Take yourself out of context

I'm back after a long absence. I hope from now on I shall start sitting myself in front of the keyboard more often and remember the joy of putting my brain down on paper. Well, on the screen anyway.

This is going to be a bit of an angry post, that I want to start with one of my favorite quotes. Aristotel once said "we are the sum of all the people we meet our entire lives". Lately I have found myself returning to these words more and more. One of the things that has struck me lately in the dating world is that people just can't seem to be able to get themselves out of their own way. Starting with all the movies and media that tell us to find our own way and to develop our own personality (and then buy the damn product!), it seems more and more people can't just sit back and enjoy life.

Ok, I probably have you wondering by now just what the heck I am on about. Let me spell it out for you: I am finding more and more people getting in the way of their own feelings. They become so set in their own ways that they just pass up opportunity after opportunity because "he is too tall", "she is not blonde", "he doesn't like the same restaurants as I do" and so on and so forth. Have we become so picky and peculiar that we just can't see the forest for the trees?

What ever happened to priorities? Or should I say, what ever happened to values and priorities that actually matter? Just think about this for a minute: are things like a bad joke, a wrong choice of shoes or some quirky taste in music so important for our happiness? What about the "small" things like getting along? Or like talking for hours and not being able to get enough of that person? Or maybe even having fun with his/her group of friends?

Somehow I thing we are missing the point in all this dating thing. We want too much from people who want too little.

Now let's try a bit of an experiment. Getting back to what Aristotel said, think about this: what would you be like if you had never met that one person who tends to get into you thoughts more often than food? Somehow I think this should be out guiding point for getting our heads and more importantly, our hearts back in the right place. Just imagine not having met that person. What would be different about your life? Would your opinions be different? Would your thought be more productive, more creative? Would you take better care of yourself? Would you be a better person?

As for me, I would just focus on that last question. Am I a better person, having met her? More experienced, definitely. More mature? Yes. But better? Or was I just trying to be a better person for her? Damn!

Talent

Each one of us has an unique talent. I have always believed this to be true. And I don't necesarily mean an artistic talent. It could be something small, meaningless to the outside world. It could be something irelevant. It could be something silly, that you only do in the privacy of your own room. But everyone has a talent.

What is mine? I've often wondered. I can play a couple of instruments, I can make some pictures, I can even write sometimes. But I do none of those things very well. I can only do them... adequately. I believe my talent is expresing emotion. Passing on something unpalpable to another person, but at the same time something very real. A feeling. A smile. Sorrow.

So what is my problem then? Well, I can't seem to be able to do it consistently. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I have tried to figure out why, and the best thing I was able to come up with is... well, the lack of a proper medium of expresion. A way to send out whatever I want to express. So I have reached a decision. I shall be trying out an exercise. For one week, for the forseable future, I shall pick one emotion and try to express it in whatever way I can, without using the word to describe it. I'm not sure if this will work in unlocking the creative block I have at the moment. But it got me excited enough that I forgot I was washing my teeth for about 6 minutes. That's good enough for me.

So stick aroung. There may be some interesting post coming up soon.

Fat Frumos

Se intampla intr-o vineri seara. Venirea serii m-a gasit in oras. Impreuna cu niste prieteni, cunoscusem un grup mai mare prin "prietenul unui prieten" si se intampla sa ne gasim cu totii in aceeasi locatie. Am intrat in vorba cu persoanele din stanga, din dreapta... cu cine se nimerea. Imi place sa cunosc oameni diversi si pareri cat mai variate. Fiecare perspectiva unica pe care o intalnesc, o consider ca pe o experienta care mi-a imbogatit inca putin viata si cunostiintele.

Prin grupul vesel se regasea si 2 fete care atrageau atentia, e de ajuns sa spun, prin calitati fizice. Spre surpriza mea, cu una din ele chiar se putea purta o conversatie cu un nivel peste discutiile obisnuite despre haine, masini si cluburi, discutii care imi provoaca dureri neuronului. Din curiozitate, am deschis subiectul despre relatii. Evident, ca orice fata, aici am descoperit o avalansa de idei, pareri si convingeri. Intrebarile mele au condus discutia spre a afla ce anume se asteapta ea sa gaseasca in "jumatatea potrivita". Aici am intampinat aceleasi pareri pe care par sa le aiba toate fetele care atrag putin mai multe atentie decat restul oamenilor.

