Several years ago, I was at a three month professional development course that included intramural sports. As we went through the first day orientation, the school director took a moment and asked each of us to pull out our IDs. He then instructed is to look at the birthday printed on the card and ponder our age. He then told us to repeat this exercise every time we entered the gym and keep that in mind as we competed with each other. Apparently, students there had a track record of pushing too hard and getting hurt. This was good advice, … Read the rest
Learning backflips
This year, I crossed the threshold of 40. I understand that transition to be fairly traumatic for many people, but I must be in denial. I don’t feel like 40 is much of a big deal. I do, however, distinctly remember when 16 looked mature, 20 was fully fledged adult, 30 looked middle aged, and 40 was near death. There didn’t seem to me much space for development between 40 and death. Life and experience have taught me how warped my perspective was back then.
One thing I have loved about getting older is having kids who are old enough … Read the rest
Caught it…
The rumble of wheels on gravel I prick my ears and take position For years I've tried diligently but failed Today is the day -- I will catch it today I launch with all the power in me It draws near and I lengthen my stride Barking fiercely and closing the gap A mouthful of rubber -- thrill of success Then searing pain and darkness close in As I ask myself why I wanted this.
It’s got to be common
It’s pretty clear to me at an academic level that many of the challenges I deal with on a regular basis are near universal. Challenges with teenagers, dissatisfaction with work, being stuck for a season in the spiritual doldrums, health challenges, personal weaknesses, demands on my time that far exceed the time available, profound cognitive dissonance between what I want and the world I am stuck with, and many other challenges are surely common. Unfortunately, that doesn’t generally make it feel any less lonely, any less troublesome, any less painful, or any less oppressive. Failure, though common to everyone, is … Read the rest
Why do I write?
A little while ago somebody asked me what motivates me to write. I’ve thought about that off and on for a long time, so you’d think I’d have a pretty solid answer by now. I don’t. At least, not really. It’s a case where the real answer is somewhat amorphous and changes shape from time to time depending on the circumstances. When I think I have a relatively complete answer, something around me or in me shifts just enough to alter the answer in substantive ways, and I am left with a hole that hasn’t been filled in yet. That … Read the rest
Anyone Interested?
UPDATE:
To the handful of people who were interested in this, it has fallen victim to the whims of fortune and my current lack of motivation. It’ll be a while before I can afford the up-front costs to get this printed. Sorry for the teaser. You probably didn’t really want one anyway, but I appreciate the thought.
Just finished putting together a “book” of the poetry I’ve written. You can download a crummy low-resolution version of it at the following link: Low resolution proof of “Doc Johnson’s Magic Mix”
I’m thinking of getting a handful actually printed and bound, but … Read the rest
Evolving
I... Wanted... THIS!!! I wanted this... I... wanted this? I wanted this???
Sunfounder Raspberry-Pi Camera Car
This Christmas, Isaac asked for a robot car. We’d talked about giving him opportunities to begin experimenting with programming, and this seemed like a reasonable way to go. Being the cheap guy I am, I trolled Amazon for the robot car that came with the most features for the least amount of money, knowing full well that it would probably be some cheap Chinese knockoff. After looking at a wide range of offerings, I decided on a car marketed by Sunfounder knowing the instructions were probably crap, but confident in my ability to make it work without them.
Christmas day, … Read the rest
A backup backup plan
If you ask my kids what I think about making plans for the future, they’re likely to say that I believe in having a plan, a backup plan, and a backup backup plan, then being ready to throw all of that away when the right thing comes along. However, when it comes down to it, the plan and its backups seem to only really exist to make me feel a little bit better about the fact that I’m basically powerless when it comes to my future. This point has once again been reinforced in my life.
When we lived in … Read the rest
Inch Deep
Once fed by melting white snow Tumbling quickly with great energy Living rock yielded to the potent push As it carved deeper and built strength Life's elements careening down stream Then dreadfully harnessed and tapped To suit the intent of designers Pounding and frothing for naught As twist upon turn changed the course Sapping the potential and power Till an inch deep and two miles wide Sluggishly creeping along the way Stagnantly pooling, nearly halting Releasing what was suspended All is lost by expanding too wide