I Like Mornings.

I get up in the morning long before dawn, around 3:45am each day.  Maybe a little earlier if I've not played whack a mole with my alarm clock; I sometimes forget to set it to radio rather than buzzer.  A klaxon blaring is not the most gentle of nudges. I would not do well on the Galactica.

I rise groggily and glance at my phone.  Any new messages? I yawn (and scratch) and plead with my coffee maker to brew faster. I should set the timer to finish earlier but the aroma is best while it's brewing. Clock is ticking. Brew faster! I'll clean you with vinegar tonight, I promise.  I mean it this time, not like last time.  Ugh.  Too slow.  I'll end up stealing a little coffee before Mr. Coffee has fully completed his task.  Why I am wearing only one sock?

I do my morning chores so everything is ready while I'm at work, then I shower, shave and pour another cup of coffee.  The television is relaying bad news in some part of the world.  Where is Bago? Oh yeah, Burma.  I mean Myanmar. I'm still not awake yet.

Then I sit at the computer for a few minutes.  Last chance for my own time before I dedicate the day to my many, many other preparations.  Any new messages? I check Facebook, nothing new.  I check my email and sort thru the reminders I've mailed myself.  Meeting at 10am. I'll need to review that file again.  Maybe I'll find my other sock in the folder.

Now to Twitter; I've saved the best for last.  Who said what? I have new mentions! The strangest thing is the people I talk to the most, I rarely see.   Some I've in fact never seen but I know about their lives, their children, their health. Some I worry about, some I worry for and send best wishes to.  There are those that make me mad, those that make me laugh and those I find more in common with than I have in years. If Twitter had a physical location, I envision it like a roadside cafe.  People come in and out quickly; some are from far away, others are close and some stay awhile to chat.  There's always at least one familiar face nearby and nobody cares how different you are or whether you've shown up in your pajamas.

We all just want to listen and to be heard.

I enjoy my mornings.

Rewriting the Wrong

“You have to know the past to understand the present.” - Dr. Carl Sagan

Evidently Dr. Sagan was incorrect; we don't need to know the past, we can just rewrite it. Again and again to suit our needs.  The classic novel Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is undergoing a retrofit, they're replacing all references to the 'n' word to make it more accessible to the 21st Century.  The publisher is calling it an update; we used to call that "new wine in an old wineskin."

I'm not nor would I ever defend using that word, its offensiveness cannot be properly measured in today's context.  It is a word of hate with an edge meant only to slice away ones humanity. However to revise a work without the author's permission is censorship. I'm not sure how others feel about a revisionist practice but I'm afraid of what's next? Many classrooms already skip the nation's founding fathers because they were slaveholders. It's the ugly truth, but they were.  There are many instances in our nation's history that we wish didn't happen but turning a blind eye won't erase the occurrences.  We have to own our baggage, we can't pick and choose.

I may be off base but when you disregard history because it's embarrassing or uncomfortable, you do a disservice to those who struggled for justice in a time when little was to be found. If we don't remember the pain, how are we to remember those who endured it? If we do not embrace our past failures, how then are we to measure our success?

Thank you for taking the time to read.

I Value... YOU.

I can’t tell you how much I dislike hypocritical and judgmental attitudes.  It really is my paramount pet peeve.

I won’t mention an actual name or location; merely it was at a foodbank which I volunteer at.  The organization serves a vital need and I don’t wish to dissuade anyone from contributing time or donations due to the bigotry of an influential individual.

What I overheard tonight was appalling.  Let’s call her Ms. B.

“Sometimes I wish we were a Christian foodbank.“ Said Ms. B. Unsure if I’d heard correctly I asked what she meant by that.   The reply boiled my temper.

“Well you know” As she flicked her head indicating two women who might have been a couple.  Might have been. I don’t know, it wasn’t my business and so what if they were?

This offended me on so many levels, including the assumption that I would share such a narrow minded view.  At a place meant to provide at least some help for the less fortunate, no less.  My possibly overly loud response was “I think you’re missing the entire point of what we’re doing here.”  At the very least, Ms. B. received my message.  I checked out shortly thereafter; I don’t think my services will be very welcome in the future.

The tragedy of an empty supper table is not lessened by religion.  A person’s worth is not defined by a belief or social status.  No one has the right to judge you, tell you who you may love or impose their own sanctimonious viewpoints upon you.  Life can be hard, as evident of where I was tonight and it can be unbelievably lonely. If you’ve found someone to share your life and affections with, good for you.  May you continue to have good fortune.

No matter if you’re rich or poor, gay or straight, you’re still a person; a fellow human being to be treated with respect and dignity. You have value.

Never let anyone define you.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Good Business? Dragon Chow!

For those who see no value in social media as a medium for business, today's blog will prove you wrong.  In today's world, the blogger has power.  We can rate, rank or rant about a product based on our individual experience and businesses should take note.  Real people and opinions matter more than the late night infomercial.  Make no mistake, the quill is in the hands of the consumer. This isn't a commercial or a sales pitch.  I just want to blog about a dice bag that I'd ordered a week or so ago. 

No, I don't play dice and I haven't been a "gamer" in decades but allow me to explain this unique product. The seller was someone I'd had intermittently spoken with on Twitter, mostly laughing at one liners but she mentioned dice bags in a tweet.  "I don't need dice bags" I thought and continued to tweet using my brand new phone until I put the device down.

Then it occurred to me.  A dice bag is a protective bag and my phone is just charging on my desk.  Unprotected.

