I just finished setting up the Apple TV. I have some mixed feelings about this as in minimizing I have somehow purchased another device for the house, albeit small. As I wrote earlier, cable TV is going, so we'll be using streaming devices. So in all, for the greater good, I'm fine with this, but I do realize some of the contradiction.
The purge continues as well. I have got rid of like fifteen to twenty pieces of clothing, which is great. I typically have favorite clothes (some people call this a fashion rut), so I don't really need six pairs of cords, especially when I only wear two pair. I found a fuzzy pair of pants that I thought was a cat, but it was really a black pairs of pants that turned into a cat bed. Those are gone.
All in all, this is going well.
On a small level, I feel like I'm beginning to take a little more control of things, and doing a reset in a quiet and controlled way.
If I have time, I'll try to write about my experiences with the Roku XS and the Apple TV, as I now have an opportunity compare the two side by side.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Adios Cable
So we're a bit into 2013, and without really having an explicit plan (re: some detailed spreadsheet to life), things are evolving pretty steadily. For a lack of better phrase, a lot minimizing has been happening, taking stock of how all my daily activities connect to each other, particularly my stress levels, consumer behavior, work-life, and prioritizing what I actually want to do.
A lot HAS happened, but the main thing to note is we are finally getting rid of cable. While it's a not a huge chunk we're saving, this is has the potential to be a symbolic victory, cutting the boob tube cord. I've talked about this the past two years, trying to find the right time to do this, and frankly, we seldom watch cable tv now, so now is quite a practical decision (it's easier for me to make decisions when they are more outcome based, rather than get overly philosophical with no real obvious better or worse). I ordered an antenna so we can pull in OTA (fancy shortcut for over the air tv), which I'll be getting later this week. That combined with Netflix on the Roku, and I think we'll be covered.
The one thing I will miss is the access to the Travel Channel watching Ghost Adventures. Travel Channel seems to have very limitation distribution on streaming services, as it's not available on Hulu and little access over Netflix. It is available on iTunes, but we'll cross that bridge when we have to.
We're doing other things as well, but wanted to get this captured on the blog. To my two readers, I hope you are well!
A lot HAS happened, but the main thing to note is we are finally getting rid of cable. While it's a not a huge chunk we're saving, this is has the potential to be a symbolic victory, cutting the boob tube cord. I've talked about this the past two years, trying to find the right time to do this, and frankly, we seldom watch cable tv now, so now is quite a practical decision (it's easier for me to make decisions when they are more outcome based, rather than get overly philosophical with no real obvious better or worse). I ordered an antenna so we can pull in OTA (fancy shortcut for over the air tv), which I'll be getting later this week. That combined with Netflix on the Roku, and I think we'll be covered.
The one thing I will miss is the access to the Travel Channel watching Ghost Adventures. Travel Channel seems to have very limitation distribution on streaming services, as it's not available on Hulu and little access over Netflix. It is available on iTunes, but we'll cross that bridge when we have to.
We're doing other things as well, but wanted to get this captured on the blog. To my two readers, I hope you are well!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Historical Travels: Malcom X Ellan-Little Collins House
Background
For a while now, my goal has been to travel and blog about all the historical locations and haunts we've been to. Rosanne and I see a lot of places, and I always thought what better way to capture these trips but through a travel journal or blog. To kick things off, I'm going to talk about my little excursion today to the Malcolm X Ella Collins-Little House.
Most recent read has been Malcom X: A Live Reinvented, by Manning Marable, which recounts the life of (obviously) Malcolm X. Malcolm X was a man of many faces and places. He was born in Nebraska, moved to Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and along way spent some time in our dearest Boston. One of the themes of this tome is that the genius of Malcolm X was his ability to constantly reinvent himself, adapting to his situations in life and audiences. To make an underestimate, Malcolm X made a critical impact on American culture, with a great number of black Americans in the 60s, and resonating throughout all segments of our society since then. In trying to understand a bit more about this great American leader, today I made the journey to Roxbury, a neighborhood of Boston, which is close to our home in Dedham.
