Passion: I have learned that my favorite shampoo from Trader Joe's has been discontinued. I LOVED that shampoo, Citrus Refresh, but new things happen every day, so out with the old and in with the new. Who can recommend a "grapefruity" shampoo?
Blaine has left the old and headed to the new. I understand he is headed to OSU. Taylor is acting, Hannah is going to teach, but does anyone know what degree Blaine is interested in? He came into the world in about 1996, the year of Pokemon. Braveheart won best picture at the Oscar's. Steve Jobs returned to Apple, the company he founded, thus creating the world Blaine now lives in. He was five-ish when 9-11 happened. And nobody texted anyone. Some other stuff has happened since then, but now the world is his to, well, as my friend Mary says, "Don't look back, you aren't headed in that direction."
Happy Birthdays are extended to my fabulous son Roger, my fabulous sister Josephine, my fabulous sister-in-law Jane, and fond memories go out that today would have been Mother's birthday. Happy birthday Mom where ever you are. I hope it's not too hot.
Passion: I meet it every day on Facebook. In one mornings scan I was exhorted to be liberal, be conservative, laugh, be adventurous, hike the Grand Canyon, relax, engage more deeply, appreciate the arts, give advice, don't give advice, change the world, plant a tree, grow a garden, heal the world, ride a motorcycle, loose weight, don't loose too much, camp, drink, eat, play games, complain about people who complain about me, look at cats, admire babies, become more musical, watch out for drownings, bugs and scams.
The passions that move people are alive and well. Passion for beautiful artwork, adventures, children, humor, puns, puzzles, games, ideas, ideals, stories, photographs, philosophy, quotes, information, facts -- makes me happy.
Quote from Bill Nye the science guy: Everyone you ever meet knows something you don't.
That is good to remember.
Connor and I were headed to the grocery store and he asked me the name of the store.
I answered QFC.
He said Granny I can spell that.
Well spell it for me.
QFC.
I love my smart grandson.
Connor is still coming to my house for our playdate until his house is completed, and a play date with Connor is exhausting. I mentioned to Ian the other evening that he is good as gold, but when he leaves I am exhausted. Ian said well you are sixty years older than him. Now there is a prospective I hadn't actually considered.
I've sent three movies back to Netflix with out watching them, a diminishing passion. What's up with that? First music appreciation diminished, then reading passion diminished, now MOVIES? What next?
My house purge has come to a screeching halt, gotta get back on that. I've been busy with grandson, friends, work, and fricking doctor appointments. It is confirmed my hearing has gone from low normal to moderately severe.
I wanted to know who designed the Cheerio and learned it was engineered by Lester Borchardt, who developed techniques to puff, package and fortify cereal. They are round to increase crunch surface, puffed instead of flat flakes to resist sogginess, have a hole in the middle so they cook evenly -- maybe -- no one really knows for sure. Passionate inventor Mr Borchardt, he also helped with WWII spy equipment. Interesting man Mr Borchardt.
I might be the world's mystery woman. Everyone knows Cher or Madona, but mention Jan and people will say who's that. Yep, that's me the world's mystery woman.
Back to my one in ten theory, I've noticed one in ten couples hold hands.
Lynn and I went to Edmond's waterfront for lunch yesterday after my eye doctor appointment, (he gave me a good report, no change, no diabetic warning signals) and the restaurant, either Arnie's or Anthony's we aren't in agreement on that, was filled to the brim with gray-headed diners and waitstaff. Gray-headed America is alive and well and busy and dining and laughing and drinking and walking the beach. What a beautiful day on the Puget Sound, the sun, the water, the boats, the ferry plying its coarse, and the happy people, happy to be alive, happy to be out and about stuffing themselves. Later over ice cream and coffee we chatted the afternoon away. What a perfect day.
Actually, I just looked it up, it was Anthony's Home Port Beach Cafe. Damn! I hate it when Lynn is right and I am wrong. Gray-headed America might also just be getting a little bit forgetful, well, at least this gray-headed American is. In my defense they are practically carbon copies of each other. Mirror images at each end of the beachfront.
The Puget Sound beckons this morning, it is gorgeous here today and has been for several weeks, blue sky, snow covered mountains, sparkling sound, but I am headed the other direction, towards Something Silver, to visit Ian, have lunch, and buy something dangly during University Village's annual sidewalk sale. It will be a madhouse, but I am up for it.
Deep in this life I am pondering The River Show. River Travel or River Appreciation? Is your passion riding the waves, floating down the river, seeing the sights right and left, leaning towards the next bend to see what is coming? Or is your passion lazing besides the river, watching the sun sparkle off the water, noticing the small miracles that happens in reeds and bushes, watching the birds dart and soar around the cliffs? I don't think there is a right or wrong passion.
An up and coming attraction on The River Show is Alaska. I told Kathy Noland 33% of my brain is devoted to Alaska, like a growth on the side of my head. It's not dead center but it is there all ballooned and puffed out.
Get out on the River and do something -- or not.
I'm going to have a cheese and broccoli omelet.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Friday, May 30, 2014
What is the World Coming To?
Sometimes a stream dries up. Sometimes the current becomes subterranean. Sometimes you break a fingernail, or it rains, or you work on the holiday, or a sister has a birthday 1400 miles away, sometimes.
And it is difficult to get on with life.
Sometimes the birds sing, you take the ferry to breakfast in Kingston, you make the dreaded Dr appointment, or Connor delights and all is well, sometimes.
