Ahhhhhhhhhh...
Antigua
How I hated to leave you....
But now it's back to
REALITY
Thursday, April 25, 2013
RELAXIN'
I'm participating in this year's A-Z challenge, and so will be posting daily about a subject focusing on a letter of the alphabet.
QUEST
I'm participating in this year's A-Z challenge, and so will be posting daily about a subject focusing on a letter of the alphabet.
I'm on a quest for life.
I've lived a safe little existance until now.
Now I have a raging desire. A roaring unquenchable thirst for adventure. To pack what's left of my time with experience--
Sights, sounds, tastes, touches
Feeling, laughter, love, and joy.
The Native Americans had something like this -- when a boy was making the transition into manhood, he would go on a Spirit Quest.
In some ways, my journey is similar. By challenging myself to try new things, to push myself out of what is my known world, I am discovering who I really am. For the first time in 54 years, I am beginning to like this daring person I'm becoming.
I'm on a quest for life.
I've lived a safe little existance until now.
Now I have a raging desire. A roaring unquenchable thirst for adventure. To pack what's left of my time with experience--
Sights, sounds, tastes, touches
Feeling, laughter, love, and joy.
The Native Americans had something like this -- when a boy was making the transition into manhood, he would go on a Spirit Quest.
In some ways, my journey is similar. By challenging myself to try new things, to push myself out of what is my known world, I am discovering who I really am. For the first time in 54 years, I am beginning to like this daring person I'm becoming.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
OBTUSE
I'm participating in this year's A-Z challenge, and so will be posting daily about a subject focusing on a letter of the alphabet.
I'll admit it -- when it comes to technology, I am a total idiot. Yep, that's me, sitting on a stool over in the corner, weathing a huge, pointy dunce cap.
How do people learn about these things?? It was easy when my kids were all living at home. I'd be on my computer and it would hit me -- I need to insert this photo into my post! "Kiiiiiiii-iiiiiiiiiidsssss! Who's home??? Come help me!!!!" And one of them would trot in, heaving a huge, indulgent sigh, grab my laptop, and with a few clicks and lightning-fast speed typing, it would magically be accomplished.
Oh, I would ask them how to do it myself. But they'd give me that look. The one that said, "I have no desire to spend the rest of the evening wasting 3 hours of my precious life dumbing this down for you, when in approximately 7 minutes you will have completely forgotten the entire procedure and will be yelling for me to do it all over again."
I can't blame them. They're like Robert Oppenheimer trying to teach quantum tunneling to a two-year-old Forrest Gump. It's sad. I need your pity.
I'm trying, though. I recently hired an amazing guru to evaluate my blog. The first thing she had me do was fill out a detailed questionnaire. Those were some great questions, and I was eager to show how intelligent I am. The only thing was, it wouldn't let me copy and paste into an email. (Yes! I an quite the copy-and-paster!) Finally I had to break down and shoot her an email (more techno-talk, if you're not familiar) and ask how I was supposed to get my answers to her. No, not by osmosis, as I was beginning to believe, but "in the cloud."
Oh. I've heard of this "cloud" thing. I absolutely do not grasp the concept. Luckily, all I had to do was simply type my responses RIGHT ONTO THE DOCUMENT. Genius!!!!
So after that faux pas, where I once again felt like the afore-mentioned F.G., she completed her evaluation and sent me several pages of outstanding suggestions. I then had about 10 days to submit any questions I had.
Well, my questions were longer than the report. And let me preface that by saying she explained everything in simple terms, using great detail, giving me links to tutorials, and good examples, and so forth. The problem was not with the report, the problem was -- as usual -- with me.
I have so little knowledge. If you're a Game of Thrones fan, then you'll understand when I say, "You know nothing, Jon Snow." I was embarrassed to even submit some of the questions. But hey, that's the only way I'm going to learn, right? At least when my head is in "the cloud," I can't see her give me "the look."
So, as I said, she gave me incredibly valuable advice, and I've already begun implementing some of them. It might take me several years to figure out how to do them all. "Oh, kiiiiiiiiiiii-iiiiiiiidssssss! Can anyone come home to help Mom?"
I'll admit it -- when it comes to technology, I am a total idiot. Yep, that's me, sitting on a stool over in the corner, weathing a huge, pointy dunce cap.
