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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:45:23 GMT--><rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:rss="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:admin="http://webns.net/mvcb/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:cc="http://web.resource.org/cc/"><rss:channel rdf:about="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/"><rss:title>My Older Thoughts</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/</rss:link><rss:description></rss:description><dc:language>en-US</dc:language><dc:date>2012-02-12T12:45:23Z</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.squarespace.com/">Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</admin:generatorAgent><rss:items><rdf:Seq><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/28/all-hail-the-new-season.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/27/tutelary-celebrant.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/26/mess-of-green.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/26/the-way-we-live-now.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/25/settling-and-growing.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/24/lets-just-stick-with-that-theme-shall-we.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/23/on-being-my-own-biggest-time-suck.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/21/lines-and-curls.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/21/posted.html"/><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/20/reticulata.html"/></rdf:Seq></rss:items></rss:channel><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/28/all-hail-the-new-season.html"><rss:title>All hail the new season.</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/28/all-hail-the-new-season.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Dr. S</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-03-28T23:07:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/Sc-ApNZR-FI/AAAAAAAAEnw/PWbDa0vDOBo/s1600-h/newness.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/Sc-ApNZR-FI/AAAAAAAAEnw/PWbDa0vDOBo/s400/newness.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318611130406533202" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br/>For now, my world is these spots of green, these shoots of new, dotted with fuzz and damp.  Sharpnesses go soft; ground prepares to disappear for the next half-year.  I pass the woods daily, wonder whether I should tramp and traipse and risk mud and groundsink before the poisonous weeds block me for the summer.  Instead I strain toward tiny leaves, crouch to fallen blossoms, watch the world seed itself over.  Instead I get closer to what I can already reach.  Instead I practice focus.  Instead I fight the impulse to autopilot.</p><p></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/Sc-BzQuLlUI/AAAAAAAAEn4/rQNYYe9sP4s/s1600-h/blooms.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/Sc-BzQuLlUI/AAAAAAAAEn4/rQNYYe9sP4s/s400/blooms.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318612402609820994" border="0" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/27/tutelary-celebrant.html"><rss:title>Tutelary celebrant.</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/27/tutelary-celebrant.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Dr. S</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-03-27T22:02:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/Sc9_oq0FTXI/AAAAAAAAEno/FDVaHXcuuAA/s1600-h/celebrant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/Sc9_oq0FTXI/AAAAAAAAEno/FDVaHXcuuAA/s400/celebrant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318610021612080498" border="0" /></a><br/><span style="font-family: times new roman;">He has been out there for just as long as this blog has been alive, and so this March marks the fourth time he's waited to welcome you to spring.</span></p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/26/mess-of-green.html"><rss:title>Mess of green.</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/26/mess-of-green.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Dr. S</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-03-26T22:45:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/Sc9_BT0t9ZI/AAAAAAAAEng/fwtKAzKxaHg/s1600-h/green.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/Sc9_BT0t9ZI/AAAAAAAAEng/fwtKAzKxaHg/s400/green.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318609345425831314" border="0" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/26/the-way-we-live-now.html"><rss:title>The way we live now.</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/26/the-way-we-live-now.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Dr. S</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-03-26T01:55:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/Sc9-DKW3K5I/AAAAAAAAEnY/CiOAHN7dxbY/s1600-h/more+blooms.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/Sc9-DKW3K5I/AAAAAAAAEnY/CiOAHN7dxbY/s400/more+blooms.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318608277732797330" border="0" /></a><br/><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/Sc9-DBFHnNI/AAAAAAAAEnQ/_XTRgARDNeE/s1600-h/blooming.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/Sc9-DBFHnNI/AAAAAAAAEnQ/_XTRgARDNeE/s400/blooming.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318608275242458322" border="0" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/25/settling-and-growing.html"><rss:title>Settling and growing.</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/25/settling-and-growing.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Dr. S</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-03-25T02:56:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/ScmdiVoCwCI/AAAAAAAAEnI/06pOEcpEDUM/s1600-h/houses.jpg"><img style="margin: 10px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/ScmdiVoCwCI/AAAAAAAAEnI/06pOEcpEDUM/s400/houses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316954048333791266" border="0" /></a><br/><span style="font-family:times new roman;">It's been a day for feeling my way through things, which is a more difficult and more worthwhile process than the kinds of fixes for which I reached when I was younger and knew less.  </span></p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/24/lets-just-stick-with-that-theme-shall-we.html"><rss:title>Let's just stick with that theme, shall we?</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/24/lets-just-stick-with-that-theme-shall-we.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Dr. S</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-03-24T01:46:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Then his production values get better!  And it turns out that he's the son of Jimmy Choo (yes, </span><i style="font-family: times new roman;">that</i><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> Jimmy Choo).</p><p><object style="font-family: times new roman;" height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t7X9MQi7uOU&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t7X9MQi7uOU&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object></p><p><object style="font-family: times new roman;" height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m0JZO0wga94&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m0JZO0wga94&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object></p><p><object style="font-family: times new roman;" height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/evQ0QNi2CzA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/evQ0QNi2CzA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object></p><p>It is all the more important that we dance today, and dance well, because my brother is now thirty.  For real.  I can't believe it either.<br/></span></p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/23/on-being-my-own-biggest-time-suck.html"><rss:title>On being my own biggest time suck.</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/23/on-being-my-own-biggest-time-suck.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Dr. S</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-03-23T01:10:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/ScbiAFlDMgI/AAAAAAAAEnA/Ml3SsdRUGlM/s1600-h/greys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/ScbiAFlDMgI/AAAAAAAAEnA/Ml3SsdRUGlM/s400/greys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316184901282902530" border="0" /></a><br/><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Perhaps the thing I hate most about grading--much of which experience, for me, is taken up with having grading to do but very actively not wanting to do it--is that it helps enable my worst time-sucking capabilities.  Or at least so I tell myself, here at the end of a weekend wherein I swore I would finish a batch of papers that, realistically, there was no way I'd finish.  I'm approaching the halfway point, which should feel like a small triumph, and I'm chugging along through it and doing my very best--as, it turns out, did my students.  It's possible that I've never received such a strong batch of essays all from one class.  And so I sit here and hold myself down for one paper and then let myself float off for a few minutes, and then I hold myself down for another paper and then let myself float off for a few more minutes.  Right now--as you surely must know--I'm floating.  Off.</p><p>On the other hand!  If I didn't have to grade, not only would I stop getting paychecks, but I'd also probably never discover things like this:</p><p><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bygdRMCwC6s&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bygdRMCwC6s&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object></p><p>The dude at 1:11 is priceless.<br/></span></p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/21/lines-and-curls.html"><rss:title>Lines and curls.</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/21/lines-and-curls.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Dr. S</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-03-21T12:57:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/ScY2gBHIYNI/AAAAAAAAEm4/0P2abECvNlw/s1600-h/grasses+%284%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/ScY2gBHIYNI/AAAAAAAAEm4/0P2abECvNlw/s400/grasses+%284%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315996333839507666" border="0" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/21/posted.html"><rss:title>Posted.</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/21/posted.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Dr. S</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-03-21T02:55:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/ScY1dzI0DKI/AAAAAAAAEmw/3h7osEXt25U/s1600-h/IMG_3816.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/ScY1dzI0DKI/AAAAAAAAEmw/3h7osEXt25U/s400/IMG_3816.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315995196217101474" border="0" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/20/reticulata.html"><rss:title>Reticulata.</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.cabinetofdistractions.org/imported-data/2009/3/20/reticulata.html</rss:link><dc:creator>Dr. S</dc:creator><dc:date>2009-03-20T03:33:00Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/ScMO1hsvrXI/AAAAAAAAEmo/TbmJ9Qtuhmw/s1600-h/iris.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LL4eUWDbbyk/ScMO1hsvrXI/AAAAAAAAEmo/TbmJ9Qtuhmw/s400/iris.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315108297969216882" border="0" /></a><br/><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Suddenly this year, in addition to all the tiny crocuses, we have tiny irises all over downtown. Bulbous  splendor (for it turns out that these little ones aren't rhizomatic--who knew?)!  Thank goodness for those who think ahead for us.</p><p>Vitality is on my mind this week--as in, what sustains it?  And what swamps it?  I feel myself being drawn off in every direction, and putting on clamps to staunch my outward flow is probably not going to be easy or entirely well-received, as choices go.  And yet.  <br/></span></p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item></rdf:RDF>