To give you some background, Malcolm X spent his early adult years on 72 Dale Street, Roxbury living with his half-sister Ella Collins-Little. There are better sources to read about his life rather this post, but these years are referred to by some as Malcolm's Detroit Red years. The name referred to the red in young Malcolm's hair, and also his time spent living in Michigan. His time in Roxbury was characterized by his coming of age as a young man (never having spent significant time in a city), and also time spent time learning the culture of the streets.
Let's hit the road!
About early afternoon I actually made the decision to head out. I hopped on the computer and starting searching for his address. Where was it? How could I find it? I did some simple searches like 'Malcom X Roxbury MA Home' and on my second hit I found his address: 72 Dale Street. After I got some food in my stomach, I entered my address in my smart phone, and I got some directions. It was more or less straight down Washington Street, and take a left. How easy?
I hit the road, and it's pretty easy going. The sun is out, and the traffic is moderate. I drive through Roslindale, and then I go through Jamaica Plain. Along the way, I drive by an old club I used to play at, The Midway. Everything looks the same, except again the weather is finally nice out. There's always a bit of grey to this area -- slightly industrial, not really bursting with color. While we usually terminate in J.P., this time I keep on going past to my new destination today.
Eventually, Washington Street takes you in Roxbury without any real official notice. There is no sign saying "WELCOME TO ROXBURY!" Roxbury is primarily an African-American community, so you do see more non-whites. I keep on driving, and pretty quickly I see Dale Street.
Once you take a left on Dale Street, you see Malcolm X park (it predates Malcolm as it was designed by Olmstead), and you start to see plenty of late 19th-century houses. If you're into Victorians, with their spirals and pretty detailing you will be pleased. Considering the degree of urban renewal in our cities, I was actually surprised this street was pretty much untouched. Anyway, pretty quickly I see 85 Dale Street, and before you know it, I drive by 72 Dale. Oops. I hit an intersection (that's fairly busy), take a quick left, and park my car, and plan to just walk over.
I lock up my car, and I notice subconsciously notice "this isn't my neighborhood." It's fine, and I feel safe, but all my time living in pretty white suburbs rears its ugly head by a slight pang of feeling like I stick out. I keep walking, and I head over to the house. Once I get there, I see it:
As my wife noted, you would never really know it's an historical house. The house blends in, almost too well. It's actually one of the least maintained houses, as it's been unoccupied for a very long time. I stand there, take a photo, and I think about taking more photos, but I hesitate as this is still a real residential neighborhood. There is a marker, indicating the importance of the house, but that is really about it. I imagine young Malcolm X in the house, what sort of people may have lived there after. In some ways, you can imagine what it could have been like a bit, as the neighborhood has not really been all that gentrified. I keep walking in a weak attempt at imaging what young Malcolm X would have experienced walking around his neighborhood. I walk down the street, and eventually hit Warren Street. This street is a major thoroughfare, and I see a McDonald's and your typical shopping options. There are a few people walking around, but this is about it.
I get back in my car, take some audio notes to capture my immediate thoughts, and I head back.
Round Up
I enjoyed my trip today. If you're into visiting places with some historical background, check it out. This is clearly not a house-museum, as there is nothing really to see other than the house, but this is a clear reminder, that our historical figures lived like normal people even being major cultural icons. A lot of house museums put a gloss, a shininess to what might have been. Sometimes, these places may look too good. 72 Dale Street is actually worse off today (check out this PDF of the house -- there's a great photo in this document), but it actually underscores the realness of the neighborhoods and locals about the folks we read about it.
For a while now, my goal has been to travel and blog about all the historical locations and haunts we've been to. Rosanne and I see a lot of places, and I always thought what better way to capture these trips but through a travel journal or blog. To kick things off, I'm going to talk about my little excursion today to the Malcolm X Ella Collins-Little House.
Most recent read has been Malcom X: A Live Reinvented, by Manning Marable, which recounts the life of (obviously) Malcolm X. Malcolm X was a man of many faces and places. He was born in Nebraska, moved to Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and along way spent some time in our dearest Boston. One of the themes of this tome is that the genius of Malcolm X was his ability to constantly reinvent himself, adapting to his situations in life and audiences. To make an underestimate, Malcolm X made a critical impact on American culture, with a great number of black Americans in the 60s, and resonating throughout all segments of our society since then. In trying to understand a bit more about this great American leader, today I made the journey to Roxbury, a neighborhood of Boston, which is close to our home in Dedham.
