the point of this blogging

     I've been meaning to blog on why I am writing a blog. I was waiting until I knew why I was blogging. At first I thought I'd be writing about photography and music as I was already writing music reviews for Honest Tune. Really should write about photography, I sure have learned a lot in the years since I bought my Fuji S2 (wedding present from my 4th bride-to-be) and Photoshop 2. I haven't really written much about music either unless I attended the show, and I haven't been to very many of those lately. More or less randomly I get the urge to add parts about my life, external and internal.

So, why do I write? When I was very sick with the cancer and the treatments, I blogged on my MySpace page and was able to inform many people at once without them feeling like a response was required of them. I had over two hundred regular readers at that time. Then MySpace was eclipsed my Facebook, which has no easy blogging feature. As so many of my friends and acquaintances live far away, it is nice to let people know what is going on with me, esp. my challenges with my health and the healthcare system. (reminds me I have one to write about health insurance). If you have a blog and I know about it, I assure you I do keep up.

Another reason is to add a remote memory as I have so much trouble remembering anything recent, like the past few years ...or yesterday. I have been looking into the functions of the right Parietal lobe to understand what was damaged by the tumors, the surgery, the radiation, and  anti-seizure drugs. Interesting stuff. Seems the cancer tumors were more responsible than I originally thought.

But, I digress. Nap time. Even after a great night's sleep I can just suddenly feel fatigued. Like now. First hypnosis subject due tonight. It's been about 10 years since I last tried.

Thanks for reading.

Snow!

-Snow-Dogs-

(^link to more photos^)

It started snowing at 3:30 on Monday morning. Right away, big flakes and lots of them. By 6:00am, when I went back to sleep, there was over an inch, covering the roads. The temperature was below freezing and the ground was cold enough to have the snow stick right away. By nightfall, we had about 6 inches here in Davidson.

My brother came over and we played with the dogs in the snow and took pictures. Both dogs struggled to even walk through the snow and did not want to stay out long.

During the night, sleet and freezing rain left a coating of ice on everything, making even walking outside dangerous. We'll be going out in just a minute.

An aside. I"m watching a program on Hitler (1933 or so) and he is giving a speech. All of a sudden I'm reminded of Glen Beck.

I have my first practice hypnosis subject coming over at 4pm. I'm reading a couple of my old texts to revive my past learning. I always enjoyed hypnosis but never built my practice around formal trancework, as it difficult and time consuming. My goal is to have a very small practice, just to see how it goes. Other good news is that my investments did very well this year. So fewer money worries for 2011.

too funny

So two friends of mine were talking tonight and burst into laughter. I felt sure I was somehow the subject of the laughter. So the conversation went something like this. The first, Jana says, "my book isn't selling as well anymore" and the other, Debbie says, "You should write about your life." Jana retorts "No one would read it." That's went Debbie looks at me, bundled up to go outside, and says, "Well write about Chris' life." Jana laughed (this is where I'm get a vibe) and replies, "No one would believe it!"

Ain't that the truth.

45kg of atomic energy 1.57m of determination

Last night was really fun. The weather forecast was for rain and snow and I have the worst car in the world for snow/ice. Big fat slick summer tires, engine in front and rear wheel drive. Kidney stone pain was about a 3 (at a 5 I head to the hospital, at a 7 I cannot answer questions from the medical staff, I won't ever describe what 8 is like). Slept poorly for the past two nights and fatigue running all week about a moderately high level. As I mentioned before, something inside was telling me I should meet this young woman, so I am going, not matter what. "Neither rain, nor sleet, nor dark of  ..." well you know.

Preparations included an attempt at sleep earlier in the day, unsuccessful, and I think to myself, "self, if hypnosis is good enough for others, it should be good enough for you." Mid afternoon I hypnotize myself to find energy and some minor pain relief. The induction includes a post hypnotic instruction to become more energized as 7:30p approaches. Of course I get there early and stand in the cold, filled with anticipation. Clutching my Doctoral Thesis, which she's ask me to bring, making her the first person to ever read my only copy. On time, a little slip of a girl comes walking down the sidewalk, waving. You could fit this girl on a postage stamp. I choose the restaurant, Cabo Fish Taco based on all the pictures on her FB pages of her of holding fish. Get there and the wait is 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Nope. So off to Boudreaux's where, after she crab soup, we find neither of us is really hungry. We head next door to the Neighborhood Theater to stand in the cold in order to be two of the first 50 in order to get free T-shirts. She seems excited by this. We score and head across the street for more coffee (I'd been pounding coffee since 4:30p). Unhappily there is no chocolate ice creme to put in her coffee. By the time we head to the show, we've had about 2 hours to chat. The longer we talk the more impressed I am. On the way into the show we stop by her car for her to get into her Party Suit (I think she called it). I am reminded of the scene in the movie "Hackers" where, at a party, Lord Nikon (yes that is where I got my photography name), while looking a very hot girl, says to his friend, "Spandex is a privilege, not a right."  Well Sarah has earned that right. 'Nuff said on that subject. Well almost enough. She is a doll.

