Gold Mine in the Sky

Here is a picture J took on her trip to Paris - I mean, Las Vegas.
Despite the sunny skies, many of us long to escape to warmer climes. I'm still feeling generally apathetic in life so would rather wait until I get some verve before I go on a trip for fun. Hate to waste a warm sunny place feeling grey inside. Started a new medication and am now on the "wait and see" or "wait and feel" plan. The drug has one major possible side effect of a potentially fatal skin rash. Not a drug you would want to take casually.
Back to trip talk. We've been considering the coast for a quick trip. Not a warm place, but the ocean has it's appeal in all seasons. When I first moved to the glorious Northwest, I thought the ocean was right here, like it was in the Bay Area. I live by the water, it's cold and salty, there are ships here - how far could the ocean be? Far. If I had a boat and could take it as the crow flies, maybe it wouldn't take too long, but to drive to the ocean from our little island is like a three or four hour drive. Not exactly a day trip. So we are thinking of making a long weekend and touring the coastal area of our fair state. Or maybe we'll just get on a plane and go to the American Southwest where temperatures are currently 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
In other news, I will be taking another family ob trip to California. States continue to deteriorate, mental and physical. Middle sister carrying a heavy load which I am bound to share. We are each thankfully and gratefully blessed with wonderful partners so the load is eased a bit. J knowingly entered into this relationship knowing I was schlepping a set of luggage and she has most generously and thoughtfully helped to carry it. God bless her and her curly hair.
The Citizen's Academy has been fun and informative. The three hours have run over both nights so far and I was still eager for more. Class is also way better when you're not working for a grade.
Hope you are comfortable wherever you are. Keep on keeping on!

Hanging on the Telephone

I spend a lot of time on my iPhone, with very little of that time using it as a telephone. I have started downloading applications: games, gadgets, news. Even J is addicted to one of them games (reMovem) and missed my iPhone when she had to wait at the airport last week. My most used apps are a couple of the games, Facebook and Twitter. I'm still a major newbie on Twitter, so am not yet using it to its fullest potential. For now I am just enjoying the frequent tweets from an actor I am following. It's one way of fulfilling my craving for connection, even if it's somewhat contrived and superficial.
This week I start the Citizen's Academy offered by our local police department. It's a six week survey of police work, with lectures, guest speakers and tours. It's starting in the nick of time because I am desperately in need of an activity. Since ukulele fell by the wayside I have a space to fill and the iPhone, with all of it's wonders, just doesn't cut it.
All work week I look forward to the weekend but I've been so down that the weekends aren't much fun. Yesterday I spent some time straightening J's desk (while I use her computer as mine is still in a coma). Decluttering is about the only hobby I'm enjoying right now. I am supposed to be starting new meds soon and hope that will help ignite a spark in me. This flat feeling doesn't spur activity. I am happy, life is very good, but I really don't feel much of it.
Part of my job lets me see how many town residents are selling, losing through foreclosure and re-financing their homes. Sadly, foreclosure are gaining while sales have nearly stalled. Re-fis, however, are skyrocketing. Many people are taking advantage of the historically low interest rates. I didn't know how much a lower rate would improve my cash flow, but I got a good faith estimate and submitted the paperwork and as of Friday the rates would give me a much reduced monthly payment, even with all the added fees for the re-fi. Now the fun part - watching the market and rates to try to catch them while they are low. They have gone down and up and now are heading down again. I hope to lock in a good rate tomorrow. If they continue to decline, which is the forecast, I can always re-fi again later on. The lower mortgage payment means a lot as the teenager's dad gave up contributing anything for her care because of his own financial woes.
The sun is out there and I'm thinking I should take advantage of it and not stay in front of the computer all day. And with that I will sign off.

Just Got Started Lovin' You

Happy Valentine's Day!
It may be a commercially sponsored reminder of our relationship shortcomings (not being in one, not "coming through" gift-wise, cultural pressure to perform) but since I am currently in a bliss-functional relationship I say HAPPY Valentine's day.
J returned from a business with pleasure trip to Las Vegas. I felt envious and jealous for no good reason (okay, it may have been triggered by the 2:15 AM drunk dial) but I'm over it now. She did point out that we would each have fun with other people, that's who we are. It's so grown-up, of course, to be confident and comfortable enough to not be fazed by distance and doings. She travels without me; I travel without her. I guess it would be slightly different if I travelled for fun instead of family obligation. Even with the pleasant family visits, I feel sick with responsibility and disappointment. It is nice to have J to call and vent to and get words of support and love from. (I have to tell you that it's really bothering me to end sentences with prepositions). I don't want to be a glass half empty kind of person. Change your thoughts, change the world.
What was my point?
New topic - Facebook. I get why some people don't care for it. But for me it's been fun. Connected with my fifth grade crush, my high school boyfriend, my senior prom date. Reconnecting with my sister and my cousin. Getting to know new friends and people who I noticed on the periphery of my life. I get to check in with everyone and check on them and make comments and share pictures And my musings there are shorter.
Which reminds me - one of my favourite ideas is one presented by Smith Magazine. Creating a six-word memoir. Legend is that Ernest Hemingway was challenged to create a story of six words and came up with "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." So much said in so few words. Smith Magazine offers the same challenge and 70,000 of these succinct stories have been submitted. I wish I could remember some of my favourites, but here are some samples:
Hired me. Fired me. Married Me.
Tried men, tried women, like cats.
Fabulous June wedding, then Prop. 8.
For sale: wedding dress, worn twice.
There is a published collection of these memoirs called "Not Quite What I Was Planning" (an excellent example). Think on that. See what you come up with for your own story.
And have a happy day, no matter what you mark down as your relationship status.

By the way - new blog layout. Though you probably noticed. I sometimes like change for change's sake.

Up, Up and Away

I haven't been spending much time on the blog. A few reasons:
1) using the iPhone and don't know how to - or if -I can load pictures to the blog.
2) using Facebook - I like interaction! I don't really want to just talk to myself. Although the blog is good if I have a lot to say.
3) who reads it besides J D T and possibly R? J D & R are on Facebook. T - sign up on facebook! You have lots of relatives on there :-)
Just joined twitter but don't know much about it yet.
Good weekend considering it was spent with the California family. The weather was (is) sunny and that alone cheers me. Plus sari and peter are so fun, when we aren't stressing about folks and such.
At the airport now. Plugged in, starbucks coffee and breakfast, watching purple and orange planes on the runway, and on the 'net. Doesn't get much better---
EXCEPT I miss my Anacortes family and having a friend with me would be nice.
I'm moving to facebook and twitter now. Maybe I'll see you there?