Every day is a new day and with that, a new opportunity.
EVERYONE is welcome and please join us each morning at 7:30 AM PACIFIC
to tell us what you're working on, share your show & tell, vent, whatever you want...
...this is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.
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How is your memory?
Has it changed over time?
What tricks or tips do you have to help you remember things?
I've always admired people with great memories. I've always had to work hard at getting information to stick. I know the information is in there, it's getting it back out in the form of people's names, or where I'd left my keys, or the name of that vampire movie we went to last year that's the hard part.
The solution for day-to-day memory came while studying for my state board exams (which back then were only given once a year...talk about being motivated to pass the first time!) when I realized my biggest problem wasn't storage but retrieval. I studied a lot, but my greatest fear was BrainFreeze, that awful moment when you know you know the answer but it's vapor-locked somewhere in the recesses of your brain. Terrifying. A serious brain freeze will destroy your confidence and waste valuable time while you pummel your memory for the answer you just know is in there.
It's like trying to remember someone's name when they're standing right in front of you, waiting to be introduced. The harder you try the worse it gets. It's the retrieval part of memory that's holding you up.
So I made up an Inner Librarian in charge of storage and retrieval. I was in charge of input, of filling up the Librarian's inbox with data. I'd study 40-45 minutes, stacking his desk with important information, and then I'd take a 10-15 minute break and do something completely different...something physical. Sweep the floor, walk around the block, wash my hair, anything.
While I was studying the Librarian was kicked back at his desk, feet up, hands behind his back, whistling something like Big Noise From Winnetka. As soon as I stood up from my desk he'd leap into action, filing all the information I'd piled on his desk. I didn't have to know where it was stored-- that was his job. As the state board exams loomed the Librarian evolved into a bigger and wilder character in my mind. He wore roller skates so he could race about even faster, until flames shot out the backs of his heels. He grew thinner and his hair grew crazier, until he looked like a cross between Reddy Kilowatt and Carrot Top. When I came back from my break he'd plop back down at his desk and cool his jets, reading girlie magazines until my next break.
The deal I struck with him was this: Any time I needed to recall something, he'd rev up the roller skates like a bull pawing the ground, flames would shoot out, and he'd go find it for me. Trusting him to do this was essential. If I had done my part and given it to him to file, it was there in that library and he would find it, by god, though it might take him a couple of minutes to do so. If I stood at the desk tapping my feet or being impatient he wouldn't budge. For him to fly through the stacks and bring me back what I needed I had to move on to the next thing and wait for him to slap that file down on the desk for me.
It worked great for the state board, and ever since then when I've got that tip-of-the-tongue syndrome I just say, "I'll put the Librarian on it," smile pleasantly and talk a bit longer until the name or detail (usually) pops into my head.
Usually. Until a few years ago, that is. During my peri-menopausal period the Librarian got hinky for awhile. He'd go look for something and apparently get lost or distracted wandering through the archives. Apparently his filing system had broken down. Very frustrating. I'd have to give up and admit defeat, only to be woken at 3:00 AM screaming, "Tabasco sauce!" or whatever the hell it was I'd given up on remembering 8 hours earlier.
Like many women at that stage I was pretty sure I was losing my mind, or heading for early dementia. A therapist friend reassured me that some forgetfulness was perfectly fine. "It's normal to forget where you left your keys," she said. "It's not normal to forget what your keys are for." I don't know if this is absolutely true, but it was reassuring, and gradually the Librarian got used to the new hormonal landscape and got back to to racing through the stacks, finding what I need, though it still sometimes takes him hours instead of minutes to find it, and sometimes he unilaterally decides that what I want just isn't worth the bother of digging through mountains of stored trivia.
And who can blame him?
How's your memory these days?
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the New Day sunrise cloud
:: COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES ::
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Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meatspace community like SFKossacks.
We take care of each other in real life.
I urge YOU to take the lead and organize one in your region.
Please tell us about it if you do and we're here for advice.
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THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
>>>Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
NEW GROUPS IN THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING:
Send a Kosmail to the organizers and ask for an invitation to the group.
