Time to Be Bored

You know how some people (and I include myself at times), always have a big project going?  In my experience, it is important to have times without big projects.  You have to be bored for a while and see what emerges.  Also, the busyness can be a way to avoid feelings. 

Maturation

As I was sitting getting my haircut last weekend, I noticed that I no longer had brown hair.  It is now "salt and pepper."  I have noticed other changes such as really needing reading glasses rather than it being better to have them.  I am trying to take a balanced and positive view of these changes.  It does seem like an oppurtunity to slow down a little bit, enjoy life more, and refocus on what is important:  family, dogs, and creative pursuits like music and animal tracking. 

When I Was A Baby

Aidan's favorite saying now is, "When I was a baby, ...." 

Seems to have come out of watching some DVDs of when he was younger and, I assume, some kind of development milestone of understanding that he is growing and changing. 

New Level of Excitement

We saw a new level of excitement at Christmas with Aidan.  I have some video I am still working on that shows it best.  But his tone and volume were very fun to watch when he got a very exciting present! 

Copenhagen

I wonder what it is going to take before we 2 leggeds see the problems we are causing on this planet.  It's clear that there is a lot of greed and self interest to overcome watching the news from the Climate Change Meeting in Copenhagen.  Also, the existing national structures clearly don't help, not that I can suggest an alternative. 

Barred Owl

I was out for a run with our whippet Patriot and just flushed a barred owl from its perch just as we were coming to the end of the run near our back gate.  I stopped and watched for a while as the owl just flew a very short distance to a nearby beech tree.  It alternated looking directly at me and turning its head 180 degrees around.  I got a nice look for about 5 minutes.  Barred owls have a lot of signficance for me.  I see and hear them a lot and especially around significant events such as deaths.  I was thinking a lot of the protection of wildlife in the area today since  I was looking into the alteration of some beaver dams nearby by humans, about the recent lifting of the bobcat quota (saw a bobcat the same day), and the protection of a nearby 4 wheel drive road.  [ I saw someone who looked like they might be buying the land at the start of the run.]  It's certainly easy to project significance on these events.  On the other hand, some seem very clearly to be tied into, for lack of a better world, the spirit world. 

Marketing to Kids

Three is such as wonderful age.  The tantrums die down and they can do more on their own such as going to bathroom, getting dressed, washing hands, and brushing teeth.  Since Aidan knows he will get a timeout for certain behaviors, the behaviors are fairly rare.  It's a wonderful age.  They are so open and generally happy and fun and still want to be close to you.  I have noticed how effective marketing is for 3 year old.  Aidan wants every single toy he sees on TV.  I have started to skip over them on the DVR.  Also, going through the grocery store, all the junk cereals are right at cart level and the colors and pictures are very attractive to a young mind.