This morning, I was up for my usual pre-work routine: feed cat (who, as usual, woke me up earlier than I'd have liked, but that's the breaks), drink a glass of water, start heating water for my coffee, check the Interwebs. And I turned on the television. There's a certain radio program that's simulcast on a cable network, starring a certain grumpy cowboy, that I like to watch.
After a few minutes, though, I realized something: if I turned off the television, I'd have something glorious that I haven't had in a long time. That's some quiet time, just by myself.
All day long, no matter where I am, I'm surrounded by noise. At home, it's the television. At work, from the time I get there, there's noise: the conversations of the cleaning ladies out in the hallways, the sounds of students in the hallways (who don't always use inside voice), constant interruptions by the phone or by drop-in visitors, the sounds of doors slamming shut in the building (and I do mean slamming shut, since many of our building's doors have boost-assisted hinges). All of this usually interrupts whatever it is I'm trying to do, and I spend my time constantly expecting to be interrupted. It's no wonder I have the attention span of a mosquito.
Last night I was able to steal away a few moments for myself, upstairs in the workshop, listening to some tunes I haven't been able to listen to in what seems like forever, getting some bodywork done on the A-4C (which is coming along very nicely so far, thanks). It did wonders for me. I've developed a taste for it.
This morning, as I write this, I've had the television off for about an hour. (I really don't feel I've missed much, either, since the aforementioned cowboy has lately sounded like a broken record. Again.) The only sounds I've really heard have been the whir of the refrigerator motor and the occasional call of a bird outside. It's been bliss.
I'm sure that when I go to the office in a little bit, there will be plenty to interrupt me and distract me, slowly driving me bonkers. For now, though, the calm is priceless.
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