Does This Blog Make Me Look Fat?

Change Is Good

2010-01-04T01:30:00.002-07:00

New year. New home. Please come visit .

Life Is A Road Trip

Chamber of Commerce Weather

2010-01-03T05:43:00.001-07:00

It is almost impossible to remember how tragic a place

this world is when one is playing golf.

~Robert Lynd

Yesterday we had lunch on the patio at the

Raven Country Club overlooking the 18th green.

How's your weather?

I Don't Know Where This Is

2010-01-02T05:25:00.001-07:00

But in my next life I'm getting married here.

(picture this)

If The Phone Doesn't Ring, It's You

2010-01-01T05:15:00.005-07:00

(Please don't call me today; but if you forget, please whisper.)

(picture this)

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T05:21:00.000-07:00

I made some resolutions.

Body Surfing

2009-12-30T05:27:00.000-07:00

(picture this)

My Tummy Is Growling

2009-12-29T05:17:00.000-07:00

I wonder why I suddenly feel hungry?

Hummingbird Haiku

2009-12-28T04:30:00.008-07:00

Hummingbirds in flight
Practicing bold maneuvers
Under winter sun

(picture taken by me, Haiku written by me
12/27/09)

I Want To Wake Up. Here.

2009-12-27T05:03:00.001-07:00

I think I might not dislike mornings quite so much if this was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes....

(picture this)

Christmas Is Over

2009-12-26T05:51:00.017-07:00

Christmas is over, and I'm sorta sad. I really enjoyed Christmas this year, but it seemed like it came and went so fast. I guess maybe because this is the first Christmas in several years that I've worked outside the home, and I worked so many hours it seemed like there wasn't very much time to enjoy it.

To those of you who have taken the time to read my blog this year, I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. Thanks for going along on the ride with me this year. Next year will bring lots of new adventures for us!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

From our home to yours... may the blessings of the day surround you.

Merry Christmas From Avondale, AZ

2009-12-24T04:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday night Bill and I drove around to look at the Christmas lights. The Sage Creek HOA is having a Christmas decorating contest this year. Some homeowners took the competition very seriously. We didn’t see them all, but we think we picked the winner (at least in our own minds). These three pictures are actually shots of the same house, starting from left to right.

Here are a few more pictures from houses around the neighborhood.

View Full Album

Pretty

2009-12-23T04:08:00.000-07:00

I hope wherever you are today the lights are shining.

picture this

Merry Christmas From Sudbury, MA

2009-12-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

via Sudbury Daily Photo

Where The Wild Things Are

2009-12-22T03:52:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went to the grocery store. It was a zoo! Literally.

Merry Christmas From Munich, Germany

2009-12-21T03:50:00.000-07:00

via olli in munich photoblog

Merry Christmas From Yet Another Venice

2009-12-20T17:45:00.001-07:00

This Venice is one I've come to know and love, Venice CA. These pictures

I found on Flickr were taken on the canals. If you ever get the chance to go, don't pass up the chance to take a leisurely, beautiful walk along them.

Merry Christmas From The Other Venice

2009-12-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

Via my feaured photo blog this month,

Venice Daily Photo

Merry Christmas From Venice, FL

2009-12-20T04:34:00.002-07:00

via Venice Florida Daily Photo Blog

Pupcakes

2009-12-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

Just a recipe I wanted to share with you this Holiday season.

(picture this)

Merry Christmas From Bucharest, Romania

2009-12-18T03:47:00.000-07:00

via Bucharest Daily Photo

The Naked Truth

2009-12-17T04:16:00.002-07:00

I know I've been a little lax lately in my posting - taking the easy way out posting other people's photos. I've just been so busy, and the 50 hour work week doesn't give me much time to sit down and be creative.

Take yesterday, for instance. Do you ever have those days where your real world and dream world collide? And have you ever had one of those dreams where you are in a group of people and you find out you're in your underwear or, worse yet, no clothes at all? Usually you're the only one who notices in the dream.

Yesterday I was walking to the cafeteria for lunch and I kept feeling like I was having one of those dreams! I even had to keep looking down to make sure I had my pants on. Seriously, it was the most surreal feeling I ever had.

Oh, well - only two more days until the weekend!

Merry Christmas From Brooklyn, NY

2009-12-16T03:45:00.001-07:00

via New York Daily Photo

Merry Christmas From Sydney, Australia

2009-12-15T05:09:00.002-07:00

via Sydney Meanderings

Your Inbox Is Full

2009-12-14T05:06:00.000-07:00

I want this person's job.

picture this

Merry Christmas From Chicago

2009-12-13T03:43:00.000-07:00

Sears Tower and 311 S Wacker

via Daily Chicago Photo

Friendship

2009-12-12T06:18:00.000-07:00

And sometimes you get both which is kind of like winning the lottery.

Dear 16 Year Old Me

2009-12-11T05:08:00.002-07:00

A few weeks ago my friend Cathi in her thought provoking blog posted about another thought provoking blog. I started thinking: what would I say to my 16 year old self?

I could have written several paragraphs trying to say something simple (which is what I tend to do). But then I saw this, and realized it summed up what I was thinking perfectly.

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

2009-12-10T05:04:00.000-07:00

I’ve been meaning to go around the neighborhood and take pictures of the Christmas decorations. The HOA is having a contest this year. I managed to get a handful Sunday night. Hopefully next weekend I can get more.

