“Snatching the eternal out of the desperately fleeting is the great magic trick of human existence.”
— Tennessee Williams
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Posts Tagged ‘Thoughts’
Good Hunting, Artists
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, art, artists, creativity, quoteandaprettypicture, Thoughts, Writers, writing on February 27, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Your Perfect Thing
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, #damntasty, perfect for me, Thoughts on February 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »
There are some things in life that are just perfect.
It might be a book, or a movie or a volcanic beach under the hot afternoon sun. Or it might be a salad.
Mr Man and I recently went to Montreal with a friend, and stopped off at a little roadside cafe* for lunch. I checked out the menu and perused the glass display case, and there it was.
A pretty pottery bowl filled with a squash, greens, and cranberry salad. The bright orange squash was the perfect blend of soft but not squishy, sweet but substantive. The tender greens brought a hint of bitterness mellowed by a creamy lemon dressing and the bright red of candied cranberries sprinkled throughout.
I had some with lunch, and then went back to the counter.
“That was amazing,” I said. “Two more, please. I have to take some home with me.”
Maybe this wouldn’t have been the perfect salad for you, dear reader, just as my perfect book or movie or afternoon may not be the same as yours. That’s fine.
The news is often dark, but when you can, take a moment to look around you. There is always light. Use it to find your way.
However you connect to what’s good in the world, try do as much of that as you can. What’s important is to realize when you have found a thing that is perfect for you, and to revel in its magic.
Me? I’m off to have lunch.
* Mr Man just gave me the name of the restaurant: the Bravo Bistro Grill & Traiteur.
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Leveling Up
Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, art, creativity, current events, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers, writing on February 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Storytelling is good for so many things: entertainment, shared cultural touchstones, lessons from elders, or other instruction manuals for living. Even so, speculative fiction has always been burdened by accusations that it is less able to comment on reality than, say, literary fiction.
I disagree.
In fiction or nonfiction, no matter the genre or approach, storytelling is always, always, grounded in the cultural currents from which it springs. It’s how we pass on what’s important, even if it isn’t always “real.” Whether it shows us futures to avoid, goals to achieve, values of importance or daily ways to survive, the work’s foundation always reflects its context.
On a related note, here’s a short document on surviving difficult times, written in the form of an RPG-style guide. It wouldn’t surprise me to see an actual game follow soon.
Because life and art are two facets of the same die. And we’re all just players, trying to level up.
“The idea that any of us can do everything is instant failure. We all have our own skill sets and our own passions and we will accomplish the most if each of us works within those arenas to do what we’re already good at, what we already care about. You don’t have to do it all. Just a little.”
— Bree Bridges
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Dreaming Sweet Dreams
Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, poem, Thoughts, writing on February 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »
The cat lies dreaming
claws spread wide to catch the Moon,
Her bright wings outstretched.
The cat’s fine, thanks for asking:)
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Pluto Day
Posted in Holidays, Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, #PlutoWillAlwaysBeAPlanetToMe, #ThePowerOfGirls, astronomy, planets, science, Thoughts on February 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Today is Pluto Day!
Lowell Observatory holds I Heart Pluto Festival
On Feb. 18, 1930, the young astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto, considered for decades a planet and “demoted” to dwarf planet status in 2008.
A few weeks later, an 11-year old girl named Venetia Burney suggested the name Pluto because of its connection to the god of the cold dark underworld.
This in-depth discussion of Pluto covers all sorts of interesting facts, including details of its discovery, how the New Horizons spacecraft gave us a much more detailed picture, and more. (Did you know that Pluto is half the size of the Moon but has five moons of its own? And someone who weighs 180 pounds on Earth would weigh 11 pounds on Pluto.)
What Makes Pluto So Intriguing | TIME
It takes Pluto slightly over 248 Earth years to orbit the sun, which means that on March 23, 2178, one Plutonian year will have elapsed since the dwarf planet was first spotted, on Feb. 18, 1930.
Here’s a cool animation showing our increasingly detailed understanding of Pluto:
And here’s an interactive image of Pluto 3D Model – NASA Solar System Exploration.
You’ll always be a planet to me, Pluto!
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An Absolute Treasure
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, good people doing good work, inspiration, kindness, taxes, Thoughts on February 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »
I recently had a bit of tax-related drama. I believe I’ve mentioned that I pay taxes in two countries, and that doing said taxes can be a bit of a pain. That’s particularly true when one receives unexpected mail from a tax agency requesting a complicated document within a given time frame.
All fine and good, except when the request gets stuck in the mail during a postal strike and that deadline is now looming.
I reached out to my accountant in a bit of a panic and heard back from her right away. Not only was she familiar with the form that needed to be filled out, but she could do it that day.
The whole process took about an hour in an otherwise unremarkable afternoon, but it brought home the value of people who are able and willing.
I wrote a note thanking her for being an absolute treasure.
Accounting is her profession, of course, and maybe this wasn’t a big deal for her. That said, her timely and thoughtful help was a big deal for me.
In a world that is often dark, it’s worth trying to bring a little light.
The nice part? This isn’t about heroism or constant perfection. It’s about doing what you can, where you can.
If we can do that, we can all be treasures too.
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A Brief Technical Update From the Future
Posted in Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, innovation, inspiration, quantum, science, Thoughts on February 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Some days you realize that yes, we really are living in the future. Point in case:
Oxford Scientists Say They’ve Achieved Quantum Teleportation
Researchers at the University of Oxford say they’ve achieved quantum teleportation — stitching together separate quantum computers to run an algorithm collaboratively, across a distance, in a “breakthrough” they say could lead to powerful quantum supercomputers.
Still lots to do on the road to practicality, of course, but how cool is that?
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Be Lovely
Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, Thoughts on February 14, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Mr Man is a bit under the weather so we’re postponing Valentine’s Day. The good news is that when we do get around to celebrating, restaurants won’t be crowded and all the chocolate will be half off:)
Have a lovely day!
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”
― Charles M. Schulz
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An Endless Carnival of Snow
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, Thoughts, winter on February 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »
“In reality, Little Ones, there are two winters. One made for kids; the other for adults. The one made for adults is always too cold and always too long. The one made for kids is always perfect. A kid winter is an endless and wild snow carnival where all the rides are free.”
— Carew Papritz
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Snow Squared
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, astronomy, moon, snowstorm, Thoughts, weather on February 12, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Tonight’s full moon is called the Snow Moon. How appropriate, as we are about to get hit with what people are calling Snowmageddon 2025.
How to see tonight’s full Snow Moon rise with the ‘Heart of the Lion’ before Valentine’s Day
The moon will be officially full at 8:53 a.m. EST on Wednesday (Feb. 12) and will be best seen at dusk at the moment of moonrise where you are. It will be in the constellation Leo, hanging above the bright star Regulus.
And since we’re talking storms, if you’ve ever wondered why some bring snow while others bring sleet or freezing rain, check this out: Severe Weather 101: Winter Weather Types.
We may not be able to see the moon tonight, if the storm is as dramatic as predicted, but it’s nice to know it’s up there!
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