Social Graces

Recently I was out having coffee with a friend when I was approached by a young lady that noticed I was wearing my Windsor Air show T-shirt. With a full colour graphic of Canada’s CF-18 on the front it served to spark a conversation about aircraft, air shows and her interest in flight and the military. Chit-chat was initiated and what started out as pleasant short conversation about the air show quickly dragged into a one sided monologue about her views on politics, immigration, her family history, travels abroad etc, etc, etc. Not wanting to be rude but realizing that this person had nothing but time on their hands and no qualms about taking over our evening I proceeded to drop hints that we wanted to resume our conversation. Averting our glances, reading magazines and shifting in our seats did little to phase this person and even a “Well it was nice talking to you” had no effect. Clearly she was on a mission with no apparent end in sight.
There are unwritten rules that exist for a myriad of social situations occurring in everyday life. A three to five minute chat in a store with a stranger or casual acquaintance seems to be a universally acceptable timetable. Cornering someone for 10 or 15 minutes with a rambling dialogue throws up a flag that social graces may be absent or skewed. Here's another one. When is too late to call someone on the phone? 10 o’clock? 11 o’clock? This is totally variable but must still be considered depending on who you’re calling. Some of my friends I can call just about anytime. I don’t generally call my parents or people I don’t know that well much past 10 during the week.
Personal space is another pet peeve of mine. Western civilization places a distance of 24 – 36 inches as an acceptable distance to interact with people on a casual basis. Gender, environment and other factors may affect this number. Other cultures around the world may find closer (or farther) contact the norm. Once again social graces come into play.
Don’t get me wrong, I love good conversation and will stop and talk to just about anyone if they have something to say. But sometimes you gotta know when to cut it off. Call me on the phone too but if it rings at 3:00 AM I’m thinking the worst. And as far as personal space there is an old song by The Police that sums it up “Don’t Stand” (so close to me)
So the next time you’re out look around and observe how people interact. Different environments will affect peoples behaviour, what they say and how they say it. Altered states of mind will also have an impact on conduct as well but that’s another blog entry.
Cheers

Looking at Life Through a Camera Lens

Attitudes and opinions are like camera lenses. Wide angle, telephoto, macro, fisheye all provide a unique view of the world in which we live and shape our perception of things around us. Some people live life with a wide view, taking in everything around them and seeing the big picture with an open mind. Others are intensely concentrated on things far away creating a “tunnel vision” mentality while a few focus on events and situations with microscopic detail. By putting your camera down for a minute and looking at things in an unadulterated state you sometimes see things as they really are.
For many in todays world, perception is reality with our choice of “lenses” forming our outlook on life. Changing situations, advancing years, triumph, tragedy and fate all conspire to cause us to look through different lenses from time to time.
What kind of lens are you looking through today??

Photo by: Jessica Fairhurst

Dog Days of Summer

The arrival of Labour Day weekend has a definte psychological effect on me each year. The unofficial end of summer, it brings mixed emotions as I reflect on all of the summer activities and events that transpired. The Red Bull Air Races, Bluesfest, Windsor International Airshow and the many festivals, fairs and concerts all combined to entertain the people of Windsor/Essex and Metro Detroit area. Hopefully you got out to some of these events and support the efforts of the volunteers and organizers.

Regrettably one of my favorite happenings, The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix will not be held this year due the area current economic state. This high octane display of competition and horsepower served to bookend the summer season and provide a yearly fix for open wheel racing enthusiasts such as myself.

We are blessed to live in area where there is so to do and see and maybe sometimes take it all for granted. Supporting local events is not only a great way to get out and see friends and experience different cultures but also stimulates the economy and provides a living for many of the hard working individuals who are involved.

With the fall season knocking on our door (you mean its going to get cooler?) take the opportuntity to make the most of the season while its still nice out. Go for a walk, get out that bicycle, go out on the boat or take a long motorcycle ride just for fun. We'll be cursing the cold and snow soon enough. Oops did I say snow? A thousand lashes with a shovel and a handful of road salt down my back for that one.

Live it up!

Welcome to this Blog

So, this is my blog. I'll be making every effort to post my thoughts up here as often as possible for everyone to read and evaluate. I am generally an inquisitive soul and not subject to thinking along the lines of the staus quo so I will try to make the subject matter varied as well as interesting. The swirling mass of change that the world is now (and always has been) not only creates diversity but serves to initiate action on the part of people to do things that they have not done before. Despite the potential pain this can be a good thing.

As someone who is most comfortable living on the far right of left of life my posts will address topics and subjects at both local, national and international. At times they may sound like rants but hey, thats what this space is for sit down, hang on and enjopy the ride

Tim