experimenting with different setups for still life pictures

From Still life

simple things

From Still life

who knew as much

“it takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”

~ e.e. cummings

Thursdays wash

Spring is trying to worm it’s way into our hearts this week after we experienced a couple of weeks of below average aka below normal temperatures. We are now cruising through breezy 50 degree days. We even had one 62 degree top out! As an added bonus to this warming trend, I saw the Red Winged Black Bird at the feeder today. Seems to me, if my memory proves me any help at all, this is a bit earlier in the year than I have ever seen it out at the feeder.

And of course, as always I am pretty happy with not freezing my fingertips off in the morning as I bolt out the front door of a rather nice cozy warm house, into the frigid cold freezing air, to start the car so as to have it warmed up before arriving at work as opposed to when I am pulling into the parking lot. Oh the horridness of having a short commute to work.

I want to pass this along, I found out something new yesterday. The washer, which is huge and can wash more clothes and bed linens at one time than I possess, has a breaking point. Apparently if one where to place too many items in it which tend to become leaden weights when wet, the washer will react like a pinball machine when someone swings their hip around smacking a sideways blow to it sort of like trying to add a little muscle to the game (remember those) and the washer like the Pinball machine, tilts. Really. I found this out when I went down in the cold basement to remove my clothes from the washer and send them on their way into the drier to be fluffy and warm. Yesterday, in the basement there set the washer, lights flashing, time still left to finish and the letters, “UL” blinking at me in neon red. I stopped myself short before trying to insert another quarter. Think pinball. Instead, I reset the washer and tried to get it running again. I wasn’t alone in this quest mind you. The cat was hanging out with me watching the whole thing. Well that was until the washer started back up, began spinning, and then spinning a bit harder. And then it went bonkers. The thing started rocking back and forth and side to side, almost walking to me! At this point the cat vacated the area faster than a speeding bullet. After this, I pretty much figured out the situation and went on to remove most of the offending , heavier than a concrete truck, clothes so that the washer could finish its rounds. And then I amused myself by restarting it again. I am so easily amused. Finally, I waited to see if after restarting it, it would need an exorcism. At this point the cat managed to find his way back and meow at me with his eyes widened (and a spider web hanging over his ear) the loudest meow I have ever heard from him. I think he was saying, “Are you crazy! That thing is possessed! Run for your life woman! Lets go!!!”

And that’s my story and I am sticking to it.

week 7 of the indoor 2 hour cycle class

I do believe that the novelty has worn off for the indoor 2 hour cycle class. Thank goodness there is only one class left. Now if the extreme knee pain I am limping along with this evening would do the same, I would be super happy.

Yeah I just may have ramped it up a notch to far today. Funny how one never knows when they have pushed something to far, until after the fact. A wee little insight into the future would sure be nice once in a while, wouldn’t you agree?

Friday nights going away party for our friend went well I suppose. When the kamikazee shots made their way round, at least then I had the foresight to utter a very specific no as to whether I wanted one or not. See! even I learn to avoid things, after many repetitions of course. I never claimed to be the brightest bulb in the pack. Ok so most of the time I am not even in the pack. It’s too crowded anyway.

I understand the friends motivation for wanting to get away… for wanting the opportunity to start over someplace new. And why is it if a fresh out of college person wants to pick up and move, it is understood and accepted, but if a 33 year old wants to do the same it is questioned with loads of skepticism? I wonder about that.

Previously on a different occasion on a different night when we were the only two sitting at the bar, this friend and I spoke in confidence as to her reasons for making this move. And I get it.

And, the other friend and I have also spoken in confidence as well, about why she does not want this friend to move away. And I get it.

My friends have always deposited their thoughts and feelings with me for safe keeping and I have always kept them as such pieces of a puzzle that no one really needs to solve. After 20 years I have a lot of puzzle pieces locked up tight.

Someday perhaps I will hand out some puzzle pieces of my own. But I doubt it.

I am off now to stretch my aching knee caps. Is that possible? Can I really stretch my knee caps? Or would that be a bad thing?

wouldn’t you rather be as well?

“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather my spark burn out in a brilliant blaze than be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy, permanenet planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” ~Jack London

hunting wabbits

Hunting wabbits

Little to say these days. Perhaps I have gone into hibernation but forgot somehow to tell myself? Does one think ahead about going into hibernation, or is it like waking up with a book pressed against your cheek and the words written in ink across your forehead, after somehow falling asleep while reading in bed?

Reading a lot. I am magazine addicted. My addiction is on overload. National Geographic is so nice and shiny!

Still increasing my speed on my runs. It is a slow process at best. But a process to say the least.

Going away party tomorrow night for a friend whom is moving to Nashville. A party which promises (without even saying so) to have numerous drunken people and the worse by far, Karaoke type of background music. It’s at a bar in case you were curious. Perhaps if I dunk my head in a steaming vat of acid I won’t care about the Karaoke.

It’s almost Friday.

The weather is teasing us with temperatures in the 50’s for next week. And I am so glad we did not get swept away by snowdrifts, heck we hardly even had snow flurries.

Ahh life is good isn’t it.

in the center of it all

Words to open the doors by

“Promise Yourself” by Christian D Largon

Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health,happiness,and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best,to work only for the best,and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times,and to give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry,too noble for anger,too strong for fear,and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

one of my distractions…

From Untitled Album