Thursday, August 31, 2006

Ingenious and Indigenous

People use technology every day, some of it simple, some of it complicated, but very seldom they seem to pause to think "This is pretty amazing!" Me, I can hardly talk on the phone without thinking it's pretty amazing that I can speak to someone who is somewhere else. Occasionally even several thousand miles away. It takes me 18 hours to fly to Doo Seon, but still I can talk to her over the phone like she was here, not there. I hardly ever do though.

Today I began using a cool tool, TinyURL. Not that I really need it, but that's not the point, the point is that it exists, and that it's fun. If you visit a webpage with a very long address, which you need to post in an e-mail, or in a Word-document, you can just use TinyURL and http://www.amazon.com/A-Death-in-Family-Vintage-International/dp/0375701230/sr=1-1/qid=1157055732/ref=sr_1_1/103-0258238-9336637?ie=UTF8&s=books
is magically transformed into http://tinyurl.com/quaub

I didn't choose that particular webpage by accident. A Death in the Family is one of my favourite books, and if you haven't read it, you should. Few books are as intense, personal and beautiful. Start by visiting the link and read more about it, maybe even order it.

Tomorrow is my birthday, I wonder if someone is preparing a surprise for me.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

The Camels are Coming

Camels are fascinating creatures, and much fun, especially for a desert loving person such as me. One thing about them is that they look so self-confident, almost arrogant. They give you a look that says "Oh yeah? You and who else?" But in fact they are not arrogant at all, but patience and kind, and they can be ever so cute. At one time after a short ride I walked up to "my" camel and while he was sniffing my armpit, I scratched him behind his right ear. He was just like a kitten, although a kitten the size of a car.

Unfortunately, humans, even though they may not look arrogant, usually are. I have written before about adults attitudes towards children, and towards animals they are even worse. One thing that never fails to annoy me is what happens when people are walking their dogs. The dog wants to go here and there, and sniff at new and interesting smells, and explore the surroundings, but the owner is always walking quickly, and pulling the leash to drag the dog along, never letting the dog stroll at it's own leisure. You shouldn't have a dog if you can't give it some space of it's own. Why must it always be man walking dog, why can't the two walk together. I'm not suggesting you should sniff around with your dog, but I do suggest that you let the dog have some fun, and don't demand that everything is done according to your schedule, or your preferences. You might be the boss, but a good boss knows how to delegate.

But, on the other hand, in the latest issue of The Atlantic (my favourite reading) there was an article about the super rich, the billionaires who, when celebrating their birthdays, fly all there friends to a tropical island for an enchanted evening. Anyway, according to the article, the answer to the question: "Who's got the power in the [billionaires] house?" is sometimes "The dog."

On TV tonight they are showing the very sweet She's the One. I think that might be a good way to end a good day. Pity about the commercials though. I hate commercials in films. Unfortunately, by watching the film I passively endorse it. Maybe I should rent it on DVD instead. Now there's a conundrum Kant never had to deal with.

Friday, August 25, 2006

The Last Hour of Vacation

This has been a busy week, writing and seeing friends, one after the other. Phew, I don't have the strength to be on vacation. But happily enough today is the last official day of my vacation. It's true that I will not start working until Monday, but during the weekend I wouldn't work anyway so it doesn't count. There!

I must say I have mixed feelings about going back to work. On the one hand I want to start fixing things, and try out all my new ideas that I have written down during my absent weeks. I want to take a firm grip of things. Due to all kinds of difficulties during the first half of the year, too much time has been wasted. I have no more time to waste. But on the other hand I feel a bit nervous, and afraid, that it will be just as stressful and agonizing as it has been the last year. Things should be much better now, due to the changes that has taken places, or will take place as soon as I get back. But the fear is there, still.

But, all that can wait. I still have two full free days left. Tonight I've had a lovely dinner with J. Always good for morale. I can't wait to see her again.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Trains, Buses and Hostels

I'm back! Missed me?

Did you know that it is actually cheaper to travel in first class than in second class on Swedish trains? At least if you buy your ticket in advance. So that is how I traveled. At one point a mother and her daughter came in to have a look at the first class compartment, just to see what it looked like. You could tell that she (the mother) thought it snooty to travel in such a manner, her nose gave her away. I fought a sudden urge to tell her that she was the snooty one.

I have one more week left until I must be back at work. I wonder what I will do. I have bought a collection of French chansons, where among the singers represented are the likes of Edith Piaf, Juliette Greco, Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel. I think I will spend some time listen to that. I have a particularly soft spot for La mer, sung by Charles Trenet.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Tripping

A tripper is a person who goes on a pleasure trip, and now such a person is me, at least I will become one tomorrow. Originally I was thinking about going to Vienna, but it was so difficult finding flights and hotel rooms at suitable times to suitable prices so I gave up. Instead I will travel around in Sweden for a week. Not as glamorous for sure, but perhaps more relaxed. And that's just what I need. Some quiet time on my own.

I wouldn't mind something like the atmosphere by that lake (the painting is Korean), we'll see what happens. There is no shortage of lakes in Sweden, the trouble is a) to find them, and then b) to get to them.

