The Universe is always listening

I told the Universe exactly what I was looking for and it replied in kind. I still don’t understand how this happens but I have complete faith in it because it’s been proven for me in my life more than once.

At the time, I didn’t realize that I was painting the picture of my perfect companion. All I’ve been doing for the last couple months is what I always do –analyzing and researching. Except, instead of the normal techie way, i.e. the Internet, I’ve been researching inside my own mind, my heart, and my soul. Analyzing what I really want. Making mental notes of exactly everything, no matter how insignificant the trait seemed. I know full well that the likelihood of finding such a person is rare, at best, and I never had the unrealistic expectation of finding this exact person but I needed to know what I really wanted. A guideline, if you will. And then I could go from there. Being the tolerant person that I am, I find it easy to compromise on many levels. I had no visions of perfection. Then, as I often do, I continued my mental research long after I had the answers. I was over-analyzing at this point. Typical. But, for me, there was nothing else to do at that point. I wouldn’t just say “Ok, I have the exact specs, I’m done.” There are too many facets to us as humans for me to limit it like that.

At the same time, I began telling a few friends and family that I think I’m ready to start looking for a companion. Sometimes friends know friends who have other single friends. That approach seemed so vague and random to me, but I had to start somewhere. And, a friend of mine (also single) and I were planning on joining a dating site in January. Again, I had to start somewhere. I also thought about Craigslist. I’ve bought and sold lots of things on Craigslist. It’s a great venue and it’s free. Let’s see what’s on there in the personals. I had never perused those ads before and wow, it’s, well, entertaining, to say the least! A few of the ads seemed sincere, but for the most part, these people couldn’t spell or form a complete sentence to save their lives. And it was amazing to me the number of people looking for casual or immoral relations. But I kept on – weeding through the repeat ads and those with needs considerably different from mine. Then I found the one - I didn’t know it at the time, of course. But the ad was well written and he sounded like the type of person I was looking for. I replied to it with some of my own details and hoped for a response and, ultimately, a date.

The date went so well. I would never have imagined. Except, I had imagined it. That idea I had in the back of my mind of this perfect person for me and the perfect date, had been realized. As the night drew on, the conversation unearthed more and more of those details.

I don’t know where this will lead but I am very hopeful. For now, I have no specific expectations. Well, maybe I do. Somehow the Universe knows when and what to listen for.

Happy VERY BELATED Birthday to Lee!

Lee Tree!

Please, please, PLEASE accept my apology for not posting on your birthday! To the rest of you, her birthday was November 26th. It's funny, I can preach about how we need to calm down and mellow out and slow down, but I am just as vulnerable to getting caught up as everyone else is. My thought is that if I can recognize my stress level and reign it back in, then I'm accomplishing something. It's not about failing - it's about getting back on track when you do.

For years, for each of us, my mom would make our favorite food for our birthday dinner. Mine was lasagna, Kami loved liver and onions and Kate's favorite was teriyaki chicken. To this day, I have no idea what Lee's favorite food is. Most of the time it landed on Thanksgiving so her special birthday dinner, while being a much larger affair than the rest of ours, was always turkey. And now that we've all moved out, I usually just get her birthday gift to her on Thanksgiving as well since that's when we all get together. Sadly, this year I forgot to bring it to her - and it would have been 2 days late by then. If I can get it together in the next couple weeks she MIGHT have it before Christmas. No guarantees though. And it will be wrapped in Christmas paper.

Lee, you are the ultimate eccentric. This is not a negative connotation. You have always been the most unconventional person I know. You do what you want, what you feel is right, and you are the most caring, selfless person I know. Your work with the pups at the shelter is, I can bet, a Godsend to those people and animals. Your creativity as an artist is inspiring and I wish you the best with everything. You won't need my well wishes, though, because I know that you will be successful with life in a way that many others can't even fathom. You always have been. It hasn't been without its downfalls, of course. You've been to hell and back in your life (I know, I had my own trip to that particular state of hell as well) and you returned home with an understanding and awareness that only comes from such a traumatic trip.

I hope you had a wonderful birthday, Lee!

I love you!

Gratefulness

What is the ultimate gift?

Life.

It’s all downhill after that.

We require food, shelter, education and love to survive after receiving life. As children, I don’t think we have any clue that life is the ultimate gift. I certainly didn’t. I knew I was fortunate to have the family and home and friends and “stuff” that I had. And I was truly grateful for all of it. But as I’ve lived and learned, I now see that most of it is just fluff. I’ve found that living more simply is so much less stressful. If I don’t have a hundred shirts to choose from, then it’s easier to make a choice as to which one to wear. I’m not suggesting living like a monk and I’m not suggesting foregoing the holidays. Personally, I always look for the middle ground. It does exist and there is always a way to get there.

We are such a consumerist society. Every year I talk to people all through the holiday season that say they hate how commercial everything is. Then they turn around and shop the Black Friday sales at 5:00 am. People don’t know how to NOT be consumers foremost. It’s not taught anywhere. And it causes so much stress to people this time of year. It doesn’t have to be that way. Every one of us can turn our thought pattern around. It’s not easy, but it can be done. And you’ll be happier and much calmer.

For me,  my first step was gratefulness. I am grateful for simply being alive. I am blessed with this life. And upon realizing just how blessed I am, I don’t take a moment for granted. Be it anything from walking the dogs to cooking to sitting in traffic or paying bills. Everything I do, I’m in that moment. For, without this life, I wouldn’t have that – including the mundane or boring. My next step I just gave you – living in the moment. Funny, I learned this one from the dogs. If you watch dogs play, sleep, eat or just be, that’s how they live. They don’t worry about tomorrow or have remorse over yesterday. There’s no need for those things. And there’s no need for those things for us, as well. I can’t change the past any more than I can predict the future so it’s pointless to expend any energy concerning myself with it.

For me at this time of year specifically, I used to find myself hating Christmas shopping - trying to find the perfect gift for each person in my family. There are quite a few of us so it’s not easy. I realized I kept getting hung up on the thought that I had no idea what to buy. That’s the only thought I had and it blocked any creative, thoughtful ideas from coming through. So instead I’d think of that person – who they are, what they do, what they like, where they go. And at least one idea would come to me. Heck, that’s all I need is one idea! And, the nice thing nowadays is online shopping. You can find nearly anything online and many places have free shipping. So, you don’t even have to hit the mall if you don’t want to. In the last few years, I’ve graduated on the holiday calmness scale and, while I do some of my shopping online, I do also like to hit the mall – just once. Spend part of a day or evening there with some ideas and some plan of action, but doing it in a non-hurried, strolling fashion. I smile at people – sometimes just to see if they’ll smile back. Which they often do just because I have a Santa hat on. I wear my Santa hat out every day from Thanksgiving to Christmas. That simple act alone brightens my holiday spirit.

