Mike

• 12:15 New post - 5 Google Wave Invites - www.mindreap.com/2009/11/17/5-google-wave-invites/ #

Originally published at Riding the Wind. You can comment here or there.

As some of you may know, I’ve recently embarked again on the path to higher education. I’m in an Access Course for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at City College Norwich. Should I do well enough in this course, I should be able to get into University next year and start my degree. I’d like most of all to get into the English Literature and Creative Writing program at the University of East Anglia, so I’m hoping that will happen. My current classes are Cultural Studies, History and English Literature and so far, I’m really enjoying them. I recently finished the first units of these classes, for which I was required to write some essays. I’ve posted those up in the Finished Writing Projects section, for anyone interested in reading them. They’re probably a bit dry, but feel free if you want to:

History – The Key Changes of the Industrial Revolution of Great Britain

English – Close Reading of a Passage of Hard Times

Cultural Studies – Conflicting Attitudes to Class in 1950s Britain

• 15:13 Haven't updated in ages, but I'm now staying in the UK (moving into Norwich) and am doing an access course (Uni next year). How are you? #
• 15:27 My wife's Etsy shop got featured as part of the Weekend Deals article in the Storque. owlonthesill.etsy.com - 20% off until tomorrow #

• 22:40 Over 10 years since I gave up on higher education, I'm on track to give it another try full time. #

Originally published at Riding the Wind. You can comment here or there.

I’ve recently taken up walking and running again for exercise and went out today just after a thunderstorm. Everything was wet and glistening, the birds were out grabbing worms and the scent of foliage and rain was in the air. It was wonderful. I’ve resolved to try to go out more often just after the rain, even at the risk of getting a little wet and muddy. It’s so worth it.

On another note, HandRooster is back in business and has a redesigned site and I’ve been writing on simplicity, productivity, technology, happiness, etc over at my new site, mindreap. I fully intend on posting on Riding the Wind in the same way I always have, so don’t worry about that.

• 00:55 New mindreap post: bit.ly/owwA2 #
• 16:20 welcome to my wife, @owlonthesill #

• 00:39 New mindreap post -
  bit.ly/OlGji #

• 12:44 @Shelbz5445 you need to use this more often. You've only got 1 tweet! #
• 15:50 Procrastinating on job search. Just thought I'd plug my wife's craft site - she's been working hard on that stuff: owlonthesill.com #

• 12:22 Landed in Heathrow a little while ago. Been a long journey so far but I still have a 3 hour bus ride to go. Hurrah for bus station wi-fi. #

• 16:57 Still in Coeur d'Alene - today is the annual Ironman competition so it's crazy here. I go back to the UK tomorrow, this time for real. #

• 23:36 I was supposed to leave for the UK on Monday but I'm staying a week longer to look for jobs. So far, no great success story. #

• 22:05 In Coeur d'Alene (finally) for the next 2 weeks. I slept for an eternity and feel much better now. Hope everyone is having a great day. #

• 22:49 Made it to Denver, one flight to go. So far it has been an arduous journey, full of the manifestations of hell itself. #

• 12:28 @burbs we've been using Spotify for a couple of months already :p #
• 20:22 Leaving at 2am tonight for the airport I'm off to the US for 2 weeks. Can't wait for the painful journey. #
• 20:24 Forgot the period. Leaving at 2am tonight for the airport. I'm off to the US for 2 weeks. Can't wait for the painful journey. There. #

• 13:53 New mindreap post: bit.ly/mOIoi #

• 01:39 launched my new website: mindreap.com #

• 18:28 got a job offer, but not a good one :| #

• 11:01 Saw the new Star Trek movie last night. I'm pretty impressed. I think they did a good job at maintaining the feel while updating things. #

• 04:07 The Night Watchman: bit.ly/y4m34 #

Originally published at Riding the Wind. You can comment here or there.

Frozen by the shining sun, my mind is set alight by her long breaths. Liquidity. My transformation is complete as full dark slips over the world. I stare at her face, so peaceful in its repose. The ache of my love is so strong now that I fear it will wake her. My mind races across our life together, finding pain. I immerse myself in it so that it can’t defile her.

I am the night watchman.

I guard the innocent light of the day, battling darkness so that the sleeper can rest without worry. Silently waiting for the next wave of foes, I direct my gaze to the window and wait for the birds to sing.