Done yesterday (20091205 Sa)

[mdlbear]

1205 Sa
  * up 7:30; W=200; drugs, nose, teeth; coffee; dishes
  : Liam Clancy's dead.  The whole group, now.  Damn.
  % aha: "Don't Swear at Machinery"??  But machinery's _safe_ to swear at; it
    lets off tension and diffuses anger.  Swearing at _people_ is _dangerous_
    (N points out that this depends on whether venting anger works for you, or
     just wastes spoons.  But if it does help, it's still safer to be angry at
     machines, because they won't escalate the situation.)
  @ Role Models for Introverts
  * put Tux charm on the little USB drive.
  & Good conversation with the YD on the way to class.
    She's "ok" with modeling (doesn't like the teacher); loves acting & life.
    => said I'd get her in touch with some of the local wiccans I know
  * 1:55 Called Callie, Al.  Both went to voice mail.
  * 12:45 YD's class.  Leave at 12:25
  * out shopping with the Cat.  B&N, TJ's, Whole Paycheck, Office Max
    ! fun; nice not to have to walk slowly for a change.  Got my walking in.
    * buy sleepytime+ tea , emergen-C (both at Whole Paycheck)
    * buy Celestial Seasonings sleepytime extra tea
  & take-out Greek.  Yum, but no retsina in the house. :(
  * Call-back from Al.
  * laundry
  % aha: if social interaction is anything like a language (either programming
    or human), the only way to learn it is to get a lot of practice. 
  * Bed ~midnight

A good day, even though it started out with the news that Liam Clancy had died. But I had a rare, good conversation with the YD on the way to her modeling class, and a great afternoon out shopping with Colleen. I got my exercise trying to walk fast enough to keep up with her scooter -- it's wonderfully different from the years when I had to slow down to stay with her.

A couple of good insights: Graham Leathers' song "Don't Swear at Machinery" is completely wrong for me. Swearing at machinery is safe -- it lets off steam, and lets me redirect the anger into an intense need to find the problem and fix it. (N pointed out that this isn't universally true; venting anger uses up spoons for her.) I usually find it counterproductive to vent anger at people; it could even be dangerous. (Although carefully-controlled anger can be useful at times.)

The other was noticing that, if social interaction is anything like a language (either programming or human), the only way to learn it is to get a lot of practice. Which, because I'm introverted and shy, I don't. It's another feedback loop: I feel awkward around people, so I avoid them, so I don't get the practice I need that would make me less awkward. :P

As for links, ysabetwordsmith posted about Role Models for Introverts. I'm finding her posts about loneliness and introversion very helpful.

(added 10:52) After noticing that Colleen was going through Amazon and Mobipocket looking for ebooks, I introduced her to Project Gutenberg". Happy Cat. *grins*

Comments

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Note that manybooks.net has the Project Gutenberg books, but more nicely formatted--including unsecured Mobipocket, if that is her flavor of choice (Kindles can use it).

[septemberlilac.livejournal.com]

If I didn't swear at machinery, things would get heaved out a second-story window. Swearing at it is much, much safer for me, the machine *and* hapless passersby on the sidewalk below.

Swearing at machinery

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

It does take a lot to get me to swear at machinery, but it would certainly be better for me than to vent my spleen on living creatures who happen to be nearby (wife Louie, stepson James, any of Louie's and my three wonderful cats or James' cats) and as far as it focusing my energies -- that's well worth thinking about. Note, though: I don't have to agree with a song's message to like the song. There was an example by the Indigo Girls that popped into my head, but I can't recall the title and it doesn't really matter anyway.

Nate

Re: Swearing at machinery

[mdlbear]

True enough, and I like the song a lot.