There are no aspects of the holiday season that are life and death. And ultimately, death is the only fate of life. Everything else is an experience, an adventure, a memory to be savored. Good or bad, every happening adds to the fullness and richness of our life. Every one of us has a story to tell. Living life creates that story.

Nurture your most precious gift.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, all!

Namaste.

Go with your gut

I am a very analytical person. I am extremely proficient at research, methodical at troubleshooting, precise in decision-making and detailed with, well, details. The perfectionist, geek side of me is extremely reasonable. Factual. Solid. And yet, I have found that when I make decisions in my personal life, my decision-making process has nothing to do with any logical, rational thought process. In deciding to move out of my home after 23 years of marriage (at the time), I researched my issues, I looked at every aspect from every point of view. I analyzed the hell out of my situation. And none of that really made a difference. In the end I did what I felt I needed to do. And when I was presented with the option to stay at my company of 24 years and do a different job, or move on and stay in the same field, again, I researched. And researched. Logically, what should I do? I searched for the rational, reasonable answer. There was none. I was forced to go with my gut.

In these large-scale decisions, I did my due diligence. And I'm glad I did but it really was for naught. It was pointless. It was a waste of my time and energy. Because before I even started looking into these issues, I knew what I felt was right. And ultimately, that was the decision I made. And, it was the right one.

You know what the right decision, option or direction is. You do. You may not see it but it's there. It's behind the voice telling you that you can't do it - that you're not good enough or that you're not worthy. Shut that voice down and you'll hear it. You'll hear it loud and clear. It's the only one that matters.

Life is hard

Life is hard.

Everyone says it. You hear it everywhere. All the time. It must be true. A given. Right?

It's not.

Life is not hard. Life happens whether you want it to or not. And life does what it wants - not what you want, particularly.

You are given this life. It is truly the ultimate gift in this world. Do not take advantage of it. It WILL take care of you in the way you need to be taken care of. Keep in mind, this may be different from how you feel you should be taken care of. You will be dealt challenges. You will encounter obstacles. Life creates the real you by altering your thinking via these obstacles and challenges. And every issue you come through is a gold medal around your neck.

To me, the most interesting part of this process is that most people who are in the middle of a life changing event, don't really seem to realize the effect. They're not stressed out about it. They simply do what needs to be done. Once they've made it through, they are a slightly different, more enlightened person. It's an amazing process. I've dabbled in it a little myself (drug rehab in my teens) but the most prominent instances to me were with my sisters. Katie, having had ovarian cancer twice and complications associated with that; Lee, with her own drug issues and severe headaches since she was young; and Kami with extreme obstacles that I won't go into for personal reasons. Each one a life or death possibility. It changes you. It changes those who love you. And provided you make it through the other side and you're still here, there is an impact on your psyche - an understanding of just how precious this life is. It's a gratefulness that many take for granted. I do not.

Life is life. It is not hard. Nor is it easy. It just is. I am thankful for every day I am able to be here to witness it. For one day, my light will pass from this world and I will be on to the next life. The next phase of my life, if you will. And all of this will be a fleeting memory. Live in the moment and you'll never regret a thing. This moment is all you have. Take care.

Life is good.

Happy Birthday, Katie!

Katie,

 

I remember when you were born. Heck, I think most of the neighborhood remembers. Our naturalist mother had you at home sans epidural. I think everyone within a 2 mile radius heard her when you came out! And with three girls already, I think it was fate that you also came out a girl. I guess dad had something to do with that, though I don't believe it was a conscious decision with any real effort.

 

Me and Kami and Lee were anticipating the new toy. I remember Kami used to spend hours dressing you up and playing with you like you were her own personal living, breathing doll. As the oldest, my role was more responsible. Like the second mom when mom wasn't available. Lee wasn't sure about you at first but I think she came around eventually. You were a cute little thing!

 

After all of the trials and tribulations you've had with ovarian cancer - twice! - and the personal issues you've endured since then, I am amazed at how strong you are as a person. I admire you for where you've been and how you've grown from the experiences. And I am so happy for you for where you are now in your life. You are a wonderful person and a great friend. I love you, Beep!

 

Love,
Sus

A brain at rest...

I like to use different events in my life as experiments. Like when I was running a lot (over 30 miles per week), it was an experiment to see how my body would react to it as well as trying different things like diet and stretching to see how I could make it possible without injury. Well, my lack of coordination typically got the better of me, and, while I was successful avoiding injuries from running, I was not successful avoiding injuries from falling. I believe they call that a successful failure.

So, when I found myself unemployed, I decided to do as little computer work as possible. I thought about brushing up on some aspects, but I decided against it. I wanted to take a complete hiatus from it. I didn't really know if this would help or hinder me in my job pursuit, but ultimately I decided it wouldn't do me much harm, if any. Besides, it's an extremely rare opportunity to be able to fully rest your mind, body and soul for any amount of time.

My job as a network admin requires constant learning and research, but in day-to-day life, one rarely needs to learn new things. I found an interesting side effect of my mental hiatus - when I stop having to learn, I stop wanting to learn. After a couple weeks, I became mentally lethargic. I almost thought I was depressed. I wasn't. And I wasn't bored either. I was, for lack of a better word, uninspired. I wanted to really take a break and, wow, did I?! I've been working for over 20 years and I wanted to take advantage of my situation. It was so nice having the majority of the summer free. I believe it was really good for me. But, the mental melancholy was unexpected. I didn't even want to write on my blog! I thought I wanted to a couple of times and I did post a couple of random things but it wasn't anything I would call thoughtful.

So, now, I'm back working and I feel refreshed. My brain is coming back to life. Work must be my muse. Or at least, the action of working is keeping my other mental faculties moving as well. Whatever the technical conclusion, I see what happens. I felt what happens. I  believe it was neither bad nor good. It just was. Experiment over.

Wherever you go, there you are

I believe wholeheartedly in the theory that everything happens for a reason and that you are always right where you are supposed to be. Fate. Destiny. Karma. I believe that I am ultimately in control of my actions and decisions, however, I also rely very heavily on my gut instinct. I've found that the more I pay attention to that gut feeling, the more I'm able to tell what action or decision is the right one for me. It hasn't let me down yet, as far as I can tell.

