Segments

Sometimes I don't have enough on a subject for single posts. Consider those also like live exercises.

I met this woman while walking my dog. Older woman. In her fifties maybe. She walks that hundred and thirty pounds monster named Mookie. I saw her, but I didn't want to wave and commit to a friendly discussion from across the street, so I looked away. Then I felt like an asshole and looked back. She's a nice woman and casual conversation is harmless after all. But she looked away, she had the same reflex. We kept having these failed attempts at human contact for a minute, maybe. Then we both walked away. I wonder if she went home and felt bad too. We both failed at making the minimum effort to initiate human contact.

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Something displeases me about that writer, Tom Wolfe. I can't put a name on it. His white suits for example. Some of my author-colleagues would say he's a genius, that he branded himself and created an image way before his time. The way I see things, it's tacky and vain. In the era of internet and name-branding, he's still the only one that does that. There's also something about his aggressive way of being outspoken and happy. He's seeking constant approval of his intellect. It's ticking me off, but it's also intriguing. I have never read a single line of Tom Wolfe, but his works polarizes the crowds. He's unlike all the writers I love, but he's also a part of their group. Hell, he hung out with HST...

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Unwinding and relaxing are two very different activities. One involves the body and the other involves the mind. Now that I'm doing one in preparation for the other, I can see the difference as clearly as the sky outside my living room window. I'm growing more and more restless as I stay home and function in economy mode. I see the clouds are even moving fast today and I figure out I should be doing something. Unwinding is dangerous. If your mind out of the equation, you will always be tired and always unwind. It's a vicious circle. I should know, I grew up witnessing it. I realize I'm having high expectations out of my trip, but also, I know I'll have to give my 200% over there. My body will hold up because my mind will be at ease, experiencing an array of new experiences. Unwinding is time off and relaxing is time off work. There is such a thing as recuperating responsibly.