December 31, 2011 New Years Eve New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. (Hamilton Wright Mablea) It's the last day of 2011 - overall not such a bad year. We are all a little older but not necessarily wiser. And a few weather predictions for 2012. The old river man (aka Michael) predicts that February will be bitterly cold and that there will be 16" of snow in March. He also predicts that he will be stand-up paddle boarding by the end of March (providing he has the appropriate footwear). Butch (aka John) predicts that we will only have two snowfalls exceeding 3" in January and February. The crocuses will be blooming by mid-March and we can anticipate a cool Spring. Mmm...  December 26, 2011 Sean and Rose left tonight to return to Chicago. Michael and I dropped them off at the Amtrak Station. It is always hard to say goodbye and the house feels really empty with them gone. I can't help but wonder what Rose really thinks of me. I find myself making some really inane random comments - recognizing that's just who I am and close family gets that. Oh well... December 25, 2011 Christmas morning has come and gone. Gifts were exchanged and I think Michael, Sean & Rose were happy with what they received. Michael gave me a Garmin heart monitor and a small painting (which I love). Rose/Sean gave us a nice spoon rest. Sean gave me a really nice pair of earrings and his old iPhone. I feel like I made out like an electronic bandito this Christmas! Now I just need to figure out how to use this stuff. December 24, 2011 Christmas Eve On this night On this night On this night On this very christmas night (Christmas Canon) December 19, 2011 Just stocked up on kleenex and a can of disinfectant spray. And I am almost done washing all the linens in the house and wiping down all surfaces. I even threw all the pillows in the dryer for 20 minutes each to fluff them up. Plan to do round 2 on Wednesday which will be changing the bed linens and the living room couch cover and pillows. By the way, the Target parking lot (the one off Ann Arbor Saline Road) was a zoo. No one seemed to be paying attention while backing out, etc. A little annoying. I am still uncertain what I am making for the Christmas Eve family get together or Christmas Day's dinner... There are still too many open variables. I am almost done Christmas shopping and more importantly did not go overboard this year. I did most of my shopping on-line - you certainly can't beat how convenient it is. December 15, 2011 It's getting better all the time, Better, better, better. Feeling better today but still coughing. I wish I could say the same for Michael. My guess is he is pretty miserable. Looks like I will be disinfecting all hard surface in the house this weekend and washing linens in hot water. December 14, 2011 I stayed home yesterday and am back to work today. The cloud hasn't lifted yet as I am still coughing but overall I feel okay. Kathy called me at work today to ask how I feel, which was a nice surprise but then she is a very thoughtful person. I can say the same about Butch. He's a really good brother. :-) I started to think yesterday about all those moments in our lives that we have an opportunity to do something nice for someone but we don't follow through. We even play the scenario in our heads. I should offer to switch my airplane seat so that couple can sit together. I should let that mother with a cranky child go before me in the line at the grocery store. I should pick up lunch or dinner for my spouse because they have been so busy or are sick. And the list goes on. I wonder what stops us when we decide not to act and then have regrets after that potential feel good moment is gone. December 12, 2011 Got up this morning and went to work. Started fading quickly - I am unbelievably tired, finally gave up around 3pm and headed home to lay down. I am so hoping I am not relapsing. I actually feel like weeping. Pretty pathetic, eh? December 11, 2011 I ended up not dragging my sorry ass into work Friday. I worked at home in the morning and crashed on the couch in the afternoon. I've started feeling better (no more fever) except now my nose is dripping. My upper lip is raw and I've gone through half a box of tissues in the past two days. Unfortunately, I am also still coughing. Washing the printer heads on the two printers that won't print black didn't pan out. I initially thought success on one of them but after printing about 5 pages it reverted back to it's evil ways. May try again on that one. The other is on a shelf in the basement awaiting some awful fate. Just irks me that in both cases I spent beaucoup money on ink - in fact easily the cost of a new printer! I went to visit the Genius Bar at the Apple Store yesterday about a couple of issues with iTunes on my iPad. Fortunately the person helping me was pretty nice but I sure did feel dumb when she pointed out my problems were due to a typo and simply not looking in the right place. It didn't help that in the middle of my appointment I started coughing and couldn't stop. Very embarrassing! I do however now know where the drinking fountain and restrooms are at the Apple Store. December 8, 2011 Yuck, I have been home sick the past two days. The usual - coughing, head ache, tired and achy. That said, I will drag my sorry ass into work tomorrow.  