Life Is Meaningless

I woke up this morning at 3:30, excited by the anticipated morning run. Another iteration of my life is about to begin. My thoughts were about the utter futility and meaninglessness of life.

Maybe some of us have too much time on hands to think about stuff like this.

I did have a wonderful run this morning as the sun rose. It was cool, breezy and clear. I had an egg sandwich and a beer afterward. Sure, life is meaningless, but some days life is also good.

I did another 2.5 miles in the late afternoon, just for fun, and feeling guilty about the breakfast beer. HHMM, that extra run burned about 300 calories, I can have another beer. I really should become a hasher.


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Running Quotes

I get a daily e-mail with a Runner's World's quotes. The last few weeks I've received several which match my philosophy about this obsession addiction pastime lifestyle.

"Running is my private time, my therapy, my religion." - Gail W. Kislevitz, writer

"I can't imagine living and not running." - Paula Radcliffe

"Remember, the feeling you get from a good run is far better than the feeling you get from sitting around wishing you were running." - Sarah Condor

Today I did treadmill intervals at the gym , 800m, 3x3:30, 2x3:22, incline set to 1, 400m recovery jog between(2:15), 800m warmup and cooldown. I added in a 4 mi easy afternoon run after work for a total of 8 miles.

Mileage Stats:
Today - 8
Year - 25

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Porno Wine

This classic work of art (1895 bicycle advertisement) is now considered "pornography" in Alabama, and the wine that uses this label is now banned.

Un-freaking-believable!

P.S. Sales of the wine haved boomed. What could be better than free advertising courtesy of Alabama law makers who have nothing better to do than to judge whether artwork is pornography

May Day

tap tappity click
labor of cubicle slut
easy on payday

The Dog in the Hole

I know, I know. It's been a while since my last post.

I missed a post celebrating three years of blogging (December 12).

I haven't made a list of my seasonal wishes for non-gifts.

I haven't been barking about what's wrong with the world.

Where are my raves about my favorite pastime and addiction (Can you guess what I mean?)

I didn't even comment about the Iraqi Reporter, who insulted Dogs, while trying show his love for our current lame duck President's liberation of the reporter's country. The President claimed he wasn't insulted and thanked the man for his gift of shoes. I do give Bush kudos for his fast reflexes, the reporter would have hit the Busheye if he hadn't ducked.

There are good reasons for my lack of blogging; apathy, workload, other interests, more reading, and mostly because of positive changes coming our direction.

The country is undergoing a change, political and economical, and my rants about those issues will be useless at this point. The economy is collapsing, as I've been warning about for two years here, and the political landscape is being molded into something more to my liking. I hope the new administration can bring back the optimism and fiscal responsibility we had in the 1990's, but I think it's going to take a long time to rebuild, restore, and progress towards a more peaceful, more forgiving, less materialistic world.

Another issue that has been missing is my usual rants about this time of the year. Well, now if the country can change, then so can I. So I will make the most of celebrating the Winter Solstice this Sunday with a long run, a few beers (with chasers) and a feast.

Wait a minute, Freaky niCk, isn't that what you do every Sunday?

Yes, it sure is! The reasons we celebrate this season should be embraced all year long. Then we wouldn't need a special time for charity, good will, love, peace, and merriment, and leave this time of year for brightening up the long dark winter nights.

whispers in the night
fresh air whirls around my head
chase me to the source

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E-Overload

Too much e-stuff, the stuff that is supposed to make our lives easier, is actually making life more complicated. Am I wrong?

I've worked in the Information Systems development and management for most of my career, and I see things getting so complicated and convoluted, they have the opposite effect of their intent.

If the implementation of an automated systems becomes a management and security nightmare, is it worth the effort?

I'm ready for a career change.

September Ends, Please Don't Wake Me Up

Last month has been one to remember: Storms, evacuations, family, relatives, doctor appointments, travel, curtains shutting, stress, loneliness, failing economy.

