As a child and young adult I would read for hours at a stretch, uninterrupted by e-mail’s dulcet tones, the latest customer service disaster on Not Always Right, or the compulsion to know -exactly- what the weather is going to be like one hour from now.  I would spend hours outdoors or in the gym completely isolated from my gadgets.

Has the internet rotted my brain?  I must admit that my obsession with technology is seeming entirely unhealthy at this point in my life.  I spend, at the minimum, 10 hours a day on the computer, between work and home, on weekdays, and anywhere from 2-8 hours a day on the weekends, depending on the weather.

Even as I write this blog post, I am e-mailing my partner, responding to a request from a health care professional, making plans to google several topics that have come into my head, and instant messaging.

Have I gotten so good at multitasking that I can no longer focus on one task at a time?  If you ask my partners, they might say I don’t multitask so well at all.  I can’t talk on the phone and listen to someone trying to interject that is sitting right beside me.  I get absorbed in whatever I am doing to the extent that I tune out outside ‘noise’ and often don’t figure out someone is talking to me until they either poke me or raise their voice.

So is concentration really the issue?  I seem to be concentrating, but in a scattered, non focused kind of way.

I think the real issue is how I learned to cope with anxiety and stress.  I’ve been using computers since they first came out for home use and what started out as a method of writing school papers and playing games to relax, quickly became more and more time and focus intensive as technology evolved.   After a while, being on the computer all day started to cause physical stress first, in the form of neck and eye strain, which then led to other forms of anxiety as I became more and more invested in being connected all the time.

Can we say coping strategy Fail?

What I do know is that hours spent in front of a monitor all day leave me with headaches and nausea from eye and neck strain.  I don’t end up feeling enriched from the time I spend online anymore, I feel fatigued, distracted, and extremely non productive.

The time I enjoy the most is the time I spend with my loved ones, reading a good book, or being active inside or outside.  I have gotten a lot more enjoyment from the time I spend gardening with my girls than the time I spend reading I can haz cheeseburger.

I am not able to connect entirely from the online world, and I wouldn’t want to.  But I do want to prioritize how I spend my time better by taking the time I would normally spend re visiting what I’ve already done and using that time to disconnect from the computer, and reconnect with the real life people and things I love so much.

With all the DRM on e-books, there would most certainly not be a ‘used e-book’ store where people could sell e-books to other people at a discounted price.  One of the things I love about physical books, aside from the smell, texture, and physical experience, is that they can migrate from person to person through used book stores, or regifting.  I just don’t see that happening with e-books.

The thing that really gets me is that the price of e-books will generally be higher than that of a printed book.  I just don’t get that at all.  With cheaper publishing costs, we should be saving a relative amount of money, but that doesn’t seem to be in the plans from publishers.

Another issue that came up in a conversation is the universality of e-books to be read on different e-book platforms.  Currently there is no common standard, so e-books are generally available on only one platform.

I’ll certainly be waiting to even think about an e-book reader until such time as common standards for e-book readers are in place, e-books are more reasonably priced than their printed counterparts, and DRM is such that an e-book that I buy can be disposed of or transferred in any way I see fit.

I just don’t see that happening any time soon.

http://www.jonathancoulton.com/store/downloads/

Geek music.  Utter kewlness!

I’m really pleased with my personal growth and where I am at in my life.

I’ve never been busier and never had more going on in my personal life than I have now – and I am blissfully happy.

I’m ok with all permutations of life.  I have learned to let go of things that may have caused me anxiety in the past.

I have learned to find joy in the moment.

I am not sure when I did…  but it’s there.  And in this I have learned not to question, but to accept and be thankful.

Joy.  Peace.  Thankful.  Love.

Life is good.

Long day tomorrow.  Appointments in the morning, work in the evening.  The weekend looks pretty damn stellar.

Started a story.  Perhaps a coffee table book in the making.  We shall see.

Girl.

Hot tub went cloudy overnight and I need to get the water tested.

Sleep.  I want.

Happy that Katt is in a decent place and has wonderful people surrounding her.

Permutations of love.

Need more quotes.

Should make my own.

Exam soon.

Camping porn is the top search query for my blog.  WTF.

I have 2 weeks off over Christmas.  Major glee.  Orphans christmas this year.

Muse.

Had someone support my writing many years back.   Wasn’t ready to really write then..  perhaps now.

Time slips…

Last Train to Clarksville – The Monkees

Whole Wide World – Wreckless Eric

A Girl Like You – Edwin Collins

Paradise by the dashboard light – Meatloaf

Sweet Transvestite – Frank N Furter

Pinky.

2) If you were drafted into a war, would you survive?

I am now too old to be drafted.  Neener neener.

3) Do you sleep with the TV on?

No.  TV is far away from the bedroom.

4) Have you ever drunk milk straight out of the carton?

Yez.

5) Have you ever won a spelling bee?

Not that I recall.  But that would have been 30 years ago, and my memory does not stretch quite that clearly back.

6) Have you ever been stung by a bee?

yes.  and hornets and wasps.

7) How fast can you type?

30-50 words a minute.  Lower end if I have to type from a document.

Are you afraid of the dark?

No.  The dark is afraid of me.

9) What color are your eyes?

Purple with green and gold specks.

10) Have you ever made out at a drive-in?

Nope.  unfortunately not.

11) When is the last time you chose a bath over a shower?

That would have been the last time there was wet play in the tub… which was..  a while ago.

12) Do you knock on wood?

Does my head count?

13) Do you floss daily?

Every 2-3 nights

15) Can you hula hoop?

yes, I have skillz.

16) Are you good at keeping secrets?

I will keep secrets from anyone except my partner(s).  If you don’t want my partner(s) to know something, don’t tell me.  Unless it is a surprise kind of secret, and then I can do it.

