Friday evening I wasn't feeling very well. I'm still not sure if it was just a bad allergy day with the end of a stressful week and some interrupted sleep on top, or a small spring cold. Anyhow, Friday evening I really, really wanted to soak for a long time in a nice hot shower. So I did.
While I was standing there, enjoying the hot water, I was ruminating on the fact that this was Earth Day and here I was, wasting lots of water and energy. Not very bright, eh? So, I had a brilliant idea. Wouldn't it be cool if someone would come up with a recirculating shower? One where you could run the shower for a bit until you had enough water and then start up a recirculating pump of some sort and maybe one of those in-line water heaters. Then you could almost guilt free take as long and luxurious a soak of a shower as you wanted.
Well, it looks like I'm not the first to come up with that idea. I did a quick google search and there were lots of hits. There were some where the responses to the posed question were not at all positive. I was thinking of something like a jacuzzi tub, but as a shower instead of a tub. I mean, if you can do it for a tub, why not a shower? Anyhow, this one seems to be the "standard" that everyone references back to.
So, it looks like there are options out there. And, yeah, I think if we ever could own our own home, or even better build one from the ground up, I'd seriously look into something like this. But, that's a pipe dream. For now, I'll content myself with doing it not that often and for not as long as I'd like.
But, I'm feeling much better today. And it's not raining and the sun is out. So... yeah. Just a random bit of brain fluff. It sounded better in my head, but I just couldn't pull it together this morning.
Peace to all and may your ideas be good.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
This 'n' That
Another work week is coming to a close, and I'm thankful for it. I'm sure by now everyone who reads this blog even occasionally knows that January, April, July and October are very tough months at work. But, at least there's a predictable cycle to things. And in reality, even though this hasn't been one of the more pleasant months, we're actually coming through this in better shape than we have in a while. I credit good team work and great support from the rest of the building for it.
Anyhow, I'm sitting here with too much time to call it quits but not enough time to get anything productive done, especially since all my weekly paperwork is completed. I thought I'd come here and ramble on a bit.
I really don't have anything interesting to say. Or, maybe nothing I really want to make public. There was a good bit of drama in my life Monday evening, but it's not for posting. There are other things tied in with that drama that keep churning around in my head and heart, but again, they're not for posting here. It falls under the airing dirty laundry category of things best handled offline and in person.
I'm still not sure what's up for this weekend. We're really just going to play it all by ear. I grew up with Easter not being much of a big deal. I do remember a few Easter egg hunts and looking forward to Easter baskets for several years, but other than that, it was mostly just another day on the calendar. Then again, we never did pay much attention to any religious holidays other than Christmas and Hanukkah.
Yesterday was an important day in my life. Zoe turned 10 years old! Yep, 10 years ago yesterday little miss Zoe was brought into the world. She was about 6 weeks early and it was touchy there for a bit. It was a bit touchy with Kat as well, the whole reason that Zoe was born early. I'm happy to say she's a thriving 10-year-old girl with most of the typical issues of her age. For being a preemie, she really did escape a lot of the problems she could have had. She's very healthy over all. Sure, she has some lingering lung issues (but a good part of that is family as well...) and she can't put on weight and her ADHD is probably exacerbated by the fact that she was also a preemie, but the cards were stacked against her from the start. But, over all, she's doing just fine.
And yes, she is one of the reasons why I walked last Sunday. I'm thankful for all the research that was done that ended up with the technologies that saved both her and Kat. I'm also thankful that my son and all of the other kids in my life were able to be born full term and healthy.
Well, this has been quite a bit of a ramble. But, I did succeed in using up my time left at work and looking productive. I'm off to go pick up my boy-o. He was playing at Kat's house today with Grammy, Zoe and Billy because his school was closed today. I'm sure he'll be beat because he probably did not nap this afternoon. Oh well, hopefully that'll mean he'll sleep well tonight (which he hasn't been because he's been congested all week...) and he'll take a good nap tomorrow too.
Peace to all and may your weeks go well, your weekends be fun, and your family full.
Anyhow, I'm sitting here with too much time to call it quits but not enough time to get anything productive done, especially since all my weekly paperwork is completed. I thought I'd come here and ramble on a bit.
I really don't have anything interesting to say. Or, maybe nothing I really want to make public. There was a good bit of drama in my life Monday evening, but it's not for posting. There are other things tied in with that drama that keep churning around in my head and heart, but again, they're not for posting here. It falls under the airing dirty laundry category of things best handled offline and in person.
I'm still not sure what's up for this weekend. We're really just going to play it all by ear. I grew up with Easter not being much of a big deal. I do remember a few Easter egg hunts and looking forward to Easter baskets for several years, but other than that, it was mostly just another day on the calendar. Then again, we never did pay much attention to any religious holidays other than Christmas and Hanukkah.
Yesterday was an important day in my life. Zoe turned 10 years old! Yep, 10 years ago yesterday little miss Zoe was brought into the world. She was about 6 weeks early and it was touchy there for a bit. It was a bit touchy with Kat as well, the whole reason that Zoe was born early. I'm happy to say she's a thriving 10-year-old girl with most of the typical issues of her age. For being a preemie, she really did escape a lot of the problems she could have had. She's very healthy over all. Sure, she has some lingering lung issues (but a good part of that is family as well...) and she can't put on weight and her ADHD is probably exacerbated by the fact that she was also a preemie, but the cards were stacked against her from the start. But, over all, she's doing just fine.
And yes, she is one of the reasons why I walked last Sunday. I'm thankful for all the research that was done that ended up with the technologies that saved both her and Kat. I'm also thankful that my son and all of the other kids in my life were able to be born full term and healthy.
Well, this has been quite a bit of a ramble. But, I did succeed in using up my time left at work and looking productive. I'm off to go pick up my boy-o. He was playing at Kat's house today with Grammy, Zoe and Billy because his school was closed today. I'm sure he'll be beat because he probably did not nap this afternoon. Oh well, hopefully that'll mean he'll sleep well tonight (which he hasn't been because he's been congested all week...) and he'll take a good nap tomorrow too.