Sometimes the air is so still and quiet and thick it feels alien. Sometimes nephews graduate into the great big wide world. Sometimes the world is full of generosity of spirit, sometimes its not.
Sometimes you don't fit in. Never have, never will. Sometimes you try to sort out how you became so freaking different, sometimes you don't.
Sometimes a friend, who wants to offer helpful counsel to someone getting a divorce, asks for advice. Halfway through a litany of advice you realize that your advice really isn't all that helpful for most people getting a divorce. So you re-word it into more ordinary language.
Sometimes you don't fall to the mountaintop, sometimes you have to climb. Or as Kathleen said at book club, "There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but once you get there the view is the same for everyone." Sometimes you don't need to climb at all but just relish the view you have, be it valley, river, or desert vista.
What is the world coming to?
Well, Josie is cooing, Judy singing, Indian food is still delicious especially when shared with a friend, Michael reads, Branson toddles, Cathy travels, Jean cooks, Janice does crossword puzzles, Julia has binoculars close by, Art walks the dogs if it isn't 100 degrees in the shade, Ian buys jewelry, Roger mountain bikes although his mother still thinks he is too old for that young man's passion, the ditch digger still digs a ditch.
The world is still "just be." Be like a bee. Do your job and rest. The elegant simplicity of life doesn't need complicated by any emphasis on "more." More accomplishment, more activities, more experiences, more more more anything.
Don't get me wrong, sometimes if you run the miles, paint the picture, get to the end of the road, sail the world, reach the stars all is good and well, sometimes. But if you don't all is good and well, sometimes.
Like a mayfly, we are born, get a bite to eat, maybe mate, and then die. We will never know why.
I'm thinking memory is tainted by wishful thinking and storytelling.
My recent favorite movies: Saving Mr Banks, Dallas Buyers Club, the BBC TV series Zen. Have I mentioned Gravity yet? Good movies revisited: The Right Stuff, Marilyn, Radio Days (Woody Allen has a new movie coming out), My Dog Tulip, and Powwow Highway.
Jerry I am finally reading the book about writers and drinking: The Trip to Echo Springs. Next up is a book that blends both our interests. Five Who Came Back, about movie directors who served in WWII. Claire told me about it due to my movie interest and now I'm telling you due to your history interest. Written by Mark Harris, how is that for a coincidence?
What is the world coming to? Breakfast with Carol, playdates with Connor, dinner with Ian, Roger bubbling. Alaskan cruises bought and paid for, emails with Bo, she invited to the new Cabiri show, Tewaz, June 6th, Dr appointments that come and go, the doctor said my ears suck, well not exactly her words. Since I never bought a blood pressure machine, she wanted me to come into the office to have it checked twice a week. I waited 30 minutes the first time I tried that, guess who went out and bought a machine?
The world's circles of work, family, community, and spirituality continue.
The world's circles of work, family, community, and spirituality continue.
Sometimes the world continues with out any help from me at all.
Sometimes.
Friday, May 2, 2014
...and That is a Lot of Love
7.16 billion people in the world and most of them are loved by someone.
That is a lot of love floating around on the planet.
Infusing it.
Lifting it.
If you hold all the love you have for others: sisters, children, grannies, dogs in one hand, and you hold all your pain, frustration, anger, and hatred in the other, how would your scales balance out? What would your contribution to the world's love equation be? Would it be a net gain or a net loss? Can you find one more person to love -- to help breed more love into the Earth's atmosphere? If not a person, how about a banana, a pet, or experience. Any person, place or thing will do.
It seems easy to love flowers and birds in-spite of their differences to humans, in-spite of their differences to each other, a hummingbird is quite different to a bald eagle, migratory or not. Different animals; wolf, bison, horny toad, whales, different flowers; daisy to hot house orchid, all seem lovable.
Love for a team
a family
truth
history
religion
Legos
craft
work
hobby
books
chickens
sea life
beaches
turtles
farms
ripening corn
The Dali Lama loves everyone.
What I'm trying to say is love seems easy and if it's easy why do humans have so much dis-ease. I know, I know, people die on highways, the rain forest is disappearing, drug lords still reign, corruption is common, but can't we love around the corners of these things, the edges, the essence of something good even in the not so good.
The smoking area at my downtown building is in the back, way in the back, with a container for the butts so nasty smokers like myself don't throw them down on the pavement. The homeless, the bums, the neighborhood shelter guys, the street teens come regularly to check the container for usable, smoke-able, left overs. They don't hang around, they don't litter, they don't beg or make a nuisance of themselves, they just check the container then move on, to check the next container I suppose.
There is one security guy who comes regularly to dump water in the container to ruin it's contents. Seems the opposite of love to me, but I want to love around the corners of these things, the edges, the essence of something good even in the not so good.
Love: ease and dignity, a spiritual balance, at home in one's universe and satisfied with it.
You know how much you loved when you feel how much you grieve.
Speaking of love; I would love to see Nova Scotia, a rocket blast off, the blessing of the fishing fleet or animals, either one, Christian happily married, Connor reading, Roger and Stephanie back home, Ian happily engaged with his life, oh wait, he already is, Jean visiting, a cruise to Alaska, Mary achy free, Lynn's love reciprocated.
That will do for now. May you feel loved all day.
Friday, April 25, 2014
The Color of Life
I read on Coats Thread website that there are 10 million colors that the human eye can distinguish although we don't have the language to describe them, to name them. And how many people know what "cerise" is anyway? They made 150,000 colors last year at their 40 dye houses around the world.
That is a lot of color.
