The fuzzy faced sipper

Fairy Logic

Even when we are most out of control, there is always logic operating in our lives. B follows A, and D comes after C. The logical pattern doesn't cease to exist just because we're not aware of it.

This is how it works: We learned to meet our needs in ways that were modeled for us. Some of us learned to apologize, to play dumb, to manipulate, to rant and rave, to deny ourselves legitimate pleasure, or to lust after those things and people that would only cause us pain. That's A.

What we practice we become, and what we become stays with us. That's B and C. There are totally logical reasons for doing what we do and for thinking the way we think. That's D.

Logic isn't lacking. What the logic is based on is what causes us problems. What we learned to practice may very well not be working. But why we continue to practice makes all the sense in the world.

The Meeting Lily

k.....ready, steady.......

I have an electronic chart.

It's been there--I've glanced at it a few times, here and there.
I read some today......that's more than a 'glance'.

Yup--I get to commit myself to the process and to being a part of the solution here.  There's a bit of me that says 'thrilled beyond recognition'.  There's also a bit that says......just shush and do it.

So.  Denial and avoidance is usually where I spend some of my energy.  It would seem I've been doing that for the significant amount of time required.  And now it's just time to buck up, deal in realities and be responsible.

*laughing*  I was sorta convincing myself I WAS being responsible and 'bucking up'.
Notsomuch.

Right here.
Right now.

End one delusion, deal in the realities.
Ready.....steady..........GO!

:-)

Daily Reading

If we cannot tolerate our mistakes, we will never be able to move on from this place. If we do not step up to the plate with bat in hand, we will grow old without knowing what first base is like.

Life is a risk. A committed relationship is a risk. Letting ourselves go, voicing opinions, telling our deepest feelings, playing frivolously at the park, setting aside our carefulness with each other and sometimes falling flat on our faces -- all these things give us the pleasure of being alive. If we insist on playing it safe, then we never feel the thrill of the game. Our lives with each other become flat and empty if we do not take some risks. We have a right to be weak as well as strong; a right to be respected when we feel silly as much as when we appear dignified; a right to say what we believe even if it is half-baked. The greatest mistake is never to engage life.

Penguins!!! :-)

More Fairy Stuff

The ego is a self-justifying historian, which seeks only that information that agrees with it, rewrites history when it needs to, and does not even see the evidence that threatens it.

--Anthony G. Greenwald

One of the larger struggles facing us is relinquishing, the need to be right always. Only when we've given up the struggle do we understand that the battle is finally won. We come to see nonresistance as the quintessence of the power play. However, our need to be right is the point of real concern, and in order to let go of this need, clarity regarding the human condition is in order.

Few of us are sure of our worth, our necessity to the better functioning of the human universe. We falter and fear our mistakes, certain that they will enlighten our fellow travelers about our inadequacies. And so we bully others, covertly or with great poise, into accepting our viewpoints. We believe that ideas shared by others are more valuable, and thus our own value is assured. No one is served by the exercises in truth.

Trains, boats and penguins....

Oh yes--we have reached the "Why?" stage.  *laughing*  G-d love her for being a 'normal' child.

It was too cold yesterday for pool paddlin'.  And mom didn't think to pack a sweater--why would she, it's July for crying out loud.
No worries, the great adventure started out with shopping for a sweater/sweatshirt and then we were off.

Yup--slept like a rock last night.  And I'm talkin' Nana--as soon as I hit the couch...cuz someone was tossing their leg over me, whapping me with their arm, shoving the 'puppy' into my face and mumbling.....and finally, crawling atop me to toss her little curls up my nose as the she tried to nestle her ear to my chest for some odd reason.  Checking to see if I really HAVE a heart maybe?

Oh, but we saw fish and ducks and dweebs and penguins (aka pelicans) and boats and trains and more trains and playgrounds and flowers and --no turtles.  Disappointing, but apparently they were smart enough to know it was chilly out there!
Oh, but we found a walking path that goes along a train track that's pretty darn busy......that's pretty darn long.....but pretty cool cuz there's a walkway that gives you a birdseye view of the intersections!
And I walked a third of the walk way!  Well.....crutched....  And I marked it on the map and noted a gravel road that gets you upclose and personal!

