Bug's Eye View

Just Because...

2012-02-02T21:39:00.001-05:00

Bev, 2011

Speaking of being controversial, here’s a guestpost from my friend Bev. Actually, I read it on her facebook page this morning &asked if I could steal it. I thought that it would be appropriate in light ofthe decision that the Susan G. Komen Foundation made to defund PlannedParenthood.

Bev & I went to high school together &when we reconnected on facebook I learned that she is a breast cancer survivor.She’s a fabulous feisty friend, who wants to save the world and her own life. She’salso a fabulous artist – go here to check outher work. And buy something! Her current job status is “Environmental Activistat Indentured to Breast Cancer”

She wrote this for her running community in 2009.(The emphasis added is mine)

I see it everywhere I go.It’s a race for something….

In 1996, shortlyafter my 2nd child was born, I realized there was a time-bomb in me. At 33, itdidn’t have a name yet, but it got me running. It started with entering a localroad race. I had so much fun that I wanted more. I lived in a small town and roadraces were few and far between. So, I found myself driving an hour toCharlotte, NC for the chance to run more races.

I didn’t care whatfor. I wanted that coveted prize – the T-shirt! Okay, when I got edged out onan age group award, I became obsessed. But admit it! We all do. We all standaround with our buds to the end to see if we got it. We have all checked withrace chairs to make sure our times were right. But that’s what we do! We run inthe rain, hot sun and slushy snow for a chance at the 3rd place medal. Icouldn’t wait to be a master runner because there’re more chances to go homewith something!

I found myselfrunning for everything imaginable. But I never imagined any of it would everaffect me.

Then it happened. Iwas diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35. One of my running buddiessaid, “You’ll have to run one of those races now where they hand out pink hats.”

What? A pink hat? Ineed to get me one of those! So, with the power of the Internet, I found one! Arace that vowed to find a cure for breast cancer. And I would get a pink cap!Sign me up! Six weeks after a mastectomy, I drove the kids and myself toRaleigh to run in my first Race for the Cure. I stayed overnight with cousinJoel and the adventure began. The next day, my world changed forever. I won! Iwon 1st place breast cancer survivor!

You know I washooked! I have two containers of T-shirts from everywhere to prove it!

That was 10 yearsago, and though I must say, there have been some advances, changes in theories,enlightenments that have lead to pink ribbons on everything you can imagine,and scores of runners, walkers, fundraiser and even MEN, yes, MEN, adorned inpink, not much has changed. I am a runner who had t-shirt envy. Now that I’verun out of storage for my t-shirts, and I have a few medals strung with pinkrather than red, white and blue, I need another motive to run through slushy,cold water running down the curb. You know. The kind that soaks your entireshoe and makes the rest of your run miserable.

Don’t get me wrong.We all owe a lot to everyone who pinned a bib onto that t-shirt. But advancesin treatment and detection of this ailment are not doing what we first embarkedto do – find a cure! I have since learned that the pink ribbon and Breast CancerAwareness Month are both ingenious marketing ideas by companies wanting tofurther their cause. Although today itstands as a symbol of the stalwart and gallant women, and men, affected by thisdisease, full of stories that tug at your heart, it is a well designed strategyinvented by companies looking for product promotion, better known as causerelated marketing. The goal of finding a cure is somehow masked by this flurryof pink.

I live in the realworld. It is a hard blow to someone who is looking with child-like wonder atthe pomp and circumstance, delighting in the participation. But after the lastwater bottle is picked up and the volunteers are gathered from theintersections, we still have a disease that is life-threatening. We are stillburdened with a long-term illness that we’ll have to continue to provide for interms of medical care and costs. That’s a lot of t-shirts on the shelf. Theyjust remind me, day in and day out, that the game of Russian roulette withinsurance, medical bills and rogue cancer cells is still on. Which one will getme first?

This tends to getme thinking along the lines of prevention. It is time we dug out that relictsaying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Wow. How much havewe given to that cure?

Is it not time wegot back to basics and started looking for the prevention? I feel like we, asrunners, the leaders of the pack in this evolution of marketing, can help roundthe corner on redirecting efforts, and not just for breast cancer, but forautism, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, birth defects, and let me gothrough the closest and all my t-shirts for more reasons.

We can start simply by becoming aware of ourenvironment? What is in our drinking water? What are we doing to our lawns andhomes that affect our water sources? What chemicals have we become dependent onthat are more for convenience? What are we exposing our children to for theperfect lawn? The perfect apple? The perfect home?

Is it worth allthis to prevent a weed? To prevent a bug? To prevent a germ?

Hey, we as runnersshould say we want to prevent (insert disease or condition of your choice), anduntil you start to seriously consider this, we don’t want your t-shirt.

After all, would itnot be nice to pass me on a trail wearing a t-shirt that says, “Fun Run JustBecause”?

The One Where I Reveal My Exciting Life

2012-02-01T19:48:00.000-05:00

So!I haven’t posted since Sunday. I’ve been trying to think poetic thoughts &they just meander through my brain & out the other side (which, if you’veseen the magpie prompt for this weekwould seem to make for an excellentpoem to match the picture, but no.). And I really wanted to join in with Naimh in OfficialWorldwide Say Something Controversial week but, my mind is aplacid shallow pool and I’m not feeling very controversial (well, except asregarding the Republican field of candidates – only I’m not sure my views areall that controversial being as how they’re probably actually mainstream atthis point). Since I have no poems or controversies to offer I’ll simply updateyou on my week.

On Monday I went to bed at 9:30. And promptly stuck my toe throughthe sheet again. Apparently, as you can see, my “sewing” didn’t really workvery well.

On Tuesday I, hmmm, I’m not sure what I did on Tuesday. Oh! Iknow! This was my view on my way to work for about 25 minutes as they cleared away an accident onone of the two lane roads I travel.

I elected to not attempta three point road turn since both shoulders dropped off by several feet. Andalso I don’t know another way to get to work from there. Sad. I shall study themap in case of future traffic jams.

Today I worked really hard (actually, this has been a pretty busyweek altogether at work) and walked for about 10 minutes in the parking lotwith a coworker. I have a long way to go before I’ll be doing any “walks forthe cure” that’s for sure. But, most importantly, Dr. M bought new sheets! And he washed them! Woot! It’s thesimple things people.

It’s frighteningly beautiful these days. I’m waiting for the othershoe to drop – perhaps a blizzard next week? Or a summer full of over 100degree temps? Scary!

Dr. M teaches late on Wednesdays so I’ve just been hanging outwith my other best friend.

I know you’re jealous.

Sunday Snippets

2012-01-29T22:18:00.000-05:00

Today found me “darning” a hole in one of our bed sheets. We’vehad these sheets for probably 10 – 12 years now. It’s our only set & theyhave been worn to a lovely soft finish from repeated washings. I say “darning”because, you know those fine stitches that people use to sew up holes inthings? Yeah, not so much in my house. That I would try to “sew” instead ofgoing shopping for new sheets is yet another sign that I’m not much of ashopper. I don’t suppose someone could just drop off a set at our house couldthey? It’s a queen size, pillow top mattress. Thanks!

Our natural gas supplier came out to check our meter becausethey figured out that it wasn’t working. Apparently for a year because we got abill with an estimate of what we owe for the last 12 months. Our monthly paymentduring that period of time wasn’t any lower than usual. Um, why is yourequipment failure, which you didn’t notice for at least a year, a reason that Inow have to pay you a big chunk of change? Don’t you know that I have a new setof sheets to buy & can’t afford this at the moment? Sheesh!

If this sounds pitiful (which upon re-reading it, yes, itdoes sound pitiful) I take heart in the fact that I’m not really loving theNutella like I was afraid I would. I know! I’ve checked & I don’t have afever. It just isn’t all that special to me. Now, if we were to add somemarshmallow fluff then perhaps I would rethink my position. [Note: we won’t be adding any marshmallowfluff.]

Our Charlie Brown Christmas tree is still sitting in itscorner. I’ve been contemplating ways to make it a Valentine’s Tree. What do youthink? Would this work?

2012 Project 365 – Week Four

2012-01-28T15:54:00.000-05:00

Man what a dreary bluh week – I reallywanted to spend the whole week wrapped up in soft blankets reading a book. Butof course I didn’t - & neither did Dr. M, so we do have a few pictures foryou.

Sunday,January 22^nd

Dr. M took bunches of picturesof squirrels this week. I’m just sharing this one today – you have to go to hisblog to see the rest. Go!Now!Then you can come back to see the rest of our week.

Monday,January 23^rd

This is what our sky looked likemost of the week.

My first unsuccessful attempt toshow you my new hair. I’m still trying to get the hang of the new camera.

Tuesday,January 24^th

Ah, here we go – this is alittle better. The State of the Bug – back to her original hair color (as sherecalls).

Wednesday,January 25^th

Even the TaxTime Pig had a devil of a week! (Groan…)

Thursday,January 26^th

Although the skies have been gray & rainy, it’s been alot warmer than usual. Here’s some confused parsley.

Dr. M’s lunch – very appropriate for the weather!

Friday,January 27^th

Dr. M took a lot of pictures onhis way home from school. Here is my favorite flock of geese. I love how motleythey are.

This is not actually a wetland –it’s just a field overcome by wet.

Up periscope!

I stopped & took a pictureof my favorite tree on my way home from work. I like the view from the otherside of the tree better, but I didn’t feel like walking up the road (I had topark beyond it to stop the car).

This was waiting on my desk whenI got home – thanks sweetie!

Saturday,January 28^th

Although it was cool & windy, today was just too prettyto stay inside – finally! See?

The water is still pretty high.

This Great Pyrenees was giving us the eye – wanted to makesure we didn’t bother his sheep.

