The teenager moved her bed which required some hardware - here is her spontaneous art piece.

Snow gone

That little bit of white in front of Fred is what's left of the snow here at home.

Fred the Van

Okay, it wasn't my first choice for a personalized license plate (LAVAUKE) but I compromised. FRED is short for the last name and recognizes the past present and future drivers of the van.
By the way, thanks to the Canoodling Uker for the use of his tool ;-)

Snow day continued

This is a better picture - Leo and Lily enjoying the cold, white stuff.
Thanks DAS!

Neither rain nor sleet nor snow nor hail ...

I still have to go to my cubicle jail.
Snow day for the kids, though. It does create conversation at work.
Now to file, enter data and answer phones. Maybe everyone will think we're closed because of the snow and not call today.
No personal photos available so attaching a generic snow photo this morning.

Way too much coffee. But if it weren't for the coffee, I'd have no identifiable personality whatsoever.

Too much coffee? Not me, not today... But thank you to DAS, barrista and blog buddy, for an afternoon cup. The snow was falling in fat flakes when I arrived at church, but before the service was over, the sun was shining and melted ice (aka water) was pouring from the gutters. Now the sun is showing with no sign that snow was even here.
Something triggered a weepy moment earlier. I feel all okay most of the time, but then it's like a hangnail, something niggles at me, irritating me until I start ruminating and then end up hurting myself (that was a hard metaphor to draw out). Anyway I seem to have got through it without incident (other than tears and nose blowing). Now I do feel the drive to continue de-cluttering. If only I applied myswelf to practicing the uke as much as I do to planning to de-clutter... Ah well.

The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.

The snow has made it's way here. Here is Fred the Van, lightly powdered. Although dark clouds are above, nothing falls from them now. I do harbour a naughty hope that it snows and snows, but that the power (and our heat source) stay on. Naughty because I know this city is not all that snow savvy, and that many people would be stranded at home out of caution for(or fear of) the slippery roads.
I have an obligation this morning that I still have to meet and the chances of the sky dumping enough snow in the next half hour to get me out of it are, well, pretty dang small. So I'll push myself and get going and leave you with an observation by Oscar Wilde:
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go."

Hard Work Pays Off in the Future - Laziness Pays Off Now

Home today (it's Saturday)and I got next to nothing done. The only news I have to report is other people's. Mudslide at Wildwood. No cars are able to leave, but there is power, phone, TV, Internet (thank goodness!) and one can still walk out to the store, et cetera, (just three miles in the rain). More photos and details at Tj's Wildwood website.
The good news, and one that flips my envy switch - Remit got an iPhone. Great shades of Joker talking about Batman :"Where does he get those wonderful toys?"

Hope your news is good, gotta go.

Wednesday

Here are before and after make-up shots - much quicker than weight loss... Stayed home from work today with a minor medical issue. Not contagious but not something I wanted to deal with at the office. Although I spent a lot of time on the computer I also got outside and did some clean up by the house. The weather is cold and clear and the colours rich and the air clean out there. I moved some trash and made sure that the stuff I have piled next to the house is actually stuff I want to keep and will use. I also put the mirror up in the bathroom; I had been waiting to finish painting the trim, but got tired of putting my make-up on in the hallway (where the full length mirror is).
I also posted my first video on YouTube of our snow experience on Monday. Not musical, but that may be forthcoming...
New license plates arrived today. Have to find the right tool to put them on. (That's me, always looking for the right tool.)
Thinking of you -

A la familia!

"The family - that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to". ~Dodie Smith

Snow Day!

Four brief days off, but what a range of days. Friday it was warm and short sleeves and today it's snow and coat and gloves! These pictures were taken at the summit of Highway 9; we were surprised and thrilled to see so much snow! Unfortunately, when we hit the road again, we saw an overturned pickup truck, smashed cab, driver waving his arm. (That took the wind out of our proverbial sails). No photos of that part of our adventure. From that point on we progressed slowly and carefully down to the lower elevation and out of the snow.
We visited the folks once more and now we're back in Walnut Creek, packed and ready to head back home. But first some toast and home made stew and a game of gin rummy. Cup of coffee? Yes, please.

Sunday night at Wildwood

These are our beautiful redwoods but not from today's visit - the day was cloudy with a heavy mist. I did take pictures today but don't have a way to get them on the computer yet.
You'll notice that you no longer need to sign in to leave comments (no more "reflections" either).
We - Sari, Molly, Ivey, TJ and 'mi - spent the day shopping at the Pacific Garden Mall in beautiful old town Santa Cruz. Wore 'mi out. Finishing the day with rousing games of "I Doubt It" (aka BS, Baloney Sandwich, B*llsh*t) and ice cream.
One more day off. I'm going to enjoy it for all it's worth!

