Without Prejudice and Sweet Rivers

Understandable error in sending off those letters today with that reference included in this file that will never end.  I look forward to the response to the recent round of back-and-forth.  Unhappy clients and parties all around, but what can you do?  Hours lined up for the new year I guess, so it could be worse.  At this point, the worst of the to-and-fro seems over, although the abrasiveness and affront that permeates everything is draining.

Relaxing tonight amid the Kili and World Cup planning, mapping out other thoughts for 2014.  For now it is looking like another full year in Halifax at whatever deal is struck for those 12 months, and something in the Caribbean involving boats after that.  Or so we hope.  Funny to have hosted both MP and TF last night and their day-long interviews here.  All the different ways life could go .  The academic route clearly not the way, and so it makes sense in the context of the usual flight from Hali.

The question remains as to who that might be done with if anyone.  The eH experiment has been fairly limited, but not for lack of trying.  The most recent encounters interesting in the clear signals received and the thoughts on how to play it out, all the while puzzling over the  TZ trip and the extent of friendship that applies to such an excursion.  Zanzibar shall be a very interesting place to reflect on a few things.  In the interim, need to line up the hot tub for a few blustery December nights such as this one and see what happens.  And hope that all the work that remains can be expedited in 3 short weeks.  I hope Oxford works out, that would be truly magical as a way to start off a memorable odyssey.

Oh, the other thing to think about, in this missive that may form some basis for the annual note to MF tomorrow, is the google discovery tonight of Rio Dulce in Guatemala, or literally Sweet River.  Doesn't that just sound like a place you could end up learning Spanish and sailing a year or two hence?  Maybe March is the time to consider checking it out for a few days.  What dreams this next year holds.

Make them all work.

A Prince of a Man

Back in this room, as the Board lines up its decision by feeding its consultants the right questions and they hammer home the key points.  Nice to have a moment amidst the flurry to relax, to consider the futility and ineptness of some advocates and watching how bias and intellectual capacity interact to serve up the future.

LATER: Back in the office, as there was no further time to type.  Another good day, having finalized much of the argument in the ML hearing and following Monday things will be shaping up nicely.  Seem to have permission for the opening weeks of January for the Kili-man Kili-man Kili-man-ja-ro-o-o trek.  The 7 minute workout and stair slowly having the impact, and a brilliant 15 days strong without a beverage.  Easy for the most part, although the pints were tempting last night over wings and with the TMP boys headed to the Deck.  But water it was, and the record was preserved.  Officially at the half-way point at midnight tonight, and it is downhill from here.  Although a third Friday in a row headed home alone into the darkness is a bit sad if it was not for the larger purpose.  Reminding you of the thoughts that call you away, the Brazil emails back and forth with Coop chasing a plan, planning to be home for your own Christmas morning on the day of the draw in three more weeks today.  So much to look forward to that the smile grows ever wider.

Anyone, off to hit the road and relax, most likely with a juicer and to prepare for the start of a 7 day cleanse tomorrow.  Perhaps with a night of Yoga next Wednesday as well?  Because things are heating up and you need to be ready to send 2013 off with a veritable bang on the way up to the Rooftop.  Did want to mention the title though - G. Baker, dead at the age of 95, with lots of stories and fond memories served up by those in the regulatory world who knew him and admired his razor mind and smirk when he knew the answers to the questions.  A very prince of a man.  Sweet epitaph.  If I had a glass open tonight I would raise it.

Remembrance of Things Present

11:11AM.  Waking up early this morning to try and land yet more tickets to unknown matches months hence, and so A2 v. A3 is in the bag and the wait for the draw is on in a huge way.  Bound to be disappointing in at least some respects, but fun to dream of the consequences nonetheless.

For now, the preparations for Kili continue.  Strolling back through Novembers past makes for fine reading, the hazy drunken posts of early post-Oxford years, Egypt, Peru, and last year's Old Trafford sojourn that was eerily similar to yesterday's disappointing loss. 

Will next November hold similar promise in the Himalayas?  Possible.  For everything is possible.  Paul Simon tickets purchased as Christmas presents, and over $1000 sunk into the coming World Cup, dreams of a return to the Emirates to see some trophy winning performances in the Spring, while the 7 minute workout and random hikes into the sweet-smelling woods with strangers used as a distraction from the month's non-drinking pledge.  11 days in, and ideal since no occasion really too tempting with such a goal at hand.  The body feeling stronger, which helps, even a cleanse lined up to pass the time starting next Saturday, which is just too funny.

Chatting with Tupper over soup just now, speculating on the potential cost of a trip into the 20G territory.  Do it for 1/3 of that and you'll be doing rather well, although there are supplies and vaccines that need to be purchased and there is no point going cheap on that front.

Time to rush off to the building that you ran away from as it was built for more witness preparation.  One more week and then it will be time to move on to what is next.  If I could only crank out this opinion, that would be wonderful, but that will happen tonight.  It will come together at the end when it is required as it always does.  Game on.  And remember this next November.  Looking out the window again at the gray overcast skies in another holding pattern.  And with such events and sights to come, I can handle that.

But back to the title - the conversation over tea last night worth remembering, the difficulty in being in moments, of not being afraid of letting them go without capturing the picture or the words, not even trying to remember details, just being - experiencing - living - absorbing.  Enjoying the day for what it is and nothing more.  Something to try and practice in this upcoming trip in which so much will cry out to be held for posterity, and so all the more valuable in taking in the flicker and then letting it pass.  Remembrance of the present and no more.  Yes.  Remember to do that.