Peace to all and may your weeks go well, your weekends be fun, and your family full.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Fortune Cookie Wisdom...
So, I'm sitting here cleaning off my desk between projects, just trying to give myself a little breather. And I stumble across a fortune cookie fortune from some weeks ago, just sitting there under my monitor.
"If you continually give, you will continually have. :) " (Yes, it has a little smiley at the end..)
I must admit, this is one truism that I can totally agree with. And not just in the positive way many people think of it either.
For example, take the person who is continually complaining, and giving other people grief. They're making everyone else around them miserable, and what do they get in return? More misery. They get people who don't want to talk to them, be near them or work with them. They end up in relationships that are one-sided at best and are just downward spirals. Like the other saying goes, misery loves company.
Then you have the person who always smiles when they answer the phone (even if they're day is far, far from perfect). They enquire about your family and your kids and your health and actually want to know the answer and aren't just being polite. They share the goodies in their lunch or where they got/found something and when they've got it (and sometimes even when they don't) they'll share their hard earned money with those who need it. Have you ever noticed how people who are like this are usually so very happy? That they have such a positive outlook on life? And even when things aren't going their way, they are just happy to be alive and around people who care, because trust me, these people attract good friends and good relationships faster than a little boy can find mud puddles in the spring!
I've known many people in the first category. I try very hard not to fall into that first category myself. It is so easy to do. It is so easy to get caught up in the negative moment and let one small thing lead to the ruining of an entire week, month or even year. Last year it was a very big struggle for me not to fall into the dark pit of giving only grief and anger to the world around me.
It is truly rare, however, to find the truly generous soul who can be the positive giver even 80% of the time. I've been blessed, and truly, it is a blessing, to have worked with two such men. And there is at least one other guy here at work who fits into that category more often than not.
Unfortunately for us, we lost one of those bright souls. It'll be 6 months on Saturday since Ron left us. Well, his physical presence has left us. He's still with us here at work in so many ways. Those of us who knew him and knew him well while he was here will always have a tender spot in our hearts for him, stories to tell and smiles as well.
The other guy who shares Ron's wonderful disposition is a man who has been through so much pain, so much uncertainty and so many trials, that some days I wonder how he can stand with all the weight that has been put on him. He's always smiling though. He's the one that gave Gak and I our "new" bed when we moved. You see, we benefited from his pain. His wife has had so many, many medical problems over the years. Just a year or so after they bought a new bed, she got very sick and had to have a trach put in and now can no longer lie in bed. She's hooked up to oxygen 24 hours a day and monitored at all times. And Randy, taking this in stride does what he needs to do. He makes sure that she's got company during the day in case there are problems and he uses his knowledge from work to help keep her equipment up and running, even when a nurse isn't around. And he does it with a smile.
What I will always find amazing is what he said about me. There have been times since I've known him that I've been going through a rough spot in one way or another, and he tells me that I always seem so positive and that I'm always smiling. Well, let me tell you, he doesn't see me in my darkest moments. (Unfortunately, Gak does, and he can confirm that it's not pretty...) So, every time I think of letting the dark win, letting the bad situation I'm in be passed on to everyone I come in contact with, I try and remember Randy's words. And I remember how positive he always seems, no matter what.
One of the things that links these two men is their great faith. They both have such a strong faith in God and forgiveness and everything that goes with it. There are days that I wish I shared their faith, but I don't. Well, I have a lot of faith, but it's not their faith. My faith is much more subtle and complex than theirs. But, yeah, I have faith in the world around me and look for the little miracles that are life.
Anyhow, just thought I'd dump what was sloshing about in my brain when I was cleaning up my desk. I thought I'd take a moment to remember a friend who's gone and thank a friend who's been truly an inspiration.
I'd also be remiss not to mention the fact that today is my brother's birthday. Yep, 33 years ago today I became a big sister. Happy birthday Jon, I'm glad you're my brother.
Peace to all and may you give what's in your heart.
"If you continually give, you will continually have. :) " (Yes, it has a little smiley at the end..)
I must admit, this is one truism that I can totally agree with. And not just in the positive way many people think of it either.
For example, take the person who is continually complaining, and giving other people grief. They're making everyone else around them miserable, and what do they get in return? More misery. They get people who don't want to talk to them, be near them or work with them. They end up in relationships that are one-sided at best and are just downward spirals. Like the other saying goes, misery loves company.
Then you have the person who always smiles when they answer the phone (even if they're day is far, far from perfect). They enquire about your family and your kids and your health and actually want to know the answer and aren't just being polite. They share the goodies in their lunch or where they got/found something and when they've got it (and sometimes even when they don't) they'll share their hard earned money with those who need it. Have you ever noticed how people who are like this are usually so very happy? That they have such a positive outlook on life? And even when things aren't going their way, they are just happy to be alive and around people who care, because trust me, these people attract good friends and good relationships faster than a little boy can find mud puddles in the spring!
I've known many people in the first category. I try very hard not to fall into that first category myself. It is so easy to do. It is so easy to get caught up in the negative moment and let one small thing lead to the ruining of an entire week, month or even year. Last year it was a very big struggle for me not to fall into the dark pit of giving only grief and anger to the world around me.
It is truly rare, however, to find the truly generous soul who can be the positive giver even 80% of the time. I've been blessed, and truly, it is a blessing, to have worked with two such men. And there is at least one other guy here at work who fits into that category more often than not.
Unfortunately for us, we lost one of those bright souls. It'll be 6 months on Saturday since Ron left us. Well, his physical presence has left us. He's still with us here at work in so many ways. Those of us who knew him and knew him well while he was here will always have a tender spot in our hearts for him, stories to tell and smiles as well.