Saturday in the Bay Area

Thursday is the New Friday

Since I'm on vacation tomorrow...
All is well. Now that may not seem like big news to you, but after 12 weeks (or more) of feeling out of sorts, it's a pleasure to say "all is well".
A California visit is coming up and it looks to be the least stressful I will have had in many moons. I may even get to Wildwood (Hey TJ!) and have some fun de-cluttering there.
My heart is in good shape. With no impulsive outbursts to live down, the recovery process has gone much smoother than in the past. Plus I am actually still friends with my (former sweetheart) and that helps a great deal.
Hope all is well with you.

Are you an owl or a lark?

Lark or Owl Test: six questions

Lark and Owl Test: thirteen questions



I am a "moderate" lark. I'm at my brightest in the morning hours. I enjoy the evening and night, but I reach my nadir from 3:30-5:30 PM. Particularly at this time of year, when the sun (if the sun is shining at all) lingers low in the west, I feel dull and tend towards peevishness without provocation. If I hadn't been drinking coffee all day, I'd think a nice latte would pep me up. A nap would ruin me - I'd wake up cross and dissatisfied. For now I'll put in a movie, surf the 'Net and enjoy my clean house. (all the while feeling a bit bothered by nothing and everything). Ah, the many moods of 'mi.

House - work

Talked with my sis this morning and we de-cluttered over the phone! What a fabulous sister she is :-) Now I have to get to the surface clutter in preparation for company. But first a break to watch another episode of "House". Ivey and I are currently addicted to "House" but we don't have a problem (that's a "House" reference right there).
I feel sunny today and what do you know, it's sunny! Lovely, lovely. Good coffee (that I made here at home), sunshine, stuff to go out, Ivey's sweet face, ukulele playing in my near future - once again, it doesn't get much better than this!
Bask in my glow and enjoy your Sunday, love.

Resolved

Happily I can report that my taxes are filed and a refund is forthcoming. Scratch that off my to do list.
Had Saturday morning coffee with the gals at Starbucks. We covered a range of topics: Work politics (dress codes, raises, inequity), relationships (moms, men), medical (mammograms, cancer, hives), crafts (quilting, sewing), et cetera.
Tomorrow is ukulele Sunday so that will add another check mark to my goals box. I plan to devote some time to strumming today as well. Have songs I want to practice. R sent some audio clips so I'm able to play along, which is good as I sometimes get annoyed with the sound of my strumming. I am particularly focusing on changing my strum. I may set myself a goal of learning the triplet this year ;-)
I would really like to continue de-cluttering. It's a little chilly to do additional work on the outside piles, but I'm sure I can select an area to concentrate on. Papers are the worst clutter offender now. The beginning of a new year is probably as good a time as any to go out with old (the new is constantly coming in).
My pet project this week was assigning album covers to all of my iTunes music (there's the "surfing the Internet" resolution). Now I'm making some CDs to listen to in Fred the Van.
Keep it simple - and uncluttered.

Happy January BIrthday!

TJ, Reva, Pa, Dan L., Dan M., Lisa B. and all the rest of you Capricorn & Aquarius January birthday folks - wishing you a very Happy Birthday!

Post Epiphany

I woke up too early to get up this morning and observed my wandering mind for an hour or so. Fell back asleep to dream of high school reunions and (east) Indian princesses being sacrificed (graphic). Saw my old flame Cary Grant in the dream as well. That was definitely the highlight. I mentioned to him that I had recently dated another man 20 years my senior.
Thinking about the "narcissistic" aspect of my blogs. For me, it's all part of my desire to be heard, to be connected. The irony, of course, is that I don't know who reads this (other than the regulars who leave comments) so it is an obscured connection. Yet my voice (in writing) is out "there" and somehow that counts for something (in my narcissistic mind). I have recorded in diaries/journals in the past (and destroyed them), but this format does make me focus a bit more (not to mention filter).
You may notice a new feature on the left sidebar - "Joe's Goals". It's a website that lets you track your habits, positive or negative. As an experiment, I entered my new year's resolutions (see earlier post) and I record how well I'm keeping them.
Last night I played uke with someone who has a serious case of UAS - Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome. I was both envious (he has some mighty fines ukes) and jealous (he actually does canoodle his instruments). I got over it. The dream with Cary Grant helped ;-)
Keep on canoodling/strumming/reading my blog as you prefer...

