Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
1) Today started very early. I am, apparently, a ‘morning person’. Given a choice of getting up extra early or staying up extra late, I’ll pick the former every time. So, today,while not particularly unusual in (my) getting-up-time, saw me out on the road extra early… as the photos indicate, about sunrise.
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…I was driving –> on my way in to my office. Good to have technology to be able to grab the photos as I drove.
2) (I’m really determined to write a normal, orderly TToT Post this week. Not that anyone is suggesting or otherwise attempting to compel me to do so, it’s just that for me it’s difficult and therefore accomplishing it would be a good thing. I am grateful to Christine and Dyanne and the other co-hostinae who are skilled grat list writers, for their encouragement and, in their own contributions here each week, demonstrate of ‘how to write a grat list… here and now style’!*
3) Phyllis had a birthday recently and, as a present, I thought….’hey! real people send flowers to loved ones at their place of work as a surprise‘. The pleasure of such gestures is, by all appearances, enhanced by the public-ness of the gift receiving process. I suspect that this is a X Chrome thing, as it seems to be all about… the ‘awwws’ Of course, I am a clark, which would have become totally obvious had you the opportunity to observe, as I went online to the FDA online florist site (FDA online florist site motto: ‘ You’re at home in your bathroom with a cup of coffee… you can afford to be extra romantic!‘). But, flowers are not really something I understand (other than their ‘aww’ producing qualities), so I thought, ‘a plant for Phyllis’s office would be nice… bonsai plants are pretty cool and slow-motion zen an shit… get her something Mr Miyagi would approve of!‘ and so I did and I am grateful for the opportunity to do so.
4) I am grateful for the new plant I have on my desk at home:
… if it weren’t for the fact that only girls and rogers name things like cars, and plants and such, I’d call it ‘george’ (or ‘ジョージ’)… but being neither, I guess I’ll just take a photo and maybe come back to it from time to time on these weekend posts. It’s not that Phyllis did not enjoy my gift, it’s just that she’s not a plant person… so we’ll see.
5) (I’m actually still within the last 7 day period with my post here!) Allow me to go a little generic, and say I’m very grateful for the non-snow infested winter season that we’ve been experiencing here in southern New England. Granted it’s been cold, but, (the lack of snow), is worth at least 10 degrees of outdoor temperature. and…and! it’s like still light at 5:30!!
6) I spend a significant amount of time in my car everyday. The lack of snow has made this much more enjoyable. I’m more inclined to try and take photos as I drive:
is it just me, or does this cloud formation seem a little odd. (That special kind of ‘everyday unusual’… like walking into kitchen and seeing a clean plate on the top of the stove, obviously the result of a major distraction…. nevertheless it can be a bit …un-nerving, teetering between funny and creepy… these clouds? They could go either way.)
7) As always, I’ll cite the Wakefield Doctrine as one of the most significant aspects of my life. No, seriously… were it not for this fun and unique and helpful theory of personality, I would not be here, writing this Post!
8) You know Christine did something at ‘the coop’ this week that might serve a grat item prompt, if I may borrow (and mutate her idea)… i.e. to tell a story from the early days of my life in the ‘sphere. It ties into Item # 7, the role of the Wakefield Doctrine in my (online) life. So anyway… a couple of years ago (stop me if you’ve already heard me tell this story!) I was doing a FTSF** and I came across this small blog, ‘Considerings‘. I liked it immediately… very intense, personal and rather well written and clearly there was a clark on the other side of the computer screen. So I started ‘hanging around’, reading each week on Fridays and then other days and, finally, I started commenting. (This act of commenting is a testament to the Doctrine, in that many of the Posts were dealing with difficult situations, (in the life of the author) and, although I didn’t know the author (our Ms. Rogers, of course), I did know that she was a clark and therefore I felt comfortable enough to respond as I would to a person I already knew. Because, in a sense I did.
Anyway….!! so, I was writing comments at Considerings for, probably a month or two when, totally out of the blue, I get a Comment at the Doctrine from a woman living in the Midwest. It was an interesting Comment, ‘I found your post interesting…. I’ve seen you at my friend Lizzi’s blog and I wanted to introduce myself’. I sat back in my chair and smiled, as I immediately realized that a) the comment writer was a scott and 2) she was checking me out. her purpose was simply to make sure I wasn’t some kind of un-desirable, stalker kind of person, and so, I smiled. I smiled because of the value of the Wakefield Doctrine in understanding people (including total strangers), and I smiled because that is what a scott does when they have a clarklike friend… Christine did not need to ask Lizzi if she needed help, Christine did what a scottian friend would do. Naturally we got along splendidly right from the start.
I am grateful for the Wakefield Doctrine.
