Vickster's Excellent Adventure
PRACTICE PEACE - IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED. This blog supports Peace, Personal Growth, The Energy of Love, civil liberties, human rights, good government, journalists and journalism, public libraries, and a vegan lifestyle. I am grateful for my health, employment, a warm home, indoor plumbing, and a new day.
Thursday, July 4, 2024
These people are bugging me!
Sunday, December 31, 2023
Another year ends, another year begins...
(Pretend there's an image here that says Thank you 2023, Hello 2024)
Another year ends, another year begins...Thank you to whoever's in charge of that.
We get to keep going.
I don't have anything planned as a personal retrospective of my year for this blog entry Am I forgetting something major? My recollection in this last 3 hours of 2023 is that, in my personal life, this was a year of telling myself the truth about some of my blind spots and limitations, such as:
Work people are likely not friend people. Don't confuse the two.
I don't incorporate lessons for improvement into my daily life.
I still believe something magical, or to me unexplainable that I don't know how to replicate, will be the change agent for my life.
I'm still waiting for the change agent to come into my life.
Oh yeah - the change agent needs to be me.
I don't know why I continue making log entries here.
I guess this is a way to announce to the world that I'm still here and I'm still trying.
It would be remiss not to mention all the turmoil in the world at large right now.
My heart and wishes for 2024 go out to all the people in the world suffering at the hands of their fellow human beings. What a tragedy it is that we, humans of Earth, have the capacity to hurt each other so profoundly when we are fearful.
I hope that people will feel the light inside them (wherever we think it comes from) and let that little light shine. We have to show each other the way out of the darkness of fear.
Let's all envision a world where everyone is valued and loved.
I have a theme each year that I use to inspire me. When I started doing it years ago, I noticed that I would almost immediately forget my theme. At the end of the year I'd remind myself of the theme and realize that somehow (magically?) I had made at least some amount of progress. I figured that putting the idea in my head got my brain and my spirit and my soul working on the theme while I continued my day to day schedule.
No wonder I believe in magical things happening!!
So, last year my theme was Authentic Empowerment.
I guess the fact that I learned a few truths about myself this year could be thought of as a bit of authentic empowerment.
I didn't incorporate it into my daily life. Although I did read the majority of "The Seat of the Soul", which was my guidebook, I don't think, though, I can truly say I am Authentically Empowered!
That goal will remain ongoing.
In 2024 my theme is "Act on commitments, not feelings"
I'm pretty good at following through on commitments I make to other people. I'm not good at keeping commitments I make to myself. Even things as simple as household chores or caring for my health. I very easily can say "Eh - I don't feel like it today," because I'm tired, too hungry, not in the mood, overwhelmed, frustrated, uncomfortable, or scared.
Actions will make change in my life (I'm pretty sure I wrote about that a few years ago!!)
So, this year I'm trying to be more specific about goals and then will develop the habits that will help me reach those goals.
Goal - by the end of 2024 I hope I can successfully pass the sit down-stand up test; sit on the floor from a standing position without using your hands, arms, or knees to slow your descent. Then stand back up—without using your hands, arms, or knees to help boost you back up, if possible. (Hint: Crossing your legs on the way down and the way up seems to help, and loosely holding your arms out to your sides can help with balance.). The test requires flexibility, motor coordination, balance, and ample muscle power relative to body weight. I've been leading an excessively sedentary life in the last ten years. It's time I recognize that I'm aging. I should be able to do more than I'm currently able (I huff and puff walking up/down stairs for example).
Goal - eat more healthy foods. One of the reason my body doesn't respond the way I expect (even with my acceptance of growing older) is because I don't nourish it properly. I haven't worked out what my specific daily plan will be yet. I read that one way to get started without feeling overwhelmed is to pick three healthy meal options that I feel I can accomplish, and that I don't mind eating repeatedly. Practice with those three, make them the foundation. Develop the habit of eating healthy. Try preparing some aspect of the meal ahead of time (such as prepare a batch of quinoa) so a quick meal is always at the ready. I don't have my three recipes nailed down yet, but it involves potato, sourdough bread, carrot/celery/tomato/cucumber/spinach, quinoa, chickpeas, falafel, and hummus. Maybe a few other things, but those feel like standbys to me.
Goal - read 12 fiction books and 6 nonfiction books.
Goal - get window blinds
Goal - dental health <-- the one that scares me the most.
Goal - stop saving articles and books I won't read, plus don't spend excessive amounts of money on app games!!!!
That's a lot to accomplish this year. And I feel very cliche putting health and fitness as goals. I want to remember that (sigh) yes, I'm as ordinary as everyone else who wants to lose weight starting out on New Year's Day, but that also means (Yay!) I'm not alone.
