February 1, 2001

wanted to take a moment to add on to something Melissa said a day or two ago. She points out that sentience is both a blessing and a curse, due to the emotions and logic that are part and parcel thereof. I'd go a step further, and suggest that the more intelligent a person is, the more capacity they have for unhappiness. Now, I'm not suggesting that the smarter you are, the greater the depths of the sorrow... but what I am suggesting is that the more opportunity you have to think about things that bother you, the more you'll get (or have the potential to be) upset by them. And I think this is a facet of the modern world that we've not fully faced. I'm sure that someone in 1650 really wasn't too worried about what was happening on Wall Street to their life savings. They didn't have the opportunities that we do. But, I think that every advance has both a beneficial and detrimental aspect, and the more intelligent you are, the greater the opportunity to dwell on the detrimental. It therefore becomes an exercise to make sure you continue to look through those "rose-colored glasses" Melissa spoke about, but I always think that you should be aware of both sides, and concentrate more on the positive (accentuate the positive etc.)

Now, while I was thinking about that this morning (and in fact the last couple of days since she wrote that and tickled my brain), I've been trying to figure out how to say that without suggesting that the depth of emotion is different. And I'm not convinced I've really put forth my concept in the best way. I'm in no way suggesting that the emotion is any different for someone with an IQ of 170 as opposed to someone with an IQ of 110.... just that they can think of more things to worry about. I've had this discussion with Suz before, and I'm not sure she bought into my line of reasoning, but it's something that I've had as a belief for quite a while. Feel free to add your own comments and tell me how crazy I am....

I'm quite impressed, I must say, with Johnny, who's been on a tear the last several weeks. He's started to quit smoking (yay!), he's starting to mend his relationship with his significant other (yay!), and he's been bowling like a demon (yay!). Life must be pretty good for him right now. :) I just wish I was there to see it... and to take him on in bowling one weekend. Ack! Johnny, I just read todays entry... good heavens, son, didn't your mother teach you anything? Always read the labels! Ask Suz... she knows I do :) I'm praying for you.

I've got plans for the weekend already. I want to finish up unpacking. I've gotten to about 80% done, and I just need to finish the last 20%. That means pulling out lamps and setting them up, setting up my stereo/media center, and cleaning off the computer table and swapping it with the buffet, so I don't have to lean to my left to read what I'm writing (trying to keep the morning sun off of the monitor). I've also got to get the front speakers repaired/replaced in the car, and that's about it. Once I get everything set, I'll be able to pick up the remaining things on the floor, and give the carpet the vacuuming it deserves. I'm fairly sure this is brand new carpet, based on the pilling on it, and it really needs to be gone over at least once or twice.

Off to work. Tonight I'll do the cleanup on last months entries and put them into the archive area. Be good, all of you!