Open Thread - Friday, February 9, 2018 - Funk the World Edition
I need to be alone. I need to ponder my shame and my despair in seclusion; I need the sunshine and the paving stones of the streets without companions, without conversation, face to face with myself, with only the music of my heart for company.
― Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer
I have been walking around angry and anxious. Between the funked up current state and my own demons, the outlook is cloudy and gray.
The one year anniversary of Sue's death rolled by, my daughter moved away, my daughter turned twenty-five and society is in decline. I have been walking around on auto pilot, skipping workouts, leaving the dishwasher full, dressing out of the clothes basket and living in a funk.
I have a buddy who says I think too much. Discretion keeps me from articulating that I think he does not think enough. The propagandists have convinced large swaths of the population to grant gun huggers and bible thumpers deference. It is funkin' bullshit. If you need a gun to navigate society or weaponized religion, you are part of the problem.
I do not have much to say, mostly because of my funkin' mood. I prefer to listen anyway. Learning is easier with your mouth closed. Off to find that elusive funkin' state of contentment.
Have a great weekend! The funkin' thread is OPEN.
Comments
me and my son would like to have the same
He has the music in his heart, I want to find it. I don't know if we should walk part of the journey together or not. We never do. For some reason, I don't understand. You must have been a great father and a great husband. Now be a great survivor.
It's a funking world out there. Searching for a cave comes to mind. We are all out of our wit.
Walk on. You know the McGhee song.
You get hugs anyway, wanting it or not. I got that order to give you a hug from some Germans who think you are one of the real great men in America.
https://www.euronews.com/live
Thanks Mimi
I am committed to getting out of the cave. I have been going to the tavern, more often, because there are people to talk to.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
oops, then i have said the wrong thing, I am sorry. /nt
https://www.euronews.com/live
Hi Tim
Thanks for Shotgun and Miles.
Hold tight.
[video:https://youtu.be/y8SS4dX3mtI]
Reverse blockage
The song won't play. I have been holding tight, because the ride is bumpy. I still medicate with music.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Good morning, Tim ~~~
You made it through the first, and most difficult, year. Keep on truckin'.
I've been out of circulation. We had a family emergency with my husband's dad and had to go to his state. My husband's siblings have their own ideas about how to care for dad, which includes controlling his checkbook. Hey, we live in another state, have at it, but don't come to me with your hand out when you are making decisions that are not in HIS best interest, but in YOUR best interest. They proved, once and for all, that all they care about is that control. We've been reeling from it all week. These are the times that bring out the worst in people, especially when they have not been taught to work together, only taught to compete with each other. It's a sad situation for dad. For everyone, really.
Have a beautiful day and weekend, folks!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
My younger brother
... was executor of mom's estate. My sister is an aggressive assertive busy body who had been sniffing around and trying to determine what mom had. I knew, because I handled her investments, and my brother handled the day to day finances. When the lawyer asked my brother whether he anticipated any issues settling the will, he told him possible our sister, and if it happened just call me to shut her down. I guess that's how it goes when you have a reputation for no BS. Someone nearby needs power of attorney and healthcare power of attorney, to be an effective care giver. Hopefully, someone with dad's best interest in mind.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Sister has that power
and is using it to her benefit. That's the problem. Dad didn't realize whose hands he was putting his life into. It's a horrible mess. You guys were lucky to be able to work, somewhat, together.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Yep, and a year without inheritance $$
My sister got the house on top. And buyers have appeared. I may have to lawyer-up toget what is willed to me.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
@NCTim Been there. Got the
Been there. Got the most, still bitches that she didn't get a fair share.