9) Hey! Always grateful for the Book of Secret Rules (aka the Secret Book of Rules)… it represents the kind of attitude that makes this bloghop the excellent thing that it is… ‘rules without force’ the manifestation of the sense participating in this community, according to ‘where we are, on a given weekend’ Very cool
10) Lets close with the photo I took as I headed back to the office to finish my day today:
…I was driving <—- and the sun was beginning to start to set.
Join the Ten Things of Thankful Facebook Group
* both Christine and Dyanne are scotts and that’s where they live, in the present, immediate and real world… ( as they might say, ‘hey! grab for the brass ring… you only have so much time here!!’)
** ‘Finish The Sentence Friday’ my first bloghop… and still a favorite, though I have not participated in a while, Kristi was one of the hostettes…
About clarkscottroger
A lovely….even dare I say normal….list….if you hadn’t actually been DRIVING WHILE TAKING THE PHOTOS! I gotta come back…. the boy just woke up and has to go out. See you later.
I love that you got yourself a plant! You deserve it! So what did you get Phylllis? Besides the chocolates I mean. Its a cool plant though huh? I really like it. Those symmetrical clouds…are really cool too… there is a name for those right? I gotta go google it when I get out of work. I remember that Lizzi, Christine story. I think you told me that the first time I met you and it was telling about you that you did! ahahahhahaha! Nice listation my friend. *tbfkaz
Yeah… I suspect my direct, spoken version of the story is a bit more exciting than my written telling…. it is a proper plant.
You are on the road a a lot. Sunrise-sunset. The bonsai is cute. I hope you at least took Phyllis out to dinner for her birthday. And remember, I am embracing my Clark-like self this week.
Val
(fortunately I enjoy driving)
“…I am embracing my Clark-like self this week.” excellent…as we usually say at this point, ‘Take notes!’ not joking, actually any observations or insights will be totally welcome…
I have an interesting relationship with early morning. I like to get up early ONLY when I have to go to work and I can meditate, write, and practice some Spanish. I want my best time to go to my pursuits and not those of my employer. Harumph. LOL
On days I don’t work, I try to get up early but it doesn’t always work. But I LOVE to stay up late. :)
John and I generally get each other plants for birthdays. I have a poinsettia on my desk still from the holidays, but we also have a little evergreen cypress I got him for his birthday in December, plus a hydrangea for our recent anniversary. My desk is reminiscent of a rather dried-out rainforest infused with electronic energy. :)
Anyways, happy Saturday. Once again on my end, I’m unexpectedly engaged in things that I had no idea I’d be doing such that my time is robbed of my desire to write for the present. In the near future, that’ll change, I’m sure.
Cyndito
“I’m unexpectedly engaged in things that I had no idea I’d be doing ” talk about the effective trailer!* Totally can’t wait to hear what new worlds you are finding in the back of the lesser used closet!**
* in the movie sense, the coming attractions before the movie itself
** apologies (or thanks) to CS Lewis
LOL So you bought your own damn self a plant! (#4)
Me? I’m seeing a lot in that sky pic. but at first glance it’s the symmetry of those clouds. All in a row. (dit, dit, dit,) ….Won’t get into the 3d interpretations:)
#8? Thanks for sharing. It spoke volumes of you, and LIzzi, and Christine. And….the value of the Wakefield Doctrine.
The “start/finish” photo thing. Nice.
no! I bought the plant for Phyllis!! (lol)…. actually, ‘bought’ is kinda too strong a word… maybe, ‘arranged for relocation’ or ‘foster farmer program placement’
Ahhh it was awesome, seriously! THAT was the moment when I began to trust that Christine might really, truly be my friend…
I love the bansai! I think it certainly deserves a more beautiful and feminine name than George, though. Down here in NJ we are also grateful for a winter without much snow. Every day that gets closer to Spring is a good one. I appreciate your sunrise pictures and I am the same way – I MUCH prefer early morning to late night. I hope you have a wonderful week, and belated birthday wishes to Phyllis.
Jen
“Every day that gets closer to Spring is a good one.” I agree 100 percent! Even today with the snow, by this time in the more typical winter, I’m worn down by the constant presence of snow and snow banks and slush and such. Now, without all that (for the last 2 months or so), it’s well… how bad can it be.
Oh there is so much that I love about this post…mostly…it made me smile…
and you didn’t kill anyone while taking photos while driving which is a bonus…
And you named the plant you bought for yourself from the comfort of your loo…
I’m still learning this clark roger secret rule thing… yes one day I will be not so lazy and click around….one day…Today, not that day….
And now the bonsai tree is yours? Please tell me you got her another present.
Yes, please say that Phyllis got another gift! I do love the bonsai tree, though. I would love it if I had one of those. Of course, I’d probably kill the darn thing. Either that or my cats would eat it.
