MOOC – if you look it up in google you will see that it stands for massively open online course. Amazingly a few clicks of the mouse take you to a whole online world offering opportunities for studies ranging from writing to psychology or all the science you could ever want. Oh yes – and it is free.
So much for the quantity of what is on offer, but what about the quality? Has anyone any experience or interest? I am looking for some new interests to fill the dark, dank, wintry Dalamory days.
Misty is on pheasant watch.
When I was very young I used to get so worked up over films or TV that I almost freaked out. It started with Bambi, yes the Disney cartoon. When baby Bambi was separated from his mother and orphaned in a fire I caused such a fuss that I had to be taken out of the cinema. As a teenager I had a hard time over War of the Worlds and the Quatermass Experiment. As far as I remember I actually fainted at the latter and then proceeded to throw up. I suspect that I have too literal a frame of mind and am inclined to have difficulty in separating fact from fiction. I also used to hide behind a cushion regularly at Doctor Who. And as far as I know, nobody takes Doctor Who seriously.
The reason all this comes to mind is that I have some of my boxed set of NCIS marked according to whether I can watch it or not. Yes, even after half a dozen times of watching a scary episode. And even though I know there is a satisfactory conclusion I have to resort to leaving the room and asking HBTW to recount the story afterwards.
It seems that immersion therapy doesn’t work for me – I shall just have to stick to my own health warnings. Anyone else find films too scary?
This is the time of year to order the next edition of Sacred Space – The Jesuit Prayer Book. They issue a new edition each year with an entry for everyday which includes a meditation, Bible reading and notes. It runs from the first day of Advent each year.
It is one book I can recommend before I even see it. A well tried format that works for me. In the 2013 version today’s meditation, for example asks the reader to think about whether there can be any communication between the living and those who have died. Yesterday, the reading was the beautiful part of Matthew’s gospel where Jesus says, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.”
That is a wonderful thought in these times when there are wars, insurgencies, violence and all manner of dreadful things happening.
All Souls day, as my Episcopalian friends tell me, is celebrated today. The souls of those who have died are remembered. Being a lifelong Presbyterian I used to be wary of praying for the deceased – it seemed somehow to be akin to ancestor worship. As the years have gone by I have been less concerned about what others might think of me. Thus I allow my thoughts and feelings full rein. It is a huge comfort to be able to pray for loved ones who have passed on.
Throughout my life I have felt a strong attachment to my Scots granny; she was just like a gran should be, always ready to give me attention and always supportive. (Even though she lived 400 miles away from me.) I try to be like her for my own grandies, and I try to use some of her wise old sayings and keep them alive for future generations. It is sad that Presbies have been denied the comfort of All Souls……. so I institute it herein for my Gran Thomson. (She would probably have been horrified, then she would remember it is me praying for her and she would be ok!)
I have been enjoying using spotify to listen to some new music. First of all find a young person – probably one plugged into earphones and an ipod – and find out what music they like. Then, listen to some tracks from their favourite artists. It soon becomes clear that the same themes emerge as were on the go some fifty-odd years ago:
So there you are – what goes around comes around, and in the main people are still seeking out one another to make life better. What music do you like? And by the way, it is a very well worthwhile exercise to get tuned into the worlds of music going round in the grandies’ heads.
Because he’s still got it…….
It used to be that I managed a visit to the dentist very well. Today was not so great; indeed the last two visits each involving enormous injections to the back molars were rather traumatic. On one occasion I felt a rush of blood to my head followed by fast thumping of my heart and a ringing in the ears. Said dentist admitted that he must have injected straight into a blood vessel, thus causing a release of adrenalin.
So I thought today would be different, after all the filling was on the other side of my mouth. It turned out to be another back molar – this time the injection sprayed onto my tongue and into the air as well as reaching deep into my jaw. Sorry about the graphic details………. it’s just that I cannot believe that I am losing the plot when it comes to keeping cool and in control whilst having necessary repairs to my rather elderly teeth.
OK I admit it – I squeaked – just a little and tried to get on with breathing techniques, (for some reason – probably fear – all my prayer routines fled.) After the drilling, the banging and the water swirling round I was assaulted with the clampy-thing they use to put the filling in place…… then came the gluey injector, followed by the light stick and eventually the blue paper, the grinding the teeth back and forth and yet more drilling.
I do hope I don’t have to go back for another six months. Excuse the lurid details and do laugh rather than cry and don’t take it all too seriously. At least this post has helped me to feel better.
It’s funny how enjoyable a Day Off can be even when one is no longer in paid employment. A good trip out to visit a friend who provided an excellent lunch. Time to catch up then home to a lazy evening.
Inside 19-9C
Outside 4.7C
Pressure 1011.3
Rain 0
And those are only the readings I understood.
A new blog on the scene is one called Mo Dhachaid hhttp://modhachaidh.wordpress.com/
When I lived in the Outer Hebrides I learnt some Gaelic, though it was always difficult to get people to help me with local conversation; they were too polite to speak when someone present did not understand. So I never got past the beginner’s stage. If you have a look at Liz’s blog you will see the meaning of her croft’s name. One useful bit of Gaelic I learnt was when being bothered by one of the roaming collie dogs – Go dhachaid – preferably in a firm tone broaching no argument, simply meant Go home!
I’ve enjoyed being at home today – staying inside and out of the rain, but happily employed in suitable activities for my Day Off. In other words – not very much.
