Meaning of Life

I recently heard a professor talking on NPR about what life would mean if everything became automated. Some scientists believe that people will become their true person when all is removed from their life that can be done by robot or computer. The woman I heard was arguing that we are made up of the activities we do, choose to do and have to do. I have been pondering this quite a bit. The neighbor "boy" (who is now 21) and I were discussing this and what makes life "better". I think we are made up/defined by our activities. Here are some of my own small personal personality developments and developers.

1. Learning to ride my bike down hill very fast led to a crazy crash into the neighbors fence. I have never been interested in speed since.

2. Standing in front of a case of 31 flavors of ice cream has led to a life conviction that almost all will turn out to be good.

3. I sorted Walla Walla sweet onions for a summer job in high school, this really made me want to go to college. Realizing the greatest job in the plant was to be the person closing the 10lb bags made me want it more. That and making 3.35$ an hour.

4. Vacuuming is a stress release for me. I don't really do heavy cleaning, but miles of vacuuming has worked off a lot of anger.

5. Making beds, boring meals, scooping cat litter, folding clothes, sitting on freezing sidelines, matching socks, etc. is a labor of LOVE and means more than hearing words. The labor of love is love.

6. Sorting mail, balancing checkbooks, emptying the dishwasher, raking and sweeping etc.help with my patience - something I am short of.

I think doing the things you don't really want to do, helps define the things you really want to do. I also like to think that all these interactions is what helps maintain society. If every person only had to do what they wanted to do it would really be a selfish world. It would be as if living with a 3 year old forever.

Tiny Terror

I am not sure what has happened to my "kitten", in her head she has become a fierce jungle cat.  Her prey is ALWAYS Hoover, the 85 lb wonder wienie.  He now lives in Ian's room.  Ian moved to the top bunk, so Hoover could have the bottom one. Minnow lurks around the house waiting for Hoover to amble on by and then she whacks him repeatedly in the face.  She got him going up the stairs, three times before he got to the top.  He stood their like a dummy while she right-hooked him again.  Hoover was shaking so hard his teeth were chattering.  You can't yell, because he thinks you are yelling at him.  I am not reaching in to grab a crazy cat.  My solution may be to buy a holster and carry a spray bottle around.  I could spray her every time she goes psycho.  It might make me feel better. It is a good thing she is so cute.  For months I blamed her more sinister-looking brother for causing all the mayhem, but then I caught her red-pawed. The situation is sad, because unless I sit in Ian's room I don't get to hang out with the dog.

Nothing

When people ask me "what are you up to" or "what's going on in your life" I always reply "nothing" or "I can't think of anything exciting."  Well, I decided to make the change and recognize I do have interesting tidbits to share.

Sunday I went to a talk given by Jay McCarroll.  He was the winner of season 1 "Project Runway".  He was funny, quirky, incredibly honest and therefore somewhat self-destructive.  I have been pondering the oddness of the crowd.  He had groupies.  People were sycophantically laughing at everything he said.  I was laughing also, but not with the same manic fervor.  One woman asked him if he had a retirement fund and health insurance.  Another annoying woman asked to take pictures of all his stuff to put on Instagram.

My weird claim to fame is now I have met two "Project Runway" winners.  I met Christian Ciriano at a breast cancer function.  He was a teeny, tiny turd of a human being.

Thing 2 is covered with little round bruises.  Turns out he and his friend were shooting each other with the air-soft rifles.  I am going to add this was not done on my watch. 

Thing 3 regaled me with his latest song entitled "The Golden Sausage."  It was not racy, but I can't get an image of Freddie Mercury out of my head. 

My 50 state book challenge is complete, except for half of New Mexico.  I read fiction, non-fiction, short stories, poems, classics and trash.  I had more good reads than bad reads, Missouri stands out as particularly lame.  The hardest state to find a book about was South Dakota.  I really tried to have no re-reads, but had three.  Alaska and Alabama were on purpose and Montana was accidental.  Next year will be challenge free.

Juno and Minnow have brought me a present every day this week.  Minnow was responsible for mouse parts all over the back patio I am pretty sure.  Juno doesn't seem to be into dismemberment.  I appreciate the decreased rodent population and their love, but gross!









 

Big

I haven't posted big in awhile.

Enormous acorns plinking off my car and being thrown by the boys.

A disgusting slug out the backdoor.  Neither cat would go near it.  I imagine they taste as bad as they look.

A big day building Legos at the National Building Museum.

Behind Me

South Dakota is behind me.  I read "Twisted Tree" by Kent Meyers.  SD has been the toughest state so far to find a read.  I found a number of fiction books, but not current enough to be in the library.  I am into Arkansas with "Calicoe Joe" by John Grisham.  I have fifteen states left and around eighteen more weeks to accomplish this goal.  It will be close.  I have enjoyed reading a book from every state. 

I finished my tumbling blocks quilt, but haven't taken a picture.  I plan on sending it off for quilting.  I am trying to slog through things I haven't finished.  I sewed on two bindings so they are ready to be tacked down during cool evenings in the fall.  I am still only using fabrics that I have on hand to make anything new.  My postage stamp quilt has 64 finished blocks, I have no real plans for this yet.  I am using strips to make a shawl.  I like it, but Ellen said it looks like something I made.  I am not sure what that means.  I promise to post some pictures!