Se pare ca orice om din lumea aceasta merita ce e cel mai bun. In cazul de fata, Fat-Frumos, calare pe un Ferrari, cu palat si tot tacamul, si eventual sa fie si cel mai bun, iubitor si fidel sot din lume. Evident, nu acestea au fost cuvintele domnisoarei, dar citind printre randuri, cam aceasta a fost concluzia. Am masurat-o din priviri, observand hainele atent asortate (dar nu cu cel mai bun gust), unghiile viu colorate si parul foarte atent arajat, si ajungand la ochii caprui, m-a lovit o intrebare ca sunetul ceasului dimineata dupa o noapte lunga: daca ea merita toate acestea, Fat-Frumos oare merita tot ce are ea de oferit?

De aici am pornit a doua zi o polemica impreuna cu 2 prieteni cu o oarecare capacitate cerebrala. Am constatat ca toti 3 suntem intampinati de membrele sexului frumos cu aceleasi multiple doleante, aceleasi cereri continue si asteptari neasteptat de mari. Si pentru ce? Pentru 2 ochi frumosi si bine aranjati care doar stau langa tine si clipesc des si intelegator in timpul discutiilor din jur care nu reusesc sa le implice? Fetelor, pentru ca voua ma adresez acum, poate ca nu e frumos ca economistul din mine priveste aceasta relatie romantica ca pe o afacere, dar cum se spune mai trivial, noua ce ne iese?

Lasand deoparte glumele, apropourile cu tenta sexuala si ironiile, ajungem totusi la un concept care mi se pare cel putin de bun simt. Sunt de impresie ca indiferent despre ce ar fi vorba in viata, efortul depus pentru ceva trebuie sa fie egal cu beneficiile castigate.

Cred ca este destul de evident ca ma simt nedreptatit aici. Dar hai, de dragul echitatii, sa joc si partea cealalta a argumentului. Am citit un articol zilele trecute care spunea ca dorinta de a performa a oamenilor, si a barbatilor in special, este din ce in ce mai mica din cauza diversitatii posibilitatilor. In principal, tendinta unui barbat de a se perfectiona, de a face ceva in viata, de a fi mai bun, porneste din nevoia de a impresiona o femeie si pentru a o cuceri, sau a o pastra langa el. Dar cine mai depune efort acum, cand stie ca poate oricand gasi alta femeie in urmatorul bar sau club?

Asadar, este posibil sa fi intrat intr-un cerc vicios. Nici noi, barbatii nu purtam vina, dar nici sexul opus. O purtam cu totii? Sau calitatea oamenilor in general are de suferit? Este posibil sa ni se aplice si noua considerentele care spun ca nu poti avea si cantitate si calitate? Adica pe masura ce omenirea creste ca numar, si calitatea noastra, ca indivizi, sa fie in declin?

Working from my backyard

The sun is shining all around me. I can hear some birds singing in the trees around my house. The air is lovely and the coffee next to me tastes great. Yet, at the same time, I am getting some work done while typing away on my keyboard.

The appalling traffic this weak got me thinking. Why are we not working from home this day an age? What are the limitations of your job that force you to physically be in a specified place? Well, apart from people who work in constructions, furniture moving and/or jobs that imply you have to move objects around to get things done, I a sure that 90% of us sit in front of a monitor all day, typing away, while taking the occasional phone call every now and then. And with the current Internet speeds and wide availability, anyone can remotely login from home on any computer, or just use your home computer as your primary work machine.

So what are the advantages? One I have mentioned already: traffic. Unless you live in a hotel or have an unusually large family, the trip to your office should not take you across more than 2-3 people away, compared to the hundreds of people you come across daily on your way to work. Not only that, but I can get out of bed at 8:45 and be at my desk by no more than 9 without too much hassle. And if you have a laptop, you can actually start work right in bed. Even more so, you save money on transport. Let's face it, no matter what your chosen mode of transport is, unless it's your own two feet, you have to caugh up some cash in order to use it.

