No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on June 7, 2019

I would not say that I am a coffee snob. There are flavors I like in my coffee and others that I would seriously prefer to taste as I drink it.

I am the only coffee drinker in the household. Caroline likes a good cup of tea with a little bit of honey.

Since I am the only coffee drinker, I am the person who makes my coffee. For the most part I do fine. I know the beans I like and the strength I need it to be. But there are days that I can make a really bad cup of coffee. This morning was one of those mornings. I am using it to avoid a caffeine headache but I can’t say that I am enjoying it.

This does not mean the rest of the day is going to follow the coffee taste so there are two paths here that the day can go. Let’s see which is it.

I have an over-think problem. I tend to over think things. Have since I was a child. Sometimes it is a useful skill because I can work my way through things and see the possible outcomes. Other times it can paralyze me to inaction which can be a problem.

Other times I end up rushing on a project because I over thought it. Many times it slows down to the crawl because I keep ruminating on things I have no control over. Over the years I have been able to see this red flag and take a step back before starting up again.

One way to combat over-thinking is living in the moment or mindfuless, which seems to be the new buzzword for the self-help section of the book store. Focus on the here and now rather than what has been or will be. It is not an easy thing to learn and takes serious practice to do well.

Another way is to drop the subject that is keeping one from moving forward and just gone to something else to reset the brain. That I have learned how to do and find myself doing it almost on instinct now.

But there are times I catch myself in a loop of indecision and futility. Then I have some choices I know I have to make and need to make before I go back into the loop.

Right now I am a bad loop and I need to get out of it. I recognize it and will work on being better.

I am grateful for good cups of coffee.

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Posted By Kathleen David on June 6, 2019

It is interesting that some people’s filters seem to switch off when they get on the keyboard and post to the Internet. Things that they would never say out loud to people they are talking about are said without considering the consequences of what they said.

I once was told before one speaks one needs to ask oneself the following questions.

Does it need to be said?

Does it need to be said by me?

Does it need to be said by me now?

I have taken that very much to heart and I think it has helped me keep from over-sharing and getting into arguments that I really don’t need to be a part of nor do I need as part of my life.

It has taken me a long time to learn this and I am very glad that the Internet was not in its current form when I was a hair trigger smart mouthed teenager.

Many times I find myself not saying something because of the first question. Does it need to be said? Which to me means is it going to contribute something new to the discussion or am I just adding to the noise? Do I want this to be out there forever and a day?

I do then go to if it needs to be said by me. Am I going to be listened to or would it be better coming from someone else with more gravitas or invested? Funny thing is that over the years I have gone from young pup to wise sage so according to some I do have the weight of years and experience to speak out on various topics. And there are a number that I am much more comfortable to talk about now then I would have been even ten years ago. Apparently I underestimate the worth of my words to others. At the same time people know that if I am engaging, I feel I have something to say.

Less is more as some say.

I have the count to three before speaking rule practically tattooed on my brain. Giving myself a chance to rethink if it needs to be said now.

There is a lot of kneejerking on the internet. People see something and immediately start responding. Now that’s fine if one is congratulating the birth of a child or an achievement or offering sympathy for bad news. It becomes tricky when there is an argument going on. Tempers flare and people say things that either they apologize for later or they double down and the argument goes on.

I desperately try not to be a mean girl or catty when I criticize something I read or see on the Internet. There is something called constructive criticism that I have seen used to explain bad and hurtful behavior. Constructive criticism is, according to the dictionary, the process whereby an individual expresses his or her well-reasoned opinions about a particular thing , subject , person or action whether involving both positive {good} or negative {Bad} comments in a pleasant manner. And the response after being called on such bad behavior is not “well you asked”.

I honestly think if the citizens of the Internet took the time to ask themselves the three questions and really thought about the answers, the Internet would be a much nicer place to wander around in. 

I am grateful for the principals my parents taught me.

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Posted By Kathleen David on June 3, 2019

A nice morning to have the windows open and let some air into the house.

We had a wicked storm blow through last night. There are some limbs down from a couple of trees. It is mostly sticks and the like. All the trashcans are in place which is a plus after winds like that. We don’t seem to have anyone else’s property in our yard. I will take my wins where I can.

Caroline’s adventures in the city went well. She is quite happy that she was able to navigate the subway system.

I have a list of what I would like to do before the end of the day. Part of what I get done will be dependent on other people’s schedules because Caroline is taking a Regents Exam today and I am on call if she need a ride home today.

I need to run out and get a part to fix something and go from there. That and we need some light bulbs. I will say with the LED bulbs, we are using fewer and they are lasting a lot longer.

I guess I should start somewhere and move forward from that.

Let’s see what I can get done in the remaining hours of this week.

I am grateful that I taught Caroline how to read a subway map.

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Posted By Kathleen David on June 2, 2019

But not all together.

Peter is coming back from Knoxville. Caroline went into the city with some friends to meet up with some friends and play in the city. I am working on a couple of things that need to be done and get done faster when it is just me.

This week will be quieter. Caroline has some of her regent exams and she is taking her learner’s permit test on Wednesday giving her a piece of state ID.

I think we don’t have any other plans except see Dark Phoenix over the weekend.

The focus is going to be on things around the house this week. I want to get a couple of bodies done for a couple of projects along with the beginnings of the costumes.

I also need to repack and sort the convention boxes to see if there is anything we need to reorder.

I have a couple of other things on my list that need to be done before we start our summer travel most of that needs to be done on the computer.

I think that it is good that we can have separate adventures along with those that we have together. The more that Caroline can do on her own, the better it is going to be for her when she is off at college in a little over than two years.

I am grateful for safe experiences for Caroline that let her grow in her independence.

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Posted By Kathleen David on June 1, 2019

It both amazes and terrifies me how fast the year seems to be passing.

At the end of this month Caroline will become a junior in High School and have her learner’s permit. She also has her working papers so she can get a job. Her transition to adult is moving at a rapid pace.

Peter is in Knoxville for an event. He will be returning tomorrow. Then we have a few weekends before the convention season kicks off.

I had plans for today but they all went out the window when I, apparently, picked something up along my travels which gave me fever and a very upset GI track. Yesterday afternoon was miserable and the night was beyond horrid. This morning things seem to have calmed down but the fever is still in play and my GI track has nothing in it right now.

So we reset what we were going to do today for what we can do today.

Caroline has a project she wants to get started on for a friend that she has all the pieces she needs to do it.

I had a wacky idea for a puppet to walk around with at various conventions this summer.

I think Inky knows I am not feeling well. She has not left my side since I sat down this morning.

I am going to get some things done this morning before my body tells me to stop.

I am grateful for companies that pick up donations at one’s house.

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