Catherine Conner
Posts tagged just because
The Newspaper
Apr 28th
Even in a crowded room it is possible to be lonely.
In a room reeking of conversations and coffee, I am here alone, a casualty of the endless progress of newer and faster. Those around me converse with small shiny objects, beeping and flashing. Or with machines showing them brilliant moving paintings, music, endless scrolling text, all the raw words in the universe — prepackaged yet unfiltered.
Sometimes I understand: how can I compete with that? My information is dated, my interaction rigid. Compared to the conversations flowing around me, my presentation is stilted, inflexible. I can be eloquent, but only when allowed the time to speak.
I don’t know the latest jokes, the trendiest phrases; I can’t respond dynamically to your witticisms, or feed you the compliments that you beg for. I cannot participate in the social code swirling around me; I am aware of it, but it is always just beyond my capability. I can communicate only on my own terms. But I will also let you be you; I don’t expect you to change for me, I don’t decide whether you conform to my idea of what you should be before we can talk.
Please. It may take some effort on your part to understand me, to get to know me, to interact with me on my own terms. But I have thoughts and wisdom of my own to offer, if you will only take the time to let me. Pick me up. Please.
World Cup Fever in Germany Reaches New Lows
Jul 8th
Okay, so I saw this World Cup themed toilet paper in the stores two days ago, before Germany’s 1-0 loss to Spain last night. But since then my curiosity about this product has started to get the better of me, and after our team’s performance last night, bottom-wiping seemed an appropriate World Cup theme. So by popular demand, I here document my experience with my freshly purchased World Cup Toilet Paper (“Soccer-field Scented!”).
"World Cup Edition 3-Layer Toiletpaper with Colorful Soccer Motifs. With Soccer-Field Scent!"
The Thirteen Virtues of Benjamin Franklin
Jun 17th
Centuries before the self-help movements began, people already understood the basic need to better themselves. Benjamin Franklin created what we would call a “to-do” list of 13 areas of his life he wanted to improve; he even charted his progress weekly. I think everyone will find at least a few of these familiar. It’s heartening to learn that even the best of us are human — we all struggle against some of the same tendencies as those of our ancestors.
Ben Franklin’s Thirteen Virtues (quoted from Franklin’s autobiography)
Gus and Ollie Meet Craft Hope
May 7th
I recently participated in a wonderful craft night where we stitched educational bean bag toys for orphans in Liberia, as part of project Craft Hope. This was coordinated by Jessica Allen, a lovely Australian expat living in Hamburg, and the creative force of Gus and Ollie over on Etsy. Not only does she make the cutest plush toys you ever did see, but she’s just started a blog as well. Give her a visit!
