Computer Crashed

My home computer died so, my blog is still active, I am still working on building my readership and improving my writing.

But it may be a few days before I am up and running again

Technology and Children

I have a confession to make I am not a huge gadget guy, I do not yet have an ipod or a phone that has access to the Internet, I still have an old fashioned TV that is not paper thin, and yes I am the only 30 something year old that I know of that does not have a video game system.

I used to play games but I sold my last system, which was a Play Station years ago, and I do want a phone that has Internet access, I will get them at some point.

But what is bothering me is that I see kids all the time with their face buried in some kind of screen. The other day at work a kid not much older then my oldest (2.5 years) was sitting in the cart watching an episode of Thomas the Tank Engine on an IPOD.

It is not just that, I know kids and adults who are so hooked on video games that their marriages are in trouble and they are avoiding some of the real issues in their life, like paying off bills, marriage issues and their children, to go escape into some generally violent fantasy world.

My kids have never seen a video game, I am little proud of that, my kids may watch a little too much Disney channel or PBS kids once in awhile, but generally they playing something else as well.

I don't know maybe it is me, it is possible I am looking forward to getting out in my garden next year and making a little bigger and growing my own food. I will have my kids out there with me, helping, in their own unique way, but I hope to teach them something about sustainability self reliance.

I want enjoy christmas this year

I work retail, this time of year can get a little crazy. Many times I end up hating Christmas, and think it is all about buying stuff for people who don't need anything, and getting very angry because we are out of it.

This year I am really trying to focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Not only Jesus's birth but I want to feel the joy and happiness that it is supposed to bring.

So far I have been doing pretty good, we have plans to go some festivals. And do stuff that takes the retail out of it.

There is along way to go, but I am doing better

Solar Christmas Lights

My wife has been on my case about not putting up Christmas lights, I am not really into decorating all that much, I like to look at other people's lights, but I do not have much interest.

Well my last objection was that I did not want to use any more energy then we already were and lights were not a necessity.

AT work I found solar powered lights. Actually my wife found them and quickly brought them to my attention. Now I have lights, they were 20 dollars a box though and the strands are shorter than your average lights, but some battles are not worth fighting forever.

So one evening this week I will be putting up lights, and even though my goal is to be off the grid, at least these lights won't put me more on the grid.

Wanting to be a minimalist

The thought about being a minimalist is very exciting to me, I want to have very little enough to fit into a backpack sounds intriguing, or at least the stuff I need can fit in a bag.

After checking out the blog www.becomingminimalist.com the idea is even more appealing.

Of course my wife is not there yet, and she may never be, and I am coming to terms with that.
I love my wife and want to stay married, so the wise man always chooses his battles, in this case the battles have be very strategic.

As of right now I have a house and garage full of stuff and we have got rid of at least a pick up load of stuff this year.

I did not realize how much stuff we had until I started going through it.

Satisfied Mind

It sure is easy to find things to complain about:jobs, family members, co workers, the weather, not having the latest thing, what ever it is at the moment.

I have been trying hard to look at all the good things in my life, I have a decent job where I am will liked and in no danger of getting fired or laid off, unless things really bottom out, I have a healthy children and good wife.

A few good friends that would be anywhere I needed them to be.

I am saved by the blood of Jesus Christ so I can live freely, or at least try, and be tied to my some what troubled past.

All in all life is good

Decluttering

Well this is the first thing I really need to focus on. Out house is out of control with junk. I doubt if most it could even fetch a decent price on ebay or a garage sale.

I have to clean up the office area so i can move stuff from the basement to the office, that will take care of the basement and the office, then our bedroom, I don't know where to start.

My wife collects knick knack and has some obesession with pictures and picture frames.

We have boxes of frames with no, pictures it is insane. but I cannot get her to throw anything out.

and clothes, oh my the clothes, we could start our on uses clothes store.

this is all very frustrating.

Do I want to live simply or not

Maybe it is just self doubt taking over and me fear of change but I have been questioning my reasons for living simply and this blog, The blog because I get very few visits, mainly because I am not marketing it in anyway.

Am I living simply because I want to because it fits into my ideals and beliefs or because my career has not gone exactly where I wanted it to go and my income level has stalled for most likely the next few years while my company continues to restructure, that is what they call downsizing.

I do think about how my actions affect the environment and why do I still have so much more than other people not only in the world but even here in the states. is it fair or have worked harder or had better opportunities.

A lot going through my mind these days.

Conscious Living

As I read more about this simple living stuff, I keep reading about conscious living. I really did not understand it.

I was reading Voluntary Simplicity the other day and I think the light finally dawned on me.

I was dealing with child issues the other evening, both were crying for completely unknown reasons, my wife was freaking out for very known reasons, I was stressing as well.

Finally I just allowed myself to take step back realize what I was doing, I was spending time with my kids and trying to comfort them. Maybe I was not succeeding, but the kids knew we were there, and I was helping my wife, I was living.

And one of the problems I have been having is feeling like I am not living and that life is passing me by.

I need to crank it up a notch

I took step away from my blog here while it is in it infancy and decided it is really boring. I have not wrote about my interest in solar cooking and plans on building one in the near future.

Or the other things I am working on so, I need to get more aggressive with my simple living, I hope that makes sense.