Shoes - and Socks?

Went shopping with a friend last night for some new clothes for me.  I've been told that, when I buy clothes for myself, I tend to dress like a washing machine repairman, so I know that clothes shopping is not one of my talents.  So I brought a friend along whose fashion judgment I trust (among other things).

As part of my new wardrobe, I bought a pair of shoes.  My friend said "You need new socks also".  Hunh?  I already own about 20 pairs of black socks, whyinheck would I want more?

Well, I'm told (and, upon reflection it makes sense) that shoes and socks setup wear patterns so that your feet and shoes and socks all fit together.  When you upset the balance with a new pair of shoes the use of old socks that have been previously fitted to another pair of shoes will cause blisters to form.  So, best if you get new socks to go with the old shoes.

I have a pair of hiking/working boots that I almost never wear because they kill my feet.  I'm thinking I might buy a couple of pairs of socks and try them with just the boots and see what happens.

Beam in the Eye

Mat 7:2-5  For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, it shall be measured to you again.  And why do you look on the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye?  Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull the splinter out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First cast the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to cast the splinter out of your brother's eye.

Kinda a little first-person experience here.  I was awakened this morning about 3 or 4 AM by a great deal of pain in my right eye.  I thought there was something in my eye.  I went into the bathroom to look in the mirror.  Now, most of you know that I wear glasses.  My uncorrected vision is about 20/210.  What this means is that without my glasses I can only focus on things about 2" from my eye.  And, I need new glasses really bad.  So, when I went to look in the mirror at my right eye, I can't see out of my right eye, and my left eye is too far away to focus on the right eye to see what is wrong.

I was eventually able to get a ride to the local Wally-World and get some eye-wash and flush my eye.  Even now, after most of the day has passed, I still cannot see out of my right eye, although the pain has receded for the most part. I really shouldn't be driving, but I needed to get on the Internet to look for work.

But here is the important part, to me.  Even though I knew I had a beam in my eye, even though I wanted to remove it, I couldn't personally do anything about it.  I had to ask for and receive help.  And, even though it has been removed, I am still suffering the consequences of having the beam in my eye.  The pain and blocked vision didn't immediately vanish.

Funny thing is, last night I had already determined that I was going to ask for help on removing the beam in my heart's eye, because I certainly wasn't having a lot of success doing it myself.

Fecal Matter

Was carrying on a conversation a few moments ago, about how I will have to start over with all my hobbies.  I don't have any of my car projects, any of my guns, any of my swords, any of my HO and N scale trains, any of my car models, any of my books, any of my woodworking tools, any of my metal working tools, any of my metal forging tools, any of my old computer or electronic parts, I don't have my antique sewing machine I was restoring, etc. etc., and the list could go on.

But, it was all 'stuff'  (anyone remember the "Stuff-Mart"?).  So, big deal, I don't have any 'stuff', I'm the better for it.  I don't have to worry about where to put it, don't have to worry about how I'm going to take care of it, don't have to worry about someone stealing or damaging it.  And I keep telling myself that those are good things.  I entered this world without 'stuff' and I will leave it without 'stuff'.

And, I think that when I am once again in a place where I can have 'stuff' that I will have a different focus.  A lot of my stuff was mine because it came to me, not necessarily because I chose it, and I couldn't bear to get rid of things.  Now, I can pick and choose my 'stuff'.

Yes, would have been better not to have to start over, but when life hands me lemons I've had to learn how to make lemonade.  Applies to more than just drinks and hobbies.

Funny, how different people react when the fecal matter hits the fan.  Some people have learned to gather the fecal matter up, dry it, and use it to heat their coffee.  Others have learned to gather it and make a tea to feed their roses.  The worst thing you can do is let the fecal matter stay on the floor, walls, and ceiling.  Gotta put it to use, make it good for something.

Housekeeping

Been finally getting some housekeeping done on my blog.  When I moved it from www.hartshorn.org to here many of the links got broken and almost all of the photos got lost.  I have all the photos (I think), it is just a matter of locating, then uploading them into the correct place.  This takes time.   Finally got most of the pages updated, except for the slide pages.  That will be a bit more work, but one I want to get done.

Sunshine

Although the forecast says "Rain" the sun is trying to peak thru the clouds this morning and I'm trying to feel upbeat even though I'm 90% certain I feel a cold coming on.  Even though I have applied for 24 jobs in the last two weeks, I have only received eight "we wish you the best of luck pursuing other options" letters.  Looking on the positive side I take that to mean that I'm still being considered for sixteen other positions right now, just like I'm enjoying the brief peaks at the sunshine.

Right?

Avatar

Wow, is Avatar a great movie.

I had absolutely NO intention of going to see it, but I was forcibly hauled into the 3D version and I have to say I am glad I was.  A good story line and INCREDIBLE graphics made it easily the best movie I have ever seen.  And I mean EVER SEEN.

Wow.

edit 1/15  I have been seeing some comments other places about how the story line is lifted from real life.  Yes, it certainly could be.  One of the things that makes this such a good story is that much of this story has occurred in real life and most of us wish the ending would work in real life also.  Unfortunately for most of us, the ending is the fairy tale that will never happen.  It is the parallel to life that makes this story so good.   Having the story line parallel to real life in no way detracts from this movie, it is, in fact, what allows so many of us to identify with it and enjoy the story.

New Year

Yah, I'm still alive, just nothing to say.  Spending most of my time looking for work and keeping out of trouble.  I'm not quite ready to say "Happy New Year" yet; had a rough weekend that evoked a lot of memories.  They say it takes a year or so before things start to level out, I've just begun so I have a long ways to go.  And job hunting can be a tad depressing, I'm not really much of a salesman and I find it hard to toot my own horn.