Good Bad Happy Sad
Moments of Significance
Sun shines above clouds


It's life. It gets in the way of your plans. Life. Why can't we stick to the plan?

What's Next?

It's time for some Homeostasis and a Trail Run.

"Sing me to sleep,
Sing me to sleep,
I'm tired and I
I want to go to bed......"

- Asleep - The Smiths

Feeling "Infinite"?

Turn OFF

Thanks to azgoddess for reminding me to turn out the lights tonight.

Find something to do which can be done in the dark......

.....like Dancing.

Quietly, Into the Light

Apathy has taken control of my blog time.

The voices are still there, shouting as loud as ever.

I have found a way to block out the yelling in my head.


The voices stop when I look directly into the light.

Your Bondage

You cannot be spiritual and egocentric at the same time.

You cannot say you have an eternal soul, if you are selfishly focused on your life, your beliefs, and your understanding of the material world.

You cannot say you know God, if you think that humans are some kind of unique deity-chosen animal to be the "caretaker" of this place. Humans are no more special than a handful of soil, or the worms that work it so life can prosper. Without either, life, as humans define it, would not exist.

Humans were late-comers to this planet, and will most likely be gone before this planet's demise. It is the natural order of things, to change, rid the bad parts, develop more useful and healthy life. Human life is only a mere speck of ordered material, inhabited for a very brief time on this piece of leftover debris.

Then there are the mysteries no human will ever know. The how, where, why, and what answers which are beyond what our limited insight and intelligence can show us. What is beyond the known universe, and beyond what we will never know? On that, we must rely on faith.

The lasting affect of long dead prophets, philosophers, and a supposed messiah, is not who they were nor how they lived, but how their past lives and teachings still influence our daily lives.

Enjoy all aspects of life. It is short, scary, and meaningless. The only thing that will outlast your brief moment of deluded consciousness, and bring some kind of meaning to your existence, is the affect you have on other meaningless lives.

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Overwhelmed

For the next few weeks, and possibly permanently, look for new posts here on Sundays.

I'll be running in a half marathon Saturday, then going to play in the snow in the Smoky Mountains, weather permitting. A winter storm is developing and could be hitting us on Saturday. The weather man has even said the "S" word about Friday night/Saturday morning, I doubt it will happen (I'm an optimist), but a cold rain or freezing precipitation could make things interesting, since I don't have cold weather rain gear for running.

Work, training, and a hectic schedule have me a bit overwhelmed for a little while. Please keep the place tidy.

Twelve Twenty One

Only few days left before we celebrate how much Capitalism means to the U.S.A.

There's a "War" on it. Well, you can talk about there being a "reason" for this holiday, but few actually show it. They say actions speak louder than words, well show me what it means to you, quit just talking about it.

In my honest, humble, freaky opinion:

It should be a universal holiday to celebrate the beginning of life (the birth of a child) who is a child of a higher power (aren't we ALL). Conceiving a baby is the only way to keep human life on this planet, so it should be treated as a high honor. It doesn't matter if it is an poor unwed mother, teenagers discovering the beauty of human intimacy, or soul conceived in a relationship betrayal. It is a honor, and those receiving this honor should be placed on pedestal, there is no shame in any pregnancy.

Those not wishing to receive this honor or the responsibility it carries, should not be forced into receiving it by the judgements of others. It is intensely personal, just like spiritual beliefs, and cannot be applied uniformly to a species with very diverse lives and personalities.

Birth control and safe legal abortion must remain available to ensure the humans have the education and means necessary to make this life long decision, and to honor the sanctity of life. Those decisions must be made with logic and reason, not state or church control. The metaphoric "God" is in control of all our actions, and whatever the result, it is "His" decision.

That way we can have a holiday to honor the birth of a child for the "miracle" it is, the creation of life by a higher power in which we are the instruments of its actions.

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New Tricks for an Old Dog

Mauigirl tagged me.

I already did my last tag. It was titled A Tag to End All Tags.

