It's the End of the World as We Know It and I Feel Fine

As you may have already read before, If I am going to watch television I am much more likely to watch something on a Cable/Satellite network than the traditional triumvirate.  Traditional networks like ABC CBS NBC and even FOX  have some o.k. offerings to get us through the "dark at 4 p.m. so I I can't go outside in the cold and might as well sit down with a cozy blanket in my pajama mama pants and see whats on tv winter months" , but I still think cable is where it's at.  Some of my favorite channels include the History Channel, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Animal Planet, A&E, FX, AMC,  BBC etc. (warning the ID channel may turn you into a serial killer... 24/7/365 of death and depravity.... you can only watch murder so much before you want to commit it yourself, just remember they always get caught).  Anyway, these wonderful networks, some of which are owned by the majors, have some really great offerings in an otherwise reality TV infested and bad sitcom world.  By the way, what ever happened to originality and imagination?  Is is necessary to recycle EVERYTHING, even the garbage, from decades past? Recycled garbage is still garbage people. This goes for television and cinema as well! Really,  was it inspiration that led to the making of Dark Shadows into a Movie (I was hopeful but sorely disappointed) ? And let us not forget the debacles of Starsky & Hutch, SWAT, and Dukes of Hazards in their cinematic unGlory (oh how I wish I could forget).   Not every 70's and 80's sitcom needs to be relaunched or made into a movie.  Truly, Please. 

I must be fighting ADD today, o.k.  Focus Lisa.   

For every lump of coal introduced on television, there are a few scant pearls to be found on Network TV.  Fox has few, Raising Hope and New Girl.  ABC has Modern Family. But my interest usually take me to the non traditional cable/satellite stations.    

I do however, have some pet peeves aimed at the documentary channels.  How about basing the shows targeted as historical or documentary on “Actual” historical facts or "Genuine" science?  I understand that there is some need to speculate due to the lack of recorded and documented historical facts. However, I find it really incredibly annoying when an entire 2 hour shown on how the earth is going to end in , oh I don’t know, in possibly 2 million more years, is presented as genuine science and plausibility.  This is Science FICTION,  it’s all hypothetical but they get really great voice actors like Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones to narrate with such serious tones that the spin of  their wild tale convinces the gullible viewer of its reality.  I am certain someone out there is panicking and building a bomb shelter in their back yard in order to survive the impending doom of an asteroid hit. You know I'm right.

Though they might have some entertainment value, shows about life after man, or postulating on how the earths end will happen, are all theoretical and some are not even based on good theory.  Giant asteroids, planet wide volcanoes and earthquakes, a giant dark hole of anti-matter, the next ice age,  haven't I seen these in a movie?  Oh yes, Armageddon, The Day after Tomorrow, 2012,  THESE are not FACTUAL.  

Guess what,  we don't really know what dinosaurs liked to play together, or why they all suddenly died. We don't really know what the atmosphere on Jupiter or Venus are like, we've never been and have no real scientific evidence.  It's all hypothesis and imagination.  I guess its more believable if Sigourney Weaver tells you it is because she DID do those Alien movies. 

I love a good documentary, like the one on graffiti artist Banksy.  Fascinating!  But sell it for what it is, truth or fiction.  Don't confuse the two.  

Always Pay it Forward

I have had the good fortune in my life to have really good people who care for me when I am down rather it be emotionally, economically, or spiritually.  A support network that always lifts me up. It is never the same, sometimes it’s an organization, a small group of people,  or one single person, but I have never been alone. 

This good fortune isn’t about handouts. I am a person of great pride and I don’t ask for help easy or accept it readily. I am very proud to say that whatever I have today came from hard work and self-sufficiency, even when that sufficiency meant tightening my bootstraps. This good fortune is about connection. It’s about opportunity, and simple kindness.  It’s about listening, encouraging, and uplifting. Its about having someone’s back, even when they don’t know it.  Its about being observant and seeing the world around you, and recognizing when you can make a difference.
 

The good fortune I speak of is caring for someone else even in the midst of the chaos of our own daily lives. Keeping our eyes open for information and possibilities that might help someone we know who is in need.

Let me share a story with you:

It was a cold Saturday morning and my then 15 year old son Brandon had spent the night at his friend Michael' s apartment in downtown Vancouver.   Michael came from a broken home and his mother was in the midst of a battle with drugs and alcohol.  Michael spent a lot of time at our home, and I hoped everyday that Michael would be o.k.. He and his mother had very little money and what little they had went to support his mother habits.  But that particular November weekend, Michael had to babysit his younger brother so Brandon kept him company. There was a bitter cold front passing through and Brandon woke up early and called me to come pick him up.  Michael's apartment was freezing because his mother had the gas turned off. Brandon was hungry and there was no food in the cupboards, he just wanted to come home (sadly most visits to Michael's house ended this way). When he got in the car he asked if we could drive through McDonald's and get him a bite to eat, as he and Michael didn't have dinner the night before either.  We had just turned into the driveway of the McDonald's when suddenly Brandon called out and insisted I stop the car.  I was stunned and surprised and couldn't understand what was wrong, but when the tires came to a halt in the middle of the parking lot, Brandon jumped out and quickly made his way to the door.  You see, my Brandon, my wonderful empathetic, soulful Brandon, saw an opportunity to act.  An elderly wheelchair bound gentleman was struggling to open the doors to go inside the restaurant.  Rather to eat or simply get out of the cold, it  didn't matter,  he needed help and my Brandon was there.  Without thought or hesitation, he acted, rather stranger, friend, or relative, his heart took over and he acted. When I think of acts performed with no ulterior motives, completely selfless, I remember that cold November morning and the heart of a 15 year old hungry boy.

I believe in always paying it forward. Supporting my friends and acquaintances in any way I can through job searches, computer training, network connections, emotional uplifting, and sometimes a simple smile or just a few hours of time spent together to take their mind off of things. Sometimes a door opening, or a bowl of soup, a text message to say you are thinking of them can make all the difference. 

I’ve had challenges in my life, just as anyone else, but I have always had the good fortune of great people who were there as I tackled and adapted to my new beginnings and fresh starts.  I have a debt to pay, and I will pay it forward every day. Because even if yesterday’s debt is fulfilled, I know there will be another sometime in the future. Everything comes full circle, and life is about constant change and I know that just as the wind changes, and the air around us moves, so does life. Without challenge there would be no growth, no learning, no wisdom, the key is, if we pay it forward, we never have to face challenge alone.  Someone will always be there to lift us up, or open a door. 

Obsessive Compulsive - Aren't We All?

According to the psychiatric world Obsessive Compulsive Personality  Disorder is characterized by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency.

