan family photos left by hubs' mom and grandmothers so I can pass the actual photos to other members of the family.
- after making as many Christmas and birthday gifts as possible with my craft stash on hand, follow up with my previous plan of purging craft supplies. If they don't fit in the craft cupboard they are gone.
- reassess what things I really don't want to live without. I may even toy with the idea of a 100 things list. Not sure I'm ready for that yet.
- start listing items on Craigslist and Ebay.
Not sure how far I'll get in 6 months, but it has to be better than where I am right now. Like losing weight was a one step at a time process, so will simplifying my life. I didn't lose this weight overnight. It took a while find balance between eating healthy and exercising. It's time to seek that balance in other areas of my life.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
When Willpower is Trumped by Bad Habits | zen habits
When Willpower is Trumped by Bad Habits | zen habits
I read this blog earlier in the week and I gave the idea some thought on my walk this morning. Last year I was much better about getting up and hitting the paths for my walk first thing. Then winter hit and it was too cold. That was followed by spring, which was too wet and summer, which was too hot. Still, I plan to walk a 1/2 marathon in September and I need to get strong enough to walk it. What happened to my habit and how can I get it back?
The the aforementioned blog I was reminded that last summer I got out of bed, dressed, and was out the door. This year, I eat a little something, maybe have some coffee, visit with my friends on Twitter, and then wonder where my morning went. That has to change.
This morning, I was dressed in my workout clothes before I walked downstairs. I stretched, filled my water bottle, and was out the door before I had a chance to be distracted. I need to continue this trend if I'm going to finish the half and lose these last 15 lbs. It's time to reestablish last summer's good habit.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Raise the roof, or the debt ceiling...or not
My friend Rick commented on the debt ceiling standoff to his Circles and I wrote a comment, which I soon realized was a blog. To leave something this long on someone's comment is, well, just rude. I decided to C+V it over here:
Just once I want to see this sort of discussion without bringing up the military, Social Security and Medicare. Yes, they are big budget items, but it's usually the little things that break a budget. Take those 3 big items out of the picture and start cutting the rest. I know how much my house payment is and I can't change that. But I can stop eating out so often. It's the little things.
Here's the thing. We need our government to stop funding every little research program that comes down the pike. Stop funding social agendas with the carrot-and-stick approach. Meet this benchmark and we'll give you money. That is the only power that the Department of Education has, by the way. An estimated $71 billion goes to the Department of Education, plus another $23 billion from the stimulus plan, and the DoE has no power to implement these programs over the states. They can only reward states for meeting their agendas--and effectively removing the power from individual school districts. It's an estimated $93 billion savings if the Federal government butted out of a local issue. BUT there's a catch and the perfect example is the shuttle program.
How many thousands of unemployed people are there now because they shut down the shuttle program? Think about how many programs, large and small our tax dollars support. Our government funds so many programs that the number of unemployed would skyrocket if they stopped funding them. Not just research programs mind you, but education, social programs; there's a lot of good stuff being funded that would need to find funding elsewhere or shut down.
The ugly truth is that too many of us live off the federal government. The easiest ones to identify are the military, the elderly, and the disabled. However, through federal programs, a lot of us make our living because the government is picking up the tab. Shut down those programs and a lot more people are out of work.
What we need are jobs. Real jobs. Not jobs created by the stimulus program that are funded by the government. We need our American companies to come back from other countries and employ American people. We need to stop telling our kids that the only good jobs are jobs in a high rise in a major city, where they wear a white shirt and a blue tie and make a bunch of money. It is okay to work in a factory. It's good, honest work.
I'm no expert. I don't know how to fix the budget, but I do recognize that cutting the budget might be like pulling the 7 of diamonds out of the bottom row of that house of cards. That's probably why Washington throws the military, Medicare, and Social Security under the bus. Those three pull on the heartstrings and we'll fight to save them. Washington doesn't really want to start reshuffling the deck and cutting programs because it will put more people out of work and we can't afford that right now--literally.
Just once I want to see this sort of discussion without bringing up the military, Social Security and Medicare. Yes, they are big budget items, but it's usually the little things that break a budget. Take those 3 big items out of the picture and start cutting the rest. I know how much my house payment is and I can't change that. But I can stop eating out so often. It's the little things.
