The Weekly End

around here…

Late last year we hired a design firm (Aeolidia) to rebrand our little art company and build a new website. I sometimes think that it was a good thing I didn’t know what I was getting myself into at the time.

The experience with Aeolidia has been fantastic, nothing tricky there. What I didn’t realize is how many things would come up in the process that I wanted to redo or rebuild or whatever. And tackling those things has been pretty intense. Especially when you’re trying to do them from half a world away. Yes, we have the internet. But there’s nothing you can do about being 10 time-zones apart.

As the project nears completion (we have 2-3 weeks left, I think), the tasks are mounting like Sylvia Stout’s garbage. And I don’t. like. task lists. I mean, I love lists. I’ve got them for everything. But completing a list? No so much.

I’m a meanderer. Be it thoughts, reads, conversations, vistas, I like interests to lead the way, not deadlines. I’ll accept this necessary nonsense for a time, but I need it to end soon.

So, in a nutshell. Things around here are too busy. Gotta give that the axe.

In other news, I am ASTOUNDED how the Omanis know exactly when it’s going to rain without any weather agency telling them so. They may not know about the planets or that babies grow in a uterus (instead of your stomach), but if they say it’s going to rain you can mark your calendar. Last week, under our eternally clear skies, Brady’s students told him it would rain this weekend. Today, the weather channel caught up with them and declared rain for Sunday. I love it. The rain, and how  ancient wisdom is often smarter than its modern approximation.

Also: Countdown to Operation Desert Desertion = 92 days.

around the web…

There’s been a lot of talk of small and slow around lately. That, or I’m just noticing it more because my own world has been too fast and full. Regardless, here are a few of my faves:

• Small is the New Big (and Big Isn’t Always Bad) by Tsh Oxenreider
• In Celebration of Slow by Emily P. Freeman
• How Multi-Tasking Can Kill Your Relationships  by John Richmond

Here’s a teaser from that last one:

…My wife and I have even tried to implement this practice with our kids. We give them all 5 senses and we ask them to give us all 5 senses whenever we are communicating. It practically means that people have to be in the same room when talking to each other, the screens have to be paused, and eye contact occurs. It has worked wonders…

Also, I love these kinds of stories. 

and close at hand…

• Tazo Ginger Tea
• My few remaining Crunch bars (tear)
• Shawerma & frites (yum)

Sadly, my stateside drinks-and-chocolate stash is thinning. Boooooooo.

And I’m thinking of writing a short series this spring with travel-related musings and resources. Would you read it? What would you want to hear about?