It's not that I don't like these fun "assignments", but it feels like homework. Now I got this voice in my head saying "They're not going to like you unless you do the tag", and another catatonic consciousness repeating "must do tag".

After I finish the tag, I'm always glad for the easy way to come up with a blog post. Even though I might say I dislike tags, I really like them, but I'm afraid of the commitment thing, so I try avoid them.

Make sense to you? Yeah, me neither.

I put it off for a week, and the voices keep getting louder. OKAY, DAMN it, I'll do it.

Here's the Tag: You must write about five classes you would like to take if you could make up your own curriculum. AND- and this is important, ONE of them must come from your tagger's list.

How to Watch George W. Bush Make a Speech Without Screaming at the Television:

Learn to how to channel your anger into more constructive reactions than throwing hammers and rocks at the Nationalistic Conservative Traitors of America when they make speeches that show this nation being led by the same people who idolize Homer and Bart Simpson.


Living in the South:

Topics: Eat Pork at every meal. Dressing in winter clothes when the temperatures hit the frigid 50's. Where to go to Church. The Art of Fried Food. Life without dentistry, vegetables, or higher education. Mobile Home real estate. Inter-Familial relationships. Banjo Playing. This isn't really a class, but a way to understand (and make fun of) southern life.


Dream Interpretation:

Are those recurring dreams nagging you? Are you frustrated with situations that have you dreaming you're trapped and wake up in a cold sweat? Learn to interpret your dreams, take control of the unconscious mind, and resolve unknown issues you don't realize are making you a mental wreck. Bonus: Lucid Dreaming: Learn to control your dreams.


Holiday Shopping 101:

Pick the perfect gift every time. The art of browsing stores for hours to come up with bad choices for those undecideds. How to tune out the ugly holiday decorations and awful music that usually make you want to bash your head against a brick wall. Learn to be cheerful, full of holiday spirit, and completely clueless about the evils of the holidays. End your craving for World Peace by becoming part of the problem that fuels the world's war machines. Become one of the constantly consuming masses which purchase tons of useless junk nobody wants.


Herbalism:

Remember the days of old when Grandmother strapped a warm mustard pack to our congested chests when we had a cold? Or used a warmed tea bag to rid pink eye, a clove of garlic to stop an earache, or prepared a mixture of chaparral and olive oil as a cure for itchy skin? Herbs or medicinal plants have a long history in treating disease. In traditional Chinese medicine, for example, the written history of herbal medicine goes back over 2000 years and herbalists in the West have used “weeds” equally long to treat that which ails us. We are all familiar with the virtues of Garlic, Chamomile, Peppermint, Lavender, and other common herbs. Treat conditions naturally without all the toxic side effects of the pharmaceutical corporations drugs.

I will not tag anyone, unless you want me to, then consider yourself tagged.

If you'd like to participate, then jump in and join the fun. Clothing is optional.

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Ipso Factor - Ultimate Freak

The last of my daily routine posts Ipso Facto series detailing the freakishness of a nonconformist who is frightened by variety.

18:00 - MWF - Daily Walk, T-Th - Clean, Laundry.
18:30 - MWF - Still Walking, T-Th - Surf (TV, Internet), Shout obscenities at the idiots in power.
19:00 - Brush Teeth then Shower or bath. Some Tuesdays I watch Nova, one of the few series I still like, that and 60 Minutes (I can't believe Andy Rooney is still doing his commentary).
19:15 - Read blogs, or book. Sometimes I read while sitting in a chair, music in background, other times I read while soaking in a hot bathtub. The blogging has taken away from my time to read. I used to read at least one book a week, pulling a book from Modern Library's 100 Best Novels of the Twentieth Century (Reader's List). Over the last year, it has been only one book a month. I find blogging much more interesting, but I need to get back to reading those novels.
20:30 - Secret Relaxation Technique. I could go public, but it would put a serious dent in my free time, so I keep it to myself and maybe an intimate friend, once or twice a year.
21:00 - 21:30 - Bedtime. Hey, I have to be up by 5:00 AM. I will be up for an hour sometime during the night.