Coats also credits Gordon Sundbank with the related item the zipper. The zipper had been thought of earlier but Gordon, bless his Swedish engineering soul, perfected it.
What would our Universe be without color? What would our life be without color? Disneyland without color? Baby Josie without color? The Pacific Northwest's beloved green and white ferries? Did anyone else love Crayolas as a child? How many have doodled with colored pencils? I drive to work on grey highways, the sun shines on poor and rich, flowers and weeds, cows and whales, dessert and forests, and all of it pleases my eye -- somehow.
Color is best distinguished against a neutral grey background viewed at a 45 degree angle. I don't know why, something about the refracted light. Ask an engineer; Marc, Mark?
Color and zippers; two important elements in life. And not just for keeping your privates private, but metaphorically speaking. The colors of our life are endless, amazing, amusing, powerful, seemingly inexhaustible. Birth death love passion are all elements that color our life...
...And bound together with some kind of human zipper.
How does a stranger become a friend. I notice one reading a book, another asking questions, another in the smoking area almost as much as me. Mary, Lynn and Claire. A phrase, a peek, a conversation over tea or coffee in the break room blooms with color and surprise into a longer conversation, a laugh, meeting outside the boundaries of work. Slowly our lives become entwined with drives, bookclubs, siblings. Claire has almost as many siblings as I. Mary turned me onto great books, especially The Curve of Time, one of my favorite books ever. How can I not feel the beginnings of love for such a gifted reader. Lynn loved drives and walks and eating and mini adventures. They all made my life better, more interesting, more fun, more thoughtful, more colorful.
I watched Carol crochet a beautiful pink baby sweater sitting next to me at Washington Mutual, well you all know how I feel about little girl pink crocheted baby sweaters -- with a white ruffle going down the front, and she was reading also. She colored my life with amazement at her talent. I didn't know then that I was glimpsing the very tip of the proverbial ice berg of her talent.
We don't have to develop a friendship with our siblings, we are born to that, but friends come different. Jean worked with a girl who had a mother. Jerry worked with a man who had a wife. Ian met a goofy kid who knew Nila.
What is the color of a safe harbor? A place we just know we belong. The right fit, the right balance. The right color. Thank God for those 10 million colors and my place in them. I always tell people, "I'm not the sharpest crayola in the box, just one of the more colorful."
Speaking of friends: At work the other day I was writing an email to the customer service team and used the phrase "Patience is painfully hard work." Being a writer I like to attribute credit so I Googled the phrase and Google pointed it's finger at me. That was weird, that was more than weird it was spooky. It seems I had used the phrase on a blog and Google gave me credit. Now you know how much Google can lie.
Then later at bookclub my colorful friend, Eleanor, said she Googled a person for an innocent reason and found out enough to be embarrassed by it. Now my curiosity was aroused so I Googled me, yep, it is scary what the world can know about you. I don't, and don't know how, to set up privacy blocks, so the whole world can know about me.
Most of it was from The Spirit of Maxine, but also that I have lived on Mary St., might be related to Robert Jones, all of my alias', and I have a bunch, any variation of my names is listed as an alias. Even the misspellings of Neomia and Carrillo. Apparently the colors of my life are transparent.
I am apparently transparent at work also, to some. I am just not a color in their universe.
My house purge continues. Ian carried out seven more bags.
I thought I could write a blog and not mention Connor, but I have discovered that it is not possible. He told me the other evening to clean my bedroom because it was a mess and full of germs. Sweet boy.
I had a little birdhouse for him to paint and he enjoyed painting it for about fifteen minuets then he told me he was going to take a break, and for the next three hours he crashed cars. I don't think he will be an artist.
I am zipped up to that wee colorful kid.
Bo and Christian gave me a 3% chance of going to reunion this year. I said with a 3% chance I'd better reserve a cabin, however the cabins are all booked. Anyone have a spare? Or spare camping gear? Christian was trying to explain to Bo about his middle America family reunions and Bo asked rather sheepishly if there would be any other Asian's there. Christian said no, but his family would welcome her with open arms, love, and affection, as they would him after an absence of many years.
I loved it that Christian had no doubt in his heart. That is the color of family.
The world, the universe, is filled with color, go zip yourself up to some. Brazil, The Maldives, Madagascar, colorful places all, or so I have been shown. And Alaska. Alaska will color my life soon, soon.
That is a lot of color.
Coats also credits Gordon Sundbank with the related item the zipper. The zipper had been thought of earlier but Gordon, bless his Swedish engineering soul, perfected it.
What would our Universe be without color? What would our life be without color? Disneyland without color? Baby Josie without color? The Pacific Northwest's beloved green and white ferries? Did anyone else love Crayolas as a child? How many have doodled with colored pencils? I drive to work on grey highways, the sun shines on poor and rich, flowers and weeds, cows and whales, dessert and forests, and all of it pleases my eye -- somehow.
Color is best distinguished against a neutral grey background viewed at a 45 degree angle. I don't know why, something about the refracted light. Ask an engineer; Marc, Mark?
Color and zippers; two important elements in life. And not just for keeping your privates private, but metaphorically speaking. The colors of our life are endless, amazing, amusing, powerful, seemingly inexhaustible. Birth death love passion are all elements that color our life...
...And bound together with some kind of human zipper.
