On the road ...

I have always liked this painting by Canadian artist, Steve Walker. The title, I think, is "Sunrise, Sunset", but it has "On the road" written all over it as far as I am concerned. For a few years when I was in transition from the monastery to my new life, I had this as my screensaver. I saw the artist once in Chicago, and I was saddened to hear that he died this past year.

I post the image now because I am getting ready to head to Texas to visit family in a few days and will not be back until sometime in July. I may post something while I am away, but internet access will be a bit limited. Be safe while I am gone, be happy, be free and at ease. I will try to be all those things, too.

PS -- I won't be walking, of course.

Cardinal and the window

For the past few weeks, a beautiful male cardinal has been bashing himself against the kitchen window. He apparently sees his reflection and is trying to drive that other cardinal out of his territory. We have tried a variety of things to stop him, but he is persistent.

This morning I realized how much I can be like that cardinal -- bashing away at things I see in others when the reality is that the thing I dislike in them is just a reflection of myself.

Well, der!

Amen!

It's not making a mistake that will kill me.
It's defending it that does the damage.

Stand up and work

I don't want to complain about the pace of the basement remodel ... okay, that's a lie. So don't ask.

Today on Fab.com (a site I highly recommend for the most amazing things you will never buy), I found this:

 

It may not be obvious at first glance, but this is a treadmill desk. According to the ad,

"Fitting the gym in between work and life can be a real drag. Luckily, this treadmill desk takes that predicament to task and gives you the option to work and walk at the same time. Featuring a whisper-soft motor, the desk includes a sturdy surface that can accommodate a monitor, laptop, or even a printer, and its comfortable armrests provide stability while you read or type. The innovative, height-adjustable MultiTable.com design even counts the number of steps you take and detects the impact of your foot on the treadmill. What are you waiting for? Step on it!"

They also sell desks at which you stand up while working. This is supposed to be good for your metabolism and help avoid some back and neck pains associated with sitting at a desk all day.

When the basement remodel is complete, my work area will not have a treadmill, but it will have a stand-up desk. That was part of the plan from the beginning, because my work at the library involved working at a regular desk and a stand-up counter. I like the variation and Tom designed my office accordingly.

If you are interested in the treadmill desk, look it up at Fab.com or Multitable.com. It costs about $1,500 and weighs 300 pounds. On the other hand it ships free, but you have to do some of the assembly. I would love to hear from anyone who gets one.