I saw this on Facebook.
Many years ago I was introduced to sudoku puzzles. I hesitate to say that it was a friend that introduced me to them because what friend would bring these devilish and addictive puzzles into someone's life?
I have picked them up and set them aside for long periods of time often over the years. Recently, I ran across a large book of them and I am currently back at solving them.
As a kid, I loved solving logic problems. Sudoku is my adult kind of logic problem. I never really got into crossword puzzles, but enjoyed many of the other word and number puzzles that were in the Dell Crossword Puzzle books/magazines that my dad would get. I liked the logic problems and the crytoquotes the best.
I'm curious as to the types of brain exercising/problem solving puzzles or games that others might enjoy.
What are your go-to puzzles?
John
It's just about that time! Thursday night/Friday morning is the peak time for watching this year's Perseids meteor shower! I'm hoping the skies above SWMO are clear so that I can enjoy a good view.
The best time for viewing is in the early morning hours, between 2 and 4 AM.
The current night sky is pretty spectacular without the seasonal meteor shower. If you look south/southwest around midnight you can see the Scorpion. Follow the constellation to its tail and you are looking towards the center of our galaxy. From the tail of the Scorpion, northeastward to not quite directly overhead, you should be able to follow the Milky Way if you have reasonably dark skies.
Facing south and looking up, but not quite overhead, you'll see two bright objects just east of the Milky Way. The brighter one (and furthest east) is Jupiter. The dimmer one that is nearly in the Milky Way ribbon is Saturn. With a decent pair of binoculars (and a steady hand) you can see four of the moons of Jupiter. They will appear as tiny pinpricks of light and will be in a line extending from Jupiter's equator. It will take a small telescope or spotting scope to see the rings of Saturn.
I am constantly amazed by the order of the universe and unable to comprehend how such order could come to be by accident. The intricate design of the universe seems to shout, "Creator!"
Enjoy!
John
It's going to be hot this week.
Of course, it's what one should expect for the Dog Days of summer in Southwest MO.
It's also when perennial plants are half off at Lowes.
Yesterday afternoon as I was walking around the garden center with a cart full of plants, a woman walked by, glanced at the cart, and said, "That looks like work."
sigh
We (Chris and I) tried to beat the heat today by starting the day with a morning walk. It wasn't too early, but earlier than I am usually active. I hadn't even had my coffee yet!
When we got back, I decided that it was a good day to make a large jar (1/2 gallon) of iced coffee. I'll be sipping (or chugging) that while I'm digging up some plants, temporarily repotting them, and tilling up some soil where they (and the new plants) will be going. This will be a multi-day project and will involve several trips to the garden center for various items before its completion because that's how I roll.
Eventually the place will be well landscaped and a beautiful setting for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Oh yeah, and us too!
It would be nice to hire professionals to do our landscaping, but I'm too cheap for that and I really don't mind digging in the dirt. It is a good thing that I can work at it as I feel like it and take breaks as needed. It has been a lot of years since I had to do manual labor in the heat. I am so thankful for the climate controlled environment and the comfort of the ATC world where I was able to spend most of my working years.
Now it's time to sweat.
John
How do you know if you really know someone?
Or maybe the question should be -- How do you know if the someone you know is really the person you think they are?
Most of the people that read this blog have some first-hand knowledge of who I am. Many do not.
Some of you are friends from my past and know a John that no longer exists. Some of you know me from a single, narrow, perspective (controller, co-worker, preacher, volunteer, smartass, etc.).
If you only know me from my blog, can you really say that you know me?
The internet is a place where you can really create an alternate version of yourself. A simple Facebook or Twitter account can be the exact opposite of who we really are. I think for many people, it is social media that allows us to be who we really are and our IRL (in real life) person is the one that is fake.
IRL we act like we have it all together and are a super good human. But behind our keyboards sit some very mean, judgmental, and uncaring assholes. We put on nice clothes, and make-up to be seen in public, but inside are old, worn out ideas, generalizations, stereotypes, and not nice people that seem to boldly show themselves in the false anonymity of the virtual world.
I think that I am pretty much me, whether you know me IRL or just from my social media platforms,
But...
I also think the IRL me is more likely to filter out the more ugly aspects of my personality than the virtual me.
I am generally untrusting of people--openminded, but initially wary. As I've become more contemplative, I've become more aware of the energy or vibe that people put out. I seem to have many of the characteristics of an empath, but I don't care to be one. It's a little weird to find that spiritual kind of energy connection when you meet people. There s a reason that we portray light as good and dark as evil.
I know that I still struggle to keep Ugly John locked away in the dungeon recesses of my persona. I imagine that others have their own similar alter egos they struggle with. The John that you get to see has gotten stronger and has more control. For some people, it's the ugly ego that has control and the nice person that has to fight to get out.
I know it's a weird kind of rant this morning.
It was inspired because last night I met the IRL version of a person that I've been "friends" with on Facebook for sometime. And yeah, the energy signature matched up well with the virtual vibe. It didn't feel like we were meeting for the first time. I felt like a knew someone that I had never met before.
And that's a little weird.
John
I've been thinking about happiness recently. Pastor Jodi has been doing a series of messages on happiness at our Thursday night Downtown Venues.
And so I've been wondering...
Do you think we've lowered our standard of happiness to include just being satisfied?
