An Evening of Relaxation

I suppose one does not really know relaxation until they remove all distractions, at least for a few hours.  My room mate made a visit to the Newman Center, and with no intention or desire to visit the Newman Center this evening I took to finding something leisurely to do.  I could've watched Frasier or Cheers or any number of TV programs I normally go to when I'm bored, but I didn't.  (Gasp!  I know, right?!)  I decided to make attempts at reading Shakespeare or continuing my reading of Isaac Asimov's The Naked Sun (part II of the Robot series) and fell into making progress on Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.  Then I got an idea.  I grabbed some pino grigio, cheese, crackers, put on my classical station on Pandora, and then... just sat back and did nothing.  Well, okay I ate and drank, but other than that I did nothing.  And it was wonderful!

How strange it is that in this world of comforts such as Facebook, TV, mindlessly scouting the internet for whatever random things you can find, hanging out at a bar with friends, or seeing a movie, that I should find myself content just sitting in my apartment, listening to classical music and just soaking in the evening.  I can't remember the last time I felt so relaxed!  No passively just absorbing whatever the TV or a book wants me to absorb.  No restlessly searching for something new and exciting.  Just sweet introverted solitude.  Perhaps this is something everyone should make a point to pencil into our schedules from time to time.  To just shut out the world for a few hours and just exist.

Perhaps, however I'm being pretentious.  Perhaps I'm longing for some sort of "snooty" lifestyle that is beyond me.  Or perhaps, par chance, I've discovered a gold mine to let my mind wander, imagine, be swept away by crescendos and trumpet blasts, and just recreate for a while in a playground of playful ambiance.  This is definitely something I'm going to make a point of doing every now and then, because it's just so enjoyable!

Needing Some Order

I'm sitting here in my apartment reflecting on the day, wasting time on Facebook, listening to iTunes, and waiting for the next load of laundry to get done.  As my thoughts are gathering a couple things become clear: 1) I haven't devoted time in a long while to writing forecasts and 2) I've consistently stayed up later than 3 am which usually leaves me waking up after 10 or 11 am.

Okay, now the first justification that comes to mind is that I don't have any plans on any given day.  I'm not sure I can accept this as an excuse anymore.  I know there's a lot more I can do with my time.  Afterall, there is that trilogy I've been working on.  Thus it's time to formulate a plan.  A real doable plan for every day that I can do that is within my skill set.  So here goes.

I want to set myself a goal of spending my mornings writing forecasts.  I've had a blog for some time that I've used for meteorological purposes and in the past has filled empty hours and I have to say that I've begun improving my forecasting skill.  Nonetheless, I think now is the time to start posting weather forecasts on a more frequent basis.  Must also note too that this past week has been busy with chasing storms around Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa and this has also prompted me to start thinking about publishing forecasts online again.

I'm thinking this is a good place as any to start feeding my recent craving to begin ordering my day.  So we'll see how it goes.  So I guess come Monday morning I'm going to get my feet wet again in forecasting and spend the rest of the day checking up on job applications and writing.  Of course I may have plans with a friend, but if I don't have plans then I'll try to make myself busy until late afternoon/early evening.

Taking Up Writing Again

Okay, so some of you may already know I've had a futuristic/science fiction trilogy in the works for some time.  After over a year of writers block (mainly due to focusing on school) I think I'm ready to start writing again.  This comes after being asked to co-write a couple of projects with a couple of friends.  Lately I've been intuiting a flow of creativity and I might as well ride the wave as long as possible.

In other news, for the past several weeks, if not months I've been reacquainting myself with two of my favorite TV programs.  That's right I've been going on Cheers and Frasier binges.  So far favorite episodes are "Abnormal Psychology" and "Dinner At Eight-ish" (Cheers season 5 episodes 4 and 20 respectively) and "Adventures in Paradise" (Frasier season 2 episodes 8 and 9).  I will just say that if you're looking to laugh for hours to the point of hyperventilating both Cheers and Frasier will not fail to satisfy.

I guess that's all that's happening at the moment, besides the realization that I'm turning 29 in a month.

My Godfather, Two Years Later

I can't believe I'm finally writing a post about this but, here goes!

Two years ago today, I lost my Godfather to cancer.  It was sudden and shocking and sometimes the events of that 10th day of April two years ago seem to come and go in a flash, and yet so vivid.  There was my Godfather, a man I was hoping to invite to a wedding, a graduation, to the Baptism of whatever children I have in the future.  Gone.  Today though my thoughts are on the good times both him and I shared.  So I guess here is my eulogy and final goodbye, and hope to one day spend some quality time with him.

Earlier in life my Godfather used to skip school.  He'd walk down the street and would wait for my grandmother to leave the house, where he'd spend the day slacking off.  He was always good about leaving the house and locking the door before my grandmother would return home and would return "from school" at the usual time.  One day my grandmother, while reading the paper, asked him why he didn't go to school that day.  My Godfather asked how she knew this to which she replied, "You left the toilet seat up."

As a Marine during the Vietnam War my Godfather sketched scenes from the country.  Later he would turn this into a career as and artist!

When I received my Holy Baptism in the Roman Catholic Church on July 27, 1984 my Godfather was there.  He came dressed in a black pin striped suit.  When people asked him who he was he simply replied, "I'm the Godfather."  His sense of humor and wit would very much rub off on me over the years as I grew.

Ten years later at my brother's wedding, my Godfather and I walked around the reception hall sucking in helium, raising our voices several pitches.  My mother was not thrilled to say the least, but hey like Godfather like Godson right?

Summers were spent at our family's campsite where every now and then I would spend time fishing with him.  My Godfather would show me everything he knew, and even the best places to fish.  Of course there would also be pep talks where he would impart to me his wisdom.

In 2009 a friend and I journeyed to Chicago for the day and found ourselves at this really awesome sushi place on Michigan Avenue.  As I walk in the door I noticed a familiar looking man seated, enjoying his lunch.  It was my Godfather!  Oh what a happy reunion after not visiting him for some years!  Of course I had to brag to my sister and dad that I ran into him.  Think of it... of all the hundreds of thousands of people in Chicago I run into a relative!  So cool.

The next year I was on retreat and took up lodging with my Godfather for the duration of the weekend.  After the events of the retreat were over he and I would sit and he'd crack open his favorite tequila and I would sip scotch (never much of a tequila lover myself) and just like old times he'd impart his wisdom.  I remember fondly the words he spoke to me that weekend.  "It takes real courage at the end of the day to look back and say honestly, 'Yeah I did that.' 'Yeah I should've done that better.' 'No I'm not perfect.'"  Real words I live by every day.

Goodbye Uncle Mike.  While I will miss your words of wisdom, what you have imparted to me I will carry and pass on.  I will miss greatly sitting and talking with you about anything and nothing all the while sipping scotch and you sipping tequila.  While words cannot describe how much you are missed by all, let me at least say thank you.  Thank you for everything.  I hope to make you proud one day by following your example of pursuing my dreams and persevering until all is accomplished.  Take heart however, I'm okay.  I thank God that your battle with cancer is over, and for you there is no more suffering.