Reflections in the water
writing
Barriers to Beauty
I was walking Anna the dog to explore whether the bridge had been rebuilt in an area we like. When I saw that there was no bridge, I decided to explore along the stream to see if there was a way across, maybe some stones or logs.
There was nothing, but that’s not really what this post is about. I was looking at the stream with annoyance. I wanted to get across, and it was a barrier to my desires.
I stopped myself, realizing that my attitude didn’t really support my philosophy. A stream is a beautiful thing, and many times I’ve stopped by this water, gazed at it, enjoying the sight and sound. So I stopped myself, and Anna, and we looked down at the water, enjoying its burbling flow.
The lesson I’m trying to take away is that sometimes something enjoyable can be burdensome if we have the wrong attitude. I’m trying to make sure updating this website, working on my writing, isn’t an extra that seems like too much. Hopefully the lesson of this stream will help me in pursuing my ambitions.
Ask Boz – Taco vs Grilled Cheese part 1
Dear Ask Boz,
Which would win in a fight, a taco or a grilled cheese sandwich?
Adam
Dear Adam,
Your question couldn’t have come at a better time, since the Ask Boz Food Anthropology Institute has just finished a ten-year study on this very issue.
First, our researchers split the question in two, seeing there are two distinct species of taco: the hard shell and the soft shell. Then we matched each in a fight against the grilled cheese. Here is what we found:
- Hard Shell (Duro Putamine) vs. Grilled Cheese (Rhoncus Caseus)
Because these two species don’t exist together in the wild, our experiments were conducted in controlled environments.
The results were consistently and sadly predictable. The hard-shelled taco proved extremely vulnerable to even the softest blow from the grilled cheese. The smallest crack in the shell would expand to deadly proportions the next time the taco made the slightest offensive move.
One grilled cheese could take on as many as twelve hard tacos at a time without a problem. Although one taco would bravely expose itself as a target while the others surrounded the grilled cheese and beat on it, the grilled cheese was so durable that it could withstand multiple attacks while patiently cracking shell.
You see, a grilled cheese easily absorbs punches, and even when stretched out maintains its basic integrity.
In fact, this experiment had to be suspended when the grilled cheese refused to continue fighting. They are a very empathic sandwich. Even then, the meat grease would make the shell all soggy and it would fall apart on its own.
Winner: Grilled cheese
Tomorrow: Soft-Shell Taco vs. Grilled Cheese
World Philosophy Day
For this day, I thought it would be nice to post one of my favorite passages from my book. The first part is a quote from Henry David Thoreau. The second is the connection I see to Taoism.
Thoreau
We should be blessed if we lived in the present always, and took advantage of every accident that befell us, like the grass which confesses the influence of the slightest dew that falls on it; and did not spend our time in atoning for the neglect of past opportunities.
We loiter in winter while it is already spring.
Tao
Earlier, Thoreau warned not to try to turn spring into summer; here he warns not to obsess on the past. Lao Tzu said:
Why was it that the ancients prized this Tao so much? Because it could be got by seeking for it, and the guilty could use it to escape the stain of guilt. This is the reason why all
under heaven consider it the most valuable thing.
Learn from mistakes and missed opportunities and apply this learning going forward. Practice forgiving yourself, especially if you have accepted the lessons from your mistakes. Forge forward with this learning, determined to make a new day and a new you.
If you like this, you may like to read more in my book Tao of Thoreau
Performance Anxiety
The PechaKucha format is so different and challenging. In standard storytelling, the teller has no additional pressure except for telling the story well and not going past the time limit. In the Pecha format, you have to speak as pictures are projected behind you. The teller has twenty seconds per slide to tell the story of that image. The additional pressure of not coming up short and standing there awkwardly waiting for the next slide, or going long into the next one really impacted me.
I was prepared, but I was stressed. More than I have been in a long time. It was kind of a long drive to the theatre, and I barely had a word to say to my wife. I felt bound up.
Yet, when I walked to the microphone, all my nerves fell away. When my first image was projected, I got right into my story. And frankly, I kind of killed it.
My takeaway from this is that I’ve earned confidence. I belong talking into a mic. As long as I continue to be respectful of the process, I can approach performing with a feeling of belief.
The smell of fresh books!
I ordered 50 more for a new push to get it into stores and distribute at events. It has been selling steadily and I want to see if I can push it to the next level.
Old Friend
This was an hour ago. I was alerted by Anna barking. He stood their calmly, not placid, eyeing Anna with concern but not fright.
He stood still as I took pictures, took the time just to look at him. The intelligence in his eyes reminded me of wisdom, an idea supported by the white shading his brown coat.
My Story 1: “The Missing Antler” He lost the antler but won the fight.
My Feelings: Blessed. Fortunate. Aligned. Humbled.
My Story 2: “Grey Mein” Age withers but does not defeat.
My Fantasy: Spirit of an old god. Patron of flight and fight. Master of camouflage.
My Feelings 2: Fear that if I step out of line this kind of thing won’t happen to me anymore.
My Belief: Be an animal.
I called him “Old Friend” maybe 6 times. The last was when he finally ran. I said it and he stopped and looked back at me. I said “Goodbye, Old Friend.”
Wires Tangle
Wires tangle Like lives Like loves. Electricity twists wires Like lies twist minds. Wires twirl into one another Like legs intertwined. Wires find each other Like the time Even on that first day You just know You'll be best friends Combined.
Dear Ask Boz – Periodic Table
If you could be any element on the periodic table, which one and why?
Claudia
OK let me take a look at the chart. Mmmm. Let’s see. I’ll let you know my thinking about it and make a choice about which one I will be.
- Well, there’s Krypton, and I coulda used it in the 90’s, but Clark stopped bullying me a while back so I don’t really need that.
- Ohh! Fermium!! Reminds me of Fermi High School, which was the cross-town rival of Enfield High where I went. And this one time in a 5K race this kid wanted to beat me so badly that I kept pushing him until he ran off the track and got sick! It’s terrible how good that made me feel! So Fermium has a chance.
- I like Tantalum. It sounds like an element needed to make every Greek tragedy.
- No, you’re a Boron!
- Not Aluminum, of course, but why do the British pronounce it “AL- You – Mini-Umm” Like, blokes, there’s no “I”. Don’t Over-British, please.
- Scandium sounds like a show where all the scandals are happening live in a stadium. “Tonight, on Scandium: The Kardashians vs the Duggars.”
- I pretty sure Yttriam is a really obscure Tolkien character. His besty was Ytterbium. Tolkien references always stand a chance.
- Whelp, Moscovium didn’t age well, did it?
- Americium? Really? EWWW
- I could be a bro that says “What’s up Bromine?” I like that, being an aficionado of the double entendre. Like it’s “bro” and “bro of mine”.
- That had a chance until I saw:
- DUBNIUM
- It’s gotta be Dubnium! Sounds like a place people are dubbing music and doing the dub step and getting W’s for wins. And you know I’m all about getting those dubs! And I can be Dub of Dubnium!
Thanks for asking
Boz
Autumn Glory
Leaves! I celebrate your splash of color Your delicate yellows Citrus orange Majestic Red I honor you, Because your changing hue Is the glory Of leaves dying. I will not forget your Verdant green Your spring and summer Wind dances Hushing and shushing together The brief glimpse of your Light underside. And trees I don’t blame you if You already shed your leaves. I’m tired too.
Mark Bozeman 