Five Seconds in an Elevator

My grandpa lives in a nursing home on the third floor, and sometimes I find myself alone in the elevator for five seconds or so. It got me to thinking about what people do alone in elevators when they know the door could slide open as soon as the next floor. I'm not talking anything gross here, but I think the answer would have to fall in one of two categories - "picking" or "adjusting". That's all I have tonight... ciao!

I Triple-Dog Dare Ya

Not one to turn down any kind of idea where I needlessly make life more difficult for myself, I have decided to make a blog post each day for the rest of the month. Jump for joy, my three-ish followers! Or, at least, wiggle your little toe in bemusement...

Today also marks the start of another little experiment - a fast of sorts. Although I always knew I was no Scrooge McDuck, I always thought I did okay with money. Er... Not so much. So today began a 21-day spending fast. I am only allowing myself to buy essential items - like gas, and car repairs and doctor appointments as needed. What?, you say, no food? Well folks, I live at home and I've been asserting my independence through my (admittedly somewhat elitist) foodie lifestyle for too long. And the more I buy, even if it is hummus and fancy French cheese and fruit, the more I eat at my desk at work, so this could help with some fitness as well... Yay for leftovers!

The second thing I am experimenting with fasting from is news and/or music. I have become quite accustomed to listening to NPR during my morning commute -I even know where I should be on my journey when the Academic Minute comes on... And I usually turn a bit of light music on as I'm working. I'm frustrated with how muddled my brain feels lately, and instead of blaming it on the heat or my age, I'll try again to simplify... Sense a theme here?

Here goes...

Summer Slacking

When I started this blog, I was determined that I would not feel guilty for not updating it on what I determined to be a "regular" basis. However, it's been creeping on a month that I haven't posted and those guilty feelings are coming on...

The guilty feelings could also come from the purchase of the little gadget I am currently typing this on - a big purchase that I wasn't entirely convinced I needed. Granted, it allows me the mobility to type away at a coffee shop on my lunch break and wade through the way-too-many emails I have - I'm not that popular, I just find it necessary to read and listen to a bunch of lectures (TED Talks mostly).

Anyways, it's got me wondering lately about what drives me to want and want and want... Or what drives the world to do so...is the whole world affected by the crazed addiction of the new and shiny? I want to be a much simpler, much more contented person. I'm working on it - I'm closer than I was before I think... Thanks for letting me spill. Simplify simplify.