That is, the sixth time I have been pooped on by a bird.
Let it be documented that on Sunday May 26 at roughly 11am, while innocently waiting for a crepe at la Tour Eiffel, I got wacked in the arm by some digested worm and birdseed. At the time, I was telling a story to friends also awaiting delicious sweet and savory crepes, when I felt the familiar hit on my arm. I thought "I know a bird just pooped on me, but maybe I'm being paranoid. Finish your story." The story was finished... but interrupted by friends pointing out the end of an unfortunate chain of events... as well as another crepe-waiter who exclaimed, "That's good luck!"
I beg to differ.
Back when this blog was shiny and new, I wrote about the fifth time I was pooped on by a bird... and now we're up to 6. The silent prayers I mentioned when walking underneath birds of any kind have morphed into cringing and simply awaiting the inevitable.
For all of the mathematicians in the crowd, yes - the rate at which I am getting pooped on by birds has only accelerated. I am considering writing to Guinness World Records. No one has a record for this category yet, but I'm sure I'd be in the running.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Well, That Doesn't Make a Whole Lot of Sense: First Edition
This may start a series since I often read things that make me scratch my head and wonder about this world. Enjoy the first edition.
In this week's edition of "Well, That Doesn't Make a Whole Lot of Sense" the Boy Scouts have voted to be selectively open-minded. That is, they are now allowing openly gay members into the Boy Scouts, but - ah, ah, ahhh - NOT allowing openly gay Scout Leaders. Excellent choice. Let's keep the openly gay members of Boy Scouts in a heteronormative environment. That's super.
In addition, their statement clarifies that they are not condoning "any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age" since it's "contrary to the virtues of Scouting". I understand this is an important part of the statement for public relations' purposes, but that is just absurd. Some members of the Boy Scouts are in their late teenage years, precisely when we KNOW many of them engage in sexual activity - consensually, safely, and quite happily(*gasp*). To say you're opposed to sexual activity among teenagers is about as helpful as abstinence only sex education.
I know the Boy Scouts do a lot of great things. In the "About" section on their website, they describe themselves as an organization that "builds character, trains [] in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness" - these are all TERRIFIC things! I have a lot of family members and friends who are incredible people who have belonged to the Boy Scouts for many years and told countless stories about lessons they learned while Scouting - everything from knot tying to survival skills to sportsmanship. I know this organization has a lot of potential.
It is precisely this potential which makes me so frustrated at their selective open-mindedness. Sort of similar to when the teacher is hardest on the student who has a lot of potential but is falling short because they choose not to apply their full effort during class or to completing their homework, I am critical because I know they can do better. This organization reaches a lot of people and can help to further gay rights, comprehensive sex education, and many other subject areas that would fall under "building character" or "participating citizenship".
Good character and participatory citizenship involve acceptance of other good people unlike yourself, questioning mainstream ideas, and standing up for those who are marginalized or otherwise excluded.
Hopefully the Boy Scouts' selective open-mindedness is just step one, and they are quickly on their way to engaging all citizens, regardless of sexuality, and educating and encouraging all sorts of healthy choices among their Scouts, even, and perhaps especially, when they are controversial ...but realistic.
In this week's edition of "Well, That Doesn't Make a Whole Lot of Sense" the Boy Scouts have voted to be selectively open-minded. That is, they are now allowing openly gay members into the Boy Scouts, but - ah, ah, ahhh - NOT allowing openly gay Scout Leaders. Excellent choice. Let's keep the openly gay members of Boy Scouts in a heteronormative environment. That's super.
In addition, their statement clarifies that they are not condoning "any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age" since it's "contrary to the virtues of Scouting". I understand this is an important part of the statement for public relations' purposes, but that is just absurd. Some members of the Boy Scouts are in their late teenage years, precisely when we KNOW many of them engage in sexual activity - consensually, safely, and quite happily(*gasp*). To say you're opposed to sexual activity among teenagers is about as helpful as abstinence only sex education.
I know the Boy Scouts do a lot of great things. In the "About" section on their website, they describe themselves as an organization that "builds character, trains [] in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness" - these are all TERRIFIC things! I have a lot of family members and friends who are incredible people who have belonged to the Boy Scouts for many years and told countless stories about lessons they learned while Scouting - everything from knot tying to survival skills to sportsmanship. I know this organization has a lot of potential.
It is precisely this potential which makes me so frustrated at their selective open-mindedness. Sort of similar to when the teacher is hardest on the student who has a lot of potential but is falling short because they choose not to apply their full effort during class or to completing their homework, I am critical because I know they can do better. This organization reaches a lot of people and can help to further gay rights, comprehensive sex education, and many other subject areas that would fall under "building character" or "participating citizenship".
Good character and participatory citizenship involve acceptance of other good people unlike yourself, questioning mainstream ideas, and standing up for those who are marginalized or otherwise excluded.
Hopefully the Boy Scouts' selective open-mindedness is just step one, and they are quickly on their way to engaging all citizens, regardless of sexuality, and educating and encouraging all sorts of healthy choices among their Scouts, even, and perhaps especially, when they are controversial ...but realistic.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
YouTube Features
Both of these are awesome. So, I'm not choosing which one to suggest.