I, and for the record MANY  people I know, fit this description as if it were written for me. I obsess over tiniest details and structures in my life.  I rely on structure for my very stability and comfort.  When my routines or structures are compromised everything in my world runs amok and goes askew and my balance is lost.  Sometimes I can recover within seconds, sometimes it takes minutes, and on extreme days it can take hours.  My reactions can be seen as bitchy or irritable, when in fact I am simply uncomfortable with the change.  I don't mean to be snappy or short, I am just managing the shift of my expectations and the results which are not what I anticipated. 

Things in my world, have a place in space, in time, in  emotion.  I test myself frequently for my ability to manage chaos buy moving things around or allowing someone else to put things in a different order, and I've gotten better, but there are still moments in my head when I panic that i am losing control of my surroundings.

Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorder is approximately twice as prevalent in males than females, and occurs in about 1 percent of the general population. Like most personality disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorder typically will decrease in intensity with age, with many people experiencing few of the most extreme symptoms by the time they are in the 40s or 50s.This is good news for me because I am in the right time of my life for the pressures I place on myself and those around me to wane.

I thought about this last night as my son and I were having an intense discussion about my expectations and perceived lack of patience with him and others when I arrive home from work each day.  In my head I envision my home a certain way, the couches, the tables, the kitchen,  things are in order. So when I walk through the door and things are askew because real people live in my home (I realize this) I suffer from an end of day panic.  I have little control over my world at work, except for what is in my workspace, so when I get home I want to regain my control. When it doesn't meet my expectations I react with an immediate laundry list of instructions and request that, to a 16 year old, seem petty and unimportant.  I can't expect him to understand my psychosis, but I can find a better way to ask him to pick up after himself.  I'm working on this, every day.  Some days are better than others. I notice s significant increase in my agitations on days when work has been notably more demanding.  In the time I have to learn to breathe through my panic and let people relax around me.

I wonder if OCPD is genetic or if it is just part of our evolution.  I see various signs in both of my sons, but I see them in many other people as well. I think its much more common place than most people realize.  We all have things in our worlds that we want to control. That we obsess over.  Don't we?  Don't You?  I acknowledge that my level and need for control is probably more prevalent than some, but there are many who are more severe than I. There are many who lose productivity and the ability to complete even simple tasks because of their OCPD.  It takes work, and conscious choices every day to let it ride, to things slide and be o.k. with it.  I have days when its O.K. to eat things on my dinner plate in an ensemble fashion and to allow the different foods to touch, and I still have days when everything must be separated and eaten one element at time.  Its all relative to the stress in my life, where I find my balance and how I manage it.

An Artist Eye

I was helping my son put together a PowerPoint presentation last night for a talk he is required to do in one of his college classes today.  My expertise is computers and software programs.  I am pretty good with PowerPoint amongst  many others.

What I learned is that I am very limited in my knowledge about art.

As we reviewed the the 15th century piece he would be discussing, I realized beyond the basics, I had no idea what the painting symbolized.  I am not an artist, and therefore I lack the artists eye.  I could learn the lingo and go to a museum and ramble off a few terms that may make it sound like I know what I'm talking about, but I would only be a pretender.  Any true artist, would see right through me.

  

As we prepared the discussion in the above painting, I was fascinated with the things I simply would never notice unless someone, a true artist, had explained them to me.  Beyond space and balance and symmetry (which I confess to know very little about beyond the words themselves), there is so much else. For instance, the Oranges on the window sill.  I learned that because wood has very limited reflectivity that the artist used the refractory light from the oranges to create the light on the wood just as they would in real life. I was baffled by the symbolism of the painstaking detail in the mirror and the frame around it. Or of the single lit candle in the chandelier.  Or even the most obvious, of the woman's fashion. Can you see the miniscule detail in every hair on the dog.  They all have meaning to an artist and once you understand them, the significance and your understanding of the painting is forever changed.

I am in awe of the artist eye, their ability to find beauty and detail beyond the surface.  But even more amazing to me if the artist ability to create a story with symbolism and meaning purely from their imagination as Van Eyck did in this painting.  No models, no scene to draw on, simple imagination. Astounding.

Artist are truly a gifted minority. Their minds work differently than the academic and they see and appreciate so much more in the world around them.

50% - Fail or Pass

This morning, just as I do every morning, I turned the TV on to watch the morning news as I prepared myself for work.  Its a ritual for me, and any change to my ritual throws me for a loop and changes my whole day. Luckily this morning my ritual remained intact and all was well with the world.

As part of my ritual each day, the weather forecaster comes on the screen and advises me on my wardrobe choices, not directly of course, she doesn't tell me what color sweater to pick out or what boots to wear, that would be silly and make me sort of insane,  no she advises me by telling me what temperatures to expect and rain or shine. This morning she showed her map and said the rain storms had passed, we were in for a dry day with sunshine in the afternoon and temperatures in the mid 60's.

I thusly, chose to wear a pair of black slacks, my tom toms, and a light sweater. No additional layering necessary today.

Imagine my surprise as I stepped outside to leave for work and felt something hit my head.  What is that?  Oh dear, there it is again. And more still?  Could it be? Is that rain?  But the forecaster showed me a map that said the rain was gone and it would be dry today?

Am I surprised that our forecaster was once again wrong?  No not really.  It happens more frequent than not and the truth is (especially beginning in the Fall and running through late Spring and early Summer) weather forecasters are wrong at least 50% of the time.

So I was thinking,  when else in life is 50% o.k.?  How many careers can you chose which allow you to be wrong 50% of the time and still be employed? Of course weather forecasters are at the top of my list today,  but who else can be wrong 50% of the time and still keep their job?  You?  Certainly not me!

Here are a few I can think of; The judicial system: Judges, Prosecutors, Defenders - they all have a 50/50 shot of getting it right;  Baseball Players and other professional athletes get paid millions to get it right less than 50% of the time;  Actors and Actresses get it wrong a lot, think of all the stinkers on Television and in the cinemas;  Doctors are a shot in the dark kind of career, it is often an educated guess and sometimes they have to try and try again to get it right.  Scientists will fail a 1000 times before they get it right. Photographers take 100's of photos just to get that ONE special shot.

Some blurbs in life lead to our greatest discoveries, baker and chefs and artist sometimes find that one misstep leads to their most spectacular and beloved creation.

God started with man and then corrected his error and made woman. :)

I guess if they had told me in school that 50% was a passing grade in life, I wouldn't have been so hard on myself.

Then again, who wants to be part of the 50 percentile when they can exceed expectations and be even greater.  I think I'll keep striving for more. 

Video Games - This can't be Fun?

