Don't Confuse Alone With Lonely

I spent the Christmas holidays by myself, unless of course you count the sporadic visitations of Alex The Cat and I don’t. My wife and son were visiting her cousin in Memphis and unfortunately I couldn’t get time off from work. They tend to not give me time off around the holidays even though I’m the only supervisor in the evenings and those that were on 1st shift jumped on requesting it early. The thing is that when people found out I was going to be alone they began to besiege me with invitations to join them but thankfully, I was able to defer their good intentions. You see, I don’t mind being alone, as a matter of fact I was looking forward to spending some time by myself.

For some reason people tend to confuse alone with lonely. The two are not the same. Time spent by myself is usually that rarest thing where I get to indulge myself. And I did. I stayed up as late as I liked, slept in without being concerned with setting an alarm. I ate pizza on Christmas Eve and Christmas day and since it rained for over two days straight I barely left the house. While I did get two podcasts recorded and ready to go mainly I read or caught up on my Netflix queue. Basically I just did what I wanted when I wanted. I didn’t venture outside until after midnight on Saturday. I finally braved the torrential downpours to get a few groceries and hit Whataburger for some comfort food.

I've said it many times that I'm not a social person not do I care much for celebrating holidays. If it weren't for my wife and son I'd never have a tree up or decorations of any kind around the house. It's just not my thing and there is nothing wrong with that. Not everybody is the same and I feel we should embrace what makes us unique. I'm just trying to be me and stay true to myself. As I get older it seems so clear to me how much unnecessary grief and drama we put ourselves through trying to project an image of what we really are not. Having said that I know that at times I drive my wife crazy with the way I am because she's Peruvian and they are very social people.

So there you have it. I was alone for Christmas and not sad about it. Sure I would have liked to be around my family but since I couldn't be, spending some quality time with myself was a nice option to have.

Written and Published by Don Leach. May not be used without permission from the author.

notmovingpictures Episode 036: Alone Doesn't Mean Lonely

It's the last day of the year and I've been wondering if I'll get this out in time. Once again it's a solo conversation this time about spending the Christmas holidays by myself while I muse on the idea that alone doesn't mean lonely. Then I delve into the latest Star Wars movie The Force Awakens and why all of the whiners and complainers out there are just wrong about it. Is it a perfect movie? No, but then what is? It is a very good movie in my opinion and it had to bridge the old with the new. It does that very well. There were moments that had me.......well, just listen to the podcast and you'll understand.



Opening Music: Alloy - Live To See The Day
Closing Music: Supernova - Chewbacca

Email: notmovingpictures@gmail.com
Twitter: @notmovingpics
Blog: www.notmovingpictures.blogspot.com

Written and Published by Don Leach. May not be used without permission from the author.

Thrown Into A Holiday - New Lyrics

Well I got inspired at work and off of one phrase I ended up with the first draft of a some new lyrics. It shouldn't take a major effort to understand what this one is about although there are a few subtle nods to other things hidden away. I always say creativity spawns creativity and it continues to be true for me. There is still work to be done, especially when I can get someone to start on the music for it but it's not bad for a first draft if I don't say so myself.

          Thrown Into A Holiday

 
False feelings of utter cheer
Turned into commercial sneer
Feel like I’m being thrown into a holiday
It’s just another day
 
Just down the national store
Looks the same no matter where
I go searching in vain but
Question and answer remain the same
 
Strangled throughout by boredom
Originality fades into tedium
Keep the smile plastered on
Gotta make my appearance stun
 
How long can this go on
My gaze only rests upon
A better time
A better place
How long can this go on
Thousand yard stare rests upon
A better time
Out of this space
 
Every year it starts earlier
Every year it goes longer
To voice it is too political
Better to live and yet yearn
 
Plaster on a smile insincere
Make the small talk clear
My hearts does palpitations
At the thought of being shunned
 
I need to be the person I am
False fronts tired old scam
Bring nothing to the table
My story fades into another fable


Written and Published by Don Leach. May not be used without permission from the author.

Birthday Blues? Not Likely Mate.