Noisy place!
And the Bug still hollered "HI!!" and waved and smiled and got all joyful when the horn got sounded JUST for her.
k.....notsomuch just for her.
That 'whistle' sign mighta been the reason.....  *laughing*

Climbing Seaweed

Fairy Words

We are creatures of habit as evidenced by our getting stuck in old viewpoints long after they have quit serving us. However, that fact doesn't restrict us for all time. Anytime we want to cultivate a new idea, an alternative approach to a situation, we are free to do so.We are capable of freshening our perspective at any age.

We have all known some elderly men and women who have the spirit and enthusiasm of the very young. Unfortunately, we have also known the reverse.  Their whining belies their age. Who will we be? The choice is always available to us. And we can remake it as often as we wish.

What a relief to know that if we're old and resentful today, we still have the opportunity to be young and full of laughter tomorrow. Maybe we can't do everything we used to do, but this decision is still in our power.

Along for the Ride

100%!!

Ummmmmmm.....Nana has one speed.  The Bug--has another.

"Here's the deal.  You come when I ask you to come--and no problem.  You don't come when I ask you to come--PROBLEM."

Right.  She's four. What're the odds she's actually going to come when I ask!

New trick.....
"Right--NEW deal.  Your job is to carry Nana's crutch."  (Nana can walk short distances with one crutch, dontchaknow!)

*ahem*

Yes, bit of a dangerous proposition when I'm half way across the playground....and the second crutch is---wayyyyyyyy over there.

But boy, does that little booger run fast when I ask for the other one.
*laughing*
Yup--brilliant!
I've used that sucker four times with a success rate of 100%!

No worries--I'll mix up the equation today when we go to the OTHER playground!

*polishing nails*
I'm gooooooood!  *laughing*

TFTD

If you keep saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of being a prophet.

--Isaac B. Singer

We all know men and women who are too often critical and negative. Sometimes we, too, are these people. And when we fall into this trap of negativity, our life becomes unnecessarily complicated.

Any behavior we commit to practicing regularly is strengthened, whether it's positive or negative. It benefits us then to practice developing and holding a positive outlook rather than a negative one. Making the decision, each day, to quiet our mind, clearing it of negative expectations, is not a mysterious or difficult undertaking. It is rather an opportunity to influence in meaningful ways the many experiences we're destined to have.

We're empowered by claiming responsibility for how we perceive and respond to our opportunities, and thus for whom we are becoming.

Still growing!

Huh?

I'm good with it being Friday.
And I'm good with the Bug coming for the weekend--mom and dad have a new house to move in to.  I'm excited for them.  Still sulking that it's over an hour away, but there you have it.  Ain't about me!  (dangitall....)

Oh, and I had my performance evaluation with the boss yesterday.
"I'm going to hand this to you.  It took about 18 seconds last year.  I wrote more this year and anticipate it will take at least 34 seconds this year."

Yup.  That's about what it took!  LOL
And go figure, I disagreed with the rating.  I think he was extremely gracious and kind.

"You're my only manager that ran their own report and puts the data in their feedback section."
(well, hello......it's a data driven performance report?)
"You're my only manager who seems to get the bigger picture without having to be reminded."
(umm......ripples--what we do affects others and matters?)
"You're my only manager that operates in transparency."
(k.......zackly WHAT does that mean?!  I will go back to ask him!)
"You're my only manager that questions some of my decisions."
(LOLOLOL.....go figure!)
"You're my only manager who'll ask me to repeat something to clarify."
(seriously?)

I had to tell the boss that I was a bit concerned about the other 'first reports' if all those things were true.  I'd told him long ago that he and I talk two different languages--undoubtedly we adjust to the audience we're working with.  And I work with teenagers.  LOL  That's pretty telling about the level I operate on.  But really--if I'm the 'only manager' who does those things, I need to work harder to help the others find their big people pants and pull 'em up a bit.

Seriously--for a gal that's been absent half a year to some degree, who's gimped along for the majority of the rest, who didn't MAKE the benchmarks set out for her.  Oh, alright......made a few, but those weren't directly MINE to make--that was my teams responsibility to actually DO.
I'm still saying I was far from meeting the expectations--and no way did I exceed them.

I'm never quite sure what to do when someone doesn't agree with facts about ME.
Smile, nod and wait til they exit--and then shake my head and laugh.