Is there enough societal pressure put on us to be happy that we are ashamed not to be happy and feel like we need to say we are -- even if we're not?
Is not being happy the same thing as being unhappy?
I feel like there is a stigma attached to not being happy like there is to being depressed or anxious.
Am I wrong about that?
Why have we made it so that it's not okay not to be happy?
Not being happy doesn't mean there is something wrong with you or with your life. I think we need to stop thinking of happiness as a goal and simply recognize it as a momentary state of being.
Researchers find that finding happiness often involves enduring considerable time of discomfort.
Well maybe I don't want to experience that discomfort and I'm happy to remain comfortable!
So...
Are you happy?
Really?
I just want to say -- It is okay if you're not.
But then again, I'm no expert. I'm just a guy that is okay without having to always be happy.
What do you think?
John
I just finished a pretty good book -- Black Nowhere, by Reece Hirsch.
I'm a pretty low tech guy so I was a bit surprised to get drawn into this dark web thriller. I sometimes have difficulty signing into my own accounts, so creating encrypted websites and scrolling on the dark web is far beyond my ability.
However, the author does a great job of character development and easily brings a low tech moron like me along for the ride. From the FBI geek to the brutally evil cartel drug king, this computer geek has bitten off far more than he is prepared to deal with.
I've been pretty happy with my recent choices of books as I am expanding my novel reading. I was pleased enough with this one that I'm onto book 2 of this series that follows the career of the FBI main character in Black Nowhere.
What are you reading?
John
The months of June and July seemed to fly by this year. I'm not sure where they went, but they have come and gone in quick fashion. Although I know I spent time on the deck nearly every day, I feel a bit disconnected from the view and the world around me as I sit here with my coffee and computer this morning.
I'm in need of a reset, but not sure of how I am to go about it.
I've been less purposeful about meditation and quiet time. I still get plenty of quiet time and I am generally contemplative, but I think that purposeful meditation is necessary for spiritual connection to the world and the people around me.
(I have to admit that re-reading what I just wrote causes me to smile a bit. I know that meditation and spiritual connection to the world would disturb many of my evangelical friends. Eastern practices like meditation, tai chi, even yoga, are often associated as practices of the pagan world and demonic in nature.)
I'll figure it out. Maybe some time working in the dirt will help. I'm considering mowing the yard using a push mower. It's cool enough today and I can always use the exercise. I may cut a few flowers from the flower beds and bring them inside. I'm torn between leaving them to grow and bringing some of their color and aroma into the house, but I think I'm going to go for it.
One new habit that has become a part of my morning ritual is setting a half gallon jar of water, along with a large normal tea bag and a smaller Zen tea (green tea, lemongrass, mint) bag out in the sun for our afternoon sun tea. It makes a very refreshing iced tea that we both enjoy in the afternoon and early evening.
I'm going to take care of that now, spend a little time reading, and then get started reconnecting with my yard. I hope that your day is more than just going through the same motions that you tend to go through on a daily basis, and you are able to make connections with the people you encounter, the natural world around you, and the Creator of it all.
John
There are those people in everybody's life that bring a smile to their face.
It's automatic -- You see them, you smile.
Often times, just thinking about them is enough bring a smile to your face.
Who are those people in your life?
I had some encounters with several of my smile inducers last week.
My mom.
I swear that woman makes everybody smile! There is an infectious joy that radiates from her and lightens any space she occupies. I speak with her almost daily and always come away feeling better about the world and life in general.
My brother Steve.
Yesterday, our cousin Rick posted a picture taken with Steve and referred to him as his favorite cousin. I commented that I was hurt, but in all honesty, if Steve was my cousin--he'd be my favorite, too!
I have three brothers and two sisters. Everyone of them is a damn fine human being and I love them all. But I've often said that Steve is the best of us.
It was really good to see you, brother!
Old friends
Mike, Joe, Rex, Theresa
Visiting with you was like finding an old treasure that I had set aside and forgotten about. Please forgive me -- both for setting you aside (for several decades) and forgetting the part of life that we shared.
There are so many more, but these are fresh on my mind today (and I am smiling as I type).
Who are your people?
Admit it -- you're smiling now as you think about them, aren't you?
Why not send them a message today? "Thinking about you--and smiling"
I'll bet they smile, too!
John
It is August.
Here in the Ozarks, we are going to get a short break from the 90+ (32c) temperatures with the next few days topping out in the low to mid 80s. Tomorrow will be a good day to mow.
In other news--
I've hit a new high on the weight. Ugh!
It is way past time to flip that mental switch and get serious about shedding this excess body weight. I've definitely added my COVID 19 (pounds) over the past year and a half. I'll be posting about this over at my seldom used Healthy Living (by an unhealthy guy) blog.
I recently wrote about writing.
Last month I reviewed the three different pieces that I have written first chapters. I can still see working on two of them. One is fiction. One is not. The third is one that I doubt I would find motivation to pursue any more. An author I follow on Twitter offered some writing encouragement. Maybe I'll start (or re-start) working on that this month.
Personally, I wonder if I have the self-discipline to actually write a book. I barely have the discipline to blog regularly.
In any case, summer is barely half over and I'm already hearing and seeing crap about pumpkin spiced stuff and fall garbage. Relax, people! It is not yet time to be putting up fall decorations. Even Labor Day is too early for that.
Enjoy each remaining summer day (there are still 51 of them); everything in its proper season.
John