I have been looking forward to this trip for many weeks, to get away from phones, computers and every day stuff. Granted, this week has been a good week, packed with friends, sunshine and bathing, but it has still been at home, so to speak. But now, finally, a break. And Vienna is still standing, I might go there later this year.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Bathing Beauties and Children

Going to the beach has never been my thing. When I was a little boy, I of course did my share of swimming, but not as an adult (if that is in fact what I am). But since Saturday I have been in the water five times! Fancy that. I've been swimming in the ocean and in small lakes (which I prefer), and it has been nothing but wonderful. It actually started last year, when I swam at least three times, but that was three times in one year. I'm already past that mark this year. If I keep this up, I will most likely have developed gills come October.

Yesterday I was with my cousin and her two little girls, and her sister's (my other cousin) daughter. I like children, and since I don't have any of my own yet, I have to settle with hers (and the son and daughter of my friend J). We of course went to the lake, but this time there wasn't so much swimming as there was jumping and splashing.

One thing I like about children is that they are unrestrained. I sometimes think of adults as children with straightjackets. I suppose that's generally a good thing, but I often feel that it would be more healthy if grown-ups for example were to loosen up a bit and be more direct and honest, without having to drink a lot of alcohol first. Adults have much to learn from children, or perhaps much to unlearn.

In the summer issue of The Atlantic there was an article about brainy children, and a woman was quoted as saying "How many [babies] can tell you what an orangutan is, or the difference between a circle and an oval, or that the color of our van is 'silver'? My son could - from watching these videos!" (The videos watched were educational videos for very small children, even for those younger than one year). I find this very alarming. Children are given less and less time to be children. Almost as soon as they are born their parents are tutoring them, sending them of to camps, and schools, and all kinds of activities. Again, I think it would be better if we learned from our children than force fed them with information and activities. To be a child is to explore your surroundings on your own, in your on time, in your own manner. To be a child is to be fascinated by a bubble, a bug or a basket, it is not to sit in front of the TV and watch films teaching you what an oval is, just so that your mother can brag about you in front of the neighbours. And whenever I am around children I get upset about these things. Personally I try to play be their rules as far as it goes, and pick up as much as I can on the way.

Since this is a topic on which I have very strong opinions, don't be surprised if I were to come back to it. But now it's late. I'm tired, and it is really a struggle to keep my eyes open so...

Friday, August 04, 2006

A Better Day

I'm eating far too much ice cream. Maybe. How much would too much actually amount to? Beats me. As long as it doesn't make me sick, it can't be too much. And even if it should make me sick, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, so I guess, as long as I don't die from eating too much ice cream, I'm not, as it were, eating too much.

Now how's that for some late evening musings? Just because you can write whatever you want, doesn't mean you necessarily should. But read it as evidence that I'm not as gloomy as the other day. Today was a good day, even though I was (am) very tired. I should really go to bed this instant.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

The Agony of Existence

Today was a dull day, at which end I watched The Good Girl on TV, with Jennifer Aniston and Jake Gyllenhaal. If you are in need of cheering up, I would recommend something else. But, then again, you might feel, "Oh well, at least my life isn't as bad as all that.", and take comfort in that. It's the story of small town life and the boredom and conformity that can be your everyday existence. How you can get stuck in limbo and grow increasingly desperate.

I have also read Nietzsche today, another man experiencing the agony of existence. The poor man was practically sick from the day he was born, and up until he died. Headaches, vomiting, dizzy spells, stomach aches, sensitive eyes, drowsiness, difficulty breathing. That he could bare it for as long as he did is impressive. No wonder his philosophy is so unsentimental and harsh, even though he himself could be very sentimental.

I think maybe that it isn't really what your life is like, but how (and who) you are, that counts. One person is ill, but happy because he is alive, another is in perfect (physical) health, but miserable because he is alive. One person can live the most exciting and adventurous life, and still feel bored and ill at ease, and another person is living a life completely devoid of any kind of excitement, one day exactly like the other, and yet be happy and content, and not in want of anything more.

What kind of a person am I? Well, I need the excitement and the adventure, and I have had a fair share of it in my life. And I'm not bored or ill at ease then, but on days like these, well. The fact that I have been so stressed for almost a year, and now finally have time of, and the ability to relax, probably has something to do with my out-of-time-and-place feeling today. It takes time to settle in to the new rhythm.

On a brighter side, I've also read some short stories but P.G. Wodehouse today. It doesn't get much funnier than that. Granted, I prefer the novels to the short stories, but still. Here's a brief passage from Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest, just to give you a taste of it:

"Next morning, after I had sucked down a thoughtful cup of tea, I went into Motty's room to investigate. I expected to find the fellow a wreck, but there he was, sitting up in bed, quite shirpy, reading Gingery Stories.
'What ho!' I said.
'What ho!' said Motty.
'What ho! What ho!'
'What ho! What ho! What ho!'
After that it seemed rather difficult to go on with the conversation."

I suppose you need a certain disposition to find it funny. It works for me. Every time.