Hi yet again, James!  This is the last installment of the current series:

JB>  I'm pretty sure I've presented my frustration with an
JB>  even temperament, and a clause "I know you mean well,
JB>  but..." I've told mom MANY times that if someone tries
JB>  to play me any more whale music, I'm RUNNING out of
JB>  their office, dressed or not. White noise is more
JB>  relaxing.


           We have a recording of Paul Horn playing with whales... and
while it is interesting the first time or two I wouldn't want a steady diet
of it.  Then there's the type of thing which features seagulls, waves
crashing on the shore, and a violinist who rambles aimlessly for forty-five
minutes with an occasional flurry of contrived excitement.  It doesn't do
much for me at all.  Many people seem to feel it is (or should be)
relaxing, however, and that gives me an idea.

           I don't know your mother, but I'm reminded of a situation some
years ago in which I was talking to a friend about chicken pox.  She
insisted chicken pox isn't dangerous.  I provided ample evidence that it's
dangerous for certain categories of people... including pregnant women
& children whose immune system is compromised.  She kept insisting
chicken pox isn't dangerous & I kept coming up with more evidence.  I'd
have been willing to concede that it's probably not dangerous for the
majority of folks... but she never offered any explanation as to how she
had arrived at her conclusion & I wanted her to understand our point of
view.  There was no vaccine at the time & Nora was at risk.  Although
one of the risk factors was that others took chicken pox lightly I didn't
go there.  I don't know whether our friend got the message or just learned
not to argue with me about it... but eventually she quietened down, in my
presence at least.

           I suspect what you really want is for your mother to understand
that although "whale music" may seem relaxing to some people...
possibly even to the majority of other people... it doesn't affect you the
same way.  If your mother doesn't understand, I'm sure it's disappointing. 
One would expect one's mother to understand such things.  But our friend is
a lot like my mother in some ways too, and there are many things my mother
never really understood about me.  :-/



JB>  I was in Vancouver on Sept. 11 '01. Let's just say
JB>  some of the conversations were *interesting.*


           Uh-huh.  Adversity brings out both the best & the worst in
people... and I suspect a lot of people in Vancouver were feeling quite
vulnerable at the time.  So what did you hear which you found especially
interesting?  :-)



AH>  However, I may be able to suggest a few books when
AH>  you're done with the stuff your sister found....  ;-)

JB>  ...And I've finished this Linux study, and my doctor
JB>  and I finish sousing out my situation, and I get my
JB>  house livable again...


           Okay.  My father was always complaining about how he had too
much to do... but he made it to 95 in good health.  I expect no less from
you....  :-))




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+