To give you some background, Malcolm X spent his early adult years on 72 Dale Street, Roxbury living with his half-sister Ella Collins-Little. There are better sources to read about his life rather this post, but these years are referred to by some as Malcolm's Detroit Red years. The name referred to the red in young Malcolm's hair, and also his time spent living in Michigan. His time in Roxbury was characterized by his coming of age as a young man (never having spent significant time in a city), and also time spent time learning the culture of the streets.
Let's hit the road!
About early afternoon I actually made the decision to head out. I hopped on the computer and starting searching for his address. Where was it? How could I find it? I did some simple searches like 'Malcom X Roxbury MA Home' and on my second hit I found his address: 72 Dale Street. After I got some food in my stomach, I entered my address in my smart phone, and I got some directions. It was more or less straight down Washington Street, and take a left. How easy?
I hit the road, and it's pretty easy going. The sun is out, and the traffic is moderate. I drive through Roslindale, and then I go through Jamaica Plain. Along the way, I drive by an old club I used to play at, The Midway. Everything looks the same, except again the weather is finally nice out. There's always a bit of grey to this area -- slightly industrial, not really bursting with color. While we usually terminate in J.P., this time I keep on going past to my new destination today.
Eventually, Washington Street takes you in Roxbury without any real official notice. There is no sign saying "WELCOME TO ROXBURY!" Roxbury is primarily an African-American community, so you do see more non-whites. I keep on driving, and pretty quickly I see Dale Street.
Once you take a left on Dale Street, you see Malcolm X park (it predates Malcolm as it was designed by Olmstead), and you start to see plenty of late 19th-century houses. If you're into Victorians, with their spirals and pretty detailing you will be pleased. Considering the degree of urban renewal in our cities, I was actually surprised this street was pretty much untouched. Anyway, pretty quickly I see 85 Dale Street, and before you know it, I drive by 72 Dale. Oops. I hit an intersection (that's fairly busy), take a quick left, and park my car, and plan to just walk over.
I lock up my car, and I notice subconsciously notice "this isn't my neighborhood." It's fine, and I feel safe, but all my time living in pretty white suburbs rears its ugly head by a slight pang of feeling like I stick out. I keep walking, and I head over to the house. Once I get there, I see it:
As my wife noted, you would never really know it's an historical house. The house blends in, almost too well. It's actually one of the least maintained houses, as it's been unoccupied for a very long time. I stand there, take a photo, and I think about taking more photos, but I hesitate as this is still a real residential neighborhood. There is a marker, indicating the importance of the house, but that is really about it. I imagine young Malcolm X in the house, what sort of people may have lived there after. In some ways, you can imagine what it could have been like a bit, as the neighborhood has not really been all that gentrified. I keep walking in a weak attempt at imaging what young Malcolm X would have experienced walking around his neighborhood. I walk down the street, and eventually hit Warren Street. This street is a major thoroughfare, and I see a McDonald's and your typical shopping options. There are a few people walking around, but this is about it.
I get back in my car, take some audio notes to capture my immediate thoughts, and I head back.
Round Up
I enjoyed my trip today. If you're into visiting places with some historical background, check it out. This is clearly not a house-museum, as there is nothing really to see other than the house, but this is a clear reminder, that our historical figures lived like normal people even being major cultural icons. A lot of house museums put a gloss, a shininess to what might have been. Sometimes, these places may look too good. 72 Dale Street is actually worse off today (check out this PDF of the house -- there's a great photo in this document), but it actually underscores the realness of the neighborhoods and locals about the folks we read about it.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Thinking...
It's very difficult to make decisions. You get to a point where you have a gut feeling, you know it, you believe it, then you begin to doubt it. You begin the painful process of thinking. A while after you chew on the idea, the great idea goes by the wayside. What happened? Well what happened was you thought it out.