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My Favorite Things - Trapp Candles

2009-12-09T04:31:00.000-07:00

I used to work for a candle manufacturer so I like to think I know a little bit about candles. Trapp Candles are my absolute favorite candles! (No, I didn't work for them but, boy, do I wish I did!) My sister in law turned me onto them a few years back when she owned a flower shop. The old adage "you get what you pay for" certainly rings true where candles are concerned. Trapp candles burn long and smell wonderful and smoke very little!

My personal favorites are: Bamboo Sugar Cane, Orange Vanilla, and Sexy Cinnamon but with so many different fragrances to choose from I bet you can find at least one you like!

Children Playing in the Snow

2009-12-08T04:17:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Nancy and I went to the Goodyear Ballpark where they had trucked in 40 tons of snow. It was fun watching the little kids playing in the snow. I bet some of them had never seen it before. Nancy posted her pictures on her blog. You can view them here.

View Full Album

Also, Nancy and I have started a daily photoblog. If you are interested in viewing it click here.

A Day That Will Live In Infamy

2009-12-07T05:08:00.001-07:00

The Wigwam Resort & Spa in Litchfield Park is going to be auctioned by a bankruptcy court today. The Wigwam is the crown jewel of the West Valley, ugly step sister to the East Valley and its many 5 star resorts.

Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. executive Paul Litchfield opened the Wigwam in 1918 as an executive retreat for the company, which relied on cotton grown in nearby fields. The 24-room resort opened to the public on Thanksgiving Day 1929. At the time, guests would receive their room key and a horse for transportation.

We were over there one Friday night a couple of weeks ago. The bar was pretty empty except for a few locals. The Wigwam is decked out it in its best Christmas outfit, but looks sadly like a place that’s all dressed up with no place to go.

View Full Album

New Featured Photoblog - Venice, Italy

2009-12-06T14:53:00.000-07:00

Ah! Another one of my favorite cities, most definitely on my bucket list, is Venice, Italy. It will be replacing the Daily Photo in Paris this month as the featured photoblog in the upper right corner of the sidebar. You can still follow the beautiful Paris photos by clicking on the link under "Their Eyes".

Some Steps I'd Like To Climb

2009-12-06T06:23:00.001-07:00

It's Saturday!

2009-12-05T06:33:00.003-07:00

I'm sleepin' in!

Picture This

Daily Photo - Singapore

2009-12-04T05:30:00.003-07:00

From Singapore Daily Photo

Another Favorite Book

2009-12-03T04:35:00.000-07:00

I first learned about James Thurber's The Last Flower: A Parable In Pictures back in 1972 while watching the movie "The War Between Men and Women". A few years ago a friend of mine found a first edition copy of the book that I have coveted ever since.

The entire story, along with the drawings, is also available online.

"I can live for two months on a good compliment."

2009-12-02T05:03:00.002-07:00

It's always good to get a smiley face after having your can inspected.

December's Here

2009-12-01T04:43:00.001-07:00

Bring on the snow!

picture this

Monday Morning Music - HOPE

2009-11-30T04:57:00.001-07:00

You don't always have to hold your head higher than your heart.

Sunday Daily Photo – Milwaukee, WI

2009-11-29T05:25:00.000-07:00

My mass readership has spoken – all 3 of you! :-) You’ve told me that you would like to see a city or small town in a warm or cold climate either here in the U.S. or another country between now and Christmas.

Today’s picture comes from Milwaukee Daily Photo. In Milwaukee, beer is King and MillerCoors puts on a holiday light show every year.

Fountain

2009-11-28T05:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my cousin Nancy and I went to take some pictures at the pond in Litchfield Park. We got there kind of late, and the haze brought dark quickly as the sun set. Since it was too dark to take pictures of anything else, we ended up playing with shutter speed as we took pictures of the fountain.

I Knew A Man

2009-11-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

I knew a man named Charles. I didn't know him well. Whenever our friends, Chris and Laurie, would have parties Charles was always there. He was kind, soft spoken, and loved music. He gave music lessons, and I can remember him sitting down at the piano and playing "Rhapsody in Blue" one night after telling him how much I loved Gershwin.

When I first met him we were all just kids. Chris and Laurie weren't even married yet. He was a groomsman at their wedding and even composed a trumpet piece for them. Of all the people we didn't know well at parties, Charles was always the one I most felt comfortable sitting down and talking with. Bill recognized him being interviewed on the news a few months back after witnessing a robbery.

And that was the last time we saw Charles.

This morning as Bill was checking a rarely used email account he found an old email from Chris telling us that Charles had been killed in an auto accident on November 12th. Naturally at first this made me very sad. Even though we hadn't seen Charles in several years, Bill and I always had a special place in our hearts for him.

I was also reminded of how short our time here really is no matter how it ends. I never dreamed as I spoke with Charles several years ago that he would die young and in a most tragic way; never knew when I was 16 years old traveling cross country with my older sister that she would be gone before she was 60, about 20 years after my Dad had died from the same illness.

When you're young you don't think about things like that. As you grow older it seems you are reminded of them all the time. I'm sure you all have your own stories to tell, but the thing to learn from it is this: Never forget to tell your friends how much you appreciate their friendship. Always tell your family how much you love them. When looking at your own life and the challenges you face remember to live like there is no tomorrow - because there may not be.

One more thought before I go: Sometimes when you don't even know it you touch people. Sometimes they are people you know. Other times they aren't. Make sure they remember you the way you would want them to remember you.