Fairy Dust

I do not need to know exactly how to let go of my resentments or what will happen after I do. 

I simply must be ready to let them go.

Tassles!! :-)

Clean up....

I'm hoping for less 'moments' today.
Yesterday was not good.  And I have the mess to clear up to show for it.  *sigh*  I'd blame 'not feeling well', but c'mon.....I've 'not felt well' before and not had one of 'those' moments.
Yes, I had one of 'those' moments.

I really do possess the ability to use my mouth well.  Definitely a 'gift and a curse'.  No--the curse isn't the 'ability to use my mouth', the curse is when I fail to heed the stop sign between my brain and my mouth.  And that ain't a curse, that's a choice.
I chose wrongly.

Right.  When I come home still angry, when I inventory half a page of MOUTH--I know there's a fine mess to clear up.
Funny.....three people stopped to the office to ask if I was 'okay'.  Ya think they knew I was angry?!
Oh, heck--everyone knew I was angry at that meeting.  And I'm sure, because I *am* who I am, everyone they crossed paths with knows I was angry, too.  Hence the three people stopping into the office..brave souls that they were.

Yes, I know--clear up the mess, apologize...make things right.  Keep moving.
And see the doc today at 10am.
I really don't feel well.

TFTD

It has been said that when we ask someone to do something three times and they don't, what we're asking becomes our will and not theirs. Do we really believe that the only person we can change is ourselves? Is there a secret place in our hearts that believes we can, in fact, control others and make them change? Do we find ourselves hanging on to the hope that our lives will get better when a certain person changes and does things our way?

It is comforting to know that we can't change anyone but ourselves, and that is all we need to do. Each time we grow better, ripples of change go out in all directions.

Fairy Dust

Let joy be your compass. 

When choosing a direction in life, choose the path of your heart. 

Do what you love, follow your bliss.

Farmland stormy

Daily Reading

The process of detaching in love from family members can take years. 

So can the process of learning how to react in a more effective way. 

We cannot control what they do or try to do, but we can gain some sense of control over how we choose to react.  

Stop trying to make them act or treat us any differently. 

Unhook from their system by refusing to try to change or influence them. 

Their patterns, particularly their patterns with us, are their issues. 

How we react, or allow these patterns to influence us, is our issue. How we take care of ourselves is our issue.  

We can take care of ourselves with family members without feeling guilty. 

We can learn to be assertive with family members without being aggressive. 

We can set the boundaries we need and want to set with family members without being disloyal to the family.  

We can learn to love our family without forfeiting love and respect for ourselves. 

Evasion Tactic

Seriously?

I really sorta kinda like the clinicians.  I did NOT want to be their direct supervisor--they're all a bunch of gushy, feeling focused, neurotic folks.  LOL  I suppose G-d's laughing, setting me up with folks who're a bit more 'schooled' than I am, freshly educated in the field with papers up the whazoo--who are ALL about 'vulnerability' and 'talking about our feelings/thinking'.  Frankly, I was convinced they were all going to tenure their resignations when I let them know I'd be switching their direct supervision..... to me.  They did greet me with silence as they looked at each other.  LOL  Nice attempt to gauge each others' reaction before reacting themselves!  Failed, of course, but good try!

Seriously--they're now stopping into my office on a regular basis.
Two weeks ago one was there in tears cuz she 'wasn't being effective' and her efforts 'didn't make a difference'.
Pasting people back together is something I'm good at when I'm the one who's helped them end up at the 'got nothing to do but look at ME' place.  But to have 'em show up in that state.....a whole different story.

I've got to get a fresh supply of Snoopy bandaids--some 'fun' thing to earmark an 'ouchie' moment with a bit of healing and growth attached to it.

And really......I've GOT to somehow lose this reputation I'm establishing with those folks. Or get more kleenexes.
Bandaids AND kleenexes.......I'll get 'em on the list!

Somehow I'm thinkin' it'll be easier to get those than to lose the other.
Oy.......

Fairy Reminder

The external events of our lives are largely beyond our control. We do not choose our parents, our emotional environment, the historical period in which we live, our body type, or the flow of circumstances that shape our experience. These are givens. We do not select them, but we can choose how we will react to them, and in that choice lies our freedom and our responsibility.