These aren’t his sheep, but we didn’t bother them anyway. Ilove how they get hay all over themselves – very funny.

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs ofall the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

Most of our photos are taken with a 12megapixel Nikon D5000 DSLR, using a 55-200mm zoom lens. This is the camera thatDr. M takes with him most days. We also take pictures with our old reliable 7megapixel Canon Powershot A710. This is the camera that the Bug uses most of the time.If you’re interested in which camera was used for a particular shot, just ask!

Flailing at the Fog...

2012-01-27T10:16:00.000-05:00

Oh man I am just so uninspired! I started trying to work on this project, but after my eyes crossed for the 7th time I decided to put it on hold for a bit. But because my last post was three days ago and I don't want to keep looking at my sad thoughts about my mother, I give you this (the first three "fun facts" from the aforementioned project):

I’ve been singing The Star Spangled Banner in the car in the mornings in my ongoing effort to sing more often. Don’t worry about me hitting the high note – I’m singing it down in the Phyllis Diller range so there is no high note.
I always sing the last line: “…and the home of the Bravesss!”
Pitchers & catchers report February 20th!

You Can't Come Home Again

2012-01-24T14:14:00.000-05:00

I had the dream again.
My great joy.
Your infinite sadness.
It was Joyce Summers
come home to Altamont:
Not really you.
Not really here.

I always wish for the moon
when I meet you in dreams
and you always hand it to me
craters and all.

Monday Miscellany

2012-01-23T09:42:00.000-05:00

Last night I stayed up later than I meant to reading The Beekeepers’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King. So I dreamed about Sherlock Holmes ALL NIGHT LONG. Sheesh that was exhausting!

We awakened to high winds and pouring rain, which put me right back to sleep. One of the problems that I have is that I listen to myself in my drowsy morning state. “Oh you don’t need to get up – you won’t be late for work & it’s ok if you are late.” I can’t be trusted that time of day. Thank goodness for my alarm clock which shocks some sense into me. I wonder what it’s like to just wake up wanting to get out of bed?

The rain had stopped by the time I left for work, so my commute was issue free. And frankly there’s a portion of my drive that I don’t remember at all. I was listening to my Mr. Pettigrew’s Last Stand & apparently I was quite caught up in it.

Right now I’m watching the clouds fly by my window & remembering the scene from the second Mummy movie. If I see a face in those clouds I’m going to hide in the bathroom!

2012 Project 365 – Week Three

2012-01-21T15:31:00.001-05:00

This week had a number ofsquirrels – which is fitting because today is SquirrelAppreciation Day. Ha! Nevertheless, Dr. M took some great cardinal pictures today - go here to check out his blog post.

Sunday,January 15^th

I set my alarm, but forgot toturn it on and slept until 10:30 – oops to getting to church! We spent the dayjust hanging out. Dr. M took a picture of a squirrel – I know! He never takespictures of squirrels…

I finally unpacked a box ofbooks sent to me by The Cyber Hermit– woot! It’s her collection of Laurie R. King books about Sherlock Holmes &his wife Mary Russell. I’m VERY excited to get started on this series.

Monday,January 16^th – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

I didn’t do a special post onthis day, but I’ll just repost what I said last year:

…[we] celebratedthe life of a man who was a force for change in the world. A complicated man,and a dynamic one. He could have used that charisma for other pursuits, onesthat would most likely have not gotten him killed. But instead he took that burdenand raised it over his head & flung it out into the world to shatter at thefeet of complacent America.

…whenwe allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and everyhamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that daywhen all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles,Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words ofthe old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty,we are free at last!" Martin Luther King, Jr.

We decided to take a rambletoday. Is this a pony & a ram, or a pony & a footstool?

A swan at a park in Springfield,looking at us kind of sideways.

The secret purpose to our outingwas to use a gift card that Dr. M got for Christmas to get me a new point &shoot camera! As you can see, my old one (which I had had for quite some time)was having some issues. Although I think the purple rubber band adds somethingto its “look.”

Here’s my new baby – it weighsabout 4 ounces less than the old one & will be living in my purse for allthose random State of the Bug pictures I like to take.

Dr. M snuck Nutella into ourshopping cart on Saturday, so today I decided to try it for the first time ever. Well! Where have you been all my life?

Tuesday,January 17^th

I was playing with my new cameraat work (since it was already in my purse & all). It’s the State of the Bug– sheepish!

Not content to annoy my own selfwith my camera, I took it to my coworker’s office & bothered her. She was apretty good sport about it though. Heh.

While I was playing around atwork Dr. M took a picture of a swollen Mad River – we’ve had lots of rainlately.

Wednesday,January 18^th

Donkeys! They’re so cute &little.

Yes, sheep on a hay roll.

Thursday,January 19^th

We do our part to make sure that the squirrels in ourneighborhood are fat & sassy.

Who’s that slipping over the fence?

Friday,January 20^th

Dr. M took this picture of deercrossing the railroad tracks – they love this area.

The bird diner was in full swingtoday – all the tables were full & some patrons had to hover for a bitto find a seat.

Mr. Cardinal looking haughty, asusual.

Dr. M made a fabulous soup fordinner. Yes, that’s okra in there, as well as corn, peppers, onions, tomatoes, chicken sausage, and leftover green beans that alsohad some pecans in them. If you look closely you can see a pecan floating ontop! It made for an “interesting” contrast. Actually, I liked it a lot, but I’mnutty that way.

Dr. M was fooling around withthe new camera. Isn’t he the cutest thing?

Saturday,January 21^st

Dr. M took this early morning picture of a squirrel. Is itFrankensquirrel? Squarewolf? Vampel? Oh wow, those are so very very bad…

The ground crew.

Listen sir, I think you’ve had enough. Really, we’recutting you off now.

“Hey! This is MY feeder – get off there you goon!”

I’m leaving you with something that made me laugh out loud.Dr. M stopped to get a few essentials on his way home from school. He apparentlywanted to make sure that we never run out of toilet paper again – ha!

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs ofall the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

Rooked

2012-01-20T14:32:00.001-05:00

I wrote this for the poetry jam, where the prompt this week is "you can go home again." I had so many memories to choose from, but for some reason this particular one bubbled to the surface. As soon as I thought of it I was right back there in the kitchen of the home where I grew up. It makes me laugh now, but I have to tell you that I spent the entire summer being indignant. Of course, I was a teenager, so indignant was my natural state.

Rooked

I stand at the kitchen island
case knife in one hand,
Duke’s mayo jar in the other.
Muttering under my breath
I fling the ham and the cheese
then start on the banana sandwich,
schmear saltines with peanut butter.
Aggrieved sighing accompanies
the scooping of cottage cheese
and canned pear halves.
This was the summer
I packed my dad’s lunch
every single day
because my mom
cheated at cards.

To read more homegoing tales, go here.

It's too bad I don't like wine...

2012-01-18T21:39:00.000-05:00

You may have noticed that January & I have a tenuousrelationship. I hunker down and plow through. Nothing to see here folks,nothing to see!

I’m fine at work. In fact this week I’ve been extraproductive (very odd – really), but once I walk through the door at home I justwilt. I spend hours playing Words with Friends and working my other online puzzles.I pack my lunch with a grudging heart. I lay out my clothes for the next dayand sigh. I wash the dinner dishes every otherday.

I wonder, though, if it’s really January that’s the problem.Perhaps I have some internal changes going on that are affecting my energylevel (ok ok I know I’ve never been all that high energy, but come on!). Hmm –can I blame my inherent sloth on peri-menopause? I think I can!

Regardless of all that, I did vacuum & mop tonight, soperhaps things are looking up in the Bug household. Tomorrow, I dust!

These sheep are beginning to wonder if it snowed in the living room!

Dear Rainy Day

2012-01-17T10:45:00.000-05:00

Dear Rainy Day,

I can’t help but wish
The deluge had waited
Until I was safely inside the building
My umbrella wasn’t
Quite up to the task
And now my right pants leg is soaking

It was raining just a bit when I got to work so I decided to be a girly girl and use my umbrella. About halfway from my car to the building the heavens opened up and it started POURING. So glad I was feeling a little vain about my hair today! I do believe I’ll be eating my lunch at my desk. Ha!

Swimming that Dark Sea

2012-01-15T12:35:00.001-05:00

sculpture: Jason deCaires Taylor

I'm recycling an old poem today. I wrote it for Magpie #17 in June 2010, so I'm sure that everyone remembers it - right? Ha! The poem is about the gulf oil spill. Seems a long time ago, doesn't it?

Swimming that Dark Sea

My life goes on in endless song

Above earth's lamentations…

Above would be nice.

I thrust a hand upward

through the murk,

the tips of my fingers

free,

the knuckles of that hand

straining toward a fresh hope

I can’t quite reach.

Not quite.

And earth’s lamentations

cover me like

a familiar quilt

stitched together

by ancient creation

weeping, as it sews.

Weeping.

To read other watery Magpies, go here.

2012 Project 365 – Week Two

2012-01-14T19:31:00.000-05:00

It’s been really nice to be HOMEfor a change this week – I think we’re just about settled into our springsemester schedule.

Sunday,January 8^th

Today we drove home fromChicago. We meandered through Indiana (coming very close to Rita,but I didn’t realize it at the time). I was so excited to see Cadbury eggs. Ihad thought maybe they were left over from last Easter, but actually one of theones I ate was really fresh, so I guess they’re early. Heaven help me!

I liked how the sky looked.

Monday,January 9^th

Dr. M ordered the Thin Manmovies – we’ve watched two of them – only five more to go!

He took a picture of theglorious moon that evening.

Tuesday,January 10^th

Dr. M took these really coolshadow pics in the back yard.

