Radio Silence
Thursday's weather: dry air, sun in the morning and clouds in the afternoon. High low 80's, which for near summer in DC is a delight.
Thursday's drink: appletini...because I had them.
Thursday's link: perhaps the worst blog ever. Just linking to them makes me feel good. Except ...I wish I had the IP address.
Bleep, bleep. I've been in radio silence for a couple weeks. The reason is time. Weird strange smelly time.
First and most: I've not forgot about this. Second: I'm still committed to transposing life here, for whatever benefits. Third: I've much to say.
Who doesn't, eh? Still, I've been crimped for time lately. For no one reason, or general set of reasons. And nothing I expect to continue. At 11:12pm Thursday as I type this, I am as bound to this blog as when I set out.
So consider this a "bleep bleep bleep." Yeah, I'm here. Yes, all is OK. No, I'm not on the floor having a seizure while my dog licks my face.
All is good. Many good words and thoughts to come.
Just...just been off the hook for a spell.
xo
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Monday, June 02, 2008
Sidewalks
Monday's weather: Storms on Saturday, warm and surprisingly dry today with sun aplenty. My daisy is full of blooms; my cilantro has flowered and is being cranky. The zebra sage is already delicious and my basil is moving from spindly adolescence to robust adulthood.
Monday's drink: C is making me a 7 and 7...whatever that is. G-d help me.
Monday's music: Pink Floyd, particularly "Us and Them" and "The Great Gig in the Sky." What a very private part of me still sounds like.
First, thanks to all who've been writing. Several thoughts on the book club - which really isn't a book club, more a book suggestion. The idea struck some dull nerve apparently, and although I really don't expect already busy people to fuss about with yet another requirement on their time just because Doug said so, I'm plowing forward. The dear Rob Kellerman is already into another book group - this one studying feminism and oligarchy in medieval times. Rockin'! Actually sounds pretty timely. The brilliant David apparently gave away his copy to a local library, which I consider a noble civic deed, and Leah comments that cyber-discussions are less appealing than actual human discussion...a point noted. Let's leave it here: soon I will be interested in your thoughts on my thoughts on the modern operations of Washington power.
To a hopefully short post now. Short and a little cranky. DC sidewalks. And the people that use - or abuse - them specifically.
Friends D and J and I had a lovely gabfest on D's patio Friday. Totally impromptu, totally mellow. The latest in a long and cherished tradition of summer in DC.
We fell to thoughts on our respective neighborhoods, and how it seems walking a dog knits one closer into a community. This makes a lot of sense: you have a dog you walk more, you walk more you're less of a stranger, you're less of a stranger people are more comfortable with you, the more comfort felt the more conversation back and forth. QED.
Most people know how to behave on a sidewalk. Move forward at a comfortable pace; offer eye contact but not too much to on-comers, be willing to adjust a little for others and expect they'll reasonably adjust a bit for you. Smile if you feel like it; offer up a "Good morning" or other relevant pleasantry when called for. Don't leer. Don't scream across the street and down the alley at someone who's not even there.
Some of these are do's. Some are don'ts and, as usual, it's the don't that create the stress. To the point: DC sidewalk walkers are growing increasingly arrogant, jerky, self-important and - worst - uncivil. We know the characters:
* the over-extended young urbanite who refuses to control their dog as it slobbers and paws and lunges toward you and your dog,
* the high school students who move in clumps, shouting and screaming and carrying on beyond all sense or reason,
*the tools who scowl on their way from or to the Metro and refuses - absolutely reFUses - to give any ground on the entire sidewalk, apparently on the theory that he deserves to own it, and you,
* the shambolic federal worker zombie who, in catatonic stupor, manages to bring all other life within a five foot radius down to their death-like pace,
* the (I shall assume) good-hearted but dense touron who seems to think the entire city and all it's inhabitants exist for their amusement, like penguins at a zoo,
* the "F-U" anger-bots intent only on constantly demonstrating that they - yes they! - control the sidewalks to THEIR city and what the HELL are you doing here you ...