If you have kids, or have parented this generations young adults, then you are familiar with the video game era.  If your lucky, you have been able to govern and limit the interaction of your children and their choices of games to an age appropriate level.  But, once they reach their late teens and early adulthood, your governing authority over game content is out the window and the most you can hope to do is set limitations on exactly how much time you allow for the life they create in these virtual worlds.

We started out with a firm, "No Video Game" in mentality our homey. You know best of intentions and all that.    But,  when we bought our RV and began camping like grown ups (no more tent camping), we found the need for a Play Station.  It could be used for videos in the RV and while on the road in the F250 and it made the ride simpler and more peaceful.  The question might be asked how our parents traveled with more kids, less entertainment options, and still kept their sanity.....or did they....keep their sanity that is. :)

Anyway, I digress,  Back on track now.....Video Games.  After we bought the first Play Station, it slowly migrated from the RV to the house.  It remained mobile, but it began to take homestead.  The kids were younger then and we played games that mom enjoyed too. Shrek, and Harry Potter, Ratchet and Clank, and Mario Cart.  I found they were challenging and really did have value for hand eye coordination and development.  Maybe I had been to close minded.

Within 5 years each kid had their own system and there was one in the common living area as well.  Ten Years, and they have had every system migration that has been introduced,  and the games are no longer the kind of games mom can play with them.

We have in my little 900sf  house, 2 Xbox 360's, 1  Play Station 3, and 1 Wii.  There are in my attic, PS2's and Xbox consoles which have been retired (They are still fully functional just retired).  The Wii is mine. I am very selfish with it, and only play it sporadically, but its mine.  I play my original genres, my Shrek, and my Zelda. I play my Sims and Jeopardy and Wheel of fortune and Carnival games and Miniature Golf.  These are fun to me, especially when I get to play with a group.

Jeff uses his PS3 for racing and golf, and occasional RPG (Role Playing Games) but only occasionally.

Brandon and Wyatt are my gamers.  Don't get me wrong,  they still stay active outdoors and aren't turning into little pudge-monsters who sit in front of a video screen all day, but they love their games too.  They play "Live" which allows them to connect with other players world wide inside their virtual battle grounds.  This is the source of my question...."This Can't be Fun????".

The frustration and taunting and yelling which results in the midst of these video game battles....it can't be fun? Right? The intensity and stress it creates while playing and the time it takes to calm and cool when a battle is over?  It can't be fun? Can it?  It is ONLY a game.  But you would think from the intensity that vibrates from their bedrooms, that they are really in the midst of a war.  I just don't understand the draw.  If I go to play a game that I know is going to result in me feeling angry, frustrated, and more stressed than any day at work could ever result in, well....then I don't want to play?  At first I thought it was a boy thing, but they have female friends who play too and get just as riled up and roused. 

I personally can't play the war games, too many buttons, too many functions, to fast paced,  I've tried and I simply spin in circle and shoot at the sky.  I am dead weight and get really confused when I die (repeatedly and frequently) and re-spawn somewhere I have no idea where I am, thus the spinning in circles and shooting at the sky. :)   It's not fun being yelled at, and blamed for a teams death.  I think I'll stick with my bowling and golf, and Sims castaway and stay away from the battles.

But every time I hear the voices raise and feel the tension and death stare when I interrupt to announce dinner is ready,  I question.....This Can't be Fun, Can it?????

Off Duty Signs.....

So as I was enjoying my weekend I experienced and epiphany and thought, wow, who knew.

I realized that I spend so much time on the computer for work throughout the week, that when the weekend arrives, I have no desire, inclination, drive,  or whatever other term you can imagine, to get on the computer.

As much as I love and appreciate my social network, and Facebook stalker time, blogging, and general trolling of the web for interesting tidbits,  I just can't bring myself to sit at the computer.  Any updates I receive over the weekend come in via iPhone.  No I know I can do almost anything with my iPhone that I can do with my computer in the Social Network and Blog worlds,  but its such a pain in the posterior.  Have you ever tried typing an entire blog post on your iPhone?  I have.  And it's not easy. :)

So I started thinking about other career choices where people shut it off when they are Off Duty.  I picture in my head a virtual OFF Duty sign flashing.

 

So the gardener or professional landscaper, does beautiful work for you.  He is an artist and your lawn is his canvas, his masterpiece,  but when he gets home, he has not wish or desire to pull weeds, to mow, to trim the hedge, or  fertilize the grass.  There is your home and his home.

      

The Professional House Painter knows his craft.  He knows the colors that work best with the design of your home and he is instrumental is raising the resale prices in your neighborhood.  Unfortunately, for his neck of the woods, by the time he gets home,  he has no desire the lift a paintbrush or scrape and eave.  A house in his neighborhood can be had for a discount, since the values have taken a dive because of his dilapidated eyesore.  

   

Likewise the maid keeps your house clean and her home is a monster sized dust bunny.  

I'm sure there are many more but the point is, that when you spend your waking hours doing something , even if you love it, day in and day out, sometimes you just can't bring yourself to do it at home. 

Some exceptions to the rule are professions of great ego and education.  Doctors for instance can't pass up an opportunity to show off their first aid and medical prowess.  Lawyers, are always looking for an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to win an argument and present their case for why they are always right.  Politicians are always schmoozing and you never know when they are genuine.  Scientists will never bypass a chance to demonstrate their theoretical advanced knowledge of the origin of man, peanut butter, or the antimatter. 

I love my job, I love my social network, and I have come to REALLY love blogging, but if I disappear now and again on the weekend, consider it my recharging time, like an electric car, or that robot VICKI from that obscure Saturday mornings TV show 20 years ago. Check in on me, I may be here, but if I'm not,  you can be sure I'll return on Monday with a million more chaotic thoughts and sometime controversial opinions.

Insomniac Shopping - The Dangers of Late Night TV

Do you suffer from insomnia? Do you ever find yourself awake at 2:00 a.m. with no hope of sleep?  Your favorite tv stations have all transitioned for the evening (or is it morning?) to infomercials.

As you lie in bed trying not to wake your partner, you watch these wizards on tv work their magic with their wonderful tools and you  think,  I could use of those.  Or..maybe two...I could get one for the kids.

Everything looks amazing at 2:00 a.m.

The saving grace, for me at least, is that my purse with my wallet and my bank card in  it, is in the living room, and I don't want to get up and walk to get it.  Also I'm trying to be quiet so as not to wake anyone, so talking on the phone wouldn't really work. Besides my phone is charging in the kitchen and its cold, I don't want to leave my warm bed.