I'm tired of thinking. I think thinking has gotten in the way now for a quite a while. Thinking about this very idea makes me begin to doubt, think of how cliche this very notion is, but guess what? I'm tired of it. Thinking with your head reduces you to logic, a perfect rational creature. What am I not? What are people not? Rational. Listen to what people say, and listen to what you hear and think they're saying. Nine times of out of ten you probably going to be off a bit.
So what has thinking done for me? Well, for one it has kept me in one place for a while. Any momentum I've had recently has been when I stopped thinking and began to feel, and listened to the proverbial gut. Earlier this year when I knew things weren't exactly right at my last job, I had to seriously listen and acknowledge the physical sensation in my gut. I knew I had to do something, and I did. I was proud of myself. If I had listened to my mind, or just "thought it out," and I'm not so sure it would have turned the same way.
Let's continue. Thinking also puts a temporary stop on creativity. I'll put my hand to guitar, play something. The mind says, "oh no, that's not good enough. It's been done before." So what do I do? Seriously reduce my proverbial creative output waiting for the right set of conditions to be in place. Right sound from the speakers on the right day when I'm in a good mood.
I go through the day thinking about what I like and dislike. However, I find the older one gets the harder it gets to know directly what you feel. Do you like chocolate? Most people can directly answer that question. Yes, no, but very few maybe so's. When you think about your next choices, it all gets very gray. One feels safe, one can rationalize. Don't get me wrong, you need to think -- I do it all the time. But sometimes, you need to let non-verbal parts of you get their say too. When I overthink I begin to loose touch with myself.
Do you have a pet? Cat? Dog? I have 3 crazy cats. We got one cat recently named Sherman. We named Sherman Sherman because he's like tank. He's big, stocky, and he likes to walk into you with his little battering ram head. And when you pick him he purrs. He clearly enjoys his time with you. Sherman likes to be on your lap. Direct. He communicates to me without using words. "Oh yes, Doug, you have a very nice lap, and I like your company." Sherman isn't thinking if he's showing too much attention, and trying to purr because I expect him to. He's not that complicated. He likes to be on my lap -- that's it.
It get even harder when you coordinate your decisions with a partner or group. Now you need to coordinate your feelings, preferences, thoughts, which you may not even be positive about in the first place with another. Their stuff in their mind is changing too, and now changing even more in anticipation of you! What can a person do? Keeping it strictly to your brain space and thinking, you could be constantly adjusting your thoughts to what you think other people's thoughts are of your thoughts. This goes on and on, and then basically, you're stuck. Ooops. You get stuck in a loop. Over and over again. And again. Tired. How'd this happen?
Well, on days like this I'd like to thank the brain. And also on the fact are brains are kind of messy. We're smart enough -- we can think, put together some fancy ideas, but sometimes we hit some walls. Ouch. We're not so smart to realize we're stuck in this ridiculous loop! Especially when you're stuck in the loop with somebody else. Couple's therapy anybody? We just get stuck in these patterns thanks to our little brains. Sometimes I just want to remove it from my body.
So if I'm not using my brain, what am I using? I'd like to use my gut, or my intuition. They may be different, they may the same thing (I tend to think they're probably different, I was reading someplace, they are in different chakras). After all this time, I think you've accumulated enough experience where you don't necessarily need to actively think all the time. You can hopefully sort out the chestnuts useful from the garbage. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If it works more often than not, I think I'm good. There's just too much out there (not fooling myself this is just happening now to us in the "information age"), and it's hard to figure out.
So what am I do? (Besides finish this long post without pictures.) Continue going at it. What's it, you ask? Experiences, life -- accumulate and treasure those (even the bad ones), and put them to good use -- at some point. You may not use them immediately, but you may put them to use at some point. The brain has taught me one thing that's been useful. That thing is perspective. Having a brain gives me self-awareness to know I exist, others exist, as well as their other perspectives. I just can't forget that I am here, even when I'm surrounded my zillions of people and ideas floating about. I need to acknowledge and respect my feelings, yes, my thoughts, and yours too along they way. Just don't make it so complicated.
We'll see how it goes tomorrow.