Here's the thing. We need our government to stop funding every little research program that comes down the pike. Stop funding social agendas with the carrot-and-stick approach. Meet this benchmark and we'll give you money. That is the only power that the Department of Education has, by the way. An estimated $71 billion goes to the Department of Education, plus another $23 billion from the stimulus plan, and the DoE has no power to implement these programs over the states. They can only reward states for meeting their agendas--and effectively removing the power from individual school districts. It's an estimated $93 billion savings if the Federal government butted out of a local issue. BUT there's a catch and the perfect example is the shuttle program.
How many thousands of unemployed people are there now because they shut down the shuttle program? Think about how many programs, large and small our tax dollars support. Our government funds so many programs that the number of unemployed would skyrocket if they stopped funding them. Not just research programs mind you, but education, social programs; there's a lot of good stuff being funded that would need to find funding elsewhere or shut down.
The ugly truth is that too many of us live off the federal government. The easiest ones to identify are the military, the elderly, and the disabled. However, through federal programs, a lot of us make our living because the government is picking up the tab. Shut down those programs and a lot more people are out of work.
What we need are jobs. Real jobs. Not jobs created by the stimulus program that are funded by the government. We need our American companies to come back from other countries and employ American people. We need to stop telling our kids that the only good jobs are jobs in a high rise in a major city, where they wear a white shirt and a blue tie and make a bunch of money. It is okay to work in a factory. It's good, honest work.
I'm no expert. I don't know how to fix the budget, but I do recognize that cutting the budget might be like pulling the 7 of diamonds out of the bottom row of that house of cards. That's probably why Washington throws the military, Medicare, and Social Security under the bus. Those three pull on the heartstrings and we'll fight to save them. Washington doesn't really want to start reshuffling the deck and cutting programs because it will put more people out of work and we can't afford that right now--literally.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
My take on Google+ circles
A couple conversations about filtering messages to the right circles got me thinking about how G+ works and how I want it to work. I see G+ Circles like Twitter lists in that I can corral people into lists by topic, but I don't expect them to only post about that one topic. My NCIS tweeps might also be Dr Whovians, for example. There will be crossover and for me, that's okay.
Circles add another dimension. They add the ability for the sender to filter their posts by topic, kind of like adding a Twitter hashtag that we can follow and add to our tweets to be included in the conversation. In some ways when we post publicly or to our circles or extended circles, it's like we're posting our non-knitting comments with the #knit tag. That will be considered noise.
Personally, I like the noise because I recognize that the people I follow are more than knitters or geeks or SM experts. I like finding out that my NCIS friends also are Whovians or Whedonites. The fact that G+ allows us to post to Public, all our Circles, and Extended circles tells me that we're not expected to sort everything we post by topic.
Until G+ comes up with a way to listen multiple circles into our streams*, we may have to drop some of the noise in a circles into our Incoming or into a noisy circle. I would much rather do that than lose a voice that I want to hear. Having said that, I'm giving fair warning that I will not be filtering everything I say by topic, but there will be times when, for example, I'm talking about the Kitchener Stitch, that I will grab my Yarnies circle. If you feel you need to remove me from one of your circles because of the noise, I won't even notice.
note: I know there is an extension to add checkboxes in the stream. Broke my audio/video capabilities when G+ was running and I uninstalled. If you added it, check your Hangout to see if it still works. I'm running Ubuntu Linux YMMV.
Circles add another dimension. They add the ability for the sender to filter their posts by topic, kind of like adding a Twitter hashtag that we can follow and add to our tweets to be included in the conversation. In some ways when we post publicly or to our circles or extended circles, it's like we're posting our non-knitting comments with the #knit tag. That will be considered noise.
Personally, I like the noise because I recognize that the people I follow are more than knitters or geeks or SM experts. I like finding out that my NCIS friends also are Whovians or Whedonites. The fact that G+ allows us to post to Public, all our Circles, and Extended circles tells me that we're not expected to sort everything we post by topic.
