Fri, May 16 2008 by John.

Just a quick overview of the purpose of this blog…..

Commemorate and document our journey AWAY from the rat race into Section 2 of our lives. We thought about calling it “the next chapter” in our lives but that seems too small. Our purpose, our intent and our mental instability have lead us to believe that we need a new life. Not a change. Not a new view on things. A new life. From top to bottom. Right to left. Over, under, beneath, beside, between, beyond, but, by, despite, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into …. sorry 6th grade English brainwashing took over control of my cerebral cortex …. just another prime example of how society has corrupted our brains. In fact, that was a perfect example of WHY we need to leave the rat race. Why we NEED to find a life of our own, a life we select, a life we desire and a life we can live with. A life on OUR terms. A life WE define. Not a life lived in service of society and what society believes to be a “life.”

To that end, we’re beginning to sell off all our stuff. After all, how can we start Section 2 using the same characters, plots, themes and objects found in Section 1? Wouldn’t be much of a new Section, would it? Besides, the plan is to live in an RV with all four of our dogs (no that is NOT a typo) while traveling around the US looking for fun work. We can’t fit much into an RV so to market we go! As we create time, we’ll begin posting “for sale” signs on this site. We will consider all _reasonable_ offers so please, don’t offer $50 for the brand new (yet older model) Bosch ovens I just posted. You know darn good and well that you’re not going to find a brand new Bosch oven for much less than $1500. And no, I am not actually living in Section 2 yet so Section 1 rules for tactful bargaining still apply!

More details to come in the days ahead. Section 2 HERE WE COME!

PS - Told ya … 4 dogs … big and small … black and white …. all in an RV!!!!

PS - Feel free to post your own comments, we just ask that you keep them appropriate.

Posted in John's Ramblings, Blogroll | 2 Comments »

Fri, May 16 2008 by Vanessa.

So, I’m thinking that now is the time to start seriously debating my rules of engagement for this newfangled blog thing we have going on here. I’m taking notes from the Wondrous Being of Light and Splendor (AKA Heather from dooce.com) and her realization, after starting her blog, that boundaries need to be created right away. I have some emotional issues with separation and I have a good feeling that it would greatly sadden me to realize that some number of years ago I wrote some stuff that I need to throw away today, for one reason or another. Not making sense? Here’s an applicable example: I found myself in a slightly less than medium-level of emotional turmoil when I made the day-crushing realization (many years ago) that I needed to throw away a backpack that my mother had given me as part of my making-the-varsity-volleyball-team present. It was a lovely purple JanSport backpack … remember the kind with just a bit of fake leather on the bottom? Do they still make those I wonder? Anyway, I had sewed the ragged thing up I don’t know how many times in an attempt to extend its lifetime and finally I realized that my days as a backpack surgeon were over. I needed to put the backpack to rest. We had been through so much though. Walks outdoors, late nights at the library, games, field trips … we went everywhere together, my backpack and I. Yes, I had an emotional bond with my backpack. Not sure if the feelings were mutual (although I’m sure they were) and therefore, letting my backpack go was very difficult. So difficult in fact that I’ve blocked out all memory of its disposal. Wonder what I did with it….

Anyway, I believe this example proves, at least to myself, that I need to define my boundaries and figure out what I will post and what I won’t. Although …. that’s not much fun, now is it?

Okay, instead of that, I’m going to decide, right here and right now, that all my Titles will have a common theme …. not original but common!

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