I'm tired of thinking. I think thinking has gotten in the way now for a quite a while. Thinking about this very idea makes me begin to doubt, think of how cliche this very notion is, but guess what? I'm tired of it. Thinking with your head reduces you to logic, a perfect rational creature. What am I not? What are people not? Rational. Listen to what people say, and listen to what you hear and think they're saying. Nine times of out of ten you probably going to be off a bit.
So what has thinking done for me? Well, for one it has kept me in one place for a while. Any momentum I've had recently has been when I stopped thinking and began to feel, and listened to the proverbial gut. Earlier this year when I knew things weren't exactly right at my last job, I had to seriously listen and acknowledge the physical sensation in my gut. I knew I had to do something, and I did. I was proud of myself. If I had listened to my mind, or just "thought it out," and I'm not so sure it would have turned the same way.
Let's continue. Thinking also puts a temporary stop on creativity. I'll put my hand to guitar, play something. The mind says, "oh no, that's not good enough. It's been done before." So what do I do? Seriously reduce my proverbial creative output waiting for the right set of conditions to be in place. Right sound from the speakers on the right day when I'm in a good mood.
I go through the day thinking about what I like and dislike. However, I find the older one gets the harder it gets to know directly what you feel. Do you like chocolate? Most people can directly answer that question. Yes, no, but very few maybe so's. When you think about your next choices, it all gets very gray. One feels safe, one can rationalize. Don't get me wrong, you need to think -- I do it all the time. But sometimes, you need to let non-verbal parts of you get their say too. When I overthink I begin to loose touch with myself.
Do you have a pet? Cat? Dog? I have 3 crazy cats. We got one cat recently named Sherman. We named Sherman Sherman because he's like tank. He's big, stocky, and he likes to walk into you with his little battering ram head. And when you pick him he purrs. He clearly enjoys his time with you. Sherman likes to be on your lap. Direct. He communicates to me without using words. "Oh yes, Doug, you have a very nice lap, and I like your company." Sherman isn't thinking if he's showing too much attention, and trying to purr because I expect him to. He's not that complicated. He likes to be on my lap -- that's it.
It get even harder when you coordinate your decisions with a partner or group. Now you need to coordinate your feelings, preferences, thoughts, which you may not even be positive about in the first place with another. Their stuff in their mind is changing too, and now changing even more in anticipation of you! What can a person do? Keeping it strictly to your brain space and thinking, you could be constantly adjusting your thoughts to what you think other people's thoughts are of your thoughts. This goes on and on, and then basically, you're stuck. Ooops. You get stuck in a loop. Over and over again. And again. Tired. How'd this happen?
Well, on days like this I'd like to thank the brain. And also on the fact are brains are kind of messy. We're smart enough -- we can think, put together some fancy ideas, but sometimes we hit some walls. Ouch. We're not so smart to realize we're stuck in this ridiculous loop! Especially when you're stuck in the loop with somebody else. Couple's therapy anybody? We just get stuck in these patterns thanks to our little brains. Sometimes I just want to remove it from my body.
So if I'm not using my brain, what am I using? I'd like to use my gut, or my intuition. They may be different, they may the same thing (I tend to think they're probably different, I was reading someplace, they are in different chakras). After all this time, I think you've accumulated enough experience where you don't necessarily need to actively think all the time. You can hopefully sort out the chestnuts useful from the garbage. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If it works more often than not, I think I'm good. There's just too much out there (not fooling myself this is just happening now to us in the "information age"), and it's hard to figure out.
So what am I do? (Besides finish this long post without pictures.) Continue going at it. What's it, you ask? Experiences, life -- accumulate and treasure those (even the bad ones), and put them to good use -- at some point. You may not use them immediately, but you may put them to use at some point. The brain has taught me one thing that's been useful. That thing is perspective. Having a brain gives me self-awareness to know I exist, others exist, as well as their other perspectives. I just can't forget that I am here, even when I'm surrounded my zillions of people and ideas floating about. I need to acknowledge and respect my feelings, yes, my thoughts, and yours too along they way. Just don't make it so complicated.