Instead of complaining about the hand we've been dealt, we can concentrate on playing it well. This is the way we exercise our freedom. What might appear to be random chance can take on meaning and purpose as we delve for insight and use our deficiencies as opportunities for growth.

What happens to us is not as important as how we respond.

RePete

Fairy Reading

How often have we given our all to change somebody else? How frantically have we tried to force a loved one to see the light? How hopelessly have we watched a destructive pattern - perhaps a pattern we know well from personal experience - bring terrible pain to someone who is dear to us?

All of us have.

We would do anything to save the people we love. In our desperation, we imagine that if we say just the right words in just the right way, our loved ones will understand.

If change happens, we think our efforts have succeeded.

If change doesn't happen, we think our efforts have failed. But neither is true. Even our best efforts don't have the power to change someone else. Nor do we have that responsibility. People are only persuaded by what they understand. And they, as we, can understand a deeper truth only when it is their time to grow toward deeper understanding. Not before.

Huggin' Ms. Daisy

Today's Thought

Our inner dialogue can have awesome power. It often determines the behavior that defines who we are. We do, of course, have some choice as to the direction this inner dialogue will take. It's as easy to affirm our self-worth with positive messages as it is to tear ourselves down with negative ones. And yet, many of us fall so easily into negative patterns of thought.

As with so many aspects of our life, we become proficient at what we regularly practice. The regular, preferably daily, use of positive affirmations can make such a profound contribution to our well-being and willingness to grow and learn, that it can change the course of our life. All we have to do is develop the discipline to make these positive messages habitual. In so doing, we bring our vision of ourselves in line with God's, Who accepts us completely as we are.

The Flash At The End

Absolutely Fair Week!

Right.....patio is washed off and the 'stuff' for today's 'in and out cuz we're going to the fair' is pretty much as organized as it's going to be.
OH boy is it mid July...
Heat index to the 105 degree mark, you can bet it's been a sweaty event.  But don't think the heat's keeping folks away!  Notsomuch.  They packed some 24 thousand folks into the concert last night.  And tonight's Keith Urban concert is sold out--has been for some time.

Himself is a bit grumbly.  I'm not sure when he started the grumbling bits--I thought he liked fair week. LOL  Yes, well, that's apparently changed and it's a constant "It's one week of the year...." reminder.  We DO become popular during this week.  LOL  I think we'll have five cars parked in the yard for easy access to the fairgrounds today.
Darn that it'll be full enough that I won't be designing my "PARK HERE!!  For 1 HUG" sign to irritate the surrounding neighbors who charge strangers to park on their lawn.  MIGHT do it anyway.  LOL  It's good fun, and gives the neighbors something to razz me about for the rest of the year.

Oh, but it's good--folks are having a grand time of it.  And no one's been hurt....yet..... (crossing my fingers on that one).
In the meantime...I wanna remember the kindness of strangers....the fella who stopped on the patio to ask if he could put two beer cans that were laying on the sidewalk in my trashcan.  And the gal who asked if she could deposit her empty bag from cotton candy there as well.  And the wee kiddo that zipped on to the patio hollering "mommy--pretty flowers" and gave me a big "HI!" before he ran off to join his mom and dad who were apologetic and embarrassed for some reason.  LOL  Cute little booger...LOL
And now I'll make a trip around the house to collect lost and strayed bits from the 'party bus' that picked folks up in front of the house last night.  LOL
I bet himself I wouldn't find more than two of those red solo cups on the lawn!
LOL

More from the Fairy

Do we go about our daily work dutifully but joylessly? Have we settled for less in our jobs, homes, or relationships than we want? Have we substituted financial security or physical comfort for the freedom to pursue our heart's desires?

Very few of us give ourselves the opportunities to explore our real interests and potentials. We "lock" ourselves into rigid ways of regarding the world and our options. We often settle for less than our highest aspirations because we have conditioned ourselves into thinking life is joyless endurance or survival at best.

In order to change the empty circumstances in our lives we need to change our limited thinking patterns. Instead of looking at life as a prison, we can view it as a smorgasbord of opportunities that are well within our reach. By exploring and sampling the choices before us we can discover which choices bring us inner satisfaction and increase our sense of purpose.

