Today is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I had a few thoughts to say but they say it so much better here.
Unfortunately, the United States doesn’t support these rights as much as I always hope they will. perhaps Obama will bring us more in line.
On a frivolous note, my favorite right to ponder has always been Article 24: Everyone hast the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
So many people have said already explained it far better than I can - the ebulliency of Obama becoming our first african american president elect clashing against the fact that in many states people voted based on their homophobia. Arizona, Florida and California have all either pass or look likely to pass bans of gay marriage and Arkansas has banned adoption by LGBT people. Florida’s ban is especially striking because they’ve ALREADY banned gay marriage numerous times.
Of all of these, California is the one getting the most press because it is the most influential since it strikes down existing legislation. And for many couples, this ban means that, for the second time, their marriage has been made invalid.
So yes, I’m thrilled, as are many about Obama but even as they were calling the election for him I was online tracking the votes for homophobia and hatred across the country… My heart is saddened.
Every year as October approaches I get excited. I get excited for the fall leaves, the crispness of the air, the bite of fresh apples, pumpkins, squash and other fall vegetables and for my birthday.
When I was little I remember birthday’s being an exciting event but I also remember rarely getting to have a party. (I won’t bore you with those reasons here.) And I always wanted to have a party.
I remember the couple of times we moved and my birthday seeming so early in the school year that I hadn’t yet made friends good enough to have a party with.
But most of all I remember the past few years when I’ve finally realized that even if most people my age and older seem insouciant about birthdays that does not mean that I need to gloss over that extra year added on. No, I celebrate the whole month of my birthday and the culmination is the day of my birthday – today!
Yes, it’s my birthday, and I’ll celebrate if I want to. I tell anyone and everyone that I’m, very proudly, 33. This year has been a crazy one but a good one in most respects and I’m hoping for nothing but the best for the year to come. Starting fresh again with all the wisdom of my 33 years… watch out world, here I come.
Fall is truly here. The crisp joy of cooler weather and warmer, cozier clothes but along with that is the melancholy of approaching winter. I want to curl up with a good book, a cup of tea and a cat and snooze the day away. I also want to cook delicious hearty soups, apple pies and meatloaf. Every year this feeling catches and grips on and I ache wanting something different but not knowing what that is. This year, the heaviness has taken on an additional exhausted quality.
For years now the missus and I have talked about it. Talked about how to fit it into our lives, how to fit it into our space (a one-bedroom apartment), how it would change so many things in terms of how we function both inside and outside the apartment. And finally, over the course of the past couple of days, a sequence of events led us here, now…
The past month I’ve thought about writing here many times but haven’t known what to say. It’s been a month that defies description, and a really busy month.
July ended with a bang - my work conference finally occurring and all of the craziness that that entailed (flight delays to and from our location mean that we’re still sorting out budget stuff). I took a few days off to rest and find my head again and then took off running again. Work has been slower but the missus and I have been catching up with friends - a weekend here, a day trip there, nights out on weeknights and weekends, and also trying to enjoy the beautiful summer weather that has been gracing us with sunshine and days meant to be spent outside.
Years ago I took the Meyers-Briggs test (may be spelling that wrong but I’m too lazy to look it up right now). I was shocked to find out I was right on the line between introvert and extrovert. Over time I’ve come to realize more and more how true it is. I thrive on time home - cooking, cleaning, reading but also thrive on seeing good friends to talk and laugh. This month has definitely fulfilled my extrovert needs but I need some time to sit, ponder and be within my own head.
I got some of that time today when the missus and I rented bikes to ride around Central Park. But it wasn’t quite enough, simply because it was the first time in years that either of us had been on a bike, we were on an unfamiliar path and it was PACKED with people. It was wonderful time outside but still I’m left longing.
If I could have anything right now in terms of my introvert needs, I would spend a week in a hut on a beach somewhere with daily yoga classes, healthy food always cooked and ready when I want it and the waves being the only sound I heard most of the day. Yes… that’s what I want.
What I’ll content myself with is a bit of time now before bed with a good book, my legs wrapped over my missus’ legs, and a cat snuggled at the foot of the bed.
As my work conference approaches (only one week away) I find that my focus on other things has just vanished away into nothingness. So many people I want to see, things I want to do, etc etc etc. I’ve now created a folder in my work email that’s called “After.” Can I create a folder like that for the rest of my life?
Amazingly though, I’m feeling pretty okay about it all. Except for yesterday when the missus and I tried to switch to half-caf coffee (BAD IDEA) and I got home from work and basically collapsed into bed. I ate about two bites of the dinner the missus had cooked and just couldn’t handle it any more. But I slept well, woke up refreshed and went to another work day full of crazy numbers of emails and hours of meetings. Sigh…
I’m looking forward to the conference but I think I’m looking forward more to AFTER the conference, when I can focus on the rest of my life.
It didn’t start out long but somewhere along the way time stretched. I had a hard time focusing at work for much of the week which led to that strange sensation of days at work lasting forever but nothing seeming to ever get done.
We’d planned a relaxing weekend at home, contemplated heading out for some of the Pride festivities in the city but then the missus had to fly away for the weekend. She left early this morning and I’m going to be alone all weekend.
It’s glorious and wonderful but also lonely feeling. There’s a lot going on in my head and more stuff that happened today that makes my head ache just thinking about it…
So I’m going to do my best to take care of myself this weekend. I’m going to try to get some work done (hoping that by working this weekend, I’ll get out of working next weekend) and also get some serious relaxing done. What I most want right now is tequila and bed but I’m going to see a friend, even if just briefly, because I know that tequila and bed isn’t what I really need.
Then there was another one I seem not to have taken and pictures of for friends.
And now there will be four. My sister is due to give birth at any second (well, I’m hoping it comes soon, it’s due in a few days) and I’ve finally gotten my act together:
yarn - check, needles - check, pattern - check… Knitter, tie that slip knot and get going.
