December 29, 2008
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Really Winter
So many places are having rough weather that it takes a lot of the fun out of complaining for me. It is cold here, but we are used to it, and our power outages have been brief, little more than enough to reset computer, clocks, microwave, PS2, etc. Temperatures have been in the forties today here, IN THE HOUSE. I try, for our comfort and my tropical plants’ survival, to keep the temp in here above 50 degrees F.
Temps have been in the twenties below zero at night (outside) and in teens below zero during the days. We have had a few gusty winds, but nothing sustained or dangerous, other than knocking some big icy clumps of snow out of trees. With a lot of attention and fuel, I have been able, at best, to reach a 70 degree differential between indoors and out. If I sleep, or spend too much time at any other task, the fire burns down and it gets cold in here.
I monopolized the computer in the weeks before Christmas, so Doug is getting his turn at it now. He has just gone to bed. I’m thinking about a piece on happiness, but don’t know when it will be written and posted. I’m happy, and having fun thinking about it for the essay. I need to work on the fire now. Then I’ll crawl in bed where I can stay warm while I keep an eye on the stove, and read until I can’t stay awake any longer.
Comments (6)
rough weather is right…another nigth of storms here after daytime temps of 30C…right now I have power, phone and internet but the tv and radio signals seem to be knocked out somewhere…there is still a wicked lightning show on outside and thankfully the winds have dropped…guess I’ll just have to sit here and amuse myself til Dave gets home from work
It’s about 37F here this morning. It will probably make the 50s or 60s today, if the sun comes out. Rather strange since we were just in the deep freeze. Weather’s been weird this year.
40′s isn’t bad until you said in the house.
it’s 33 here outside.
Happiness is reading a post from an interesting lady who lives in one of the world’s refrigerators after missing her words for a few days!
When there is no SuSu, first I hope you are OK, then I ask Creator to hold you close.
Happy fifth day of Christmas and Happy New Year.
Yes, it was fun reading about the variety of seasonal traditions along with their origins. Thanks!
Oh please do, ’cause like with a lot of things, I’m feeling my way around in the dark at the moment.
Happiness is something I’m still working on (but isn’t everyone doing things to build happiness?) I have a very general idea of what’d make me happy. Self-actualization, “right thinking”, keeping a very wide circle of acquaintances/contacts that I can use to my advantage, along with at least a few (or more) close friends. Being able to dress eccentrically and turn my body into art (very important to me). Stable job, cheapest shittiest apartment possible with any old furniture – even crates, I don’t care. Living with maybe one other person, a friend. Maybe even more. But I could also be happy alone. A shitty old car, I need some transport for as much independence as possible. Meditation. Educating myself and becoming an autodidact. It’s come to my attention that when I start reading, I need some feminist literature to remedy my ignorance in that area, because I don’t yet see a lot of the ways in which women are being oppressed – my eyes are still closed. Exploring spirituality. Living in the city so that I encounter a diverse range of peopel and places. A massive music and book collection. Libraries, internet access, DVD’s, alcohol, whatever else I feel like buying with the money that comes from having a stable job… probably just small things. Pets. I love animals. Minimizing the amount of suffering in my family, and helping other people as much as possible in their daily lives. Making them happy too
Alternatively, a life completely outside of the mainstream 9 – 5 until you retire and die routine. Something different from mainstream society. A new definition of success to go along with it.
The most important of thing for me would be the ability to express myself through my body and the things that I create. Epicurus and Seneca had some interesting ideas about happiness.
Damn, 40s in the house. I remember last year you had a certain satisfaction at keeping things around 54ยบ inside. I hope the piebeans are still with you and keeping you warm. Both my cats crawl under the covers (one at my feet, the other curled in my arms with his head on the pillow) when it’s cold and nighttime here. I keep it to about 58. Being cold makes me feel like nobody loves me