When I lost/left my job at the end of July, I was absolutely devastated. I was also hopeful and optimistic. The universe had a different plan for me and I had to find out what that was. I was lucky that the IT skills I have are in enough of a demand that there were many businesses looking for someone like me. For two months, I put in applications at every company that appealed to me. I would have been happy with any of them, I'm sure, but my real "whale" was Precision Castparts. The culture of manufacturing is in my blood so I was drawn to it. And, after three interviews over a month's time, that's the job I took.

I couldn't be happier. I knew I would come out of this in a positive light, but I didn't expect this. How random is it that they just happened to be looking for a Network Admin at the same time I was unemployed? It might have been random. Or it might have been my destiny. Everything happens for a reason. Believe it.

I have a job!!!

So, I have been imagining my ideal situation since before my last day at Hydra-Power. I've been imagining it since I had to start looking for a new job. I was hoping for the big one. You know, that one company that you would leave your job for. If it fell into your lap... Well, for me, once I found that Precision Castparts Corp was hiring, THAT was it. Of course I kept looking - that's a requirement. I applied at all sorts of other places. Good places. I can only chalk it up to good timing that all of the really good IT jobs came up while I happened to be unemployed. How does that happen? I have no idea. Divine intervention? Coincidence? Market requirement? Industry growth? Whatever it is, I'm not going to question it. As they say " It is what it is." For me, I'm just glad that the stars aligned with whatever they align with and I ended up here.

This could have been a horrible, drawn-out unemployment, but now I can say it wasn't. It isn't. It was more of a summer vacation. I'm grateful for that. Regardless to whom the credit goes. I'll give it! And take it!

I send thanks to all of my friends and family who have given me nothing but positive vibes and support. It has not gone unnoticed! And, as you all know, I am here for you as well. For me to be in this receiving position felt unnatural and strange, but you all made me feel worthy and comfortable. And I thank you for that.

Now, to get on with my life...

Lincoln City in September

Lincoln City in September is a crapshoot. We got really lucky. Beautiful weather and a really cool full moon setting over the horizon in the morning. I have never seen that and I was in awe when I did.

 @5:43 AM

 

@ 6:23 AM

Oh, and Forest got his drink on during this vaca as well! Technically, he's like 63 years old in people years so I let him do whatever he wants!

 

Katie and Ricky - I had a great time with you guys! Thanks for making this a fun time! I love you guys!



The job search

The last time I looked for a job the Internet existed, but PC's were barely prevalent in schools and businesses. It was nothing like today where just about everyone has a computer in their home and we have Internet access on our phones nearly anywhere. It used to be you could walk into a business, fill out an application form (by hand, mind you) and then you might get to talk to someone that day or they call you back in later. And you search the newspaper want ads for anything remotely close to what you're looking for. Or if you had the funds, you could hire a headhunter.

Nowadays, it's all online. Companies don't even want you to call them. You need to submit your resume and cover letter via email or upload it to their website. It goes through a word-tracking program which looks for the keywords applicable to the specific position and then, passing that, it goes to the HR department. I understand the efficiency available in this format, but wow, there's no human factor left. It's kind of saddening.

So, any given job posting is open for 2-4 weeks, you apply and then wait until the job posting is closed and then they decide who to contact. If you're not one of them, you don't hear a thing.

This is a very interesting process. Honestly, I like the learning experience of things like this. It's certainly enlightening. I'm trying to go-with-the-flow on it and that alone is teaching me more patience than I knew I had. I'm extremely grateful for this endeavor, even though I certainly would not have chosen to take this path without coercion. It's so easy for a person to get comfortable in any given aspect of their life, including their job. I knew there were issues with my job and with the company but it is so much easier to stick with it. Looking for a new job is a lot of work. But then, any endeavor worth its salt is worth the work. I knew that before. Now, I've lived it, and I can say it's absolutely true.

I'll find that perfect job for me.

Only in Portland

Another morning walk story -

We're on our morning walk - me and the pups - and there's an area of the NE neighborhood that's not so much an alley as it is a walkway to the park. It spans about 4 blocks. We're in this area and up ahead I see a guy on a bike next to a large hedge, but he's not on his bike. He's dressed like 90% of the bicyclists you see in Portland. Well, basically he looks like Lance Armstrong. I can't tell what he's doing but he's off the bike and messing with something - I assume he's texting on his cell phone. I get within 6 feet of him and he takes off on the bike away from us. Two seconds later I'm in a plume of pot smoke. I walk through it thinking "Really, dude?" and then start laughing. Duuuuude! Eeere! I envision a person passing a joint to the next in the circle... We pick up the pace to a jog for me, a trot for Forest and a lumbering, pulling-of-the-leash for Tiger. Our ETA for the dog park is about 6:30am on this morning. Wow, that guy is hardcore! All the bike riding must stave off the Cheetos-induced calories.

Seriously - Only in Portland.

When you need a swim

This weekend, our morning walk took us downtown along the Waterfront and then along the Eastbank Esplanade. It was a beautiful morning. As we're walking, I look down at the river and see a small, empty dock. I wonder to myself whether people have to pay to dock there - it's so small, it looks as if it could only fit a few boats. As I'm contemplating the possibility of the dock's users, I notice a man standing on it, facing the river. Is he fishing? No, there's no telltale paraphernalia of that. He almost looked like one of the walkers or runners that occupy this route. Lost in contemplation, I witness the man strip off his t-shirt. Then his shorts. His tighty-whities came off next and then he dove into the Willamette River with nothing more than what God gave him. What??? Did I really just see that? I stopped walking and saw the man come up from his dive and bob around in the water. I just turned and kept walking, laughing to myself. Who does that? In a lake, sure. In the Columbia, maybe. But in the Willamette? That certainly wouldn't be my first choice, but I guess if you need to cool off while running, or if you're homeless and need to bathe, it's there for the taking. Or maybe he was a nudist.

Yikes.


No, I didn't take a picture of him, but I did take some pictures on that walk...

How much is that kit-ty in the win-dow?

Forest and Tiger kitty shopping...

Unemployment embraced

24 years, 3 weeks, 1 day. My tenure at my job has come to an end. During that time, it has been my livelihood, my continuing education, my social life and my support system. These people are my family. We've been through ups and downs in both the business aspect and in many personal aspects and always made it through together. We've been through births, graduations, marriages, illnesses, victories, and deaths. Every bit of it is marked indelibly on my psyche. Every bit of it has contributed to the creation of my character. I am eternally grateful to have been a part of the brilliance of this company.