The other guy who shares Ron's wonderful disposition is a man who has been through so much pain, so much uncertainty and so many trials, that some days I wonder how he can stand with all the weight that has been put on him. He's always smiling though. He's the one that gave Gak and I our "new" bed when we moved. You see, we benefited from his pain. His wife has had so many, many medical problems over the years. Just a year or so after they bought a new bed, she got very sick and had to have a trach put in and now can no longer lie in bed. She's hooked up to oxygen 24 hours a day and monitored at all times. And Randy, taking this in stride does what he needs to do. He makes sure that she's got company during the day in case there are problems and he uses his knowledge from work to help keep her equipment up and running, even when a nurse isn't around. And he does it with a smile.
What I will always find amazing is what he said about me. There have been times since I've known him that I've been going through a rough spot in one way or another, and he tells me that I always seem so positive and that I'm always smiling. Well, let me tell you, he doesn't see me in my darkest moments. (Unfortunately, Gak does, and he can confirm that it's not pretty...) So, every time I think of letting the dark win, letting the bad situation I'm in be passed on to everyone I come in contact with, I try and remember Randy's words. And I remember how positive he always seems, no matter what.
One of the things that links these two men is their great faith. They both have such a strong faith in God and forgiveness and everything that goes with it. There are days that I wish I shared their faith, but I don't. Well, I have a lot of faith, but it's not their faith. My faith is much more subtle and complex than theirs. But, yeah, I have faith in the world around me and look for the little miracles that are life.
Anyhow, just thought I'd dump what was sloshing about in my brain when I was cleaning up my desk. I thought I'd take a moment to remember a friend who's gone and thank a friend who's been truly an inspiration.
I'd also be remiss not to mention the fact that today is my brother's birthday. Yep, 33 years ago today I became a big sister. Happy birthday Jon, I'm glad you're my brother.
Peace to all and may you give what's in your heart.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Busy and Stable
It looks like I've been falling down on the job again, and I guess I have. You could argue that this isn't a bad thing. You could argue that nothing exceptionally dramatic has been going on in our lives, either good or bad. But, that would imply that we're not doing much of anything. And, some days it seems that way, but our days are actually quite full.
For example, here's an average, typical mid-week kind of day in this family.
5:00 am, I get up.
5:30 am if it's a Tuesday or a Thursday, I go to the gym to swim for 45 minutes or so, shower and come home. If it's a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, I pop on an exercise video, find something On Demand or power up the Wii balance board. Either way, I start my day with 30-45 minutes of activity, hopefully some pretty high activity. After that I get ready for work.
6:30 (M/W/F) leave for work or 7:30 on Tu/Th.
7-4 or 8-5 I try and stay focused on the job at hand and maybe if it's not raining or I haven't goofed off a bit too much between tasks in the morning, I'll try and squeeze in a 20 minute walk out back at lunch.
(Meanwhile, Gak and Boo have been hanging out together with their own little routine all morning and then walk to school and work around 11. Unless of course the weather is completely miserable and then I pick up the boys by about noon and ferry everyone about...)
4:30 or 5:30 pick up the boy child from school. This is usually one of the biggest highlights of my day.
Depending on the day of the week and the weather, we'll either go home, run a few errands or go to the park. The last option is both of our favorites, but we just don't get to as much as we'd like.
If we go home and it's an "early" day, I'll try and get dinner started before picking Gak up from work at 6:30.
We'll usually get home from picking Gak up at work by 7. (But not always because sometimes drivers are late or customers squeak in as he's trying to lock the door or the computer crashes or something else frustrating. This is one of the reasons I don't always try and get dinner started... just because when I do, we tend to run late....)
After that it's a quick dinner, and maybe a bath for a Boo-boy, jammies and bed.
7:30-7:45 is the ritual for getting Boo into jammies and read to and a little bit of time in bed with the light on.
8:00 (give or take) lights out for a Boo. I now have just about 1 hour until I'm about to crash. So, here's where lately I've been spending quality time with my dear, sweet hubby exploring the world of Telara playing Rift. This is quite fun and entertaining, but hasn't been leaving me much time for reading, crochet, chores, getting lunches ready for the next day, emails, blogging or any of a million other things I want to be doing as well.
I crash sometime between 9:00 and 10:00 to repeat the whole ordeal the next day.
So, as you can see, it's not really that we're not doing anything, it's just that we're not doing anything out of the ordinary. We've been able to get some good park time in recently and Boo really suddenly loves to climb almost all over the place now with little fear, even of the big slides. (This was a problem most of last year, as he took a tumble down a couple of slides and he swore off them for months...)
We're also easing ever so slightly into potty training. We're trying to at least put him on the potty when he wakes up, when he wakes up from nap and before bath/jammies in the evening. Most of the time he just sits there fooling around a bit. But, he knows what to do with toilet paper (aside from just play with it) and he has managed to pee in the potty at least twice now, once at school even! Mostly, we just talk about the potty a lot. Part of me just wishes he'd hurry up and get going with this because I'm tired of changing his diapers (and I don't even have to do it that often!) but mostly I don't want to make this a horrible experience for him and want him to get there on his own terms. So, I'll keep pointing him in that direction and hoping a lot and like with everything else, he'll get there from here. On his own terms and in his own time... usually at a fairly inconvenient, or at least interesting, time for us.
The weekends are quite busy these days. It seems like with the warm up in the weather, all the activities keep coming out of the woodwork. Last weekend it was brunch at Amma and PopPop's with the Sugarpeople. This weekend it was a pouring down rainy Saturday with Boo and I joining Kat, Zoe, Shelby and Jarred for the March of Dimes Walk for Babies. (It was a great time, but the route was cut short by about 1 Km or so due to flooding from the day before....) This week is Jon's birthday, Zoe's birthday, Passover and Easter all rolled into one hectic week. We were supposed to have dinner at the Duck's house today, but Amma isn't feeling well, so that'll be next Monday.