This is a lovely post and the photos are great. Taking them while driving…well, not so much. Do be careful, Clark.
I loved reading the story of how you and Christine and Lizzi all got hooked up together. Wait, that sounded bad. Never mind, just go with it.
I am thankful for your WD info and thankful to be understanding it more and better.
And a happy birthday to Phyllis!
*dies laughing*
Hahahahahaha!
That is one French word I know! :)
*searches frantically for French word….fails* ??
I believe the word you’re looking for is…ménage a three of you.
Ohhhhh THAT French word….I wasn’t searching for the french word itself, but I missed the original reference and how the french even came into the equation.
Good grief… well, I suppose it was a gentle bloggy induction to the menage a cinque I’ve been lured with in September…
are you all referring to Lisa’s reference to la houque up?
Yeah – took me a while there…
Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy BIRTHDAY dear Phyllis…..Happy Birthday TO YOUUUUU!
Sorry that George wasn’t all that he could have been, but I hope you got some “Awwwh!”s from your colleagues anyway :)
I love hearing the story of how Christine got all territorial :D I remember that well.
*sigh* FTSF is just one thing I can’t keep up with any more, and I think we’ve lost our Kristi to it, almost on a permanent basis!
…you know…. I was just thinking, if I had applied the Doctrine a bit more assiduously, then I might have anticipated Phyllis’s reaction, i.e. apply ‘the everything rule’ to receiving a plant for a present… a different thing in all three worldviews!
Yes, I think if anything that was the bit which surprised me…you anticipated the rogerness of the ‘AHHHHhhh’s, but then you let a little clarkside in ;) I think that was how you ended up with George (and yet, isn’t it so damn HARD to just … let the rogers BE! Good grief, we TRY to extend them, right? ;) )
I hope Phyllis had a nice birthday. I’m sure she appreciated the gesture, even if she isn’t a plant person.
thank you for saying that
Nice, normal list you have here, Clark!
Ah, those were the days…we were young…we were impulsive…
But seriously, anyone reading the comments you left back then, not knowing anything about the WD, would have been wondering what the hell you were talking about! Shoot, people who do know you often ask that question! Of course I had to click over and see who you were. :)
Now, about that plant you bought for yourself… I get it. After so many years of marriage and buying gifts, it’s hard to come up with something original and wanted. Nice try. You get major points for originality and promptness.
Happy Birthday Phyllis!
OH! I almost forgot to mention the photos! Nice bookends to the post, sunrise/sunset thing going on. I especially like the sunrise photos. Those clouds are cool! I wonder why they did that? (No, it wasn’t aliens.)
I never tire of telling this story because it is as much about the Wakefield Doctrine as it is about the individuals, (most people might have perceived the challenge simply as an aggressive person), my experience with scotts and the Doctrine allowed me to recognize the caring protectiveness even as I perceived the challenge, which, of course, not only changed how I felt about what was going on, but, more importantly, permitted me to not do the ‘normal’ thing, run away, be intimidated or counter aggress… (odd,being a clark and not overtly emotional, that was the quality that came through first).
and, of course, knowing the Doctrine and scotts I knew enough not to make any sudden moves, or direct eye contact or, god forbid, try to run away! lol hey, kinda makes me a scott whisperer! ya know?
scotts are fiercely protective of the people they care about, an admirable quality
They’re possibly either the ends of some lovely radiatus, or (more thrilling) the closest thing to Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds…
damn! I sincerely acknowledge your superior cloud knowledge!
damn! (when I came upon them (a few minutes earlier than the photos they were more ‘connected)
Aren’t they stunningly beautiful? I AM a member of the Cloud-Appreciation Society… :D I LOVE clouds. Just not too many of them all at once.
L
well I agree (not that I use words and concepts like ‘stunning’ and ‘beautiful’ in my head… more like, as I drove along, ‘what the hell!’) but seriously, it was something-ly enough that I kept watching for them as I drove along (the road twisting and turning, trees and such blocking at times) and then… ‘hey I really should get a photo, this is weird’) (well, maybe that is kinda like thinking, ‘stunningly beautiful’….lol)
…hey! I looked up your Society! and I sent in the photo (took the liberty of mentioning your name)….
…oh, also I’m kinda suggesting to Jen (Driftwood) that a ‘post recovery room’ vidchat might be fun… lol I trust that she’ll realize that I would actually participate, but not that anyone (other than, maybe you and zoe) would think that that wasn’t’ a really odd thing to do
post recovery room? I must go and read more of this…
I am not really a plant person either but I like Bonsai.
How long have you been married to Phyllis and you’re just now figuring out she isn’t a plant person?