Weekends - If I'm racing, on Saturday morning I'm up at 3:00 AM to have my breakfast, and have it completely digested by race time. I don't sleep very well before a race, so getting up is no problem. The time between 3:00 AM and race time flies by so quickly, I barely have time to do all I need to do to prepare. I have to have things a certain way, or my mojo is out of whack. You know what I'm talking about!

If I'm not racing, I do the same thing, but go out on a long run in the neighborhoods. I enjoy these runs more, because I feel better after a long slow run, than a race, but I enjoy socializing with other runners at a race, so each has it's benefits.

The rest of the day: Lunch, Nap, Veg Out or get a cup of coffee and browse a bookstore.

On Sunday - Long Run, Grocery Store, Mall (except November and December, I will not go anywhere near a mall or other retail store), bookstore, lunch, nap, TV or Internet surf, another short fast run, then my usual routine before bedtime (see above).

Okay, now you can quit banging your head against the wall. To me this IS fun. Really, it is. Really, Really.

Music: The End Of The Line - Traveling Wilburys

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Three Three Three

Aren't numbers great.

The number 333 is one of the greatest. Three three's.

Today is my three hundred thirty third post on this blog.

We can take any number in the infinity of numbers, and assign a meaning that has some cosmic, spiritual, astrological, historical, or other inconsequential relation, and that number can become a symbol of love, hate, evil, or other attribute that we will try to use to determine the meaning of life.

Every number has a meaning.

333 = 3^2·37, Mertens function returns 0, Harshad number. Meaning 'MUCH LOVE' (more 3's = more hearts)

In High School, room 333 is the room you went to make out.

Yep, I'm running out of random thoughts and the voices haven't been as loud as they were in the past, so you get a bunch of nonsense.

You all have a safe and wonderful trip/visit/feast. I'll be having dinner with friends from a different dimension. First, I'll be running a 10K for a Jewish Community Center in Birmingham. I give thanks that my legs have given my such a wonderful life.

Music for 333 post: Cry Baby - 333

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Ipso Facto - Continued

More of the daily routine if a slightly OCD application developer in a production technical support position.......

11:00 - Eat Lunch at Desk while completing tasks, or surfing the Internet
12:30 - Make sure there's coffee for the Afternoon Coffee Break, if not, make it
13:00 - Afternoon coffee break: Coffee, Apple, 2 Mile walk (if weather is nice, and tasks are completed)
14:00 - Complete tasks or send out status.
15:00 - Drive Home. I hate traffic, I hate drivers who don't know what going on around them, I loath people talking on cell phones while driving. This is the worst time of my day, and the traffic isn't even bad here, but many idiots are on the road, anyway. On days I have to drive home in rush hour, I feel like suicide or causing massive destruction to anything within reach. (Believe it or not, I used to drive in D.C. traffic, Northern Virginia, I-95 from Dale City to the Pentagon. It didn't take long before I was using the slug lines, buses, and trains)
15:30 - 16:00 - Check personal email, blog, news, weather
16:00 - Tuesday and Thursday, afternoon run. Other days, Veg out, cook dinner, take a walk, or sit in park and watch neighbors fish while catching up on the local gossip.
17:00 - Dinner. I'm rarely late. Sometimes I can't wait and start early. I'm always hungry, and it's a struggle to wait for dinner on some days. I usually start dinner by watching the news, get bored and channel surf or watch part of a movie.
17:30 - Clean up, wash dishes (by hand, it's only me and I don't use that many dishes)

If you think that's the ultimate in boring dorkiness, just wait until I tell you about my hypo-exciting evening and non-stop weekend monotony, next week.

"Get Crazy with the Cheese-Whiz": Loser - Beck

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Choices

The choices we make in life determine who we are, or will be.

Does it? Really?

Are we the product of wise or poor decisions? Do we really have a choice of who we are or will become?