'Tis The Season

2009-11-27T03:37:00.004-07:00

Photo by my friend Vicky, circa 2002)

It's time for holiday movies starting with my favorite Thanksgiving flick, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" featuring my friend Kelly's Dad, Bill Erwin. I have a feeling I'll be seeing him again before the season is over. Hmm....

Thanksgiving Photo from Brookville, Ohio

2009-11-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

Today's Thanksgiving Day picture comes to you from Brookville Daily Photo. You can follow Abraham's blog by clicking the link on the right under "Their Eyes".

Brookville Daily Photo has become one of my favorite photoblogs . This is Abraham's photo of a magnificent old bird. You may have had him or one of his relatives over for dinner. :-)

I hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving day!

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photo via here

Birds. Lots of birds.

2009-11-25T04:48:00.002-07:00

A flock of about 300,000 starlings over Denmark at sunset.

I know my cousin is gonna love this.

I Got Nothin' To Say

2009-11-24T04:39:00.003-07:00

Cute Overload

I'm Posting This Picture Because It's Pretty

2009-11-23T04:04:00.004-07:00

Photo via imgfav

There's something about the colors that I like, and the contrast between the stormy sky and all the beautiful red poppies and the green tree.

You Decide

2009-11-22T06:44:00.001-07:00

Which kind of city would you like to see featured in a photoblog during the month of December? Do you want to see, for instance, a cold weather city like New York decked out in all its Christmas splendor or maybe someplace warm to remind you that Winter is just a season and the cold weather will eventually make way for Spring? Maybe you would like to see how a city in another country celebrates Christmas?

Image via Flickr

Rough Week

2009-11-21T06:02:00.004-07:00

Thank God for weekends.

PSST!

2009-11-20T04:31:00.000-07:00

It's Friday!
Enjoy your weekend, and don't forget to smile!

I think I'll spend the weekend evenings sitting by the chimenea with a glass of wine....what will you be doing?

I Want To Do. This. Too.

2009-11-19T04:31:00.001-07:00

Preferably here.

I Love Balloons!

2009-11-18T04:46:00.000-07:00

I love small balloons

I love BIG balloons

I love funny balloons

I love not-so-funny balloons

For my 40th birthday (where has the time gone?), Dave and Terry filled my entire office with black balloons. They were piled from the floor to the ceiling and from wall to wall. When I walked into the office that morning I couldn't get to my desk without popping balloons!

I LOVE BALLOONS!!!

"You can have no dominion greater or less than that over yourself."

2009-11-17T05:01:00.001-07:00

A little kingdom I possess, where thoughts and feelings dwell;

And very hard the task I find of governing it well.

- Louisa May Alcott

Pictures. We've Got Pictures.

2009-11-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

I've recently been traveling the world through photoblogs. It's an incredibly awesome (and fuel efficient) way to travel the world, see the sights, and learn about the culture. I've decide to feature daily photoblogs here from a different city each month. If you click on the link located on the upper far right in the sidebar, you will be taken to the latest picture. This month I'm starting with Paris and the Daily Photo in Paris photoblog.

If you have a favorite daily photoblog or a city you'd like to see featured, just drop me a comment.

Au revoir!

Just Do It

2009-11-16T05:16:00.001-07:00

Please remember to get your mammograms, colonoscopies, etc and your yearly check ups. Your loved ones are counting on you for this.

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

2009-11-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

66 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. This is why I suffer through the 110 degree summers. Sluggo is still here guarding his feeder. I wonder if he's decided to hang out for the winter?

Sunday

2009-11-15T06:31:00.001-07:00

How you doin'?

I Want To Sit. Here.

2009-11-14T04:30:00.000-07:00

Doesn't this look cozy and comfy?

It's Friday!

2009-11-13T04:57:00.002-07:00

YIPPEE!

Have a good weekend!

Secrets

2009-11-12T04:09:00.000-07:00

Via imgfav

I do think sometimes we look at people and never look past their faces and into their hearts.

Persistence

2009-11-11T04:51:00.001-07:00

SEOUL, South Korea (Nov. 7) -- A woman in South Korea who tried to pass the written exam for a driver's license with near-daily attempts since April 2005 has finally succeeded on her 950th time. The aspiring driver spent more than $4,200 in application fees, but until now had failed to score the minimum 60 out of a possible 100 points needed to get behind the wheel for a driving test.

Cha Sa-soon, 68, finally passed the written exam with a score of 60 on Wednesday, said Choi Young-chul, a police official at the drivers' license agency in Jeonju, 130 miles south of Seoul.

Police said Cha took the test hundreds of times, but had no specific total. Local media said she took the test 950 times.

Now she must pass a driving test before getting her license, Choi said.

Repeated calls to Cha seeking comment went unanswered. She told the Korea Times newspaper she needed the license for her vegetable-selling business.

(Okay, who wants to go for a ride with Ms Sa-soon?)

I Want To Look Outside. At This.

2009-11-10T05:09:00.000-07:00

Have a beautiful day!

imgfav

Carnage

2009-11-09T04:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when Bill and I stepped outside for our morning walk we found this on our lawn.

Nice, huh? It looked too symmetrical for a cat, but then we saw a hawk gliding around the neighborhood. I guess we had interrupted his breakfast. Of course I didn’t have my camera with me then. When we turned the corner on the way back home he was sitting in the yard finishing up, but this time when he flew away he flew away for good; and I was left to take only pictures of the carnage he had created. Figures.

Well, anyway, enjoy your breakfast!

