Blinded Me With Science

What's making me happy

Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
I listened to him recently on the Smartless podcast and just had a smile on my face the whole time. 
In a world where fame seems to be disconnected from excellence (never thought I would drop some Drake lyrics on my blog), it was refreshing to hear some smartness. 
He makes complicated ideas not so much and he makes you laugh while you think which is very helpful when he talks about something like astrophysics. 
Also, hearing how he also looks up at the night sky wondering how and why took me back to my stargazing days when I would look up and also have many questions like why am I sleeping on a roof.



What's not making me happy

Not being able to disconnect from work while I have the week off. 
I had to help put out a few fires and I am not sure how I feel about it. 
We are not doing much so I don't mind helping out but I am also on vacation.
It also made me think I would do pretty bad at this digital challenge
24 hours without devices.
Could you do it? 

Updates

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes for Mrs. Shife. 
We had a good day and capped it off by going out to eat at one of our favorite places
I might have indulged myself a little too much because I started a FODMAP diet the next day.
I have dealt with digestive issues like bloating, stomach pain, gas and other fun things for way too long and my doctor suggested I give it a shot. 

Observations

Relationships are difficult. 
Even more so when you are ready to move on from them.
Something happened that brought back some old acquaintances into my circle and I realized that I really didn't miss them. 
I am feeling guilty for having those feelings because at one point we were closer. 
But it has been a long time since I have spent time with some of these dudes and I am in a different place in my life. 
Not a fan of feelings sometimes.




Go Out On A Meme






I will try and do better.


I will persevere. I will keep moving forward. I will be the stream. 


Comments

  1. Absolutely love Neil. In fact last year when the pandemic started, everything shut down and I was bored, I signed up for his MasterClass over the internet. Out of all the classes offered, his was one of the few I actually completed in this last year.

    Just read somewhere about some organization that will pay you $2000 to do without all electronics for 24 hours if selected. I think you had to write some sort of essay about why they should pick you. I know I wouldn't be selected because I can give up electronics for an entire week without problems. Back when I was working, I was regularly asked how come I never check my work email in the evening. My reply was, "easy, I just don't." I usually followed up with something along the lines of I have yet to see a problem that couldn't wait until I got back to work.

    I remember once meeting an old friend in Walmart and actually got embarrassed standing there talking to him due to all the F-bombs he was dropping. It was cool in high school but 20 years later it didn't feel cool anymore. In one of life's quirks, he died in a tragic accident shortly after that meeting so I never had to go about breaking up our friendship.

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    1. I might have to look for that MasterClass, Ed. Sounds interesting.

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  2. It's definitely not right that you have to put out fires while on vacation. You should get an additional day or two off for being willing to help out. I could pull off the digital challenge as long as I had a good book or two to get into. I even considered doing that for one of my 30 day challenges this year, still might. Speaking of, don't forget to think about doing the A to Z challenge in April, it's coming up quick now. Good luck with the new diet and the old friends!

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    1. Thank you, Martha. Maybe next year on the A to Z. April is turning out to be a busy month.

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  3. Glad you enjoyed Mrs. S' bday.
    Brother's youngest son is working in
    astrophysics. He was at the wedding of
    J and C - had to stand outside the bar
    while we were all in there drinking.
    xoxo :-)

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  4. I viewed the restaurant's menu; under the "tacos" section, the 2 philly items are an abomination and do not represent this city at all.

    on vacation = NO WORK. PERIOD.
    hope your MD can figure out what is wrong with your tummy.
    I could go 24 hours without looking at my laptop. I have no cell phone.
    move on and have NO GUILT about the past acquaintances.
    bwhahahahaha, the dick pic!

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    1. Doesn't shock me about the Philly representation. We could use some more East Coast culture as we don't have a lot of that. I think I have only met 1 or 2 folks from your neck of the words that relocated here.

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  5. I do the digital challenge every time I travel. It’s amazingly freeing! I love it! My husband, though, has been attached to a device 24/7 since the age of Blackberries.

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    1. I need to do a better job, Bijoux.

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  6. I agree with you regarding Neil DeGrasse Tyson! I love that guy! If you are working any at all while on vacation you should be paid - in addition to your vacation pay! I've never heard of the Fodmap diet but I checked out the website and it makes sense. Thanks for telling me about!