The Moon, the window and me

Today's Reading

People have always wanted to talk to me about their problems. I guess I'm a good listener. Maybe I have something to contribute after all.

--Joann Reed

No one is without value in this life. Maybe we haven't discovered our unique purpose or special gifts, but we each have a place in the universe or we wouldn't be here.

Each of us can offer friends a valuable gift every day - we can listen. Messages from our Higher Power often come through the words of others. We perform a wonderful service for our companions by listening and by sharing our own experience and advice.

Rapt attention - giving it and receiving it - is perhaps the most valuable contribution any of us can make. Let's never underestimate the sacredness of listening.

Just Hangin' On

Not a dry eye

I've been told that if you change your mind, you change the world - or at least the way you experience it. 
Let's take a moment to examine that.

The presumption is, if you thought the world was a hostile, ugly place filled with awful people doing awful things, that is what you'd see. 
Your mind would naturally seek out confirmation for its preconceived ideas (e.g., if you're intent on buying a red car, as you go about your day you'll see lots of red cars). 

If, however, you were able to sincerely change your mind and see that we are all God in drag, that we are the conscious aspects of a perfect universe which had to create us so we could bear witness and stand in awe before its loving magnificence, then that is the soul-shaking reality you'd be greeted with each and every moment of each and every day. 

In other words, it is entirely our choice as to what kind of world we live in. 

With a simple decision, we can suffer in the darkness or play in the light. 

We can be angry, frightened and enslaved, or loving, joyous and free. 

I shared that Keeper of a Reading with he-who-wasn't-keen-on-the-"G-d-in-drag"-bit.  He's a bit......touchy about organized religion (and gets fiesty when I ask if that's G-d's fault...LOL).  Quite the 'discussion', actually.  Which resulted in his final statement of "it's really about choosing our attitude--so stop dragging G-d into it".  *laughing*  I doubt he 'got it' when I said "Absolutely" and agreed whole-heartedly.

If there's one thing I love, it's watching G-d in action while we debate something we agree on and he doesn't know it.  ;-)

Last night I had a lovely dinner, late as I was returning (lost track of time!).

And he reminded me of the discussion the previous evening.

He'd left town to go BACK to the train shop we'd visited on Saturday--seems he'd changed his mind about a couple of things...and not just the two box car's I'd tried to encourage him to get.  

Just out of city limits he pulled the Jeep onto a gravel road to watch the eagle gliding in the bright blue sky....and his heart shifted somehow.  He told me he'd been letting the circumstances dictate his attitude and that he'd really not spent a lot of time simply being grateful for what he has--that he's been abundantly blessed.  He really DOES live in a beautiful place--with fantastic things around him at every turn.  He's got a good life--and he's blessed to have such a loving wife.

Not a dry eye at the dinner table--that's for sure.

I didn't point out the use of the word "blessed".....until later last evening.

I had to ask why he chose that word to describe the emotions attached to his epiphany.  I know I got the truth when the puzzled look covered his face and he answered "No other word worked."

I know.......and ain't it cool?!

Uh huh......again....

Our negative judgments of others very frequently inform us of our own shortcomings. In other words, what we dislike in others are often those things we hate about ourselves. Much better than criticizing another's abhorrent behavior is a decision to look inwardly at our own collection of traits and attitudes. Our desire to criticize, to pass judgment, offers an excellent mirror of who we truly are. And the image we see reflected can guide our movements toward becoming healthier, happy individuals.

We can feel a bit of gladness for what our negative reactions are able to teach us - but we must be willing to learn from them. How exciting to contemplate that every hateful moment actually is offering us a positive opportunity for change.

It's human to find fault, and we shouldn't be overcome with shame. However, we hinder our own personal growth every time we quickly criticize another rather than rejoicing that we've been given an additional opportunity to move closer to the person we're being called to become.

The Colour of Storms on the Horizon

I love a good fair

Yup--it's definitely Fair week. Hotter than heck and people all over the place.  And it didn't officially begin until today......

Right!
I've told him I won't be headed over into the mass of people, noise and glitz.  I doubt that'd be anything close to safe--too many people, too many obstacles, too many cords and wires and excited children/rowdy adults.  The better half of wisdom is just to park it on the patio and be the 'meet and greet' lady.
Yeahwell...that's the intent.  Unless the wee one comes....and then HOW am I suppose to say 'nope, ain't goin'.....'.  *sigh*  I suppose it's that simple.
And I doubt the girl would be 'okay' with me even trying.