I do not take my camera for a change and just enjoy listening to the music. I know, I know, what a concept. When I do shoot and the camera is in my hand, everything fades out except the shooting, the light and the music. I wanted to be able to concentrate on my new friend. Little did I realize she knew dozens of people there and can be quite the social butterfly. In light of her recent and apparently unhappy break up, I think she is just forcing herself to be social and not dwell in her underlying sadness. We are sitting in the balcony, practically the only time I have her to myself, and The Cure song, "Why Can't I Be You" pops in my head. I find everything she does is utterly charming. Even when she loses a sock.

I manage to hang on to the end and at 2:30am head for home. One poor puppy got sick all over the house. Nothing like cleaning up at 3am. Sarah heads to an after party. I have friends meeting me for breakfast so 8am comes all to early. The reward for only getting 4 hours sleep is getting to see my friend Shelly (ex- Lance employee) for the first time time in two months. Even when, like today, neither of us has anything really interesting going on in our lives, it s just very nice to see her. I guess we've been friends about 8 years now.

So, Sarah (I know you are reading this) Let's be Friends! Email coming.

oh yea, there were three bands. First was Funkaponya (fuck a pony?) and last was Actual Proof. They had a video going in the background during the show and therefore little to no light on the band. I thanked god I wasn't planning to shoot that. I'll wait to see how the guys who did shoot, were able to get any shots.
(sorry no pictures today)

all set up for Friday

OK, all is good. Plans for 7:30 Friday night set. Irony. You might remember how upset I was over a friend of mine dating my ex. Well come to find out that Miss Tengin's most recent (and until very recently) boyfriend is one of my dearest friends, a fact to which I was not aware. Phone call to friend immanent.

Anyway, so looking forward to making a new friend.

addendum:

permission granted

a chance meeting by design

Good morning. I seem to be a morning blogger don't I? My brain works better in the morning, alway has.

Why does my dog mock me? Russell gets me up at 5:30am (went to sleep around 1am) to let him out, and then when I get up for good, find he crapped on the floor. I think he misunderstands the concept of outside. I just don't have the heart to do anything than give him a disapproving look.

Having pound cake and coffee for 2nd breakfast.

So on to today's note. Ever since I saw a photo of a young woman on the photos of Brian Tyndall's FB page, I was drawn to know more. After following her posts for a while I sent a friend request and it was accepted. I tossed out a few comments and last night one hit. Sai Surrealia (Sarah Tengin) asked how to find my dissertation. I suggested Interlibrary loan but she asked if I would be at a show at the NT on Friday. I figured it might be hard to discuss therapeutic alliance in a club, I suggested dinner and was accepted. Plans to be made.

Why do I want to meet her? I don't really know, more of an intuitive feeling. I get the feeling that she is a special person and I don't meet that many people that impress me. I found her blog this morning and am even more impressed. Maybe I'll know more on Friday.

Imagine asking to read my dissertation. My last three wives never bothered to read it. While I was looking up the libarary code, I found that my small work has been referenced, cited and even quoted several times. One researcher even used my data in a meta-analysis on the subject. Fun to see my name in print. It was like finding a closed chapter of my life. I suspect that the issues that interest Sai probably can be explained better than gleaned from my scientific prose.

I can always use another friend. I am really excited to meet her. Who wouldn't want to meet this girl?

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to all of you!

Yesterday was Russell's birthday. He is now two years old. Much singing took place and many doggy treats were consumed.

Went out to dinner tonight with a dozen friends. It was fun. Traditional New Years lunch (pork, black eyed peas, greens) at Joyce's tomorrow.

Decided to start my Hypnosis practice in a couple of weeks. Starting practicing next week with friends. It really should come back to me. Figured out where to post on Craigslist and will put up flyers around town. Need to order a book or two of canned inductions. Have a couple here and the rest are packed somewhere in Eric's basement. Several people at dinner tonight are planning to quit smoking so if I can get one to agree they can show the others that it works. I'm counting on word of mouth for most of my advertising.

Recorded my Gibson with the new Newtone strings and then a bit of playing and singing, without amplification. The J-200 sounded great. My playing was fairly good but my singing was off. As soon as the new version of the TC Helicon Voice Correct comes out, I'll be makeing that purchase. The feature that most interests me is that the vocals are corrected but you can hear your voice as you sing and can match up with the corrected sound as a method of training. After listening to my out of tune vocals tonight, the sooner I get one of these, the better, lol.

Listened to Radio Australia this morning. Very Cool. Only broadcasting with 100kw the signal was reasonable clear.

Off to bed.