How does a stranger become a friend. I notice one reading a book, another asking questions, another in the smoking area almost as much as me. Mary, Lynn and Claire. A phrase, a peek, a conversation over tea or coffee in the break room blooms with color and surprise into a longer conversation, a laugh, meeting outside the boundaries of work. Slowly our lives become entwined with drives, bookclubs, siblings. Claire has almost as many siblings as I. Mary turned me onto great books, especially The Curve of Time, one of my favorite books ever. How can I not feel the beginnings of love for such a gifted reader. Lynn loved drives and walks and eating and mini adventures. They all made my life better, more interesting, more fun, more thoughtful, more colorful.
I watched Carol crochet a beautiful pink baby sweater sitting next to me at Washington Mutual, well you all know how I feel about little girl pink crocheted baby sweaters -- with a white ruffle going down the front, and she was reading also. She colored my life with amazement at her talent. I didn't know then that I was glimpsing the very tip of the proverbial ice berg of her talent.
We don't have to develop a friendship with our siblings, we are born to that, but friends come different. Jean worked with a girl who had a mother. Jerry worked with a man who had a wife. Ian met a goofy kid who knew Nila.
What is the color of a safe harbor? A place we just know we belong. The right fit, the right balance. The right color. Thank God for those 10 million colors and my place in them. I always tell people, "I'm not the sharpest crayola in the box, just one of the more colorful."
Speaking of friends: At work the other day I was writing an email to the customer service team and used the phrase "Patience is painfully hard work." Being a writer I like to attribute credit so I Googled the phrase and Google pointed it's finger at me. That was weird, that was more than weird it was spooky. It seems I had used the phrase on a blog and Google gave me credit. Now you know how much Google can lie.
Then later at bookclub my colorful friend, Eleanor, said she Googled a person for an innocent reason and found out enough to be embarrassed by it. Now my curiosity was aroused so I Googled me, yep, it is scary what the world can know about you. I don't, and don't know how, to set up privacy blocks, so the whole world can know about me.
Most of it was from The Spirit of Maxine, but also that I have lived on Mary St., might be related to Robert Jones, all of my alias', and I have a bunch, any variation of my names is listed as an alias. Even the misspellings of Neomia and Carrillo. Apparently the colors of my life are transparent.
I am apparently transparent at work also, to some. I am just not a color in their universe.
My house purge continues. Ian carried out seven more bags.
I thought I could write a blog and not mention Connor, but I have discovered that it is not possible. He told me the other evening to clean my bedroom because it was a mess and full of germs. Sweet boy.
I had a little birdhouse for him to paint and he enjoyed painting it for about fifteen minuets then he told me he was going to take a break, and for the next three hours he crashed cars. I don't think he will be an artist.
I am zipped up to that wee colorful kid.
Bo and Christian gave me a 3% chance of going to reunion this year. I said with a 3% chance I'd better reserve a cabin, however the cabins are all booked. Anyone have a spare? Or spare camping gear? Christian was trying to explain to Bo about his middle America family reunions and Bo asked rather sheepishly if there would be any other Asian's there. Christian said no, but his family would welcome her with open arms, love, and affection, as they would him after an absence of many years.
I loved it that Christian had no doubt in his heart. That is the color of family.
The world, the universe, is filled with color, go zip yourself up to some. Brazil, The Maldives, Madagascar, colorful places all, or so I have been shown. And Alaska. Alaska will color my life soon, soon.
Friday, April 18, 2014
One in Ten
Julia, I was rereading about the Tracy Aviary Owl Forest in Utah and was thinking, if you want to drive 1400 miles I'll drive 900 and meet you there next Spring. Do you feel up for a drive across America? A favorite pastime of Taylor's. Oh the places we have been and the things we have seen.
Connor was a busy delight Wednesday on our playdate.
I had set up an activity where he could make little Easter baskets for everyone. He very carefully doled out the green grass, he very carefully gave each basket a portion of candy, he very carefully learned to curl ribbon to tie on each Easter basket. Then I gave him pinking shears to cut the name tags. He was enchanted with the pinked edge, telling me how pretty the edge was -- for about 60 seconds -- when his laser vision focused on the center screw holding the two halves together. He studied the screw, he manipulated the scissors back and forth, he adjusted them to different angles to examine them closer. The Easter baskets, the grass, the candy, the pretty pinked edge, the tags were all forgotten, he was lost to the mechanics of the scissors. With awe in his voice he said, "Granny, look at this gear."
There is always a right tool for the job, I just don't always know what that tool is. Pinking shears? Masking tape? Paperclips? I guess paperclips will become obsolete someday along with cursive writing and paper pages. New thinking, new technology, new solutions, new tools. All going forward to a future I can't even imagine.
Did ja see the post on Facebook about the glow-in-the-dark highway markings, did ja? Blue Highways I call them because of a book I read years ago by that name. (A good book by the way.) I don't suppose I will live to see that a reality, but it sure is a neat idea. A terrific idea. A futuristic idea. Blue highways, what next? Hover craft? I fervently hope so.
I was on Facebook the other morning commenting back and forth with four or five others at the same time. That was fun. From Jason in England to Verla in Oklahoma to Lynn in Seattle and one or two others. That was real time fun and something I couldn't have imagined when Bob brought home one of the first car phones. Remember those boxes of intrigue?
There is so freaking much I don't know. It is humbling to stop and think about my ignorance. I don't know house construction, road construction, refining oil, how to stop smoking, chicken health, electrical gizmos, bumper cars, serious cooking, magic, Chinese history, natural dyes, gem stones, or what a Rabbi does.
People tend to treat me a little politely as they back away or a little kindly as if they feel sorry for me by making allowances for my age, craziness or stupidity. It is odd that if they don't get my reference I'm the one who is stupid. Mention "Blue Highways" to someone and see what kind of reaction you get. Or Barbara McClintock, there's a puzzler.
