Somnamublog

Goooooooooooood Morning!

Sort of. My computer is telling me its 3:46 a.m. That's morning alright. Used to be, another life time ago, that it was lame to end a day at 3:46 a.m. The aging process, or something, now has me in bed on a Friday night by 9 a.m. - and thats living on the edge. And my brain has me up before the chickens have laid me an egg for breakfast. On a Saturday.

And I'm okay with it. The company doesn't own me today, so if I get a wee bit sleepy this afternoon, I can doze for a bit.

So guess what I did last night. It was SO COOL. Paul went to a movie and dinner with a friend. I grabbed Chinese food after work and watched NetFlix ON MY XBOX 360!

Goodbye cable. You theiving scoundrels. We'd been contemplating eliminating their outrageous monthly bill anyway. A hefty payment for a service we aren't satisfied with. There were two plusses on the pro side of our debate - Paul likes to watch the occasional game on TV, and when my back heals, I like to watch something dumb for one hour while I do the Gazelle. Otherwise, forget about it. I can watch Netflix while I'm gazelling for 5 miles, but I don't know what we can do for Paul. I'll let him make the final call on this issue.

Has everyone heard my opinion about Netflix? I think this is one admirable company. I love their business model. I love their customer service, their innovations. We've been members for a couple years now. We've watched them grow, stumble a little, pick themselves back up, solve their problems, and move on in a very accomodating direction. Back some while ago, they were offering a new customer rate. But unlike the cable or phone companies, they did not forget their old customers, the old shoes that kept them walking this far. Our rates were reduced as well. Impressive. And they are still in business. They are dependable, predictable, and foresighted. Did I say I love Netflix?

So now you can watch any of their "view instantly" line up on your XBox360. Which some of you know, I like to watch on my computer during lunch at work, or on travel. I watched most of "The Office" at the Hampton Inn in Portsmouth New Hampshire. Laughing like a lunatic all alone in room 215.

This is right up there with the wand at Stop & Shop.

I signed in to XBox live, found the Netflix option, and there on my television screen was anything in my Netflix queue that was available to watch instantly, which as you Netflix users know, is pretty extensive. I chose "Out Sourced". A cute movie, just perfect for a Friday night with Chinese food.

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There are two mysteries in my life right now. One is not really a mystery. Well, actually, neither are technically a mystery. Okay. Starting over...

There are two dilemmas on my plate right now.

One of them H and I are working on. After a long conversation after work last night, it came out that we have to figure out how to help each other. Sounds easy, but it's not. And we already do, but is there something more? After all, there are two or three miles between us, so logistically we have parameters. I can't bring over coffee on a bad day.

The other concerns work and my ethics. Our company is a typical corporate structure, very top heavy with people working hard at, well, justifying their jobs. This creates the existing culture that is similar to a shark infested lagoon, especially in the middle layer. Safe resources are scarce. So. This dilemma is what actually popped into my head at 3:09 this morning when my full bladder necessitated a trip to the loo. Once there, planted in the fertile realm of my gray matter, this dilemma took on a life of it's own. There is nothing that can be done until Monday, so I must find a way to make it dormant so I can enjoy this weekend without a tornado in my head.

On the up side - it's looking like we are going to have a short week next week. I sure could use it.

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To X -

I think I failed miserably, but I have been attempting to show my daughter that there is no threshold to the next age. Chronologically, the numbers are sort of nonsense - it simply keeps track of the amount of sunrises, sunsets and full moons you've seen, or autumn leaves you've raked. It has nothing to do with what is inside.

We all know people who are chronologically one age, but behave as if they are a different age. My niece has always been old, yet she is still in high school. Her father will always be about 12. Go figure

The thing is this. X didn't know that she was starting to mature and ripen when she started ironing her own clothes. When she started to take responsibility for herself and own the consequences of her actions. I've been watching my daughter blossom since she was in high school, and she didn't even know her petals were unfolding. And I listened to her anxiety about growing up, like a toddler insisting they are not tired, and before the argument is finished, they are sound asleep on the floor.

X, what I want to tell you is this...

I hear that you're amazed that you're 30 already. That it went by fast, and that you have some concerns about the next 30 years going by as quickly. I'd like to share my views on this. The amount of time we spend living this life is generally just enough. Living this life is hard. That doesn't mean there are no good times, or joy. But it remains difficult. My observations of the way you are living your life tell me that you are doing one hell of a good job. But that doesn't mean that you want to be doing it forever. Just as we are ready to start taking care of ourselves, just as we are ready to have children and take care of them, just as we seem to be ready for every stage of our lives as they come, you will be ready for the next stages as they come, too. It is the nature of things, and the means are provided. Enjoy the moment. Learn from each stage so that you have the wisdom to successfully navigate the next. I know you will be fine.

I love you, and wish you the happiest of days today...

Mom