How do people learn about these things?? It was easy when my kids were all living at home. I'd be on my computer and it would hit me -- I need to insert this photo into my post! "Kiiiiiiii-iiiiiiiiiidsssss! Who's home??? Come help me!!!!" And one of them would trot in, heaving a huge, indulgent sigh, grab my laptop, and with a few clicks and lightning-fast speed typing, it would magically be accomplished.
Oh, I would ask them how to do it myself. But they'd give me that look. The one that said, "I have no desire to spend the rest of the evening wasting 3 hours of my precious life dumbing this down for you, when in approximately 7 minutes you will have completely forgotten the entire procedure and will be yelling for me to do it all over again."
I can't blame them. They're like Robert Oppenheimer trying to teach quantum tunneling to a two-year-old Forrest Gump. It's sad. I need your pity.
I'm trying, though. I recently hired an amazing guru to evaluate my blog. The first thing she had me do was fill out a detailed questionnaire. Those were some great questions, and I was eager to show how intelligent I am. The only thing was, it wouldn't let me copy and paste into an email. (Yes! I an quite the copy-and-paster!) Finally I had to break down and shoot her an email (more techno-talk, if you're not familiar) and ask how I was supposed to get my answers to her. No, not by osmosis, as I was beginning to believe, but "in the cloud."
Oh. I've heard of this "cloud" thing. I absolutely do not grasp the concept. Luckily, all I had to do was simply type my responses RIGHT ONTO THE DOCUMENT. Genius!!!!
So after that faux pas, where I once again felt like the afore-mentioned F.G., she completed her evaluation and sent me several pages of outstanding suggestions. I then had about 10 days to submit any questions I had.
Well, my questions were longer than the report. And let me preface that by saying she explained everything in simple terms, using great detail, giving me links to tutorials, and good examples, and so forth. The problem was not with the report, the problem was -- as usual -- with me.
I have so little knowledge. If you're a Game of Thrones fan, then you'll understand when I say, "You know nothing, Jon Snow." I was embarrassed to even submit some of the questions. But hey, that's the only way I'm going to learn, right? At least when my head is in "the cloud," I can't see her give me "the look."
So, as I said, she gave me incredibly valuable advice, and I've already begun implementing some of them. It might take me several years to figure out how to do them all. "Oh, kiiiiiiiiiiii-iiiiiiiidssssss! Can anyone come home to help Mom?"
PRIDE
I'm participating in this year's A-Z challenge, and so will be posting daily about a subject focusing on a letter of the alphabet.
Pride is one of the seven deadly sins, which leads to this conundrum -- if you have pride as a vice, aren't you proud that you have one of the major ones? I mean, if you're going to sin, go big or go home, right?
Now, I'm not urging you to go out and sin -- Heaven forbid!! But I feel like having a little pride is, as Martha Stewart says (and she should know), a "good thing." The key here is little. Having pride in your appearance, your home, your nation -- all these can be admirable if not taken to the extreme. There are always crazies out there who ruin it for the rest of us.
But pride in who you are, how far you've come, what you've overcome, what you've accomplished through hard work and dedication -- these can be the stepping stones to lead you to success. Be proud of yourself! And take pride in your pride.
Pride is one of the seven deadly sins, which leads to this conundrum -- if you have pride as a vice, aren't you proud that you have one of the major ones? I mean, if you're going to sin, go big or go home, right?
Now, I'm not urging you to go out and sin -- Heaven forbid!! But I feel like having a little pride is, as Martha Stewart says (and she should know), a "good thing." The key here is little. Having pride in your appearance, your home, your nation -- all these can be admirable if not taken to the extreme. There are always crazies out there who ruin it for the rest of us.
But pride in who you are, how far you've come, what you've overcome, what you've accomplished through hard work and dedication -- these can be the stepping stones to lead you to success. Be proud of yourself! And take pride in your pride.
NAKED
I'm participating in this year's A-Z challenge, and so will be posting daily about a subject focusing on a letter of the alphabet.
When I started my blog, I pledged to myself that I'd always give you the unvarnished truth. That means sometimes that I have to admit to things that I'd rather not share. If I've had a great race, or had a fun time, or eaten some great meal, or found a product I love, I let you know. But if I completely failed at some effort, or have had something really tragic or horrible happen, I share that too.
