Month: December 2017

Thinking about 2017 and moving forward 

Carl Setzer

It’s been a mixed year for me. I started a new job, one that pushed me far outside my comfort zone. As a rather cautious soul, that’s been quite challenging at times to deal with. The frustration of too much to do with constrained tome. 

Another frustrating element for me: learning new stuff. It’s one thing to expand my knowledge, quite another to learn a new role, where a company depends upon my effectiveness. It’s a rather terrifying sensation. 

More positively, I’ve grown as a martial artist, and my family has done some great stuff. I’ve deepened friendships I valued, and grown to new ones. I’ve also spent the past few weeks studying myself, seeking to deepen my understanding of what brings me joy, what brings me success. 

There’s great emotional risk in doing such. What if those ideas I’ve invested so much energy in turn out to be bad fits? Of course, my internal counterpoint needs to be “why would I want  to invest time, emotion and energy into something that robs joy and beauty from my life?

So, exploring, growing, developing: that’s my theme right now. What about you?

Celebrate the New Year, Edmonds Style

Carl Setzer

I was asked earlier today for a list of “what’s going on” New Year’s Eve in Edmonds. I hadn’t put much thought as I’m planning on spending the evening with friends (I’ll be in the Edmonds Bowl, just so you know), but thought I’d dig through my memories and the web and pull together a quick list.

First, I want to point out that Kathy Passage over at My Edmonds News has list of holiday events and such in her most recent article. She’s pretty cool: go check her out!

Anyway, I’ve pulled out a list of specifically New Year’s Eve stuff, focusing on the “ringing in 2018” (aka: out after midnight) stuff.

New Year’s Eve:
Looking for something outside of Edmonds? Well, here are a few other options for you.
Oh, and there’s New Year’s Day:
Polar Plunge! https://www.facebook.com/events/154410931849531/. This event is a long-standing tradition in our community. It took some work, but we managed to keep the event for disappearing. If you’re a fan of freezing your butt off, come join the party! I doubt that you’ll lose any butt-mass, so it’s not a recommended way to start your weight-loss resolution, but, whatever.
If you know of something I missed, please drop it in the comments and I’ll update the post. No offense shall be taken! Actually, there’ll be much rejoicing (yay.).
Wishing each of you a wondrous New Year’s Celebration and productively joyous 2018!

Darth Vader vs Obiwan: Reimagined

Carl Setzer

For years I thought redoing this pivotal lightsaber dual would be fantastic. Of all the technolgoical updates that could’ve been done with the Original Trilogy, this is one I felt would give more weight to the story.

Someone else agrees, and is working on it as we “speak”. I do so hope this isn’t vaporware.

Memories of a forgotten Seattle 

Carl Setzer

Many memories
Walking past the empty halls
In winter’s darkness

Ages ago I lived in Seattle’s heart. The city was beginning the transformation into the economic behemoth it is now. Still the refuge of the poor, downtrodden. Suburban business professionals drifting through, vanishing as the clock struck five. The flurry of buses and cars away from us. I found myself wandering nighttime streets, streetlights and gentle rain accompanying my steps. 

So much trash, so much waste

Carl Setzer

Wow, I just tossed out a bunch of expired food. Boxes of stuff that’d migrated to the far reaches of my cabinets. I’m bothered by the waste. One thing in particular got me, though: packets.

Those little packets if sweet and sour sauce, soy sauce, all that. I put in the trash so many. I never use these, as I always have my own at home and my office.

They’re placed in the bag automatically. Along with forks and napkins, which I also have.

These items are pure waste, given for “convenience sake”. Good customer service, I guess, but not environmentally sustainable. Plus, I expect most folks are like me and have no need.

This is an area I need to give some kudos to McDonald’s. They ask if you want ketchup packets, etc, before dropping them into your bag. It saves the company money along with slowing the rate we fill those land-fills.

I’d like “asking before giving” to become the standard. Until then, I need to start telling the good folks who own my favorite take out shops that I don’t need sauce packets, chopsticks, or forks.

Flowers of December

Carl Setzer

These lovely blossoms greeted my morning. Such a delight in this season of dark, cold rain. Always glimmers of beauty, of hope in the darkest of times.

Early autumn: my favorite season. December, though, with its gloomy disposition and scarce sunlight, sits at the bottom of my list. But joys still exist. This season of candles, hot cocoa, Christmas music and presents delights me deeply. Within all that, I find solace and hope for the coming spring.