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  7. If one of those old acquaintances had matured into a Neil DeGrasse Tyson, you'd probably like hime more.

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  8. Bummer about having to put out fires while on vacay.
    Trying to rekindle an acquaintanceship can be like trying a Big Mac after years and years of going without--it hasn't been good for me yet.

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  9. I could do the digital challenge. Except it would take me a lot longer than a day to figure out what I was going to do. So that first day I would sleep a lot.

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    1. I wouldn't mind sleeping a lot.

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  10. I am one of those sad people who has a cell phone that she never checks when she is at home. I am at home a lot. I'm forever shocked when I turn on my phone and discover eleventy eight messages from people days old, because I just don't check texts. And I tell myself firmly that I will begin checking for texts regularly. But I'm a liar, it appears because I never, ever do. I'd miss all you folks, but I could do without electronics. We have a very uneasy relationship as it is.

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    1. I appreciate the convenience but I also don't want it to be a staple of my life if that makes any sense.

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  11. I am sorry you were pulled into the drama of a problem at work. Would someone else be able to handle it, but it was more convenient to call on you? In which case, I would turn off my phone and have an electronic free day ~ Mrs Shife can take family calls for ya. I do enjoy Neil, he seems very approachable and the meme is a good one! I wrote a note attached to a scientific study to a co-worker who was falling for the consipracy theories that basically said to stick to the science. It would have been better if I'd just attached that meme to it. :-)

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  12. 24 hours without devices? Yes, I could, and rather easily, I think.
    It is an odd feeling when you and your old friends have moved on from one another; it's not a bad thing, because people change, but it's kind of hard to admit!

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  13. I love Neil. I love when he is being a smart ass. It makes me laugh.(like when he spoke of trump)
    Having tummy issues is not fun. Hope you figure it out.
    I am going through that phase with someone who is back in my life and I feel the same. A lot of guilt but why i ask myself? It is an uneasy feeling for me.
    I could go 24 hrs with no electronics in a heart beat!!!!

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  14. I agree on the friends (and sometimes family too); they have a season and the relationships don't always last forever, even when we think they should. We will still have the memories though...trite but true. My older daughter did the FOD map diet for the same reasons and it was very effective; however, it restricted most of her favorite foods so she doesn't do it currently. She is at least aware of the issues when making food choices.

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    1. One more week of FODMAP and then hopefully some of the favorites can come back.

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  15. As a guy, I know we prefer for things not to change, but people do and circumstances do. It is better to process feelings than to bottle them up.

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    1. Processing is good even if you don't like how you feel but it does beat the alternative of keeping it inside until you explode one day.

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  16. Love Neil. I like Star Talk and I'll add this one to my podcasts. He's so smart that he can make the most complex concept easy to understand.
    I have also let go of some people that were really toxic. No guilt. No pain.
    And I think I could do the 24 hour challenge thing, but I'd have to bring a camera. Funny that now our camera, our phone, our computer and our music are all in these little devices.

    LOLd at the vampire dick pic. So THAT'S what it looks like, huh?

    XOXO

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    1. I guess so, Sixpence. The internet doesn't lie, right?

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  17. the vampire picture...........................great

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  18. my doctor ordered me to get a cell phone and i probably will but so far i've been perfectly happy not being part of the collective. i've heard that the new phones have wonderful cameras.

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    1. Avoid it as long as you can, Mr. Rosewater, but the cameras are pretty sweet.

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  19. I feel ya on the old friends issue. I have two that I still mourn the loss of (hanging out, cracking wise...etc.) but it’s the way. I no longer have anything in common with an old friend who is still frozen in time at Lalapalooza. You’re married, you have two kiddos, you’ve experienced life and have moved forward. Some folks don’t. Some folks stay stuck for fear of change. Husband’s brother has a good saying, “Let that which truly does not matter, slide.” He’s right. Move forward in awesomeness and all things Shife.

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    1. That is a good saying. Thanks, Red. I sure miss saying that. Hope you are well.

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  20. There have been times where I've had people reenter my life and I've realized there was a reason that we moved on. Once they've moved on, it just makes sense to not have them there anymore. Glad we're still friends after 16 years !

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