That means I often feel like I'm totally exposed. After all, I've never met most of you -- many of us have only Facebook or blogging relationships. I think these friendships are no less sincere than those I have in my "real" life. But still, I often feel I'm putting myself -- my feelings, my soul -- at risk when I'm so transparent. But if I'm not honest, then what's the point of writing down the storeis of my life? I place myself in your hands. I trust. I'll always give you the naked truth.
When I started my blog, I pledged to myself that I'd always give you the unvarnished truth. That means sometimes that I have to admit to things that I'd rather not share. If I've had a great race, or had a fun time, or eaten some great meal, or found a product I love, I let you know. But if I completely failed at some effort, or have had something really tragic or horrible happen, I share that too.
That means I often feel like I'm totally exposed. After all, I've never met most of you -- many of us have only Facebook or blogging relationships. I think these friendships are no less sincere than those I have in my "real" life. But still, I often feel I'm putting myself -- my feelings, my soul -- at risk when I'm so transparent. But if I'm not honest, then what's the point of writing down the storeis of my life? I place myself in your hands. I trust. I'll always give you the naked truth.
MANIFESTO
I'm participating in this year's A-Z challenge, and so will be posting daily about a subject focusing on a letter of the alphabet.
My husband and I are going on vacation to Antigua. We're excited, not only because we've never been there before, but also because we rarely take a break this time of year. We're looking forward to an entirely new experience.
So, my mini-manifesto is simple this week:
To be in the moment.
To enjoy this precious time alone with my husband.
To embrace new adventures.
To simply relax.
We're going to wine and dine and lie by the pool and dig our toes in the sand and listen to the ocean and feel the sun on our faces. We're going to sleep late and take afternoon naps and run on the beach. And best of all, we're going to remember why it is that we still love each other so deeply after all these years.
Here
My husband and I are going on vacation to Antigua. We're excited, not only because we've never been there before, but also because we rarely take a break this time of year. We're looking forward to an entirely new experience.
So, my mini-manifesto is simple this week:
To be in the moment.
To enjoy this precious time alone with my husband.
To embrace new adventures.
To simply relax.
We're going to wine and dine and lie by the pool and dig our toes in the sand and listen to the ocean and feel the sun on our faces. We're going to sleep late and take afternoon naps and run on the beach. And best of all, we're going to remember why it is that we still love each other so deeply after all these years.
The Boston Marathon Murders
Let's not sugarcoat it -- this was an act of the utmost cowardice and malice. We don't know who carried it out and we don't know why 3 people were murdered and over 175 injured. But we do know -- evil will never stop us.
From Boston Marathon: A Loss of Innocence from Runner's World Magazine:
"...Marathon running is a sport of goodwill. It's the only sport in the world where if a competitor falls, the others will pick him or her up. It's the only sport in the world open to absolutely everyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or any other division you can think of. It's the only occasion when thousands of people assemble, often in a major city, for a reason that is totally peaceful, healthy and well-meaning. It's the only sport in the world where no one ever boos anybody. If you're losing your faith in human nature, look at marathon crowds, standing for hours with no seating, no cover, no bathrooms, to cheer thousands of strangers."
Two years ago, I began running for the first time, an overweight, older housewife with no experience, and I was welcomed into the community of runners as one of them. They've given me acceptance, confidence, advice, friendship and much, much more than I could ever give back. I am honored to call myself a runner and be amongst this group of incredible athletes.
We will not let this stop us. Evil will not take away the joy we have for this sport. Evil will not prevail. We are runners. We run. It's what we do.
From Boston Marathon: A Loss of Innocence from Runner's World Magazine:
"...Marathon running is a sport of goodwill. It's the only sport in the world where if a competitor falls, the others will pick him or her up. It's the only sport in the world open to absolutely everyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or any other division you can think of. It's the only occasion when thousands of people assemble, often in a major city, for a reason that is totally peaceful, healthy and well-meaning. It's the only sport in the world where no one ever boos anybody. If you're losing your faith in human nature, look at marathon crowds, standing for hours with no seating, no cover, no bathrooms, to cheer thousands of strangers."
Two years ago, I began running for the first time, an overweight, older housewife with no experience, and I was welcomed into the community of runners as one of them. They've given me acceptance, confidence, advice, friendship and much, much more than I could ever give back. I am honored to call myself a runner and be amongst this group of incredible athletes.
We will not let this stop us. Evil will not take away the joy we have for this sport. Evil will not prevail. We are runners. We run. It's what we do.
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