Random thoughts

Haven't posted much lately. Shame on me. What follows is a three part post on the publication of the Yoo memos, cycling after work, and doing yoga in the morning.


The Yoo memos

I was going to create a rather long post about the recent publication of the John Yoo memos which essentially gave George Bush the authority to tear up the Constitution. Why didn't he turn the Republic into a full-fledged police state? Three reasons come to mind: 1) he never had the opportunity; 2) he was either way too lazy; or 3) way too stupid to do so. Take your pick I am sure it will be the subject of debate scholars more patient than me.

One of the reasons that I didn't post on these memos was the nagging suspicion that I should n't say anything until I had actually read the things. But the first one was 37 pages long! I come from the school that says any memo over four paragraphs is not a memo, so I didn't read them. Though I imagine if I were writing a memo allowing the dumbest president in American history to destroy the U.S. Constitution I would probably want to put in a few paragraphs to justify my syncophancy.

So no Jermiad on these terrible memos but I will say that I will be writing my legislators to encourage them to support Sen. Leahy's "Truth Commission." because I believe it is wise, especially when one remembers that Bush and his toady Karl Rove spent the last few months of his presidency trying to put lipstick on the pig-like corpse of his presidency.

When not engaging in political Jermiads, much to the relief of some, I might add, what have I been doing? Riding my bike and starting to get back to doing yoga. One of the reasons for the change is that I've been reading Parker Palmer's Let your life speak. What I've read so far, encourages me to seek my true self. I believe that two aspects of my true self involve cycling and yoga.

Cycling after work

I am certain that I am not the only person on the planet to use Photoshop to put my head on Lance Armstrong's body, but I am pretty certain I am the only one in Bakersfield, California. You put a personals ad on Craigslist, you've got to be willing to bend the truth a little. Putting a picture of my head on a picture of the seven-time Tour de France champion is either creative or pathetic depending on your point of view. But even crazier and disgusting is that I have been totally unable to put my big butt on a bicycle seat and pump out some miles.

That insane and repugnant state of sloth lasted until a couple of weeks ago. My evening routine was incredibly dull. I would come home from the Knowledge Factory, get a glass of cold water, turn on the TV, let my dog in the house and become a vegetable. I would veg out. My intention was to veg out for an hour or so and then go the gym or walk my dog or go to Starbucks and have coffee with friends. So I'd be sitting there watching MSNBC drinking my water, getting lots of dog love and becoming incredibly sleepy.

When that happened, I'd wander back to my bedroom for a nap, with the idea of taking a siesta for an hour and then hopping out of bed and heading for the gym, the dog park, or the coffeehouse. But it never happened. I'd sleep too long, and then say "heck with the gym," turn on the TV, let the dog in, head to the ice box, and then back into to the chair, to vegitate until bedtime.

But spring is coming, the days are getting longer. One day I forced myself to get into my cycling togs and get on my bicycle and get in a 30 minute ride. That changed my original set of habits and now I am trying to get into the habit of hopping on to my bike insteasd of plopping down in front of the television. Now I come home and hit the road pedalling for 30-50 minutes and then I come home and turn into a vegetavo. Now, thanks to cycling and doing yoga in the morning, I feel like I have accomplished something during the day.

Yoga

I used to think I was a morning person, but it's harder now. Morning is the best time for me to do yoga. I've studied it off and on for years. I have a room for doing yoga, all the necessary equipment and some instruction videotapes and DVDs. I just haven't been willing to train. That has changed. Monday and Tuesday I was up early and did my routine. I am evening working on going to bed earlier, so I have the energy to get up and work out before I have my morning and coffee, watch fiancial porn on television, drink an ice coffee and have a bagel. Do I feel better yet, not really. But as I said cycling and yoga are part of my true self. So doing them in a consistent regular fashion is important to me.

Once I have become habituated to those two joys, I can start on other aspects of my true self, whatever they maybe. A little voice in the back of my head says its studying French and taking Tango lessons. Can it be? I'll keep you posted.

Ciao

Capitano Tedeschi

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