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Wednesday, 11 February 2009

Physiology of a Hug/Touch

    I was raised in a non-touchy-feely home. Though I always knew my parents loved and cared about me, we never really expressed it in physical terms.    As such, for the longest time I was pretty much a hand's off kinda guy. If I touched someone, I was probably at least dating them, if not intimate with they. As I have grown older, I find myself becoming much more of a "hugger/toucher".

     I have found out that hugs come in different forms and functions. From a friendly hug hello, to an intimate hug of invitation. Hugs of consolation, reassurance, and forgiveness. Hugs of polite acceptance, and hugs of desire. And all shades in between. Same can be said for the touch. A firm hand on the shoulder to convey support, that same touch, done more lightly could mean a tentative wish for closeness.

    I admit I am much more likely to touch/hug a female than I would a male. But a firm handshake, a clasping of the shoulder, even that one arm'ed manly hug while shaking hands is always open to my male friends.   But I have grown to truely appreciate a warm hug from a female friend.   Sometimes its just a friendly thing, I give them a hug as a greeting. The closer I feel to them the more I am likely to touch or hug them.

   Even more fun are hugs instigated by a woman. Interrpeting the hug or touch is a game. One I love to play. I am sure 99% are just what they appear to be, a friendly gesture.   But in my mind, I sometimes analye them, did that hug go longer than normal, was that touch lighter and more intimate that the last.   Call it the mind ramblings of a middle aged man who wonders if women find him attractive. (Don't worry ladies, Brenna is not the jealous type, she is one of the reasons I have turned into more of a touchy feely type)

   One of the harder things is physical contact in the workplace. Here is a perpetual minefield. While at home/play, I can hug and touch, and the only thing I have to worry about is making a BF or Husband jealous, or someone thinging I am creepy. At work, the pitfalls are varied. There a number of women in my office who, if they where SCA or other non-work related people, would get hugs, and such.   But at work, or even a work related event (like happy hour at the local pub), the hug is not a option unless its firmly and obviously started by the other party. Sexual harrasment or making a "hostile" work enviroment are real issues in the workplace. Again, a battle rages in my head, my instinct now is to touch, or give a hug, but my brain says not here.

   In conclusion, no matter what type of hug it is, I enjoy them all. Keep them coming, and accept those that I and others offer, because you never know when it will be the last.

Monday, 12 January 2009

Blah, blah, blah. 2009, New Year, etc, etc.

Here is my bullet point update.

- My new years resolution, not to use the credit cards...for anything. Cash only this year, including fixing the foundation of the house, wish me luck.

- I may not act old, and mentally I might not be old, but sometimes my body argues the point. Pulled a muscle in my neck/shoulder, just from bending over last week. Still hurts some too.

- Thinking about starting a friends gaming/get-together night once a month. Would be hosted by different people each month, we could play games, hang out, etc. In a non-SCA setting. Any interest?

- Speaking of gatherings...the Super Bowl is coming up. I usually host a party on Super Bowl Sunday. Any interest there, or would someone else like the chance? Need to check with Jager/Ronnie to see if he has plans to host one.

- Hiking with K. Couple weeks ago, K and I did an 8 mile hike on the Lone Star Trail. We didn't get lost, or shot (it was hunting season). And both where not terribly sore then next day. We plan on trying to make this a regular thing, and extending it to overnight and weekend trips when we can get her all the needed equipment.

- K is part of a Venturing Scouts group now. They plan on doing First Aid and SCUBA, among other things.. I volunteered to be their SCUBA advisor, basically answer questions, and help them out as needed. In Venture Scouts, the "kids", 14-21, run the group, the adults are there just to advise, and handle anything that requires an adult.

- I am hoping that the above motivates me to get my Rescue Diver Certification. Once that is done, the next step is DiveMaster, then Instructor. Well on my way to becoming a SCUBA diving beach bum.

- Last point for now...Winter Crown 09. Was windy, was cold. Left my cloak at home, luckly I was able to borrow one for the day. Here is my favorite set of pics.

