Reducing clutter and moving to a Mac

I'm in a cleaning mood.  On Sunday I presented a workshop on "focus" to the adult forum at our church, Valley of Peace Lutheran.  It was noted that one of the keys to focus is minimizing clutter.  I have to confess that my home office was getting quite cluttered.  So, today I'll be working on filing or dumping CDs, newspaper clippings, pictures, and various papers sitting on my desktop and lying on the floor.

Home office

While I'm cleaning out my office I've been frustrated with all of the old CDs which stored information and software programs that are now obsolete. Thankfully with new storage options on thumb drives and removable hard drives, paired with the ability to download music and software directly from the web, the need for CDs will be greatly reduced/eliminated in the future.

An article "Sloppy home offices might need professional help" recommends that people create two folders to stand on their home office desk; one green folder to read "Bills to Pay" and the other red folder labeled "Take Action" for phone calls, letters to write, etc.

I'm also in the process of switching from a PC to a Mac.  I am amazed at the simplicity of the IMac we purchased yesterday. It is both elegant in outward design and also internal set-up.  Thanks to a wireless mouse, keyboard and processor built into the display unit it only required one power cord for hook-up.  I also added a cord for my printer cable (not wireless there yet) and another for external speakers.  I was thrilled to discover it  didn't come with a bunch of trial software that would later need to be deleted, or a hand full of CDs.  Simple is good, especially when it comes to technology!

Government, taxes and the common good

Listening to talk radio and hearing the anti-tax sentiment being promoted by groups such as the "tea party", it appears there are many skeptics of government services and workers.  Even our nation's public school teachers have come under attack.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Bishop Peter Rogness has a thoughtful commentary, "Government is not the enemy" in the StarTribune.  Seems that our nation's founders had a clear understanding of the common good.  Ironically, as people become more affluent, with more to share, they become increasingly selfish; guarded of their abundant worldly possessions.

Many times I've heard from people who have traveled to economically impoverished parts of the world to have shamefully discovered the tremendous generosity provided by their guests.

So, how is it with us? Is government "us" or "them"?

F O C U S

Focused Great Blue Heron

The most essential requirement of being able to focus is being able not to focus.  This paradox struck me while jogging to boot hockey earlier this morning.  Seems something of a paradox, but such is life.

Astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband of wounded US Representative Gabreille Giffords, is one of those people with a tremendous ability to focus.  Because he can focus so well on his work, despite concerns on the home front, he's planning to leave his wife behind for two weeks while on a space shuttle mission this coming April.

Others at NASA were rightfully concerned that he might not be able to focus on his work, with his wife in recovery.  However he's successfully undergone a battery of tests, including four hours in a shuttle simulator and piloting a T-38 trainer jet.  Military training helped him to "compartmentalize", setting aside personal worries in the face of risky missions. 

In this increasingly faced paced worrld, with legions of distractions, those who are able to focus are more likely to rise above the rest, and be successful at whatever their pursuit.  So, in order to really be focused and "dialed in", the key is not to be focused on a multitude of other things. Just say no to multitasking!

Quinzhee building taken to next level

A group of  friends living in north Minneapolis decided to build a quinzhee aka snow fort, large enough to serve as a gathering place for their neighbors. Their massive fort can accommodate up to 15 people, complete with patio furniture, a vented fireplace and candle alcoves. What a wonderful idea to use the great abundance of snow that came this winter for a project that's fun and builds community!

An article in the StarTribune, Not your average icehouse,  further describes their efforts and provides some nice pictures.  While not clearly stated in the article, I'm guessing the organizers of this effort are part of an intentional Urban Home Works community.

Walking in the elements

It was a bitterly cold walk to and from choir practice last night. The temperature had dropped to 8 degrees below Fahrenheit. A slight breeze fiercely bit at exposed skin. I walked swiftly over the course of the mile, with resolve, as one who didn’t want his stiff body to be found in a snow bank the following morning. My shoulders hunched with the rapid rigid gait, like someone in need of lubrication. Both hands firmly were clenched in the wool liners of leather choppers, slender fingers seeking warmth by pulling together tightly.

This was an intentional walk in the harsh elements. I had resolved to drive less this year, and have since been rediscovering the joy of walking. Paradoxically, it was comforting to feel the pain of the cold air stinging my cheeks and eyes. It reminded me of my connection with nature, putting me in touch with the elements. It was good to get out of my comfort zone. I felt alive.

When the wind was at my back vapor from my breath filled my headlamp’s halogen circle of light which illumined my path. The flow of my breath shown brightly, in stark contract to the bitter, dark, dry cold of the night.


Snow waves

With each step came the loud crunch of snow beneath my feet. The normally quite snow was complaining about my footsteps that forced it to the pavement below. I empathized with its discomfort.

Nearing home a black and white police squad car passed me slowly. I wondered if the patrol person was going to stop and question me, much like the unmanned police car in Ray Bradbury’s short story “The Pedestrian”. The car turned around where the street dead ended and cruised by me once more, thankfully without stopping. I was pleased to know I wasn’t a suspect simply for being a pedestrian outside in the cold and dark of night. Even though walking is still much less common than driving, it doesn’t yet warrant being taken in by the police to the Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies.



"Fun" roof shoveling

I quietly chuckled to myself when I saw this house that had a sign advertising roof snow removal (lf), that still appeared to have a considerable amount of snow on the roof. Got me thinking about how the plumbers pipes are always leaking...
A couple of days ago, while walking in the neighborhood I found a crew shoveling snow from the roof of a house nearby (rt).  With just over 60" of snow this year, and no major melting periods, it has been adding up!

So, I figured it was time for me to get the ladder out once again and shovel the snow.  As you can see, I had fun doing it!  Thank goodness for hard heads and soft snow!

Scenes from a snowy walk to the grocery store

Post and chains

Cottonwood tree with snowy bark

Sun, clouds and branches



Gritty side of walk with fresh snow

  

Rabbit chewed bark





Snow covered grate

I enjoyed a nice hike to the grocery store to purchase ingredients for chili on a snowy day.  It was interesting to witness how the snow accentuates patterns.