This is what greeted me when Igot home that evening. He had taken down the outside Christmas decorations, butthis is as far as they got. I think that Ill Penguin doesn’t look as grouchy asusual!

Wednesday,January 11^th

I took this picture on the wayhome from work. I love a moody sky.

Thursday,January 12^th

The TaxTime Pig is apparently ready to go to Disney World.

It started snowing in the afternoon – Dr. M took thesepictures.

Friday,January 13^th

Yep, our mild weather isdefinitely gone for now – brr!

Dr. M took this on his way homefrom school.

Junco!

Saturday,January 14^th

We got more snow overnight. The swimming pool is closed forthe season.

Fortunately the dining room remains open.

The Mr. is making sure that the Mrs. isn’t flirting with theother birds.

This is the State of the Bug – excited that we’re gettingready to eat Sonic, while also thinking that maybe we’re crazy to eat in ourcar in 30 degree weather.

I got some new gloves! They look like mittens.

But look! I’ve been wanting something like this because I’malways taking my gloves off in the car (to turn on my audio book, eatmy breakfast, etc.). When I saw Betsy’s postabout her new ones I decided I would go ahead & get some for myself. (Onclearance at Target for those who are interested).

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs ofall the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

January

2012-01-12T10:42:00.000-05:00

I sat down to write a Thankful Thursday post & this is what happened instead. I knew I wasn't really in charge around here!

January

January is my mother
with her hand on my head
gently holding me in place.
I won’t be running out
into the road on her watch!
She is humming some
somnolent tune and
although I am awake
I feel my eyes slide shut,
feel them slide sideways
looking for that aproned lap.
I’ll just rest a while
here in the womb
of the year.

The Bug
1/12/12

Becoming the City

2012-01-10T20:28:00.000-05:00

Becoming the City

I add an extra coat of mascara

Using the spiky skyline as my muse

Those chock-a-block avenues

Call for excessive eyeliner

But I set aside the scarlet lip dye

Don’t want to compete

With the sound of sirens

This is a Magpie Tale. Please go here to read other stories.

Monday Miscellany

2012-01-09T20:15:00.001-05:00

Four short days in a time zone only one hour different frommy own, and my internal clock is kaput. Well, it was never very reliable in thebest of times – for example, there’s no alarm at all. But last night I tossed& turned & this morning I did notwant to get up. However, I did manage to get to work on time – I can’tstand not knowing what’s going on so I always look forward to my first dayback. I just wish it started around noon instead of 8:30.

I really did enjoy our time in Chicago – and now I’d like toplan a trip back to check out all the stuff we missed this time. Dr. M hadmemorized the map of the area around our hotel so we didn’t have any troublegetting around (yes, he is one of thosepeople, whereas I instinctively head in the wrong direction about 85% of thetime). I just need to get in better physical shape so I can do more walking.But not down that Miraculous Shopping Mecca Mile or whatever it’s called – sureit’s all shiny & pretty, but I don’t like to shop. I didn’t mind looking inthe windows, but that’s as far as I was going to go.

We drove home yesterday, meandering through Indiana. It wasa nice way to get back into my farm country groove. Plus, the convenience storewhere we got gas had Cadbury Eggs – score! I know they’re left over from lastEaster, but still…

Lastly, look what Dr. M found! If you don’t hear from me fora while you’ll know why – ha!

Well, here’s hoping that last night’s restlessnesstranslates into lots of beauty sleep tonight – heaven knows I need it!

P.S. I promise to get caught up on my blog reading soon!

2012 Project 365 - Week 1

2012-01-07T22:11:00.000-05:00

Well, this has been QUITE a week! The return of the cardinals, ourfirst real snow, and a trip to Chicago! In fact we’re still in Chicago today –travelling home tomorrow. As you might expect, we have a ton of pictures. I didn’t include all 100 that we took at the ArtInstitute, but it might feel that way by the time you get to the end. Ha!

Sunday, January 1^st

I baked bread to take to church. It was a Butter Braid (BavarianCream flavor) that I bought from my niece for a fundraiser, so all I had to dowas let it thaw & rise & then bake it. It was pretty yummy.

After church Dr. M & I went on a short ramble. We needed tobring the new year in properly – with sheep. Heh.

Dr. M took a picture of the moon that night.

Monday, January 2^nd

We woke up to snow on the ground!

I took a picture of my footprints out to the garage. I had the dayoff and as I recall this is the only time I left the house that day.

Tuesday, January 3^rd

I had to work today, so Dr. M took these pictures of birds in theback yard. Can you spot the hawk?

Wednesday, January 4^th

We drove to Chicago today. But before we left, Dr. M got thesegreat cardinal pictures.

The view from our hotel room

Thursday, January 5^th

Today we drove down to the Art Institute. Before we left Dr. M took another skyline picture.

And then we checked out Millennium Park. Here I am in front of thebean. Did someone say itwould be cold in Chicago? I’ve been hot the whole time!

Here is a small sampling of the pictures we took at the ArtInstitute. I was so glad that we met a couple of our good friends there – Iwould never have taken the time to see as much as we did without theireagerness.

Would you believe that this is called Penguins? Ha!

Friday, January 6^th

Dr. M’s panel was today. Here’s a picture of him looking allprofessorial.

Close-up of his tie. Yes, those are sheep. And one little blackone.

Cool picture of a crane reflected in a tower.

Me, trying to cool off.

Dr. M’s group setting up for their talk. They all did a great job– lots of excellent feedback from the audience. In fact, as someone said, itwas like a big group therapy session for history professors. I enjoyed it agreat deal.

Afterward we went to Gino’s for pizza.

The State of the Bug – I’m hungry!

Yum – pizza!

Saturday, January 7^th

Today we decided to drive around Lake Shore Drive. Gorgeous day!And, look Rebecca – I couldn’tjog a block for you, but I did have Dr. M take a picture of a jogger. Heh.

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs of all the other Project365 participants.

Most of our photos are taken with a 12 megapixel Nikon D5000 DSLR, usinga 55-200mm zoom lens. This is the camera that Dr. M takes with him most days.We also take pictures with our old reliable 7 megapixel Canon Powershot A710. This isthe camera that the Bug uses most of the time. If you’re interested in whichcamera was used for a particular shot, just ask!

Scenery...

2012-01-04T21:21:00.000-05:00

I guess it's time to admit that the dreams of my youth have changed when I prefer this scene:

Cardinals in our back yard

To this one:

Chicago

I used to think I wanted to live in a big city where I walked everywhere & rode the subway. But that's before I fell in love with small town living, with cornfields on my way to work, and with farm equipment traffic jams (well, to be honest, Dr. M gets more of those than I do).

Today as we drove into Chicago I felt my chest tighten & this low level sense of panic. And it wasn't even traumatic at all - our hotel was very easy to get to. And our room is really nice. I guess I just wish it was in the middle of a soybean field or something.

Wait a minute - cornfields? Soybean fields? Was I really born in the North Carolina Piedmont? Who knew that those dairy farming and mill hill working genes would bring forth a daughter of the Ohio farm country? Of course, I don't want to live and work on a farm - I just want to drive through them & feel my soul settle.

But for the next few days I'm in Chicago for the first time. I'm going to enjoy spending time with friends and listening in on Dr. M's panel. I'm going to enjoy this skyline from our room:

Then I'll head home to this view:

Monday Miscellany

2012-01-02T13:04:00.000-05:00

It’s been a while since I did a Monday Miscellany. That’sprobably been a good thing. And after you read this one you’ll be wishing I hadcontinued its absence. Because the brain? MIA. Which did not keep me fromwriting this post with a good bit of pomp and hyperbole.

· We had a pretty good holiday, as is evidenced bythe stack of thank-you cards I haven’t written yet. But I think the habit ofgoing to work and being productive has been broken. Actually, I worked prettyhard the three days I went into the office last week. And I’m pretty sure thatmy one day in the office this week (tomorrow) will be pretty darn busy. I’mreally talking about the habit of working around the house. [Brief pause while you all laugh loud &long at the idea that I had a work habit at home before the holiday.]

· OK, now that that’s out of your system, pleaseconsider my floors and all the surfaces not covered by Christmas detritus. Arethey not in need of attention? Will they get this attention on this, the lastopportunity I will have to clean before January 14^th? We’re all onpins & needles at the Bug household, and we have a suspicion that if theauthor of this blog would quit writingthis post and get off her bum, then perhaps things would happen.Unfortunately those things might not include cleaning.

· Enough about dirt (and its more benign cousin,clutter). Why, you ask, will I be unable to clean until January 14^th?Dr. M and I are going to a history conference on Wednesday. It’s in Chicago. InJanuary. I’ve never been to Chicago, but from what I understand, I’m packing asthough I’m headed to Alaska. I’ve heard it might be cold. In fact, I wasfussing about my hair when I realized that my penguin hat might not ever leavemy head until we get back home on Sunday.

· Here’s something completely unrelated to cleaning: it’s snowing! We’re finally getting our first real snow ofthe season. I can be all happy because I have nowhere to go today.

All right – time to go get the blue devilout. Any minute now. Yep. I’ll just check Facebook one more time, maybe play alittle bit of Words with Friends. Then I’ll clean. Really.

IPYPIASM - The End

2011-12-31T16:06:00.000-05:00

I just squeaked in under the wire to post this last poem in a shop. Thanks to Niamh for this great festival! You should definitely go to her site so you can check out all the other participants. I think Ireland won the "not" competition this year. I might have to make a concerted effort to get the US higher in the standings next year!

Anyway, I had a gift card burning a hole in my pocket, so I dragged Dr. M to Kohl's this afternoon. Yes, I totally removed the gotcha factor by leaving this in the dressing room. But I signed it, sort of, so there's that little risk.