So today is my birthday. Forty-nine years ago I was foisted upon the world and it's been a trip. The first year we were married my wife threw me a big party attended by my friends, her friends and lots of people from church. About five minutes after I walked in the door I was safely ensconced in the kitchen with a friend or two where I remained for quite some time. The thing is, I'm not much of a party guy, not much of a celebrator. I'd rather do something low key like go to a movie and or hang out with my loved ones and friends. Parties just aren't my thing. Actually celebrating holidays period aren't my thing. When I was single I never decorated for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween or any other occasion.

I don't know why this is I just know it's what I prefer. Of course now that I'm married and have a kid I don't really have a choice. The house is decorated not matter what my preferences are and I get that. I want my son and wife to enjoy life and if that means I have to make repeated trips to the attic to bring down and put back up boxes then so be it. My wife did learn that it's better to just keep everything low key for my birthday and that since I'm not a party guy if she wants one planned for her birthday then she's better off having someone else plan it. It's just not a skill I've mastered nor do I care to. Just tell me what you want me to do and I'll do my best not to cock it up.

Oh, and by the way, I did make it out of the kitchen during that birthday party and actually talked and was sociable to those attending. I appreciated everything my wife did that night for me. I just don't want to go through it again if I can help it. I'm nobody special so it's just another day to me. Perhaps I should have been a Jehovah's Witness. Then I could have a reason for not celebrating (although it's a rather strange one in my opinion) but that's neither here nor there. Hopefully I'll get some rest, have a little cake and go buy something I don't necessarily need but just want. That's my idea of a good birthday
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Written and Published by Don Leach. May not be used without permission from the author.

Where's My Spring Break?

This is shaping up to be one of those days, weeks, years for me. Spring Break has started and all of the kids are out of school for one week. That’s right, they get to enjoy a week of no school. Even if they don’t get to do as much as they want they still don’t have the stress of getting up early and slogging their way through school for a whole week. That’s a good thing. Since it is such a good thing then I have one question. Why don’t adults get this benefit?

Think about it. Who needs the time off more? Kids who got time off in the fall AND about three whole months in the summer or adults who get time off when they can get it approved from their boss? That’s provided of course that they can afford to take time off and actually do something relaxing. What’s the point in taking time off from work only to have your wife decide that since you’re home then you’re available to get all of those chores done that she’s been saving for you? That is not a vacation, believe me I know. Often it’s equal to if not an increase in your stress level.

This phenomenon of adults getting time off actually does occur in some countries. Many European countries not only give you the paid time off but they also have paid holidays. Some even basically shut down so that everyone can take time off from work. One of my previous employers gave us Federal holidays off with pay and if it was your holiday to work you also got a paid day off during the week. I loved that about them. My present employer offers no such thing. Instead sick days, vacation days and holidays are all lumped together and you accrue a certain amount each pay period. The amount you accrue actually is very close between those two companies.

Of course it was even better when I was in the Army. You accrued thirty leave or vacation days a year. All Federal holidays you were off and if they holiday fell on a Thursday or Tuesday the weekday after or before became what is known as a training holiday. Unless of course you had a duty assignment you had to pull. Think of it, every Thanksgiving you had a four day weekend that didn’t affect your vacation time. Theoretically you weren’t supposed to go very far from your duty station so you wouldn’t have any problems reporting back to your next scheduled day of work. That theory of course didn’t stop anyone from doing so. It was a great way to save up vacation time and then cash it in when you get out of the service (like I did).

Unfortunately most of us adults in the U.S. get left out in the cold when it comes to getting break time from work. The mentality here is to work, work, work and then work some more so that you can save up to go on vacation. Unfortunately most people never actually get to take that vacation. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve taken a real vacation while I’ve been with my present employer. I’m sure I could find a bunch of studies that would show how important it is for workers to take time off and get rid of their stress by taking a break but I’m too busy to do that right now. I’ll just look forward to the vacation I will (hopefully) be taking this summer. Three weeks off and you won’t be able to reach me by phone. Sounds like heaven to me.

Written and Published by Don Leach. May not be used without permission from the author.