It's about listening, not fixing

My mom sent me this link and I just about died. It's a classic example of the different perspectives of men and women. Check it out!

It's not about the nail

Have a great day, all!

Happy Birthday to Forest!

I may be biased, but to me, Boxers are the best dogs ever. And Forest, specifically, has traits that I didn't even know dogs were capable of. He's the most tolerant dog I've ever known. We have dressed him and posed him for pictures and he's dealt with it like a champ. And even the mundane maintenance stuff like baths and nail trimming, that many dogs hate and fight, he tolerates. He's also very considerate. He doesn't back down to other dogs, but he will allow them to eat first or drink from the water bowl first. His curiosity is off the chart. Any open door we walk past, he has to at least look inside. and he'd go inside if I let him. He wants to know everything that's going on. And he's so funny at the dog park because he acts like the governor of the park by greeting each new dog personally as if to say, "Hi! I'm Forest! Welcome to my park!"

Happy Birthday baby boy! I can't believe you're 9 years old!

Choices

Everything that has substance has a vibration; a force in the world. This includes inanimate objects. A bright red, glass vase has a higher vibration than a gray, ceramic coffee cup for instance. A patch of grass has a lower vibration than a blackberry bush.

Think of choosing your outfit for the day. (Unless you wear the same thing every day.) You decide on a key piece – maybe a blue sweater. It was talking to you. If it wasn’t, you would have picked the yellow pullover. But it was the blue sweater today. From there, the rest of the pieces begin their bidding. The stone-washed jeans call out. The leather loafers. The silver watch. And you walk out the door knowing you’re in the right clothing. You’re comfortable. But what happens if the blue sweater has a spot on it? You hastily go with the yellow pullover and try to “match” the rest together. And then you feel a little “off” all day long. This uncomfortable feeling can be alleviated by not choosing hastily. Close your eyes for a moment and something else will talk to you.

This also works with food. Have you ever seen a menu in a restaurant that makes everything look absolutely delectable? How to choose? Something will talk to you. After perusing the menu, close your eyes – what do you taste? Fettuccini Alfredo? Chicken wings? Fish and chips?

Matching your own internal vibration with objects around you is easily achieved by listening to the world as well as yourself. This works with more than food and clothing. If you listen closely enough to your own internal vibration, you will see what you really need in life. Personally, I believe you already know the answer even if you haven’t posed the question yet. Should I call my sister who I haven’t talked to in 3 years? Is this daycare facility right for my child? Do I take the first job offer or the second? Or neither?

Intellectually, you know what option is better. But you need to have the “gut” feeling to know you’re doing the right thing. If you learn to quiet all of the other “shoulds and should nots” and listen to your feeling, you’ll know the right answer.

I do this every day with both simple and challenging choices and I believe I’ve made the best choices for myself.

Failure

I never fail. I succeed at finding what doesn't work.

 This is one of my favorite sayings of all time. In the world of IT, new programs have to be learned on the fly, new updates have to be understood right now, changes are dynamic and immediate and you have to keep up. I'm continually finding what doesn't work. Then you back up and go again with the new knowledge.

In life, we are almost always reactive. Things happen and we have to deal with them. Sometimes we don’t deal well. Sometimes we deal quite badly. But, in doing so, we learn that regardless of how we deal with a situation, it’s still the same situation. And the stress we caused ourselves and/or others was completely unnecessary.

Your car gets a flat on the highway. You’re late for an important meeting. You get dirt on your suit changing the tire. You’re pissed. You call your secretary and yell at her to reschedule ASAP. You’re out of breath and your blood pressure is surely off the chart. 

 
Things happen. People know this. They know this because it happens to them too! Your reaction is the only thing you can control. People will understand if you need to reschedule a meeting. It’s life, not life and death. You don’t need the stress of this type of reaction any more than your secretary does. You’ve affected two people very negatively and, very unnecessarily. Getting yourself worked up and then yelling at someone else did not help your tire situation in any way, shape or form. It remained as it was. You, however, and your relationship with your co-worker are now considerably worse for wear. This didn’t work.

You readjust your attitude, apologize to your secretary and apologize to yourself – vowing never to react that way again. And you don’t. You’ve succeeded at finding what didn't work.

Alternately, this is a classic saying for inventors and creators. A first try of anything [typically] never works. Formula 409 was the 409^th compound tested by the inventors. It took Edison 1,000 tries to get the light bulb to work. R. H. Macy failed in the retail industry 7 times. And Babe Ruth, of course, struck out 1,330 times in his career.

Failure has a negative connotation that it doesn’t deserve. Failure is learning. Failure builds experience. Failure shapes character. Failure is the only true path towards success.

Find what doesn’t work, and you'll be closer to finding what does!

Vacation at the lake

Happy Fourth of July!

Cheers to all for a fun-filled, family-fraught, friend-full, fiesta feast for the Fourth!

A HUGE thanks to all of our US military who allow us to let freedom ring all year round!

It's all about your perspective

This is a classic, and rather moving, example of one realizing and changing his perspective. It's also a very interesting talk.

TED Talks - Peter Attia: Is the obesity crisis hiding a bigger problem?

Golfing

"Ummm, Forest? I don't think that's a good idea!"

 

 "Fine! You'll be the one in trouble this time!"

 

 

 

  

"Hey! Here's the ball! Go back and get the club!"

                                        

 

Life is like a box of chocolates

Forrest Gump’s classic tag line:
Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.
And you don’t.

You always want to go with the best, most realistic, safest, most secure option.

Safe. Guaranteed.

Not always.

I’ve been at the same company for 24 years. Over half of my life. Of course, I’ve thought about changing jobs more than once through the years – sometimes out of boredom, sometimes out of financial justice. But I always came back to the same decision – stay. I love my job and the company, and the people I work with are great. I never once imagined that I would be given a choice: a completely different tech job at the same company or, there’s the door.

I’m not sure what my final decision will be. I’ve vacillated back and forth about a hundred times already. And I’ve been through the entire array of emotions. I keep stopping and dwelling on the “hurt”. I know it’s nothing personal against me. They’re outsourcing my job and it really is the most economical, efficient way to go. It’s a benefit to the company. It’s just that I’m a casualty. Business, not personal.

However, as I keep going through it in my mind, it comes back to feeling like a personal hit. I know I’ll get over it. I know I’ll get past it. But for me, right now, I need to spend some time there – in that pain. The more time I spend with it and realize it, the less impact it will have on me in the long run. It’s hard and it sucks. But it’s the best thing for me. I know that.

