The marks of civilization

I've been watching a lot of Downton Abbey lately, so I'm feeling rather snooty. I'm always affected in some way by the things I watch or read that I get really into. As a result of watching that show and of traveling out of Portland for the holidays, I've come to realize that there are certain signs that help me recognize when I'm in a civilized (or less civilized) place.

In Downton Abbey the marks of civilization include running water, electricity, and a telephone (or two, if you're really rich). Some of the characters also define civilized as having enough footmen to serve dinner without bringing the maids into the dining room and having spare valets available for overnight guests.

I am not content with running water, electricity and a phone. Those things are important, of course, but I take them entirely for granted and assume that even uncivilized places have those things. And I don't care two figs for having a bunch of servants. (To tell the truth, I would be made uncomfortable by the idea that someone else was to help dress me and serve me dinner, as Matthew was when he first came to Downton.) Even so, what I consider to be the marks of civilization are still heavily influenced by my socio-economic class and the customs in my particular geographic location.

The Marks of Civilization, According to Sione:

Random thoughts (12/11/12)

Random thought #1
I believe that everything happens for a reason.

Which is another way of saying that I am (more or less) the sum of my experiences.

Which is another way of saying that the present moment is the direct result of every previous moment.

Which is another way of saying that I believe that there is something to be aware of and to learn from in any situation.

I'm usually pretty successful at deriving one or more lessons from an event in my life, but every so often something will happen that causes me to ask, "But what does it mean?" (Yes, in this respect I may resemble the double rainbow guy a little bit.)

Lately I've been reflecting on those things that happen that seem to be going somewhere but then don't and then I'm like, "Okay, what was the point of that?"

The day does not care what day it is, Part II

The day does not care
what day it is. It's Friday;
the rain has stopped.
Stepping outside
I am greeted by sunshine and
warm air: a world washed new.
"Come out and play!" says this day.

Yesterday I was tired
in body and spirit,
so I rested. Today the day
beckons: Come out and play!
My body, breathing deeply,
pupils dilating, says,
"Yes! I want to work.
Sweat. Breathe the air and
clean the tar from my lungs.
Hear the breeze whisper
through the tree-tops."
So I go.

On top of Mount Tabor
all covered with trees
a man with a
baby in a backpack
has stopped, pointing
toward the city skyline,
head turned over shoulder.
"Look," he says to the baby. "See."
He wants to share the world with her.
His daughter is so little I think
she can't possibly understand
or focus or answer.
But as I pass he says,
"Isn't it pretty?" and
she acknowledges
the beauty with 
something approaching words.

DigiBakeDay prep

Tomorrow's #digibakeday! For the many of you out there who have no idea what I'm talking about, lemme break it down for you: some of the participants from DigiWriMo were sad about the idea of the community just dissipating after November 30th, so Lonni Wilson (@lonniwilson on Twitter) decided to organize DigiBakeDay to keep the community going and to share holiday baking traditions with each other.

Some of last year's cookies

I can't say that I'm very good at keeping traditions, but for a few years in a row when I was younger, my mom and I did bake sour cream holiday cookies together and then decorate them. I liked that, so I baked some cookies last year and invited some people over to help me decorate. Just a small group. It was fun. We had some - ahem - "creative" folks among us (read: cookies decorated like penises and vaginas), but they're my friends for a reason so....

And it just so happened that when Lonni proposed DigiBakeDay, I had already planned to have people over for cookie decorating again this year. More people, actually, since I made many new friends this year. (Huh. It's funny; I hadn't even thought of that before this moment, but it's true. As a result of taking a creative non-fiction writing class in the spring, I'm hooked into a whole community of wonderful, creative, smart, hilarious people. Who of course think I'm hilarious.) I'd set a date and everything. And it just so happened that the date I'd picked was also chosen to be DigiBakeDay. How convenient!

Which is all leading up to this moment: The Recipe.