People have a hard time fessing up to their own ignorance. I call that brain lockdown. Nothing in and nothing out. After all they know the answer, have the solution, have made all the right decisions, choices. They are so busy living life correctly that they can't open themselves to new endless possibilities and solutions.
The only thing Connor liked as much as the "gear" in the scissors was washing dishes. After making the Easter baskets we made Bird Nest cookies, that was okay, but what he really liked was pouring soap into the chocolaty pans and washing them over and over and over. I think he used about a cup of soap.
As the evening wound down he finally turned his attention to his regular play shelves. I had squirreled a few different items on them for him to discover and he said, "Thank you granny for the new stuff, especially the key chain and pen." And right before his daddy hauled him out the door he found the Altoid tin with six mini cars inside, cars that probably belonged to Roger at some point. Woe is Connor when he discovers cars and can't play, so he gave me firm instructions to put them inside the plastic Easter eggs and hide them for when he comes back. So hid they will be.
Connor noticed my new purse, slammed the back door so many times I told him if he slammed it again I was going to dress him up in girl's clothes. Even with all the Easter candy to choose from the treat Connor wanted was the red Tootsie Roll Pop that I had snagged at the pizza parlor to put on his play shelves. Will Tootsie Roll Pops ever go out of favor? Like I said, I can't even imagine the future.
I've wanted to clear out and organize my condo ever since, well, ever since I moved in. Clearing out and organizing has been hard, no, impossible for me to do. Then one day I thought to myself, said to myself, if clearing out and organizing is hard don't do it, just throw something away. And myself listened for once. I told myself to throw something away every day and I did. I threw something away, and then something else and pretty soon I was like a shark on a feeding frenzy.
All those damn articles, books, suggestions, helpful hints I read -- for years -- were a piece of crap. I moved one stone and started an avalanche. Now I can make room for flowers, make my condo easy to dust, make room for creativity. This works. New solution to a burdensome problem.
Lynn and I had a pedicure the other day after our ferry ride, after our breakfast at The Oak Table in Kingston, and the sweet lady asked, "Relaxing, no?" I yeah yeahed her -- but I lied. I don't find pedicures relaxing, they make me antsy, nervous, claustrophobic, not relaxing. That is why I only have one every two or three months. Not relaxing, but better than me trying to contort myself down to my feet for a DIYer.
After a deep scientific study I concluded that one person in ten is an asshole; in line, on the phone, at intersections. I studied and thought about this deeply for 15 to 20 minutes. One person in ten is an asshole and sometimes that asshole is me.
Bless someone today by asking them for a favor.
And happy, happy Easter, may your Easter have a pretty edge also.
Connor was a busy delight Wednesday on our playdate.
I had set up an activity where he could make little Easter baskets for everyone. He very carefully doled out the green grass, he very carefully gave each basket a portion of candy, he very carefully learned to curl ribbon to tie on each Easter basket. Then I gave him pinking shears to cut the name tags. He was enchanted with the pinked edge, telling me how pretty the edge was -- for about 60 seconds -- when his laser vision focused on the center screw holding the two halves together. He studied the screw, he manipulated the scissors back and forth, he adjusted them to different angles to examine them closer. The Easter baskets, the grass, the candy, the pretty pinked edge, the tags were all forgotten, he was lost to the mechanics of the scissors. With awe in his voice he said, "Granny, look at this gear."
There is always a right tool for the job, I just don't always know what that tool is. Pinking shears? Masking tape? Paperclips? I guess paperclips will become obsolete someday along with cursive writing and paper pages. New thinking, new technology, new solutions, new tools. All going forward to a future I can't even imagine.
Did ja see the post on Facebook about the glow-in-the-dark highway markings, did ja? Blue Highways I call them because of a book I read years ago by that name. (A good book by the way.) I don't suppose I will live to see that a reality, but it sure is a neat idea. A terrific idea. A futuristic idea. Blue highways, what next? Hover craft? I fervently hope so.
I was on Facebook the other morning commenting back and forth with four or five others at the same time. That was fun. From Jason in England to Verla in Oklahoma to Lynn in Seattle and one or two others. That was real time fun and something I couldn't have imagined when Bob brought home one of the first car phones. Remember those boxes of intrigue?
There is so freaking much I don't know. It is humbling to stop and think about my ignorance. I don't know house construction, road construction, refining oil, how to stop smoking, chicken health, electrical gizmos, bumper cars, serious cooking, magic, Chinese history, natural dyes, gem stones, or what a Rabbi does.
People tend to treat me a little politely as they back away or a little kindly as if they feel sorry for me by making allowances for my age, craziness or stupidity. It is odd that if they don't get my reference I'm the one who is stupid. Mention "Blue Highways" to someone and see what kind of reaction you get. Or Barbara McClintock, there's a puzzler.
People have a hard time fessing up to their own ignorance. I call that brain lockdown. Nothing in and nothing out. After all they know the answer, have the solution, have made all the right decisions, choices. They are so busy living life correctly that they can't open themselves to new endless possibilities and solutions.
The only thing Connor liked as much as the "gear" in the scissors was washing dishes. After making the Easter baskets we made Bird Nest cookies, that was okay, but what he really liked was pouring soap into the chocolaty pans and washing them over and over and over. I think he used about a cup of soap.