Oh, but I'll miss Skippy the waterskiing squirrel!
And the smells....and the lights and sounds...

Right.  We're a block from the action--the sounds GET here just fine, as evidenced by last evening's interrupted sleep with people happily wandering past the house in search of their parked cars.  And the smells.......travel.  Trust me on that one.
And if I stand on the sidewalk, I can see the ferris wheel and pretty tents with bright colours and flags and STUFF!!
:-/

Oh yeah...this IS going to be a battle of wills.
*laughing*  Bit scary that the fair could win, huh?

Fairy Reminder

There are really only two ways to approach life - as victim or as gallant fighter - and you must decide if you want to act or react, deal your own cards or play with a stacked deck. And if you don't decide which way to play with life, it always plays with you.

--Merle Shain

Being the victim is, or was, uncomfortably familiar to many of us. Perhaps some of us are only now realizing we have choices, that we need not let life happen to us. Becoming responsible to ourselves, choosing behavior, beliefs, friends, activities, that please us, though unfamiliar at first, soon exhilarates us. The more choices we make, the more alive we feel. The more alive we feel, the healthier our choices.

The Layover

Deep breath....try again?

Enough. Yaknow?

Sometimes putting yourself in the line of fire time and time again is just plain tiring and borders on abusive.  Wait--passes the border of abusive.  Ah, but I go in well armed.  I don't have to protect my heart--it's gonna hurt, watching people do what they do.  That's just a given.
So why do it?

Cuz it matters.....they matter, to this one.
Each and every one--every time.

I don't think it's unlike any other I've worked with.
Denial, anger, blame--rage, resentment....
Apparently I get in the way of all things vengeful.  I interrupt plans.  And I challenge that sense of 'entitlement' that we can embrace.
So when it turns ugly, I know what the anger is borne from.  I don't always know the details, but I know the diseased thinking well.

Enough?
Oh, reality is it'll never be 'enough'.  I can get tired and even a bit piffy.  Being the recipient of someone's angry tirade might be someone's idea of 'fun'. Notsomuch mine--but it appears to be required for some folks to move from point A to point B.
And if they never move?
*shrugs*  Some things I don't get to control--and they'll move, one way or the other.  I just prefer they move to point B.  The rest of the alphabet is an option though.

TFTD

Who hasn't taken pride in doing something that no one thought could be done? It gives us satisfaction to do something difficult, to lift our head high and say, "I did this alone." We take pride in being the best we can be.

But we can't find happiness in the pride that sets us against our fellow humans, saying, "I don't need you," or even, "I'm better than you." We do need each other. And each of us has strengths, weaknesses, and God-given talents that God expects us to use to help each other.

The Keeper Message

I've been told that if you change your mind, you change the world - or at least the way you experience it. 
Let's take a moment to examine that.

The presumption is, if you thought the world was a hostile, ugly place filled with awful people doing awful things, that is what you'd see. 
Your mind would naturally seek out confirmation for its preconceived ideas (e.g., if you're intent on buying a red car, as you go about your day you'll see lots of red cars). 

If, however, you were able to sincerely change your mind and see that we are all God in drag, that we are the conscious aspects of a perfect universe which had to create us so we could bear witness and stand in awe before its loving magnificence, then that is the soul-shaking reality you'd be greeted with each and every moment of each and every day. 

In other words, it is entirely our choice as to what kind of world we live in. 

With a simple decision, we can suffer in the darkness or play in the light. 

We can be angry, frightened and enslaved, or loving, joyous and free. 

The Purple One

It's heeeeeeeerrrrreeeeeeeee!!!

Annnnndddddddddd.......here we go!

Yup--another 'fair week' to contend with.
BIG trailers, noisy vendors--the ferris wheel! Lights, colours--huge crowds......  Woooooohooooooo!!

The good news is this happens every year--so it's not like it's a surprise and we have no time to plan for it. The gooder news is I'm on crutches and I have an excuse to keep it parked on the patio.  *sigh*  Not a bad place to park it--but I'll miss the 'up close and personal' moments of the fair.  I doubt that crutching my way around the jungle of cords and people will make for a good plan.  Maybe there'll be a 'sneak in and look around' time that's practical?
Yeah.
Notsomuch.....