Here are some of the things I've seen on TV this week:

   only $10.95 plus S&H   $4.99 plus S&H

$14.99 plus S&H     $19.95 plus S&H

  $14.95 plus S&H    $9.95 plus S&H

And not to forget but instead pay special honor to:

Insta Hang; Dryer Balls; Liquid Stitch: The Trendy Top; Topsy Turvy: Miracle Socks; The Glove Lite; and of course we can all use a Sofa Butler.

The most amazing thing is, that these infomercials and HSN networks do most of their business in the wee morning hours. Between Twilight and Dawn. Its almost predatory if you think about it.  Preying on people in their most vulnerable sleep deprived moments. 

But those Eggies and that Meatloaf sure do look useful. :)

Body Art or Self Expression?

The debate over tattoos and piercings gets pretty  heated in today's society, especially within the conservative religious communities,  but history indicates it has been around for more than 12,000 years.  Rather you  love or hate it, or are just simply apathetic, you can't escape the fact that they have become very common place and that they are not going away.

No one knows the exact origin of tattoos but it is believed they have been around for at least 12,000 years. Tattoos have a history on all continents and have served varied purposes. Piercings have a history that is almost as long, with some accounts at least 5,000 years old.

Tattoos are found by archaeologists across the world as they unearth our ancestors. A mummy found in the Tyrolean Alps was found to be over 5000 years old and had at least 57 tattoos that are thought to have been medicinal because they were on acupuncture points. Mummies were found between Russia and China that were dated at 2400 years old with tattoos of animals and monsters believed be decorative and to have magical purposes.Tattooing was used in Egypt from 2000 to 3000 BCE. Many of the Egyptian mummies were women who displayed tattoos across their stomachs thought to have been for fertility and to honor female deities. From Egypt, tattooing spread around the world.

 

Figurines from Japan believed to be 3000 years old show marks or engravings that symbolize tattoos of religious symbolism. Tattoos spread across southern China along the silk route. Polynesian people used tattoos extensively and believed that a person's soul is displayed in the tattoo. The Maori (New Zealand) created full-faced "moko" which showed their status, lines of descent and tribal associations. In Borneo, tattooing has been practiced for thousands of years and traditional tribal tattoos are still practiced today. In India and Thailand, tattoos were put on the body by monks who incorporated magical powers. Ancient Greeks learned tattooing from the Persians and passed it on to the Romans. Celts used permanent body paint to symbolize life's journeys.  In the 1700s, tattooing became a tradition in the British Navy. The Mayans used them as a sign of courage. In North America, aboriginal groups used tattoos to symbolize success as warriors, marital status and group identification. New York City had the first tattoo shop in 1846.

Piercings are common throughout the world and are seen on mummies at least 5,000 years old. Ear piercing is perhaps the most common, seen on every continent and worn by both men and women. Lip piercings are also universal. However, the Dogon tribe Of Mali, and the Nuba of Ethiopia were the only ones that used rings which represented the world's creation.Tongue piercing was seen in the Americas. Drawing blood in this way was thought to aid in communication with the gods. The nose has been pierced for over 4,000 years. First in the Middle East and then in India.  In the Middle East it symbolized the wealth of the family. In India it helped cut the pain of childbirth. Septum piercing has also been around for thousands of years and was widely used in warrior cultures to give the face a fierce look.

So.... love them or hate them, history has demonstrated that cultures embrace them for different reasons.  Though modern day society seems to primarily use them as a way to mark individuality and self expression. 

I confess,  I have two tattoos both designed by my son.  One is about the earth cycle, the sun the moon the stars and is marked with  the names of my children.  The other is about the elements around us, Earth, Wind, Water, Fire and Spirit.   I'm thinking of getting a third, but haven't decided yet what it should be.  My tattoos are not visible to most people. Not because I'm ashamed of them, but because I understand and respect that there are prejudices in the working world and my individualism is not necessarily my highest priority when I go to work. I simply compartmentalize my business life from my private life and try not to let the two bleed into each other.

I've had many piercings over the years,  though I will admit that piercing my face was never an interest of mine, though I respect the individual right to do so. At one time in my youth I had 4 and 5 piercings in my ears and even increased the gauge on the first two holes for a while (though never very far).  I had a few other piercings as well, but now limit myself to two per ear.

The older I get the less I feel the need to make a statement. I am confident in who I am and what I believe, and I respect the rights of others to express themselves.  Do I think that some push the limits to the extreme?  Perhaps, but it's  for them to resolve when the time comes and they decide they want to mainstream. Who am I to judge?  Throwing stones, glass houses, and all that.

My single caution, is think before you leap.  Your choice is a life one.  Make it well.

Sounds We Love, and Sounds we Don't

I was on the train on my way to work this morning and wondering why I don't use it more often.  With the price of Gas it would certainly be more efficient and budgetary conscious.  It takes less time and stress and even with the new fares is still 1/2 the price and hassle of parking downtown.  So is that extra 10 minutes of sleep really worth it?

Then I found an added benefit, it actually gave me time to think. To observe the people around me and it was certainly food for fodder.

As the Train rounded the corner by union station and the rails against the wheels let out an ear piercing screech and wine, I thought about sounds that we love, and sounds we hate.  Here are a few.  Feel free to add your own. :)

Sounds I love:
1.) Waves crashing against rocks.
2.)  Rain hitting against windows, and coming through the trees and touching down on the roof.
3.)  The sound of people walking in snow, or the silence of snow falling (I know not really a sound, but sometimes the absence of sound can also be beautiful and soothing).
4.)  Babies laughing.
5.)  Birds chirping, and crickets too. Oh and the sound of frogs in the distance on a warm summers night.
6.)  A fire crackling.
7.)  People laughing.
8.)  Leaves crunching beneath your feet.

9.)  Cats purring.
10.)  Church bells in the distance.
11. ) The sound of a violin played well.
12.) A creek or brook steadily flowing over rocks through the woods.
13.) The soft and steady breathing of a sleeping child.
14. ) The docent chimes of a Grandfather Clock
15.) The Tumble of Clothes Dryer

Sounds I Hate:
1.)  Nails on a chalkboard (who doesn't).
2.)  Someone throwing up.
3.)  A car alarm or horn.
4.)  A dentist’s drill.
5.)  Someone spitting, or sniffling.
6.)  A yappy dog.
7.)  Screaming babies or children.
8.)  Someone talking with their mouth full.
9.)  Teeth grinding.
10.)  A knife grinding on a plate.
11.) The sound of the train wheels grinding on the rails.
12.) Screeching tires
13.) Sirens
14.) The clicking of a pen
15.) A fire Alarm

Maybe next time I'll do smells we love and hate.  But today it's sounds because the train inspired me so.

Nap Time - Not just for Children

If I were to take a poll of adults who as to Nap Time Yes/No what do you think the results would be?

Would they fall 50/50, 75/25, 25/75, or something else?