So, that about sums up where we're at for the moment. We're busy. We're doing just fine and I'm having a hard time realizing that my son's 3rd birthday is only 6 weeks away!
I bid you all peace and may you have some stability and some fun in your lives.
For example, here's an average, typical mid-week kind of day in this family.
5:00 am, I get up.
5:30 am if it's a Tuesday or a Thursday, I go to the gym to swim for 45 minutes or so, shower and come home. If it's a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, I pop on an exercise video, find something On Demand or power up the Wii balance board. Either way, I start my day with 30-45 minutes of activity, hopefully some pretty high activity. After that I get ready for work.
6:30 (M/W/F) leave for work or 7:30 on Tu/Th.
7-4 or 8-5 I try and stay focused on the job at hand and maybe if it's not raining or I haven't goofed off a bit too much between tasks in the morning, I'll try and squeeze in a 20 minute walk out back at lunch.
(Meanwhile, Gak and Boo have been hanging out together with their own little routine all morning and then walk to school and work around 11. Unless of course the weather is completely miserable and then I pick up the boys by about noon and ferry everyone about...)
4:30 or 5:30 pick up the boy child from school. This is usually one of the biggest highlights of my day.
Depending on the day of the week and the weather, we'll either go home, run a few errands or go to the park. The last option is both of our favorites, but we just don't get to as much as we'd like.
If we go home and it's an "early" day, I'll try and get dinner started before picking Gak up from work at 6:30.
We'll usually get home from picking Gak up at work by 7. (But not always because sometimes drivers are late or customers squeak in as he's trying to lock the door or the computer crashes or something else frustrating. This is one of the reasons I don't always try and get dinner started... just because when I do, we tend to run late....)
After that it's a quick dinner, and maybe a bath for a Boo-boy, jammies and bed.
7:30-7:45 is the ritual for getting Boo into jammies and read to and a little bit of time in bed with the light on.
8:00 (give or take) lights out for a Boo. I now have just about 1 hour until I'm about to crash. So, here's where lately I've been spending quality time with my dear, sweet hubby exploring the world of Telara playing Rift. This is quite fun and entertaining, but hasn't been leaving me much time for reading, crochet, chores, getting lunches ready for the next day, emails, blogging or any of a million other things I want to be doing as well.
I crash sometime between 9:00 and 10:00 to repeat the whole ordeal the next day.
So, as you can see, it's not really that we're not doing anything, it's just that we're not doing anything out of the ordinary. We've been able to get some good park time in recently and Boo really suddenly loves to climb almost all over the place now with little fear, even of the big slides. (This was a problem most of last year, as he took a tumble down a couple of slides and he swore off them for months...)
We're also easing ever so slightly into potty training. We're trying to at least put him on the potty when he wakes up, when he wakes up from nap and before bath/jammies in the evening. Most of the time he just sits there fooling around a bit. But, he knows what to do with toilet paper (aside from just play with it) and he has managed to pee in the potty at least twice now, once at school even! Mostly, we just talk about the potty a lot. Part of me just wishes he'd hurry up and get going with this because I'm tired of changing his diapers (and I don't even have to do it that often!) but mostly I don't want to make this a horrible experience for him and want him to get there on his own terms. So, I'll keep pointing him in that direction and hoping a lot and like with everything else, he'll get there from here. On his own terms and in his own time... usually at a fairly inconvenient, or at least interesting, time for us.
The weekends are quite busy these days. It seems like with the warm up in the weather, all the activities keep coming out of the woodwork. Last weekend it was brunch at Amma and PopPop's with the Sugarpeople. This weekend it was a pouring down rainy Saturday with Boo and I joining Kat, Zoe, Shelby and Jarred for the March of Dimes Walk for Babies. (It was a great time, but the route was cut short by about 1 Km or so due to flooding from the day before....) This week is Jon's birthday, Zoe's birthday, Passover and Easter all rolled into one hectic week. We were supposed to have dinner at the Duck's house today, but Amma isn't feeling well, so that'll be next Monday.
So, that about sums up where we're at for the moment. We're busy. We're doing just fine and I'm having a hard time realizing that my son's 3rd birthday is only 6 weeks away!
I bid you all peace and may you have some stability and some fun in your lives.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Growing (busy)
This picture from last week should sum up a bit how it's been. I've been busily trying to get out of the way of moving objects, including my son on his tricycle.
A lot of it has been good, some of it has been average and a bit has been somewhat on the "aargh" scale of things. Home has been good, work has been a bit aargh and there's been a lot of day-to-day stuff just humming along.
It's April, it's a busy time at work and add a cranky economy and a Congress and EPA that keeps changing their minds on things and you generate a climate where aargh can seem somewhat normal at work. It's nothing new, it's really not that bad, but it's there.
We have done a few exciting things over the past week or so though. Two weeks ago at Ethan's birthday party, we were given "wild flower confetti" as a thank you. So, Monday Amma, Boo and I went to Lowes to pick up a nice planter box and some herbs to start. We also got a watermelon planter cup and a package of Elmo cherry tomatoes to start with their own starter containers and everything. Sooo... after dinner Boo and I had fun planting the watermelon and the tomatoes. We've got one watermelon sprouted and a bunch of tomato plants (which I will most definitely have to thin a bit even before we get to the point of having to transplant them into the ground and/or containers. We both had a bit of fun playing in the dirt. We didn't start the flowers and herbs until Friday, so we'll see what happens there.
Anyhow, Aunt Beverly and Uncle Richard are in town for a conference of some sort, so this meant brunch at Mom and Dad's yesterday with the rest of the family. It was really awesome to see Ben, Jenny, Ethan and Daniel again after only two weeks. Daniel and Boo had sooo much fun playing together. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I really wish we lived closer and got to spend more time together. I'm sure the boys would enjoy it.
Anyhow, that's a quick little update. I'm sorry I've been too busy with other things to squeeze out a few minutes here. I'll try and keep the pictures posting at flickr and hopefully more words and pictures here.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Inspiration
Ok, so you actually get two posts from me today! I managed to pull one together covering 3 of the days I've missed from my photo challenge.