Until G+ comes up with a way to listen multiple circles into our streams*, we may have to drop some of the noise in a circles into our Incoming or into a noisy circle. I would much rather do that than lose a voice that I want to hear. Having said that, I'm giving fair warning that I will not be filtering everything I say by topic, but there will be times when, for example, I'm talking about the Kitchener Stitch, that I will grab my Yarnies circle. If you feel you need to remove me from one of your circles because of the noise, I won't even notice.
note: I know there is an extension to add checkboxes in the stream. Broke my audio/video capabilities when G+ was running and I uninstalled. If you added it, check your Hangout to see if it still works. I'm running Ubuntu Linux YMMV.
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Computer clean up
Spent much of the day cleaning up my bookmarks on Delicious, cleaning files on my Ubuntu computer (and a little on the iMac) and then installing Back In Time so it has an actual back up happening.
One of the things I discovered is that I have way too many copies of some knitting patterns. They are bookmarked on Delicious, multiple copies are on my computer, and saved on Ravelry. I also have way too many screen caps from NCIS episodes. Those are stored on 2 computers and on Flickr.
Sorting through those multiples is a project for another day.
One of the things I discovered is that I have way too many copies of some knitting patterns. They are bookmarked on Delicious, multiple copies are on my computer, and saved on Ravelry. I also have way too many screen caps from NCIS episodes. Those are stored on 2 computers and on Flickr.
Sorting through those multiples is a project for another day.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Ann Cannon: Yes, I knit, but I’m not one of those ‘Sister Wives’ | The Salt Lake Tribune
Ann Cannon: Yes, I knit, but I’m not one of those ‘Sister Wives’ | The Salt Lake Tribune:
"Then I throw down a “sl st,k1, PSSO, k1” combination, after which I shout, “Boo-yah,” as well as “Who’s your daddy!”"
Need I say more? Except unlike the author, I'm not stopping.
Friday, July 01, 2011
Gatsby's knitting.
I don't just think about NCIS. I knit as well. This is a tie I'm working on as my carry-around piece. Snapped it at Gatsby's, where go to see friends play. The pattern is from Lion Brand's site. It's the Vertical Striped Tie. You can't miss it.
NCIS Photos: Lost Photo on CBS.com
NCIS_Gary (NCIS Executive Producer, Gary Glasberg) says if we wish real hard, we may get Abigail Borin to come back for a visit sometime soon. I hope so. We love her.
Battelle hired to help fight lake algae | The Columbus Dispatch
This is potentially good news. Our lake cabin, which I call CBTL (or Cabin by the Lake in a nod to the Michael Weatherly flick of the same name) is at this lake. My mom worked at Battelle. If anyone can solve this problem, it is they.
The Play’s the Thing « NCIS Exposition Faerie
Latest post by my alter ego. Shakespeare and NCIS collide.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Still thinking...
I'm still giving thought to my idea about blogging something regularly--again. I may try the something new idea again. I liked the concept. Since we're at the end of the month, I'm hoping to kick it off for July. *fingers crossed*
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Carrying through is not my strong suit
It's pretty obvious from the last few attempts to blog consistently that I'm lacking on follow through. I'd like to think that it's because I'm busy. It's more like I'm easily distracted. Tweeting, Facebooking, improving my web design skills, knitting, watching TV, hanging out online with my friends, training for to walk a 1/2 marathon leave little time for other things. I'd like to get back into the habit of writing regularly and reading every day. I'd like to finish sorting through the junk in my house and getting rid of the excess. I feel like I need a TARDIS to have enough time.
I think I really just need to focus better. On my computers I have multiple work spaces. My work computer usually has my inboxes on one, my set up browser on two, my calendar on three, and my play-space (Tweetdeck) on four. I wonder if using this technique is making me ADD or if I've learned a way to cope with all the information coming at me and need to learn that skill in the real world.
When it comes to blogging, I think I'm on the right track. A new thing everyday. I liked that. I may need to try that one again. Or at least, I need to have a purpose for whatever blog I'm writing. I'm thinking of "Julie & Julia" or a blog of which I caught the last post. A woman had explored being a woman and a geek. Interesting concept. That's what I need: an interesting concept.
