186 - A series of random thoughts...

As a kid I used to imagine living in an upside down house. I don't know what fascinated me about it, but I would lie on the floor, looking up at the ceiling and imagine life turned upside down. The ceiling fan would become a sit-n-spin, the doorframes were seating, the lights like little fire pits to sit around and warm yourself. It was a source of endless fascination for me.

Yesterday's television programming seemed to be all about how the Earth was formed (first part of the day), and how the Earth will end (latter part of the day), primarily the deterioration of the polar ice caps. It's interesting to hear scientists admit that this global warming thing is actually part of a natural cycle... so while I will admit that we are abusing the Earth, it's not solely our deeds that are causing these calamities, but a natural, though undesirable, series of events. All that, to say this: Why does the stereotype have to be true??? About 3/4 of the scientists they profiled were shaggy-bearded, bohemian-looking geek men (this isn't from the show, but it's one of the scientists they profiled)! It is truly astounding! (does that make me shallow?)

I know it goes against all rational thought, but I figured that as miserably bloated as I was (like a mylar balloon about to bust at the seams), maybe a little exercise might relieve some of that pressure. So I did the first circuit of level one. I didn't push it any further than that. I'm not sure it helped. Not sure it hurt anything either. Then I ordered a cheese and mushroom pizza, with extra cheese and extra shrooms. It was yummy, but I'm not sure it was smart. I've never heard so much gurgling. I think I need to eat yogurt to restore my balance or something... right now nothing makes my tummy happy. Nuh-thing. Sure tasted good though.

If I feel up to it this weekend I'm going to start my garden. I bought a bunch of seeds and am excited to start growing my own fresh veggies. I didn't do it last year, but I did the year before. I didn't take it too seriously, just threw stuff into the ground and watched what happened. Literally. I can't remember what all I tossed into the ground that year. I was just having fun with it. This year I want to see if I can grow enough lettuce that I don't have to buy any at the store. I know that in the grand scheme of things, $1.79 a head isn't much, but this way I know it wasn't doused in pesticides, and if I run out, I can just head out back and pick more. It will always be fresh. I also bought peas and spinach and beets and tomatoes and peppers... hell, I don't remember everything I bought... I went a little crazy...

Was watching Man vs. Wild last night, and found myself thinking -- 'no way in hell...' It wasn't because he was eating something nasty, it wasn't because he slept in a bivouac hanging from a tree so a jaguar wouldn't get at him... nope, it was the cave he went into. Going into a dark cave, crawling around in tight spaces, not knowing if you're heading for a way out or wedging yourself into a spot that you can't get out of. It's my version of a nightmare. I can't imagine people who enjoy it. I once watched a show where these two divers were following a city water route to see what all fed into it, and they were going through these incredibly narrow passages where sometimes they had to remove a backpack or push and pull each other through. It made me incredibly nervous. Maybe I'm just claustrophobic... it's the same reason I don't think I'd do well on a submarine or a space shuttle... I need to know I'll be able to breathe... in that cave there was water... and I don't have gills... It got really scary after the torch went out, if they hadn't had night vision on the camera they wouldn't have been able to see a thing... that's bad... and he didn't freak out... at least not visibly. Bear is a machine!