Inspiration comes in many forms. Three of the pictures from the challenge I can put into this category. Day 13 asked for my favorite band or artist, day 16 for someone who inspires me and day 23 for my favorite book. All three of these pictures give me inspiration in different ways and for different reasons.
My favorite band or artist was hard. I know they meant musical band or artist, but I went into other arts as well, since all art, not just music, has played such a large part in my life. I chose Ansel Adams as my “favorite”. Like I’ve said before, it is very hard for me to ever choose a favorite anything. But, today Ansel is my favorite. He’s another one of those people I want to be when I grow up. His images are so powerful and masterful. The patience he had to see the potential image and then actually wait for the light to be just right and think about the exposure and the angle and all the other things that go into making a spectacular photograph, not just a snapshot.
I’ve been working most of my life on “seeing” things. I was lucky enough that at an early age, even before I could use a camera, my parents were teaching me to see, to watch, to think about the images. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, so many of my favorite childhood memories include taking walks with our cameras and then receiving those little yellow boxes full of slides in the mail and talking about the photographs we took. The smell of darkroom chemicals will always bring back fond memories.
I hope some day that I’ll be able to pick up my camera again and “see” things. Lately I’ve been taking too many “snapshots” and not enough “photographs”. I need to slow down again, see what’s around me and think about it and figure out how to capture the essence of the moment.
In some ways it’s easier now with digital cameras or at least less expensive in the long run. I will always miss working in the dark room to take a negative that’s not quite good enough and turn it into something amazing. I’m a very hands-on kind of girl and while Photoshop and the like can do a million more things than you could easily do in the darkroom, it’s not quite as satisfying to me. And some times, the instant gratification of the digital image takes some of the fun and excitement out of it. There was nothing compared to the anxiety of putting your roll of film into one of those little yellow Kodak envelopes and sending it off to get processed and then the very long wait to see what all that hard work yielded.
Day 16 asked for someone who inspires me. One of my childhood heroes was Sally Ride. She was the first American woman to go into space. She has worked long and hard over the years to get girls interested in science and to follow their dreams. I recently read some interesting things about Sally. Like the fact that she originally wanted to be a professional tennis player, but realized while she had the drive, she didn’t have the raw talent. She pushed herself hard and has done so much. I heard a lecture by her while I was in high school. She was amazing to listen to. I think the lesson I take from Sally is that anything is possible as long as you have the drive and you put your best talents to work for you. That’s something I still struggle with today.
Day 23 asked for my favorite book. Again with the favorites! Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a book work and then some. I love books. I love to read. I’ll read just about anything. I do love certain genres more than others, but I’ll give just about anything a shot. There are some books, however, that I return to time and time again. One of those is To Kill a Mocking Bird. I first read this book in 6th grade. I think I’ve read it a half a dozen more times since then. Even though I know the story well and the characters are all old friends, I still like to go back and visit.
I truly identify with Scout Finch in many ways. I was too smart for my own good, I don’t always “get” social situations, and I’d much rather be playing in the mud in my overalls than being a pretty girl stuck in a dress. There is so much more to her though. She really is a kind soul just trying to figure out how this crazy, messed up world works and wondering why it all can’t be right and why the “good” people have bad things happen to them. I draw strength from Atticus and his relationship with his daughter and the faith he has in doing the right thing, even if it isn’t the popular thing. I think that’s the biggest lesson for me in that book. Well, maybe two. Like Scout, I need to be true to myself and who I am and like Atticus, I need to do the right thing, even if it isn’t the popular thing. I think I’m pretty good at both of these, but there are days I need to be reminded of them.
So, I bid you peace and may you find inspiration where you may.
Inspiration comes in many forms. Three of the pictures from the challenge I can put into this category. Day 13 asked for my favorite band or artist, day 16 for someone who inspires me and day 23 for my favorite book. All three of these pictures give me inspiration in different ways and for different reasons.
I’ve been working most of my life on “seeing” things. I was lucky enough that at an early age, even before I could use a camera, my parents were teaching me to see, to watch, to think about the images. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, so many of my favorite childhood memories include taking walks with our cameras and then receiving those little yellow boxes full of slides in the mail and talking about the photographs we took. The smell of darkroom chemicals will always bring back fond memories.
I hope some day that I’ll be able to pick up my camera again and “see” things. Lately I’ve been taking too many “snapshots” and not enough “photographs”. I need to slow down again, see what’s around me and think about it and figure out how to capture the essence of the moment.
In some ways it’s easier now with digital cameras or at least less expensive in the long run. I will always miss working in the dark room to take a negative that’s not quite good enough and turn it into something amazing. I’m a very hands-on kind of girl and while Photoshop and the like can do a million more things than you could easily do in the darkroom, it’s not quite as satisfying to me. And some times, the instant gratification of the digital image takes some of the fun and excitement out of it. There was nothing compared to the anxiety of putting your roll of film into one of those little yellow Kodak envelopes and sending it off to get processed and then the very long wait to see what all that hard work yielded.
Day 16 asked for someone who inspires me. One of my childhood heroes was Sally Ride. She was the first American woman to go into space. She has worked long and hard over the years to get girls interested in science and to follow their dreams. I recently read some interesting things about Sally. Like the fact that she originally wanted to be a professional tennis player, but realized while she had the drive, she didn’t have the raw talent. She pushed herself hard and has done so much. I heard a lecture by her while I was in high school. She was amazing to listen to. I think the lesson I take from Sally is that anything is possible as long as you have the drive and you put your best talents to work for you. That’s something I still struggle with today.
Day 23 asked for my favorite book. Again with the favorites! Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a book work and then some. I love books. I love to read. I’ll read just about anything. I do love certain genres more than others, but I’ll give just about anything a shot. There are some books, however, that I return to time and time again. One of those is To Kill a Mocking Bird. I first read this book in 6th grade. I think I’ve read it a half a dozen more times since then. Even though I know the story well and the characters are all old friends, I still like to go back and visit.
