I’ve been noticing something lately: people in general, including myself at times, are really bad about interrupting each other. Sometimes it’s coincidental and unintentional – people simply start talking at the same time and continue until one or both stop out of courtesy. Sometimes a person is telling a story when a listener (such as myself on many occasions) jumps in with a question or comment that interrupts the story. It’s less annoying when the interjection is on-topic, maybe a clarifying question or an “active listening” comment that assures the storyteller that the listener is indeed listening. But some people (listen up, b/c you DON’T know who you are) jump in with completely off-topic comments that derail the discussion and attempt to move it somewhere else entirely. Some people are so bad about this, you aren’t sure they were even listening to the conversation they derailed. Your homework for the next few days is to pay attention to the conversations you hear: both what others say and what you say. Is it an actual conversation or merely a cacophony? Do the speakers seem to respect each other and value each other’s opinions, or is each person simply itching to jump in and enlighten the group with his/her own comments?

In other news, if you want to see an outstanding performance by an actor in a leading role, rent The Last King of Scotland and watch Forest Whitaker at the top of his game. The movie is about Idi Amin, the charismatic but brutal dictator of Uganda in the 1970s.

I’m set to leave for Alaska next Friday for a couple days of salmon fishing and bear watching with Dad. I finally ordered a new digital camera with a good zoom, hoping it will arrive in time for me to take it on the trip. This trip will involve many firsts: first visit to Alaska, first attempt to fly standby on another airline (Alaska Airlines), first attempt at salmon fishing, and first ride in a floatplane. Should be fun!