You need to spend time in the hardest feelings of life. You will be a better, rounder, more complete person by embracing the feelings – tough or easy – and moving past it. Embrace the moment. Live in the now. Carpe Diem. Sorry, but in my current state, that just pisses me off. I know logically that all of this makes sense. But it’s not an easy place to reach, nor to reside in.

 

Wish me luck!

 

Happy Birthday, Kami!

I have three younger sisters. The next youngest from me is named Kami. We’re three years apart. Have you ever heard of siblings getting along throughout their childhood? Me neither. We tolerated each other. Just barely.

Recently, I was researching something on religion and somehow stumbled upon the definition of her name as defined by an 18^th century Japanese scholar, Motoori Norinaga:

"A kami is any thing or phenomenon that produces the emotions of fear and awe, with no distinction between good and evil.”

Wow. My parents must have consulted some kind of prophet when they picked her name. It is spot on! There is no way that happened randomly. Fate. Karma. Whatever. She was the epitome of that definition when we were kids.
I was older. Granted, I was calmer than she was. More on the meek side. But I was older. That alone should have warranted some degree of respect.  Wrong. Once she began to walk and talk, it was over. If we were a pack of puppies, she would have been alpha dog.
My parents have a recording of Kami and I singing, we were probably 4 and 7, and every few moments Kami would yell at me. “Susie! You’re not singing it right!” “Hey, this is MY part!” “That’s NOT how it goes!”

“It is too!” “Sing your own song, Kami!”

We fought all the time.

Lee became part of our pack when Kami was four, which simply added to her list of subordinates. Once Lee was a little older, Kami would make us play “school”. She was ALWAYS the teacher. “No talking! Pay attention! Eyes front!” she’d holler, slapping one of our desks with a ruler. I thanked God that I never had a teacher like her in school!

When Katie was born Lee was about three and a half. One more cadet for her troop. Katie actually turned into Kami’s living doll. She’d dress her and do her hair and everything. Apparently, the larger the age difference, the less animosity.

Every once in a while I would babysit when my parents wanted to get out for coffee for an hour or so. One time Kami and I were going at it back and forth and I ran out of the house anticipating her to follow. She closed and locked the door. Nice. I went all around the house checking all the windows, looking for a way in. When I got back to the front door, she was on the other side of the small paned windows adjacent to the door, sticking her tongue out at me. I was so mad I punched at her face through the little window. Guess who got in trouble for that one?

Those of you with children who seemingly live for sibling rivalry understand that there’s nothing you can do to keep it at bay. The best you can do is sentence punishment equal to the crime and hope it’s severe enough that they think twice before offending again. To this day I love my mom’s strategy for dealing with us the best. We each sat on one end of the couch and neither could get up until the other let her. Genius, mom.

My sister Kami is still the epitome of the definition of her name. As a child, it was manifested as, well, something akin to Satan. Now, she’s older and wiser, and the sweetest, coolest, do-everything, help-everyone type of woman. Definitely AWESOME!

Happy Birthday Kami!

Dad's Day

I have the greatest, coolest, craziest, funnest, funniest, smartest, neatest, bestest dad ever! MacGyver has NOTHING on this guy. Tim Taylor could learn a thing or two from him. Ward Cleaver – oh, forget it, he can’t even compete.

Growing up, I had no idea there was such a thing as a “handyman”. Not as a profession, anyway. My dad fixed EVERYTHING. Whether it was completely remodeling the bathroom or replacing the car engine, he did it all. And the fun part was when I got to help. Granted, it was work, but looking back, it was definitely a highlight of my childhood. Painting the house, checking the brakes on the car, planting vegetables, or building, well, just about anything, I got to be involved. Dad had a way of teaching that you don’t see with people in general. He was a natural at it. Now, I never got to rebuild the carburetor – that was a tad advanced for my age and a tad critical of a part for me to play with, but he had a way of finding just the right job for me. I’m not sure if he was the cause of my obsession with organization or if it was already ingrained because of genetics, but I used to love to go through all of his little drawers of things and make doubly sure everything was in its place. He had those little plastic organizer cabinets for nuts, screws, bolts, etc. and then he’d have another with different watch parts and another with camera parts or phone pieces, or whatever else he may need at any given moment. I don’t think dad was ever a Boy Scout, but he sure was ready for anything.

So, the first time a friend of mine told me that there was a repairman fixing their dryer, I literally did a mental double-take. For me it was just a given that dad could fix anything. Sadly for my friend, that wasn’t the case in her family. I gained a newfound respect for my dad that day.

And, I know that I have three strong backers of my Great Dad statements – my sisters Kami, Lee and Katie. But we’re not biased. Really. Seriously, ask anyone who knows Steve Minami and they will tell you the same thing. He’s not just a great dad, he’s a great person!

I love you, dad! Happy Father’s Day!

Mistakes

Have you ever done anything so dumb that you just wanted to crawl into a cave and stay there?

If you trip and fall and there’s no one there to see you, that’s one thing. If you spill coffee down the front of your shirt in front of your family, that’s another. The “oops” I lived with for years was known by some friends and family but mainly by my co-workers. Making a professional faux-pas not only hurts your pride, it diminishes your credibility. At least it sure feels like it.

Many years ago, I was working on upgrading the computer of our users. I’d done this particular procedure hundreds of times. Set up and install the programs on the new computer, transfer the user’s files, etc. Well, this particular time, I missed a step and ended up deleting the user’s files. All of them. Completely. And there was no recent backup. I felt myself go pale. I heard my heart stop. This wasn’t real. This didn’t just happen. (At this point in time, the only recovery software available was ridiculously expensive and/or regulated by the government. Outside help was not an option.) I wanted to tender my resignation and slink out the back door.

I left my ego on the floor and told the user what I had done – apologizing profusely, of course. He was distraught, but handled it well. It wasn’t long before most of the company knew what I had done. And it wasn’t long before that became a running joke every time I had to work on someone’s computer. “You’re not going to delete all my files, are you?” Giggle, giggle, giggle. “Save your files! Susan’s working on our computers today!” I laughed along and always assured them that I would never make that mistake twice!

I survived that stigma because I never let anything like that happen again, and also because regardless of what mistakes a person makes, they themselves are still decent, reliable, credible people provided they learn from it. Oh, and it also helps that this was so long ago that 90% of the people in the company are different now.

Take it easy on yourself. We've all been there.

