Owner: TechnoMonk's Musings URL:http://technomonk.us Join Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 22:17:51 -0500 Rating:1 Site Description: Journal of a Renaissance man. Topical essays. Creative thoughts and ideas. Observations regarding the human experience and my own existential quest. Random expressions of joy and angst. Questions. Quotations. Reviews. Photographs. And more... Site statistics:Click here
Slacker 2006-10-20 02:49:00
Ok, ok, I know: where have I been?!
Well, it's not like I haven't been writing or attempting to post. The blankety-blank Blogger system hasn't been letting me in! I have tried and tried to get the software to cooperate, but at some point since the October 15th post, things just went kafloowie. If that's a word. Probably not.
Well, but things are better now. I'm back.
Read more:Slacker
The N-Zone 2006-10-19 05:57:00 I've talked off and on here about my diagnosis of chronic myofascial pain, provided some thoughts about surviving this disease and the treatment process, and most recently, discussed the trigger-point injection therapy I began a couple of weeks ago.Here's a little addendum to the story that I'll now share with you…During the first appointment at the doctor's office where we performed trigger-point injections, skittish-(around-needles)-person that I am, I allowed only four injections. The second time, a few days later, was a session with 19 injections. That extremely-intense ordeal was on a Monday morning, and, as it followed a weekend of suffering through some intense back and foot pain, I experienced some much-needed relief during the course of that day. However, by that evening, I had pretty much returned to "normal" (This was not a good thing, of course…the pain had returned!) In fact, by the end of the week (on that Friday), I was hurting so much that I made and ke
TechnoMonk's Photos 2006-10-16 04:34:00 Self PortraitOriginally uploaded by technomonk. Just so you know: even when I'm not writing and posting (and thereby giving you something new and exciting to read), this blog is always on my mind. I'm always thinking of ways to improve the experience here…for example, you may have noticed the little addition to the sidebar section on the left-hand side of this page during this last week. I now have an account at flickr.com where I am able to display my photos (all in one place) and then link them to this blog (as in the self-portrait to the right). To reach my online photo collection, you may click on the larger image in the little flickr box. For this and future posts that have photos, click on the image and it will take you to an enlarged version (as well as the complete photo collection).
Senioritis 2006-10-12 05:27:00
Here is a mildly disturbing development in my life...
I drove into town to run an errand during the noon hour today. While there, I decided to have lunch at the Subway shop closest to my apartment. As I was at the register to pay for my turkey sandwich and chips, the young man said, "that'll be $4.70...or do you do the senior discount?" To which I stammered, "excuse me? Uh. No"
Holy craperino, Batman! This is the first time such a thing has happened to me, and it caught me completely off guard. What, I wondered, about my appearance today, merited this promotion to senior status?!?
Yeah, yeah…I know. I'm 59. I'm an AARP member. I have some gray hair. But, geezzzz. He had to SAY IT OUT LOUD?
Now, I hadn't had a bad day to that point, and the rest of day went mostly ok too. There is just this one little blip that sticks with me.
Senior discount? Moi?
Prime Time Wisdom 2006-10-08 22:38:00 The popular TV show Grey's Anatomy is filmed in Seattle, and maybe its Pacific Northwest roots are part of the appeal for me. (This season the show made a move to 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays, so it is on ABC an hour before ER airs at 10:00 p.m. on NBC; I tape them both and watch them on the weekend). Aside from its obvious (and frequent) quirkiness, the show has real and touching moments that occasionally tend to unearth some truths about life and relationships.Last Thursday's Sometimes a Fantasy really caught my attention. Most episodes are filled with several different story lines, with some, not uncommonly, continuing from week-to-week. And the story of Izzie's loss resumed this time. She had fallen in love with a heart-transplant patient who had asked her to marry him. However, shortly after he popped the question (and after Izzie had made an ethically-questionable call about his care), he died. Izzie's story was juxtaposed with one about Megan, a young girl who came to the emer Read more:Wisdom
, Prime Time
More Business 2006-10-08 04:47:00
My present employment situation, while a little crazy given all the rather unusual campus dynamics, is feeling mostly comfortable. It would seem that I am welcomed, accepted, and that I'm actually making a bit of a difference. For the time being, it's not a bad "
fit
" This is all pretty wonderful, actually.