All I have to do is dream

"You've been a very bad boy. Go to my room!"


My dreams last night were vivid, graphic, brilliant. I want to hold on to them longer.
The first one took place at Parker Street, where I de-cluttered EVERYTHING. And then I flew away with just a purse for everything I owned, looking for friends to see. (I left my parents with what they needed, I suppose, but they acted as only as supporting cast in the dream).
In the second dream, I was splitting up from my first husband, Mark. We lived at 1816 L Avenue and had emptied the house of everything we wanted. Ready to leave what was once our home, I did not want to leave him. Was there still a chance we could stay together?
The third dream starred a VERY bad boy who I attached myself to through devious and fascinating ways. He was evil and deadly and seduced by my disingenuous combination of innocence and beguiling allure. I watched as he tortured and killed his opponents with his powers. I could change the colours of my eyes and stun with a look. Money was no object as I pooh-poohed $500 dresses and tried eyeliners and smoked cigarettes in black holders.

A friend sent an e-mail reply to my comments about my ongoing hives (slightly edited):
"Or, tell (guy #2) that your doctor diagnosed that you are allergic to HIM. so he's Out the Door. Tell (guy #1) that your doctor also diagnosed that your hives are caused by (guy #1) Withdrawal and that, in the interest of medicine and a cure, you must re-attach yourselves."

I *love* my friends.
Hope your dreams are worth having.

Life is so short, so fast the lone hours fly...

Being "in love" doesn't last long - Hal says 18 months. The biological imperative to connect for the necessary business, then off you go.
It is all so fragile. What a chance we take when we allow ourselves to slip into murky and capricious love. I really thought I couldn't do it again, that all those false starts had ruined me for the "real thing". And yet, there I was, stunned with my good luck, heady with the rush of it. I did my best. I miss waking up each day in awe of my good luck.

"Life is so short, so fast the lone hours fly,
We ought to be together, you and I."

How do you measure a year?

In cell phone minutes?

My Internet has been on and off the past couple of days. Hasn't bothered me too much but I notice how much I depend on the Internet. Paying bills, checking bank information, reference, communicating with friends and family...
The year has been neutral so far and I'm happy for that. Today I am covered in hives and itching quite a bit, but it could be worse. I took down the Xmas decorations and put more stuff in the Rodeo to go away. Now I really have to tackle the piles of papers.
I went way over on my cell phone minutes the past two months - lots of calls to family. One telephone number does not appear as often as it used too :-(
I read a blurb in a magazine - Good Housekeeping, maybe? - that talked about how blogs and reality television and the current tell-all culture results in narcissism as people think it's all about them. Here's my nod to narcissism.
Nothing good, bad or ugly to report, really. Better than a sharp stick in the eye.
I better seize this day instead of dissing it. There are only so many to seize...


Seasons of Love
525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?

How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of love.

525,600 minutes! 525,000 journeys to plan. 525,600 minutes - how can you measure the life of a woman or man?

In truths that she learned, or in times that he cried. In bridges he burned, or the way that she died.

It’s time now to sing out, tho the story never ends let's celebrate remember a year in the life of friends.

Remember the love! Remember the love! Remember the love! Measure in love. Seasons of love! Seasons of love.

Connected! (and corrected)

Photo from New Years' Eve 2000/2001 in Orinda, California. Reva, Sari, Tim, Peter, Paul, TJ, Ivey, and Zip. Oh yeah, and me, front and center.

Is that hair gel?

Happy New Year! I'm on Ann's new computer since I still haven't worked out my lack of Internet at home. It's on my list.
The year ended much better than I had hoped. I'm all over the 2007 gloomies. Yay 2008!
The de-cluttering continues with new depths being plumbed. I tossed first aid supplies that were, I kid you not, twenty to thirty years old (remember, I'm 45). Paper is still my number one nemesis but I am attempting to be severe with myself. The garbage bag is filling up, as is the recycling and the give-away bag. As long as less stuff goes back on shelves than came off, I'm happy.
Saw "There's Something About Mary" for the first time last night. Man, I laughed so hard! That was the way to end the year, for sure. Plus had a bottle of champagne - Roederer's - that was easy to drink. It's a good life.
Anyway, I'm going to apply hot wax to my brow and rip the hairs out.