We'll see how it goes tomorrow.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Back from Maine...
Roz and I just got back from Maine, and again we had a really excellent trip. We got to see Chris, Chris, and Ruby, who we don't see enough of, and I actually get to spend real quality time with Rosanne too. It's trips like these where I get to take a step back and really get to appreciate what I have around me and enjoy life. While I like Maine (quite a bit), I'm not exactly sure if it's Maine itself that makes everything taste so good. I think it's being around people, focusing on the people you care about, and sharing and enjoying life with them.
While I fear this post might be a bit maudlin (maybe it's just me, but it seems like whenever I talk about more emotional stuff I feel a little naked, exposed -- I have need to wear another layer of clothing), I think it's important to reflect before the usual cycle of work (wash, rinse, and dry) begins again. I'm always asking myself if life is moving faster and why. I like to wear my little philosopher's hat now and then, and dig a bit deeper. Part of me wonders if this is just the experience we all feel as we get older. Some things we all experience, and maybe this is the case with me -- I'm no different. My other theory is life is getting more complicated, busy and noisy (hello constant world of Facebook). Here again, I say yes it might getting more complicated now, BUT I think I may have heard this before with folks times past. People always look back to the good ol' days when things were simple -- before TV there was radio, before industrialization there was make my own pencil in my backyard with my own widdling knife from own tree (blah, you get the picture). Anyway, at the end of the day it probably doesn't matter if life is getting faster and why -- it just matters to value the things you care about. It's been said before, but life goes by quite fast.
Roz and I are always looking at different places to move too (it seems like that's what we do, other post for another day), but it probably most important to look inside. As Rosanne mentioned today, it's the feeling we have when we're at all these places. We feel more complete as people, less stressed, and connected. While a lot of these places are great, it's really how we're feeling on inside that connects us.
We got to spend an awesome time with CCR (no, not the band!). I got to kayak and reflect with Chris as we hear the call of the loon, watch fine cinema with Chris, share a pickle with Ruby and relearn the power of "No" in conversation, and get to read out loud The Last Stand to Roz as we drive the open, tree-lined roads of Mid-Coast Maine. At this point I'm already beginning to have thoughts of tomorrow creep into my head, but before that happens, it's time for my own early mid-year Thanksgiving (had the pie at Moody's) -- thank you for an awesome trip this year!
While I fear this post might be a bit maudlin (maybe it's just me, but it seems like whenever I talk about more emotional stuff I feel a little naked, exposed -- I have need to wear another layer of clothing), I think it's important to reflect before the usual cycle of work (wash, rinse, and dry) begins again. I'm always asking myself if life is moving faster and why. I like to wear my little philosopher's hat now and then, and dig a bit deeper. Part of me wonders if this is just the experience we all feel as we get older. Some things we all experience, and maybe this is the case with me -- I'm no different. My other theory is life is getting more complicated, busy and noisy (hello constant world of Facebook). Here again, I say yes it might getting more complicated now, BUT I think I may have heard this before with folks times past. People always look back to the good ol' days when things were simple -- before TV there was radio, before industrialization there was make my own pencil in my backyard with my own widdling knife from own tree (blah, you get the picture). Anyway, at the end of the day it probably doesn't matter if life is getting faster and why -- it just matters to value the things you care about. It's been said before, but life goes by quite fast.
Roz and I are always looking at different places to move too (it seems like that's what we do, other post for another day), but it probably most important to look inside. As Rosanne mentioned today, it's the feeling we have when we're at all these places. We feel more complete as people, less stressed, and connected. While a lot of these places are great, it's really how we're feeling on inside that connects us.
We got to spend an awesome time with CCR (no, not the band!). I got to kayak and reflect with Chris as we hear the call of the loon, watch fine cinema with Chris, share a pickle with Ruby and relearn the power of "No" in conversation, and get to read out loud The Last Stand to Roz as we drive the open, tree-lined roads of Mid-Coast Maine. At this point I'm already beginning to have thoughts of tomorrow creep into my head, but before that happens, it's time for my own early mid-year Thanksgiving (had the pie at Moody's) -- thank you for an awesome trip this year!
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