As the evening wound down he finally turned his attention to his regular play shelves. I had squirreled a few different items on them for him to discover and he said, "Thank you granny for the new stuff, especially the key chain and pen." And right before his daddy hauled him out the door he found the Altoid tin with six mini cars inside, cars that probably belonged to Roger at some point. Woe is Connor when he discovers cars and can't play, so he gave me firm instructions to put them inside the plastic Easter eggs and hide them for when he comes back. So hid they will be.
Connor noticed my new purse, slammed the back door so many times I told him if he slammed it again I was going to dress him up in girl's clothes. Even with all the Easter candy to choose from the treat Connor wanted was the red Tootsie Roll Pop that I had snagged at the pizza parlor to put on his play shelves. Will Tootsie Roll Pops ever go out of favor? Like I said, I can't even imagine the future.
I've wanted to clear out and organize my condo ever since, well, ever since I moved in. Clearing out and organizing has been hard, no, impossible for me to do. Then one day I thought to myself, said to myself, if clearing out and organizing is hard don't do it, just throw something away. And myself listened for once. I told myself to throw something away every day and I did. I threw something away, and then something else and pretty soon I was like a shark on a feeding frenzy.
All those damn articles, books, suggestions, helpful hints I read -- for years -- were a piece of crap. I moved one stone and started an avalanche. Now I can make room for flowers, make my condo easy to dust, make room for creativity. This works. New solution to a burdensome problem.
Lynn and I had a pedicure the other day after our ferry ride, after our breakfast at The Oak Table in Kingston, and the sweet lady asked, "Relaxing, no?" I yeah yeahed her -- but I lied. I don't find pedicures relaxing, they make me antsy, nervous, claustrophobic, not relaxing. That is why I only have one every two or three months. Not relaxing, but better than me trying to contort myself down to my feet for a DIYer.
After a deep scientific study I concluded that one person in ten is an asshole; in line, on the phone, at intersections. I studied and thought about this deeply for 15 to 20 minutes. One person in ten is an asshole and sometimes that asshole is me.
Bless someone today by asking them for a favor.
And happy, happy Easter, may your Easter have a pretty edge also.
Friday, April 11, 2014
Turtle Happiness
I read in a book recently "living life with intention." I liked that phrase. A worthy phrase. Creating a world, a life, whether with books, art, walks, building, or something else. Fishing? Driving? Sewing? Sitting and watching the sunset? Spiritual?
Living life with intention is family for most; feeding, clothing, protecting. For Bo it might be weaving. For Roger running? For Jason dreaming of a motorcycle, or at least that is what I glean from his Facebook posts? A home, a job? I'm surrounded by a great ocean of intention from family, friends, colleagues. Assisting another with their intention is one of the greatest acts of humanity we can perform.
Living life with intention requires attention, purpose, sometimes prayer. The intention might be to make it through the day -- or night. To reach a height. To be still. To connect, or disconnect as the case may be. It isn't always the big and bold, sometimes it is the quiet and meek. Sometimes it is just being true to oneself. Congruent.
That is where I am now. Wrapped up in the intention of being congruent. I am who I am. I feel like a princess separated, I feel a great distance from others. I'm separated by common interests. I don't hear a single conversation at work that I want to participate in. I have no opinion on Oprah, Ellen, breast feeding, boyfriends, exercise clubs, hill climbs. I don't share any common goals. I don't want to advance at work. I'm not angry at the latest dictate of change. I don't care what my annual review says. I have no five-year goals or plans. I'm not looking for a new home, husband, or heaven. My intentions lie else where. My energies are otherwise engaged.
First as I aged I became invisible, then like the great plate tectonics of the Earth, I drifted. Age is a great wall of separation. And ancient. Ancient like turtles.
Turtles: The shell developed from their ribs creating a protective shield. Yep that's me. Turtles are the most ancient of many species alive today. Yep that's me. Turtles have been around for some 220 million years, not quite me. Turtles move slow, like to eat, are poor mothers. They are considered to be social creatures and sometimes switch between monogamy and promiscuity in their sexual behavior. Case studies also exist of turtles that have enjoyed playing. Oh, and they are smarter than rats at learning a maze. Turtles are known to exist in water, in forests, deserts, high mountains or low swamps.
The mythology of turtles is wisdom, patience, travels it's own path in it's own time -- with it's own intention. Unless I come out of my shell, which is becoming harder and harder for me to do, to help another achieve an intention, my intention is to travel my path with my family on an Alaskan cruise, cruising at my own turtle speed.
Life happens, isn't it a wondrous thing?
Life happened to Jeff with fire -- twice.
Life happened to Roger with water -- twice.
What gives? I'm sorry for their difficulties, but I admit I am fascinated by the pattern. Is some karma at work, some spiritual path only God understands? Is it too coincidental to ignore? Isn't it a curious thing? Just a random thought.
Roger and Stephanie's house is a mess. They will be living at the Fortener's until theirs is repaired, recarpeted, rebuilt, repainted, and completely redone. That is what happens when the washing machine filter is not inserted correctly and you are sick and your wife is away and you throw in a load of clothes and go to bed.
Other random thoughts: Words. Who can live without words? Words are life, theater, entertainment. Words can be used to scare or inspire. To threaten or endear. Words are indestructible, they last centuries. Words are freedom. I watched the two movies The Book Thief and 12 Years a Slave and pondered the power of words then came across the quote by Mark Twain, "There is no difference between the man who can't read and the man who won't." Words are power.
Fun words: Possession and Mississippi, two words with four ess in them. In a playful mood I'd tried to think of other words with four ess's in them, but decided I would rather have breakfast. Also fun. Rice omelet with cheese and salsa, sourdough toast, and fresh pineapple.