Secondly, for most of us, a house is the largest investment we will ever make in our lifetime. So why not make good use of it? Plus, since it is your own house, you can organize your workspace whichever way you see fit. You can personalize your work gear to suit your needs as well. Do you need 3 monitors to get the job done? No problem, just buy them and get them working. Does a small netbook work for you? That is fine as well. The way I see it, your employer should not have any problem with the gear you use as long as you get things done. Plus, now you don't need 12 different suites just to look good every day. Nobody cares if you're sitting in your pajamas while you're in your own house.

Now of course, there must be a downside. The greatest disadvantage of working from home is the lack of social interaction that you normally get when going to work. But perhaps the employees not hanging around the water cooler is not such a bad thing, now is it. In fact, an employee that does not require an office, can basically work around the clock since he or she doesn't need to go home and doesn't waste time by hanging out with the rest of the staff may just be what employers need. Maybe they should, in fact, consider that as a viable option for the future.

Maybe not

M-am gandit ceva timp cum sa incep acest post. Dupa ceva meditatie, mi-am dat seama ca cea mai buna modalitate de inceput este sa va prezint sursa mea de inspiratie. Este un clip din filmul "25th Hour", un film despre care nu voi discuta prea mult din simplul motiv ca nu mi-a placut foarte mult. Dar acest clip mi se pare absolut genial (Link YouTube).

Desi nu traiesc in New York si nu sunt familiar cu etniile si categoriile de oameni descrise acolo, pot cu siguranta sa ma identific cu gandirea dublurii din oglinda. Urasc cocalarismele si fitzele de 2 bani ale unor ignoranti neducati care au impresia ca banii ii fac mai destepti. Urasc modul in care isi lipesc ochelarii de parul gelat cand se suie in masina, desi afara e un soare orbitor si locul lor ar fi mai potrivit pe nas. Urasc aerul de superioritate al femeilor din cluburi. Trezeste-te draga mea, nu vei fi bagata in seama toata viata doar pt ca arati bine! Urasc oamenii foarte culti care isi plimba aroganta cu mainile la spate atunci cand vor sa epateze cunostiintele lor in fata "muritorilor de rand".

Urasc oamenii mici si lipsiti de caracter, care incearca sa ti se bage sub piele cu complimente ieftine doar ca sa-si serveasca propriul lor interes si sa poata avea al doilea pai in suc. Urasc interesul manifestat ascuns si indirect al celor care se cred prea destepti pentru lumea din jur. Urasc femeile care nu se pot stapani si se culca cu primul barbat care le abureste, chiar daca prietenul/sotul le asteapta acasa ingrijorat. Urasc barbatii care se dau mari cuceritori fata de prietenii lor, laudandu-si dezgustator calitatile de amant in fata prostilor care ii asculta cu ochii si gura cascate. Nu sunteti decat niste dobitoci de care "e doar gura"!

Urasc mizeria si acceptarea tacita a celor din jur fata de mucurile de tigare aruncate in nesimtire. Urasc nesimtirea si prostia, dar numai in combinatie cu aroganta si impresia de "las' ca stiu eu". Urasc incultura afisata cu obstinatie de cei care incearca sa-si ascunda propriile complexe aruncandu-le in fata la altii. Urasc idiotii care opresc pe verde doar ca sa vada "o bunaciune" trecand prin fata masinii si urasc "bunaciunea" care se simte gadilata in orgoliu de saliva de pe barba a idiotului care apare la vederea ei. Opriti-va pe trotuar si luati-va in brate! Faceti un cuplu perfect!

Urasc toti blogarii si toate pseudo-vedetele care afiseaza opinii scandaloase doar pentru a parea originali si emancipati. Ce ati spune de putin bun simt si responsabilitate in formularea unei opinii? Doar sunt sute/mii de naivi care mai si cred ceea ce spuneti! Urasc femeile care conduc incalcand toate regulile de circulatie si bun simt in timp ce vorbesc nonsalante la telefonul scump, dar pe cartela, iar apoi parcheaza in mijlocul strazii si se asteapta ca toti sa fim "ok" cu asta. Urasc formula "ok" si ma urasc cateodata pe mine ca o folosesc din complezenta. Sunt 2 litere care alaturate denota doar simplitate in gandire si dorinta de a te conforma la o cultura mai subtire decat o coala de A4.

