Taking Charge

When does doing something for yourself stop being walking away and start becoming doing what's right for yourself? Today, or more specifically over the past week, I made the decision to cut my ties to the local football team. Since the end of last year, I've found myself getting an increased workload within both the player rep. and webmaster positions, even though I only took up the former for an interim, that was to last only as far as the club AGM (which seems to be getting pushed back and back.) It was always my intention to give up the position at that point, but I've been stuck with an extra workload that I neither need, nor want.

On top of that, I've had the past week off work and I hoped to spend the time relaxing so I informed the club that I'b be taking the week off from football related things as well - those who read my last posting will know ho I've been looking forward to the week off. Instead, I received numerous texts and emails over the week with a "get this done now" vibe that I didn't appreciate in the slightest.

The result? I've cut down on the things I need to get done, which should improve my mental health. ;-) Also, got accepted into the MA course I wanted to do. Things are coming up roses.

Kicking Back

Over the last week or two I've started to feel particularly stressed about a number of issues. Firstly, college has been on my back to get some documents in to them regarding my application for an MA that I want to do. Now, don't get me wrong, it's not top of my to do list, but what's stalling me was the waiting for references to come back from the people I asked for them. That issue finally drew to it's conclusion today, so I'll be bringing all that in to Dublin tomorrow.

A second element, that has been stressing me out, is work. It's not the job itself - believe me, I've had worse - it's just the manner of what's happening. I've been with the company for a little over six years now (how time flies) and over that time I've ensured that I was well versed in the varying aspects of my position. Unfortunately, there are others who aren't so enthusiastic. Instead of getting these people to put more into their job, it seems that management is quite happy to let me pick up the slack. On Saturday gone, I was rostered a 7am-7pm shift (which turned into a 7-7:30) while one of my colleagues was rostered with me from 8am-7pm but was allowed to leave at 7 on the dot and a second colleague worked 1pm-7pm. This is not the first occasion on which I've been held back when working twelve/thirteen hour shifts while others just leave me to get on my own. And all management do is bemoan the fact that there's only one staff member left rather than try to stop them from leaving.

Lastly, and most annoyingly of all, my feelings (or rather the manner in which I express such feelings) for an ex-girlfriend, are really starting to bother me. Have you ever found yourself sending a text, or making a fecebook comment even while thinking I shouldn't be doing this...why am I doing this? Well that's the way it's been for me since November, something I've been ashamed to admit, even to myself, for some time.

On a positive note, as I eluded to above, I've gotten the references for college sorted so that's the first issue sorted. I'm also on a week off work so until next Monday (at the earliest) I wont have to worry about that dragging me down. And finally, I've decided to cut all ties with that ex-girlfriend so hopefully I won't be making a fool of myself any time soon.

Also, PlayStation Vita is out on Wednesday - SWOOP!

Picnic

In your arms the stars shine brighter,
A celestial kaleidoscope of hopes and dreams.
Nearby Bluebells chime their eternal chorus
Under the warm caress of a light spring breeze.

As you pull me closer your scent fills the air
And the heavens play their show on the back of closed eyelids.
Joy is here, with you, ‘midst nature’s brilliant show
Your strength, your being - definitive solace.

Heavily, or perhaps heavenly, my head rests on your chest
And the beating of your heart draws sleep to my mind.
Behind closed eyes I smile in celebration of what we share,
Here, on the hillside among the many wonders of life.

My breath slows, welcoming the imminent peace
And my sense of smell heightens to the world.
An aroma of flowers and of you, of all nature’s scents
Fills me with peace, with harmony and with pleasure.

I Love You
Hold Me
Tight

Oxboxer

Apart from the obviously awesome username, Oxboxer over at tumblr has some great images that I came across this morning. Check them out! First though, here are some excellent Skyrim/Valentine's images.

WOW! It's been quite some time since I last updated this blog. I can't say that much has changed for me in the months between this post and my last though. I've taken up American football over here in Ireland with my local team Drogheda Lightning. Everything's been going well for the organisation thus far, and I hope I can say the same in a year's time.

On an educational front, I've picked up a H-Dip in Psychoanalytic Studies, a continuation from my BA studies. While the course only lasted a year, I found it much more enjoyable than my previous degree. I've recently applied for and MA in Addiction Studies, with the prospect of going from there into an MA in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, meaning that my two year plan is very much set.

Thoughts On ... Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

With the arrival of a multitude of alien ships over the major cities of the world mankind has finally discovered that he is not the only sentient being in the universe. At first their mysterious plans seem positive – the abolition of war, poverty, starvation – but so to has mankind lost its creative edge and a few have come to question whether their intentions truly are as benevolent as they appear?

With Childhood's End Arthur C. Clarke has provided us with one of his most interesting tales. Easily as important a text for the genre as 2001: A Space Odyssey or Rendezvous With Rama Childhood's End is, at its heart, an apocalyptic story but one with an oddly pleasant feel. Infused with Clarke's usual blend of science and gripping prose Childhood's End is a superb read that will keep you turning pages right to the end.

Spanning nearly one hundred and fifty years Childhood's End tells the entire story of mankind's interactions with the Overlords from their earliest clandestine operations to the moment they leave the Earth behind forever. Throughout their time on Earth the Overlords are nothing but gracious to the native population but there is the always the feeling that they're hiding something, a secret that holds great importance to the future of mankind. In its revelation Clarke gives us a unique indication of what we have the potential to become.

Every once an a while I stumble across something that I find myself throwing all my attention into for a short burst of time before ultimately forgetting about it or becoming bored. One thing that has withstood the test of my changeable interests (for the time being anyway) has been the absolutely wonderful SF Masterworks series by Gollancz.

As of today I have acquired no fewer than fifty-one of the seventy three volumes of the main section of the old collection as well as a copy of Childhood’s End in the new (2010) bindings. With enthusiasm I created a goodreads.com reading group to delve into the excellent stories contained within the series and have, to date, read twelve of the old series as well as Cat’s Cradle which is to be added to the newer series soon.

On top of all that I stumbled upon an excellent related blog here on blogger in which the participants are aiming to read all the SF Masterworks as well as their Fantasy counterparts in under a year. A truly epic challenge. Find it at http://sffmasterworks.blogspot.com/