Here's the kicker.  See @GeekyLyndsay specializes in dice bags.  I've made suggestions to some crafters claiming customizations but honestly to most that merely means a color choice.  Lyndsay took the time to hear me out on what I needed; it didn't matter that the product wasn't the intended construction, that of a phone rather than dice storage.  Custom build? She seemed almost excited at the challenge of different fabrics, colors and even a unique size.  I gave her my custom specifications  (far outside her normal designs I might add) and took the time to work with me to see that I'd be happy with a well made product.

OMG she took the time to meet the customer's needs?!

That's the point of this blog today.  Too often a manufacturer or crafter has a set idea and that's that.  The customer chooses from the existing array, if they want something special, too bad.  I cannot tell you how refreshing my design experience with Dragon Chow was and how rewarding to find the extremely well made bag in the mail. And it is quality.  Phone pouch users might indentify with the Golla or other pouches from Amazon and Ebay.  I bought one of those too and it ripped within the first few days.  The Dragon Chow as far as I can see is double stitched, REVERSABLE, handmade and at about half the cost.  

From the pictures you can also see something else.... something that you don't see often when ordering.  A personal "thank you" from the crafter.  Not "Hope this fits your phone" but actually mentioning the model by name.  That's pride in your work, pride in your quality of service and flat out how to treat a customer. This is how all companies should be run, a more intimate and thoughtful experience that leaves both parties feeling happy and willing to do business again.

Remember the Twitter name: @GeekyLyndsay

And take a look at the product page: http://www.dragonchow.com/zencart/

Ok, my rant is done.  But honestly people, I don't rave about a product often, especially one I have no affiliation with other than being a very satisfied customer.

Make that repeat customer.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Don't Let Us Sick

There's a song by Warren Zevon that really touches me; it's one of those I can listen to repeatedly and never tire of.  For those who only knew of Warren Zevon from "Werewolves of London", you're really missing out.  The song I enjoy so much is "Don't Let Us Get Sick", a wistful tune to be sure about friendships and those closest to us. I've included a link at the bottom of the blog, the singer is Pat Guadagno.

Each year I try very hard to get into the holiday spirit but the stark reality is that the holidays have always depressed me.  There's always someone you know who is out of work and you worry for them. Many of my family are ill or getting on in years so the gatherings are getting more difficult to plan and attend.  The economy makes you wary about spending too much because there's no guarantees in the job market and every year there's another empty chair at the table painfully reminding us of our own mortality.  I'm working on getting that sprit that almost all of us have had at some point in our lives, but it's not easy.

Relationships are particularly tough.  For those that only know me as 'Grim' online, I try to be funny and light.  The truth is in person, I tend to actually be rather grim.  I'm an introvert and a loner, I don't make friends quickly nor easily anymore and tend to cherish a small number of intimate friends rather than a large number of acquaintances.  It's a defensive measure, I suppose and words to live by are "Don't get close, people leave."  They get sick, they get old and then they're gone.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a total humbug; I don't begrudge those who do take extreme joy in the holidays, I'm glad they're able to embrace the spirit of giving.  Goodness know we can use more of it in the world today.  Although I've been more social this year than practically in decades, I just see commercials, couples and children and the warm fuzzy intentions just adds to the feeling of funk.

So dear reader, if you've found this blog either by interest or by accident maybe you've learned a little about me.  I'm not one to usually open up about my personal life.

But I'm working on that, too.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avcKCZb-HCk

What I'm Thankful For.

Thanksgiving!  The day where families get together and celebrate all the blessings received in the past year.

(Not to be confused with Festivus, where you explain in great detail how each of your family members and dinner guests have disappointed you.)

No, this is Turkeyday.   A day of tons of food, unabashed gluttony, football and most likely a nap.

I usually try to be thankful for the little things each day.  Comfortable shoes, green lights, friendly smiles and the Three Stooges.  The simple pleasures.  But really what's a little thing is a matter of perspective.

This year, I'm thankful for my family.  Each year we seem to be smaller and more geographically scattered but we're hanging in there.  Despite disagreements and challenges, we continue to support each other through a foundation of love. My mother, my sister, my nephew, all of my family are truly a wonder.

I'm thankful for my friends, new and old.  I don't make friends as easily or as often as I did in my youth but each of them, far too many to list, have a special place in my heart.  I hope in reading this you realize how important you all are to me.  Many of you have given me a lift in times when I needed it, offered words of encouragement and helped me maintain my balance.

I'm thankful that yesterday there were more volunteers at my local food bank than necessary and I wasn't needed.  I like to be needed but this is one instance where I wish a business no influx of new customers. If you have the time and resources, I encourage you to seek out your local food bank.  It's an important cause filling a desperate need.

I'm thankful for a roof over my head and food at my table. I'm thankful I'm healthy.  I'm thankful I'm someplace warm.  I'm thankful I'm one of the fortunate ones to have a job in this economy.  There are far too many in this world without these blessings and they are in my thoughts and prayers. Despite a long year, I really have so many blessings and an impossible task of enumerating them all appropriately.

Mostly I'm just thankful that I'm fortunate enough  to be thankful.  I'm alive and tomorrow the sun will rise; no matter what happens I'll be thankful for that, too.

It's Your Blog, Too!

I enjoy blogging and speaking my mind but according to some guidebooks I've read, a blog should have a central theme.  The blogger should focus on his or her interests but not ALL of their interests.  Seeing how I am only reaching out to a little more than a dozen readers, I'm thinking my blog may be too scattered.

I have many interests and they're very hard to compartmentalize.  I enjoy writing, sketching, sports, fishing, cooking, scifi, technology and discussing politics.  The question I'm posing to you, my loyal 15 readers lol is what (if anything) do you enjoy reading about?  If I had to limit my blog to one particular topic, what would be your preference?  What would keep you coming back?  This is your chance to chime in, it's your blog as well so weigh in!