Sunshine Song

2009-11-08T04:23:00.015-07:00

Have a blessed Sunday!

(The actual song starts at about 1:35 )

Well...
Sometimes the sun shines on other peoples houses and not mine
Somedays the clouds paint the sky all gray and it takes away my summer time
and somehow the sun keeps shinin' upon you while i struggle to get by
if theres a light in everybody, send out your ray of sunshine

i want to walk the same roads as everybody else
through the trees and past the gates
getting high on heavenly breezes and making new friends along the way
i wont ask much of nobody i'm just here to sing along
and make my mistakes look gracious
and learn some lessons from my wrongs

But sometimes the sun shines on other peoples houses and not mine
Somedays the clouds paint the sky all gray and it takes away my summer time
and somehow the sun keeps shinin' upon you while i struggle to get by
a little light never hurt nobody, send out your ray of sunshine

Ohh if this little light of mine combined with yours today
how many watts could we 'luminate
how many villages could we save
well my umbrella is tired of the weather wearing me down
well look at me now...

you should look as good as your outlook would you mind if i took some time
to soak up your light, your beautiful light, you've got a paradise inside
i get hungry for love and thirsty for life
been much too full on the pain
when i look to the sky to help me and sometimes it looks like rain

As the sun shines on other peoples houses and not mine
And the sky paints those clouds in a way that it takes away the summer time
and somehow the sun keeps shinin' upon you while i kindly stand by
if there's a light in everybody, send out your ray of sunshine

You're undeniably warm, you're cerulean
you're perfect in design, won't you hang around
so the sun it can shine on me
and the clouds, they can roll away
and the sky can become our possibility
if theres a light in everybody
send out your ray of sunshine

Fear

2009-11-07T04:39:00.001-07:00

imgfav

What do you fear most?

picture credits

Mine is the fear of failure.

Cute Overload

Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.
William Shakespeare

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one.
Elbert Hubbard

TGIF!!!

2009-11-06T05:08:00.003-07:00

And I really mean that!

picture credit

I had a little victory at work yesterday. The first of many, I hope!

In France They Kiss On Main Street

2009-11-05T04:48:00.003-07:00

Everyone who knows me can tell you that I'm no romantic, but I haven't been able to get this Joni Mitchell song out of my head for the past two days. I've never really had a desire to go to Paris or France, but I would love to see the Eiffel Tower, and I've always thought it would be kind of nice to kiss the one you love in front of it.

Maybe I'll just settle for doing it here next time we go, but one of you guys is going to have to come along to take the picture. :-)

And just for good measure, I'll share my earworm with you....

I Want To Eat. Here.

2009-11-04T05:20:00.000-07:00

Now this is what I call eating out!

This picture includes several of my favorite things including ambiance, a body of water, and champagne! I think I could eat here every evening and never get bored with the place.

Loss

2009-11-03T04:23:00.001-07:00

picture credit

Places I’ve Been – Sedona Part IV (Finale, yay!)

2009-11-02T03:00:00.003-07:00

One thing I can’t talk about much of Sedona is places to eat although I know there are plenty of good restaurants. It’s never a priority for us once we get there. We’ll take a picnic lunch and eat at Crescent Moon Ranch or bring along some trail mix and snacks to eat while we hike. This time, though, we did a lot of hiking right through lunch and decided to get something to eat before we went up to Airport Mesa to watch the sun set.

Kathy had seen a place called “The Barking Frog” as we were headed out to Fay Canyon and thought that maybe we should try that, but as we headed back into town we forgot where it was until we had passed it. I decided to go to the one place I had eaten before that I never forgot, The Red Planet Diner. I knew the burgers and the milkshakes there are good, the service is mediocre, the decor is both unique and a little bit tacky – just the kind of place I like. Like most restaurants in Sedona they have big windows that provide views of the marvelous red rocks. They also have a “Vortini” menu to fit the theme along with things like the “Roswell Burger” to eat.

When we got there Gustavo greeted us and took us to one side of the restaurant, presumably to show us where we couldn't eat because someone was coming to fix the sink and it might be too loud, then took us back to door where we had entered and asked us where we'd like to sit. We soon learned he was both our host and waiter. In fact he seemed to be the only one there besides the guests at two other tables until the plumbers showed up. It was 3:30 in the afternoon so maybe that was why it wasn’t too crowded. Kathy had the turkey wrap. I had a hot pastrami sandwich. We weren’t too rushed because we had plenty of time to get to Airport Mesa. Kathy took some pictures of the place while I munched on my fries because that’s the kind of place it is. I found a little virtual tour on YouTube which I think will give you an idea of what I’ve been trying to describe.

Here are my cousin’s Red Planet Diner photos

View Full Album

After eating we stopped at a little crystal shop but didn't find anything we liked there so decided to head on up to Airport Mesa even though the sun wouldn't be setting for another hour or so. I had never been there either, and I didn’t realize it was at the top of a winding steep two lane road that takes you high above the city. This would have been good to know before hand (or maybe not) since I’m afraid of heights. The elevation change is about 200 ft. That may not seem like much, but as we ascended and the ground disappeared off the shoulderless road to my right I could feel my grip getting tighter on the steering wheel. Eventually we came to the parking lot (relief!), and tourists had already started gathering with their cameras to photograph the panoramic view of Red Rock country. Some people brought bottles of wine and snacks. This was a little disconcerting to me as I recalled the twisting narrow road back to the bottom.