Blessed

Someone said to me this morning, “Have a blessed day!” I replied back with “Thanks! You too!” Usually we’ll hear and say, “Have a good day!” or “Have a nice weekend!” or “Have a great evening!” but to have a ‘blessed’ day gives way to much more thoughtfulness on the recipient’s part.

Most people will relate the word ‘blessed’ to a person who’s been given a certain gift or talent or one who’s been touched by holiness, sanctified. I look at it as having been given the ultimate gift – life. And to be truly blessed, we need to show our gratitude for that gift. And I don’t mean by thanking our parents (wink, wink)! We need to realize that each of us here has this gift and it’s our responsibility to nurture it both in ourselves and in everyone else as well. Tell your loved ones you love them. Spend time with your friends. Goof off with your kids. Listen to your parents’ stories of yore. These fortunate times are the essence of the life we are blessed with. The mortgage is not life. The un-vacuumed house is not life. Don’t waste time being jealous of the neighbor’s new car or the co-worker’s promotion. The successes in life that matter most are not tangible.

Sometimes it can be difficult to free ourselves from the web of tangibles that make themselves seem so important. It feels like walking through an abandoned house full of cobwebs and dust. Your vision is clouded. But once you get through the doorway, out into the daylight, you see that those things don’t matter. Cars and houses can be replaced. Jobs can be attained anew. But the blessed bond you have with these other life forces remains constant while you are here. If you nurture that gift with gratitude and thoughtfulness and tolerance and understanding you are helping to create a connected utopia within this crazy, disconnected, stressed-out world we live in.

Have a truly blessed day!

Tiger, the chauffer

Geez! I'm the designated driver, A-GAIN!

 

 

 

Oh good! At least this time they got me a mocha!

 

God

Really, Sus, you’re going THERE? Well, why not? With the exception of Atheists and Agnostics, we all believe in some kind of Higher Power. What that entity is called is determined by the particular faith or sect or religious order you decide to live by. Having been baptized Methodist, that’s what I lived by for most of my childhood. But, like many organized groups, this particular church turned into a social event where the “better” of the congregation would judge and patronize those who were not of high enough status. My mom stopped going and eventually, so did I. I continued in the kids’ activities but not the actual sermons. Funny how the kids were less clique-y than the adults. By the time I got to high-school, I stopped going altogether.

A bit later in my life I decided to look at the different beliefs. In the Christian religions, I found way too much rigidity; too much intolerance for other religions. I’m not comfortable with that. Then I looked at Buddhism – the Japanese side of my heritage. I liked it a lot, and found solace in the research I did on it. And I love the story of the Buddha. I also looked at Confucianism, finding that I was drawn to the philosophical teachings. I was so close, but it wasn’t quite right for me yet.

I believe in “live and let live”.  I believe in tolerance. I believe in nature and naturalness. Simplicity. Balance. Yin and yang.

The first time I read the Tao Te Ching, I couldn’t put it down. It was so prophetic to me, so profound. I’ve read [parts of] the Bible and it didn’t capture me at all. The stories were neat, but it wasn’t insightful like this. It didn’t touch my core like this did.

68.

Compassion is the finest weapon and best defense.

If you would establish harmony,

Compassion must surround you like a fortress.

Therefore,

A good soldier does not inspire fear;
A good fighter does not display aggression;
A good conqueror does not engage in battle;
A good leader does not exercise authority.

This is the value of unimportance;

This is how to win the cooperation of others;
This to how to build the same harmony that is in nature.

Comments

Hi Readers! I found that I can allow Anonymous comments, so now you can post comments even if you don't have a Google Plus or other account. Sorry I didn't find this sooner. So, please feel free to leave comments if you'd like! Thanks!

Just do it

Every single day is a new day to every single person alive. I have never been at this point in my life before. You have never been at this point in your life before. I may have been your age once; you may have gone through some of the same events and circumstances that I have; but none of us has ever been where each of us are right now. Everything we do from this second on has the potential to reshape our life.

When people talk about how life can change in an instant, they’re usually referring to an unforeseen incident – a car accident, a severe illness, a job loss – things over which no one has control. So, if something out of our control can change our lives, why can’t we knowingly change our thoughts and actions to change our lives as well? We can. But rarely does one think to do it. We get so wrapped up in what we’re doing that nothing else comes to mind.

Ten years ago when I started running, I didn’t have any idea where to start or what to do. So I just went out and did it. My only thought was, “The sooner I start, the sooner I’ll be where I want to be.” At that time, it was a healthier weight I was after, but it took me farther than that emotionally and even spiritually. Besides going to school and deciding which classes to take and direction to head, this was the first personal decision I’d ever made. I’d never done anything just out of the blue like that. So what, that I’d never ran before. So what, that I wasn’t known as a morning person. So what, that I didn’t have the physique or grace of an athlete. The only thing that mattered is that I wanted to try out this running thing. The worst that could happen is that I’d hate it and I’d stop.

I remember that first week clear as day. I felt so uncomfortable, so exposed out in public. But I did it anyway. I knew that the only way I would feel comfortable is to keep doing it. It was about a half-mile around the block (“around the block” was around the local hospital so it was a large block), and I partly walked and partly ran twice around it every day that first week. I saw the neighbor leave for work. He waved and I waved back. I would have bet money he thought I looked ridiculous. Never mind, not my business – keep going. The second week was more the same and by the third week I was going around the block three times and running a bit more. I saw the neighbor off and on in that time and would always exchange a smile and wave. Then one time he hollered to me “Lookin’ good!” as I jogged past. Later I saw him and his wife and she said that was so great of me getting up and running in the morning. And he said he ran in high school, but hated it now and was impressed that I could do it. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to that inner demon of mine worried about what anyone else thought. As it turned out, my fears were completely unfounded.

I still don’t have the physique of a runner and I’m not anything close to graceful (I have scars to prove it) but now when I run, regardless of where I am in my training, I don’t think about what others see. It’s none of my business what anyone thinks of me. I could be coming off of an injury limping along, I could be in full stride, but whatever my gait, it’s mine. And I managed to get here myself.

Never give up. Never give in. If you want to do it, do it.

Public Water Fountains

A man is in the park playing fetch with his Golden Retriever on a warm spring day. It's one of the first nice days of the season so there are several other people are in the park as well. He walks over to the drinking fountain and holds the button on while his dog perches his front paws on the side of the basin and starts lapping at the cool water.

A woman walking by is outraged and says, "That is NOT sanitary! Other PEOPLE are going to want to drink out of that fountain!"