My intention is to exit life with deliberately few possessions. I have some work to do, so send me a prayer to assist.
My intention is to exit life without disgracing myself too much. Well, no more than I already have. I have some work to do, so send me a prayer to assist.
Nora and Julia I have to tell you that Gladys brings me much happiness. Thank you again for happiness that I only have to sit in my turtle shell and enjoy.
Turtle happiness is my intention. Good luck on yours today and if you need a prayer I will be happy to assist.
Living life with intention is family for most; feeding, clothing, protecting. For Bo it might be weaving. For Roger running? For Jason dreaming of a motorcycle, or at least that is what I glean from his Facebook posts? A home, a job? I'm surrounded by a great ocean of intention from family, friends, colleagues. Assisting another with their intention is one of the greatest acts of humanity we can perform.
Living life with intention requires attention, purpose, sometimes prayer. The intention might be to make it through the day -- or night. To reach a height. To be still. To connect, or disconnect as the case may be. It isn't always the big and bold, sometimes it is the quiet and meek. Sometimes it is just being true to oneself. Congruent.
That is where I am now. Wrapped up in the intention of being congruent. I am who I am. I feel like a princess separated, I feel a great distance from others. I'm separated by common interests. I don't hear a single conversation at work that I want to participate in. I have no opinion on Oprah, Ellen, breast feeding, boyfriends, exercise clubs, hill climbs. I don't share any common goals. I don't want to advance at work. I'm not angry at the latest dictate of change. I don't care what my annual review says. I have no five-year goals or plans. I'm not looking for a new home, husband, or heaven. My intentions lie else where. My energies are otherwise engaged.
First as I aged I became invisible, then like the great plate tectonics of the Earth, I drifted. Age is a great wall of separation. And ancient. Ancient like turtles.
Turtles: The shell developed from their ribs creating a protective shield. Yep that's me. Turtles are the most ancient of many species alive today. Yep that's me. Turtles have been around for some 220 million years, not quite me. Turtles move slow, like to eat, are poor mothers. They are considered to be social creatures and sometimes switch between monogamy and promiscuity in their sexual behavior. Case studies also exist of turtles that have enjoyed playing. Oh, and they are smarter than rats at learning a maze. Turtles are known to exist in water, in forests, deserts, high mountains or low swamps.
The mythology of turtles is wisdom, patience, travels it's own path in it's own time -- with it's own intention. Unless I come out of my shell, which is becoming harder and harder for me to do, to help another achieve an intention, my intention is to travel my path with my family on an Alaskan cruise, cruising at my own turtle speed.
Life happened to Jeff with fire -- twice.
Life happened to Roger with water -- twice.
What gives? I'm sorry for their difficulties, but I admit I am fascinated by the pattern. Is some karma at work, some spiritual path only God understands? Is it too coincidental to ignore? Isn't it a curious thing? Just a random thought.
Roger and Stephanie's house is a mess. They will be living at the Fortener's until theirs is repaired, recarpeted, rebuilt, repainted, and completely redone. That is what happens when the washing machine filter is not inserted correctly and you are sick and your wife is away and you throw in a load of clothes and go to bed.
Other random thoughts: Words. Who can live without words? Words are life, theater, entertainment. Words can be used to scare or inspire. To threaten or endear. Words are indestructible, they last centuries. Words are freedom. I watched the two movies The Book Thief and 12 Years a Slave and pondered the power of words then came across the quote by Mark Twain, "There is no difference between the man who can't read and the man who won't." Words are power.
Fun words: Possession and Mississippi, two words with four ess in them. In a playful mood I'd tried to think of other words with four ess's in them, but decided I would rather have breakfast. Also fun. Rice omelet with cheese and salsa, sourdough toast, and fresh pineapple.
My intention is to exit life with deliberately few possessions. I have some work to do, so send me a prayer to assist.
My intention is to exit life without disgracing myself too much. Well, no more than I already have. I have some work to do, so send me a prayer to assist.
Nora and Julia I have to tell you that Gladys brings me much happiness. Thank you again for happiness that I only have to sit in my turtle shell and enjoy.
Turtle happiness is my intention. Good luck on yours today and if you need a prayer I will be happy to assist.
Friday, April 4, 2014
A Bit about Bo
A bit about Bo:
Bo is an artist. She thinks like an artist, she acts like an artist, she is an artist. She just participated in The Artist Trust 2014 Benefit Art Auction. The piece she donated sold at the Must Have price before the bidding was completed. Christian said the tickets were $300.00 a plate unless you donated a piece and then you got the discounted price of $100.00 a plate. And the table they were seated at was the Bo Choi table. Christian said he cleaned up good with his new Christmas duds and shoes from Ian and I. He didn't embarrass Bo at all. Imagine Christian in grey suede wingtip shoes and a Frasier type sweater over a cool blue shirt. Imagine Christian cleaning up for a highfalutin art benefit. Yeah, me too. Christian also said Bo was working the room, networking, meeting colleagues and fellow artist. She was in her element.
Besides being an artist, Bo has to devote a lot of time to being a business person for her art. She has several gallery's that shows her work, she works at three different art colleges: The International School of Design, North Seattle Community College and now she is subbing at The University of Washington for a professor who is on sabbatical; Weaving. Weaving is her favorite, her true element.
A bit about a book:
Book of Ages: The life and opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill Lepore. This is a wonderful, wonderful book. Things that I think now, Jane wrote hundreds of years ago. You all know how I say I love my little bitty life, well Jane wrote that in 1780 something, at the end of a very hard life. "As to myself I live very much to my liking. I never had a taste for high life, for large companies and entertainment. I am of Popes mind that health, peace and competence comes as near to happiness as is attainable in this life and I am in a good measure in possession of all three at present...quiet at last."
