life stories

I’m Not Whining

smiller — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:29:40 +0000

Winter has sucked the life out of me. The darkness isn’t romantic or poetic, just dark. I’ve gotten rather tired of complaining about the cold. Then I realized – I’m not complaining. I am surviving. By speaking out distaste for this cruel season, we establish solidarity. If we stick together in this manner, we will soon arrive at Spring. No whining.

Some Days are Strange

smiller — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:45:40 +0000

Yesterday I was in my boss’ office waiting for him to finish a phone call and sort out some email. The west-facing windows framed a clear view of Denali. I sent a text to my friend in New Jersey to tell her about this amazing view. She was in the waiting room of a doctor’s office where her friend was texting from the exam room.

My boss took a deep breath and explained why he was at loose ends. He had made final decisions about reorganizing and had to let someone go that morning.

My text conversation continued later and my friend relayed that her friend would have to see a specialist. That is scheduled for February 3. Two and a half weeks?!

The Hat

smiller — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:56:40 +0000

My colleague, Kristie, bought this hat and it was too small so I bought it from her. Hats always make me think of THE HAT by Tomi Ungerer.

Hats are true heroes. They can lift you up and make you stand out. They can hide your eyes and make you invisible. Hats are life’s most heroic accessory.

A Bigger World

smiller — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:13:26 +0000

I cringed at Google’s new approach to personalized searches. The idea that content on Google+ and social media content created by my friends would be given more weight than other sources sounded absurd. If I wanted to get information from this group of people, all I had to do was ask, not search.

What if I am seeking an alternative point of view? I, like most people, am surrounded by like-minded people. One of the benefits of the Internet is that it opens up the world. Ideas, opinions, lifestyles that I never would have been exposed to without the Internet are right before me to learn from and explore.

I do not understand why Google would consider narrowing the user’s world to that which is familiar. Luckily, there is a way to turn off these personalized searches: how to turn off google personalized search

I could see a benefit to being able to narrow a search to friends. This morning I was looking for a specific Twitter post but Google personalized search wouldn’t have come up with results from Twitter anyway.

More often, I’m going online to seek a broader world. I am grateful to be living in an age where I can gather information from far ranging resources and I hope Google continues to provide the service that takes me to new places.

I Love Winter

smiller — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:32:57 +0000

Well, would you look at this: Hidden Valley Nature Center has a course that is sure to teach you to love winter. Notice that this course is in Jefferson, ME, a place nearly as hospitable as Anchorage, AK in the winter. No one but no one in Anchorage, or anyplace else in Alaska, would presume that you could be taught to love winter.

Because you can’t. You can put on warm clothes, get a SAD light, take lots of vitamin D and get through winter. It will pass.

Now and then you’ll run into someone who will tell you they love winter but if you look at them sideways, from the corner of your eye, you’ll see they aren’t actually there at all. They are mirages sent through the darkness to make you believe everything is okay.

In a few months it will be.