• Northern Indiana Area: Kosmail Tim Delaney
• Long Island: Kosmail grannycarol
• Northern Michigan: Kosmail JillS
• Nebraska: Kosmail Nebraska68847Dem
• Westburbia Chicago Kossacks: Kosmail Majordomo
• New York Hudson Valley Kossacks: Kosmail boran2
• North Carolina Triangle Kossacks: Kosmail highacidity
• Caprock Kossacks (Panhandle/Caprock/Lubbock/Amarillo area) : Kosmail shesaid
• West Texas Kossacks (including Big Bend Region and El Paso) : Kosmail Yo Bubba
Note to the above new leaders: Feel free to leave a comment any day reminding readers about your new group. Also, tell us about your progress in gathering members. Kosmail me when you've chosen a good name for your group and have created a the group. Then I'll move you to the NEW GROUPS LIST. When you've planned a date for your first event I'll make a banner for you to highlight your event in our diaries and your diaries.
These are the groups that have started since * NEW DAY * began. Please Kosmail navajo if you have started a group before that.
NEW GROUPS LIST:
• California Central Valley Kossacks - Formed: Jul 29, 2012, Organizer: tgypsy
• New England Kossacks - Formed: Aug 6, 2012, Organizers:
Clytemnestra for Lower New England (Conneticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island)
nhox42 for Upper New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont)
• Houston Area Kossacks - Formed: Aug 7, 2012, Organizer: Chrislove
• Kossacks in India - Formed: Aug 14, 2012, Organizer: chandu
• CenTex Kossacks - Formed: Sep 9, 2012, Organizer: papa monzano
• Central Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Sep 26, 2012, Organizer: VetGrl
• Kansas City Kossacks - Formed Oct 15, 2012, Organizer: [Founder stepped down]
• Phoenix Kossacks - Formed Oct 16, 2012, Organizer: arizonablue
• Chicago Kossacks - Formed: Oct 31, 2012, Organizer: figbash
• Koscadia the Pacific Northwest coast from Northern California to Alaska
- Formed Oct 17, 2012, Oganizer: Horace Boothroyd III based in Portland, OR
• Boston Kossacks - Formed: Nov 7, 2012, Organizer: GreyHawk
• Motor City Kossacks South East Michigan (Detroit) Area - Formed: Nov 10, 2012, Organizer: peregrine kate
• Pittsburgh Area Kossacks - Formed: Nov 12, 2012, Organizer: dweb8231
• Salt Lake City Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: War on Error
• Twin Cities Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: imonlylurking
• Dallas Kossacks North Texas - Formed: Nov 21, 2012, Admins: Catte Nappe and dalfireplug. Please contact them to join the group. An Event Organizer needed.
• The Southern California Inland Empire Kossacks - Formed: Dec 3, 2012, Organizer: SoCaliana
• Los Angeles Kossacks - Formed: Dec 17, 2012, Organizer: Dave in Northridge
• Northeast Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Jan 16, 2013, Organizer: GenXangster
• Kansas & Missouri Kossacks - Formed: Jan 17, 2013, Organizer: tmservo433
• I-77 Carolina Kossacks who live from Columbia, SC to north of Winston-Salem, NC. - Formed: Jan 30, 2013, Organizers: gulfgal98 and eeff
• Indianapolis Kossacks - Formed: Feb 6, 2013, Organizer: CityLightsLover
• Southwest Ohio Kossacks - Formed: May 10, 2013, Organizer: Dr Erich Bloodaxe RN
• Northern Arizona Kossacks - Formed: Jul 5, 2013, Organizer: Sam Sara
ESTABLISHED GROUPS LIST: (List will grow as we discover them)
• SFKossacks Founded by navajo, Formed: May 2, 2005
• Maryland Kos Founded by timmyc, Formed: Feb 23, 2011. Contact: JamieG from Md for a group invite.
• New York City Founded by Eddie C - Contact the group organizer for meet-up events: sidnora
• Baja Arizona Kossacks, Event Organizer: Azazello
• Three Star Kossacks Tennessee, Founded by maryKK, Formed: Apr 8, 2011
• Nashville KosKats, Founded by ZenTrainer Formed: Jan 30, 2012
• Virginia Kos Founded by JamieG from Md, Formed: May 3, 2011
• Kos Georgia Founded by pat208, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• Colorado COmmunity Founded by Leftcandid, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• New Mexico Kossaks Founded by claude
• Philly Kos Founded by mconvente Formed: Aug 29, 2011
• DKos Florida Founded by ThirstyGator, Formed: Feb 14, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail Vetwife to be included in next event.
• Oklahoma Roundup Founded by BigOkie, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail peacearena to be included.