Solitude does have its downs
And maybe I am still stuck there. It has me in a current paralysis. I have a four-foot-tall pile of "clean and dried" on the basement floor. I pick operational garb from there. All laundry baskets are occupied, drawers are empty. Too lazy to deal. Yesterday was sleep vignettes. Better than no sleep which happens regularly. Not angered with that, slightly frustrated.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Basket method
I use the basket method. The dryer load goes to the basket and I dress from the basket, so I end up wearing the same stuff all the time. Folding and putting everything away is easy, I just can't motivate to do it. Same with clean dishes from the dishwasher. I have a certain amount of satisfaction because I cleaned the HW floors, navigated the vehicle inspection/registration paradigm (everything at once because they became mine in the weeks after Sue's passing) and decided to change how my retirement savings is invested, because of this week's correction.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Hey Tim,
it's cold, there's bad weather, and it's funkin' Dark out all the time: pile on all the personal and shit gets Rough! I got no answers, but then, you know there aren't any. We muddle through as best we can, wallowing when we have to, celebrating when/what we can, and helping others to help ourselves get by without doing too much damage in the process.
It's Funkin' TOUGH.
THOSE Good Times are gone, new ones will occur, if you can keep yourself open to them
Biking weather will be here soon, Bruddah! If you need to roll through tall redwoods sometime, drop me a line.
Stop These Funkin' Wars
peace
Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .
Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .
If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march
Thanks
Clear blue sky here and warm enough for an afternoon ride (50s). I just may take you up on a ride through the redwoods. It depends how far I make it, this year. I cut off the trip, last September, when snow was approaching and my hands were complaining.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Here's an interesting take on depression...
In his new book "Lost Connections," Johann Hari argues that depression is more than a chemical imbalance: it's an illness rooted in the traumas of adverse childhood experiences and an atomized neoliberal society (video and text)
http://therealnews.com/t2/story:21094:Depression%3A-Not-Just-Personal%2C...
I think nature heals. When I'm in a funk, getting outside and around growing living things helps me to realize what is important and what to value. Your grief, Tim, isn't trivial, and I'm not suggesting you just take a walk and get over it, but I do think in time it will be easier. Nature is a sponge...give it the opportunity of soaking up your sadness.
Wishing you the best!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
I was reading a recent pysch study about depression
It used grief as the baseline, but went on to talk about life events and individuals propensity to depression. The basic hypothesis was that event driven depression's severity is largely dependent on the individual's response. There is capacity to make it better or worse depending on your own actions and thoughts.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
That's the nature of Capitalism.
It alienates us from our labor, from ourselves, and each other. It also requires massive poverty, client-state dictatorships, a massive war machine and so on. Of course, Libertarians, Democrats and Republicans will never get that memo.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTZezOhgLNg]
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
Like a virus
it gets into our blood. We have coursing in our veins the tying of money and wealth being the equivalent of worth, value. What is the name of a system that judges a person in dollars and sense, a system that has forced people to view themselves the same way, and equate that with worth? A system that at times, or for all time, rejects you, renders you helpless, useless. Capitalism has gone beyond an economic theory into the realm of disease. It's killing us.
Good morning, Funkmeister/Biker Tim. :-)
I agree with @TBU. Biker weather will be up your way soon. Your moods sure sound normal to me considering the sources. I have started reducing my political junkie intake. The FRightwingnut/Fascist/FundeXtian regime is just too much stupidity to monitor. I'm afraid it will end in a bloody revolution soon. This country is already drowning in firearms!
On a positive note: Thanks (SOP) for the great playlist!! Music always raises my spirits!
Please always know we have your back, Tim. Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Hola OBF
Thanks, have a good one!
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Hola, Tim! Un poco de change up, because porque no
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Heh
Cool tunes! Thanks!
The Panamericans two discs are both excellent. Anything with Joao Erbetta is excellent.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Excelente! Thanks mucho. Somewhere I have a note to
myself that is simply Erbatta's name to remind me to get a bunch of his stuff, gotta act on it one of these days.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
most of
the Americans aren't interested in guns. Most of those who are, have a serious Sickness.
Got that right
Only four days of funkin' Mardi Gras left
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Good listening
Funkin-A
Come on up the hill and visit; would love to see you!
Another thoughtful OT
Reading it a day late. Always good for introspection. Wishing you all well.
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Late and backwards
Pretty sure it was Mark Twain who advised reading newspapers only after they'd aged for a week, and then start on the last page and move to the front.