Tolerance

How many times do I need to relearn that being tired stops me from being patient.

As we progress into week 3 of of the semester and the workload begins to build, work continues to expand and we all get busier at home. I am beginning to increase my tiredness and it alters my perspective of my surroundings. Sitting in class today with someone I respect did the noisy whiney thing that he has been doing for the last couple of years I finally snapped and was quite mean to him. While I am not proud of it I did feel a certain level of satisfaction at finally having said something. It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been tired.

closure

Well I have finished my 350 metres of fencing. It was a real family effort with the four of us carrying, winding, straining and working for the last 2 weekends, but now it is done.

I am officially the worlds 3rd worst fencer, ( I have yet to teach my two children everything I know)


But the feeling of having finished is a great sense of satisfaction. Yes there were some difficulties along the way, one of the end assemblies decided that it wanted to life up out of the ground as we strained the wire. Probably because of the hill, and the sloppy ground. Thank goodness for the rain!

My 11yo daughter and I built one of the end assemblies together. It was the first time I think that we have been able to work as equals (neither of us knew what we were doing) and it was really nice. I was so please to rediscover that my daughter is a nice thoughtful insiteful person. These are things that I knew, but in the business of life miss from time to time. We talked about school, her friends where she was at, what she was doing and wanted to do. It was fabulous. I believe I will remember that day forever. At those moments there is nothing better than being a Dad.

Age filters

What happens when we age, why do we change? What part of ourselves do we lose, or is it more a case of we lose that which isn't essentially us.

Mental acuity is an important part of who we are, I know that when I get older the possible loss of being able to think and work out stuff for myself scares the living daylights out of me. I can't imagine being myself if I couldn't express myself as well as i do now.

I see old people struggling with concepts and ideas that they must have coped with when they were younger.

I see them react as if they no longer have filters to moderate their behavior.

So, have they lost or found themselves?

TALKING TO KIDS

I had to speak to a group of teenagers tonight, telling them stuff they didn't want or feel they need to hear. How do you get through to them? Well, I tried a range of things, unfortunately it was a pretty dry topic, but they had lots of questions and that was helpful. What they really wanted was to head off and do neat stuff, but instead they had to listen to a boring old fart like me.

They were really good and paid attention but I think I need to pay a little more attention to my presentations with young people.


I will need time to do this so
PLEASE PLEDGE TIME SO THAT I CAN DO THIS

New Old Age

It is an established fact that we are all getting older, and we are all very different from the old people that exist now. Sound ageist? Damned right, I am an individual the same as everyone else!

ha

But on a serious note, think of what our grandparents were doing when they were our age and compare that to what we do. I can see huge differences, my Parents were coming to terms with television, and now when you go into a nursing home (as I have to do from time to time) there are rows and rows of old people staring at the television, lost in thoughts drool dribbling down wrinkles in their faces.

Now what am I coming to terms with? Computer games, I am learning to play guitar hero with my son, and kingdom hearts 2 with my daughter, so when I am an infirm old fart in a nursing home will I be playing computer games? will the controls have developed to the point where I am connected like all those bodies in the Matrix movies? Will I live an eternal youth until I fade away and my hard drive stops?

I started thinking that this would be ironic and sad, now with a little reflection I am quite hopeful. I don't think that would be too bad, especially if it was interactive with others.

Bill Gates and his neophytes will save my future!

When I look at the way many of us live our lives I am often astounded at what I feel is the shallowness of people. But then I wonder about my own perspectives.

Recently went to a joint kids birthday party at a friends family members place. They are a very sporting family not so much in playing as in watching. They have great knowledge of various sporting teams and codes, andto listen to them is fascinating. But I can't help but think why is this all important . Who cares what footy team wins

I have 350m of fencing to do next weekend, and it is very daunting. Not wanting to be too naggish folks, but this little exercise will require more time so please make your pledge of any time you can spare.