Tuesday, 09 December 2008

Yule

I should spend a few minutes congratulating everyone who got awards at Yule. So many friends got awards. Brenna, Sara, and Anne getting their Sodalities. Mea and Ciarnat getting their Sable Cranes. And Godwin getting a Pearl. All of them well deserved, as they are all hard working members of Stargate and Ansteorra. On a lesser note, I got my Crane also. Lesser, because I am a self ackwoledged slacker, anyone out there knows I don't volunteer to do anything, sure I will help out from time to time, and I take my pictures, but I usually avoid anything to resembles prolonged work. I guess I don't really feel like I deserved it, because I don't feel like I have done any work. :) That being said, I am happy that there are ways to contribute that go beyond the norm in the SCA. And I will proudly wear my Crane because I know someone(s) felt I had contributed enough to deserve it.

    I joked with Brenna, that it had been 16 years since my last award (my AoA), and I am shooting for 20 before the next. So I will continue to be my "lazy" self.    As a side note, one I find amusing.   My Crane scroll, has the same mis-spelling of my name as my AoA scroll. LOL    Brenna fixed my name in the Order of Precedence, but apparently it was after the Award req went through. My own fault, I never had it corrected even though I knew it was wrong for years. Its two minor errors, Colwyn of Snowdon, as opposed to Collwyn O'Snowdon.

Other things of interest at Yule. Feast was very good. I normally don't find most feast all that great. But this one was very well done. The bread pudding with bourbon sauce was fantastic.   The Tower Watch was looking very spiffy. And last by not least, Brenna received her protege belt from Karl and Kasilda. I think its a great match, and I know that some day she will achieve her goal. She puts in a lot of hard work, and rarely (if ever) asks for my help. So its all her! When she does become a Pelican, it will be because she deserved it, there is no doubt.

   I will finish up with a picture I took at Yule. Little Miss A was dancing away to the drummers, and I happen to get a bit of lens flare in the form of a rainbow. This was straight out of the camera, no photoshopping.

Wednesday, 19 November 2008

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Almost all of them are wrapped..an occasional gift bag.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Usually, we use our Artificial, but if we are in the proper mood, Brenna and the girls prefer a real tree.

3. When do you put up the tree?   sometime between Thanksgiving and the week before Christmas
4.....Beuller....Beuller?
5. Do you like eggnog? not really
6. Favorite gift received as a child?   slot car racing track...why? Because it was the most memorable. We came home one Christmas after visiting my grandmother, to find it setup, with the cars running around the track. We were convinced that Santa had stopped by while we where gone and set it up.
7. Hardest person to buy for?   Everybody...:) of everybody, my Dad is pretty hard, because he doesn't collect anything, and make enough money that he could buy anything else he wanted that I could afford.
8. Easiest person to buy for?   ME! After me, the next easiest would probably be the youngest daughter.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I don't have one.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?   While I mean to do picture cards to mail out every year, it never happens.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Probably something sock or underwear related. I usually forget the bad ones. Though one year I got a brandy glass, with a cigar book, but I don't smoke, or drink brandy.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Don't really have a favorite.
13. When do you start shopping? Sometime between now and Christmas...depends on if I have a solid gift idea for someone..which usually I don't. hehe

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Maybe...for a company or white elephant exchange
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?   stocking candy...usually munch on that for a week or more.
16. Lights on the tree? wouldn't be a christmas tree without lights for me
17. Favorite Christmas song? Christmas Cookies...George Strait

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? Some years we head to Brenna's parents. Usually Christmas Eve is at my parents (across town), but Christmas day is almost always at home unless we are out of state.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Nope

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Nothing so mundane...a stuffed dragon is usually perched on top of our tree. Been doing it for years.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both...some gifts are opened at my parents on christmas eve, but the big stuff waits till Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Christmas Bills...Christmas Bills, its time to raid your wallet. While I love gift giving and receiving, my wallet doesn't.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Did I mention the dragon? There are several on my tree actually, though most of our ornaments are of the home made kid variety.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? A nice spiral cut, honey glazed ham, and all the fixings. Sometimes Turkey if we having been eating leftovers since Thanksgiving.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?   The kid+geek in me wants a Rovio, he is a bit pricey though. I will be happy with some time off from work to relax. (vacation plus holiday time means I will be off work for 11 days in a row...work a half day...off one more day)