Day #5 - There's never enough time to do it all but...

Most folks could do with managing their time better but in these early days of the plan being executed it is difficult for me to be THAT organised time wise. I am delighted to say that my sleeping has improved a great deal though, maybe improved a bit too much. I slept another 9 hours straight last night. No dreams that I can really remember but still some feint images come to mind. I can understand, at least to a degree, why Freud attached great importance to dreams but I am more concerned for now anyway, about the REAL reality of "waking life". I mentioned in an earlier post about that piece of paper that I found that had written on it; "A Waking Life". Apparently it is a film. It must have been given to me because I needed to watch it, according to someone. I may well do. The film is produced using the "rotoscope" technique, which basically involves augmenting live footage with an animated style overlay. The same thing that was used in the later production "A Scanner Darkly". I have to admit that I enjoyed that movie quite a bit. Sometimes I feel like that guy in the opening sequence; seized by the itch. That is improving but only gradually.

It was a pretty good day to a large extent but time was just running through my fingers like sand. It made me more than a little anxious as I am without transport at the moment and I have an ingrained habit of marching when I walk. I cannot really stroll, it strikes me as a waste of time. The downside of all of this frantic walking, well, not really frantic, I'd say purposefully is a better description, is that I am getting all manner of pains in my right hip. I guess it's all part of getting old. So many years spent standing up at an old job I had. My ankles are pretty gnarly too. Not to worry - when I think of it I am glad to be alive and getting stuff done.

I cannot claim that today was a very productive day BUT I did get a fair bit done. I managed to eat a decent breakfast, do a few chores around the house, take care of some small bits of business in town - including returning that camera. Redeemed a pledge at the pawn shop; one down - six to go, and then to the University where I am a student, to get myself a decent meal. It was a bit disappointing today but nonetheless - filling. I like cooking but for pure convenience it worked fine. It was after that I went to see some of the lecturers I needed to. I haven't really been on campus a lot this academic year. My Mother hasn't been too well so I am sort of the full-time carer. Not that I mind - I like being able to do her meals and take care of other stuff like taking her to the doctor or shopping or accompany her on HER business. She is, after all my Commander in Chief and I love her more than all the radios, cats, guitars and curries in the whole world.

One of the enjoyable parts of the day was meeting with my final year project supervisor. He is a good sort. I made it a priority upon return from my suspension (5 years!!! - I may well cover THAT debacle at some point in the future - subject to permissions) to communicate to all of the academic staff that I was in contact with that I had some mental health issues. This particular Gentleman is not what I would describe as sympathetic - something I care little for - he was more like; "Fine, so what? You're fine to me!" - I liked him instantly. I was a little concerned that I was interrupting his work but, as usual, he had time for me and, as usual, we ended up talking for a while and, as usual, about a whole smorgasbord of different stuff. It was good. Intelligent conversation always stimulates my mind

I came out of our impromptu meeting feeling positive and optimistic. Maybe I'll get through this college business after all. We discussed the new ideas I had for a final year project. It is possible that I may be able to get this thing "in the bag". Part of my enthusiasm to get the degree out of the way is to have my Mother present for my conferring. She has made so many sacrifices over the years for both my Brother and I that I really want to do this for her. I want to look down from the podium, in my gown, degree in hand and watch her smiling. Nothing could make me happier I reckon.

I walked off campus imagining the taste of a nice cold beer but that is some months away dear reader, there are a few other things to be taken care of first. I went into town to get some parts that I needed for a guitar repair from the local music store and then started thinking about a thing called the Raspberry Pi. If you've not heard of it, it's a small barebones computer of very modest power. Though feature laden it sells for an unbelievably low price. I've wanted one since they arrived on the market. It has all the bells and whistles that I am likely to need. When I say barebones, I MEAN barebones. To the average person it looks like some component of an electronic "machine" but it's all there. It was developed by an educational foundation in the UK. The people behind its' development saw the need for a simple computer to help young people learn about REAL computing and not just the usual fayre of spreadsheets and text editors. It was certainly needed and is a commendable enterprise. You can read about it here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raspberry_Pi

Anyway, I went and ordered one tonight online. I can scarcely afford it but I reckon with what I've saved during the last week from staying out of the pub, self-medicating myself in a way that will only profit Diageo "the game was worth the candle" to use another archaic term. I guess I'm getting older all the time, like the rest of us. All in all, a pretty good day.