Midnight Ramblings.

[GGT]

Not a What's Making You Happy or What's Messing With Your Groove thread. Not quite a WTF thread, either. More like the In-Between thread?

Lately, I've been acutely aware of my activity in this place. It seems too much, too often. I probably start too many threads because there are lots of ideas and questions swirling in my mind. And I can be impulsive. And a little bit crazy. Especially late at night.

Most of these things aren't topics for daily conversation in my daily life. But conversation can be a craving, reading what other people think, learning from others, sharing, asking. Not total strangers (no one here is a total stranger.....) Surely I'm not the only one. So when it's hard to find the right place to post, maybe we can post here?

Here we go!


It's raining right now, dark plops outside the screen, falling on the patio. Autumn rain is much nicer than any other, because it comes with cool breezes and crisp leaves. I know it won't turn into sleeting rain or snow tomorrow, and it won't make the grass grow faster either. Small victory in my mind.

I watched the movie V (for Vendetta) the other night. Scenes of outstretched arms, reaching toward the sky, making a V for Victory. A common human stance, really. We see it all the time, it's only poignant when we stop and think about it. Or technology can slow it down, pause it, capture it. Attach a logo, plaster it around, sell it on a shoe. Sports are that way. Maybe Life is just a big fricking sport? Or is it the other way 'round?

God is in the Rain. That was a chorus of the movie. Uplifted face, outstretched arms, drinking in the rain, breathing the water of Life, looking up to the sky, putting out fire. Seeing something. [No, this doesn't have to be about God or Religion.] Cross the finish line, your muscles are burning, throw your arms in the air, make a big V.


The rain has now slowed to a drip, drip, drip. Even the cats are no longer interested. Chipmunks and spiders hide when it rains. Crickets become quiet. Even squirrels are absent in the rain, day or night, they know. The morning could bring worms and birds, and the cats would notice. But I think those things are too late for autumn, and they know that, too. After all, their winter fur is coming in.

I'm reminded to clean my gutters before the winter freeze comes. Is this how other mammals think in preparing for the winter? To them it's second nature but for humans it's something written on a To Do List?

Creatures find their place when water comes to call, almost as second nature. Geese know, beavers know, even house cats and earth worms seem to know. Only humans want to be on the edge of dangerous waters and seek it out, for recreation or sport, challenging (almost daring) water to spoil the fun. Only humans gamble with water this way.

[GGT]

Humans gamble with all sorts of strange things. The UK selling ancient forests to develop golf courses and tourist hotels, in order to balance their deficit? Rand is fine with that, sounds good. Just plant some new trees, somewhere, or something. EarthJoker in Switzerland says their nation values trees as a way to avoid avalanches. Cut a tree, plant a tree, have a long term plan. That sounds better.

Even though both country's philosophy involves water (or environment), this particular ramble isn't really about water. More about mindset. Most of our problems are caused by man, and man's myopic short term thinking. Then why shouldn't our solutions also be created by man, and mankind's ability to project well into the future?

Really, if an earthworm has a life span of something like 2-4 years without a problem-solving brain, then surely humans with a life span of 80-100 years and supposedly the highest level of intellectual ability can come up with some great ideas.


Part III

The insects have started their sounds again, but only in the distance. A rhythmic chirping, a soothing hum, many sounds together in the late night to early morn, while it's still dark and damp. The world sounds expectant.

A faint churn begins. Competing with the crickets and wind chimes, fighting against the lovely lull. A low and distant boisterous sound that feels less than normal, yet quite familiar. It's a rumbling. A whirring sound of trucks and traffic beginning, as the day begins. A siren sounds a million miles away, but I know it's coming closer.

Is there a baby coming? An accident that didn't need the helicopter?

The day begins slowly. The day never stopped for night, but we like to think so.

People rouse from slumber and strange dreams, warm and limp in their beds. Lovers find bodies lost during sleep, sweetly aware again, of warmth and skin and special breath. Young parents feel lost in their tiredness before the alarm clock beeps, up and down all night with babies and their bad dreams or need to nurse, hush hush.....hush little baby don't you cry, a few more minutes of shut eye. Try to capture the dream interrupted. Quiet now, let's sleep and dream together, if only for a little while.


Part IV

Six O'clock, life comes calling. Put the teapot on to boil for making tea, and another pot for hard boiled eggs. Good protein for the kids, better than cereal. I read that somewhere but can't remember now. The world seems dark and disconnected, that's how autumn goes. Turn on the radio for music, turn on the tv for the news. The remote is workable even with blurry eyes, fingers find their way. Something about that seems strange, but think about that later.