How to play well with others... as an adult. (Oh no! All videos I can find have been removed for copyright reasons... but here are the words composing that amazing speech. Enjoy!)
and
How to Be Alone
"Dance like no one is watching... because they're probably not. And if they are, assume it is with best and human intentions. The way bodies move genuinely to beats is, after all, gorgeous and affecting."
Happy gorgeous spring day!
How to play well with others... as an adult. (Oh no! All videos I can find have been removed for copyright reasons... but here are the words composing that amazing speech. Enjoy!)
and
How to Be Alone
"Dance like no one is watching... because they're probably not. And if they are, assume it is with best and human intentions. The way bodies move genuinely to beats is, after all, gorgeous and affecting."
Happy gorgeous spring day!
Sunday, May 12, 2013
The Zahir's Lessons
"...in the present there is always a space as vast as the steppes waiting to be filled up with more love and with more of life's joy." - The Zahir by Paulo Coelho
On Monday and part of Tuesday this past week, my stress from work was manifesting itself in terrible pain in my shoulders and upper back. I felt short of breath, mentally clouded and the mobility in my neck was limited. All of this was, of course, drastically impeding any progress I was trying to make at work, causing this awful negative spiral. Quite unpleasant.
I have been reading The Zahir, recommended by the awesome Cristina, and have had to read slowly to fully contemplate the intense lessons at work. Similar to The Omnivore's Dilemma, this is the type of book that I would (and maybe have) chased people around to relentlessly tell them how good it is. Seriously, read it, you'll love it.
While reading it, I have learned a lot, but mostly noticed that I put a lot of effort into tuning in to the present moment. Previously, yoga practice and teachers have told me to pay attention to the now, but I mostly heard this advice while I was on my mat suffering through, I mean, getting stronger with, each pose.
The Zahir gets credit for pushing me to apply that lesson to the rest of my life too. I mean really, in the United States, we spend roughly 230 days each year at work, give or take based on your holiday/vacation schedule. Regardless of how you feel about your job - love it, hate it, or love/hate it - it is going to cause stress for you and potentially people in your family/your roommates or neighbors. Of course, coworkers and supervisors can be difficult, projects can go off track or be delayed. BUT since Tuesday, I have found it enormously helpful to focus my energy on how I respond to the situation and what good things have happened that day. (This amazing weather and commuting on my new, awesome and as yet unnamed bike is making this task particularly easy, for now.)
Overnight, I gained a sense of control of dealing with anyone or anything in the best way that I can given the circumstances. I lost that gross feeling in my shoulders. I can fully move my neck again! I have realized that I literally do not want to spend any more of my time - at work, at home, or anywhere in between - taking on stress and allowing it to color the rest of my time. I have sort of a lot of time left on the Earth, hopefully, so I want to be smart and happy about how I spend it. Overall, I feel a great sense of possibility and ...freedom.
"Freedom is not the absence of commitments, but the ability to choose - and commit myself to - what is best for me." - The Zahir by Paulo Coelho
On Monday and part of Tuesday this past week, my stress from work was manifesting itself in terrible pain in my shoulders and upper back. I felt short of breath, mentally clouded and the mobility in my neck was limited. All of this was, of course, drastically impeding any progress I was trying to make at work, causing this awful negative spiral. Quite unpleasant.
I have been reading The Zahir, recommended by the awesome Cristina, and have had to read slowly to fully contemplate the intense lessons at work. Similar to The Omnivore's Dilemma, this is the type of book that I would (and maybe have) chased people around to relentlessly tell them how good it is. Seriously, read it, you'll love it.
While reading it, I have learned a lot, but mostly noticed that I put a lot of effort into tuning in to the present moment. Previously, yoga practice and teachers have told me to pay attention to the now, but I mostly heard this advice while I was on my mat suffering through, I mean, getting stronger with, each pose.
The Zahir gets credit for pushing me to apply that lesson to the rest of my life too. I mean really, in the United States, we spend roughly 230 days each year at work, give or take based on your holiday/vacation schedule. Regardless of how you feel about your job - love it, hate it, or love/hate it - it is going to cause stress for you and potentially people in your family/your roommates or neighbors. Of course, coworkers and supervisors can be difficult, projects can go off track or be delayed. BUT since Tuesday, I have found it enormously helpful to focus my energy on how I respond to the situation and what good things have happened that day. (This amazing weather and commuting on my new, awesome and as yet unnamed bike is making this task particularly easy, for now.)
Overnight, I gained a sense of control of dealing with anyone or anything in the best way that I can given the circumstances. I lost that gross feeling in my shoulders. I can fully move my neck again! I have realized that I literally do not want to spend any more of my time - at work, at home, or anywhere in between - taking on stress and allowing it to color the rest of my time. I have sort of a lot of time left on the Earth, hopefully, so I want to be smart and happy about how I spend it. Overall, I feel a great sense of possibility and ...freedom.
"Freedom is not the absence of commitments, but the ability to choose - and commit myself to - what is best for me." - The Zahir by Paulo Coelho
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