This is how we chill from 93' til...
I had lunch today with the beautiful and amazing Lady McM today, sort of randomly, because today was the great Uptown yard sale. I was going for a run to test out the new Nano (love it, but I have delicate, little ears, and I need smaller 'phones) and ran past the abode of McM and McM. Lady McM was holding the fort down while salers cruised the blocks. I promised to drop by after my run and bring over some items I hoped to get rid of, but the run was an hour long and by the time I'd showered and made my way back to her abode, it was noon. Noon is basically when the Rapture happens to yard sale items...all the good stuff is gone, and everyone is looking around at what was left behind thinking "Well, now what?"
So Lady McM and I decided the thing to do was to take the yard sale leftovers to the Salvation Army, and get something to eat. Which we did. And there was much rejoicing (yay). And around 2 pm, after a great meal, awesome conversation, and just enjoying the sociable afterglow of a productive, hard-working morning, we parted ways and I came back to my place to nap and relax a bit before heading to a party tonight at 5:30. After the party, I planned to go to Upland to see some other friends.
Except its 5:35 pm and I'm not at the party. I just could not get myself up and at- 'em this afternoon. Maybe its my leaden legs, sufficiently battered and beat from this morning's hill run, or its just the ease of life that happens when I sit inside my great little apartment, listening to music, and blogging. A steaming cup of Roastaroma tea, a cold glass of water, somewhat chilly bare feet, the sun disappearing quickly leaving a darkening atmosphere outside. It's cozy and relaxing. A 60-watt bulb glows in a lamp over in that corner. I'm totally chilling out.
One of the thing we talked about today was the joy of being alone. Not alone in life - it is truly the most wonderful thing that us humans are by nature sociable and community-oriented - but spending time with the company of ones-self. While Lady McM and I both adore spending time with friends and loved ones, it was clear we were both really excited at the prospect of an afternoon alone at home, doing nothing but productive relaxation. And really, all relaxation is productive as long as it makes one truly relaxed. Life is stressful enough, and often it is other people that cause that stress. The importance of solitude cannot be emphasized enough.
I think to some extent, everyone likes being alone. But I think it takes a certain person to totally revel in the indulgence of solitude. The kind of person who changes from pajamas to day clothes, only to curl back up in bed and read a book or watch a movie. The kind of person who adds "take a bubble bath" to their to-do list. The kind of person who will bake an entire cake - fresh icing and all - for no purpose at all. The kind of person who loves going to a restaurant and asking for a table for one; the kind of person who buys one plane ticket and books one hotel room on a vacation made for one. These people have pets, kids, partners, and/or busy jobs full of bustling and noise. And they completely and totally enjoy NOT having any of that stuff around for a while. Oddly, perhaps, they have a freakishly large music collections, usually (cough cough...you know ya'll do...) Maybe we all just find escape in music? And movies...if you love being alone, you probably have a Netflix subscription.
I think the reason I appreciate solitude is because I also love being around other people. So now its like, 6 pm, and I'm going to stretch my sore muscles, fix up my hair, and head up to some old stomping grounds to have dinner with some lovely people. Because nothing makes you appreciate your friends more than after you've spent a highly indulgent, relaxing, chilling Saturday afternoon home alone.
Post script for no reason at all: Hip hop is a music genre I think I go in cycles with. Some months can go by and I neglect it altogether, and then I'll have something spark inside my brain, and it becomes basically all I want to listen to. My hip-hop collection is weird, eclectic, and downright nerdy. I've actually made various mix-tape (and now, mix-CD and mix-podlists) I call the Nerdrap Volumes. I think I mentioned Dr. Octagon below, and today it's Blackalicious, Souls of Mischief, J5, and Slick Rick. And it is all really good. Head-bobbing, eyes-closing, feet-tapping good. It's smooth like butterscotch syrup on ice cream. Like a skin-dive in a perfect clear pool. Like dancing alone in your apartment on a solitary Saturday afternoon.
So Lady McM and I decided the thing to do was to take the yard sale leftovers to the Salvation Army, and get something to eat. Which we did. And there was much rejoicing (yay). And around 2 pm, after a great meal, awesome conversation, and just enjoying the sociable afterglow of a productive, hard-working morning, we parted ways and I came back to my place to nap and relax a bit before heading to a party tonight at 5:30. After the party, I planned to go to Upland to see some other friends.
Except its 5:35 pm and I'm not at the party. I just could not get myself up and at- 'em this afternoon. Maybe its my leaden legs, sufficiently battered and beat from this morning's hill run, or its just the ease of life that happens when I sit inside my great little apartment, listening to music, and blogging. A steaming cup of Roastaroma tea, a cold glass of water, somewhat chilly bare feet, the sun disappearing quickly leaving a darkening atmosphere outside. It's cozy and relaxing. A 60-watt bulb glows in a lamp over in that corner. I'm totally chilling out.
One of the thing we talked about today was the joy of being alone. Not alone in life - it is truly the most wonderful thing that us humans are by nature sociable and community-oriented - but spending time with the company of ones-self. While Lady McM and I both adore spending time with friends and loved ones, it was clear we were both really excited at the prospect of an afternoon alone at home, doing nothing but productive relaxation. And really, all relaxation is productive as long as it makes one truly relaxed. Life is stressful enough, and often it is other people that cause that stress. The importance of solitude cannot be emphasized enough.
I think to some extent, everyone likes being alone. But I think it takes a certain person to totally revel in the indulgence of solitude. The kind of person who changes from pajamas to day clothes, only to curl back up in bed and read a book or watch a movie. The kind of person who adds "take a bubble bath" to their to-do list. The kind of person who will bake an entire cake - fresh icing and all - for no purpose at all. The kind of person who loves going to a restaurant and asking for a table for one; the kind of person who buys one plane ticket and books one hotel room on a vacation made for one. These people have pets, kids, partners, and/or busy jobs full of bustling and noise. And they completely and totally enjoy NOT having any of that stuff around for a while. Oddly, perhaps, they have a freakishly large music collections, usually (cough cough...you know ya'll do...) Maybe we all just find escape in music? And movies...if you love being alone, you probably have a Netflix subscription.
I think the reason I appreciate solitude is because I also love being around other people. So now its like, 6 pm, and I'm going to stretch my sore muscles, fix up my hair, and head up to some old stomping grounds to have dinner with some lovely people. Because nothing makes you appreciate your friends more than after you've spent a highly indulgent, relaxing, chilling Saturday afternoon home alone.
Post script for no reason at all: Hip hop is a music genre I think I go in cycles with. Some months can go by and I neglect it altogether, and then I'll have something spark inside my brain, and it becomes basically all I want to listen to. My hip-hop collection is weird, eclectic, and downright nerdy. I've actually made various mix-tape (and now, mix-CD and mix-podlists) I call the Nerdrap Volumes. I think I mentioned Dr. Octagon below, and today it's Blackalicious, Souls of Mischief, J5, and Slick Rick. And it is all really good. Head-bobbing, eyes-closing, feet-tapping good. It's smooth like butterscotch syrup on ice cream. Like a skin-dive in a perfect clear pool. Like dancing alone in your apartment on a solitary Saturday afternoon.
posted by The Semi-Pro Chef at Saturday, March 25, 2006
1 Comments:
Yeah, I kind of have days like that; I call them hermit days. I was forced to take one a week ago last Sunday, which make this last weekend a busy rush.
Post a Comment
<< Home