1. Coming out of a long period of lethargy, depression, and illness that hit me hard as soon as I got home. I've heard from several friends that they've suffered similar bouts recently, so apparently the Other Side is making some moves. In any case, I'm feeling a good deal better, have been to Confession, … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mostly James II
Depression
The Invisible Fire
Part of the process of building the Brooklyn Bridge (as with other, similar structures) involved sinking pressurized caissons made of reinforced timber into the East River so that workers could dig the foundations into the river bottom. The caissons go to the bottom, are pressurized to the level of the surrounding water to keep them … Continue reading The Invisible Fire
Friday Flotsam: Mental Health and Recent Reading
1. It’s been a rough week; at work we had one support person out on vacation and another got fired. Which meant it was just me and one other person on the phones. Working the phones is not at all my skill set. The long and the short is that I ended up with a … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mental Health and Recent Reading
Friday Flotsam: Anxiety Attacks and Some Better Things
1. Suffered some major depression / anxiety attacks this week, amounting to pretty much a full break down. Been a while since I've had one of those. If you've never had a real anxiety attack, it is like your brain is short circuiting. As you approach the anxious thought / apparently unsolvable problem, your emotions … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Anxiety Attacks and Some Better Things
Friday Flotsam: Everyman, Top Gun, Bofuri, and Sabaton
1. First off, my latest piece is up on The Everyman, where I talk about how the world doesn't change (and slip in a little plug for Gentleman Instructed): Again and again, it was the same pattern, and rarely did I find a point that had been genuinely left behind since the 18th century (e.g. … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Everyman, Top Gun, Bofuri, and Sabaton
Friday Flotsam: Half-Heartedly Talking of a Good Book and Couple Charming Films.
1. Happy Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and I'm afraid I have nothing much to say about it. Besides the obvious: "Behold the Lamb of God. Behold Him Who taketh away the sins of the world." 2. I've been oddly out of it this week, to the point that I forgot I even … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Half-Heartedly Talking of a Good Book and Couple Charming Films.
Friday Flotsam: Grumpy Talk Mostly of Manners and Values
1. I've been oddly tired this week; it's been hard for me to make myself do any work or focus on anything. I don't know whether it's depression, low blood-sugar (I'm fasting for Advent), adverse spiritual influence, or some combo. Probably a combo. 2. There are ways to reach superficially similar effects through morally opposite … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Grumpy Talk Mostly of Manners and Values
Friday Flotsam: Vita Nuova, Psych Matters, Rule of Life, and Killer Shrews
1. So incipit vita nuova. Of course it hasn't really begun; I don't start until Monday. But one phase is definitely over. 2. Today was mostly spent finishing up the transfer of files from my old computer to the new one. I'm trying to clear as many old projects or 'things that need to be … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Vita Nuova, Psych Matters, Rule of Life, and Killer Shrews
Friday Flotsam: Depression, Introspection, and History
1. Last weekend I had one of, if not the worst depressive episode I’ve every experienced, amounting to a full breakdown. I was pretty much riding on the aftershocks for most of the week, hence the lack of postings. 2. My depression doesn’t usually amount to feeling bad about myself; it’s more of feeling intense … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Depression, Introspection, and History
An Inspiring (?) Song
Sometimes, when you're feeling down, a rollicking, inspirational musical number can give you a much needed injection of spirit, telling you that you can do anything. And sometimes...well, sometimes you just want to push as hard as you can in the opposite direction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29Z9Zr2RC8U Or maybe that's just me, but I think the song is … Continue reading An Inspiring (?) Song
Serpent's Den 