I truly identify with Scout Finch in many ways. I was too smart for my own good, I don’t always “get” social situations, and I’d much rather be playing in the mud in my overalls than being a pretty girl stuck in a dress. There is so much more to her though. She really is a kind soul just trying to figure out how this crazy, messed up world works and wondering why it all can’t be right and why the “good” people have bad things happen to them. I draw strength from Atticus and his relationship with his daughter and the faith he has in doing the right thing, even if it isn’t the popular thing. I think that’s the biggest lesson for me in that book. Well, maybe two. Like Scout, I need to be true to myself and who I am and like Atticus, I need to do the right thing, even if it isn’t the popular thing. I think I’m pretty good at both of these, but there are days I need to be reminded of them.
So, I bid you peace and may you find inspiration where you may.
Not Dead Yet...
I think this is the longest I've ever abandoned my blog. That's not to say I haven't been coming for a visit now and again, I just haven't had the time, energy or inclination to post.
I've been in a bit of a funk recently. A lot of it has to do with work stuff, but there's been some out-of-work things that have been keeping my attention away from this space or feeling like posting too. (I know, I know, that's why I have this blog, at least in part, to get that funk out of my head and onto "paper"... but I just couldn't get anything coherent out.)
I've also been very busy. Work has both been good and bad, but right now is mostly just frustrating. Both for the tasks I've got to get done and for the attitudes of myself and my coworkers and the management. It's been a tense time, but mostly from Spring Fever more than anything. Every spring we go through a bit of a quarrelsome time. This too shall pass.
This should tell you both how busy and how much of a funk I have been in this past month... I didn't even touch my camera until about the 20th! Yep, I was supposed to get boy-dragon pictures this month and I never did. Oh well, June will be here before you know it! (That is another post entirely!)
So, while I take a little time between today and tomorrow to try and come up with a couple of posts with most of my photo challenge that I've failed at, I'll give a quick rundown of the month.
Yes, it's going to be a bulleted list because a little boy just walked into the living room. This may not be in chronological order, but these are the highlights I remember.
* Dinner with the Ducks. Bob and Linda Duck came over one Monday early in the month for dinner with Mom, Boo and I. It was quite an enjoyable evening.
* Boo has grown like a weed. He's now wearing 3T tops AND bottoms. (He'd been in 3T tops since the fall/winter.) He needs the 3T bottoms for length, but the 2T are still a bit big in the waist.)
* This weekend was a super hectic one. Saturday night Gak and I went and saw Seamus Kennedy and it was a blast. Sunday morning the three of us left early to go down to Baltimore to celebrate Ethan's first birthday and then Monday I took off work to celebrate Amma's birthday with her (it was really Friday). Boo and I joined her at the Y and after breakfast the three of us headed to the Philly Zoo to break in the membership Jon and Becca got us for Christmas. It was cold but fun.
* We were teased with warm spring weather but have slipped back into winter again I think. Last I checked they were calling for snow on Friday, which is the hope opener for the Phillies. Snow? What?
* I'm not sure if I've mentioned it or not, but Gak and I have migrated to a new game. We're now playing Rift. Yes, that's taken up a lot of my evenings when I could/should have been posting. We're playing with some of his friends from OK and it's been quite fun.
* I've reconnected with still more friends on Facebook. Lissa found me, and I'm so very happy to catch up with her again. I've also reconnected with a few other college friends as well. And no, I haven't been posting there much more than here...
* Boo is really beginning to enter the Very Trying Threes at times. His language is exploding and most of the time he's a very nice little boy to be around, but when he's not, boy is he NOT. Oh well, we'll survive this stage too.
I think that's about it for the highlights of what we've been up to. I hope to write more (and post a LOT more pictures) soon!
Peace to you all and may months not slip away without you noticing.
I've been in a bit of a funk recently. A lot of it has to do with work stuff, but there's been some out-of-work things that have been keeping my attention away from this space or feeling like posting too. (I know, I know, that's why I have this blog, at least in part, to get that funk out of my head and onto "paper"... but I just couldn't get anything coherent out.)
I've also been very busy. Work has both been good and bad, but right now is mostly just frustrating. Both for the tasks I've got to get done and for the attitudes of myself and my coworkers and the management. It's been a tense time, but mostly from Spring Fever more than anything. Every spring we go through a bit of a quarrelsome time. This too shall pass.
This should tell you both how busy and how much of a funk I have been in this past month... I didn't even touch my camera until about the 20th! Yep, I was supposed to get boy-dragon pictures this month and I never did. Oh well, June will be here before you know it! (That is another post entirely!)
So, while I take a little time between today and tomorrow to try and come up with a couple of posts with most of my photo challenge that I've failed at, I'll give a quick rundown of the month.
Yes, it's going to be a bulleted list because a little boy just walked into the living room. This may not be in chronological order, but these are the highlights I remember.
* Dinner with the Ducks. Bob and Linda Duck came over one Monday early in the month for dinner with Mom, Boo and I. It was quite an enjoyable evening.
* Boo has grown like a weed. He's now wearing 3T tops AND bottoms. (He'd been in 3T tops since the fall/winter.) He needs the 3T bottoms for length, but the 2T are still a bit big in the waist.)
* This weekend was a super hectic one. Saturday night Gak and I went and saw Seamus Kennedy and it was a blast. Sunday morning the three of us left early to go down to Baltimore to celebrate Ethan's first birthday and then Monday I took off work to celebrate Amma's birthday with her (it was really Friday). Boo and I joined her at the Y and after breakfast the three of us headed to the Philly Zoo to break in the membership Jon and Becca got us for Christmas. It was cold but fun.
* We were teased with warm spring weather but have slipped back into winter again I think. Last I checked they were calling for snow on Friday, which is the hope opener for the Phillies. Snow? What?
