When Sweet becomes Sour

I was presented with a potential piece of work recently.  That's a nice thing when it happens.  At a minimum, it reinforces that you're still needed.  However this was disingenuously offered.

What was initially characterized as a very short term piece of work, had a large amount of background development and foundational work needed. Despite reassurances it was only small when I began to look into the job it wasn't small, it was big.  All this after initially indicating my own agreeableness to the idea.  The catch here is that the time available to prep was small, and the return for that work was also small.

So, I went back and said no thanks, citing the truth that I didn't have a week to put into the preparation. So all is fine.  Except it's not really.  I feel like I was taken advantage of, and taken for a fool.  The experience left me with a very bad taste in my mouth for that organization.  I don't think that was the intent, but in some situations the reality of how something is handled is more important that what it is.

Your Favourite Song

Have one ?  Does it change often, are you up with the latest trends in the genres you enjoy, or is it an old favourite from your childhood or some other significant time in your life .

What does the music evoke for you? Is it memories you cherish, or does it make your toes tap and fingers move.  Perhaps both ? Lucky you.

Mine makes me want to run faster, play air drums and sing.  In fact, for me, music and my favourite songs are a barometer of my soul.  I listen more when I'm in a better frame of mind, and singing - out loud and proud - is a sign of real mental health I've learned about myself.  In fact one of the reasons I think I enjoy summer more than winter is that I don't have a winter outlet to sing.  I sing the most while riding my bike, and that (usually) takes place when it's warmer.  It's my cocoon flying along at 30kph and I can pretend no one can hear me.  The big impediment is bugs - draw your own picture.

My favourite song at the moment is one that completely exceeded expectations when I first heard it. I was with someone special and I heard it live and loved it right away.  Every time I hear it now my thoughts go back to that sunny day, the keyboard players bright hair and how it just 'worked' for me from the very first time.  I'm good at sharing - so here it is - enjoy it, and think of me when you listen to it.  The band is still getting established by the way,  so buy a copy if you like it.

When Life is better than Photoshop

We've seen the image- I'm sure we all have.  I'll admit wondering about it a few times.

The story of it's origin is circulating at the moment, coincident with the formal demise of Microsoft's XP operating system.  This was our home screen, the one we all got by default.

In looking at it, I had - perhaps cynically- always imagined that the image, with it's oh-so-perfect light and vibrant grass and sky, I'd always thought it must have been enhanced, and manipulated as I'd rarely if ever seen something as remarkable with my own eyes. I also wondered if it actually existed at all, or rather was a dreamscape put together by an engineer somewhere.

But, and this is the renewing part I think, Charles O'Rear took the picture himself, and it wasn't made artificial in any way. That's the way it was, one fine day in 1996 north of San Francisco, at some stunning moment that his experienced eye and great skills were able to capture.  Lucky us.

Bliss indeed.

Lactic Acid

I ran on Sunday.

First time in a while, a long while.  Felt great

At the time.

Afterwards, the legs seemed to have seized a little.  Actually a lot. Imagine concrete.

And I know this goes away in a couple days, and I should avoid squats, bends, lunges, turning quickly, breathing deeply or blinking fast.  It'll be fine.

But it did get me thinking (thinking doesn't hurt).  In other areas of life do we get lactic acid - the solidity that appears, paralyses us against any change attempted or new activity. Something that dissuades us from creating some new habit, or best practice.  This is a type of active disincentive against trying something new. Lactic acid of the soul.

I think it does happen.  But it's not permanent, and we can push past it.  I know.  I'm writing this while sitting down.