Just past the parking lot was Sky Ranch Lodge. We had made reservations here once and planned to stay the night so we could take pictures of both sunrise and sunset, but then my cousin had to schedule back surgery and we had to cancel our trip. After discovering its location, I have to admit I was a little relieved. I don’t know if my heart could have handled making that trip up the hill everyday. I had no idea it was so close to Airport Mesa and so high in the sky.

The only problem was that it had become very overcast by now. Chances looked good that the sun would stay hidden, but by now you know us well enough to know that didn’t stop us from taking pictures anyway. We set up our tripods and snapped away, taking pictures of Chimney Rock, Thunder Mountain (a.k.a. Capitol Butte), and Coffee Pot Rock. I’m sure we were hoping to get that one unforgettable photo. My cousin, the sky person, may have because she has an eye for it, but I just took picture after picture hoping one of them would look halfway decent and not be washed out by the gray sky. When we finally decided the sun was going to set behind the clouds, we made our way back down the hill which wasn't so bad because I was on the inside lane close to the mountain.

This, as many other things I saw today, was a good reminder for me of who really owns this planet. There would be another sunset and someday we’d be here to take a picture of it. In between now and then, many others would be witness to this breathtaking awesomeness that is nature. It had been a perfect day even if the weather hadn’t cooperated in the end. Driving back home we saw some amazing sky as we got farther South, but there was never a place to pull over and take a picture. Eventually it was gone, and Sedona was in the rearview mirror fading fast from view behind us. I was going to try and remember it and make the memories last. Until next time.

View Full Album

It's Still The Weekend!

2009-11-01T15:32:00.001-07:00

Things You Should Know About Me:

I am NOT a morning person. In fact, among family and friends I am notorious for it, and it's joked about often.
I haven't worked in over a year and haven't worked outside the home in over 3 years.

Things You Should Know About My New Job:

I start at 7 AM. The round trip commute is two hours. That means I have to get up at 4:30 AM.
The days are 10 hour days; the weekly hours anywhere between 40 and 50.

These are the two things I have struggled with the most this first week. It's not a permanent job, and the money is good so I am trying really hard to pull this together. So far on work days I have been able to do nothing much but work, come home and try to stay awake until bed time which is between 9 and 9:30.

This is how I feel at the end of a workday.

image via Cute Overload

I am so enjoying this first weekend of doing the things I love to do like sleeping until after the sun comes up, blogging, catching up on my favorite blogs and sitting around in the morning drinking coffee and waking up slowly.

I hope you're having a blessed Sunday!

Halloween Is Over

2009-11-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

Santa is getting busy.

Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

And the Easter Bunny is already stressing out.

imgfav

Say Hello To November!

2009-11-01T04:12:00.002-07:00

November is a month I love ...

and a month that turkeys absolutely hate!

Yes, Even Pets Dress Up For Halloween

2009-10-31T13:29:00.003-07:00

image via Cute Overload

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T00:09:00.004-07:00

To all you Ghouls and Goblins out there, I hope you have the spookiest Halloween ever!

sunset.com

The Little Prince

2009-10-30T04:47:00.012-07:00

"Here is my secret. It is very simple: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

Picture via imgfav

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I don't think I got around to reading it until I was in high school, but I like to pick it up and read it again now and then.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

All grown-ups were children first. (But few remember it).

Grown-ups like numbers. When you tell them about a new friend, they never ask questions about what really matters. They never ask: "What does his voice sound like?" "What games does he like best?" "Does he collect butterflies?". They ask: "How old is he?" "How many brothers does he have?" "How much does he weigh?" "How much money does his father make?" Only then do they think they know him.

If you tell grown-ups, "I saw a beautiful red brick house, with geraniums at the windows and doves on the roof...," they won't be able to imagine such a house. You have to tell them, "I saw a house worth a hundred thousand francs." Then they exclaim, "What a pretty house!"

"That is the hardest thing of all. It is much harder to judge yourself than to judge others. If you succeed in judging yourself, it's because you're truly a wise man."

"Language is the source of misunderstandings."

"What makes the desert beautiful," says the little prince, "is that somewhere it hides a well."

"Men have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."

I Want To Do. This.

2009-10-29T05:15:00.003-07:00

Those of you who know me know that I am a shutterbug. I don’t call myself an “amateur photographer”. That would be taking myself too seriously. Shutterbugs take pictures. Photographers create art. I aspire to be an amateur photographer, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get there. You might also know that I love water. I love streams, creeks, lakes, oceans. If there’s water in it, I love it; and if the water is moving I love it even more.

The other day I learned for the first time about Clark Little, a photographer who takes amazing pictures of ocean waves along the North Shore, but he doesn’t stand on the beach and take your typical ocean pictures. Take a look.

This is crazy good stuff because it combines two of my passions, photography and water. I doubt he’ll be bringing his show to the desert, but I can’t wait to buy the book! More amazing pictures like those below can be seen on his website gallery.

I no longer want to be an amateur photographer when I grow up – I want to be Clark Little!

Hi Ho Hi Ho

2009-10-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

Here I am on my first day of the new job. It's been about 3 years since I had to wear real clothes.

I Want To Go. There.

2009-10-28T05:01:00.004-07:00

Picture credit

This is so beautiful the picture speaks for itself.
What?
Okay, I'll shut up now.

Back To Work

2009-10-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow afternoon I start my new job. I'm a little overwhelmed, and I haven't even started! I'm going to try and keep blogging so please don't abandon me! I may miss a day here and there. It may be harder at first while I'm trying to learn my new duties and get back into the swing of going to work. What do I think will be the biggest adjustment for me? Getting up around 4 AM!

