Many years ago I made a new years
resolution that I have kept—well more or less kept. I decide I was
wasting too much time watching junk on TV and then reading junk, too.
I resolved to watch more serious TV
(like many—but not all)—of the shows on PBS—and to read 1 piece
of non-fiction for ever 2 pieces of fiction. It's not that I still
don't watch junk--(Like Big Bang Theory last night)--but I temper my
TV watching with shows like NOVA, or Nature or real history or
science, or other stuff.
Like wise, I wasted time (and it truly
was a waste of time) this past summer reading junk like the Shades of
Gray trilogy. (I didn't even think them particularly erotic—and the
writing was pedestrian at best) and while my light reading has been
magazines like Discover, I haven't really done any serious
reading--(well there have been knitting books.. and they count as non
fiction, right?) in a long while
But a Christmas present (it's still the
Christmas season—and while this wasn't a real present—I can call it
one) of a new book—Jared Diamond's The World Until Yesterday
is a wonderful distraction and just the thing I need right now.
Well, that is--what I need intellectually. Though, reading this 450 page tome
is going to cut into my knitting time, though!
The
subject s a topic I often think about. I am a city dweller—and I
truly love living in NYC. Some cities (and NY is one) are very
livable. I am surrounds by parks (like Flushing Meadow Park and
Forest Park) and park like lands. My coop has 6 tall building—each
surround by greenscape. There are treasures, too, in the greenscape;
A peach tree, an apple tree, a cherry tree—crab apples too, and if
you know were to look, wild strawberries, and mint, and basil. There
are daylilies too, (but not near enough of the common ones to pluck
off buds and make a meal of them) and I wouldn't dare pick off buds
from fancy day lilies. There are and other edible flowers and
weeds--(I do pick the weeds)). And there are the greens on my terrace
and window boxes. Some herbs, and some flowers.. Hardly enough to
feed me.. but.
I
wish there were more delights like this—in every garden, on every
terrace, in every apartment. I think cities could be (would be)
better places to live with more parks, and park like land. With more
community gardens and planters, too. Children would be healthier
eating more fresh foods, too.
I
have no desire to go back to the farm or even further back and to
become a hunter/gatherer.. (But I never turn down venison, or other
wild game when its offered!) I like city living and modern
society—but I sometimes think we through out the baby with the bath
water over time.
There
are thing we can do—small every day things, and big urban projects,
too, that can make city's better places. I really hate our throw
it away thinking..
there are so many excess. But.... nothing is without cost. It will
be interesting to see the ideas in this book—and to debunk some of
the myths of simpler living (and perhaps learn some ways to have the
best of both worlds.)
I
am going to finish the second version of the Square Peg hat—before
I start to read--well get to serious reading. (I have already started to read the introduction) The pattern for the Square Peg hat has been proofed--(and OH, so many
errors!) and it's ready to go—I just want to have a second hat to
show as a sample. I've just finished the crown of version 2—and
will finish the rest of the hat later today.
.
