Developing Usable Experiences

Weathering June

June 8th, 2008 10:24 pm —  106 views

Here it is Sunday. Another weekend past. Mowed the lawn, bought groceries, worked on my computer, did some reading, ran some errands, cleaned the house, tried to call my mother.1

My sinuses are doing better. I had a cold come on last Tuesday and peak out Friday afternoon. I curled up on the couch and slept through the worst of it.

After running some errands this morning we had lunch then watched the Tigers win another game. We also zoomed through the mens final of the French Open where Nadal won against Federer, again.

Late in the afternoon there was a chance for severe thunderstorms. We went outside to watch the front move in. So did 3 of my neighbors. We’re all out taking pictures like we’ve never seen a storm before. It was funny.

Time to go to bed. Another week starts tomorrow. Two unfinished watercolors mock me. But I know they will wait. This is summer. No school.

Image: One of the more interesting shots of the storm front moving overhead. It dropped the temperature about 12 degrees in a very short time. Cool relief.

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  1. Maybe I’m catching them when they’re out? [↩]

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Weddings, relationships…and pessimism?

June 5th, 2008 8:41 am —  163 views

Last night the wife and I met up with a first cousin she had never met. The first cousin, we’ll call her N., had last seen W. when W. was a mere 4 months old. We learned more about W.’s mother’s life before she met her father. We learned a complex genetically bounded set of ‘facts’ about aunts, cousins, children, sickness, death, mental illness, love, loss, and adventure.

It was a lot to take in. W. and I reflected on it during our 30 minute drive home. We commented on the fact that N. has been married for 35+years1, which is a pretty long time. During the conversation we introduced (and were introduced to) extended and associated family members with descriptions, where they live, have lived, and such with any children … including marital status and other details. Metadata of familial sets.

Honestly, it was an interesting and recognizably rare exchange of information. But it got me thinking about relationships and the pursuit of companionship.

Time wise, W. and I have been together almost half my life. I’ve known her longer than a lot of my closer friends. We have (and continue to) contemplate and learn from our challenges. And we’ve had some challenges2.

From the outside, I’ve witnessed what appears to be toleration and unhappiness in many relationships and marriages. There is a perspective that some relationships just result from circumstances and inertia is in control…not choice. But there is always choice. The choices we face every day, in every situation. I liken it to the question, “what is the most important shot in golf?” The answer of course, “the next one.”

In buddhism there are notions about right action, right thinking, right speech. Suggesting that in any situation there are right things to do and wrong things to do. Right being action which shows kindness to others, is neutral (meaning it affects no others), or causes no harm.

But given how experience teaches us things about short and long term interests, it can be difficult to know what action is actually kind, neutral, and/or causes no harm. Scolding a child seems to cause harm in the very short term but in the long term can help shape behavior for the future in a positive way. But yeah, there are limits and extremes to every thing.

Maybe short term suffering associated which learning can be good in the long term. Maybe trying to caution another blogger to not get her hopes up does no good. I haven’t really figured any of this out yet. I’m just thinking out loud in your head.

I have to go to work. I have developed a cold and am feeling slightly run down. Go Wings!

Image: A self portrait (of course) taken at the reception last weekend.

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  1. Might actually be 38, I don’t remember exactly what she said. [↩]
  2. And will have more, knowing me. Sometimes I do things without thinking enough. [↩]

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Lilacs and cool nights

June 3rd, 2008 10:32 pm —  87 views

Today was way longer than it should have been. But still it went by too fast.

W. retired early tonight after forcing herself to stay awake last night to follow the Stanley Cup hockey game that lasted until 1:30 AM. Neither of us had a good night’s sleep.

The soothing smell of Lilacs and the cool summer breeze of evening are coaxing me.

Tonight, even though it’s after 10:30 PM, I’m so ready to crash.1 I hear W. moving around upstairs so she isn’t sleeping yet. Maybe Ozzie is keeping her up, pacing while waiting for me to give him a little nighttime kibble.

I shared some of my apprehensive feelings about a situation in an interesting bloggers life today and wonder if I didn’t cross a line of some sort.2 While the story is endearing, something about it seems off. Anyway, I hope I’m wrong. Not a huge deal, but engaging in an Innernets sort of way.

Today was scattered as I went around looking for plates still spinning and those needing to be put on stick and spun. Now, plates are spinning crazy like. Such summer fun.3

Image: The smell of lilacs in our kitchen is fresh and strong. Such a good smell. W. cut some blooms from our Lilac bushes in the back. It’s the first time they’ve bloomed.

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  1. I’ve been working on that side job I mentioned before…a little every night and most mornings… [↩]
  2. My instincts are warning me, but they get it wrong sometimes too. [↩]
  3. Interesting meter that takes on. Maybe a poem in there somewhere. [↩]

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And it’s June already

June 3rd, 2008 7:24 am —  102 views

June 3rd no less. The last couple weeks sure went by fast. Nice weather and summer events make time fly.

The wedding went very well and I have a ton of pictures but am in the process of organizing and zipping them into albums. Tough sometimes to sit at a computer when it is sunny and beautiful outside.

The ceremony and reception were great fun and there was much laughing, dancing, visiting, and hugging going on. It was great to see everybody together and having a good time.

As I glance at a watercolor I haven’t gotten around to finishing, some bunt legs that need just one more layer of paint, then back at my computer screens where I’m pushing to finish a web project…I realize how time can be pushy and annoying sometimes. Like a double over-time in a game you don’t want to give up watching.

Image: These are mallard ducks floating on East Bay in Traverse City taken with a Rebel Xti using a zoom lens.

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