The Whisper...and a challenge

[sundial]

So, I listened to the silence...and it's amazing what you hear in the whisper of silence

I love the silence found in a snowfall. There is nothing more peaceful to me.

[Crankin]

Ditto for the silence in a snowfall. I like it when everything stops as normal and it feels like a holiday.
Probably why my cell phone is never on, except for when I have to call someone (rare). Same reason I don't have an I Phone, Blackberry, or Skype with relatives I really don't want to talk to or see. Obviously, I do use the Internet, but compared to most people, not excessively. Don't do video games either. I'm not against them, it's just too overstimulating. In fact, I rarely watch a movie or listen to music. I only use my I Pod at the gym, never when I'm outside. Oddly, I do watch the news every day. I am too much of a political junkie to turn the TV off. And, I read at least one newspaper and several magazines a week.
Last week my brother in law told me to get into the 21st century. I laughed at him. I do have a lot of these electronic things in my house, but I feel like we have forgotten how to hear what is really going on in the world. I live in a "woodsy" suburb, to some it would be rural. But, the highway is only 3/4 of a mile away. I find that after having to go into the city for class twice a week, I cannot wait to get home. I never thought I would say this, but all of the people rushing everywhere gets to me. I mean, I love the cultural aspects of the city and I couldn't live in the sticks, but I have become more of a country person who likes to be outside with nature. I guess I can thank cycling for that, because about two years before I started riding, we were ready to sell our house and move to the city.

[lph]

Funny - I find I'm equally addicted to quiet, when I need it, and music, when I need that. I have a large office to myself and am used to working in quiet surroundings, and I'll frequently close the door completely so I can concentrate. I love being home alone and enjoying the almost total silence we can get here in the evenings. I get quite antsy quite fast if my son has friends over and they get a bit loud, and I have a very low tolerance for the sound of a baby crying or small kids whining or throwing tantrums.

But I love passionately listening to music when I exercise, I've always loved dancing, aerobics, the more energetic the music the better, and I love riding with music. It recharges me and makes me feel stronger and faster and enthusiastic.

I think I'm just quite sensitive to what hits my ears. I'm not very good at filtering it out, and it affects me whether I like it or not. I'm also easily affected by soppy commercials or emotional movies and the like, and will start sniffling at the drop of a Save the Children ad

[wackyjacky1]

This morning as I was gearing up to ride to work (about 3:45 a.m.) I heard an owl hooting in a nearby tree. It was kinda spooky, but reassuring at the same time.