Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Wandering in the Desert

The "shock and awe" of having survived a rather nasty open-heart surgery earlier this year has pretty much ebbed; as a result, I find myself now somewhat adrift in the doldrums (isn't that a great word?) Acquiring focus or grasping onto anything even moderately interesting eludes me at the present moment... obviously blogging and following my friend's blogs among them. I have a new shot at life, but for the moment, I don't quite know where to aim.

I have avoided browsing my Huffington Post app on the i-Pad and have opted for watching Jeopardy and Seinfeld reruns over the nightly news. The whole of America's strategic long-term planning extends no further than November 2012 - as a result, my predictions for our future are as remarkably easy to predict as they are dismal... and this is regardless of which party snatches the Oval Office. It looks like the NBA players and owners cannot come to an agreement so there will be no basketball season this year. I am completely bored by basketball anyway, so there ya go!

On a lighter note, this last weekend my granddaughter accompanied me to the Portland Humanist Film Festival where my short, The Fairy Scientist, starring my granddaughter Lydia, won an award. During the short Q&A session following acceptance of our award, most of the audience wanted to know if Lydia still believed in fairies. Her answer: she doesn't have enough "proof" yet. She is so bright!

So for the time being I'm just lurking. For those of you who inquired if I was "alright", (Nance, Ohren and others) thank you... Although I will add that I have had my fill lately of doctors and procedures. I am fine.

Regarding the header photo. I tried to find out if this sign was a hoax; I found nothing on Snopes.com or anywhere else so I am guessing it may be legit.

19 comments:

Nance said...

"...my predictions for our future are as remarkably easy to predict as they are dismal... and this is regardless of which party snatches the Oval Office."

My predictions, the same. I never felt stupider or less informed, despite chasing information at an insane clip. We'll just have to write about other things, I s'pose.
Such as...

Congratulations on the success of The Fairy Scientist! That little film and the things you've shared here about Lydia have stuck with me. I picture her now anytime I see or hear the word "fairy." She did that with her wonder and wonderfulness, and you did that with your love and your skill. Gifts to all the rest of us. Much as the blog posts here have been.

Anonymous said...

I am so glad that you are lurking amongst us. I was very close to checking up on you. This doldrums stuff seems to have infected almost every intelligent, progressive minded person that I know. It seems so fruitless to get upset any more. I hope at least some are able to regain some fight soon.
I love that sign, real or not. Even if it's not real, the idea is wonderful.
And congratulations on the award! Very well-deserved. That is an awesome short.

Robert the Skeptic said...

Nance What a sweet thing to say, you made me feel really good! Yes, it was pretty cool to stand up on the stage with Lydia; she was so poised and dignified. I was so proud of her.

But now the spotlight has faded and it's on to finding the next 'thing'.

BackRow I blogged about this a while back: exactly where ARE all the "elitists" and "intellectuals" that Palin and the other Conservatives warned their moron minions about? Perhaps the smartest and most progressive of us have already reconciled with the inevitable?

The short was fun to do.

DJan said...

My sister and I were on iChat yesterday and she said, "Robert hasn't posted in awhile. I hope he's okay." We both discussed you for a bit after I had to ask "Robert Who?" and was reminded about the Skeptic.

Frequency of posts is not what guides me to visit people, but who I've come to know and care about. Glad to see you are coming out of the Doldrums... at least I can hope, right?

Paul said...

Robert try the Turner Classic Movies Channel...Great films ... Lots of enjoyment...:-)

John Myste said...

An event like this can show us how much some things matter, the stereotypical flower in spring, for example; but it can also show us how little other things, matter; Obama's latest statement about the budget, for example.

I completely identify with this, even though the event, whatever it may be, lives in my future, if at all.

Robert the Skeptic said...

DJan Yes, there is always hope. Thanks to you and your sister for thinking of me.

Paul Oh gosh, I have a Netflix that has been sitting there next to my TV unwatched for weeks!!

John Indeed there is always that constant struggle to try and control that which often carries us away. I need to remind myself that I have little influence over that which I have no control, only how I choose to respond to it.

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

Well Robert there may be something to the 'fairies' thing. Yesterday I thought of you several times and looked for a new post. Seeing none, I found myself wondering about you but then I somehow had a "feeling" that you were working on a blog and all was just behind a bit 'cause life does that to us. Glad you posted. Chin up sir! I too have spent several trips to the eye clinic. The vision continues to do it's thing. Each day is different and clarity is never quite there. It is tough to come to terms with knowing it's a slope to the end. Still I think of all the amazing events of the past 65 years!
PS Hope you are being treated for the down feelings.

Robert the Skeptic said...

KleinsteMotte I'm sorry to hear the surgery you went through on your eye did not give you fully restored sight. One of the things about living to this age is that health generally does not improve over time. Something we all must deal with. Glad you stopped by again, though.

stinkypaw said...

Happy to read you back! Congrats on the award - well done! Take care!

Robert the Skeptic said...

StinkyPaw Thank you, I appreciate it very much.

Jayne said...

Robert- So happy you're reporting that you're fine and that your short won and award! Congratulations.

I think, given this economy, many of us have been adrift in the doldrums for some time. That you survived major heart surgery and this economy is remarkable--you're entitled to any doldrum you choose--to any breaks or TV shows you like. Sometimes, it's not really necessary to aim. I'm glad you're just showing up, whenever you please--and with good news at that. ;)

Robert the Skeptic said...

Jayne You are so sweet! Thank you! (big smile)

TravelBug-Susan said...

Hi Bob, Sorry to hear you're in the doldrums. Come over to my blog and get lost in the world of work kamping. LOL.

http://travelbug-susan.blogspot.com/


BTW, we are literally "wandering in the desert"--Fallon, NV, about an hour east of Reno.

Congratulations on "The Fairy Scientist."

Susan & Bob A.

Robert the Skeptic said...

Susan & Bob Thanks for dropping in, virtually no less!. Things are picking up and I am starting to feel more 'normal', whatever that means. Will drop in on your blog.

secret agent woman said...

I think a low period following something that catastrophic is pretty normal. And watching easy-on-the-mind television shows has its purpose. I think it's all part of the healing.

Robert the Skeptic said...

SecretAgent Yes, right not my preferences for most things leans toward "vanilla".

Sonia Marsh/Gutsy Living said...

I remember Lydia's video when you posted it about the fairies. It was so cute. Glad it won and we are all unfocused at times.
Keep well.

Robert the Skeptic said...

Sonia Thanks, Sonia. Sweet of you to think of me.