Free will is a popular topic on the Dilbert Blog. He contends that we really don't have free will, just the illusion of free will and in the end the the choices we make have no effect on who we are, or on the evolution of the human race or the planet. It is who we are that effect our choices.

I have to agree with his theory. There are many views I have over the years that effect who I am, and there is no way I can change this just be willing it.

I wish I was an extrovert, they seem to be much happier than introverts like myself.

If I could, I would have faith in a supreme being and an eternal place for our salvation, then I could have better peace of mind. (Most religionists don't have faith, or peace of mind either, so I'm not talking about conforming to some religion.)

Do we choose to love someone, or is that connection or preference for another person pre-wired into us?

I could go on about how certain people would choose to be someone else, or have a different lifestyle than the one have, to make their life easier. Pretending to be something you are not, ruins lives, and causes internal mental and emotional damage. However, accepting and being who you are can create much hardship and turmoil from external groups and the society you have to interact with on a daily basis.

You could say that I used free will to create today's post. Well, if I didn't, would my view on the subject be any different?

Song Post: A Murder Of One - Counting crows

Ipso Facto

My Morning: (Today's mediocre attempt to come up with daily posts for NaBloPoMo)

4:45: Awake - Lay there for a 15 Minutes stretching trying to think myself into getting out of bed, bed is warm and comfy
5:00: Get out of bed, Turn on lights, wake up PC, Take vitamins, ginko biloba, ginseng, iron supplement with half a glass of water
5:02: pee
5:05: Check E-mail, News, Blog Comments, Comic strips SinFest and Dilbert.
5:15: Eat Breakfast, Cold cereal. oatmeal, or muesli. Have Orange or Cranberry Juice (usually while reading or watching news)
5:25: Brush Teeth, Shower, Dress
5:35: In car heading for work
5:50: At work, Wake up Workstation, Check E-mails, respond to alerts, do daily system health checks, put out any fires
6:15: Write Blog Entry (depends on; if I have time and how loud the voices are screaming)
6:30: Make Coffee, give a apathetic attempt to say "G'Mornin" to a few other early souls and third shift crew
6:45: Coffee Ready. GET OUT OF MY WAY.

-- Be right back, I need to make and consume my daily wake up elixir. Can you guess what time it is?

7:00: First gulps of coffee are in me, I can feel the effects.
7:00 - 9:30: Daily work tasks. (I fix databases, application software, and application access problems)
9:30 - 11:00: Head to the gym for morning run (time varies based on time of year)

If everything goes according to plan, projectiles will remain still, and no one will be victimizied by my "This isn't what I planned" rage.

Coming Next Thursday: More of my daily routine (unless I find something more exciting to blog about)

Daily Music Dose - Something To Talk About by Badly Drawn Boy from the Soundtrack of the movie About A Boy

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You deserve a break today.........

The posting will be very light for the next month. Some of us like to keep busy, so we can fool people into believing we have some sort of life.

This weekend, and next, I will be running around the state finding new places to run and hike.

Next week I will be in a "Leadership Development" class. Scary, isn't it. To think I will be managing people (again). Danger Danger Will Robinson.

Then, the week after that I will be traveling to an exotic paradise to visit my daughter and grandaughters. If you guys behave, I will try to post pictures. As you guys can tell, I'm not into the whole pics and viddy thing, but I'm sure the daughter will take a picture or two.

Yes, I have been trying to pay attention to the news, but they are trying to distract us with that OJ crap. Who cares! Sally Fields and Kathy Griffin have just earned more respect from me. If you can offend, it's worth lots of free publicity. I will be thinking up lots of ways to offend people during my blog break.

Later.

Clickety Click

V o t e * f o r * n i C k

Don't forget to Vote for niCk in the "What Evil Spock Means To Me" poll.

This is the Last week. Take action. Remember, you can vote once a day.

I'm keeping this conceited attempt for attention on top for the next week. My regular posts will be posted below until next weekend. Thanks to all that have inflated my ego thus far.