Taoism and willful circumstance

I can't remember why... but I was looking up the works of Ursula Le Guin the other day. I had picked up an Earthsea book in Jr High, but I couldn't get into it for some reason. Perhaps it was over my head... After all, my preferred genre was the Black Stallion series at that time.

So, I looked up some Earthsea books, and bemoaned their lack of availability on the Kindle. Of course the public library has them. So, I pencil in Earthsea on my unwritten mental list of stuff to read.

A few days later, on the way home from work, I stumble into a fascinating interview on the BBC. The subject is an aged female author. I listened with interest, especially when the interviewer tries to pry out information about the author's translation of Lao Tzu. I am drawn in by the discussion of Taoism, Lao Tzu's subversiveness, and the non-religious qualities of the philosophy. I stay in the parked car in front of my house listening to find out who this author is, just to be certain. But, I already know. Fate does this to me frequently. It is Ursula Le Guinn.

Her book on Taoism is available at the library just up the hill from me. I will have to fetch it soon. Today perhaps.

Migration

The last box spilled its contents into my new cubicle today. People have been asking me how I've felt about moving. In some ways I haven't been entirely honest because I know my absence is bemoaned. I say, "I think it's a good career move." and leave it at that.

To some extent, I haven't really stated my opinion of the move because nothing is certain. I don't really feel as if something has happened until it manifests itself upon my reality and rubs my nose in it (see above note about box contents). So, now that it's actually happened, now that my first and only workplace destination on Monday will be my new cubicle, I can finally release my full opinion, at least into the cybervoid.

My most selfish internal emotion is excitement. I am excited! I like change. I like the totally bare nature of my cubicle. I like that I don't feel as if I've moved into something someone else left behind (as with my last move). The drawers are empty. I've arranged the furniture. I even have some notions for how I'd like to decorate. I'm going to be using a dual-monitor system, a first for me, though I've helped my boss with his setup and he's been singing its praises for some time.

I'm excited about being around some new people, some people who can push me and challenge me and maybe even compensate me if I perform well. I'm excited about being away from some negative energies that clung to my prior locale. I'm excited about the excuse to explore some wardrobe and accessory updates. My new location has a higher standard of dress than my previous one. I'm even considering a haircut.

On the flip side, I do have reservations. I have some social connections in my prior locale that will sorely be missed, one that may even be reading this. But, that is my only selfish reservation. The majority of my reservations are driven by guilt, and the reality that I will not be as available to some of my coworkers as I have been in the past. People relied upon me DAILY at my prior location. I scarcely made my goal today of moving to my new place because of the long list of requests. I will visit my previous location two mornings a week-ish, but I will not be nearly as accessible as I used to be.

So, there. There are my feelings about my migration.

For another post: A newish coworker mentioned the other day that I'm hard to read.

Dilemma

My first dilemma of the year... Wait two whole days and check out a book from the beloved local library or buy now for nine bucks on the kindle. I suppose I will make the responsible choice. I alreadyhave one library book in my posession that needs reading anyway.

I think I shall look into transferring my recipes to the kindle though.

Posted via Kindle