Two New Skinsuits for a Possible Icy Day

Yesterday was a fun day at the shop. Not because we had a lot of customers - but because I got two packages delivered. One was sweaters and shirts which I need to unpack and try on later today, and one was from Swim Outlet with two new, smaller, skin suits for my times in the pool. I love the two skinsuits I have, but they're getting too baggy and stretched out. Partly that's because the fabric will stretch out a bit over time, and partly that's because I'm at my low weights right now. Either way, skin suits should fit snugly, so while they were holding an excellent sale, I bought two new ones, this time in a size Small instead of a size Medium. I'm wearing one today and yes, it's much more snug, but it fits. I'll have to see how it behaves in the water, but it'll be nice to have smaller suits. 

Today's new skin suit is this one - 
the sea turtle pattern. It fits like 
a glove, and that's exactly the way 
it's supposed to fit. I'll have to see 
how it feels in the water, but I'm 
cautiously optimistic. 

Chickie has been re-doing my store's website so that we can have something current. Our website host went out of business during Covid, and I've been unable to update it since then. I at least need some basics out there, so we're working on getting something uploaded in a different format with a different host. The basic structure is fine, but there are definitely some changes I'll have to make. Maybe I'll have a chance to edit today, but I'm not counting on it because ... 

The other new skin suit I got is 
this pattern - the Tiger Shark. Although I 
think I like my blue ones better, I didn't 
want to be mixing up my sizes on days 
when I was sleep deprived, and both of 
the suits were 50% off, so a total win/win. 

Today is a "day off" and it's a busy one. We're not expecting any snow today, but the roadways and sidewalks might be icy because of freeze/melt/freeze cycles over the last 24 hours. I'll have to be cautious walking into the gym and the grocery stores. I have my ice studs for my boots if necessary, but I'm hoping I won't need to bother. I purposely park in a part of the YMCA parking lot that has no hills, so it's a straight shot in and out of the entryway for me. For years I parked next to Rosemary on the southern side which is down a slight hill, and I absolutely hated that walk in the winter because it could be slippery. I changed when I returned to the YMCA after Covid, and I'm more confident walking back and forth from my car now. But I also keep a set of spikes in my car for those times when they're needed. 

So, I'm off to start a very busy day. I hope you have a wonderful one and I plan on being back tomorrow having accomplished a lot on my "to do" list today. As always, be kind, and Slava Ukraini. 

Caution (Ice Ahead) and Thoughts of Communication, Rhetoric and Dogma

Today is supposed to be icy - a road condition that I'm not fond of at all. Minion is excellent on ice, but it's not myself I worry about as much as other people. Although we do have experience with snow and ice here in the Frozen Northlands, the ice portion has never been one of my favorite weather conditions. Caution will be my code word for the day. 

Ice is my least favorite condition of winter (unless 
I'm on ice skates). I really don't like driving on icy 
roads, but today may not give me any choices. 

Have you found times in your life when caution was called for? Most of the time, in my own life, I exercise caution when dealing with other people. I enjoy people, and love to exchange conversations and observations, but I'm not always good at picking up cues from my listeners. I probably am, (or possibly am), perceived quite differently than I perceive myself. A person can love dogs, but still be a bit put off by a drooling, over-affectionate St Bernard. I'm probably a bit closer to a Whippet, but I'm sure you know what I mean. 

Conversations are interactions between people, but their 
individual perceptions of that conversation can differ and 
change, even from word to word. As people, we are 
raised to pick up on conversational cues - verbal and 
physical. All of those cues melt into the conversation 
to enrich it and clarify it. 

The difficulty in interacting with other people is your understanding of their perception of you. It's not that your friendship or viewpoints are unwelcome, it's that you are inserting that viewpoint into their own personal bubble. Your viewpoint may make cracks or lasting holes in their personal space. In other words, you may, intentionally or unintentionally, shake their world up a bit, change a perspective, or insert an idea that will grow like a weed, overtaking some of their carefully pruned thoughts. 

Just like weeds can take over a flower bed, ideas 
 can plant roots that may take over ideas that 
had previously been foundational. Ideas and the 
freedom of speech can be incendiary. 

It's no wonder we end up with conflict. Communication, although we practice it daily in many interactions, is really not a strong point for most of us. Often, when it comes to larger groups of people, communication is put aside and rhetoric takes its place. Rhetoric, although some people will still use the word as "communication" really isn't. Communication requires clarity and the ability to both listen and speak. Rhetoric demands a strict framework for that communication which entails the speaker with the right to ignore negative response to his "words of wisdom". Rhetoric leads to feelings of omnipotence which can lead to conflict and war, and rhetoric can lead to dogma. 

Rhetoric, what politicians often dish out, can be 
merely boring, or actually dangerous. Rhetoric can 
be learned and passed on, sometimes becoming 
dogma.  

So, as we live in a world with ever increasing communication, we also live in a world with more and more mis-communication - rhetoric, dogma, and perception/perspective. How will you be perceived today? Will you be an open, caring person who truly listens? Or will you filter the words that others speak to you through a screen of rhetoric or dogma? The choice is yours. Have an excellent Tuesday and I'll be back tomorrow. Peace and love to all.