Taking Our Time

Let the record show that the corresponding mirrored item was purchased at Build It Green NYC less than 24 hours after the previous blog was posted.

"I think this is a sign that I need to really focus on myself right now," quoth the woman on the subway (incidentally, a bit of a theme of late). "I've spent my whole life waiting on other people to get their sh#$ together."
A few questions I did not ask her:
1. Do you have your sh$% together?
2. What is it you're missing out on, and why have you been avoiding it by blaming someone else for your lack focus? (Not being mean here - it'd be pretty awesome if some random stranger asked me this question on the subway)
3. Can you hold this tea for me? (see below)

Today, I bravely ventured into the Whole Foods at Columbus Circle and wound up spending $1.80 extra to buy tea so that I could bypass the round-the-store line and instead check-out in the "five items or less, preferably with coffee purchase" line. Apparently there was no "preferably" about it, as the barista quite adamently insisted that a coffee purchase was required. I didn't argue, as he most definitely could have beaten me up. (Not surprising, as I use phrases such as "quite adamently insisted.") Sadly, I wound up tossing it anyhow - I somehow thought it possible to carry a hot tea, bag of groceries, wooden shelf and leaking bowl of chicken soup on the train...

How do we feel about the fact that - historically speaking - the same general group who flies the flag (literally) of extreme jingoistic patriotism is often the same group consistently arguing (sometimes violently) for less/smaller government? If one is that proud of one's country, how does it follow that one is so against one's government? I'm just saying...

A (rediscovered) poem:

What I've Learned

to say yes
and to smile in large crowds

to get up (out of bed or onstage) when i’d rather not
and to keep my mouth shut when i’m drunk

i’ve learned that sometimes you have to pick your own flowers
scramble your own eggs
and unscramble your own predicaments

i’ve learned to admit to cliches
give in to arguments
and that there’s no shame in nudity

where anger comes from
and that i have something that is mine alone

i’ve learned that i pass judgements
that real men cry
and that doctors aren’t always problem-solving encyclopedias

to live as if protected
and that i am politically inept

i’ve learned to look through things
while heeding outward beauty

that it is possible (probable) to teach while learning
and that my being is not made exclusively of fibers

i’ve learned not to get offended when you don’t listen
(as i can always call you out on it later)

but mostly

i’ve learned to chase truth
and not answers
compromise
and not vindication
love
and not relationships

and not to chase
peace.

I think the internet and I are slowly moving toward the "taking it seriously" stage of something special, although we're both still a bit hesitant to commit. (I'm making the first move.)