Darn--and they even have Skippy the water skiing squirrel. (no relation to our ground squirrel I'm sure...LOL)
AND an aligator!
And concerts that'll draw folks like you wouldn't believe.

People!
Noise!
Red solo cups!  LOL

Mel......on the patio, meeting, greeting.....and staying the heck outta their way!!!
Oh, it's a good thing I rearranged the jungle on the patio this weekend.
I'll hide better.  :-)

Reading for the Day

When we become too virtuous, when we think

ourselves to be oh, so right, we become dangerous

to ourselves and others.

Be careful of those who imagine themselves to be on

the High Road while everyone else is walking the Low.

If they really are on the High Road, they will offer to take

everyone else with them, not simply tell others that they

are going the wrong way.

Ack

I forget...the Kindle can travel.  And I can read on my patio....and, apparently I can type too!
Not that I wanna spend time outside typing....ya miss the critter activity when ya do that.
Damn!!!
And you miss the renovated WWII Airplanes too.
That's it!!!
Putting the Kindle away!!!

The Canopy

Fairy Reading

Life is rarely as difficult as you think it is, and

hardly ever as aggravating as humans are able to make it.

How much patience do you have with Life? Are you

willing to overcome minor obstacles as you move

through your day? Or does anything and everything

that does not move in accordance with your wishes

cause you annoyance--if not outright frustration?

Consider the possibility that the little obstacles in

life are not obstacles at all, but stepping stones. Look

to see what they offer you in terms of growth, and

you'll see their treasure.

TFTD

The mind is the last part of yourself to listen to.

It thinks of everything you can lose. The heart thinks of

everything you can give, and the soul thinks of

everything you are.

When G-d Yawns

Notsomuch...

Too many bells--too many whistles.  Too many freaking buttons that change how things look and work.

I 'think' I resist change.  *sigh*  No news flash there.

I'm a 'self taught' kinda gal--so it's not like I can't learn the ropes and get in the swing of things when it comes to using a different program for my 'reader'.
But I'm not liking this one--too many bells, too many whistles, too many options that are too easily messed up by the curious (that'd be me!).

I've missed posts.
I've marked things read that I didn't read.
I've changed views and ended up with lists a mile long of posts that I've read but can no longer link to.(user error, I'm sure!)
And I've struggled with adding a website or two to my list via the Kindle--which is a disaster, frankly.

Probably me being picky.....probably me wanting a reader that works on multiple systems in a similar fashion (I could be dreaming!).  I don't want to bother with multiple readers for multiple systems for multiple devices.  Then I'm always at a loss--what have I read, what have I not read......what does this button do....oh LOOK, a chicken!  LOL

Yup--thinking I need to go shopping around cuz this one isn't cutting it.
I'm fussy, I guess.  I know what works for me...and this one isn't cutting it.
Ah well....back to the drawing board!

I could go back to simply adding the web logs to my 'favorites' list--but where's the fun in that?!  LOL

Fairy Stuff

Mistakes are our

friends -- they help us to grow.

Actually, it is impossible to make a 'mistake'

in real terms, since everything that we call

a 'mistake' actually brings us benefit.

So march ahead with all the power and

the fierce urgency of Now.

And don't worry about "mistakes."

Rather, worry about being afraid not to make any.

Jungle Flower

Exit #4

Yippee!  I have a ground squirrel!

Yeah, well, that's what I told him Sunday and the funny fella was immediately dubbed "Skippy".  Something about a bush kangaroo?  Heck if I know--he's from another world...literally cuz he's an alien...

Yeah, well..... yesterday it wasn't so much YIPPEE--it was more like "YOUR groundsquirrel has tunneled in the flower garden".  Yaknow, kinda like 'YOUR daughter' when the girl has been a bit....like me.  LOL

Uh huh...four escape holes!  FOUR.  Each with their own little pile of dirt.  (whaddaya suppose to do with left over dirt--carry it off in little buckets and deposit it.....where?)  Now, I thought Skippy was being pro-active and smart.  He-who-mutters thought Skippy was being a nuisance.  Therein lies the difference between sane/insane apparently.

