A Full Dance Card and Quality Time

[tcpip]

The past several days have been a rolling series of social events. Working backward, Anthony L., and Robin M., invited me to dinner where good matters of the Wild Geese Flying project were discussed with a decision to visit Western Australia in the very near future. Big engineering projects take time and a lot of caution: "There are no prima donnas in engineering", as Dyson quipped. Prior to that, I spend a good portion of the day in the company of Erica H., at the Collingwood Children's Farm because we're big kids at heart, we love animals, and the natural surroundings are beautiful. It was part of her birthday celebrations which included dinner the night before with faux canard with plum sauce and Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte. Gentlemen (and ladies), this is how you treat your former partners (or in this case, partner twice removed); with respect, and kindness, and always remember the love you shared. The world might just become a better and easier place with it. Earlier that day caught up with the lovely Mel S., and we went on an opportunity-shop run, which is really just an opportunity for exploration and conversation. The day prior to that was in the company of Louisa G. at her salon, whereupon she weaved her magic, both in helpful conversation and with scissors, and provided me a modern haircut (twice in twelve months, what's going on here?). I must also make note of a quality evening prior with an anonymous friend who provided some significant insight into a psychodramatic history.

Yesterday also witnessed me top the Diamond League in Duolingo (I think this is the fourthfifth time?) with an afternoon spent studying French, Chinese, Spanish, Esperanto, and German. Despite minimal opportunities to make use of such languages in recent years, I do have a hankering to go on a proper holiday that lasts for more than a few days, and whilst a European (or China) visit is obviously some time off yet, the opportunity to keep one's linguistic knowledge up-to-date is not to be rejected. It is time well spent, if one has the genuine intent to make practical use of it, and that applies to all pastimes, studies, and, to the extent that one can choose, even employment. Even social time (such as the above) should be kept with such mindfulness, even as should relaxation. The stresses of life can demand that "time-off" is required, and there is such a thing as effective and ineffective relaxation (writing rates highly, apparently). The question concerning time-wasting versus quality time reminds me of the the debate between the technologically advanced dystopias of Orwell's "1984" and Huxley's "Brave New World", which has weighed heavily on my mind of late. The former does seem appropriate for authoritarian regimes, the insidious latter applies to those with nominal freedom. So much of personal life, social life, relationships, consumption, etc is dominated by things that just don't matter. Bringing quality time into activities that do not innately have these characteristics, I guess is a real skill of human relationships.

Comments

[catsidhe]

Duolingo says it's the fifth time you've topped Diamond.

[tcpip]

Yes, I noticed that today - I'll make the change!

[garote]

Come ride a bicycle across a country with me! Good excuse to use a language :)

[tcpip]

That does sound like a fine idea. Which country? Luxembourg? :D

[garote]

How about Andorra? Take the train most of the way there, pack light for hill climbing, ride a few miles each day from one cafe to the next, reading books and writing...

[tcpip]

I like the way you think. That is certainly my thing.

I remember once I considered doing Le Tour de France... and taking a year to do it.

[garote]

I had a feeling it would be. Here's an example of how I rolled through Iceland. A lot of the time it really was café-to-café. :D I suspect it would be difficult getting our schedules to coincide though...