Tag: recounted

Posted on

how times have changed

i’m back in new york after a weekend in rhode island for my cousin’s wedding.  my former residence now houses my mom, aunt, and my first brother and his family.  the computer i’m on currently is in my niece’s room.

what amazes me (the old fart that i am) is that she’s studying for spanish with her friend… ON VIDCHAT.  what the what?!  what happened to a phone call?  or staying late at school to study?  or going over to someone’s house to study.  she also has facebook open and is checking in on everything that i’m writing about how she’s studying via vidchat.

question: do all tweeners have A.D.D.?  and how do we communicate to them in a way that reaches them in these tech-heavy, spastic times?  i remember the days when three-way phone conferencing was a big deal, nevermind aim, gchatting, skype, and all the other platforms for communication that exists now.  do we need to feed kids these days only tidbits of information in order for them to be able to process it?

Posted on

traveling man

i’m back east for a wedding in newport.  after posting a status on facebook update upon arrival, my friend commented that it’s been a big traveling year for me.  it took me a second to realize how true that is – london, spain, hawaii, new york, los angeles, mendocino, humboldt, rhode island and soon newport and asia.

i’ve always hated traveling – like the physical act of traveling and all the prep work that goes into it.  going through airport security make me anxious as does lining up to get onto the plane.  packing stresses me out.  i always worry that i’ve left my i.d. or tickets at home.  i’m a hot mess when i travel.

that is until i land and spend a few hours adjusting.  then, there’s nothing like the thrill of immersing oneself in the culture of one’s new surroundings.  i’m looking forward to future adventures, but for now… i am jetlag and though i need sleep, will have to hop in my bro’s car for a five-hour drive.  looking forward to seeing what newport has to offer!

Posted on

concrete jungle

i recently read nymag’s article, “the concrete jungle” and it reminded me of a story that mrs. anderson told us about her experience one day meditating on mount shasta.  she said that she felt overwhelmed with sadness and felt the stress of the earth.  she apologized to mother nature for everything that man has done to destroy her.  suddenly, mother nature spoke back, telling mrs. anderson that everything’s going to be alright.  earth has been around for millennia and has survived catastrophe after catastrophe.  but humans — they’re the ones that should be worried.

i’m not sure that’s a feel-good story, but yay for mom nats and boo to humans.

Posted on

california

returned from a trip up the pacific coast to mendocino and humboldt counties two nights ago.  california is a vast, diverse, beautiful state.  some of the scenery mgs and i saw were out of this world.  there were several times when i believed that heaven is a place on earth:  standing on the shores of “dunes beach” gazing at the distant waves while the sun played peek-a-boo through the fog; anywhere along the coastline where ice whites met algae greens met stone blacks; sitting in a hot, outdoor jacuzzi as cold droplets of rain fell on my face.

it was a vacation from funemployment, but now i need a vacation from my vacation.  why does it always seem like there is SO MUCH TO DO?

Posted on

budgeting

to the person who invented capitalism and the shackles we know today as “money,” i dedicate this song to you:

in re-evaluating my budget — and this is assuming i don’t find temp work for these next few months — my daily allowance is exactly $20.  what’s really depressing is that $20 is a lot more than a lot of people around the world have to spend — some in a week, some in a month.  but while i’m extremely grateful for these 2 hamiltons, i am also wondering what i can (or can’t) do anymore.

shopping = out of the question
eating = smaller meals and less dining out, which isn’t all that bad
drinking = somehow all socializing centers around drinking these days and i’m wondering if i need to allot a separate beverage budget?
concerts = not unless it’s free or paid for — though if the latter, i usually feel obligated to treat for dinner

well, if anything, this will be the most fascinating experiment i will have embarked on in awhile.  let’s see how far i can stretch my my 20 smackaroos… adventures to be posted!