Call Waiting

       I called a telemarketer yesterday because the advertising  sent me was so error filled and fear driven that  someone had to respond. They were selling extra vehicle insurance and part of their ploy was telling me that mine either had expired or was about to expire within a week. 
       We had a very long conversation (at one point, he said  we had already been on the phone 55 minutes). I didn't dispute that, but he really didn't realize that we weren't quite finished for we hadn't talked about daylight saving time yet.
        Daylight savings time was on my mind. My barber told me the worse thing about it was that he had to get up at 2:00 am to change the clocks. Some are more serious than others about these matters. Anyway, after we finished the daylight talk and I terminated the call, one more thing occurred to me. If daylight could be saved, the savers wouldn't be here to collect it, and that is the worst investment of all.

After Thought

This week both of us have had some of the many downsides of our technology world. I think I’ve stumbled on something that may shed some light on why we are drawn to it and consequently how we can begin to elude its grasp in the end.

I’ve been reading one of my notebooks from 1974 and it set me to thinking. Over and over again, I record the price I pay for not being organized. I think this is a real human need.

The other segment of puzzle comes when I begin U of M Flint. Here, I discover the endless possibilities of word processing. Before this time I considered the whole idea a pipe dream. But Lo, in the late 80’s I discover it is true and a computer can make it so.

These two instincts of organization and writing are underwritten by a third element which it turns out to be even more important. What is it you say? Procrastination, the final frontier.

Each new wave of technology allows us the liberty of even more postponement than before. The speed and organization of our thoughts and communications can fill past procrastinations like a glove. 

This new NoteBook program allows me to pretend even more than I could before that I will achieve my goals without a lot of extra effort. Like  a perpetual motion machine-stalled even before its engaged.

So, I submit this conclusion. We love and hate it for the same reasons. Our capacity to be willingly deluded by it.

Garage Sales

     This week marked the end of the line. My clothesline broke over and over again. Every time I tied it in knots to repair the break, it broke again. Twenty five years out in the weather proved too much. It gave up the ghost.
      I went to Walmart, the store of last resort, and found a modern one. Well, it didn't break, but it certainly was not up to the task at hand. It constantly dropped and took my clean clothes into the dirt. What to do? I tried something new. Shopped on the internet and found a real line at Tractor Supply. 
      Next day, I went for the gold in the recycle world of garage sales. So many treasures I discovered. The last event of the day was incredible. Jan called me over to look at some long playing records. 

     I gave my collection up about a decade ago to a man on the crew working on my cabin. Low and behold, this was my old collection. In a heartbeat, I'm back in the game of sailing recycling!
       

Day in Court

       

       Finally knocked it out. I've been procrastinating since my first call to jury duty about fifteen years ago. I haven't had a mailbox at my home about that long, so it took a while for them to connect to me. The summons is offensive for a number of reasons even though I think good citizenship is important. Today, I finally wrote a letter back to the county clerk.

Dear County Clerk,

I received your “Summons to service” some time back and thought I might provide some feedback for you. The threatening letter and the overall tone reminds me of the McCarthy era where folks are accused of deeds they haven’t even committed.  It is as if the prospective juror stands indicted for being a citizen who has a civic duty to perform, but hasn’t had the opportunity to perform it yet. It almost invites defiance.

So…I appeared as I always do with a bit of an attitude. When selected to be a juror, I got a very pleasant surprise. The judge asked most of us questions and the direction was clear as day to me. In spite of my misgivings, he was bending over backwards to produce a fair trial and not coerce anyone. I was very impressed, and happy to be part of the process!

If the court has had difficulty in the past compelling citizens to appear for jury duty then perhaps a change in venue. The court actually serves the people and I predict if you treat them with respect you will achieve better results.

Sincerely,