Hopeful Along The Way

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Hello G-d, hello Margaret, it's me - Neil.

Sometimes I write out my schedule here, what I've done today or lately. Why? I don't know. Am I trying to prove that I do good, that I am good? Am I out to impress? Am I selling an image of myelf? To myself?

Where does time go? Scientists have still not solved the mystery; neither have I. Sigh. Since I wrote the paragraph above I bought some paper goods and toiletries, which involved walking and thinking and breathing.

I posted a poem that a student shared with me today. Under my advisement he changed the "but" in line three to "and." I wonder if the final word "it" might be better as "her." The author wanted to say that it's better to never achieve perfection. I found another meaning in his words; we can't can't possibly become perfect, yet our purpose on earth is to try to journey in the direction of perfection. And though we can't reach it, we need to realize that that the incomplete attempt at perfection is something whole as well, and we should stay hopeful along the way.

For many years I got many ear and throat infections and took antibiotics several times a year. I can't prove it but I believe I'm paying the price now with stomach discomfort that I never had when I was younger. I've been poking around the net on the topic (here, and there), having started here.

With most people is what you see what you get? Are most people layered? Why did I sigh when I typed those two questions?

I found this thirty minute film (available free online); I'm Here, by Spike Jonez to be intriguing, haunting, beautiful, disturbing, thought provoking big time. I'm just saying.

The song that plays before you push play on the website, as well as during a pivotal point in the movie is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever hears. For a while I just left the site open and let the tune loop again and again.

Is "hopeless romantic" an offhanded expression or is there something deep to it?

How much difference can real support and love make? May I answer this one? A lot.

How many people hold back from going to movies during the Omer? How many of those people work on the sefirot of the days, or the way that Torah is nikneit, or learn one of the two masechtot that are 49 blatt, or give any thought at all to the fact that this is - according to the Ramban - one long period of chol ha'moed, sandwiched between the Pesach (providing the first days of yom tov) and Shavuot (providing the last)?

How happy are most people? Was Lincoln right, that people are as happy as they want to be? Do you think he really said that? Do you think Lincoln was happy? Do you think he wanted to be? Do you?

Is there such a thing as souls that are meant to be together as soul mates? No matter what?

Pro Facebook or anti? I'm ambivalent. I apologize to several people who read this blog for not becoming their Facebook friends. I do Facebook my way, and my way is hard to explain. I don't become a Facebook friend with someone I have not met face to face. That rule - one of many - was brought to me by my place of employment's director of educational technology.

Since my mother passed away, four months ago, I haven't linked to any music here. Seems right. Sort of.

"When I was a child, winter didn't feel so cold." - Opening Line of Departures

Do you think that different people bring out different things in different people?

Is what you see what you get? Did I ask that already? Is it reasonable to expect anyone to change? How do you draw the line between changing and getting along?

Is insecurity normal? Is breathing? Is hyperventilating? Is everything a matter of degrees? Is normal just a word for someone you don't know very well yet?

I feel like this is my first quintessential post in a while.

jGood night and G-d blessk

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He wrote, feeling quite alonel

And not quite lonely

h

If you know how to even out the spacing on the haiku, please step forward.