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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
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There's an article online about how men, given nothing to do for 15 minutes in an empty room, preferred to give themselves electric shocks rather than suffer the disquieting silence of their thoughts. You can read it here: http://www.spring.org.uk/2014/07/people-choose-electric-shocks-over-sitting-quietly-for-15-minutes-and-thinking.php
"Not me" I think, and I laugh. I'd be good at meditation. I had my own variety, which involved laying on the sofa or the bed and closing my eyes and thinking pleasant thoughts about cute girls. Time would fly by lickety-split. I never tried generating sweats, like the Tibetan Monks do, or the Yogic flying, but I'd probably be pretty good at that too, if I put my mind to it.
By strange coincidence, while at the therapists discussing the creative blockages that have dragged me there she suggests, in the course of our discussion, that I try meditation. Why not? She recommends me to a website - fragrantheart.com. I almost gag, she's got the right idea, but it sounds pretty .... well ...
In any event there's no rejecting the cure, and I'm obliged to try her advice, especially as I've paid for it, and I start with a couple of the introductory meditations, 2 minutes apiece.
The effect is noticeable, it increases productivity manyfold, there's no denying it's helping. Calm, silence the inner voices, calm, quiet, focus...
"Breathe in Love, breathe out Love, Breathe in Compassion, Breathe out Compassion, Breathe in Creativity...."
But it's not terribly manly, with the ambient new-age music in the background, and I puzzle over ways to improve it. Change the background meditation noises, add in things like jackhammers, saws, drills, engine noises, tools. A more manly narrator. Maybe this is where I can make my million dollars...
It's painful, this 2 minute meditation a day, and I find ways to avoid it. I've read some articles about tDCS, how running an electric current across your brain can improve flow, and I set about collecting the materials, wires, batteries, resistors, not so much shocking the brain, just a slight tingling...
Meanwhile there's the Violet Wand, an antique quack medical device which I fancy does the same thing, adjustable short shocks across my scalp, the visible arc of high voltage singing my hair, the smell of ozone, the meditation, I can come back to it, this will be easier...
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
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Now I've long since left the hated restaurant, tossing in mediocre money and long hours for poor money and relatively short hours. A fair swap, as far as I'm concerned. But I'm still in touch with my former co-workers, and my last 2 landlords have both continued to work there. Over Thanksgiving dinner with G his brother brings up the story of Tino, a new waiter, old waiter about town, classical 50's greaser, hair and appearance, and incidentally Italian, reminding you of no-one so much as a failed Vinnie Barbarino, trapped in a fashion that went the way of the dinosaur some 40 odd years ago...
Anyways, G gets a call from a customer looking to speak to the manager. G identifies himself as the manager. The customer then goes on to explain that he's noted a certain waiter pissing behind the restaurant....not once, but several times.
This in what passes for "fine dining" in Calgary.
G promises to address it, speaks to Tino, issue done. This isn't even remotely the most ridiculous letter of complaint they've ever had....
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
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Oriental Ramen: Put noodles in bowl. Add flavor pouch. Pour in boiling water, wait 2 minutes, devour.
Beef Ramen: Put noodles in bowl. Add flavor pouch. Pour in boiling water, wait 2 minutes, devour.
Chicken Ramen: Put noodles in bowl. Add flavor pouch. Pour in boiling water, wait 2 minutes, devour.
Pork Ramen: Put noodles in bowl. Add flavor pouch. Pour in boiling water, wait 2 minutes, devour.
Vegetable Ramen: Put noodles in bowl. Add flavor pouch. Pour in boiling water, wait 2 minutes, devour.
Spicy Thai Ramen: Put noodles in bowl. Add flavor pouch. Pour in boiling water, wait 2 minutes, devour.
Crispy Ramen: Eat noodles straight from package. Save flavor pouch for use in another ramen dish.
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 2196
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 2264
Some days I console myself with the thought that somewhere in China there's a growing movement to try and have me freed...