Honestly, I'm sitting here, New Year's Eve night - it's now 10:22 pm when I'm writing - and already dreading this lifestyle change; I don't want to have to do movement/exercise/cook food starting tomorrow and forevermore after that!!! I want to be a blob (I've had an active couple of days).
This isn't going to be easy.
To me and all the others making plans and goals for themselves, for New Year and all year, who struggle with motivation and consistency...I wish us courage.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Saturday, January 7, 2023
We have a Speaker of the House.
From Axios AM 1/7/2023
8. 🖼️ Framer
Rep.-elect Katie Porter — a Democrat from Orange County, Calif. — reads in the House chamber last night.
- Later she tweeted: "The 15th time's the charm, apparently."
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
The Republican House of Representatives
McCarthy wants to be Speaker so bad he's been accepting all kinds of demands from the 20 who won't vote for him. It makes him seem like a shallow, empty vessel. He'll do anything to be the Speaker. It's disturbing to see naked ambition right out in the open.
On top of it, McCarthy, and most of the people who don't want him, are Trump people and voted against the certification of the 2020 election. In my mind, they're extreme right wing. I listened to many of the nominating speeches and their view of the world is so different from mine, it's disheartening. Especially when I think about the world view of all the people who voted for them.
It's likely this will work out for McCarthy - I say that only because these things usually do. Even if it doesn't and someone else becomes Speaker, it still looks like the extreme ideologues have shown that they can exert power over shallow, ambitious men.
To be clear, this is my view of the extreme idealogues: they think Biden and Obama are the cause of every 'bad' thing in this country, they think federal government is too big and they want to destroy it by saying no and no and no, they believe there's a 'deep state swamp' that is run by elite liberals who are all Jewish, and they think white Christianity is being attacked, among other things. Their goals are to legislate their religious beliefs and deny rights to people who they don't like. They believe in freedom for all as long as the 'people' are white, Christian, heterosexual. and male.
And then, there are the regular conservatives who think entitlements are handouts for lazy people, they believe in trickle down economics, they believe in everybody looking out for themselves, and they care more about their money than people.
So, this is not good. I fear for the America I believe in.
From Dan Balz at The Washington Post
Saturday, December 31, 2022
Thank you 2022, Let's go 2023!!
I'll be honest - I completely forgot my themes for 2022 until I just now looked at last year's blog post: Avoid Avoidance and Trust Myself.
"The Seat of the Soul" by Gary Zukav"A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle"The Nature of Personal Reality" A Seth Book by Jane Roberts
- New Amsterdam S4, S5 (NBC) - I'm sad this is the last year
- Ghosts S1 (CBS) and Abbott Elementary S1, S2 (ABC) - good, friendly comedies
- The Bear S1 (Hulu) - compelling, with an easy/pat season finale.
- Tehran S2 (Apple TV+) - intense. I'm okay if there's no season 3, but I will watch if there is.
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+) - enjoying the cast, good stories.
- Masterpiece: Grantchester S7 (PBS) - love the characters and the ending
- The Resort (Peacock), engaging puzzle/mystery, good characters.
- The Mole S1 (Netflix) - good show
- The Big Brunch S1 (HBO Max) - good judges, good cast, good competition
- Andor S1 (Disney+) - excellent, story is perfect for our times. Empire and revolution
- The Peripheral S1 (Prime Video) good story, good characters who didn't unnecessarily hide things.
- Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan S1 (Prime Video) spy stuff - it was gory in places, but also good story.
- Only Murders in the Building S1 (Hulu) - I'm late to the game, but it was fun, funny, surprising.
- CODA (Apple+) Well done, father was fantastic, family was great, traditional coming-of-age story.
- Free Guy (HBO Max) Surprise to me - very fun
- Central Intelligence - another surprise that made me want to watch Kevin Hart and The Rock movies.
- Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle and The Next Level - fun, funny, Kevin Hart and The Rock.
- Everything, Everywhere, All at Once - Wowza - great movie. Lots of depth under all the mayhem. Michelle Yeoh is fantastic.
- The 355 (Amazon Prime) - female badass spies.
- What the Constitution Means to Me (Prime Video) - beautiful and stirring.
- Glass Onion, A Knives Out Mystery - I like this better than the first one and more in retrospect.
- Top Gun: Maverick - Who woulda thunk it? Great movie. Not cheesy.
Friday, December 31, 2021
Thank you 2021, Here's to 2022!!!
Take a look at NYTimes photos of the year. It's stunning to be reminded of all the things that have gone on this year: the capital riot, the continuing pandemic, Joe Biden/Kamala Harris inauguration, vaccines, migration from South and Central America, weather/climate change, Trump's second impeachment trial, Delta variant, Omicron variant, the fate of democracy in America, emboldened racists, and the escalating power of the religious right and their threat to American and human rights based on their religious beliefs (abortion rights, lgbtq rights).