I didn't buy the sweater - it was HUGE!

Here's the text in case you can't read the picture:

In this mirror

you are a whey faced

pig-eyed crone.

Your thighs are members

of the redwood forest

sisterhood.

Your ass is an

entire mountain range.

This mirror lies.

Repeat after me:

I am beautiful

and I deserve

beautiful things.

I am beautiful

and I deserve

beautiful things.

I am beautiful.

--The Bug, Bug’s Eye View

2011 Project 365 – Week Fifty-Two Too

2011-12-31T12:30:00.001-05:00

Well, 2011 is almost over. Ihave no good or bad feelings about the year (although my hip surgery was prettycool). It was a year of trying to pay down debt and trying to be productive inour jobs. It was a year of singing in the choir and influencing the youth of today(guess who did which of those – ha!). It was a year of poetry for both of us. Itwas a year of many many many pictures which brought us much joy. I’m kind ofhoping that 2012 brings more of the same (minus the surgery).

So, Happy New Year to you &yours!

P.S. Since week one of this yearhad just one day in it we’ve ended up with an “extra” week. I’ve decided tocall it Week Fifty-Two Too, because it sure ain’t week one of 2012. Of course,I could do like I did last year & call it Week 53 – ha!

Sunday,December 25^th

Merry Christmas – again! Ishared a couple of pictures from this day last week, but decided to put a ~~few~~bunch more on this week’s post too. First up, Christmas birds! Dr. M took thesepictures at my dad’s house.

Another picture of my gift from Dr.M – I’m loving the Burt’s Bees stuff.

My sister-on-law gave Dr. M thissheep pez dispenser, which he hooked on his rear view mirror. Now he really does have sheep wherever he goes. Thisis my first unsuccessful attempt at a picture – did you know that thingsdangling from rear view mirrors movewhile the car is moving?

These are from the sing-along atDr. M’s uncle & aunt’s house. The State of the Bug – caroling!

Monday,December 26^th

Rasta sheep. I really love howsheep always stare when you take their picture. To see more sheep and otherpictures, check out Dr. M’s blog post here– you’ll enjoy it, promise!

Check out this postto find out what this picture is all about.

Tuesday,December 27^th

Driving back to Ohio today – andguess what we saw?

And ducks.

My second unsuccessful attemptto take a picture of the pez sheep – isn’t it cool?

Wednesday,December 28^th

A squirrel picture for Ellen.

Thursday,December 29^th

Dr. M documented some interesting sparrow activity today.Aren’t these about the coolest pictures ever?

Click on the picture below to enlarge it - go ahead - it's just such a great shot (to me anyway):

Friday,December 30^th

Synchronized squirrels – too cute.

The TaxTime Pig is tired!

As I was leaving work I saw adouble rainbow, which basically “followed” me all the way home – and then I sawthe ends of a full rainbow when I drove into town. Fabulous! Of course, Icouldn’t get a great picture of any of the phenomena…

Saturday,December 31^st – The Last Day of the Year

I plan to go put a poem in a shoplater this afternoon, but I’ll do a separate post for that. For now, here are acouple of pictures from this morning. Our little tree has attracted quite the followinglately!

And, finally, a decent picture of the pez sheep. I know thatyou were hoping that I’d get one. Ha!

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs ofall the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

Heart Tales

2011-12-29T14:26:00.000-05:00

1st Grade Bug

Heart Tales

It’s been years in the making.
The small child said,
“I don’t do pain.”
And so she coated
each slight until
the pain was gone.

Both wild and cultured,
the pearl of my heart is
iridescent and lovely.
Your tender sleeve
is no match for this
glorious fortress.

Yet your heartbeat
drowns mine out
every time.

Good Friends...

2011-12-26T17:33:00.000-05:00

I have over 200 unread blogs in my blog reader. 200! I may get caught up sometime next year. Hey - you people who post every day? Stop! For about three days. Thank you.

Today I went to lunch with some friends from college. Although in recent years we've ~~dragged along~~ brought our husbands and children (if applicable), this year we decided to have a girls' lunch out. We didn't stop talking for about two hours - bragging about our kids (well, Jenny & I bragged about our brothers' kids), talking about work, and realizing how long we've been together. We met in college & started the tradition of having a meal around New Year's Day or Christmas back then - 26 years later our first "baby" is graduating from college. Her mom was pregnant with her in my wedding 21 years ago. Wow - I feel old!

One problem with banishing the guys - my arm wasn't quite long enough to get a great picture

I wrote a haiku for each of my friends as part of their Christmas present. They're kind of one-dimensional because I had a "theme" - and also because the haiku form is a bit limited (to a non-professional haikuist like myself - and yes I know that a haiku is more than just 5-7-5, but hush you purists!). Anyway, it was fun to do. Wonder if I'll do it again next year?

Jenny

Strong willed Jenny P
Creating beautiful fun
My friend forever

Sherri

Strong minded Sherri
Keeper of our memories
My friend forever

Kim

Strong hearted Kim Jane
Comforting the sorrowful
My friend forever

After I got home from lunch Kim called me because she had thought up a haiku for me - she didn't like that I didn't have one. Thanks Kim!

Dana

Strong witted Dana

Chronicles life with humor

Our friend forever

Project 365 - Week Fifty-Two!

2011-12-25T11:54:00.000-05:00

It’s Christmas! And the last week of Project 365. Until next week.I’m not sure if Sara’s going to continue to host, but I’ve enjoyed doing it somuch that I’m going to keep on ~~taking pictures~~ making Mike take picturesnext year too.

Sunday, December 18^th

Someone had asked to see a picture of our anniversary barbecue& red velvet cake, so I took pictures of the last of them.

After lunch we went on a ramble. Dr. M took these great pictures(oh, wait I think maybe I took the sheep pictures). He posted some more on hisblog here.

Monday, December 19^th

Tis the season – Ill Penguin was greeting me when I get homefrom work.

Tuesday, December 20^th

Here’s the TaxTime Pig, in his new Christmas outfit. I wondered why the picture was worsethan usual, but then I remembered that I had rolled down the back window insteadof the driver’s window when I took the picture.

Go to thispost to find out what this is about.

Wednesday, December 21^st

We drove to NC today. And apparently the only picture we took wasof me eating this mango lollipop.

Thursday, December 22^nd

My cousin & her husband brought their new baby by to visit.The State of The Bug: gazing into a baby’s eyes. [Note: yes, I’m wearing thesame flannel shirt as in yesterday’s picture – this was the one that Dr. Minsisted I bring because maybe I would get cold. Amazes me how often he’sright.]

Friday, December 23^rd

Dr. M took these pictures on his way to visit his dad.

Saturday, December 24^th - Christmas Eve!

Lot's of pictures this day. We had dinner at my brother and his family's house. The meal was fabulous - thanks J & B for all your hard work, cooking & hospitality! I made green bean casserole - it was a bit on the soupy side, but was pretty tasty anyway. It was supposed to have almonds, but I left them unattended in the toaster oven - thank goodness daddy was there to carrying the smoking pan outside!

Here are my nephews. B1 is a computer genius, working on his degree in some sort of computer something-or-other (I know - I'm so technical). B2 is heading to the army after his high school graduation this spring - he wants to do something in the medical field.

Here is my brother & his wife - & you remember my tumbling niece:

I caught Daddy & Amy with food in their mouths - I know they appreciated me interrupting their dinner!

Dr. M and me.

My sister-in-law is a bit of a hippo fanatic (in the same way that I am a penguin fanatic). Here was her big find this holiday season - isn't he cute?

Sunday, December 25^th - Christmas Day!

Since I'm writing this post between gigs on Christmas Day I decided to go ahead & add some pictures from this morning - I'll add the rest next week. This morning Dr. M & I went with Daddy & Amy to his nursing home ministry (leading hymns before Sunday School). Dr. M played some pre-singing dulcimer tunes, then I (sort of) played the piano while we all sang (including my aunt Mimi- loved hearing her & Amy sing alto). Then Dr. M & I headed back home for a bit before heading to his dad's house. We exchanged our gifts - I got a Radio Flyer wagon filled with Burt's Bees stuff! Dr. M, of course, got sheep & cow stuff :)

I wish you all a fabulous Christmas!

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs of all the other Project365 participants.

Most of our photos are taken with a 12 megapixel Nikon D5000 DSLR, usinga 55-200mm zoom lens. This is the camera that Dr. M takes with him most days.We also take pictures with our old reliable 7 megapixel Canon Powershot A710. This is the camera that the Bug uses most of the time.If you’re interested in which camera was used for a particular shot, just ask!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T10:09:00.000-05:00

Dr. M & I have been writing an annual Christmas poem for twenty years now. Twenty! If you'd like to read our past efforts, click here. This year it was Dr. M's turn. Enjoy - and Merry Christmas!

Queen Mother

Mother, invested with crown,

Blood-stain red halo,

Glassy-eyed pale visage,

Lead-solder heavy burden

Cradled in your strong arms...

Master craftsmen of yore

Immortalized you this way,

And so, in turn, do we.

What happened to that

Brown-eyed, dark-haired girl,

Still young, but naïve no more?

How often did you cry “Why”

As your child grew within

While you were shunned

From without? Did you shout

“eli eli lama sabachthani” too?

We appeal to you, Mary,

In our times of trouble,

For you are the one

Who brought forth

The Son on whom

We now gaze in wonder:

“Vision of glory, this Child

Asleep on the hay.”

Pray, should we also ponder

What was asked of you,

Oh Blessed Madonna,

By Our Father in Heaven

Whose child you carried,

Raised, loved, and buried:

The One who made your belly

A swelling vessel of Presence?

