Examining the baggage

Everything we see, everything we do, and everything we experience leaves a mark on who we are. And every mark influences our reaction to those things happening or threatening to happen again. We call this massive set of conflicting impulses the 'baggage', and it's one of the hardest things to deal with. Baggage has an added connotation in that we carry it around and it slows us down. That's why we have to deal with it and put it all away. It's actually a rather crude metaphor but one which works powerfully.

Oh, baggage, why must you linger so? All this talk is pertinent as once again I must return to Nottingham, the scene of one of the longest and most gruelling doctorates that can be imagined and much accessorised trauma. It's like going back to a battlefield with only half an ego and shellshock, but it's not an unfamiliar sensation. For years every trip back to gorgeous Aberystwyth had that same sensation, due to the numerous odd incidents that occurred there. That's the nature of baggage, and only with a spell of working there did that stigma get broken, and it become lovely again.

Baggage really shouldn't be left to fester, but dealt with somehow. If baggage is equivalent to your past, then it's a past with which we need to make peace. Or wave flags at and laugh in sheer defiance! No, peace is better, but it takes time and is probably not the thing to be doing while trying to secure a job. In any case, why be so gloomy? The best way to deal with baggage, to make new grooves in the brain and get away from the old gloomy ones, is to make positive experiences in that activity or environment. So it went with Aberystwyth and so it could go with Nottingham, if the stars align correctly. Oh, you stars had better align with me getting back to Aberystwyth or Nottingham again or there shall be cosmic retribution...

COSMIC RETRIBUTION!

Okay, that's enough, now we can put all the maudlin stuff away and move on to happier things. For instance, I began the massive 'Star Trek' original series run through and that series is still amazing. It really is, despite the occasional chauvinism and exploitation (hello android Andrea, we're talking about you), a marvel of intelligent creativity which retains that quality even in the underpowered and sabotaged third season of doom. Expect much Star Trek talk, unless the stars align cruelly and I have to work again. Oh, what horror it would be to have to work again! 'Star Trek' had quite the personal stigma attached to it for ages too. It's broken now, huzzah.

And now, until Friday, the Quirky Muffin rests as I skip an entry due to interview. Any of the numerous imaginary readers should take an aspirin and sleep through the week until I return. If successful, there will be a small column of smoke symbols and then a small silent fireworks display to indicate the sheer joy of finally getting through an interview successfully. Oh, yes, it would be the first time! Lets see if this can be the first successful interview of the whole lifetime so far.

Banzai!
O.