Mary's Pad

Let’s just say having a glass of soda next to an open laptop is not the smartest idea, but I do it again, and again and again.  Thank God I have a Thinkpad.  They can take the most amazing amount of abuse and still work! Here is the journey from toothless keyboard to nice, new, non-sticky keyboard.

You can click on the images to see a larger view.

Laptop after several keys popped out and broke after my various attempts to solve the sticking problem…  Still usable, but annoying.

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I’ve been doing a lot of work with Drupal, creating tutorials, and building stuff… see links on the side for my programming blog – fun stuff. You can also see and track my activity on my Drupal page.

I’ve also been getting into MODx. Tutorials coming soon at the Coding Pad, for those who may be interested.

I’ve been twittering a lot… if you twitter, you can follow me @einsteinsboi

I’ve been fighting a fierce battle with my emotions, and with the demons of fear, pessimism, depression, anger, despair… I will NOT get into a rut, I will NOT become pessimistic, I will NOT lose my focus, I will NOT allow this to change me and make me bitter. I’m hanging in there

It’s been hard as hell staying focused on school… a first for me.

In all this, I have remained secure in the knowledge that I am loved, accepted, and supported.

more animals

It’s very easy to get into a rut, to find yourself stuck in an unproductive and even sometimes destructive pattern of living. I am in that place where I could so easily fall into a rut. All the ingredients are there: I’m frustrated, bored, dissatisfied, afraid, and stressed. And I feel like I have absolutely no control over the things that are making me unhappy. I feel like my fate is in someone else’s hands, and that is a very discomfiting feeling. The reality really is that I do have a choice, but it’s not one that I desire to exercise.

So here’s what I’m doing to avoid getting into a rut. I’m doing my best to stay as productive as I possibly can.
- I’m not sleeping in
- I’m not watching TV – if I do watch something it’s intentional
- Limiting myself to one movie every few days
- Spending time in the office or living room, not in the bedroom (because then I’ll just sleep)
- Playing video games almost as regularly as when I was working — not much more
- Reading books… working my way through the pile I’ve been collecting and revisiting some old titles
- Working on my programming stuff and my websites
- Picking new skills to learn and master
- Walking/hiking often
- Oh, and school work too ofcourse
… among other things

Basically, keeping myself busy and my mind stimulated. I figure if I just keep going then I won’t get into a slump and start feeling sorry for myself, which is possibly the most self-destructive thing anyone can ever do.

I think I can talk about it now

Not go into details
Not discuss intricacies
Not delve into whys and hows

I’m not ready for that yet
But I can talk about it now

I can respond with more than
the nonchalant “whatever”
I can say more than
“what will be will be”
“it’s what it is”

I can discuss the unfairness
I can discuss the economics
I can even laugh at the ironies
…more degrees than a thermometer – ha!

Don’t ask me about the empty moments
Don’t ask me about the helplessness
Don’t ask me about the fear
Don’t ask me about the uncertainty
Don’t ask me about the sleepless nights

Maybe, soon
We can delve deeper
We can brainstorm
We can anticipate
We can hope

But for now
While the shock wears off
Let it be enough
That I can talk about it

A powerful talk on all levels. “Any work that you do that involves interaction with other people is moral work, and any moral work requires practical wisdom.”

Barry Schwartz makes a passionate call for “practical wisdom” as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world.