If you ask me, or my employer, you would find a resounding YES, that Nap time for adults is a plus.  We even have a special Lounge created for this added health benefit with guidelines established.  The Stickel Lounge is named in honor of a previous Editor for the Paper. It has 5 distinct areas designed for maximum benefit of its users.  There is a soft but well lit table for people who wish to have the quiet of the lounge but still desire to work on writing or a laptop computer.  There is a lower lit living room section where a Large over-sized recliner and soft comfortable well cushioned couch await you intended for those who want to rest but perhaps read too. There is a semi-dark area with three very large overstuffed recliners where the only light is a carryover from the dimly lit living room area. A darker area with another couch flows off of the semi-dark reclining section, separated by a half wall and nearly dark it greats you with another very comfortable couch meant for lying down. There is an additional room with a door and two Recliners intended initially for nursing mothers to allow privacy, however, if it is not in use it gives an additional measure of quiet and peace to users.  Throughout the lounge there is an expectation of silence.  It's not a place for chatting, cell phone calls, or eating.  NO food allowed.  Its meant for rejuvenation and reboot.  In all, 8-10 people at a time can sleep here.

Does this make those who use it lazy, or slackers?  Absolutely not.  I personally LOVE this room.

According to studies 20 minutes of sleep in the afternoon provides more rest than 20 minutes more sleep in the morning (though the last two hours of morning sleep have special benefits of their own). The body seems to be designed for this, as most people’s bodies naturally become more tired in the afternoon, about 8 hours after we wake up. You can actually benefit from 20 minutes to 1 hour but you have to control your sleep stages.

When you sleep you pass through different stages of sleep, known together as a sleep cycle. These stages include light sleep, deep sleep (which is believed to be the stage in which the body repairs itself), and rapid-eye movement sleep, or REM sleep (during which the mind is repaired). However, research has shown that a 1-hour nap has many more restorative effects than a 30-minute nap, including a much greater improvement in cognitive functioning. The key to taking a longer nap is to get a sense of how long your sleep cycles are, and try to awaken at the end of a sleep cycle.

What are the benefits of napping?
Napping offers various benefits for healthy adults, including:

• Relaxation
• Reduced fatigue
• Increased alertness
• Improved mood
• Improved performance, including quicker reaction time, better memory, less confusion, and fewer accidents and mistakes

I remember as a kid, fighting nap time.  "I'm not tired".   But today, I not only agree with nap time, but I try to reserve my lunch period at least 2 days a week for it.  I can't compromise lunch everyday for it,  I get so many lectures about skipping meals, but I figure a couple of days a week are nice.

I'm sure if I continued researching I could find lots of studies extolling the benefits of nap time, but I don;t have time right now,  I'm on way to take a nap.

Career Builders

I was thinking recently about my career and what led me to the path I've chosen. As I was reading a good friends blog nancysphotocorner.blogspot.com I decided to try and map every job I've had since I started working at the age of 14.

Keep in mind that through all the years and jobs and employers, NOTHING compares to my real job, my real career, my real love, Being MOM.  This will never take a back seat, and this will always be my first priority, the others just pay the bills. 

In the Summer of 1981 while still 14 waiting for my 15th birthday I got my first job.  One of the men at my church owned a Pet Store in town and I went to work for him. Randy had a love for animals and I stayed with him for nearly 3 years until he sold the store and the new owner brought his kids in to work and basically drove the business under in less than 6 months.  While working for Randy at 'Pet World' I really pushed the envelope for my comfort zone.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the woman who hates all things creepy and crawly, handled, cared for, fed, and sold all manner of creepy.  Tarantulas, Scorpions, and Snakes.  I handled mice and rats and crickets. I loved the fish and birds and puppies and kitties. We had monkeys and raccoons too. It was a veritable menagerie of animals and I was crazy and young and adventurous enough to try anything. 

 

When the pet store went out of business I spent a very short period paying my dues, as all teenagers should, in the world of fast food.  I did a short stint at both 'Carl's Jr.' and 'Burger King', and I was so grateful not to make it a career.  The uniforms were ghastly.  

I got my first office job at 17 when I  went to work for a colleague of my dads at 'Telecom West'.  I was all things office for their one stop shop and I loved it. Dick and his son Robert ran the business with 4 installers.  They specialized in business phone systems but were on the leading edge of a brand new technology called mobile phones.  Crazy sounding as it was, people could actually talk on the phone while on the go. I know, right?  These phones to go were the size of a brick from your garden and about as heavy too. In order for them to work, it was necessary to schedule an installation which could take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours, of cables, wires and antenna in your vehicle.  The mobile unit could then only be used with that vehicle and in proximity to its antenna.  WOW have we come a long way since then.

I tried my hand at Sales a few times. My next adventure was serving time as a sales consultant for 'Consumer Electronics' a home electronics and entertainment store.  I really sucked at sales and never hit my quota or earned the commission which sounded so fabulous when I accepted the job. Then came jewelry store #1, followed by a clothing department store, and then furniture store round #1, none of which I can remember their names. All three were sales associate jobs, and they served to confirm my lack of interest and comfort in sales. I also worked as Assistant Store Manager for 'Payless Shoes' for a while and built quite the inexpensive shoe collection.

When I moved for a brief period to Carmel Mountain just north of San Diego I went to work at furniture store #2, 'Jeromes Furniture' between Escondido and La Jolla.  I was behind the counter doing  office work and processing customers for credit, and I found I was back in my comfort zone.  I really liked the office work. It was numbers and data and paperwork and organization and its where I functioned best.

I left San Diego, somewhat abruptly due to changes in my life and found myself thrust back into the Antelope Valley for a bit.  I went to work at jewelry store #2, 'Barry's Jewelers' but this time I did a little better because even though I was on the floor selling, I was also being trained to run the back office and order inventory and maintain the daily accounting books.  

When I was 22, my administrative professional career kicked into high gear and I've done nothing else since.  I moved to Orange County, California where I started work at 'Control Air Conditioning', a commercial HVAC provider.  I developed my skills working my way from the bottom to the very top and later expanded my skills by varying my industry experience.  'Scisorek & Sons' was food and flavor additives; 'Specialty Restaurants' owned a series of high end restaurants across the USA; 'Kodak' I loved. I was executive assistant to a 5 person executive team but also ventured into the lab and learned to process my own film and do photo restorations. It was amazing!!: 'PharmaPrint' was a pharmaceutical grade herbals research and development company; 'SteriOss' were dental implants, I did collections there and KNEW in an instant I hated it.; 'Startel' was about answering networks, I did trade show coordination, and realized that traveling was not a love of mine.; 'Power Plus' came next and again I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone and took on a role in contract management. I was good at it, but the hours were long, the stress level high, and I yearned for my role as Executive Assistant once again.