Iubesc faptul ca pot spune ce am spus mai sus fara sa ma simt vinovat. Cred si sustin faptul ca toti avem dreptul sa spargem niste capete din cand in cand. Problema e sa nu devina un hobby.

Unelte noi

Acest blog a pornit initial din dorinta mea de a ma juca cu Nokia N810, dar mai ales cu nevoia mea de a scrie din cand in cand. Desi pe drum am realizat ca acel micut tablet nu este cea mai potrivita unealta pt job, dorinta mea de a scrie ramane neschimbata. Drept care, am decis sa schimb ce nu se potrivea in peisaj. Nokia N810 ramane intr-un sertar, iar Asus Eee Pc 1000H ii ia locul de onoare la masa de scris. Si acum, cu unelte noi, sunt decis sa pornesc la drum din nou. Promit sa fiu mai creativ, mai stupid, mai logic si mai ales mai prezent pe viitor.

Fantasy: Drumul spre varf

Apa se aude trecand peste tabla usilor. Motorul face cel mai mult zgomot, dar 100 de metri mai incolo... liniste. Vegetatia inconjoara stancile care se gasesc in jur, ca o ceata verde care a cuprins tot ce nu e apa. Turez usor motorul. Simt cum cauciucurile musca incet din noroiul din fata, apoi lasa raul in spate. Masina urca usor panta, printre copaci si eu aud cum apa se scurge de pe metal si simt cum calc iarba si tufisurile mai mici cu anvelopele groase.

Ajung mai sus si deja ma trezesc inconjurat de copaci. Technica moderna lucreaza din greu sub mine, impingand o adunatura de fiare mai adanc in inima organica a muntelui. Curand, ma trezesc inconjurat de copaci si de sunetul frunzelor fosnind usor. Deja tunetul apei se aude ca un zumzet undeva in spate, iar lumina care razbate printre frunze este de ajuns cat sa imi aleg drumul cel mai bun.

In fata mea se vede o zona mai lina. Aici opresc masina si ma dau jos, cu aparatul in mana. Opresc motorul si ascult. Liniste. Un miros usor de muschi de copac imi patrunde in nari, si vantul printre ramuri imi gadila auzul. Ma duc putin sa vad de unde am venit. Daca nu s-ar vedea urmele ramase in urma masinii, nu as putea crede ca cineva a trecut pe aici vreodata. Fac repede cateva poze, apoi urechile mele prind un fosnet usor mai departe in padure. Inghet langa un copac si astept. In scurt timp, un iepuras sfios isi face aparitia dintre niste frunze. Alearga putin, se opreste si adulmeca. Eu ridic incet aparatul in dreptul fetei si declansez cateva cadre inainte sa vad o coada care dispare intr-un tufis! Curiozitatea nu ma lasa si verific repede ce am prins. Da, este acolo. Incadrat prost, putin miscat, dar l-am prins!

Ma uit la ceas si ma sui inapoi in masina. Nu e timp de pierdut. Pornesc mai departe printre copaci si merg pana incep sa las padurea in urma. Doar niste copaci razleti se mai vad acum, iarba facand loc trunchiurilor. Dupa cateva ore de noroi, iarba si cateva stanci razlete, brusc in fata mea nu se mai vede decat cerul. Opresc repede si ma dau jos sa investighez. In graba mea, nu mi-am dat seama ca deja eram in varf!

Opresc iar motorul si calc pe stanca dura de sub mine. Ma uit in jur. Se vede doar soarele care incepe va disparea in curand si muntii din jur. Nu se vede nici o casa, iar raul este deja un firicel de apa care brazdeaza muntii si apoi se duce spre campie. Satele se vad in departare ca niste adunaturi de pietricele in jurul firului albastru. Un varf in departare este acoperit si acum de "zapezile vesnice" care rezista chiar si acum, sfidand soarele care a ars pe cer toata ziua. Aici sus, aerul e mai tare iar astrul luminos nu mai are autoritate. Aici nu ajunge decat vantul si frigul. Si acum... eu!

Respir adanc, parca incercand sa iau cu mine tot ce vad. Fac repede niste poze si mai arunc o data privirea in jur sa iau cu mine o imagine mentala cat mai exacta. Apoi ma sui iar pe scaunul moale si pun centura. E timpul sa ma intorc. Maine dimineata trebuie sa fiu la birou.