Well, my Dad says you have to take the side roads to see the sights. Taking the freeway is just getting there without enjoying the trip.
I agree, to a point. For those of us who travel this stretch every day however, there's plenty to see. The Fall colors along I-75 in Northern Michigan have been beautiful this year. There has been mighty impressive sky too, challenging you to pay attention to the road. The yellows seem brighter, the reds more fiery, and through it all the evergreens are a constant backdrop for the fall fashion show of color.
Those side roads will always beckon, but when you're simply looking to get on home, you tend to take the quickest way. Nothing says it can't be beautiful though, you simply have to look. Beauty is where you find it.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Blue Monday
Yes, it's February and my world is white. Why do I feel blue today? The weekend was very busy but a lot of fun. Work today is going well - no deadlines looming and the workload is not overwhelming for a change. No real reason to be blue, but here it is, a blue Monday.
Sometimes you need a kick in the pants to get out of a funk, and sometimes you have to be the kicker. Makes it tough when you have to be the one kicking your own butt. Today I definitely need the kick, and since it's against my nature to confide in anyone when the blues hit, I better loosen up the leg and get started.
What I need is a deadline or some goal today to ward off the blues.
Sometimes you need a kick in the pants to get out of a funk, and sometimes you have to be the kicker. Makes it tough when you have to be the one kicking your own butt. Today I definitely need the kick, and since it's against my nature to confide in anyone when the blues hit, I better loosen up the leg and get started.
What I need is a deadline or some goal today to ward off the blues.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
White Knuckles and Wall Huggers
Contemplating the drive home for the holidays and somehow now my daily drive doesn't seem so bad. Usually I have company going downstate, but I probably won't this time. A family emergency has made it so that my house partner will be heading down tonight or tomorrow morning, and I won't follow until sometime on Friday. No help for it - I can't get out of work due to commitments at the office, and he must get down there as soon as he can. All I can do is try to make it as stress-free for him as possible. Kind of hard to do that when I'll be dreading the drive down myself.
Since my move Up North, I've become a lousy driver in busy traffic. I'm one of those 'white knucklers' that you pass and laugh at, like the person on the outside ring of the skating rink, hugging the wall and afraid to get into the mainstream. I know that by the end of the weekend I'll be back to my lane changing, swearing, charging downstate driver self, but am secure in the knowledge that it won't take too long to revert back to my Up North casual commuter stance.
Until that time, if you happen to look over and see someone who seems to be having a rough time of it, give them a break and back off, keep your brights down, and for Pete's sake, be a polite driver out there.
Since my move Up North, I've become a lousy driver in busy traffic. I'm one of those 'white knucklers' that you pass and laugh at, like the person on the outside ring of the skating rink, hugging the wall and afraid to get into the mainstream. I know that by the end of the weekend I'll be back to my lane changing, swearing, charging downstate driver self, but am secure in the knowledge that it won't take too long to revert back to my Up North casual commuter stance.
Until that time, if you happen to look over and see someone who seems to be having a rough time of it, give them a break and back off, keep your brights down, and for Pete's sake, be a polite driver out there.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Does the Title Drive the Thought or the Other Way Around?
Do you find yourself struggling with putting a tag on your thoughts, trying to compartmentalize everything instead of simply letting it flow? I know I do. Writing this blog is teaching me that sometimes you need to just let things come as they will, and worry about what to call them later.
Trying to come up with a catchy title and then make the words fit just doesn't work. Start writing. Let the words come and you'll find your thoughts running over each other racing to get out. If you must, wait until you're finished and then let the title come.
It's much easier to look at something that's done and then decide what to call it. Like trying to stick a label on a person and then expect them to conform to that label. Let people be who they are - then decide where they fit in your world. Such infinite possibilities.
Writing is full of such possibilities, waiting for you to unlock them with your talent and energy. It's up to you to take that energy and drive your talent. Don't waste it. Write. Paint. Whittle. Doesn't matter - just drive!
Trying to come up with a catchy title and then make the words fit just doesn't work. Start writing. Let the words come and you'll find your thoughts running over each other racing to get out. If you must, wait until you're finished and then let the title come.
It's much easier to look at something that's done and then decide what to call it. Like trying to stick a label on a person and then expect them to conform to that label. Let people be who they are - then decide where they fit in your world. Such infinite possibilities.
Writing is full of such possibilities, waiting for you to unlock them with your talent and energy. It's up to you to take that energy and drive your talent. Don't waste it. Write. Paint. Whittle. Doesn't matter - just drive!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Setting Moon, Rising Sun
Beautiful ride in this morning. Crisp air, a fluff of snow and a gorgeous full moon. My companion for a few miles until the clouds started coming in. It was wonderful to still be able to see the moon peeking through as I rolled on - my speed combining with the clouds movement made for a beautiful moondance across the sky.
The moon slipped quickly toward the western horizon, dipping in and out of the clouds and changing color from a brilliant white to a soft pink, then orange. Striking beauty, made all the more powerful by reason of the brevity of its existence - I felt privileged to be a witness to its passage.
