Driving

Listening to Pandora, Blondie Radio. Not sure why The Cure's "Love Song" found its way into the mix, but I'm glad to hear it. Good song. Brings back lots of memories.

Twenty plus years ago, in my Podunk home town, there was next to nothing to do. Music drove me in a way it hasn't managed to do since, and often I was literally driving while cranking the tunes.

"Love Song" brought back memories of unrequited love (okay, a high school crush), although at the time, I was still in the hopeful stage. I didn't realize some people were out of reach of a fat, geeky girl. If this shows lack of self awareness, or an unjustifiable ego, I'm still not sure. I didn't see any reason this popular, albeit a little goofy, guy couldn't be mine.

In the end I didn't get that guy, but that's just well. I've got a pretty swell feller now, and we share all kinds of music on our drive together through this life.

Simplify

My mantra lately has been: "Simplify."

A clear, uncluttered mind can focus on the things that are most important. And the things that bring the most joy.

You would think simplicity would be easy, but it's harder than you would think.

Wanted

I need a new hobby. Something to occupy my hands, and my mind.

I did myself a disservice in my early 20's by voraciously skipping from one hobby to another, and find myself approaching forty wondering what to do next.

My criteria is impossibly convoluted, likely impossible to meet:

* Not overly expensive
* Not overly messy
* The byproduct doesn't take up a lot of space
* The byproduct is something I could either easily sell, or find a home for
* See results relatively quickly, yet isn't something too easy

(Maybe the mindset I'm expressing by calling something a "byproduct" of a hobby isn't exactly in the spirit of hobbies?)

It would be cool if I found a way to combine this hobby with this little blog of mine, and develop a small community to inspire me. Alas, I'm at a loss as to how this could happen.

Perhaps I'm at a point in my life where my hobby is recognizing the brilliance of others, and appreciating what they do in their little corners of the world.

Multitasking

It's not enough to make phone calls or listen to audio books while driving. Those are both effective ways to accomplish more in less time, but drastic times call for drastic measures.

Fold laundry while enjoying some private time on the, er, no way to put this delicately, toilet. Have an audio book on in the background, for the multitasking trifecta. Bonus!

Socks

Know how some people complain their socks disappear in the dryer? Mine multiply in the washer. Well, my husband's, anyway.

We do laundry once a week (another reason to love a two person household!), and it all seems manageable when putting it away - except his socks.

I swear, unless my beloved wears two pairs a day when I'm not looking, spontaneous reproduction is the only explanation for why they keep coming out of the dryer like rabbits out of a magician's hat!

Vindicated

I'm not the only one who thinks the census people are going a little overboard with their awareness campaign.

More

Today I received a post card telling me I should have received my census form by now.  Said census form was received, completed, and mailed in earlier this week.  Today's post card joined last week's letter in the shredder.

This annoys me on so many levels.  Harassment via snail mail is so 20th century.  If the government is so concerned about a high rate of compliance in completing the forms, why not offer an incentive:

The first 10 million citizens to return their forms will receive a free Cheese Machine.  Free stuff = immediate responses.

Warning: the Cheese Machine isn't necessarily safe for work or intended for children.  It isn't necessarily necessary, either.