Mike& Dana Rhyne

Christmas2011

A little more than 24 hours after I had nothing to say...

2011-12-20T21:54:00.000-05:00

I got this bottle sweater in the mail:

We had visited the Maker's Mark distillery a few years ago & had a terrible experience in their gift shop. I wrote them a flaming letter & they send us a bunch of swag - I was well satisfied with the exchange. I can only assume that I'm on their list because of that. In any case, not being a drinker, I came up with a different use for the sweater.

A Christmas Cow - we put him under the tree. Now Christmas is complete!

Knock! Knock!

2011-12-19T21:05:00.000-05:00

Nothing but crickets... My brain is consumed by finishing up at work, making sure I pack everything, and preparing myself mentally for extensive time spent with family (you know I love you people, but that's a lot of interacting!).

I may come up with something really important to discuss here even tomorrow, but I'm going with the probability of no. So, I'm sure I'll do my Project 365 post this weekend, and I know I'll post our annual Christmas poem (written by Dr. M this year - it's our 20th and it's fabulous), but other than that I'll see you guys next week.

I'll leave you with this Christmas tableau - it should tide you over.

The Bug household, where penguins and sheep live together in peace.

2011 Project 365 – Week Fifty-One

2011-12-17T19:27:00.000-05:00

I think this might be the fewestnumber of pictures we’ve had in a while. It was a pretty busy week around here,but there was some time for celebrating too.

Sunday,December 11^th

On Sunday I had really busy daywith church & visitations, and Dr. M was grading papers. That evening wedid the “oh no we forgot to take a picture today!” thing & then Dr. M took picturesof the moon.

Monday,December 12^th

We haven’t had any birdbathpictures in a while. I think these are pretty funny – especially the second one– I wonder what they’re looking at?

Dr. M also took a picture of thelast of his tomatoes.

Tuesday,December 13^th

Dr. M saw a small herd of deer.

And then he took some picturesof penguin decorations for me.

Wednesday,December 14^th

We had our holiday meal at work.

L made Paula Dean’s Not YourMomma’s banana pudding.

The State of the Bug – stuffing myface with the aforementioned banana pudding. I had TWO servings!

Thursday,December 15^th – Our 21^st Anniversary! (For wedding pics,click here)

Dr. M bought me barbecue and red velvet cake for ouranniversary, but I didn’t take any pictures of that. Instead, it’s theanniversary squirrel!

And the birds are eating an anniversary meal.

This doesn’t have anything to do with our anniversary – go hereto read what it was about.

Friday,December 16^th

Dr. M took some more birdpictures. This one totally looks like winter doesn’t it?

Saturday,December 17^th

Unlike last Saturday, this one was very lazy. I didn’t evenget out of bed until nearly 11:30 – shocking! In the late afternoon we decidedto go out to do a bit of Christmas shopping (we were successful – I think I’mdone!). We drove around afterwards and looked at Christmas lights. You know, it’skind of hard to get a good picture of Christmas lights from a moving vehicle. Itook this one while we were stopped at a stoplight – I wanted a picture of thepenguins (although one has apparently gotten into the Christmas Cheer a bit).

Dr. M got some Christmas lights for our indoor tree – I thinkthey’re great!

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs ofall the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

IPYPIASM - Well This One Was Boring!

2011-12-16T06:47:00.001-05:00

Once again, I participated in the International Put Your Poem In A Shop Month Festival (hosted by the effervescent Niamh at Various Cushions). But this time wasn't quite as exciting as last week's venture. Why there were no mirrors or men in suits, or even any other people at all on my aisle. Oh well, I still enjoy the thought of people seeing that slip of paper on the shelf & going, "what the h%$$?" Without further ado, here is my North American Poem in a Shop contribution for the week.

In case you can't read it, the poem says:

This one's too sweet.
This one's too nasty.
This whole shelf was
written by twelve
year old boys.
I just want a card
for my niece's* ex-husband's
cousin's weimaraner's
doghouse warming.
Is that too much to ask?

*Note: This is a work of fiction. My niece is 9 years old and as such doesn't actually have an ex-husband. Nor do I know anyone with a weimaraner.

Twenty-One

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Twentyone years ago today I headed down an artificially widened aisle toward abemused young man. The organist was playing Oncein Royal David’s City, I was wearing an enormous dress (the reason for thewidened aisle) and I had a death grip on my Daddy’s arm. I wasn’t afraid of theday or my beloved or the promises we were about to make - I was afraid of thedress, and landing in some poor unsuspecting lap. I was aiming for the fewsteps I needed to navigate and felt huge relief when I made it without incident.The hard part of my wedding day was over!

Iloved our wedding and I’m pretty sure I had a goofy grin on my face the wholeday. I loved the reception and I really really wish I had let my dad sing Sunrise, Sunset. And I loved ourhoneymoon in Lake Lure and Maggie Valley, NC. But most of all I loved that allof these things happened with my own heart right there beside me.

Happy Anniversary Sweetie!

Salt

2011-12-12T16:42:00.000-05:00

image by Mostafa Habibi

Salt

This is one of those dreams
where I can’t move
and the tide is rising
and I’ll never reach the boat.
The sand is warm but
I watch the water creep
and I wonder if the
susurration is the sea
or my beating heart.
The sea is gurgling to itself -
chortling at secrets it has
hoarded for infinity.
At last I will become
one with this beautiful
conspiracy of water.

My alarm is an ache and a relief
and I move through my day
with the bittersweet taste
of salt on my lips.

This is a Magpie Tale.

2011 Project 365 – Week Fifty

2011-12-11T18:43:00.000-05:00

Oh my word what a busy weekend!I can’t believe I’m just now getting to my P365 post.

Sunday,December 4^th

On Sunday we went to the ZenMass at our old church in Cincinnati. It’s a contemplative Eucharist offered onSunday nights. In Advent each year the Zen Mass is dedicated to the memory ofthe person who basically started it – he died about 6 years ago and we have thisservice in his honor. Dr. M played the dulcimer for the service. Of course weforgot our camera, so I took this picture after we got home.

Monday,December 5^th

Dr. M took some picture of theflooding in the area – we had a LOT of rain in the first part of the week.

Tuesday,December 6^th

Dr. M saw a coyote!

A flock of seagulls in one ofthe flooded areas. In the middle of Ohio. What will they think of next?

Wednesday,December 7^th

We got a little bit of snow onWednesday. If you’d like to see what it looked like this time last year, go here.

Goats!

I love this picture – I know it’sin the other post I just sent you to, but I wanted to share it again.

The TaxTime Pig is ready for Christmas.

Sheep on top of a hay roll.Makes me laugh every time.

Thursday,December 8^th

State of the Bug. To find out what it’s all about, go here.

Dr. M took a lot of great pictures today (and the rest ofthe week). You should check out his post here.I decided to put a couple of the ones for today on my blog too:

Friday,December 9^th

The last osage orange. Looks kindof surreal, doesn’t it?

Snow again!

Really, if you’re afraid ofbirds you should avoid these pictures!

Saturday,December 10^th

What a crazy day! I had a 6 hour training at church, and Dr.M had graduation. He drove by to check out Mr. Buffalo on his way home.

Then that evening we drove to Delaware, Ohio to see theColumbus City Ballet School’s presentation of the Children’s Nutcracker. I havea friend whose niece was in the production, & since Dr. M & I had neverseen it we decided to go. On the way there we saw this ginormous orange orb in the distance. I thought it was the sunsetreflecting on a water tower. Dr. M was laughing at me when I finally figured itout. Here’s my, um, not quite successful attempt to capture the phenomenon.

And here’s Dr. M’s much better attempt. By the time we gotthe picture it has shrunk considerably – just minutes before this it was justHUGE.

Here we are at the ballet – we thought we were the stuff.

And here’s Vanessa. She did a great job!

There were a lot of very young children in the production –they were just so cute. We had a fabulous time!

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs ofall the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

IPYPIASM - I Was Nearly Nabbed!

2011-12-08T19:35:00.001-05:00

I think I was suspected of nefarious doings in the Walgreens this afternoon, but I got away scot free. (What does that mean anyway – are Scot’s naturally free?) I do believe my penguin boggan was both the source of the suspicion and the dismissal of it. After all, what forty-something woman in a penguin toboggan would actually be UP to something?

I should have known I was in trouble when I noted that the store has giant tilted mirrors along the back wall so that the employees can keep an eye on customers. Nevertheless I was pleased no one was in my aisle, so I quickly placed the poem & took the pictures.

Then I nonchalantly rounded the corner & two men in suits were heading toward me. “Can we help you find anything ma’am?” “No, I’m fine.” “Well, we like your hat.” The nerve! They thought I was suspicious until they got a good look at me. I’m insulted! Doesn’t this face look like it could be up to no good?

Oh well, at least I’ve placed another poem in a shop. I just hope they enjoyed it!

I guess you could be

A long suffering guy

Getting supplies

For his lady

But more than likely

You're a woman

In crisis

And it's either this

Or a machete

[Note - forgot to link to the mastermind behind the madness - Ms. Various Cushions herself - go here to check out her blog & see other poems in shops.]

Just Random Stuff Falling out of my Head

2011-12-07T20:51:00.000-05:00

I'm working on another Poem in a Shop poem & I have this great idea, but I think that perhaps I should sleep on it. My great ideas could often use a little beauty sleep. If I don't use it I'll probably share it with you guys anyway because why should Dr. M & I be the only ones to suffer?

For reasons that I will not discuss here, but most women will understand, I have a feeling of impending doom, mixed with downtroddenness and a desire for more sleep than usual. This will pass, but not before I've complained to everyone within reach. If we were talking about alcohol we might say that I'm not a pleasant drunk.