Well, yeah. There are others; far more no doubt if other's posted their thoughts. The point is not a sophomoric taxonomy of people but a plea. Please, people: let's remember that we share the sidewalks. In the analogy of city to body, our sidewalks are our small arteries and veins: not the huge aortas of main roadways, but the tiny arterioles and venules that allow exchange of life-giving civic contact to occur. Let's respect them and the others we share them with, and with luck, they will do likewise. But even if they don't: it's the right thing to do.
Monday's weather: Storms on Saturday, warm and surprisingly dry today with sun aplenty. My daisy is full of blooms; my cilantro has flowered and is being cranky. The zebra sage is already delicious and my basil is moving from spindly adolescence to robust adulthood.
Monday's drink: C is making me a 7 and 7...whatever that is. G-d help me.
Monday's music: Pink Floyd, particularly "Us and Them" and "The Great Gig in the Sky." What a very private part of me still sounds like.
First, thanks to all who've been writing. Several thoughts on the book club - which really isn't a book club, more a book suggestion. The idea struck some dull nerve apparently, and although I really don't expect already busy people to fuss about with yet another requirement on their time just because Doug said so, I'm plowing forward. The dear Rob Kellerman is already into another book group - this one studying feminism and oligarchy in medieval times. Rockin'! Actually sounds pretty timely. The brilliant David apparently gave away his copy to a local library, which I consider a noble civic deed, and Leah comments that cyber-discussions are less appealing than actual human discussion...a point noted. Let's leave it here: soon I will be interested in your thoughts on my thoughts on the modern operations of Washington power.
To a hopefully short post now. Short and a little cranky. DC sidewalks. And the people that use - or abuse - them specifically.
Friends D and J and I had a lovely gabfest on D's patio Friday. Totally impromptu, totally mellow. The latest in a long and cherished tradition of summer in DC.
We fell to thoughts on our respective neighborhoods, and how it seems walking a dog knits one closer into a community. This makes a lot of sense: you have a dog you walk more, you walk more you're less of a stranger, you're less of a stranger people are more comfortable with you, the more comfort felt the more conversation back and forth. QED.
Most people know how to behave on a sidewalk. Move forward at a comfortable pace; offer eye contact but not too much to on-comers, be willing to adjust a little for others and expect they'll reasonably adjust a bit for you. Smile if you feel like it; offer up a "Good morning" or other relevant pleasantry when called for. Don't leer. Don't scream across the street and down the alley at someone who's not even there.
Some of these are do's. Some are don'ts and, as usual, it's the don't that create the stress. To the point: DC sidewalk walkers are growing increasingly arrogant, jerky, self-important and - worst - uncivil. We know the characters:
* the over-extended young urbanite who refuses to control their dog as it slobbers and paws and lunges toward you and your dog,
* the high school students who move in clumps, shouting and screaming and carrying on beyond all sense or reason,
*the tools who scowl on their way from or to the Metro and refuses - absolutely reFUses - to give any ground on the entire sidewalk, apparently on the theory that he deserves to own it, and you,
* the shambolic federal worker zombie who, in catatonic stupor, manages to bring all other life within a five foot radius down to their death-like pace,
* the (I shall assume) good-hearted but dense touron who seems to think the entire city and all it's inhabitants exist for their amusement, like penguins at a zoo,
* the "F-U" anger-bots intent only on constantly demonstrating that they - yes they! - control the sidewalks to THEIR city and what the HELL are you doing here you ...
Well, yeah. There are others; far more no doubt if other's posted their thoughts. The point is not a sophomoric taxonomy of people but a plea. Please, people: let's remember that we share the sidewalks. In the analogy of city to body, our sidewalks are our small arteries and veins: not the huge aortas of main roadways, but the tiny arterioles and venules that allow exchange of life-giving civic contact to occur. Let's respect them and the others we share them with, and with luck, they will do likewise. But even if they don't: it's the right thing to do.
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