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I figure I’m pretty normal as normal goes. I figure I’m pretty unique too as unique goes. That brings us to zero. Sooo. What I mean to say is that I figure in the great scheme of things, most people are pretty much alike, but we have enough individuality to keep us from boring each other to death.

I spent a lot of evenings late at night with a glass (okay glasses, if you must) of wine thinking about how life would be in New Mexico. And pretty much most of it has come true. We are brimmingly happy here. We love our home, our locale, our new dog and life in general. I’m in a position to do the things I wanted to do. I feel productive. I sigh happily at the end of the day, figuring I’ve used it pretty darn well.

So, my question is this: are you a day planner kinda person or a let the day dictate itself kinda person? Are you scheduled or unscheduled? Are you a list maker or a surprise me human? How do you treat yourself–before, during or after the “should” part of your day?

Are you a routine lover or not?

I am. Routine lover that is. I just automatically start figuring out the order of my day. For instance:

  • I walk every morning M-Sat, at 6:15 am until about 7:10 am. Diego joins me now, and loves it to death.
  • I clean house on Monday and Tuesday following my walk.
  • I swim on Wednesday and Friday at 9:15 until 10:15 am.
  • I grocery shop on Wednesday after my swim.
  • I try to read  a book (I read articles all day long) at least 30 minutes a day in the afternoon.
  • I try to work on some craft at least 4 times a week.
  • I try to meditate for 20 minutes ever day.
  • I try to do yoga stretches about 4 times a week.
  • I do laundry on Thursday and Saturday.
  • I cook five meals a week, have left overs once, and let the Contrarian fend for himself on Sunday.
  • I always attend the 7:30 am Mass on Sunday.
  • We shower at 5:15 pm, and watch the PBS news hour until 6:30 and then Jeopardy.

Does that sound weird to you?

See, it seems normal to me, and well, I have no real way of knowing unless I ask. Or should I remain in the dark, thinking that I’m normal–in other words, let sleeping dogs lie?

The key is, I don’t feel very comfortable enjoying anything until the should list is done. The should part of the above are those things I do as opposed to those things I “try.” Am I anal? Am I in need of “intervention? Am  I crazy, mad, slightly warped, or just a crazy lady of the eccentric persuasion?

And, I’m not sure I care what you think, but I’m asking you anyway. Or better yet, share your own modus operandi for daily life.

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One reason we in the “West” seem to conflict with those in the “East” (think global kids) is our propensity to think that virtually everything good in the world erupted from our part of the world, and was disseminated over time elsewhere. We do have trouble seeing that lots of great things came from other parts of the world, and their worldview, customs and ways of thinking are every bit as “right”, normal and good as our own.

Ales Debeljak has a very good article on the idea of hybridity that you should read, and besides, you can impress your friends with quotes from Eurozine, the magazine it appears in.

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Niall Ferguson is one who thinks the earth would be a worthless place had it not been for the British Empire. He’s been raked over the coals more than once by the intellectual community for being shall we say, less than a heavy weight.

If you hadn’t heard, he wrote a piece for Newsweek which excoriated President Obama. The full weight of the intellectual community is coming down on him for his huge factual errors. Read a good one in the Salon by Alex Pareene.

Dang, I would write more, but it’s time for me to head off to the pool. I can’t be late you know,. . . .said the rabbit as it ducked down the hole. . . .

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