* I'm not sure if I've mentioned it or not, but Gak and I have migrated to a new game. We're now playing Rift. Yes, that's taken up a lot of my evenings when I could/should have been posting. We're playing with some of his friends from OK and it's been quite fun.
* I've reconnected with still more friends on Facebook. Lissa found me, and I'm so very happy to catch up with her again. I've also reconnected with a few other college friends as well. And no, I haven't been posting there much more than here...
* Boo is really beginning to enter the Very Trying Threes at times. His language is exploding and most of the time he's a very nice little boy to be around, but when he's not, boy is he NOT. Oh well, we'll survive this stage too.
I think that's about it for the highlights of what we've been up to. I hope to write more (and post a LOT more pictures) soon!
Peace to you all and may months not slip away without you noticing.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Food
Ok, I'm skipping the next two picture requests on the list, but I promise to come back to them. Instead, I'll skip ahead (er, behind) to numbers 11 and 12.
I'll put them here and give you a chance to guess what they're supposed to be:
I'll put them here and give you a chance to guess what they're supposed to be:
Number 11
Number 12
Ok, do you have any ideas?
They go together, and not just because they're both food.
Actually, I made them go together because they are food.
You see, number 11 is supposed to be something I hate, while number 12 is supposed to be something I love. There are so very many things in this world that I love. I love my wonderful husband and our son and all my friends and family. I love hiking and camping and being out of doors.
But, there are very few things in this world that I hate. Unfortunately, vegetables are right at the top of my list. You see, to me, many of them taste like dirt. Yep, dirt. Or they stink to high heaven or are both mushy and crunchy in a weird way at the same time. Don't get me wrong, most vegetables are beautiful. A saute of green and yellow summer squash is beautiful, but I just can't seem to enjoy eating it. And those ripe, red tomatoes, it can't get much more summery and beautiful than that. (And yes, technically tomatoes are fruit, but still... they fall into the veggie category for me.)
So, since I chose vegetables as one of the very few things that I can actually say that I hate on this planet, I chose one of my most favorite foods as my love for this little exercise. Yes, that's a very yummy Grotto's Pizza. I'm a sucker for pizza. And I love Grotto's. Although, I will admit, there are days when the memory of Grotto's Pizza is what I love. You see, there is really only one place that they exist, and that's in Delaware. Yes, there's one up in the Scranton area, which is original, but it's not the same. Even the one in Wilmington isn't as good as the ones in Rehoboth. There are so many memories of Grotto's Pizza.
Fortunately for me, I do eat more of the vegetables' cousins, fruits and even manage to get in some green matter as well than pizza these days. But, it's really all about balance. I also couldn't live off pizza alone any more. I'm glad for that.
So, I'll wrap this up with wishes for taste buds and a mentality that enjoys, or at least tolerates, veggies and the option of enjoying the extra yummy, but not so healthy options as well.
Peace to you all and may you have some good food along the way.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Irony
I'm pretty far behind in my photo challenge, but I'm still plugging along. I may end up combining some days into one post, just so I can catch up.
The 8th photo on the list was for one that makes me laugh. Yes, I have all kinds of pictures of Boo that make me smile and giggle and outright laugh. But there was one, lurking in the back of my photos on Flickr that really makes me grin. Maybe not laugh so much, but I really appreciate it.
This is from a trip out to Arizona in 2007. I was in Phoenix and I had a little free time, so I went exploring. Just outside of Phoenix I saw this sign:
There wasn't really a tree in sight. There was lots and lots of scrub and some cacti, but nothing I, as an Easterner, could really call a forest. Therefore, to me, this sign is pure irony.
That's not to say that there weren't any trees. Just that they were few and far between. Like this cottonwood.
Anyhow, the whole situation seemed a little surreal to me.
But I love that kind of thing. Thanks to my dad, I've got a fairly unique perspective on the world and sense of humor. Dad loves word play, finding the absurd in the literal and the literal in the absurd. You're never quite sure exactly how he's going to twist something around on it's head and make you laugh. Or, at least I laugh because I can see the humor in it. Unfortunately for me, too many people just don't get the humor in it.
This caused me some real problems in school, especially in college where half my professors were stuffy old men. (Not Big Wolf though, he was an old man and a Marine, but there was a big heart and a small sense of humor lurking underneath the gruff exterior...) And most of the ones that weren't stuffy old men, were young professors or adjuncts who were trying to prove themselves serious to these stuffy old men. That left someone like me, who has taken Dad's advice that life is to serious to be taken seriously to heart, a little bit baffled and misunderstood at times. I can't tell you how many times something that I thought was quite witty and funny fell flat because my audience just didn't see the humor. But, that's OK. Some people get it, and I get it, so that's why I keep trying.
For example, I pointed out the irony of the National Forest sign to some people at work saying how it amused me (fully understanding the designation, but still finding it funny) and I start to get a lecture on National Forests and blah, blah, blah (I tuned out about here since they totally missed my point...). But, I still enjoy it. I still try and find the humor in the every day.
Peace to you all and may you find humor in your life.
The 8th photo on the list was for one that makes me laugh. Yes, I have all kinds of pictures of Boo that make me smile and giggle and outright laugh. But there was one, lurking in the back of my photos on Flickr that really makes me grin. Maybe not laugh so much, but I really appreciate it.
This is from a trip out to Arizona in 2007. I was in Phoenix and I had a little free time, so I went exploring. Just outside of Phoenix I saw this sign:
That's not to say that there weren't any trees. Just that they were few and far between. Like this cottonwood.
Anyhow, the whole situation seemed a little surreal to me.
But I love that kind of thing. Thanks to my dad, I've got a fairly unique perspective on the world and sense of humor. Dad loves word play, finding the absurd in the literal and the literal in the absurd. You're never quite sure exactly how he's going to twist something around on it's head and make you laugh. Or, at least I laugh because I can see the humor in it. Unfortunately for me, too many people just don't get the humor in it.