As the glow from the moon began to fade it was replaced by a lightening of the sky as the sun began to rise. Many mornings are filled with spectacular sunrises, forcing you to catch your breath and commanding your attention. This wasn't one of those mornings, but rather a soft, slow lightening, calmly and without drama coming forward, gradually replacing the inky blackness of the starry night with the soft glow of dawn.
It's tempting to mourn the loss of a spectacular night sky when faced with a sedate sunrise, but I would much rather look forward to seeing what the new day will bring than to sulk because the night is done. It's important to remember the night's beauty while appreciating the promise of a new day, and being grateful that the new day is here.
The moon slipped quickly toward the western horizon, dipping in and out of the clouds and changing color from a brilliant white to a soft pink, then orange. Striking beauty, made all the more powerful by reason of the brevity of its existence - I felt privileged to be a witness to its passage.
As the glow from the moon began to fade it was replaced by a lightening of the sky as the sun began to rise. Many mornings are filled with spectacular sunrises, forcing you to catch your breath and commanding your attention. This wasn't one of those mornings, but rather a soft, slow lightening, calmly and without drama coming forward, gradually replacing the inky blackness of the starry night with the soft glow of dawn.
It's tempting to mourn the loss of a spectacular night sky when faced with a sedate sunrise, but I would much rather look forward to seeing what the new day will bring than to sulk because the night is done. It's important to remember the night's beauty while appreciating the promise of a new day, and being grateful that the new day is here.
Friday, December 17, 2010
How Can They Call This a Tax Cut?
Cruising along, listening to the radio when NPR starts talking about the new tax cuts passing through the House and Senate. Doesn't sound too bad - a little more cash in the pocket is always nice. What I am interested in though is why this "cut" is made to Social Security Tax and not our Withholding.
If the tax cut was made through the withholding, then I would be more comfortable about it, but the fact is, social security is my retirement account. My contributions to social security are an investment in my future, and a guaranteed way for my employer to be mandated by law to contribute. Now I'm cutting back my investment, and my employer is being relieved of adding to it. How many folks out there are relying on social security as their only means to save for retirement? Only the ones who will really need it, and they're the ones who are getting screwed here.
I can see that this is a safe way for the government to say they're giving us a tax cut, but they're really not. All they're doing is stopping us from investing in a future payback they would have to make. The social security taxes are, in reality, a loan from us to the government that they will have to pay back. Our withholding taxes on the other hand are simply us giving them money to use however they decide to. They don't have to pay that back to us, and believe me, they don't want to.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but does this seem right to you? Calling it a tax cut when it's really something else just seems unethical. What do you think?
If the tax cut was made through the withholding, then I would be more comfortable about it, but the fact is, social security is my retirement account. My contributions to social security are an investment in my future, and a guaranteed way for my employer to be mandated by law to contribute. Now I'm cutting back my investment, and my employer is being relieved of adding to it. How many folks out there are relying on social security as their only means to save for retirement? Only the ones who will really need it, and they're the ones who are getting screwed here.
I can see that this is a safe way for the government to say they're giving us a tax cut, but they're really not. All they're doing is stopping us from investing in a future payback they would have to make. The social security taxes are, in reality, a loan from us to the government that they will have to pay back. Our withholding taxes on the other hand are simply us giving them money to use however they decide to. They don't have to pay that back to us, and believe me, they don't want to.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but does this seem right to you? Calling it a tax cut when it's really something else just seems unethical. What do you think?
Thursday, December 16, 2010
An Uneventful Drive is NOT a Boring Drive
Wow, there I was on the road again at 6:40 a.m., driving into work during my 60 mile commute, and... nothing.
The roads were clear (thanks guys!) and the snow was gently falling, not creating any hazards. The other drivers on the road, when there were any, were for the most part courteous. Only a few kept their brights on too long. I didn't pass any accidents and there were no animals leaping in front of my wheels in an attempt to commit suicide. A rather tame ride in today for which I am very grateful.
The only danger I faced this morning was of falling asleep at the wheel. When those tail lights ahead of you start to dance around you know you're in trouble. Switch the radio stations or turn it off for a few minutes - sometimes your thoughts can entertain you better than the radio anyway. The problem there is that your inner eye can play tricks on you - you can be thinking of something else and not even see the road in front of you.
It's important to stay focused and be present. Drive the car - don't simply ride along.
The roads were clear (thanks guys!) and the snow was gently falling, not creating any hazards. The other drivers on the road, when there were any, were for the most part courteous. Only a few kept their brights on too long. I didn't pass any accidents and there were no animals leaping in front of my wheels in an attempt to commit suicide. A rather tame ride in today for which I am very grateful.
The only danger I faced this morning was of falling asleep at the wheel. When those tail lights ahead of you start to dance around you know you're in trouble. Switch the radio stations or turn it off for a few minutes - sometimes your thoughts can entertain you better than the radio anyway. The problem there is that your inner eye can play tricks on you - you can be thinking of something else and not even see the road in front of you.
It's important to stay focused and be present. Drive the car - don't simply ride along.
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