Or assigning meaning to ones life: "I know the most insignificant creature on Earth may be made some use in the scale of beings, may touch some spring, or verge to some wheel unperceived by us."
On growing wiser: "When you live long sometimes your opinion changes because of new, or better information or understanding."
On worry: "There are in life real evils enough and it is folly to afflict ourselves with imaginary ones."
A bit about hurrying:
As I was easing myself slowly out the door the other morning on my way to work and then when I was hurrying down I-5 at better than the speed limit, I thought, I got that backwards. I should be hurrying at home and driving slower down I-5. Maybe I have learned that lesson.
A bit about leaves:
The last little bit of fall leaves have been cluttering my doorway. It's interesting these leaves have taken so long to fall. Clinging to life, waiting for just the right wind and rain, or waiting for the new growth on the trees to send them on their way. Not sure of the lesson there.
A bit about trips to Tulsa:
I talked to Jean this morning and heard about a big group meeting up in Tulsa for a little family fun, fellowship, work and food. AND NO ONE PUT A POST ON FACEBOOK. I'm feeling very left out.
A bit about genetics:
I am continuously entertained by seeing threads of genetics course through Connor from Roger, me, Lonnie, Dad, but I love love love seeing the Fortener's genetic strain. I don't always recognize it because I don't know the history as deeply, but when I see it, it is amazing. Connor's music affinity, Connor telling the waiter to bring granny's french fries in a bowl with a bottom in it. That is all Fortener not Taylor/Carrillo. Connor is an amazing soup of genetics.
A last little bit about ageing:
Now that I am saggy baggy, not from being fat but from being old, I notice my fingertips are wrinkling up. Everything hurts somewhat; knees, neck, fingers, hips, joints, back. I slouch when I drive, yep, I'm getting hunkered over like a little old lady. A waitress told me the other day, "I'll bet you were a lot of fun when you were young."
Yep, last little bit on ageing.
Bo is an artist. She thinks like an artist, she acts like an artist, she is an artist. She just participated in The Artist Trust 2014 Benefit Art Auction. The piece she donated sold at the Must Have price before the bidding was completed. Christian said the tickets were $300.00 a plate unless you donated a piece and then you got the discounted price of $100.00 a plate. And the table they were seated at was the Bo Choi table. Christian said he cleaned up good with his new Christmas duds and shoes from Ian and I. He didn't embarrass Bo at all. Imagine Christian in grey suede wingtip shoes and a Frasier type sweater over a cool blue shirt. Imagine Christian cleaning up for a highfalutin art benefit. Yeah, me too. Christian also said Bo was working the room, networking, meeting colleagues and fellow artist. She was in her element.
Besides being an artist, Bo has to devote a lot of time to being a business person for her art. She has several gallery's that shows her work, she works at three different art colleges: The International School of Design, North Seattle Community College and now she is subbing at The University of Washington for a professor who is on sabbatical; Weaving. Weaving is her favorite, her true element.
A bit about a book:
Book of Ages: The life and opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill Lepore. This is a wonderful, wonderful book. Things that I think now, Jane wrote hundreds of years ago. You all know how I say I love my little bitty life, well Jane wrote that in 1780 something, at the end of a very hard life. "As to myself I live very much to my liking. I never had a taste for high life, for large companies and entertainment. I am of Popes mind that health, peace and competence comes as near to happiness as is attainable in this life and I am in a good measure in possession of all three at present...quiet at last."
Or assigning meaning to ones life: "I know the most insignificant creature on Earth may be made some use in the scale of beings, may touch some spring, or verge to some wheel unperceived by us."
On growing wiser: "When you live long sometimes your opinion changes because of new, or better information or understanding."
On worry: "There are in life real evils enough and it is folly to afflict ourselves with imaginary ones."
A bit about hurrying:
As I was easing myself slowly out the door the other morning on my way to work and then when I was hurrying down I-5 at better than the speed limit, I thought, I got that backwards. I should be hurrying at home and driving slower down I-5. Maybe I have learned that lesson.
A bit about leaves:
The last little bit of fall leaves have been cluttering my doorway. It's interesting these leaves have taken so long to fall. Clinging to life, waiting for just the right wind and rain, or waiting for the new growth on the trees to send them on their way. Not sure of the lesson there.
A bit about trips to Tulsa:
I talked to Jean this morning and heard about a big group meeting up in Tulsa for a little family fun, fellowship, work and food. AND NO ONE PUT A POST ON FACEBOOK. I'm feeling very left out.
A bit about genetics:
I am continuously entertained by seeing threads of genetics course through Connor from Roger, me, Lonnie, Dad, but I love love love seeing the Fortener's genetic strain. I don't always recognize it because I don't know the history as deeply, but when I see it, it is amazing. Connor's music affinity, Connor telling the waiter to bring granny's french fries in a bowl with a bottom in it. That is all Fortener not Taylor/Carrillo. Connor is an amazing soup of genetics.
A last little bit about ageing:
Now that I am saggy baggy, not from being fat but from being old, I notice my fingertips are wrinkling up. Everything hurts somewhat; knees, neck, fingers, hips, joints, back. I slouch when I drive, yep, I'm getting hunkered over like a little old lady. A waitress told me the other day, "I'll bet you were a lot of fun when you were young."
Yep, last little bit on ageing.
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