This caused me some real problems in school, especially in college where half my professors were stuffy old men. (Not Big Wolf though, he was an old man and a Marine, but there was a big heart and a small sense of humor lurking underneath the gruff exterior...) And most of the ones that weren't stuffy old men, were young professors or adjuncts who were trying to prove themselves serious to these stuffy old men. That left someone like me, who has taken Dad's advice that life is to serious to be taken seriously to heart, a little bit baffled and misunderstood at times. I can't tell you how many times something that I thought was quite witty and funny fell flat because my audience just didn't see the humor. But, that's OK. Some people get it, and I get it, so that's why I keep trying.
For example, I pointed out the irony of the National Forest sign to some people at work saying how it amused me (fully understanding the designation, but still finding it funny) and I start to get a lecture on National Forests and blah, blah, blah (I tuned out about here since they totally missed my point...). But, I still enjoy it. I still try and find the humor in the every day.
Peace to you all and may you find humor in your life.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Hooks
The next photo on the list (not like I've been actually posting pictures... but that's another story...) is a picture of my most treasured possession.
Again, I had some tough choices. For the holidays I got two very nice necklaces, from different people. My husband and son got me a beautiful white gold chain and a tree of life pendant. I adore it, especially since it came from them. Then, Kat got matching necklaces for me, her and Steph. Again, it's very special because of who it's from and the feeling behind it. (I'd been without a day-to-day necklace for most of the year, an now suddenly I have two I love that I have to choose from! It really is a tough choice...)
But, then I realized that as much as I treasure these two things and the feelings and thoughts that went into them coming into my life, there is one thing that I have that I treasure even more.
Actually, it's a collection of things.
It's a little red vinyl pouch that’s filled with all of Gram’s crochet hooks. It’s special because crochet was a favorite pastime of hers. It’s special because they belonged to a woman who I love very dearly and the one who taught me, so many years ago, the basics. But, I think what makes them the most special is that she gave them to me herself, just a few weeks before she passed. She wanted me to have them. She knew I’d put them to good use. She knew I would treasure them. And I do.
I will admit, that I don’t always go to her hooks first when I’m about to start a project. As much as I love owning them, the style of hook she mostly has is not what I prefer. Gak got me a beautiful set of bamboo hooks a few years back for my birthday and I love how light weight they are and the shape of the hook (Bates not Boye for those in the know). I prefer the Bates style for most yarns that I work with. But, there are times when I use one of Gram’s hooks instead of one of mine. I used them to make baby blankets for friends and family. I use them when I want a little extra love to go into what I’m making. I have future plans for things to make with her hooks.
So, they may not get used all the time, but they are very treasured and loved and yes, used.
I’ve actually been able to get a good bit of crochet in now and again lately. I’m still in the middle of a scarf/wrap that I started back in the fall, but it’s my traveling project. Stephanie, one of the teachers at Boo’s school, left for another daycare last week, so I made her a fun fun-fur scarf in a morning. I made a warm snuggly blanket for a baby boy that’s going to be born soon to Kat’s niece. I’ve got about 3 other projects either on the hooks or in the works. I have many more that I want to do that I don’t have yarn or patterns yet.
I just wish I had more time. I wish I had more time for crochet and reading and computer games and my son and husband and cleaning… and… and… and…. Yes, time would be a nice thing, but for now, I’ll squeeze in what I can, where I can and enjoy every moment of it.
So, I wish you all peace and may you have treasures that were given from the heart, to the heart.
Again, I had some tough choices. For the holidays I got two very nice necklaces, from different people. My husband and son got me a beautiful white gold chain and a tree of life pendant. I adore it, especially since it came from them. Then, Kat got matching necklaces for me, her and Steph. Again, it's very special because of who it's from and the feeling behind it. (I'd been without a day-to-day necklace for most of the year, an now suddenly I have two I love that I have to choose from! It really is a tough choice...)
But, then I realized that as much as I treasure these two things and the feelings and thoughts that went into them coming into my life, there is one thing that I have that I treasure even more.
Actually, it's a collection of things.
It's a little red vinyl pouch that’s filled with all of Gram’s crochet hooks. It’s special because crochet was a favorite pastime of hers. It’s special because they belonged to a woman who I love very dearly and the one who taught me, so many years ago, the basics. But, I think what makes them the most special is that she gave them to me herself, just a few weeks before she passed. She wanted me to have them. She knew I’d put them to good use. She knew I would treasure them. And I do.
I will admit, that I don’t always go to her hooks first when I’m about to start a project. As much as I love owning them, the style of hook she mostly has is not what I prefer. Gak got me a beautiful set of bamboo hooks a few years back for my birthday and I love how light weight they are and the shape of the hook (Bates not Boye for those in the know). I prefer the Bates style for most yarns that I work with. But, there are times when I use one of Gram’s hooks instead of one of mine. I used them to make baby blankets for friends and family. I use them when I want a little extra love to go into what I’m making. I have future plans for things to make with her hooks.
So, they may not get used all the time, but they are very treasured and loved and yes, used.
I’ve actually been able to get a good bit of crochet in now and again lately. I’m still in the middle of a scarf/wrap that I started back in the fall, but it’s my traveling project. Stephanie, one of the teachers at Boo’s school, left for another daycare last week, so I made her a fun fun-fur scarf in a morning. I made a warm snuggly blanket for a baby boy that’s going to be born soon to Kat’s niece. I’ve got about 3 other projects either on the hooks or in the works. I have many more that I want to do that I don’t have yarn or patterns yet.
I just wish I had more time. I wish I had more time for crochet and reading and computer games and my son and husband and cleaning… and… and… and…. Yes, time would be a nice thing, but for now, I’ll squeeze in what I can, where I can and enjoy every moment of it.
So, I wish you all peace and may you have treasures that were given from the heart, to the heart.
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