When I relocated to the Northwest after 16 years in the Orange County region, I went to work for the 'Portland Development Commission'.  It was my first foray into a public agency and the political arena.  I learned a great deal and worked my way up the chain, but after an extended period I found myself a casualty of politics and city budget shortfalls.  Layoffs hit large groups and the third year in a row of cutback was my final curtain call.

Each Administrative position taught me something new, exposed me to a new industry and a new personality and management style. I started at the bottom, foot in the door doing reception work, and worked my way to Executive level support, working for only leading executives and Board of Directors. I now work for the 'Oregonian Publishing Company - Oregonian Newspaper'. I've paid my dues, worked my temp jobs in transition from one role to the next, and found my niche.  This is what I do best.  This is my talent and my career choice. This is what I will do for the rest of my working life.  I will never be a millionaire or make six figures, but I get to go home at the end of each day feeling successful and fulfilled and without the stress of many of my other roles.  My hours are steady and determined, and my pay does not fluctuate. 

I have tremendous stories and memories across the years and with each employer, but that's for another time. For now its crazy enough to see how varied my career has been and how far I've come. 

Inspiration

Where do you find your daily inspiration? What sparks your imagination and your smile? Do you find yourself awake at the oddest of moments in the wee hours of the morning, or do awake with vigor and hope and great anticipation for you day?  Do you have days that you dread and drag your feet or do you face every day with best of intentions and faith that its going to be not just good but great?

I get my inspiration from the smallest of things to the greatest.  It can be a breeze through the trees, the smell of coffee, the tail wag of one of my dogs, or time with a dear friend. It might be a hug from a loved one, or the kindest of gestures as my love helps to tie my shoes or zip my boots. Everyday, everywhere there is inspiration  You just have to open your eyes.

That quirky guy on the train to work with the really amazing bushy eyebrows or the elderly woman who loves to wear vibrant eye popping colors, she looks amazing in purple. It could be the little boy who is holding his uncles hand as he sits nervously going to the end of the line so he can catch the OHSU tram to visit his mommy and his new baby sister in the hospital. 

Your inspiration could come from the woman in your office who is fighting cancer and winning at the moment. It could be in the courage of a wonderful family bidding farewell to a loved one.  Inspiration can come from the smell of caramel, the ripple in a pond, the flutter of a birds wings, the whinny of a goat.

Open your heart, and open your mind, and find your inspiration. Not just to be creative, but to be content, to enjoy each minute of life, to appreciate what you have, and to strive always to be a better person.  Never stop growing, never stop learning, never stop dreaming.  Get Inspired.

Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child vs. Time Out

No matter who you are, if you have taken on the extreme and honor bound challenge of parenthood you have at one time or other, been faced with the dilemma of how to discipline your child.  Disciplines vary as greatly as DNA.

Every child is different and every parent has a different approach and thought process which will determine the path they take.

If you are a member of the 40+ generation you have lived through a significant, actually a monumental, shift in discipline and I actually think its for the better.

I grew up in the 70's and 80's. It started as a time when schools still had wooden paddles in the principals office and teachers were allowed to use rulers on hands to change what they deemed as bad habits. (I started as a lefty but switched to using my right as a result of discipline in school. Interestingly enough, I still have a noticeable left handed slant to my handwriting. Most people who read my writing assume I am left handed). By the time I graduated middle school the shift had begun away from corporal punishment.

My parents, as did many in their generation, used the threat of spanking as a behavior modification tool.  The use of tree switches (thin wispy cut branches), wire hangers from the cleaners, wooden spoons, belts,   and any other creative items,  or simply a hand, made regular appearances in my childhood.  Many children in my generation had parents who believed it was better to rule with fear than to risk an out of control child. Since my daddy usually worked long hours, it was up to my mother to dole out most of the punishment, and she did what she had learned from her childhood, and generations before.  I remember some tough days, moments cowering in the corner at the end of the hallway, and some missed school as we waited for signs of the discipline to disappear. I remember making better choices simply out of the fear of what punishment awaited me if I messed up.  So in its own way it was effective.

By today's standards much of what my generation endured in the 60's and 70's would be considered abuse, and Child Protective Services would step in and take a child out of the home,  I am grateful that CPS wasn't around so heavily when I was growing up.  In spite of the harsh discipline, I loved my parents, and I would not be the woman I am without them.   They loved me, and did the best they knew how with the tools and informational advice they had available. I would never have wished or hoped to be a part of the "system".

I was lucky enough however to be born towards the end of the corporal punishment system and watched and grew into adulthood as parents began and fine tuned the practice of  Time-Outs and Privilege Suspension.  Gone were the days of using a belt on your child, and the mere idea of a teacher or principal laying a hand on a student became and remains worthy of a 5:00 Breaking News story.

Today, and in the raising of my sons, Time Out was the tool of choice.  The suspension of privileges became powerful as they grew into teenagers.  The way to ensure success and respect while maintaining integrity and love in the parental-child relationship is consistency.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Follow through. I raise my boys not through fear but instead mutual respect and consideration.

I have lived through both the Spare the Rod-Spoil the Child and the Time Out discipline regimes of parent/child relations and I must say I much prefer the latter.  I loved my parents and I know that they did the best they could. My mother was 27 years old with 6 children, enough work and pressure to try the patience of Mother Teresa herself. But the truth is, I lived in fear of making common mistakes that all children make.

I have a very strict no violence rule in my household and that goes for everyone. No parent to parent, no parent to child,  and no sibling to sibling violence allowed.  We resolve our issues through conversation, with patience, and respect, and cool heads.  My sons understand the value and importance of owning their choices and that every action positive or negative has a consequence or reward equal to measure.

Some traditions are wonderful and should be carried forward from one generation to the next, others can and should evolve.  The only way to break a cycle is to make an alternate choice.

Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams

Have you ever sat down and had a real conversation about what you would do if you ever won the lottery and/or came into a large sum of money?  You know the kind of conversation where you actually discuss the details of what bills to pay, and what purchases to make as if the remote, 1 in a million possibility might actually happen?

I have.  Only my conversations are very logical and conservative.  I don't talk about million dollar homes, extravagant vacations, ostentatious jewelry and cars, and a life of luxury.  I want a life with purpose. I would want a life in which I still got  up every morning with a job to go to and friends to see.  I want to own my home, but I want it to be reasonable and right sized to my needs. I would pay off all my debts that's true, but I wouldn't go crazy spending everything on things I don't need.  College would be paid for and trust funds would be established for future generations, but limitations and guidelines would be put in place to safeguard the funds for appropriate use. 