It feels chaotic and sad and scary. I worry these days, in the future, will be referred to as the 'good old days', or the 'calm before the storm'.
At the same time there were lots of fantastic things happening. The pandemic was a time when people reexamined their lives, made new choices, quit their jobs, or changed their life focus. While inequality became more apparent, it also inspired people to educate themselves and get involved in making solutions. The weather disasters brought climate change to the front of conversations. In the most difficult times, we often have the most possibilities.
2021 has been quite a year for me. A highlight was meeting my biological sister and aunt on my father's side. I'm still getting to know them and at the same time I feel like I've known them all my life. I graduated from the University of Washington at the end of this year. Finally.
My theme for 2021 was 'My Effort Is My Love'. I have a sense that I was mindful about pushing through with a little more effort when I otherwise wouldn't have. Small tasks at work and at home. But also, big tasks. I didn't want to finish my degree a year ago. I was done with it. I felt like I'd gotten what I wanted out of it and didn't need to finish the last three classes. I pushed on anyway. They were fantastic classes. When I was thinking about last year's theme, I had an idea that it would be about making an effort to show people I love them. I don't think I did that very well. I continued to stay isolated. School and work kept me busy.
I feel energized for what 2022 could bring now that I'm done with school. I feel the excitement of new beginnings on the horizon (that I can't quite see) and a calling to reconnect with my Higher Self (so I can envision my new path). I want to learn about creating visual 'explainers' and writing about current events. Get back to artistic pursuits? I want to read books and watch movies. I want to Make My House A Home - my home environment is comfortable for me but doesn't feel warm and inviting. I want to continue saving money and prioritizing sleep. I want to be more physically active. I want to do better with food and eating healthy.
For the New Year, I will be mindful of staying focused (even if it's for a short time) and making an effort - to take one more step to finish a task completely. Those are themes from previous years that are still useful and beneficial to my life.
The new ideas for 2022 are two: Avoid Avoidance, and Trust Myself.
How many projects or tasks are left unfinished because the next step is either scary, uncomfortable, or difficult. I avoid it. In 2022 I want to recognize when I'm 'avoiding' and think my way through to the action that is best for me.
How many newspaper or magazine articles have I saved that I'll never read? I'm usually looking for 'perfect knowledge' before I formulate my opinion on a topic. I don't trust myself to not be influenced by other people whose intentions or agendas I don't recognize. I want very much to have my own opinion.
This year, I'd like to accept the fact that I won't have perfect knowledge and I can trust myself, I can stop saving articles unless I'm specifically researching a topic related to a writing or 'explainer' project.
I often feel pressure to make a decision in a rush. But I can take a moment to check in with myself - take a deep breath - before giving an opinion or answer.
It seems extremely important, when I state my opinion or answer a question without perfect knowledge, to be open to receiving new information. I often believe I'm open to new information, but deep down the default position I start with is my own previous decision. I don't think that's being 'open'.
These are some of the ideas I want to work with in 2022.
On this last day of 2021, I want to acknowledge that we're all thinking of our wonderful Betty White. When I was a young game show enthusiast (home from school, sick) I watched her on Password and The Match Game. I saw her bawdy side on The Mary Tyler Moore show. She was a joy on The Golden Girls. We had her for a long time, but it wasn't enough.
Along with Betty White, here are some other things I'm grateful for - this year and every year...
Young people who have a lot of energy to wake up the world
Old people who have seen the way life ebbs and flows
Parents who have the courage to create humans
People who love
Babies and children who are full of possibility
Teachers who share their knowledge
Workers who give all of us food, energy, air, safety
Thinkers and Doers, Activists and Communicators who help us move along.
Musicians and Artists who open our hearts
Thank you 2021. Thank you for the days and nights I was given to dance this life. I didn't use every moment in a way that makes me proud or happy, but there were plenty more moments of love and laughter, of hope and gratitude, of presence and peace. Thank you.
I'll keep dancing this life into 2022!!!
Friday, February 12, 2021
Donald Trump's second Impeachment Trial
The House of Representatives rested their case for conviction of Donald Trump yesterday.
Last night, three senators - Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, and Lindsey Graham - met with the President's defense team to discuss their strategy.
Note: those three are 'jurors' in this case. Although this isn't a criminal proceeding - it's completely political - the expectation is that the 'jurors' will go into the process with an open mind. It's commonly reported that the result of this Impeachment is a foregone conclusion. Most Republicans will not vote to Impeach the Trump.
The benefit of proceeding with the trial even though the result is already known:
- Get all the information into the official record.
- An impeached person is barred from ever holding office again
- To support the institutions of government over the political ambitions of one party or one person.