On the plus side we had the kind of snow flurries that I like - pretty-ish and no accumulation. Here's a picture of December 7 last year:

And here is one from today:

I think I'll just spend some time meditating on that second picture until the blahs go away. That will work, won't it?

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T06:34:00.002-05:00

Cheap & Effective!

2011-12-06T09:06:00.000-05:00

It’s one of those days.

Rain beats down my spirit

until it’s the size of

our Charlie Brown

Christmas tree.

Or it tries to.

My spirit has been

waterproofed.

A healthy application

of the person I love

is all it needed.

Lunch

2011-12-05T07:08:00.001-05:00

Lunch, George Tooker, 1964, Columbus Museum of Art

Lunch

This is what I remember.

Head down tuna surprise

Sweet tea and chocolate

Pudding-like substance

And then that terrifying

Glance up – too much

Too many I can’t even

Can’t even can’t even…

I sit at my desk

unwrapping

ham and cheese

and Ivanhoe.

Falling into

Rebecca’s world

I eat in peace.

The Bug, 11th Grade, 1980
Man that is some serious hair!

This is a Magpie Tale.

IPYPIASM

2011-12-04T07:33:00.002-05:00

Niamh is hosting International Put Your Poem In a Shop Month for the fourth year. The idea is that you write a poem. Put it in a shop. Then take a picture as evidence. Last year I chickened out, but I was determined to participate this year. Titus has already done it. And so has Niamh. I did the deed in the grocery store yesterday.

Those of you with your fancy phones with cameras would be able to do this very easily, but all I have is my point & shoot, so it looks like I'm taking a picture in a store. Very high profile. Now, if I were taking a picture of a shoe so I could show it to someone I wouldn't bat an eye. But taking a picture of my own litter? Alarming! And I have to say that my face was bright red by the time I finished. Man I'm a weenie!

So, without further ado, here is my pictorial evidence.

And for the closeup:

In case you can't read it (I admit that I scribbled it at the last minute before heading out the door), here is what it says:

Looking for glad
at the grocery store?
Feeling some joy
but wishing for more?

The Christmas aisle
is a good place to start,
but for best results
you'd better look in your heart!

What about you? Do you think you could bring IPYPIASM to your city?

2011 Project 365 – Week Forty-Nine

2011-12-03T12:10:00.001-05:00

OK, before you do anything else,if you have a Facebook account you have to go read thispost & then vote for this lovely lady.

Go on, I’ll wait for you. Back?Ok, well, this is a banner week – two States of the Bug and a TaxTime Pig!

Sunday,November 27^th

We drove home from NC today. Wegot off the interstate at one point and were searching for sheep. Instead, wefound goats! Their guard (Alpaca? Llama? How can you tell?) was giving us thestink eye.

But they all ran straight for the car – probably thinking we had somefood or something. No wonder they needed guarding!

Then we saw sheep.

We were amazed that this bumpersticker has survived 7 years.

Monday,November 28^th

Dr. M wondered around a cemetery on his way home from school. I don’t know why, but I really like cemeterypictures.

The first State of the Bug. Igot some excellent news, which youcan read about here.

Tuesday,November 29^th

You might remember that thiswindow had a pumpkin in it last month. Now we’ve shifted into Christmas mode.

That night we had our firstglimpse of snow. Whoopee? I do like to watch it fall…

Wednesday,November 30^th

The TaxTime Pig is showing support for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Dr. M took a number of fabulouspictures on his way home from school.

Thursday,December 1^st

First of all, Happy Birthday to my brother! If you’d like toread last year’s tribute, check here.

This was the temp as I left the house Thursday morning.

I had promised myself that I could wear my new toboggan oncethe temp was below 30. So here’s the 2^nd State of the Bug –tobogganed!

Later that day Dr. M ran into a murder of crows – yikes! Tome it looks like a Hitchcock movie waiting to happen!

Friday,December 2^nd

It was a bird kind of day onFriday. First, Dr. M took a picture of a nuthatch.

Then he saw a juvenile peregrinefalcon!

And then he saw a red tailed hawk.

Saturday,December 3^rd

This was my breakfast this morning. Grits, egg, homegrown tomato & livermush! Yum! I usually stock up on livermush on trips to NC. [Note: click on the link at your ownperil – you don’t really want to know what’s in livermush.]

Here’s our tree. Ha! We’ve decided to go minimalist with ourinside decorations this year - & this little tree suits the needs of ourhearts. It’s on top of a gorgeous chess board that Dr. M’s dad made. He gave itto Dr. M for his birthday.

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs ofall the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

In which I am a shameless shill...

2011-12-01T20:04:00.000-05:00

Except not really because the definition of shill is: ...a person who helps a person or organization without disclosing that he or she has a close relationship with that person or organization. And I'm totally telling you that I am one proud aunt!

My niece is in the running for Junior Cheerleader of the Year with The Cheer Leader Magazine and I want YOU to vote for her. You do have to be a Facebook person to vote because you need to become a fan of the magazine on Facebook, go to their photo albums, click on the the Junior Cheerleader album & like Jena's picture. Here is what she looks like:

In case her cuteness doesn't sway you, just check out her video (which she created all by herself. Did I tell you she's 9?):

Did I mention that I'm a proud aunt? So, go vote!

A Post for Wednesday

2011-11-30T11:52:00.000-05:00

I find that I don’t know what to do with myself since I finished up the ABC series. Did that series use up all my words? Well, maybe, but that won’t stop me from using some now. Here are some bullet points:

• Last night Dr. M & I looked out the door & saw snow! As my Facebook status said, these were my first flakes of the season (not counting my family from last week). Hardy har. I still get excited when I see snow – this emotion is left over from when I was a kid in North Carolina and snow seemed very rare. As long time readers of this blog know, I don’t actually like cold weather very much, and by February the excitement will have dimmed quite a bit. However, I have a new penguin toboggan that I can’t wait to wear (that’s what we call it where I’m from - do you call a knitted cap a toboggan?)

• Speaking of regional differences, do you say that you are ON line at the grocery store or IN line? I say that I’m in line & I think it sounds really weird to say on line. But as I examine what the words mean I don’t really know that my way is better or worse – it’s just what I’m used to.

• This year when my doctor called to say that they needed to take further pictures because they saw something on my mammogram I decided to not freak out like last year. I didn’t announce it on Facebook or my blog, telling only a handful of folks about it. And I really did seriously feel very calm. I went for the additional mammogram on Monday & they didn’t see anything at all. Apparently when they squinched me the first time it caused some sort of false lump. This time with the extra squinching (ow! ow! ow!) there was nothing there. That was a nice reward for my feeling of serenity.

• I just saw someone walk by with three inch heels on. I looked down at them because she was walking kind of funny so I wanted to see her shoes. You know, it’s not sexy when you have to walk sort of pigeon toed because your shoes are too tall. Of course, I’m a fine one to talk – if I were to try to wear something like that I’d fall over, which I assure you is even more not sexy. Ha!

Well, I’m going to just throw this on out there. You’ll probably see more drivel like this as I feel my way back toward blogging.

P.S. If you look at my sidebar you can see what I’m reading. I’m fairly certain that none of these books will have me sobbing at the end. Fairly certain.

2011 Project 365 – Week Forty-Eight

2011-11-28T18:16:00.000-05:00

I’m running late this week – we droveback from NC yesterday & I wasn’t feeling very coherent (which is why I wrote apoem instead – ha!).

Sunday,November 20^th

I was worried that I had stopped being able to take pictures, but we finally figured out thatsomething is wrong with one of our DSLR lenses – however I think it’s appropriatethat my baking efforts are kind of blurry. Ha!

Monday,November 21^st

Dr. M took this spooky picture.

And then he saw this hawk!

Tuesday,November 22^nd

The State of the Bug. Ohmerciful heavens I was quite undoneby the end of The Book Thief. It wasan excellent book – beautifully written.And the audio book was quite well narrated. But it was kind of sad, as you cansee.

On a happier note, Dr. M took apicture of a deer with raised eyebrows – wonder what it was thinking?

I finally used the Shutterflygift certificate that I won from Sara – I made a calendar for Dr. M’s birthday.

One of Dr. M’s students gave himthis lovely wall hanging.

Wednesday,November 23^rd

We drove to NC today. I tookthis picture of a truck in front of us – makes me smile to see my name ontrucks.

Dr. M took this picture of mewhile I was driving.

Thursday,November 24^th

We visited Dr. M’s mother’s grave today.

We had lunch with Dr. M’s brother & his family. I thinkthese guys look pretty darn content. If you want to see them from the front,check out thispost.

On the way back to my dad’s house we saw one of the localflocks. Some of them are wearing coats!

Friday,November 25^th

Dr. M took a picture of a donkey.

While he was spending time with hisdad & brother I went shopping with my sister-in-law. This is her terriblycute little car.

I posted this picture lastweek, but I wanted to share it again here. Cracks. Me. Up.

Dr. M doing what we spend fartoo much time doing at my dad’s house – ha!

Saturday,November 26^th

We had lunch with my family today. Here’s Amy laughing atthe dessert table.

Dr. M.

My niece trying to get my nephew to throw her into the air.She is quite an accomplished cheerleader. Go check her out here. I’ll be askingyou to vote for her on Thursday – stay tuned!

My cousin J and some of the kids playing after lunch – looks likethey had a great time.

Here’s the whole crew.

Dr. M took some pictures around Daddy & Amy’s house. We’rewondering what his first plant is – it’s a volunteer that comes back every year& produces a single leaf. Odd.

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs ofall the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

The Short Couch

2011-11-27T21:39:00.002-05:00

The Short Couch

“This,” myfather said,

as he movedit into

my firstapartment,

“is not alove seat.

