Archive for June, 2008
June 25th, 2008 by Corey A. Edwards
(this post is part of an aborted 1 year experiment in material abstinence I called The Necessary Year)

Do you ever rub your eyes?
You know, balling up your hands and working those knuckles gently but firmly into the muscles of your eye sockets until the skin is red and tender? I also use the sides and pads of my thumbs, even the heel of my hand to work away a fatigue I often don’t even know exists until I begin massaging it away.
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Tags: Allergies, Conservation, Eyes, Materialism
Posted in The Necessary Year | 5 Comments »
June 23rd, 2008 by Corey A. Edwards
(this post is part of an aborted 1 year experiment in material abstinence I called The Necessary Year)

Have you ever been physically addicted to anything?
If not, pat yourself on the back for having avoided one of the more annoying pitfalls of corporeal existence and continue to endeavor to stay addiction free because breaking the chains of a physical addiction is a pain in the butt.
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Tags: Addiction, Conservation, Food, Materialism, Nicotine, Smoking, Tobacco
Posted in The Necessary Year | 2 Comments »
June 22nd, 2008 by Corey A. Edwards
(this post is part of an aborted 1 year experiment in material abstinence I called The Necessary Year)
As mentioned previously, no man is an island and further, being a family man, there are certain financial obligations that are simply unavoidable but that would otherwise seem to be flying directly in the face of The Necessary Year.
Certainly I could play the immovable object and insist that the earth and everyone on it revolve around my whims but I don’t function like that. I believe that one can hold true to their core ideals without being a pain in the ass to those around them – and that the world is often a better place when you do.
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Tags: Conservation, Family, Materialism, Parenting, Socializing
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June 20th, 2008 by Corey A. Edwards
(this post is part of an aborted 1 year experiment in material abstinence I called The Necessary Year)

Ah. The residence. Shelter: one of my base three requirements. Talk about a necessity – especially up here in “dang, is it raining again?!?” country.
For the past ten years, I have been living near and working in a community that has a lot of folks living what the rest of the US would consider alternative (if not just outright whacked) lifestyles. I don’t mean same-sex partnerships or tinfoil hats (although there is plenty of that around here, as well) but living with a concerted emphasis on being “green”, with “green” meaning everything from how they try to live in harmony with the environment to the color of their teeth.
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Tags: Conservation, Divorce, Housing, Materialism, Renting
Posted in The Necessary Year | 2 Comments »
June 15th, 2008 by Corey A. Edwards
(this post is part of an aborted 1 year experiment in material abstinence I called The Necessary Year)

I had a pretty good weekend – I hope you did, too.
Sunday was Father’s Day and, while my dad was out of town, I was still able to call him and chat for a few minutes. It was great to hear his voice even if it was over a lousy cell-phone connection.
I wasn’t too close to my dad while growing up – much the opposite to be honest – but now, with both of us adults and decades of experience between the was and is of our lives, we’ve grown to not only respect but like each other.
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Tags: Conservation, Father's Day, Materialism, Parenting
Posted in The Necessary Year | 5 Comments »
June 13th, 2008 by Corey A. Edwards
(this post is part of an aborted 1 year experiment in material abstinence I called The Necessary Year)

And I thought cutting back on fluids was hard.
Zappa.com just announced a new CD and I’m sitting over here having a hard time with the reality that I’m going to have to wait a year to order it.
I’ve never done that before. Waited, I mean. Not for a new Zappa album.
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Tags: Collecting, Conservation, Frank Zappa, Materialism, Music, Toys
Posted in The Necessary Year | 2 Comments »
June 12th, 2008 by Corey A. Edwards
(this post is part of an aborted 1 year experiment in material abstinence I called The Necessary Year)

Here are some interesting questions from one “Ms Sunshine”:
Since you took it a step further and seriously rationed your coffee and food, have you also curtailed your driving (i.e., only going to grocery store on way home from work, no joyrides, etc.)?
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Tags: Conservation, Frank Zappa, Materialism, Tea
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June 11th, 2008 by Corey A. Edwards
(this post is part of an aborted 1 year experiment in material abstinence I called The Necessary Year)

Employment’s Necesities
I am presently employed as a graphic designer at a magazine, though it was not long ago that I was manager of a bookstore and, given the nature of our economy and the general stability of periodicals, there is no telling what job I’ll have when next I post to this blog – or if I‘ll be lucky enough to be employed at all.
But the question is, what does my job – or my career – require me to have?
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Tags: Conservation, Employment, Materialism, Travel
Posted in The Necessary Year | 3 Comments »
June 10th, 2008 by Corey A. Edwards
(this post is part of an aborted 1 year experiment in material abstinence I called The Necessary Year)

I thought I was pretty clear in my opening post and in the “About Me” portion of this blog, but obviously I wasn’t; too many people keep asking me the same question.
“Why are you doing this?”
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Tags: Conservation, Materialism
Posted in The Necessary Year | 5 Comments »
June 3rd, 2008 by Corey A. Edwards
(this post is part of an aborted 1 year experiment in material abstinence I called The Necessary Year)
Well, my first day out of the house during The Necessary Year (yesterday) saw me spend a total of $147.28. As I drove home I eyed the groceries and gas gauge thinking: “Is all this really necessary?”

A good friend of mine just sent an excellent email regarding The Necessary Year and I’d like to share parts of it with you:
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Tags: Conservation, Materialism
Posted in The Necessary Year | 3 Comments »
June 1st, 2008 by Corey A. Edwards
(this post is part of an aborted 1 year experiment in material abstinence I called The Necessary Year)
I’m feeling optimistic but also a bit nervous. Thinking about doing something is one thing, committing to it publicly is another. This reminds me of when I told my daughter I would quit smoking, right then: well, you’re committed now! Here’s to hoping this goes off as smoothly as that did.
As a kind of “last supper” I walked down the hill last night and picked up a bottle of Sheaf stout and some Toll House ice cream sandwiches. I drank the beer with supper (so good and creamy!) but became so embroiled in getting this blog up that I forgot about dessert! I guess I can save them for later – unless my daughter beats me to them.
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Tags: Collecting, Conservation, Japanese, Kaiju, M1-Gou, Materialism, Monster, Paint, Sofubi, Toys, Ultra Q, Ultraman, VColor, Vinyl
Posted in The Necessary Year | 3 Comments »