I know the likelihood of EVER winning a large sum money is all but zero, but if the powers that be are listening, I would be a great example of how to handle it the right way. 

Life would be a lot more enjoyable its true, but only because it would be  stress free financially. Working would be about the joy and fulfillment it brings.  Cars would be for transportation not appearance. Home would be comfort and security, not waste and ego.  And I could actually help my sons to start their adult lives on the right foot. Debt free and with great appreciation for what they have.

A girl can always dream right?  Champagne and Caviar are for celebrations only, not daily consumption.  I don't need 14karet gold faucets in my bathroom or Italian marble tile on my floors.  Give me the basics with a little style, and I'm happy.

Instant Genious - Just add Beer

*DISCLAIMER - Any resemblance to person/persons real or imaginary, past or present, is purely coincidental and unintentional (mostly, o.k.......partly.....o.k.............it may have some resemblance to people I may/may not know,  but I won't name names.).


Have you met that person, who, with just one beer, becomes the smartest person they know and they insist that they are also the smartest person you know?

Beer apparently heightens the intelligence quotient and increases ones IQ to Mensa status (the cheaper the better, none of this highfalutin micro brew stuff).  If you have questions about anything, ask someone who has been drinking and they can tell you the answer.  They are qualified to be Pope, Astronaut, Banker, Archaeologist, Teacher, Weatherman, Pro Athlete, Judge, Lawyer, Scientist, Parent, Doctor, Surgeon, and President all at once! Only one thing can compromise their genius status....that's right.. you guessed it...if you have a drink too.  This presents a dilemma.  Now you are both genius status and either your going to solve all global crisis' or your going to implode like a supernova because we all know you can't have this much power in one place without serious consequences.

Spend an evening with someone who has been drinking while you are yet sober and here is typically what you will experience. Notice the trend and high usage of the words, Idiots and Stupid.  As you read this imagine a mild slur of the words and allow it to get progressively worse as the evening gets later.

5:00 p.m. - News:  Newscasters are all idiots.  I could tell the story better than they do.  And what is with that stupid smirk.  Smiling whiling telling a story about multiple homicide is just stupid. I should be a newscaster. See this is the serious face they should show (demonstrates serious face).

5:15 p.m. - News report of Teachers Strike:  Teachers are all idiots.  Why are they asking for more money when they don't even work for the money they already earn. Always taking days off, we all know they get more vacation time than normal people get.  We send our kids to school to learn, but I'm smarter than their stupid teachers. I could teach better than they can. Maybe we should home school.

5:30 p.m. - While discussing the recent health diagnosis of a family member: Doctors are all idiots. They make so much money and they give you all of 60 seconds of their time.  They always think they know the answer and don't ever listen to the patient.  You know, I think I broke my ankle once and they said it was only a sprain.  They took x-rays but I think it was all for show, just so they could bill me.  I'd be a better doctor than most of them and I wouldn't even have to go to college.  The whole medical system is corrupt and stupid.

5:45 p.m. - While checking in on Monday night football - Yelling at the television, insisting that the referee is an idiot: Referees are all idiots.  Are they blind or just stupid? Didn't he see that play? Crooks.  They are all on the take, I guarantee it.  I could make the calls better than they can. If I'd wanted to I could have been a famous athlete.  I could play better than most of the guys on that field.  Did you see that throw?  What an idiot.

6:00 p.m. - Rambling on about something he saw on TV or heard on the radio or read in a book - at this point any subject is game:  1. You want to know how the universe was formed, don't ask those idiot scientists ask me.  I can tell you how the universe was formed.    2. Aliens,  of course there are aliens.  The government is full of idiots who lie. It's a conspiracy to try to and keep us in the dark. But I guarantee you there are aliens here. They are probably the origin of us.  Stupid government. 3. Evolution/Creationism, this is so stupid,  we come from aliens you idiots.

6:15 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.  - Loudly snores whiling sitting on the couch , drool seeping from the corner of his mouth. 

11:05 p.m. - Wakes up hungry, and rants about how much he does for this family and no one has respect for him. He is the better parent, the better provider, the better housekeeper. He does more than anyone else ever will. And gives a grumble as you make him a bed to sleep on the couch so he won't keep you awake with excessively loud alcohol induced snores and beer farts.

Oh to be a genius. 

Beer 1-3 = Genius

Beer 4 or more = Neanderthal

Proceed with Caution.

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? Be Honest!

When my son was in 5th grade, this show was in its first season on TV and an instant albeit fleeting success.  Viewers were determined to prove that they were indeed smarter than a 5th grader. Sadly, as the weeks went on it became apparent that many of us are not!  Smarter than a 5th grader that is. The show become a demonstration that either, our education system is failing or that the education system of our childhood failed.  Adults facing off against these precocious 5ths graders, proved again and again that they had not retained the principles of education and knowledge which were taught to them so long ago.

One morning as I was dropping my highly evolved and intelligent 5th grader off at school (for which I might add I had developed an new respect and admiration for as a result of his intelligence quotient) he presented a logical and well thought out argument.  As we pulled up to the curb and I readied to tell him to have a great day and I loved him, he sat in the passenger seat and showed no signs of moving to exit the vehicle.  I said the standard farewell anyway and waited for him to depart and still he sat.  As my patience wavered I prodded him into action and he simply looked at me and said why?

"What do you mean why?  Because your 10 years old and you need to go to school and I have to get to work"

"Why?"

"Why What? Why do you have to go to school or why do I have to go to work?"

"Why do I have to go to school? I'm in 5th grade and apparently I'm not going to retain anything I learn in the fifth grade anyway, so why do I have to go?"

This was perfectly logical and socially demonstrated argument and I had to respect and admire his thought process, but I simply put an end to the argument by playing my trump card.

"I don;t care if you don;t remember what you learn, you will learn it none the less and you'll get 'A's while doing it.  I have to go to work and you need to get out of the car and go to class. End of discussion"

"Well, it still doesn't make any sense and seems like a big waste of my time".

"I'm sure you have a good point, now get out go to class and have a great day.  I love you"

So here is the question now, Are you smarter than a fifth grader?  Do you remember your geography lessons, the metric system, how to diagram sentences in English down to the preposition phrases? Can you do long division and add/subtract/multiply/ and divide fractions? Can you recall dates of events in American History and tell me the Presidents names in the order that they served our country?

I can do some of this,  but truth be known, there is a great deal I would have to rely on Google for.  I would have to admit, that I am NOT smarter than a 5th grader, but I Do have a great deal more life experience and knowledge, and they will have to wait until they are all grown up to learn everything I know.

Are you smarter than a 5th grader?

 

Is Blood Thicker Than Water?