Children and kitties look so peaceful sleeping, together in bed. Hands tucked under heads, paws tucked under chins, bodies tucked into each other. Such a bittersweet time of day, to see them sleeping but wake them up anyway.


Part V

Sounds of hot showers collide with drips of rain. Long hot water is assumed and taken for granted. Cats yawn and stretch, making a slow way to their water bowls. Must be fresh cold water, they are spoiled too. The television ads and music feel like assaults, but kids seem to like that. Almost like an energizer. Hard boiled eggs for the 21st century brain, on the way out the door. iPods and cell phones, early morning texts, pet the cat and rinse with Listerine, walk to the bus stop with ear buds. Boom da boom

[GGT]

Midnight came and went, a thousand hours ago. No birds were chirping when the sun finally rose, that's also how autumn goes. The world outside is eerily quiet and dark, approaching noon. The garden and walkway is damp, slippery, ambivalent. Just like the sun hiding behind grey clouds. A bunny romps around chewing the last remaining clover, while I watch from the laundry room window, folding towels. It's fun for a moment to think of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit. One of the first stories my boy memorized, but I can't remember it now. First he ate some radishes, then some french beans. Then, feeling rather sick he ate some ....

the bunny hops away and so do my thoughts. I wonder if my boy ever thinks of these things when he eats lunch at school. Probably not, he's much too busy. I hope he doesn't feel like Peter Rabbit hiding from the farmer's shovel when he's at school. that kind of makes me giggle, though. Kids hiding under terra cotta pots, wearing blue coats, trying not to lose their gold buttons before they come home.

A lonely cricket is stuck in the garage door jam. He's been there a while but we can't get him out. He chirps and sings but no cricket answers, and he doesn't seem to know how to unstick himself. I think he might die there. But the laundry is done and it's almost noon, so my attentions have to focus. Write some things here, wonder who's reading (if anyone) and go about the day. Look to the grey sky, perk my ears up and listen to the quiet before traffic begins again. Don't feel much like making a V with my arms. But I wish I did. I made it through the night and saw my baby off to school. Small victories, one at a time, those things matter.

[']['ear]

FYI working on the computer is a terrible idea for insomnia. It is stimulating, and makes it far less likely that you'll go to sleep. I recommend a little snack and then a book. Preferably one that isn't too good. Maybe some dry non-fiction? I keep some near the bed for exactly that reason.

[GGT]

Thanks, Tear. I've tried all sorts of things for quite a while. It's just what it is. I enjoy writing so that's not a problem.

I have been told to double up on my meds, so we'll see.



Part VI

Unusually dark for an October noon. Flipping on cable news tells me some huge weather front is hovering over large parts of the US. Winds, tornadoes, rain. Makes me wonder what folks did before doppler radar or the internet, just using Richard's Almanac. Well duh, they just carried on. Back when people were connected to the earth, they learned from it, and could anticipate. Gauging weather by how high squirrels nested in trees, when birds migrated, when insects became quiet, or plants dormant, that kind of thing. They just knew.

I can see why middle aged folks sometimes choose to make a big break. I can understand how hippies chose the same thing. It's fairly hard to make that choice in the 21st century, but it might still be possible. Even at an age that brings responsibility, guardianship for children, planning for old age.

I was looking at t@b campers, tiny things that any car can haul. Reminiscent of the old Airstream Teardrops. Considering long trips and no commitments. Just rambling around land masses. Taking in the views, stopping in places I liked. Breathing.

People asked me why, what would you do with all your stuff, how long could you live like that ---- you mean you'd have to carry your toilet waste IN something, and then empty it somewhere? And you'd do this by yourself? For how long? huh?



But my kids were all for it. Do It Mom! Go For It! (Well, after the youngest has graduated from high school, at least.)

Rainy days are good for thinking and dreaming, don't you think?

[Catgrrl]

The TV works for me. Background sound. Though if it is too dark in the room, the light from the TV bothers me. Maybe I should switch to radio.

[Catgrrl]

Also, thanks for reminding me to add Beatrix Potter to my book list for Kaitlyn!

[GGT]

Radio is great. Any kind of music you can imagine, and it frees up your eyes!

Beatrix Potter and Maurice Sendak books are great for kids! I started reading them to my boys when they were still chewing on pages. Then we moved to Laura Ingals Wilder. Pioneer and frontier stories really captured their imagination. Pretty soon they were into monster trucks, earth movers, dinosaurs and sharks. Not sure how the little girl track moves

[Catgrrl]

Not too far off. I remember liking dinosaur books when I was still in single digits. I was always encouraged to like what I liked regardless of my gender, so I plan to do the same for her. But I secretly hope she likes the Barbie stuff just enough so that I can play with her stuff too.

