Thoughts on no thoughts...

So. I've been working on getting closer to that "quiet mind." Purely practical reasons; so I can go to sleep. Secondary reason; trying to get my diastolic down, supposedly because the heart needs to "rest."

So far, the difference between me trying to do it myself, and with "aid" is about 15 points of mercury. Or more. It's pretty dramatic.

But I had a lunch with a friend, and somehow the conversation strayed to the bottle. Specifically, how my consumption has increased from getting through a bottle over years, to nearly a bottle/month. And she gave me this look. Not an angry, or sympathetic, or sorry, or... I don't know. The look in her eyes said that I really need to address this.

To be sure, I have had more than a few very close friends try to steer me away from this "solution." They've been very polite, not trying to force it. Yes, they are all aware of my history. But this was the first time that I noticed a look like this.

I guess I should be looking for other means. Substitute, compliment, find a way to toss the crutch. Whatever. New year's resolution? No. How to set myself up for failure.

But. Working on it. Breathe. Relax. Clear the mind. I can get that far. Then other things intrude. I am a "stream of consciousness"type, so a stray thought leads to another stray thought, then chaos, and I am freaking out. I should be a writer, the thoughts that stray into my head would make a pretty wildly disjointed storyline.

Except all thoughts invariably lead back to what has been tapped, in the interim, as a cause of my frustrations. Maybe I do need a psychologist after all.

Open Letter to the 2013 U.S. Congress

To the Honorable Persons in the 2013 Congress of the United State of America,

I, as a citizen, constituent and taxpayer, understand that we, the People, need to do our part to stabilize the economy and the Federal budget. We, the People, need to go out and spend to get money moving in the system. We need to pay our share of the tax burden. We need to pay our fees. We all need to do our part. Understood.

I, as a former member of the active duty military, also understand the concept of needing that standing uniformed service, that it is not something you can just buy off the shelf when you need it. So that cannot be slashed without repercussions on the international stage.

However, in return, we the People, expect certain things of our elected officials, including minding the general welfare of the citizens of this country. Not only to those that payed to get you into office, but also those that voted. Which I believe should carry considerably more weight.

So. When you go to consider cuts in benefits that we, the working citizenship, have been paying into, how about you go and cut your own benefits accordingly? How about you actually pay into those "for life" benefits programs that you voted for yourselves? When you are stumping to downsize the Executive Branch of the Federal Government, how about downsizing the Congressional Budget by the same percentage? Lead by example, lead from the front. For the "Bible-thumper" crowd, "do unto others." Eat your own fodder. Seems fair, right?

Tie your welfare to the welfare of the People, the mean or the median, your choice. When the People do well, you should do well, too. When the People are suffering, you should suffer, too. As things stand, you feel no pain, you have no skin in the game. Well, your game is to get re-elected. When your constituency is getting reamed, and you're sitting up there, fat and happy, blowing hot air, your next election could be your last. Just saying.

Represent the People. And don't forget your humanity. If we, the People, eat it, so should you.

Thank you.

Signed, Todd Maeda. Citizen of the United States of America.

2013, A New Year

Yeah. A new year. New beginnings. A mid-term "reset" button.

Not quite. But I do have to get myself adjusted. I do know the next few years will be filled with some pretty amazing things. Small steps, large steps, some very happy, some not comfortable at all. But as long as I can keep moving it forward, it will be progress.

So, I will hit the "reset" button on the attitude. Keeping it real, I will probably bounce off the bottom a few times. But if I can keep my head above water, I should survive the year. Maybe even successfully navigate the currents.

Holy crap, that was a lot of clichés...

Well, anyway. I know that I need to replace my portable computer; that is a potential point of change, as I am no longer married to Microsoft, thanks to some decisions made at work. I think I'll just do what I do best. Eat. At some point, I will get back in the saddle with my photography. Center. Reevaluate. Refocus. Move forward.

Have a great 2013, folks. I will try not to fumble mine.