What constitutes family?  Is it blood lines and genealogy, or is it heart and soul?  Are we bound by a shared heritage, or do we create our own bonds.  What is the primal instinct and need we have to connect with our lineage? Are we flawed if we fail to make that connection and alternatively create stronger connections with friends?

Various religious studies and doctrines teach that family is an eternal bond.  But the question still remains what is family?  Is the adopted child family? Is the eternal bond with his birth parents,  those of his true blood line, or with his adoptive parents?  If it's with his adoptive parents then the path to choice is open for the rest of us.  If the adoptive child is bound to the family who selected him or her, then we too have the option of being selected or selecting the connections we call family?  Right?

Is a wife bound to her husband even though they don't share a blood tie (unless they come from deliverance backwoods, lol) or to the her blood family?  If she is bound to her husband then her bloodline is fractured and splintered. Alternately, if she is bound to her bloodline, then what becomes of the children she and her husband share?

The complexity of family being strictly defined by blood being thicker than water, makes my head hurt.  I think the truth is, that family is where the heart is, just as home is where the heart is.

If we spend our lives banging our heads against a wall trying to make connections with family on a one way street, then we will only come out of it with a giant knot in the middle of our head and really bad headache.  Sometimes we share a great deal in common with our traditionally defined families, and sometimes we don't.  Sometimes the differences we have bring balance and diversity and help us expand our points of view. But sometimes, and its just the luck of the draw, sometimes... the differences divide us irreparably and the pain and struggle of  forcing a fit, becomes more emotionally destructive than helpful.

I am one of six children. The baby girl and 5th in line.  Over the years I have worked to nurture and foster communications with each of my siblings.  Some are more successful than others, and some are stronger and more promising.   I haven't given up, but I have accepted that some may never produce the fruit and joy that others do.  We are all unique and different and our viewpoints on life, and our own personal experiences with childhood and beyond have shaped us. No one of us is better than the next, we are just, in some cases, too different.

I spent this weekend with some phenomenal women who I consider sisters to my heart.  They make me laugh and they make me smile, and they embrace and encourage the silly in me.  I am relaxed and content to be simply me when I am with them.  They represent not just friends to me but family by choice.  Sometimes our souls are drawn to others, as if we knew them before we were brought into this life.  And sometimes those connections are so strong and so powerful that they become family.  Sometimes we truly are Saturdays child.

I will never discount the value of traditional family bonds, but I do believe that some of the bonds we create through choice can be just as powerful.  Is blood thicker than water?  Perhaps.  But so is nectar, sweet and satisfying, and I think that's what friendships ooze. :)

I value each member of my family, even those with which communications are broken, but I value just as greatly the friendships I have forged  to last a lifetime.  

Optimist or Pessimist?

There are two primary categories in which we as humans fit. Optimist and Pessimist.

The Optimist is as we all know and have heard, the glass half full proponent.  We see the world as a series of unlimited opportunities.  We embrace the challenges we face each day as a chance to learn and grow.  Life rarely gets us down and if it does we bounce back quickly.  We see the silver lining in almost everything we do and face.

The Optimist rarely complains about the world around them.  We accept where we are and what is before us with enthusiasm and energy. We infuse the people in our lives with hope and faith, and the belief that everything happens for a reason and in the end we arrive at the destination where we are intended.  The Optimist sees change as a constant, unavoidable, but embraces it with vigor and a dedication to see it through.

Optimist frequently live life without regret,  as we believe every turn, every experience, is a stepping stone which has brought us to where we are today and will take us to where we will be tomorrow.

The Pessimist, lives a life of challenge just as the optimist, but the glass is half empty.  There is always something to complain about, something to critique.  They can't live life without pointing out the shortfalls.  The Pessimist is frequently characterized through a "victim" mentality.  Things are always happening "to them" and they claim little if any responsibility for the consequences of their actions and choices.  Life is a chore and they are never truly happy or even simply content.  Even when things are going well the pessimist will look for flaws and go so far as to create them if they don't readily exist.  Change terrifies the pessimist, and someone is always being sneaky, deceptive, or in the pessimist mind, manipulative.  They see trickery and dark corners all around them and they are always waiting for the proverbial other boot to fall.

I  think it takes both Optimist and Pessimist to balance the world around us.  I don't necessarily see either as good or evil, frivolous or realist,  I see them both as character traits which can, if allowed, help to define who we are and strengthen us. I think that to much of either can be good and bad.  To optimistic and you can't face reality when it gets too nasty,  to pessimistic  and you can't find the joy in life.  We are all heavier weighted to one or the other, but in order to face life in a healthy and successful way, we need to find a balance, qi (chi). 

If you're an optimist, challenge yourself to also be a realist. See things for what they are, not just what you want them to be.  It's good to find the silver lining, but know that sometimes it takes great work and effort to get there.

If your a pessimist, challenge yourself to seek out the silver lining and positive side of challenges you may face.  Try to rise above the world as your enemy, and see this life we have all been given as a gift and opportunity to grow and prepare for eternity in whatever form it takes based on your individual belief system.

Bottom line, cherish each day, make the most of it, and remember to love and laugh because you never know how long you have and what tomorrow brings.

Sunday Drive

It's been a while since we took a Sunday Drive.  Usually my weekends are reserved for sleeping in , very late, and then getting up to take care of those pesky chores that don't get done during the work week.  You know, lawn work, and the like.

But today we woke up early with the determination to take a lovely drive up the Columbia Gorge. The idea was that we would take our annual Fall Foliage pictures before the winds got too high and the trees were stripped naked.  We were optimistic as we started our drive with detour through Straucks drive through where we grabbed two ham and cheese artisan sandwiches a grande mocha and grande chai tea (the Chai was mine,  YUM!!)

As we made our way through town to the gorge, we gained a sneaking suspicion that we may have been a bit off schedule. A little too early.  The trees lining the streets in town did not appear to be in fall color yet, barely beginning to show signs of change.  We stayed positive, that there was still hope that perhaps the gorge would show us something more. Alas as we reached Highway 84 and made our way further and further up the river, it was clearly not going to be the photo opportunity we had expected.  We made it to Multnomah Falls before turning around.  It was a short Sunday drive, but nice anyway. It was actually pleasant to wake up and start the day before it was already half over. We had coffee and breakfast and it was worth it.  We mapped out a few visual points that will be key next week or the week after when we do finally go. 

As soon as I have the Fall pictures, you will know because I will post them.

If you have any falls traditions that you enjoy, share them with me.  Tell me what is special to you, what you love about fall.  I would love to know and maybe it will spark some new ideas for me to try.

This is a photo I took in 2010 just outside of Battle Ground, Washington while on a Sunday morning drive.