[']['ear]

Take it or leave it. Video stimulates brain activity, and is thus anti-sleep. You might want to do it, but it ain't helping.

[earthJoker]

Having an orgasm helps me falling asleep. Sorry for dropping the niveau.

[']['ear]

Hell yeah. Nature's sleeping pills.

[GGT]

Well. Suppose I'm bumping my own thread. Some say it's just about orgasms (stimuli with sleep inducing hormones) or turning off technology (stimuli that keeps on stimulating).

I find it hard to believe that no one else wants to post their late night ramblings. Funny, I didn't intend this to be about how can I fall asleep but more of a venue for others to chime in and share. Late at night, strange thoughts, before you find slumber, or what wakes you up in the middle of the night. Dogs that need to go out, babies that want to be fed, phone calls that startle, bumps in the night. Wander to the fridge, take a pee, something interrupts, and thoughts seem important. Lie in bed and try to get back into the groove, before it's lost. Write it down, before it's lost.

Midnight ramblings!


Tonight I was thinking about time, and DST. I read that smart phones won't necessarily make the transition. And people are pissed. That people have become so dependent on technology to adjust things for them, and might be late for work and lay blame on their.....phones?

Because so many people now use their phones as their alarm clocks, they expect them to be idiot proof. But they don't think to set their phones as clocks. Not like the old days of wind-up clocks that had to be checked, wound, and set nightly. Alarm on, Alarm off. Set it every night. If you had an electric clock, better have a battery back-up clock. Especially during winter storms that could take down power lines while you slept.

People now use their phones as their wrist watch, to tell them the time. Sounds cumbersome to me, having to pull out a phone to check the time, instead of glancing at their wrist. But that's how time goes, I guess.

[Dreadnaught]

I personally feel uncomfortable if I'm not wearing a watch. Strangely enough, I've always preferred wind-up watches. But I feel like some kind of technomoron having to pull out my phone to check the time.

[Flixy]

My (smart) phone automatically switches to and from DST. We made the switch this weekend, and I was a bit confused because I was drunk, had no real track of the time, and was unsure if my phone made the switch or not, so I didn't know what time it really was

[Catgrrl]

I can't stay up until midnight anymore, GGT

But if baby girl gets up at 3 again maybe I will have a ramble to post.

[Hazir]

My smartphone won't automatically change the time when in Holland. In Turkey it does.

[Ominous Gamer]

Tonight I was thinking about time, and DST. I read that smart phones won't necessarily make the transition. And people are pissed. That people have become so dependent on technology to adjust things for them, and might be late for work and lay blame on their.....phones?

My dumbphones as far back I could remember knew to switch the time, hell the $10 phone I have right now even has a setting to make it not check for the correct time.
Doesn't mean the problem still doesn't exist. Apple burned the Aussies a few months ago because a bug stopped their alarms from going off at the corrected time, and they just burned the Europeans a few days ago with the same bug they refused to fix.
Yet I've always worn a watch because its just easier, its one of those items that I feel naked without, and I've had some brands that are real conversation starters.

I personally feel uncomfortable if I'm not wearing a watch. Strangely enough, I've always preferred wind-up watches. But I feel like some kind of technomoron having to pull out my phone to check the time.

Start with small watches first. I'm a fan of skeleton watches (no battery, no winding), but I broke the strap on my last one in the meantime I've been sporting a LEGO Star Wars watch, and honest to god, I've gotten more comments from this watch than I've gotten from all my other watches.

[Dreadnaught]

I tend to go for plain and simple, yet mechanical. Hamilton is a brand I wish I could bring myself to pay for more.

My workhorse watch is a Hamilton reproduction of their WWII military-issue mechanical watch. Got it about fifteen years ago for $100, amazed at the price now.

Though in a fantasy world I'd love a few alternates like this or this. Amazing how the simple, classic mechanical watches cost a ton. Have never been able to bring myself to actually buy one. The cost just seems prohibitive when I could just wear a $15 Timex for half a decade and it would be fine (which is what I've also done).

[Catgrrl]

Used to wear watches all the time. Only wore cheap ones as I would end up getting them soaked or break the glass in them (back in my food service days and then in college laboratory days).

But then I slowly stopped wearing them. There are clocks everywhere, or I have my phone with me. I still own a few watches, one nice wind-up one and my Tasmanian Devil watch I've owned since I was 15. That one needs a battery though.