Life

Today I read War and Peace Book 3 Part 3 Chapter 4. I am doing a slow read hosted by Simon Haisell. And I would highly recommend his substack for book lovers and those looking for slow reads of great works. For War and Peace this year, every Tuesday, he posts an overview of the past weeks reading with lots of offshoots to explore, such as art, music, and history. Today was that day, and I had fun with all the tangents, even though this week's reading was anything but fun! (Think the Battle of Borodino and the things that followed.) I love how differential calculus came to play during this discussion. Also learned about the parallel development of differential calculus by Newton and Leibniz! Wild to think that this went down in the mid to late 17th century.

I also love this thought, I believe from Haisell, that if you have at least 6 people hanging together, one will be spouting nonsense for sure!

Goal walks: I have a goal to get in 13 of a certain type of intense, long walk this month. I am lagging behind where I want to be for this goal, but I still think I can do it! Today I walked 3.09 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes, which is good for me! I didn't have any noticeable pain. Woohoo!

What I ate today:

Today I also went to my sons Michael's and Ollie's house and spent some time playing with their cats (because they are traveling).

The day included an emergency Walmart run and now I must finish my chores!

Update - These Troubling Times

Today I read about The Digger Movement in 17th century UK in a substack article by Andy Ciccone. The diggers and the levellers were groups who worked to promote a nonhierarchical society, and who fought for a society in which the poor would have access to those things they needed to survive (and ultimately thrive). That is a simplification maybe, but it is interesting to me.

I am participating in a year-long slow read of War and Peace, and there is a lot of criticism of the Russian 19th century hierarchical society in War and Peace. Tolstoy was by no means a promoter of an egalitarian society, but he saw a lot of what was wrong and wanted better.

Reading about these European nations and their histories fills in a lot of gaps from my prior history education. It also makes me see just how much things really haven't changed. Oh, on the surface maybe they have. There are obviously some improvements across the board to people, but there is still so much poverty and inequality.

The diggers in particular believed that all trade was harmful and immoral, and that the earth should belong to all the people for their use to live. Their primary method was not to fight but to withdraw labor from the rich and instead for the common people to work together to provide for themselves as if the rich didn't exist. By working together, the poor could be strong and could survive without any gifts given from those who previously had used them.

This resonates with me because I often think about what life would be like if we all just worked together to share resources and weren't in competition for the things we literally need to survive.

Dinner:

Today Snow took a turn at the riding mower. She did good. Diana worked and watered the plants twice! My left ankle, outside, near the heel hurts a bit when I move certain ways. Our morning glories keep blooming!

I didn't eat right for me, yesterday or today, and that always scares me because my gallbladder could start having issues at any time if I don't stick to the right types, amounts, and timing of food. To be honest, I didn't eat right on SATURDAY or FRIDAY either. That is 4 days. It is time to hop back onto my safe eating plan. I don't want to be stifled  by pain!

What I'm reading:

Speaking of things that make you think! Written in 1946 and apropos today for sure. Mervyn Peake certainly wasn't a fan of the status quo.

What I'm listening to: Lots of Billie Eilish: TV, THE DINER, THE GREATEST; Boyfriend by Dove Cameron; Liability by Lorde; no body, no crime by Taylor; Mariners Apartment Complex by Lana Del Rey (I'm sort of obsessed); and always Chappell Roan

Oh! I was just reading some more about the diggers, and there was a song about them written by Leon Rosselson in 1975, and it was recorded by lots of people including Chumbawamba in 1993. I will be listening to this. Also there was another group fighting for small, agricultural based communal societies at the time. This group was called the ranters. Unlike the diggers and the levellers, the ranters were not espousing Christianity. Instead, they stated that God was in everything, including individual people. They basically felt that all rules or laws were bad, and that they had no obligation to bow to any external power. 

But now it is time to rest, and as usual, I have no clue how to finish.

 And I shall make a commitment to myself, that for the remainder of this year, 2025, I shall have a list every day, and I shall try diligently to do all the things on the list before I go to bed that night, but if I do not, I shall not be upset with myself, or angry, or even sad. I shall just say that sometimes that is the way things go. And I shall not feel compelled to do the list in order or at a certain time - unless necessary due to commitments to others. That is what I plan and will do for myself that I might be OK. Also, I do need to at least put together a short list before I go to bed at night or if for some reason I really can't like bad sickness or not being home, I can do it first thing in the morning. 

