Back to Meditating

After reading a couple of books on Buddhism, I've decided to get back into meditation. Did the transcendental crap for several years in college and beyond, but my interest just seemed to evaporate over time. So I'm giving zazen mediation a try. Seems to have less of the bells and whistles of other meditations, so I'll give it a chance.

Maximum time is 45 minutes (found an mp3 that chimes after 45 minutes), but that's pretty hard - so I only have done that on Saturday and Sunday. You wouldn't think sitting on the cushy zafu (pictured here) would be that tough - but legs and backs tend to ache after not moving for 45 minutes. So most of the time, I'm just doing a morning thing for about 10 minutes - might work up to longer over time.

More Glass Vases

Glass class has started up again for the Fall - should run until end of December. I'm getting better - forms are becoming more symmetrical, more glass, easier to do the basics, understanding when I screw up. It's good to keep these early pieces, just to see how I improve.

Trying to work now on bigger, thiner, and more controlled pieces. Plus I've started to make paperweights, which take less time and are fun. I'll might even start using a little color on the paperweights, just for practice on using it. We'll see.

Touching the iTouch

Yep, I broke down and got one - an iPod Touch, that is. My original iPod went kaplewy about a year ago (didn't like the bouncing of the bike back and forth to work), so I've been waiting for Apple to come up with the iPod version of the iPhone.

So what is this thing to the uninformed?

Basically it's a music and video player (holds pictures too) with a built-in web browser. But that description really doesn't do justice to this cute little thing. Check out the Apple propaganda on it. I still need to find a way of getting Wifi access at work, but once that's done, I'm set.

Found the son of 'Mont D'Or'

Although it wasn't the same thing, it was pretty close . . . Patrick had found at Sunflower market a generic version of Mont D'Or cheese (think instant fondue from Jura, France). This one didn't say it was Mont D'Or - and it came in a smaller package, but it was from Jura. So we threw it in the oven with some potatoes and checked it out.

Still a bit early to have melted cheese (Mont D'Or isn't available until about October, normally) - we had to see if this was close and a re-do. Although it didn't have the same strong flavors of Mont D'or, it did have a nice consistency - basically a milder form of the real stuff. Although the price might shock some ($9, I think, for a cup and a half of cheese) - it's an easy winter meal, which beats the McDonald alternative.

TP Stain System

I know this is a little OCD, but I saw this on Martha Stewart's website, so I thought I should give it a try.

What I found was the detailed list of things to use to get a stain out - you know, Patrick spills tomato sauce on a white shirt - what do you do?

And yes, I even had it laminated.

Obie eats second pair of bike shorts

Really not sure what fascination Obie has with eating my bike shorts - but there is another pair down the tubes. Since I'm too cheap to get new ones with winter coming, I just decided to do a little layering action, so people can't see the hole in my butt.

Hopefully I'll make it to the end of year sales, where I can stock up.

A perfect cleaning storm

Some of you may already know of my recent cleaning habits and reading of Martha Stewart's 'Home Keeping Manual' - read it cover to cover. And I think I already told you about my three-ring binder (stage left) that lists each cleaning task that needs to be completed on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, or annual basis. (Washing the kitchen ceiling once every three months is my personal favorite).

Regardless, it was bound to happen eventually, where a perfect storm occured, and I had to complete all weekly, monthly, quarterly, and bi-annual cleaning tasks in one day. There was a period there where Patrick saw the first 30 minutes of cleaning - and he acted similarly to how Obie does when he's stuck in a corner while I'm vacuuming (sp?) - he just shook his head, and said, "I need to leave". Thank God.

Julie's Going Away Party

This past weekend, we had the Lilly GBIP gang over to the house for a BBQ and a little goodbye celebration for Julie Backus, who is now off to IBM. Fortunately, Julie is still living in Indy, so we'll still see her a lot.

Everybody did really well with the pitch-in concept, and we even opened up a nice bottle of 1996 Tintara Shiraz that Tom Blake had dropped off from an earlier dinner party - very nice. Not surprising...Julie's going away gift were three nice bottles of wine - figured she'd like them better than a cool pen.