Competing stimuli

Cow is shaking out her tired and wrinkled Topiary after returning from a trip in which the only bright spot was the aerial view of Salt Lake City from the aeroplane window.

An article (long time ago, sorry no link) stated the best way to move your mind from unpleasant occurrences is a surfeit of New Experiences, the more intense, the better.

Apparently, time not being immutable but influenced by competing stimuli. If you experience Thing A, and then nothing else remarkable for a while, Thing A remains freshly in the memory. By doing Things B-Z, Thing A is relegated by the brain back into the "dusty old news" section and it is more quickly forgotten.

Thing A in this case being a distasteful, stressful venture to resolve an elderly Topiary's difficulties.

Since returning, in order to get her Topiary sensibilities back to some semblance of normality, Cow has called every friend she has, scrubbed down her house while listening to hours of talk radio, and watched: Public Enemies (excellent); The Proposal (fun and light); "The Way Things Are Today" (British mini-series) and the entire first season of Miami Vice (from the 1980's, but the great clothes, music and cinematography still suck you in).

Topiary will now be checking on what all of you have been doing and is looking forward to playing a most charming DVD received all the way from England! Yes, what a nice surprise, Lulu (link at right) of the fabled Earwig Sandwich, has sent a sample of her film-making, which Topiary will be eagerly perusing, and a cute card. Thank you for the welcome-home gift, Lulu!

Hope you all are having a wonderful summer, except those in Australia who are apparently enjoying winter.

Moo!