I love me. I want to take care of me.

From a few days ago...

 There is a time to be quiet, a time to plant seeds, and a time to preach. It is good to know the difference.

~Wisdom from me

So snowy here last night and today. Thinking about writing. Thinking about me. 

So Random I Am

Today is laundry day. Tomorrow Grandma Marti is coming. It is sunny and likely warm. Diana is thinking about getting a shrub for the backyard.

I put in an Aldi list from the circular. It came to $37.97 and that was without staples from the list on the fridge and the only meat I got was some cheddarwurst & some deli chicken. I just realized I am getting a 64 ounce bag of onion pierogies for $9.99. I am OK with that!

I’m hearing frogs in the backyard and reading about the work on the I81 viaduct project. Clear sound barriers! What will they think of next!

Hearing Afterglow by Ed Sheeran. Uma Thurman by Fall Out Boy.

Summer Wanes

Sunny and gorgeous! Listening to music. Read My Mind by The Killers never gets old. Last Sunday we had our summer’s end picnic at Southwick Beach State Park. Snow was sorely missed. Ralph & Dar also were not there. Life!

Remember: That time at Kennedy Square when I put up a tent in our living room and all the neighborhood kids came and hung out in it. It was a big hit. All those times I made latkes! The kids running through the house with latkes and the look-like-glass plastic ornaments falling off the tree bouncing across the room and laughing and laughing and laughing and feeling so alive.

Why do some days feel so much longer than others? I love the long days the best.

 

I keep thinking I need a new blog. Maybe I should migrate to substack or something. But I still have this little gem, and it is good enough to satisfy my need for random (and sometimes not so random) writing about my days. 

It is more peaceful that social media, but maybe not as connecting.

I am having a low-mood, low-activity day so far. I was up for a significant portion of the night with knee pain. It isn't acute, but any pain when I'm trying to fall asleep tends to make me feel anxious in a claustrophobic sort of way. I can't get away from it, and I need to get away from it.

 Today we slept nearly to 9, and then went for a short rainy walk. I got my haircut by Diana. It went quick & smooth. She is such a good sport about it! Tonight we are having a Tex-Mex feast. I am not sure about the quality of my tomatoes or my avocado, but I am sure it will be delicious regardless.

Life: Process? Collaboration? Lonely Journey? Line of Single Moments or Continuity? Does Time Exist or Have Meaning?

 

One of my kids has suggested that goals, things we work towards, are what makes life worth living. I do know this feeling, but I have long fought against it. Because if life is only for working towards things, then how can we ever feel safe and fulfilled, that is, not struggling.

It is definitely complicated.

I know that I will never live up to the standards dictated by White Supremacy. But then again, does anyone really?

Belief

 I believe in the power of imagination to help change the world.

I certainly believe in the power of imagination to help oneself.

I imagine a life with more people in it. With community. With real collaboration. 

I imagine people building and working together to make more shelter and to keep things functional. I imagine being useful to many, without being overwhelmed.

I imagine hearing and being heard.

I think about:

Consistency vs. freedom

Consistency vs. spontaneity

Who am I?

Sunshiny Monday

Monday, Monday, I do not hate you! I am not the kind of person who hates Mondays. I like the feeling of a new start and a return to a week of "ordinary time."

Today we have sunshine after several rainy days! But it was still a mostly indoor day for me so I put on my mostly indoors clothes. 

The day was typical with housework and exercise. Yesterdays projects still linger on the table.

You know I thought it'd be easy to make a blog post with several photos, but actually it is hard for me, so I'm just going to write a bit and then post some random today photos, because that's me!

Today was definitely an ordinary day. I took my early morning walk with Diana. I vacuumed and dusted. I made the bed. I watched an episode of Good Witch on TV. I spent some time on social media. I read this article by Devon Price (which I highly recommend). I talked with Snow. I made a pork pot pie for dinner. I watched Lost with Diana while we ate dinner. Nothing special except for that specialness that simply exists in being alive.