Take 4 at a stable blog
After struggling with power cleans for a month, I’ve decided to not do them anymore. Trying to catch them is just too hard on my wrist, and I can’t seem to be more explosive doing it. If only I had a coach for a few sessions on this stuff to correct my errors.
On a similar note, Brighten is in the finals of the tennis tournament. He is even playing in the higher division! Quite proud of him for this.
Today, I finally got new glasses. They’re nothing great, but somehow still a confidence booster. The fact that they’re “trendy” right now plays into it, but it’s also that, no matter how hard I try not to, self-confidence is related to how good I look. Maybe that is why I have been working my butt off in the gym.
In an another note, Brighten really, really likes /r/theocho. He’s a physical humor kind of guy. I prefer the situational humor. Speaking of which, my spice business officially is closing down after my dad returned all the cans of laoganma during his business trip.
The V-belt.
No, not a chastity belt found on some people. It serves a more primal purpose than that: it propels a mower forward by transferring energy from the engine to the transmission.
That was my mission this morning, except it was suppose to be a chore. Sometimes when you’re pouring milk, you accidentally overfill the cup. This is what happened today.
The first (and should have been the only) destination was Home Depot. Unfortunately, our mower has an exclusive contract with Lowe’s. It’s like the whole Kenmore and Sears relationship: unnecessary, and an anachronism.
Next the digital world foiled me. Lowe’s computer indicated that my precious V-belt is in stock, but the poor attendant couldn’t find it within the mass of boxes. A particularly rude man also tried to steal my little guy away. He tried his hardest, but I just felt embarrassed for him ultimately.
My final step was the Lowe’s by the airport. By this time, I have contemplated just ordering it from Amazon. It would have saved me more in health care cost down the road. But in the end, the V-belt was there. Hallelujah.
Also, Brighten cried again today after losing a chess game. This time he left his king wide open to an attack; I’m sure he sort of understood the concept, but I once I tried to hammer it in, he broke down. Poor guy.
Life on a platter is easy.
I’ve been reading Manchester’s biography of Winston Churchill, and one thing strikes me: the ease at which he could interact with Parliament members and even royalty. It makes sense that he went on to accomplish so much, to lead the nation in its darkest hour, to become the lion that he is.
I don’t want to discredit him. He is a genius. The biography contains several examples at different stages of life. Even as a 11 year old, his mastery of language outclasses almost everyone I know. His memory is perfect, even savant level. But would he come this far without the endowment of having the most courted (married) woman in England being his mother? That his father at one point was the second most powerful man in the government?
Greatness might be churned to the top, but it does help to be near the top in the first place. I’ve come to realize that I am not too special. Yes, there are things I do well, but not in the grand scheme of things. Maybe the best thing I can do would be to foster an environment for my child at the top of the world.
I read these two books around one and a half weeks ago, and it made me realize how much I’ve been missing out. Not reading during the semesters stopped me from exploring stories which television or movies can ever tell. The details which books can delve into about the characters is simply amazing. What he wants to do, how he interacts, and how he feels. These are things which are explored in a deeper context in prose.
For A Spool of Blue Thread, it really has no plot. The whole book is a flowing family saga about the Whitshank family and their house, about their lives and their fears. Somehow, it entranced me to keep on reading. It made me realize again how intricate the stories must be for me to be here; how my great-grandparents met and fell in love, how they dealt with tragedy and happiness.
It also made me wish I have a better memory of stories. I don’t recall much at all of my early life, as trading stories have never been my thing. Maybe I’ll write them down from now on.
As for the Invention of Wings, I finished the book in the span of two days. That should be enough praise for any book.
I recently sent an email to a realtor the other day, and recieved a short 1 sentence reply.
On the other hand, the end-of-email signature…(edited of course):
Name Went Here But Censored
Realtor Broker CEO
COMPANY OF REALTOR®
AHWD.CDPE.CNE.FAR.GRI.NAR.PME.
Search Homes Now @ www.WEBSITE.com
“SLOGAN” Dedicated Professionals
I specialize as a buyer’s negotiation expert, and a seller’s broker
ADDRESS, Tallahassee, Florida 32312
850.PHONE Office
850.MORE PHONEMobile
PICTURE WENT HERE.
Amazon’s Kindle First service delivers new books every month from up-and-coming authors. I’ve never read anything from it, until this past week. My little brother and I both finished the entire Paper Magician series in the span of two weeks.
The first book was excellent. Lovely premise of magic which can only be performed on a single material. The description of folding made me want to learn origami. As the book progressed, the climax resulted in a reveal which I think authors rely on too much: the female protagonist loves the male counterpart.
The author uses this to justify adventures later in the series. She loved him so much that she’s willing to go on incredibly foolhardy quests, but the premise was she was quite smart and rational.
Yes, this was a book for tweens. Yes, the plot (overall) was enjoyable. No, the huge focus on the love interest was not needed.
Well, last semester was quite hard. But I’m back home, adjusted to living in Florida again, and ready to relax.
Maybe I’ll finally blog more now. Ugh.
n. Whispering, murmuring or rustling