But I've been thinking about how the school year will evolve, and wondering whether or not this job is going to last any longer than my current 11-month contract. Everything is up in the air, and the talk on campus regarding an examination of the "administrative structure" is just that: talk. The process for determining what the organizational chart will ultimately look like is an unknown one at this point. In the meantime, I am looking at an agreement that says I'm employed only until June 30th. Without any knowledge of how this will all play out, I obviously have no clue whether or not there'll be a position for me to apply for.
So, I'm taking care of busi Read more:Business
Maturity 2006-10-03 06:13:00
Funny thing: the very night I post the link to the "hugs" video, a war begins with my neighbor. Three occupants of this building (that I know of) have now lodged complaints with the office regarding her (and/or her boyfriend's) behavior and, as I am surely one of them, I'm the lucky (and obvious) target of an immature retaliation.
The stereo is up even louder than normal tonight, so I needed to go over there again (this is perhaps the 10th time) to ask that the volume be lowered: which I did, calmly and respectfully. I was greeted very coolly when she opened the door, but I smiled and quite evenly suggested that if she could lower the volume, it would help me out a lot. She replied "well, I'll see what I can do to help!" …whereupon I had the door slammed directly into my astonished face.
So, here we go. Unfriendly. AND noisy. Great.
Read more:Maturity
Free Hugs Campaign 2006-10-03 04:44:00
From
YouTube
(click to view the video...):
"Sometimes, a hug is all what we need. "Free Hugs
' is the real life controversial story of Juan Mann, a man whose sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives.
In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the Free Hugs campaign emerged.
As this symbol of human hope spread across the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED.
What we then witness is the true spirit of humanity come together in what can only be described as awe-inspiring.
In the spirit of the free hugs campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER!
After all, If you can reach just one person.."
Read more:Campaign
The November Election 2006-10-02 06:19:00
This coming November
, Oregon voters face a potential twin-towers of ballot measures. My opinion: NO votes on both
Measure 41
and
Measure 48
are crucial to the future of the state, as the effects could be more devastating to our education systems (and other state services) than was
Ballot Measure 5 in 1990
. Click on the links above to read what
The Oregonian
had to say when they weighed in on these matters. And then head on over the
Defend Oregon Coalition
website.
This is important!
Read more:Election
The N-Zone 2006-10-18 22:57:00 I’ve talked off and on here about my diagnosis of chronic myofascial pain, provided some thoughts about surviving this disease and the treatment process, and most recently, discussed the trigger-point injection therapy I began a couple of weeks ago.Here’s a little addendum to the story that I’ll now share with you…During the first appointment at the doctor’s office where we performed trigger-point injections, skittish-(around-needles)-person that I am, I allowed only four injections. The second time, a few days later, was a session with 19 injections. That extremely-intense ordeal was on a Monday morning, and, as it followed a weekend of suffering through some intense back and foot pain, I experienced some much-needed relief during the course of that day. However, by that evening
TechnoMonk's Photos 2006-10-15 21:34:00 Self PortraitOriginally uploaded by technomonk. Just so you know: even when I’m not writing and posting (and thereby giving you something new and exciting to read), this blog is always on my mind. I’m always thinking of ways to improve the experience here…for example, you may have noticed the little addition to the sidebar section on the left-hand side of this page during this last week. I now have an account at flickr.com where I am able to display my photos (all in one place) and then link them to this blog (as in the self-portrait to the right). To reach my online photo collection, you may click on the larger image in the little flickr box. For this and future posts that have photos, click on the image and it will take you to an enlarged version (as well as the complete photo coll
Prime Time Wisdom 2006-10-08 15:38:00 The popular TV show Grey’s Anatomy is filmed in Seattle, and maybe its Pacific Northwest roots are part of the appeal for me. (This season the show made a move to 9:00 p.m. on Thursdays, so it is on ABC an hour before ER airs at 10:00 p.m. on NBC; I tape them both and watch them on the weekend). Aside from its obvious (and frequent) quirkiness, the show has real and touching moments that occasionally tend to unearth some truths about life and relationships.Last Thursday’s Sometimes a Fantasy really caught my attention. Most episodes are filled with several different story lines, with some, not uncommonly, continuing from week-to-week. And the story of Izzie’s loss resumed this time. She had fallen in love with a heart-transplant patient who had asked her to marry him. However, shortl Read more:Wisdom
, Prime Time
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