Be Silly

2009-10-27T05:02:00.001-07:00

I think that sometimes it’s good for us to wear a silly hat.

Don’t you?

Okay, and maybe some funny shoes...

Photos via Cute Overload

Pretty Picture

2009-10-26T13:06:00.001-07:00

Image via imgfav

Color Outside The Lines

2009-10-26T06:00:00.002-07:00

Color your world happy today, and remember that your friends don’t care if you go outside the lines!

Photo via here

Places I’ve Been – Sedona Part III

2009-10-25T04:57:00.002-07:00

I made a mistake. I should have finished writing about my Sedona trip before my cousin left. I feel kind of “blah” now that she’s gone, and I forgot how quickly memories fade as you get older! A dear friend of mine, Cathi, would be telling me to be thankful for the time we had together, the trip we made and the wonderful things we got to see and share together. Cathi is a very special person who inspires me every day so I’m going to channel her as I write this.

When we left Fay Canyon, it was about 1:30 in the afternoon. We planned on driving up to Airport Mesa to take pictures of the sunset, and since we had time to kill we decided to stop by our favorite spot. Red Rock State Park, Crescent Moon Ranch, Red Rock Crossing – they are all basically in the same geographical area. We spent an entire day there last time we visited Sedona. The trail is an easy, magical stroll along the shores of Oak Creek. The longer I’ve lived in the desert, the more fascinated I’ve become with water. I love everything about it: the fresh smell, the sound as it trickles over rocks, the way the sunlight glistens off it. Whether it’s the gentle motion of a stream or the powerful rush of ocean waves, I immediately become its hostage.

We made the drive a little further west and took the Upper Red Rock Loop past Sedona High School. I can’t imagine going to school in such a beautiful place! I think I’d have a hard time concentrating and be caught gazing out the windows all the time. The short drive to the park along the winding road provides some breathtaking views of the surrounding rocks, but there aren’t many places to pull over for photos. When you get to the park, the entrance fee is $8.00 but well worth it. There are picnic tables and restrooms – luxuries many hiking areas don’t have. I’m not sure of the direction there, but as you face the creek you can go left on a trail that runs close to the water and towards Cathedral Rock or follow the trail on the right along the creek to one of the most photographed places in Arizona, Red Rock Crossing. The last time we visited here, we went a little ways in both directions. I’m beginning to think we’re a couple of quitters as I recount how many times we don’t finish a trail when we start it. In reality, there is just so much to do and see that we try to fit as much in as we can. Someday we are going to have to either just concentrate on one thing or spend more than a day in the area. And maybe shop.

We were directed to the end of the parking lot at the picnic area. I think it was the last open spot. As soon as you step out of your vehicle you are facing one of the most beautiful photo opportunities you’ll ever see as Cathedral Rock looms in the distance framed by giant oak trees. There used to be an apple orchard here in the early 1900’s, and the water wheel that was used to bring the irrigated water to the apples has been restored. We debated which way to go because we knew we wouldn’t be able to spend more than a couple of hours there. We hadn’t eaten all day so we wanted to grab some lunch before we went to Airport Mesa. We decided to hike toward Cathedral Rock and explore more of the trail than we did last time.

We played along the creek like we did last time. You can wander along the other side if you want to try and tightrope walk across some of the logs that span the creek, but we weren’t feeling that adventurous today. Last time we did that, and it was about 7 months after my cousin’s back surgery. We considered it a small triumph then. We hung out along the flat rocks where we had seen someone performing a healing ritual last time. This is where we stopped before and turned around to hike the other way to Red Rock Crossing. There’s another favorite spot of mine here where you can sit on the rocks and look downstream at a few mild rapids rushing towards you, all against the backdrop of Cathedral Rock.

Cathedral Rock, like Bell Rock, is one of the four main energy vortexes in Sedona. It is said that the energy vortex here strengthens the feminine side. The Feminine Side can be viewed as being on a scale that has goodness at the high end, and the opposite, which is badness or evil, at the low end. In contrast to the masculine side, which strengthens the ability to stand up for your own rights, the feminine side strengthens the ability to allow others their rights and not interfere with those rights. The energy at this vortex strengthens the things you normally think of as feminine, such as kindness, compassion, patience, and the ability to let others need you and depend on you. And it strengthens the ability to anticipate the impact of your actions before you act, which is what considerateness is all about.* Bell Rock, where we visited earlier in the day, is said to strengthen all three sides: the Masculine, Feminine and Balance.

Shortly we came upon Buddha Beach. Here the trail changes to a sandy beach along the creek and there are hundreds – maybe even thousands - of stones stacked in a zen-like fashion. It is said the energy from the vortex is so strong that it keeps the stacks from falling over. Kathy made a little stack for us along the creek, across from the mass of cairns on the other side of the trail.
We asked some returning hikers if the trail crossed the creek anywhere here. They told us we had pretty much reached the end so we turned around to head back to the car. We’d walked a lot today. Our feet were hurting, and we were hungry…

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* http://www.lovesedona.com/01.htm

Hug Someone Today

2009-10-24T04:43:00.006-07:00

As a dear friend of mine says, “Hold your loved ones close.” You can hold them close in your thoughts even if they’re far away, and let them know how much you love them.

If you're reading this then chances are I'm thinking about YOU!

