zanshin

Haynes manuals for diy car maintenance and some repairs.

Also, if you work somewhere with 401k or 403b start contributing as much as you can while you're young.

I use an app called expense tracker for everything I spend on and also track the income. You can sort by categories and understand area that need work and also simply typing everything into it makes me more accountable and less likely to spend on dumb or impulsive things.

all a house of mirrors dystopian reflection a stone’s throw away

she weeps and a wails but there’s joy on other lakes believeland bouncing

my pirate coffee dreams of ocean patios washed by bitter rain

learning how to walk we trudge toward the horizon geese split gray stone skies

what future for man an ordinary morning February dawn

Try one of these to monitor blood oxygenation as well as heart rate. Wow, price has come down is past couple years too. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00W294IUA/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1454033013&sr=8-3π=SX200_QL40&keywords=pulse+oximeter&dpPl=1&dpID=41TfOua%2Bb5L&ref=plSrch I stayed well in 90s with about 2 min hold (all I could do), then zoomed to 100. If you go into 80s for very long maybe not good for your brain.

Maybe you will help people to slow down and look at the flowers too.

Forge

Lake

Please continue to talk among yourselves, enjoy the mystery.

Keep marching, eyes front that path has been beat to death no dandelions

When you get old enough, you can go out get stinking drunk, and get guys to take you home to your own damn bed, and then leave.

The 14 year old and I had an interesting conversation last night about all the things people should be able to do that aren't necessarily taught in school. First aid, cooking, plan and follow a budget- that sort of thing. What are life skills you think kids should learn?

For Midwest, I'd look to the Amish which seems appealing lifestyle to me- minus the religion and clothes. I guess you'd have to decide how much tech you'd want to use and how religious you'd want it to be. Are we talking community based on philosophical Daoist ideas or is it religious Daoism?

Me too for the bedrooms, but we have Kondo-ed most of our clothes this weekend so I am optimistic. I don't think the others are that unreasonable. 1) No mad mountain man skills but we go camping, fishing, hiking etc. regularly and both kids take Scouts. I feel happy they like these things. I know other parents who do like outdoors and kids don't. J takes jujitsu which never interested me although I do other martial arts. It's his thing. 2) J cooks about once a week picks what he wants to make needing much less supervision. Neither likes to garden with me or try to eat wild plants. 3) not much interest and pretty healthy not sure how to do this one. 4) part of life especially when you have lots of pets 5) they both play an instrument. S has some really creative ideas for art projects and even decorating his room but no props from school art teacher she does more regimented projects. Sort of started thread to think about summer activities since we have more open ended time. So much school stuff seems a waste of time. They both like friends and social aspect of school and seem appalled by idea of home schooling even though there is lot they grumble about too. Probably a topic for another thread.

Also,as thread starter, I don't really mind if it gets side tracked. You all were great enjoyed reading responses.

Sure I am. A game with no teams, it just seems ridiculous to me how people band together in things like X professional sports team fans. No one else seems to be from my planet, and so I am independent and, yes, sovereign.

My son, his neighborhood friend and to lesser extent little brothers built a treehouse 2 years ago. Actually a platform with stilts and one corner in a tree about 5 feet up. They scavenged the lumber from neighbors who ripped out their deck and built it with hand saw, cordless drill with screwdriver bit on it and some long wood screws. I really didn't help much, gave some building advice and made sure the tree didn't get hurt. The friend's teenager brother helped an afternoon or 2. Another neighbor about 14 came to my door and expressed great concern that they were using power tools. I really thought it was a brilliant project because they did it with minimal adult help. It even stayed up a few months. Seems like parents take over kid's projects and games pretty fast and then they expect it.

Now he is, but that was back in college when we were basically kids ourselves. It seemed amazing to me that something like that could happen without screaming and swearing, because I thought that's what people were supposed to do. It is hard as a parent, I feel like I should teach my kids to be responsible and take care of things, but have come to not care so much about material things myself. I don't feel too upset if crap gets lost or broken. The 14 year old went to a pool party at much wealthier friend's house couple weeks ago. When I picked him up I enjoyed his rave about the house without moralizing about materialism, but also realized I truly would not want that fancy house with multiple big screen tvs myself at all. My daydreams tend to be more getting rid of stuff and downsizing to a cottage in the country.

I remember a time a friend dropped another friends expensive camera and broke it years ago. It really made an impression on me how well this guy handled it. He didn't get stressed or angry at all- and he wasn't a trust fund baby or anything. The one who broke it felt terrible. I think it is something to aspire to not to be overly sentimental or attached to possessions.

Snap peas. It would be sweet if I had popcorn out there.

Rain barrel is terrific. One storm and full. Garden is popping now too.