I think I really just need to focus better. On my computers I have multiple work spaces. My work computer usually has my inboxes on one, my set up browser on two, my calendar on three, and my play-space (Tweetdeck) on four. I wonder if using this technique is making me ADD or if I've learned a way to cope with all the information coming at me and need to learn that skill in the real world.
When it comes to blogging, I think I'm on the right track. A new thing everyday. I liked that. I may need to try that one again. Or at least, I need to have a purpose for whatever blog I'm writing. I'm thinking of "Julie & Julia" or a blog of which I caught the last post. A woman had explored being a woman and a geek. Interesting concept. That's what I need: an interesting concept.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Playing catch up
I've missed a week's worth of posting firsts, but I've been busy. I worked the Heartbeat Conference as an exhibitor, went to the convention center for the first time. I walked down High Street through the Short North after having my first wine tasting at Camelot Cellars. Green Apple Riesling. Good stuff.
I also met almost all my coworkers, Qui-Gon couldn't make it. Went back to the Apple store and picked up my Mac. Whew! I've pushed the envelope of newness. Still thinking on today's something new. It needs to be something relaxing.
I also met almost all my coworkers, Qui-Gon couldn't make it. Went back to the Apple store and picked up my Mac. Whew! I've pushed the envelope of newness. Still thinking on today's something new. It needs to be something relaxing.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday's new thing
Still on the thirty days of new. Monday had a couple changes. First, the rainy weather kept me close to home for my walk. Took a new route so I would be only a few minutes from home if the clouds opened up. Secondly, since iMacGee is in the shop, I worked on my own personal computer for the day. Learned alot about shortcuts and trick with some of the software that I have or is in Ubuntu's repository. This will be handy at our lake house since I'll be taking an old computer running Ubuntu to the lake when I go up with the hubs this summer.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Cbusr - Meet new people. Discover Columbus, Ohio.
Today's something new is Cbusr.com, a website recommended by my friend, Rick. I think I'd like it better if you could search by interest not just area and occupation, but since they encourage meeting in real life that makes sense. If you're in Columbus, check it out. Cbusr - Meet new people. Discover Columbus, Ohio.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Something New Every Day
I read an article on LifeHacker.com suggesting that every day for 30 days we try something new. It doesn't have to be anything big, just something to shake up the routine. I'm on day three, and I would have blogged this sooner, but Blogger was down. Anyway, this is a great idea and I'm going for it.
On Day One, I did something easy. I made an iced coffee smoothie for my afternoon caffeine pick-me-up. Day Two was more strenuous. I dug up about 70 bricks in the yard so we could move the hostas to a shadier spot.
Today, I'm taking my work computer to the Apple Store at Easton. It's doing this random shut down thing again. Anyway, my first time to the Apple Store. This could be dangerous.
On Day One, I did something easy. I made an iced coffee smoothie for my afternoon caffeine pick-me-up. Day Two was more strenuous. I dug up about 70 bricks in the yard so we could move the hostas to a shadier spot.
Today, I'm taking my work computer to the Apple Store at Easton. It's doing this random shut down thing again. Anyway, my first time to the Apple Store. This could be dangerous.
Monday, May 02, 2011
Bin Laden is Dead
When the Towers fell, before the news said anything about Bin Laden claiming responsibility, I knew that he was behind it. He'd tried to bring down the WTC before, he had made it clear that he was targeting Americans. I had no doubt.
When the news broke last night about Bin Laden's death, after a bit of whooping and hollering, my mind turned not only to the memory of the first tower falling--which at the time I my mind couldn't comprehend and my son had to tell me it was gone--to the attacks on Khobar Towers and the U.S.S. Cole. Finally, the bastard got what he deserved.
I'm proud of our Navy SEALS who went in on a CIA-run operation and took him out. Thank you.
When the news broke last night about Bin Laden's death, after a bit of whooping and hollering, my mind turned not only to the memory of the first tower falling--which at the time I my mind couldn't comprehend and my son had to tell me it was gone--to the attacks on Khobar Towers and the U.S.S. Cole. Finally, the bastard got what he deserved.
I'm proud of our Navy SEALS who went in on a CIA-run operation and took him out. Thank you.
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