It’s a shortcouch.”

I, a notvery sober

seminary student,

just smiled.

What daddies

don’t know

can’t hurtthem.

This is a Magpie Tale. Ifyou’re looking for my Project 365 post it will be up tomorrow night.

The State of My Brain

2011-11-25T17:13:00.000-05:00

I went shopping with B today (thanks B!) (at a civilized hour- noonish) and saw this at JC Penney:

I wonder if they would have noticed if had I decided to join them?

Hey Ya'll

2011-11-24T12:04:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s the first day of the rest of my life…

2011-11-23T18:02:00.000-05:00

…withoutthe alphabet getting in my way. Boy, that was … interesting. But I kind ofliked it even though I would definitely choose different words the next time.

So,now that I’m free to talk about whatever I want, what shall I say? We’re welldown the runway of the “holiday” season and just about ready for liftoff. ButI’m not ready! I ignored all the Christmas stuff in the stores – put therebefore Halloween for heaven’s sake. I tried to turn my ears off in a store twoweeks ago when I heard Christmas carols over the loudspeaker. I have resistedevery thought of purchasing gifts. Can we just go back & sit in the airportlounge for a while?

Ihave a plan. This week is Thanksgiving here in the U.S. I’m going to stuffmyself silly. In fact, I’m well on my way – our Vestry & stewardshipcommittee served us Thanksgiving dinner at church last Sunday. And then we’llbe with Dr. M’s family on Thursday & my family on Saturday. That is a LOTof turkey. And pie. At least I hope it’s a lot of pie.

Backto my plan. After I recover from my T-Day torpor I am going to spend some timeeach day thinking and reading about Advent. Just to remind myself of the reasonfor the season. And to slow things down a bit. And everyone is getting giftcards (or donations in their name to Episcopal Relief& Development – they have matching gifts through the end of November!).It’s Dr. M’s turn to write the annual Christmas poem so all I have to do is addressthe envelopes.

Thatall sounds manageable. We’ll see how it goes.

Zenith

2011-11-22T18:42:00.000-05:00

The end.

[Are you asgrateful as I am that this series is over? Ha!]

Yellow

2011-11-21T19:34:00.004-05:00

Mixed Metaphors

I’m a brunette.

No yellow hair here –

not even on my belly.

So it should be no surprise

that I didn’t turn tail,

that I decided to stick –

that I turned into

your arms

instead of

away.

This is a Magpie Tale and part of my ABC's of Gratitude series.

Xanadu

2011-11-20T18:37:00.008-05:00

Mychoices for X were kind of limited. I thought about using Xmas & giving myspeech about how the X is NOT crossing Christ out of Christmas, but that’s arant for another day.

Idon’t know about you, but when I think of Xanadu this is whatimmediately springs to mind:

Oh1980, did you know at the time that we were going to mock you so? I think youdid.

In1980 I was in high school, and I was one of those unkissed boy crazy girls whogoes to the prom with a girlfriend. I was making plans for my life based on myexpected spinsterhood, and tormenting my mother with my superior knowledge oflanguage. I was churchy and bookish and a mostly A student who didn’t reallyapply herself very much. And while I thought Sandy was cute and all, I secretlywanted to be Rizzo. On the other hand I was appalled that Sandy had to changeherself to get the guy. Wait, why am I talking about Grease?

Is it 10th Grade Bug? Or Mattie from (the original) True Grit? You make the call!

Anyway,I was your typical conflicted teenage nerd in 1980 with no idea what my lifewould look like in the future. I probably thought the idea of Xanadu wasmagical, sort of a forbidden heathen heaven. A nice place to escape. And whatteenager doesn’t want to escape a little bit?

Whydoes Xanadu make me thankful? I look back at that girl and, while I’m gratefulfor her, I’m so thankful to not beher anymore! She envisioned a different life than the one I have now. Her ideaof heaven wasn’t the same as mine. I wonder what she would have thought if shehad looked down that long road and seen me at the end of it? She might havebeen horrified, but I know Xanadu when I see it.

2011 Project 365 – Week Forty-Seven

2011-11-19T14:04:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday to my sweetie! Wehad a pretty low-key celebration, as you will see.

Sunday,November 13^th

Dr. M’s birthday! He doesn’treally go for cake, so he had a birthday pumpkin spice muffin from Tim Hortonsfor breakfast.

Look – it’s a celebratorysquirrel! He thought that he shouldhave “cake” for Dr. M’s birthday!

Late in the evening – the Stateof the Bug. Tess from Willow Manor had been talking about bringing back thehead scarf so I thought I’d give it a go.

Monday,November 14^th

Dr. M took some great picturestoday. I’m only sharing a few here including this teaser:

Go to his blog to get the rest.Really – you don’t want to miss all the sheep pictures. Click here!

Tuesday,November 15^th

Dr. M called to say he was onhis way home. We discussed the fact that neither of us had taken any picturestoday – so he took these on his way home. Ha!

Wednesday,November 16^th

It’s the Tax Time Pig! Don’t askme what he’s wearing – I’m just the photographer.

I participated in an annualritual today. Can you tell what it was?

Does this help? They always markmy moles so they don’t look suspicious on the scans.

Thursday,November 17^th

I wore fuzzy socks to work today. No, they do not match my outfit. But they were warm.And fuzzy.

Dr. M took a picture of the Mad River Air Strip - if you miss the strip you hit the river!

Friday,November 18^th

I was being goofy at work (Iknow, hard to imagine). I had George the Rock as my computer wallpaper (rememberthat Dr. M made George last year at school).

I decided to switch it to one ofthe sheep pictures Dr. M took on Monday. Makes me crack up every time I see it.

Dr. M took a picture of the halfmoon.

Alis-Chalmers tractor

One of the ponds he passes.

A flotilla.

Saturday,November 19^th

Dr. M fixing the mower so he can get one last use out of itthis year. We really need a new one, but we wanted to wait until next season.

Looks like he was successful!

Look what we got the other week! I almost can’t wait forreally cold weather to wear it. Almost. I was laughing because we keep thatrack-o-winter stuff in the closet until winter. Dr. M got it out yesterday tolook for my gloves (thanks Sweetie!) & left it there. I did not notice the thing until in thewee hours of the night when I got up to go to the bathroom. I am a most unobservant person. Heh.

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs ofall the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

Weary

2011-11-18T17:46:00.008-05:00

Photograph of Florence Thompson with three of her children by Dorthea Lange, 1936. Reproduced from The Commons on Flickr with use restricted to personal, educational or research purposes.

Weary

I move through the rooms of my life
As if in a dream, exhausted by
All those undone and undoable things
As if in a nightmare, moving through
Molasses air and endless hallways
As if my life were an inescapable burden
Placed upon my bent and broken back
My rucksack is full of food and clean water
And currency for the desires of my heart
In that rucksack is a college degree
And an embarrassment of shoes
I have five pairs of black trousers
The back of my petulance is broken with blessings.

This poem is for the Poetry Jam and for my ABC’s of Gratitude series. Almost done!

Vend

2011-11-17T18:51:00.005-05:00

Well, what do you know – another word on my ABCs of Gratitude list that makes no sense. I’m pretty sure that I was just writing down words that began with the appropriate letter instead of considering what they really meant. However, I will work with what my brain spewed out instead of cheating & choosing a nice word like “Vast” or “Vicissitude.” Let’s see how I do.

One of the definitions of Vend is: To offer (an idea, for example) for public consideration. Well now, I can work with that! For what is this blog, but a place to offer my ~~fabulous~~ ~~mediocre~~ ~~interesting~~ ideas to you, the public?

I started the blog because I was reading & commenting on other blogs & felt like I should offer those folks a place to say hello back. I had an additional goal of working on my writing skills and perhaps beginning to write poetry more regularly again. And I wanted to entertain, in a forum that felt safer to me than face to face interaction.

I think I’ve met those goals pretty well over the couple of years I’ve been writing here. I was going to be all self deprecating, but I’ll just say that I enjoy writing here & I feel like I’ve written some good poetry (sometimes – other times I hold my nose while reading it).

But what I didn’t expect was the feeling of family. You come here to read & I go to your place to read & we get to know each other so that I almost feel like I could go & stay at your house if I were in your neck of the woods. (For the record, I like a nice fat pillow & lots of blankets).

People who don’t have cyber friends don’t really get it – but at least in the places where we intersect here on the interwebs, I feel like we’re family. I want to know how your day is going and whether you got the job/award/new shoes. And you guys do a good job of acting like you want to know about my life too. It’s all very affirming. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to vend my mental wares and browse through yours. Hmm – that sounded dirtier than I meant it!

Under

2011-11-16T14:46:00.000-05:00

image source: Google images, unknown photographer

Under

An old nightmare.
In my dream there
is yellow chaos (well isn’t
there always chaos?).
I am filled with
adrenaline and
orange terror
and for once this
isn’t a dream about
going to the bathroom
in a wall-less stall.

My teacher is shouting
and I am under my
unsuitably buoyant
red chair.

This is it this is it this is it.
The world glows white.

I’m the only one left.

I think I hear a machine gun,
but it’s only my heart
wrenching me from
frantic airless sleep.

The sound of pounding
feet fades away.
The night is dark
and calm as gray.

There was nothing
cold about that war.

This is a Magpie Tale and part of my ABCs of Gratitude series. I’m grateful that, while this old dream is real, the nightmare it foretold hasn’t happened. Yet.

Try

2011-11-15T18:56:00.007-05:00

Today’s gratitude word is “try.” And when I wrote the word down in September I’m sure I had some noble purpose in mind (not really). But I’m going to do something slightly different today because I am bursting with miscellanea that has nowhere to go but right here. So instead of the noble idea (that doesn't really exist), I’m going to share recent things I’ve witnessed that illustrate the power of working hard for your goal.