Wow.....SMART move Skippy!  Escape plan if the evil cats show up!

"IN the flower garden?  Next to the foundation....."

Well, duh!  Half of the tunnel is already constructed AND it's fortified!

"Right...so when I stick the hose in the hole and turn the water on....."

STEP AWAY FROM THE HOSE BUSTER!!!!!  Skippy worked really, REALLY hard during those 8 hours I was at work!

"More like ten hours--apparently you still have problems with maths."

Yeah--well......I'm only 'allowed' eight--the other two don't count.  So tell me--what did YOU accomplish in the 8 hours (plus 2 that don't really count) while I was gone? Did YOU build an awesome tunnel system with four exits you can RUN to if evil shows up?

Uh huh....this is where he raised a finger (not the naughty one..the index one)
"I only need one....." and he walked to the door.

*laughing*  He's such a smartie pants.

Daily Reading

When we begin to believe that there is greater joy in working with and for others, rather than just for ourselves, then our society will truly become a place of celebration.

Jean Vanier

The Parade Wave

Yup--broken.....

Those little intern fellas are interesting folks.  Either they act as if they're the epitome of knowledge, or they act as if they ain't got the brains G-d gave geese.  (I apologize to geese for that saying.....)
Seriously.

"Has anyone told you that the break isn't healing?"
I had that 'blink and stare', pausing as I tried to figure out if I wanted to play with him or not....
"......as in 'not at all'. Has someone told you that?  How about I show you the CT..."

CT's are kinda funky.  I had no clue what I was looking at until he showed me the view of the waist down--and pointed at the femur with it's very evident break in the bone.

THIS is when I tapped on the screen and said "oh look.....an unhealed femur"
And THIS is where things went haywire.....


Did I know it was a touch screen?!
Notsomuch.....

He's carrying on trying to get the CT photo back, I'm apologizing for touching--I'm forbidden 'touching' of things in stores for this very reason.  Sorrysorrysorry!
......And in walks the doc!!

*laughing*
I gotta say it was quite the comical moment with 'ain't got the brains G-d gave geese' trying to LOOK like he had the brains and me shaking my head, attempting to look innocent and saying "I dunno--- but I think he lost my CT scan..."
No worries--I told on myself right after the remark.

RIGHT before the doc shook my hand and said "Let's do it--we gave it a good try, but it's time."

The talk of plates, screws, nails and hospitalization somehow made its way to he-who-has-big-ears was sitting and he joined us for the permission giving and signatures.
I offered to show him the pictures--but SOMEone wasn't able to pull the screen back up.
*laughing*

Ah well....we tried.
Sometimes things just....stay broken, I told the little intern fella.  (yes, I'm a bit cagey at times....)

Uh huh.......
*laughing*  That sucker was still whirling in a blue dance when we exited.

More Fairy Stuff

The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. 

The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.

Marcus Aurelius

Ahhhh....a bit of peace....

Fairy Diddy

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. 

Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude

...yippee...

Thrilled....I have 2 CT's, xrays and then an appointment with the doc.  I'm pretty well decided that I won't keep doing this.  Something phenomenally amazing will need to show up in picture form if that's to be my answer.  No, I'm not keen on having hardware attached to my bone, but I'm not quite able to wrap my head around the current limitations either.  *sigh*  Seems to be a mess either direction I go...but I can deal with a limited mess better than one without a limit...I think...
And I have my form for "disabled parking"……thrilled about that as well, but I still filled it out.  Now it's about getting the official letter from the doc and turning it in.  That's if I don't get so crabby I fail to ask for it.
LOL....What are the odds that I won't indulge in that degree of crabbiness?!
Right.  I'll try to let he-who-has-told-me-to-get-it-for-seven-months tend to that one.  Odds are he'll be more about chasing that than dealing in details about cadaver bone and nails, screws and plates!

Singin'

Today's Reading

Y

You cannot help another who will not

help him- or herself.

In the end, all souls must walk their path -- and the

reason they are walking a particular path may not be

clear to us...or even to them at the level of ordinary

human consciousness.

Do what you can to help others, of course.  Show

love and caring whenever and wherever you can.

But do not get caught up in someone else's "story"

to the point where you start writing it.