Views of TK

Thanks to Channeling Cupertino for bringing this ode to our attention.

Having recently found the spent remains of a tiny furry being on my livingroom rug, I can only think “Squeek! Squeek! Squeek!”

Remember me?

I’m the quilter? well, I did get the binding and sleeves attached to the one quilt and now I’m about to start doing that hand work and then start on something else, including quilting “shine.” I’m doing a bunch of non-quilt-related things too, so don’t think I’m lounging around eating bon bons, ok?

Always on the job…

The first of a three-part article in the NYTimes reports studies showing that increasing stress levels can have a direct impact on workers’ physical and mental health. Stress can come from both increasing hours and responsiblity as well as from worry about job security and crisis-driven office cultures.

“What we know about stress is that it’s probably even worse than we thought,” Dr. Kiecolt-Glaser said.

Certainly this is something that all of us deal with. If we’re lucky enough to have a job, we worry about losing it. Hard work doesn’t guarantee employment anymore. Then there’s the cycle of immersing oneself so totally in work that there is little time for anything else, thereby eliminating the comfort and refreshment of family and recreation.

Myself I think this goes back to the myth that work is everything. I’m talking about employment here, not the passion that one can find in life. The idea that one’s job (the thing that puts money in your pocket) should occupy one’s whole being is more and more the norm. I’m sticking with my idea — the “day” job that lets me keep everything together so I can be passionate about what I choose.

Should you enjoy your daily employment? That’s certainly preferable and I think it’s possible to do so no matter what the task. If you don’t enjoy it, do find something else. I only mean that your job shouldn’t be your life and that you should not become your job.

Short version: Get a life.

Citius, Altius, Fortius

swifter, higher, stronger

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Back to School!

I wonder about this every time I go into a grocery store or office supply store etc that is offering to give money or credit to schools or teachers in proportion to your own purchase. What happened to the time when school taxes paid for most of the supplies needed in a classroom? Granted, teachers have often pitched back part of their own salaries to pay for things in the classroom, but when I started reading about students needing to supply paper towels or soap….

what to do about this sad state of affairs? Remember this when voting! Participate in your local school board activities, even by attending meetings. Vote for school budgets (or against them). Consider the track records of your state and federal representatives. Ask for particulars about HOW the whole “no child left behind” thing is supposed to work. Vote accordingly.