The gift of time

It is so lovely to be home with my time as my own. No Preventable Surprises, no volunteer shift, no class at Queen's. David’s in the states so I have zero distractions.

I finished a book. I built and maintained a fire one day (very small fireplace requires constant feeding). My friends David and Stuart came by for a visit one day. I called in to see Alec and Louise one evening, inadvertently joining their second Christmas celebration (with Alec’s brother and his son). I get lots of exercise each day, running or swimming. I eat better. I’ve been watching a lot of BBC comedies and Christmas specials. I did some journalling about my discussions with Julie. I cleaned mould out of the fridge and rearranged a few kitchen cupboards.

I did have one deadline. My Polish professor, Dr. Marek Martyniszyn, asked me a few weeks ago if I could edit something for him this week. Sure, why not. Here’s the title: Competitive Harm Crossing Borders: Regulatory Gaps and a Way Forward. It was only 18 pages but it took me more than five hours. Which do you like better?

Therefore, enforcement free-riding provides very limited positive externality.

Therefore, the extent of positive externality presented by enforcement free-riding is very limited.

The second was Marek’s, the first mine. I have no idea if it’s better. It’s very subjective.

I leave tomorrow for Barcelona, returning Jan. 9. I’ll be hanging with my old friend Dara Silberstein and some of her friends. David convinced me not to take my laptop, due to petty crime. This will be a double holiday: the excitement of different surroundings AND computer cold turkey. No Facebook. No blog. No e-mail. It will be a good opportunity to reset my relationship with frickin’ screens. David suggested I leave my phone at home as well, but I think I’ll bury that in my bag somewhere. I’m trying to get with the program re. downloading and organising podcasts, which will be a good alternative to reading. My eyes tire easily so there’s a limit to how much reading I can do.

My guess is the blog will be more intermittent next year. I feel like the quality of the blog (content, writing) suffers with each passing year. To the few loyal readers out there, thanks for your time (you must be like me--writers looking for ways to procrastinate). And may 2018 bring pleasant surprises in proportion to the unpleasantness of 2017. There was plenty good in 2017, but Trump, Brexit, climate disasters, refugee camps, Yemen, Syria cast a dark shadow. As Julie says, there is plenty of good in the world and we must have faith that good will win out. Peace.
Dec. 29, 30, 31