17) What do you want for Christmas?

To spend time with loved ones, friends, and holiday orphans.

18) Do you know the Muffin Man?

Strangely enough, I DO know the muffin man.

19) Do you talk in your sleep?

Mumble is more like it.  Random gobbledegook.

20) Who wrote the book of love?

The book is constantly being written by all of us.

21) Have you ever flown a kite?

Yes.

22) Do you wish on your fallen lashes?

I have, yes.

23) Do you consider yourself successful?

I do.  I don’t define success by money or possessions though.  I define success by the quality of the relationships I have in my life and by how I live my life.  I live with integrity and I live in love.  Life is grand.

24) How many people are on your contact list of your cell?

50 or so contacts, 70% business, the rest friends or family.

25) Have you ever asked for a pony?

I had horses growing up, so there was no need.

26) Plans for tomorrow?

Work, study, read, have pizza.

27) Can you juggle?

I can juggle 3 balls for about 15 seconds before I drop them or accidentally hit someone in the head with said balls or my hands.

28) Missing someone now?

Yes.

29) When was the last time you told someone I Love You?

Noon today.

30) And truly meant it?

I never say it unless I mean it.

31) How often do you drink?

Depends.. sometimes not for months.. other times a drink or two a week… it depends.

32) How are you feeling today?

Pretty good.  Slept well, work was good.  Feeling spry.  A tad hungry though.

33) What do you say too much?

Not sure.  You’d have to ask someone that is around me a lot.  Have not noticed, myself.

34) Have you ever been suspended or expelled from school?

No.

35) What are you looking forward to?

Many things.  Cuddles, kisses, food, progress, reading, life.

36) Have you ever crawled through a window?

yes!

37) Have you ever eaten dog food?

No.

38) Can you handle the truth?

Yes.  It may hurt (or not), but I can handle it.

39) Do you like green eggs and ham?

The book, yes.

40) Any cool scars?

I have a lot of scars.  A lot a lot.  Want a tour?

Yes.

02) What was your dream growing up?

I wanted to be a marine biologist.

03) What talent do you wish you had?

Only one?  I have two.  I wish I could make music, and I wish I could write well.

04) If I bought you a drink what would it be?

Single malt scotch or a guinness.

05) Favorite vegetable?

Brocolli.

06) What was the last book you read?

The Mystery of Grace, by Charles De Lint

07) What zodiac sign are you?

Arieeeez!

08) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.

Yes, Arm band and a PA.   I have plans for more ink soon.

09) Worst Habit?

I eat bad food.

10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?

I don’t pick up random people, but I would stop for a friend or acquaintance.

11) What is your favorite sport?

MMA.  Love me the fighting!

12) Do you have a Pessimistic or Optimistic attitude?

I am a realist and an optimist.  I always believe there is room for growth and that there are better things to come.  Always.

13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with someone?

It would depend on who.  With a romantic partner..  all sorts of wonderful things.  With a random person…  chat.

14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?

Facing the potential loss of my partner due to illness a number of years ago.

15) Tell me one weird fact about you.

Umm.. I’m a dirty old man?  Oh wait..  if you’re reading this blog you probably already know that.  Errrr…  I like to make up weird lyrics to songs and bum dance while driving.

16) Do you have any pets?

Ptthhtt.. Yes.

17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?

I ripped this meme off, so no idea who the guy was who I got it from.   I used to not like being dropped in on randomly, but that has changed in the last 3 years.  Now I like it when my friends come to visit.  Especially cuddly friends.

18) What was your first impression of me?

Again.. see above.  Ripped off.  Yeah.  I make a good first impression, or so I’ve been told.  It’s the scowling.

19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?

I dislike clowns.  A lot.  I have a visceral urge to maim them.

20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?

I like how I look just fine.  Could use more beef and less cake, but s’all good.

21) Would you be my partner in crime or my conscience?

Yes.  I like to push some edges, especially in terms of kink dynamics and personal growth.  I’m also very ethical, so I push edges within reasonable limits.  Safety while snorgling is essential.

22) What color eyes do you have?

Broon!

23) Ever been arrested?

Nope.

24) Bottle or can soda?

Bottle.  Lids/caps are good.

25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?

Some would go into the house, and some would go in the bank.  And dinner for loved ones.

27) What’s your favorite place to hang out?

With the girls I adore.

28) Do you believe in ghosts?

I believe in the possibility of ghosts.  Sadly, I have lost some of the childhood awe I had even into my mid 20′s.  I am working on getting some of it back.  I have had personal experiences where I have seen what would be termed as ghosts.   Whether it’s all in my imagination and a trick of the eye, or if   it’s real, I don’t know.  Reality is subjective enough that I could answer either way.  I’d rather play with the possibilities inbetween.

29) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?

Read.

30) Do you swear a lot?

Not really.  If I do, it’s when driving.  Usually at assholes who cut me off.  The fuckers.

31) Biggest pet peeve?

My current pet peeve – photos of people where they stick a finger in their mouth.  Hey look, it’s my lip/tooth/tongue/??!  Just not sexy.

32) In one word, how would you describe yourself?

Me.

33) Do you believe/appreciate romance?

Yes and yes.  I haven’t been one for the grand romantic gestures as far as flowers every day or stealing tubas, but I love deeply, and I express it as often as I can.  From little things like stealing a kiss on my way out the door, to gazing deep into my parters eyes and telling them how much they are loved.   I never want someone I care about to be confused about how I feel about them.  I am a big giant ball of moosh.

34) Favorite and least favorite food?

Favourite:  Sushi

Least:  Lima Beans

35) Do you believe in God?

Not a deist, but I respect others right to believe in whatever they like.

36) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

Why not.  Share the memey goodness.

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