"Well, ma'am," he replied, "I saw a homeless guy washing his underwear in it earlier, so..."

Rain, rain, go away, come again another day...

We have to love the rain. It's a requirement for anyone living in the Pacific Northwest. Or, as I like to call it, the Pacific NorthWET. Ok, it's not really a requirement to love the rain; and sometimes it gets downright irritating; depressing; mentally dampening even. But, we wouldn't know what to do with ourselves without it. Seriously. Yes, there are some people who truly don't belong here and move away to warmer, sunnier climates and never look back, but personally, I don't think I could do that.

A friend of mine was telling me about a girlfriend she had who had lived in Portland all her life - born and raised a true Oregonian. She ended up moving to Arizona and returned less than a year later. Her biggest gripe? "Every single day - blue sky and sunshine! Every single stinkin' day!"

Think about it - sunshine EVERY day. No rainy days to cozy-up on the couch and watch a movie or read a book. No cool, overcast days. Watering the lawn and outdoor plants would become a daily, year-round chore. No excuse to not wash your car. And the streets and sidewalks would get increasingly dirty and dusty with no cleansing rain.

I believe in moderation for everything, and here on the 45th parallel, we get a little bit of everything. Maybe a little more than our fair share of rain, but that's also why the tourists' first comment is usually, "It's so green and beautiful here!"

Life’s ultimate journey

One year ago today, May 13th, I had the opportunity to be present when my mother-in-law took her final journey from this life. She had been suffering for many years with asthma, emphysema and COPD so it was very bittersweet. Selfishly, we always hoped for her to get better, but we all knew the reality of the situation and at the end, our hopes turned to a peaceful passage. Our prayers were answered and she slipped away quietly with family by her side. Afterwards, I was overwhelmed with grief and sadness. As time goes on, I find that I miss her more and more. But I also find that I am even more relieved for her to be free of the constraints she was living in.

During my childhood, all four of my grandparents passed away. I was old enough to understand death, but young enough that I was ignorant of the emotions that go along with losing someone. I knew living things died and that was a part of life. And afterwards you did whatever you felt was right to honor that person and their memory. I am well aware that my logical-emotional scale veers to the left, but that does not make passing on a less traumatic experience for me than for someone else. It may look like it on the outside, but that’s far from the truth. We each truly do mourn in different ways.

I was as close to my mother-in-law as I am to my own mother and losing her was a very painful experience. But it was also an eye-opening experience. I believe now that life truly is a journey. Even after death, one is still on their journey. If I were to imagine the progression of this odyssey, as I see it, I would guess that where you and I are now - in this life, on this planet – is the most challenging. This physical life can be as full of pain as it is of pleasure. Sensory overload is a common occurrence. The next step of the journey allows us to leave that chaos behind. Now, the “chaos” isn’t a bad thing, mind you. It simply is the way this life is. We are in a physical world. We learn strength and courage and stamina and tolerance from every challenge we face here. And when our time comes, having learned these lessons, we’ll be ready for that next step.

I love you, mom. Enjoy your continuing journey.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mom!   Mom!   Mom!   Mom!   Mom!   Mom!   Ma-maaaaa!   Maaa!   Mom!   Mom!   Mom!   Mommy!   Mom!   Mom!   Mom!   Moooooommm!   Mom!   Mom!   Mom!

Did you ever imagine such a sweet little bundle could push all of your buttons at the same time? My mother, bless her heart, tolerated four of us. I think there must be a touch of mental instability on her side of the family! Seriously, if there wasn’t before, I’m sure we’ve nearly driven her to it by now!

Now, I could regale you with the stories of what a wonderful mom she was when I was growing up, and how she always supported each of us and helped us expand on our talents as well as embrace our shortfalls. Which both she and dad did. We’re all familiar with the Best Mom In The World stories already - as the kids text: BTDT – so I’d like to change it up a little and share the Fastest Mom In The World story.

Preface: Mom, there may be some inaccuracies in my memory of the little details and I may have embellished a tad to make up for that.

Summers at our house were always lively. Kids in and out, friends visiting, bike rides, music, games - any and every child’s and kid’s activity was to be found. In the early 80’s, it was full swing in our neighborhood. Kids ranging in age from 2 to 15, the street was full of kids playing basketball, roller staking, skateboarding or just sitting around watching the action. Mom and I were on the porch having a snack of Wheat Thins or maybe it was Triscuits, when a challenge broke out. Maybe it was more like a dare. But all I know is that I had the box of crackers and I bet mom that she couldn’t catch me. She said, “I bet you I can.” And I took off. Down the porch stairs, across the street and down the sidewalk I flew. “There is NO WAY she’s gonna catch me!” I thought. Not a moment later something grabbed my shirt. I was sure it was one of my sisters messing with me. I glanced back - wrong! Mom was panting and laughing like crazy as we came to a stop. I was just plain dumbfounded. Shocked, really. I had never seen my mom run before. I didn't think she could! But then I started laughing too. My sisters as well as my mom gave me crap about that for as long as I can remember.

Kids: Never – ever - underestimate mom.

Wishing a wonderful Mother’s Day to all of you wonderful mom’s out there!

Drop it like a bad habit

That saying is ridiculous. It implies that a bad habit is an easy thing to “drop”. Truth is, that’s the toughest type of habit to drop. Have you ever heard of someone having a difficult time quitting going to the gym? Or quitting avoiding fast food or sweets? Yeah, me neither.

I quit smoking just over 10 years ago. I smoked for 20 years. Please don’t do the math. I was the type of smoker who loved to smoke. When people asked me where I saw myself in 20 years, I’d describe something akin to the old lady you see on the bus trailing her green portable iron lung on wheels behind her. I was going to die from smoking and I knew it. And I was fine with it. But at age 32, something clicked in my brain. I wish I knew what it was so I could share it, but I honestly have no idea. Maybe it was mortality. Maybe it was legacy. I always knew that if I ever did decide to quit, it would have to be for me. It would be the most selfish thing I’d ever done. I’ve never been comfortable with that but this particular need launched me into a mission that I was more dedicated to than a dog trying to catch a squirrel.

I spent day after day researching how other people quit. Successfully and unsuccessfully. I needed to know everything including what made a person go back to it and why.