• DKos Asheville Founded by davehouck, Formed: Feb 13, 2011 - Organizing Assist by: randallt
:: Events Currently on the Books for ALL Kossacks ::
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New York Hudson Valley Kossacks
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boran2
Saturday, July 13th
NY Hudson Valley Kossacks' First Meet-up
TIME: NOON
LOCATION: Hudson House
2 Main Street • Cold Spring, NY
ORGANIZER: Send boran2 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. boran2
2. thankgodforairamerica
3. betson08
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Maybees:
ask
curly
wader
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Latest diary: Hudson Valley Kossacks Meetup July 13, 2013
Thursday, July 18th
Phoenix Kossacks Meet-up for navajo
TIME: 6:15 PM Reservation name is Daily Kos
LOCATION: Rancho de Tia Rosa
3129 E. McKellips • Mesa
ORGANIZER: Send arizonablue a kosmail to attend.
navajo's in town one day, even though it's a Thursday we hope you can make it.
RSVPs:
1. arizonablue
2. Mr. arizonablue
3. navajo
4. Azazello
5. Mrs. Azazello
6. ninothemindboggler
7. Mrs. ninothemindboggler
8. thomask
9. mrs. thomask
10. BluejayRN
11. Late Again
12. Mother Mags
13. Kane in CA
14. puzzled
15. mexchewy
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Maybees:
Kane in CA
Kane in CA friend
cosmic debris
PSzymeczek
Mr PSzymeczek
Mr. Late Again
dewey in the desert
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Latest diary: Phoenix Kossacks Meetup: Welcome Navajo to The Valley of the Sun!
Saturday, July 20th
Motor City Kossacks Consider Meeting-up in Hell to welcome tgypsy
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: TBD
15 miles northwest of Ann Arbor • Hell
ORGANIZER: Send peregrine kate a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. peregrine kate
2. tgypsy
3. mideedah
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Maybees:
dkmich
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Latest diary: Motor City Kossacks: Meet-up Sat. 7/20, 12-3 PM. Could it be in Hell?
Saturday, July 20th
Southern California Inland Empire
Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 11:00 AM (Tour museum then lunch there)
LOCATION: Palm Springs Air Museum
745 North Gene Autry Trail • Palm Springs
ORGANIZER: Send SoCaliana a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. SoCaliana
2.
3.
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Maybees:
Susan from 29
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Latest diary: SCIEK: Summer Meetup Location
Saturday, July 20th
SFKossacks Welcome angelajean & Family to Elkhorn Slough, there will be otters!
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Elkhorn Slough
[map] • Moss Landing
ORGANIZER: Send lineatus a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. lineatus
2. angelajean
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, July 20th
Dkos Asheville, North Carolina Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Bywater
796 Riverside Dr. • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Randallt
2. Gordon20024
3. davehouck
4. Joieau
5. SteelerGrrl
6. SteelerGuy
7. Captain Sham
8. Smiley7
9. DawnN
10. Phil S 33
11. LamontCranston
12. Christian Dem in NC
13.
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Maybees:
eeff
Audri
gulfgal98
PearlJamSteelworker
Amy
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Latest diary: DKos Asheville Open Thread 5/18/13: Frogs and tomatoes and snakes, oh my!
Sunday, July, 21st
Northern Arizona Kossacks Meet-up with navajo
TIME: TBD, early evening
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • Sedona
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. Sam Sara
3. savano66
4.
5.
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Maybees: |
Sunday, August 4th
NYC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (Ludlow) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send Sidnora a kosmail to RSVP.
RSVPs:
1. joanbrooker
2. mconvente
3. belinda ridgewood
4. Yasuragi
5. sidnora
6. Its the Supreme Court Stupid
7. blue jersey mom
8. kathny
9. ask
10. rubyr
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11. plf515
12. thankgodforairamerica
13. No Exit
14. gchaucer2
Maybees:
Ollie Garkey
Ian Reifowitz
andgarden
wader
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Latest diary: New York City Meetup - August - Choose your date
Saturday, November 2nd
SFKossacks BBQ in the Wine Country
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Andrew McGuire's home in the Wine Country
Address to be given privately to RSVPs • Windsor
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
Andrew McGuire is Executive Director of California One Care
RSVPs:
1. Andrew McGuire
2. navajo
3. Shockwave
4. Hunter
5. elfing
6. Hunter/elfling offspring
7. smileycreek
8. paradise50
9. dharmasyd
10. maggiejean
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11. norm
12. Lusty
13. dksbook
14. Mr. dksbook
15. kimoconnor
16. jpmassar
17. side pocket
18. Mrs. side pocket
Maybees:
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Send navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?