· There’s this one. I admit I was a little grossed out by the idea of piecing together partially digested money. But what an intrepid couple! And they’ve learned a valuable lesson about leaving things where their dog might get them.

· On Monday as I was driving to work I glanced at the car in front of me & saw a MOUSE running along its back bumper! The car started moving & the mouse went back into the trunk. Later, as I was trying to figure out how to tell the lady she had a mouse in her car (& whether that would even be a good idea in morning rush hour traffic), I saw the mouse on the bumper again, poised to jump off the car as it stopped. I didn’t get to see the leap, but I choose to believe that the mouse made it safely into the grass by the side of the road. Can you imagine how it was feeling? It was so cute & brave… OK, I know it probably wasn’t really brave, but I choose to believe that it was.

· The other day I was trying to sing in the car. I came to a sad realization. Listen to this “playlist” – I sang: Come Ye Sinners, Amazing Grace, America the Beautiful, the Star Spangled Banner (badly – it’s kind of hard to sing that one sitting down), and Be Thou My Vision. Do I have anything other than religious or patriotic songs in my repertoire? Well, I do have ONE other song that I can sing from memory, but the chorus goes, “Hey mister, take a chance, it only costs you a dime a dance, and if you’re looking for romance, I’ll be nice to you. Hey mister, it's so cold when you don't have anyone to hold - I'll do anything I'm told to do... Baby, I want you.” I’ve mentioned it on the blog before – it was on the flip side of Vicki Lawrence’s The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia. I was nine when it came out & I used to sing Dime a Dance all the time. Thank goodness there were no “Misters” out there taking me up on my offer. Anyway, the point here is that I’m trying to sing some every day. Reya says it’s good for you – it makes your voice stronger, and it’s fun. I just need to learn some new tunes.

· One last thing. I’m trying a really simple version of yoga these days. Our rector’s husband is an instructor so he’s offered to give classes once a week. I remember back in the day I could sit on the floor & cross my legs with no problem (criss-cross applesauce). It’s been such a long time since I even tried – it feels good to realize my limitations and try to push past them a little bit each week.

So, what new thing are you trying to do lately? Saving money (literally), taking a leap of faith, learning new things, stretching? Do tell!

Storm

2011-11-14T19:13:00.000-05:00

As I think about what “storm” means I keep hearing Stevie Nicks in my head. “I have always been a storm,” she says. And I do believe that she was speaking truth in that song – she has always been a storm. Well, as I once said about myself in a poem, “I am not a storm or an ocean or even a calm sky. I am a catfish pond, murky and sustaining. And that’s all you really need to know.”

What does that even mean? And what does it have to do with gratitude? Here’s what I think.

While I’m predisposed to be dramatic in the telling of events, my life really isn’t all that dramatic. And I like it that way – only stirring gentle winds every now & then to keep things interesting. (From Dr. M’s perspective these winds might not actually be that gentle, but that’s his tale to tell).

But that doesn’t mean that storms haven’t come our way. We’ve had the heartbreak of losing our mothers. The disappointment of jobs that fell through. The real life storm that blew the roof off of our townhouse in 1997.

Common wisdom states that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Well, I don’t really know how true that is. It certainly rips off those rose colored glasses that we try to cling to. But I do know this: going through a storm is one of the best ways to know how strong your community is. God, friends, family – all right there with the wind and the rain. It’s pretty powerful.

I’m not really thankful for the storm. But I am for the hands that held mine and kept me from being swept away in it.

Rust

2011-11-13T19:20:00.002-05:00

Tess at Willow Manor likes to talk about patina. It is defined thusly:

1. A thin greenish layer, usually basic copper sulfate, that forms on copper or copper alloys, such as bronze, as a result of corrosion.

2. The sheen on any surface, produced by age and use.

3. A change in appearance produced by long-standing behavior, practice, or use: a face etched with a patina of fine lines and tiny wrinkles.

I suppose that, in the normal scheme of things, patina is to be preferred over rust. But rust is the word I chose for the letter R in my ABCs of gratitude and now I have to figure out why that is.

I could have meant the color of the leaves on the trees I can see outside my window. Or perhaps a soft skirt I once owned in that same color. But I think I was feeling thankful for the absence of rust. Specifically that rasping that accompanied the movement of my left hip. It’s gone now. I’m still in terrible shape – I don’t exercise enough & the area around that hip needs strengthening, but I can crawl around on the floor if I want to. And I can stand for hours and minutes at a time without hip pain. And I can sleep on that side when I go to bed.

So instead of feeling rusty and ready for the nursing home, I consider myself to have a fine patina, a sheen well suited to my age.

Happy Birthday Dr. M!

2011-11-13T05:21:00.000-05:00

You probably didn't know this, but I really like my husband a lot. Heh. Seems like a lot of the poetry I write is been about him. He's not perfect, but my goodness neither am I! I think we do pretty darn well with our imperfections.

So,

to my favorite historian. Love you, dear heart.

2011 Project 365 – Week Forty-Six

2011-11-12T12:39:00.000-05:00

Trees, critters, and that fullmoon figure prominently this week.

Sunday,November 6^th

I took exactly one picture thisday. I was going to do a poem about windows for the poetry jam, but I couldn’tfigure out how to work it in with my ABC series. So, you get a picture of thekitchen door.

Monday,November 7^th

Dr. M took all these gorgeousleaf pictures.

And then there’s this – doesn’tit look like a nightclub the morning after?

Tuesday,November 8^th

The State of the Bug - I voted! I put that sticker upthere because it was lost on my busy shirt. Then I forgot about it. When I tookit off that night it left a welt on my skin – ouch!

I took my own leaf pictures –these trees are across the street from my office.

Dr. M took some almost-full moonpictures.

Wednesday,November 9^th

Ohio sky.

Yellow Springs in the evening onDr. M’s way home from school – I love this picture.

Wicked looking sky!

Thursday,November 10^th

Sweet gum tree – I think they have the prettiest leaves in the fall.

The campus herd.

I love the carpet of leaves under this tree.

On my way home the moon was gorgeous - huge & orange. And I did SUCH a goodjob capturing it while driving. Heh.

Friday,November 11^th

Dr. M has been trying to getbetter pictures of the buffalo – I think he succeeded this week.

Still life with cows & tree.

Full moon.

Saturday,November 12^th

Cardinal at the feeder – I always feel extra blessed whenone shows up.

That crazy last daisy is still going strong – what afighter!

Our mums are also still looking really nice.

We put the flag out yesterday for Veteran’s Day. I’m not afan of war, but the men & women who joined the armed forces are pretty darnamazing.

Breakfast – a favorite around here. Nothing better than a runnyegg & grits. Yum!

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs ofall the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

Quiet

2011-11-10T19:09:00.000-05:00

I’ve been getting off track a bit in the last spate of posts. This is supposed to be ABCs of GRATITUDE after all. What was I thankful for about “Plan” – could you tell? I’m not sure what my point was. I guess I’m grateful that I’m able to choose to plan or not. Heh.

Anyway, it’s easy to be thankful for “quiet.” I do listen to audio books in the car, but otherwise, left to my own devices, my world is really quiet. When Dr. M isn’t home I don’t turn on the TV or music (unless it’s baseball season). At work my office is remarkably quiet – people comment on it as if it’s a bad thing. But I have all these words in my head (Not voices! Really. Really!) and as Dr. M can tell you I’m easily distracted. It’s so nice to just be able to focus on my work or writing or what I’m reading. Especially at work, because that leaves me a little more able to interact with Dr. M when I get home.

So, today I’m thankful for my quiet office and the opportunity to work without distraction.

P.S. The best part about doing this series is picking out a different font for each letter. I love doing that! But after you’ve looked at the letter “Q” in the 20th different font… it just sort of looks obscene, you know?

Plan

2011-11-09T21:33:00.000-05:00

Myidea of a perfect weekend is one with no plans whatsoever. I much prefer to gowith the flow, letting serendipity run its course.

Onthe other hand, my natural inclination to do nothing means that I miss out onexperiences that I would probably enjoy.

Thereis a space between sloth and overwhelmed by obligations. I would like toinhabit that space a little more comfortably.

Itwould probably help if I didn’t give everything the stink eye. Girls’ NightOut? Too much trouble. Symphony? Too much trouble. Yoga once a week? Too muchtrouble.

Thisweek I’m making plans & participating in life. I did (modified for decrepitindividuals) yoga on Monday. Dr. M & I are attending a symphony performanceon Sunday. And, well, I’m skipping Girls’ Night Out but it’s because I’mparticipating in a church meeting instead.

See?That wasn’t so bad – I can makeplans. I’ll probably need a week to recuperate, but baby steps people! Babysteps!

Open

2011-11-08T19:19:00.003-05:00

I wrote this poem back in May for a couple of poetry prompts. It’s always my standard response about why I (born and raised in the Southern Baptist Church) am now an Episcopalian. When I wrote the poem I really really wanted to put “Food Fight!” at the end. And wouldn’t that be fun? Open can be uncomfortable, but why shouldn’t it be fun too?

Welcome

Beggar blind man rich man fool
Teacher’s pet & satan’s tool
The watchful waiting wary too
All are welcome at the table

The first the last the meek & mild
Weakened hearts and Thursday’s child
Wicked warped and undefiled
All are welcome at the table

Ancient crones and newborn souls
Ishmael Isaac Vishnu Joe
The undecided and in the know
All are welcome at the table

Come in come in it’s almost time
I’ll wash your feet and you wash mine
Eat the bread and drink the wine
Just join me at the table!