Saturday, November 29, 2008

Shedding

I am going through my worldly possessions and trying to minimize them, pack them into boxes, and safely store them while my apartment is renovated. It is good I have this weekend for this purpose, with no obligations, classes to teach, people to meet. Because I have a lot of those possessions! I could swear they crawl out at night, engage in orgies, get pregnant and then procreate. Especially books, clothes and shoes. I found at least three doubled books. Which means I forgot that I already bought the book, bought it again, and never read nevertheless (three times!).

I feel stressed out because of the convergence of the obligations. Packing the stuff is most urgent, because the renovations will start next week. On the other hand, I can't help but to worry that my immunology classes will start in the beginning of January, and I haven't even started working on my syllabus and lectures. Not even mentioning everything that needs to be at work. At the times like that my most strong inclination is just to stop doing anything and curl into a ball under the covers. Too bad it is not quite possible.

I am trying not to watch TV. but but the news still leaks into my brain. A family on a meditation trip gets killed in Mumbai. With the scores of others. The reality is so ugly sometimes. :(

17 comments:

Boodiba said...

Oh my GOD... killed on a meditation trip. Ya... mom is not at all happy I am changing planes in Mumbai. I think my layover is nine, godawful hours. Plenty of time for a little terrorist hoedown?

Can't we just put a big cage over Pakistan?? I know this sounds racist but c'mon... They came in on their little boats. If suicide is so noble, why can't they blow themSELVES up????

Funny with the book thing. I had a thing where I kept buying nail clippers. Constantly. I'd lose them all the time & am prone to hangnails. Then I cleaned out my sock drawer & found a nest of about ten clippers. They were talking amongst themselves...

Arturo said...

hi Alfia
you're inspiring me for my own shedding. i think it will feel good to sort things out. i have been reading a book about living the expatriate life, during which you have to face similar circumstances when moving. one thing they suggest is asking yourself if you were to see a packed item in box six months from now in a different location, would you frown and say "ugh, why did I pack that?" or would you be happy to see something that makes you feel at home. those are good suggestions.
cheers,
Arturo
PS, I always look forward to the word verifications in the comment sections of your blog. they seem funny. right now it's scrat.

Rebirth2017 said...

Hi Alfia,
I sure know the shedding thing here. We filled a 2 ton dumpster here in the spring we still have too much stuff!

You do sound a bit overwhelmed and I've missed your blogging more often but hang in there and you know how it goes...everything will get done :)

Hope you get to practice today and have a beautiful day :)

ABY

alfia said...

Hi, Linda:

Everybody seem to blame Pakistan automatically. But isn't the major conflict between India and Pakistan all about Hindu-Muslim division of Kashmir? This attack was directed to Jewish center and Americans, which as a Middle-Eastern feel to it. What scares me the most, is the fact that no one seems to have a clue of their identity. Which is a good indicator of the state of out intelligence overall in terms of terrorist organizations.... :(

alfia said...

Hi, Arturo:

These are very good suggestions. Still difficult to implement, though. I like most of my stuff...

Good luck with your shedding!

alfia said...

Hi, Aby:

I know, I have not been a good blogger lately. In fact, I have not been good anything. I hope things will change soon!

Thank you for your encouragement, everybody!

Anonymous said...

Ah, the urge to hide - i know it well!

The best thing I can say is that eventually, everything gets done. It just does, somehow. And the immunology classes are so exciting. I wish I could come sit in!

Happy Sunday.

susananda said...

Hi Alfia,
Hope you are doing well this week. I feel similarly overwhelmed between Christmas shopping (haven't started), getting taxes done, and getting the money to pay for both (where??) We'll get through it.

Boodi, those clippers sound like insects, yuck.

Word verification: poine

alfia said...

Hi, Anna and Susan:

You are right - things eventually get done, even though at the moment they look dismal. But I got rid of tons of stuff, which makes me feel lighter. I also got a new mattress - the one that actually fits the bed. :)

Susan - I have not started my Xmas shopping, too! And quarterly taxes need to be paid soon. Ugh!

Skipped yoga today. Everything hurts from heavy lifting, back in particular. :(

But we will get through. As Linda said - we are a special breed, after all.

Boodiba said...

We are!!!

Arturo said...

hi Alfia, just saying hi. word verification, heswil. everything heswil. sorry i'm being silly.
Arturo

alfia said...

Hi, Linda and Arturo:

Yes we are and heswill it is. Heswill sounds a little evil to me, which fits perfectly at the moment :)

Boodiba said...

Are you feeling a little devilish?

(rearier) - Porno!

alfia said...

I feel that this week is evil, not me. Need to survive it. :)
Porno! :D

Boodiba said...

I just can't wait til I get to India. India or bust. India, India, India....

alfia said...

You will get there, Linda. And it will be fabulous!

Boodiba said...

I know I deserve it. I've worked SO hard, both to prepare (in my practice, by working as hard as possible) and in all the other crap.

I believe it will be transformative. Feels every bit as important and major as it did the first time...

 

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