And We're Back

2009-10-23T13:58:00.001-07:00

By that I mean that I just found out I will no longer be a member of the ranks of unemployed as of next week. So...when you see those jobless numbers take a BIG dip next Friday you'll know why. :-) No more stress of waking up at 7 AM and wondering what to do that day, what to wear, what to fix for dinner. Do I take my shower before noon or after? Make the coffee before my morning walk or when I get back?

Yep, nothing to complain about EVER again.

With A Little Luck

2009-10-23T04:32:00.006-07:00

Photo via here

I used to work with a couple of really great guys named Terry and Dave. I worked in the office of a manufacturing company. They were the owners of the manufacturing company. Notice I said I worked with them not for them because that's how they made you feel. They were never arrogant, always a lot of fun and never treated anyone from the lowest on the totem pole on up as if they were any different. I learned a lot from them about working with people and making what you do be what you loved . Terry and Dave started out as production and shipping managers and worked their way up until they owned the company one day. In the corner of their office sat a golf club. It was left there by the previous owner so Terry and Dave kept it there for good luck as they prospered and the company continued to grow and achieve success under their leadership.

Last summer when I went home to visit family, I was given a penny. I put it in my shoe for luck. Once I returned home, I told Rena, who had given me the penny, that life was so good I was going to keep it in my shoe. It's still in there.

You're probably wondering what my point is by now and I think this is it: Eventually, the manufacturing company went out of business. Lack of sales and increased competition forced them to close their doors. Friday, I got a job after a year of being unemployed and then lost it in a matter of minutes. I read a quote the other day that went like this: "The future is not what is coming at us, but what we are headed for."

Luck will come and luck will go. It may be bad or it may be good. There are thousands of stories about people who have squandered good fortune and equally as many stories about people who have been able to rise above misfortune. It's not that good or bad luck comes your way (because it always will), but what you do with it.

Oh, BAYBEE!

2009-10-22T13:34:00.015-07:00

Yesterday I had to find a baby shower gift for one of my husband's co-workers. I always knew the time would come when God would make me regret not having children. I was as lost in Babies 'R Us as Calista Flockhart is lost in Ralph's Supermarket. To make matters worse, NOTHING was in the aisle the Baby Registry indicated it should be. Before you all get snarky on me and start whispering behind my back, I want you to know that I verified this with one of the store employees who had to call the assistant manager to help me find several of the things on the list.

Such a cruel joke to play on a childless person. All I can say is, thank God there was a liquor store next door.

Not Your (Everyday) Stepping Stone

2009-10-22T04:20:00.006-07:00

The house across the street from me is empty. Last March, two weeks after we moved into our house, the owner left and no one has been by it unless they are leaving flyers or business cards on the door. It’s a nice house on a big corner lot with a pool and built in barbecue in the back. The other day I went over there to clean up the trash that had accumulated in the front yard and found these stepping stones. Aren’t they adorable?

Unfortunately, someone had smashed one of each of the pair so naturally I rescued the remaining two and brought them home. I’m not sure who made up rules like “your shoes have to match” or “people with two left feet can’t dance”, but I would like to find matching pieces. I’ve looked online and found something similar but nothing like these.

But then I thought...I don't really have any place to put 4 of these anyway, so I put them in the most logical place I could think of where I had room for exactly two...the flower bed!

Just Wondering

2009-10-21T15:39:00.001-07:00

Do you think it's okay to get excited about buying something new for yourself even if it's just a couple of bras and a blood pressure monitor?

“the list”

2009-10-21T04:48:00.001-07:00

My friend Ginny from Birmingham, AL posted this photo on her Facebook page. It was so cute I asked her if she would mind if I shared it with those of you who read my blog. Her grandchildren, 7 year old Luke and 4 1/2 year old Lily were spending the night with her. This is the list that Luke wrote before they left to do a little shopping at Wal-Mart. Make sure you click on it so you can read the whole thing!

One Of Those Days

2009-10-20T15:45:00.002-07:00

Some days seem like they will never end. Everything is difficult, and you feel like you're trying to wade upstream. (We all have them, right?)

Today was not one of those days. (YIPPEE!)

Today was one of those days where just having a new head on the electric toothbrush can make me do the Happy Dance!

("I did all the work. Your teeth are nice and pretty now SMILE, dammit!")

HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

Places I’ve Been – Sedona (Part II)

2009-10-20T03:14:00.002-07:00

There is no “Y” at the junction of Highway 179 and Highway 89A anymore. They changed it to a traffic circle, and if you think it’s less congested or any easier to navigate now you’d be wrong. Going north on 89A takes you to Flagstaff. South will take you west of town to red rock canyons and some of the most amazing scenery you will ever see in your life. Our destination was Fay Canyon, another new stop for us. I picked it out because it was listed in the book Best Easy Day Hikes by Brian Grubbs. Mostly I picked it because it was somewhere I had never gone and contained the two magic words - “Best” and “Easy”.

To get to Fay Canyon you turn right on Dry Creek Road and then left on Boynton Canyon Road. The road will come to a “T” and you take another left. If you go right there then you’ll end up at the more popular Boynton Canyon which, like Bell Rock, is considered one of the Energy Vortexes surrounding Sedona. I best remember Boynton Canyon as the place where my Mom lost her footing and slid down a short embankment on her tush about 20 years ago. The video camera recorded it all, along with me laughing hysterically as she slid. I don’t know where that video is now because it belonged to my sister and after she passed away I don’t know what happened to it, but every time we watched it we still laughed – mostly at the fact that we were all laughing in the first place as Mother slid down the hill on her bum.. She was okay, of course, or it wouldn’t still be so funny today.

