Moments — into the blue

Say what you will about Artificial Intelligence... the algorithms that YouTube uses are really impressive.

A case in point —

One of my sources for news is YouTube — it consists of watching cable news outlets and late night talk show hosts (no judging). As an added bonus the feed also seems to offer up random videos that more often than not catch my interest (as I said, the AI is impressive).

Last night was no exception.

After satisfying my thirst for the local and global "drama" of the day I noticed the musical video "Space Oddity" was waiting. Not only is it one of my favourite songs, I will also say I've always seen it as an anthem for taking on new challenges and stepping into the unknown.

Serendipity became the word of the evening as I thought of some of the things I have on the go.

I'm not able to interpret the genius of Bowie but will tell you his song ignites my imagination about heading into the blue, taking on new challenges, and overcoming any problem that may stand in my way. More importantly, it reminds me that it's important to have a soft place to land because even the most exciting adventures can tire a person out. What that soft place looks like... well... ultimately that is for you to decide.

And as a reminder — those hard landings really hurt.

iamgpe

Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills
and put your helmet on

Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown, 
engines on
Check ignition
and may God's love be with you

Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Liftoff

This is Ground Control
to Major Tom
You've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it's time to leave the capsule
if you dare

This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating
in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today

For here
Am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do

Though I'm past
one hundred thousand miles
I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much
she knows

Ground Control to Major Tom
Your circuit's dead,
there's something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you....

Here am I floating
round my tin can
Far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do.

Moments — over in the blink of an eye

At its very best it would have been a horrific accident resulting in catastrophic injury — and at its worst, well...

The four-day forecast was as follows — twelve degrees Celsius with rain; eleven degrees Celsius with rain; six degrees with sunny periods; two degrees Celsius with rain. In the part of the world where I live the temperature in February should be minus fifteen degrees Celsius on a warm day. Weather as abnormal as this definitely changes your plans about going snowboarding for the day; it instead has you spending an evening with friends (good food, wine, and conversation) and then heading back to the city early the next day (once you've confirmed it's gonna rain some more).

Man-made or not — the weather she is a changin'.

With little traffic on the road I was making good time, and as I came over a rise I lost control of the car — there was a real possibility I was going to spin into the oncoming lane and flip the car into the ditch. I did regain control of the car (as well as my composure) and continued on my way. My only explanation for what happened was I hit a patch of black ice that had formed because of the rain and near freezing temperatures.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

As I drove on (a little slower I might add) I thought of a conversation we had the night before about our plans for the year; as I reflected on the conversation I became just a little melancholy over the lack of imagination on my part. I had been reminded this is all so very fragile, so the least I could do is be a little more imaginative with what I do.

iamgpe

PS: Thank you KW for the hospitality.

Moments — well it's Valentine's Day again...

Just to be clear, this is not about me piling onto the anti-Valentine's Day sentiment that is out there — I believe that love is probably the greatest human pursuit we have going and I support it in all its forms (even if sometimes it's represented by overpriced meals and twenty-five dollar roses).

Pixabay

This is about roses, and not the twenty-five dollar kind — it's here that I ask you to indulge me for a moment.

My experience over the years has me looking at roses by colour because, believe it or not, colour does matter when it comes to roses. I have simplified it in my little boy brain and it goes something like this — a red rose means love, a white rose means worthy of love, and a yellow rose means friendship (or out of love)... so if you are a purest (and put stock in this) you never really want to get a yellow rose unless everyone involved has an understanding of said friendship status.

I have always been partial to the white rose because it's a reminder that we are all worthy of love, and that this great pursuit comes in so many shapes and sizes. I will also say, I've always liked the way the great Louis Armstrong symbolically said it — 

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you

I think this is pretty much all I have to say on the topic of roses... except maybe to also say, "If you are gonna give roses, just give one." 

Symbolically, it's the only way to go!

iamgpe