My husband and I decided to quit on the same day. He went cold-turkey. Successfully. I wasn’t the cold-turkey type so a month before our decided quit date, I gradually cut down each week until I was down to 10 cigarettes a day. That was like nothing to me but at the time it was everything to me. It was all I had left. And I knew that was the stopping point. Our quit date was a Sunday.  I vaguely remember the morning. I distinctly remember crying. Five hours straight I cried. I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t reason with myself. There was nothing my husband could do; there was nothing my parents could do. They all witnessed my unraveling that day. I’m sure it wasn’t pretty. But my mental resolve stood strong. No matter how it affected me, I was NOT going to have a cigarette. But, how could I go to work tomorrow? I can’t be crying at work!

I don’t know how I got through the night, but the next morning, on my way to work, I went to the store and bought the nicotine gum. At that time they didn’t have all the flavors they have now, but that’s what I needed, the utilitarian-ness of it. I wasn’t buying it because it was a tasty treat. I was buying it because it promised to curb the withdrawal symptoms. Directions: Don’t continually chew it. Chew a couple times to release the nicotine then hold it between your cheek and gum. It tasted kind of peppery under the mint flavoring. I didn’t like pepper. That didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that it helped. The rest of that day and every day after was a breeze. I was able to relax. To me, the worst thing at this point was that I had to chew this weird tasting gum the rest of my life and I was ok with that. It was cheaper than cigarettes. And it wouldn’t kill me. Nicotine itself isn’t harmful; tobacco and tobacco smoke are. I quickly began to tolerate, and then like, the flavor of the gum. And after two months I tapered off of the gum and I’ve been nicotine-free ever since.

They say that quitting smoking is more difficult than quitting heroin.  It’s THAT addictive. Whoever “they” are, they’re not kidding. It was the single most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my life. It’s also the biggest accomplishment I’ve ever made.

We all know the horrible ramifications of smoking and tobacco use. We’ve seen the commercials of the woman smoking through the hole in her throat or the guy who lost half of his jaw. But this drug is so powerful that there are still over 45 million people in the US who smoke and over 400,000 of them die every year because of it. It’s the #1 cause of preventable death in the United States.  If that’s not addicting, I don’t know what is.

Carpe Diem

I originally wrote this in July 2011. Since then Forest has been joined by Tiger, our brindle Boxer. Tiger is special - in the "short bus" sense - and has simply strengthened my feeling about the four-legged family members.

 

I believe dogs are the epitome of trust and faith. That is, in current civilization. Pre-civilization (and in some countries still) they were like all other wild animals, fending for themselves for food and shelter. Nowadays, they are our pets with many being, like mine, more a part of the family than “just a dog”. They rely on us for the basics as well as for companionship, love and fun. They wait patiently at home for us to get off work and wag tail incessantly when we do, hoping for just a minute or two of love, hugs and playtime.

Our dog is a Boxer. His name is Forest. He’s crazy, bouncy and playful. He is more like our furry, four-legged, mute son than our dog. We took a good amount of time and effort to train him which is very important. A dog’s only way of communicating with a person, and vice versa, can only be accomplished via training. And the easiest way to do this is for the person to understand how the dog thinks. We attended a training class when Forest was 6 months old that gave us the invaluable knowledge of a dogs’ point of view. Dogs have A.D.D. That’s just the way they are. Boxers have extreme A.D.D. and baby Boxers can’t focus to save their lives. So, little Forest graduated from his 6-week class, and, while I could tell he retained the knowledge, he was still too young to focus for any given amount of time. So, we continued working with him every day and he progressed perfectly.

I take Forest running with me every weekday morning. The exercise is excellent for him (and me, for that matter!) and definitely makes him a much happier dog. Dogs with no outlet for their energy tend to find other means of keeping themselves busy – like eating shoes or digging holes or barking incessantly. I truly believe that we have never had any behavior issues with him because we’ve always looked at exercise as a very basic need for him. I’m sure the collection of chew toys helped, too.

The single, most valuable thing that Forest has taught me is to seize the day – as they say, “Carpe Diem”. He lives in the moment. For a dog, of course, that’s a very easy thing to do. For a person, it’s not so simple. We have jobs and kids and bills to worry about. “I can’t possibly take the time for [insert your activity of choice here], I have dinner to fix and then dishes and laundry to do and lawn to mow…” Personally, I used to tie myself up in all the have-to’s and not only did it need to be done, but done correctly and well. (I have a “touch” of OCD.) I’ve learned that laundry is not life and death. If I plan well, we get dinner done easily in the evening. The house will not fall down if I don’t vacuum today. I didn’t used to know these things. I see life more through Forest’s eyes. If it’s nice outside, GO outside. There’s likely a sweet flower to smell. Or, in Forest’s case, a tree to pee on.

What has your pet taught you?

Tug-o-war

Tug-of-war toys are the best!

Go play outside!

With the nice weather, one would assume everyone would want to be outside, right? Not everyone.

Yesterday morning the pups and I took a long run/walk (working on getting back running after a couple injuries), after which they eat breakfast and become couch potato puppies while I go to work. I got home last night, wanting to go for a walk and they didn't! Out to potty and then back in for dinner and more lounging. Lazy creatures!

Sunshine in Portland!

Finally!

Beautiful day. Thanks aplenty to Mother Nature! People will begin to peek from their homes and take to the streets on foot or on wheels. It may only last a week or so, but we'll take evey moment of it and squeeze every sparkle out of every ray of sunshine!

Personally, I'm takin' the dogs for a walk!

Enjoy the weather!

What a day for a daydream

You know those days you have where everything is just free and easy? Those RARE days? I never have them and if I did, it certainly wouldn't be on a Monday. Well, never say never. I'm having one today. Work is just flowing along, I'm actually a bit ahead of schedule (for the day, anyway), and time is neither dragging nor flying.

Here's to hoping your day is free and easy too!

Rain

So, I find myself a little anxious today and typing the second post of the day. Crazy!

I took the pups out for our walk this morning, as always. I love to look at the houses and the wonderfully different architecture of each of them as we wind our way to the dog park. I was dodging puddles in the pouring/sprinking/showering rain and realized that I didn't care that I was getting soaked. When I first left the apartment this morning and saw it was raining lightly, I thought,"Should have worn my rainjacket." But I also know it's considerably warmer and the last thing I want is to be too warm. That's a whole different post under "Women's Issues". We had a great walk and they ran and played and chased squirrels in the dog park and when I got back home, I felt energized! It was like I conquered the weather! Bring it on!

Now, I should certainly be used to the rain. We don't call it the Pacific NorthWET for nothing! But I'm still amazed at the fact that I get this empowering feeling after being out for a walk or run out in it.