We followed a Pink Jeep to the trail head. If you ever get to Sedona and have the time to take a Pink Jeep tour I highly recommend it. They have different routes, and some of them will take you to places you'd never be able to hike to if you're city girls like us. I remember when my Mom and Step Dad took theirs. They came back with smiles as wide as the Grand Canyon and red dirt all over their faces. Kathy and I took one a few years back, and I'd love to do it again if we ever get the time.

It was starting to get a little overcast when we got there, and you could hear the wind whistling through the canyons. It almost sounded like a pack of sprites singing some mystical ancient song. At the parking lot, it was pretty cool so we decided to put on our sweatshirts. The trail head is across the street, and once we started walking the sun peeped out from behind the clouds. Since the canyon walls protected us from the chilly wind we felt in the parking lot, we once again decide that we didn’t need the extra layer of clothing.

This trail was obviously less traveled than the one we’d just taken at Bell Rock, but we still met a few hikers coming out as we made our way in. Up the trail a ways and to your right there is a natural arch in the canyon wall which is hard to see if you don’t know that you’re looking for it. The path up to it is steep and not very well marked. We were pretty sure we found it, but not adventurous enough to explore. Besides, I had spent the day planting flowers the day before, and my muscles were already aching from that. We followed the trail a little further and spotted the arch high up on the canyon wall and were pretty glad we hadn’t tried to get there. If you don’t do that kind of hiking every day your body reminds you in fairly quick fashion.

We debated going on, but the clouds were starting to look a little darker. Besides, there was a place that had been calling my name all day so we decided to go there next...

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Cousin, This Post’s For You

2009-10-19T04:17:00.003-07:00

I’m an earth person, but my cousin loves the sky. She takes pictures of clouds, the sun, the moon, sunrises and sunsets. This probably reveals the differences in our personalities more than anything. She helps me fly; I hold onto the tether to keep her from floating away.

I really felt badly that while she was visiting we didn’t get to do one of the things she likes to do most – take pictures of the sunset. This afternoon I walked outside and looked up (she’s taught me to do this and on occasion I remember) and saw some amazing clouds floating past. I thought to myself that those would be the kind of clouds that made for a beautiful sunset and checked the time the sun was scheduled to dip below the horizon. I was going to go out and take pictures of it for my cousin.

About an hour before sunset, I asked Bill if he’d like to take a ride and help me find a good place to photograph the sunset. I knew I was pushing my luck. It was Sunday, and it’s football season; but he surprised me and said he’d go along. We ended up at Estrella Mountain Golf Course in the clubhouse parking lot. I took as many shots as I could until they came out and said they were leaving and had to lock the gate. The sky was really getting colorful by then. I got a few shots of it, but I didn’t get to finish.

On the way home we drove by the Goodyear Airport. The MetLife blimp was anchored there, and Bill pulled off to the side of the road to let me get a picture of it. I’ve always loved Snoopy since I was a child. I took the opportunity while there to play around with slow shutter speeds and the headlights of oncoming cars. I was kind of rushed so I didn’t get to experiment much, but it was fun.

So, Cousin, these photos of the sunset are for you. I did my best. I promise that we’ll find one for you to photograph the next time you come visit!

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Kite image via here

Blogging Made Easier

2009-10-18T19:08:00.001-07:00

Some of you have been asking me how I create the photo albums in my blog. When I first started blogging it was difficult to place a photo in the desired position within your blog. Eventually they updated the editor, and you can upgrade to that by clicking on the “Settings” tab and searching for the option in the “Basic” section of your Dashboard.

A few months ago I was searching for a fix because I wasn’t aware of the updated editor and found Windows Live Writer. I use it all the time now. Give it a try. Maybe you’ll like it, too!

I also use Google Reader to keep track of updates to my favorite blogs and websites.

Things That Grow (Hopefully)

2009-10-18T05:16:00.000-07:00

These are the flowers I planted last Sunday. They’re still babies, but I haven’t killed them yet! I sure hope they can withstand the hot weather we’re having this weekend.

My cousin Nancy gave me some Hearts and Flowers. We put them in a hanging basket. I must be doing something right because I’ve got a bloom!

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Hello Goodbye

2009-10-17T08:58:00.004-07:00

“Don't be dismayed at good-byes.
A farewell is necessary before you can meet again.
And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes,
is certain for those who are friends.”

-Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Photo by me on the Venice Beach pier

This is the post I’ve dreaded writing for two weeks now. As you read this I’ll be dropping my cousin off at the airport. It’s been so nice to have her here. It seems like our time together went by so fast, and I’m going to miss her. We always find fun things to do together, and it was so great to have some company. It’s going to be quiet and lonely again during the day – just me and Willie again until Bill gets home from work.

A Tale of Two Hummers

2009-10-16T05:07:00.003-07:00

Yesterday we almost had our first fatality in the Hummingbird Wars. Two hummers were going at it and flew into the patio window. One of them landed on the mat in front of the door for a minute or two amidst the little hummer feathers scattered all around. At first we thought he was dead. Eventually, he took off so he must have just been dazed.

It was quite traumatic though because as I've watched the hummers all summer they have practically become family pets. I watched all day hoping to see them chasing each other again. Toward the evening, I did see Sluggo back in the palm tree guarding the feeder, but he wasn't his usual noisy self. Maybe that was one hummer that had eaten crow.