I just worked on two printers that will not print black despite replacing the ink cartridges and repeated printer head cleanings. I removed the printer heads and rinsed them under water to try to unclog them. Not sure what the next steps are if this doesn't work but the last thing I want is a printer graveyard in the basement. December 5, 2011 So I broke down and purchased an iPad and am now feeling a little badly because Michael cracked his iPad screen while working out. The cracked screen has really taken the joy/fun out of using it for him. I wish he would take it to the Apple Store (or let me take it) to inquire about what it would cost to get it repaired but he seems to think he needs to go through some kind of penance for his "stupidity" in breaking it. Dude, you are a mere mortal - stuff happens. Be kinder to yourself. I am trying to come up with some gift ideas for family members that are thoughtful and won't break the bank. I wish I was more "crafty" at making things but that said, it may be a little too late time-wise to go that route, which I suspect might be a relief to all. :-D November 28, 2011 It's getting to the point that I can barely lift my right arm again. I realized in Hawaii, for example, how painful it was to swim. I am not sure why the issues with my neck seem to always happen around this time of year. I have been slacking off on stretching though so it's back to using the foam roller, traction, ice packs, etc. And Tylenol... Big, big sigh... The extended weekend was pretty family focused. It was nice having Sean (and Michael too) around for more than just a few days and it was nice to see Kathy and other relatives on Thanksgiving. We had a short visit with Mom and Dad on Friday and I was able to visit with Butch, April & Celina more than usual, which is always nice. I am back to work today and working on getting all my files transferred to a new Mac Book. November 24, 2011 Today is Thanksgiving. It will be good to have most of the family together. And I am happy and feel fortunate to have Sean home for a few days. November 23, 2011 Okay, okay, I am going to stop fighting it. I think I might buy an iPad - the 16 GB/black. Or is the white one prettier? I wish they had different colors like the Shuffles. Plan to check the Apple On-Line store on Friday to see if they are on sale. By the way, I have received the results of both my endometrial biopsy and my mammogram and am happy to report that at least these parts of my body are cancer free. November 22, 2011 Just a few more days to Thanksgiving. For the most part the family tends to be pretty sedentary at family events. No touch football or even games like Pictionary which we used to play. And maybe that's ok, there's nothing wrong with reconnecting with family members you may not have seen in awhile. But I must admit, it does sadden me a little when I see someone in the corner reading a book or playing video games instead of participating in some capacity. And there are always the same people who willingly pitch in to help with set-up and clean-up... Sean arrives tomorrow night and Kathy arrived today. I suspect Mom is pretty happy to have Kathy in town for a few days. And this is when I usually say something like I wish mom & dad lived closer. There are many times I wish I had someone to go shopping with, or to lunch or a movie. Sadly Mom tires easily these days but it would be nice. November 20, 2011 I have concluded that I am not yet ready to buy a tablet - apparently I am still coveting a 7" iPad.. Sugar's Christmas List Heart Rate Monitor 16" Pizza Screen PAPERBACK - The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest DVD - Dexter Season 5 November 19, 2011 Oh dammit, I'll repost Michael's Christmas wish list. This does not mean, however, that the views expressed reflect my views or the views of... :-D Dear Santa, I know it is a little early, but I would like a lot for Christmas! I just want the person reading this to feel a little sorry for me. Remember Friends are like fruitcake - full of nuts, some soaked in alcohol(my favorite), sweets, mix them together and you just have a big heavy ole gooey mess of crap. Anyway, friends are overrated. Everybody will be talking about what they want, but HERE IS WHAT I WANT. The sick, to JUST GET OVER IT. Kids without families, SUCK IT UP. People without food, YOU'RE SKINNY-DON'T COMPLAIN. People without shelter and warmth, GO TO HAWAII. Peace and Love, BE A HIPPY. I have a feeling almost no one will will repost this! WHAT! WHAAAT! WHAAAAAT! YOU NO GOT ONE SENSE OF HUMOR?  November 15, 2011 Not sure why but I really liked this photo of Celina with a blurry Sean in the background. It would have been cool if the flower had been facing toward the camera. I took this photo at Shannon and Darrell's wedding and was shooting without a flash so any movement became a blur. I am still jet lagged from the time difference between here and Hawaii. I am having a very difficult time falling asleep and it's starting to take a toll. I feel like I am in a fog during the day. Today I went to see an ob/gyn to discuss menopausal issues. The doctor did an endometrial biopsy that I found pretty uncomfortable. I was still cramping at least an hour after the procedure. I ended up sleeping a few hours when I got home - never did make it into work. I should get the results within the next few weeks.  We went to Chuck's Cellar for dinner with Leslie, Chelsea, Sionne, Selena, and the newest family member Lily. Lily is one of the least fussiest babies I've met. She didn't seem to mind who was toting her around. It was good to see them all. Not sure what we will be doing on Thursday. November 8, 2011 We did some shopping this morning in Hawaii Kai - checked out the Ross store, City Mill and Longs. I bought some Hawaii style Christmas cards at Longs. Michael napped away the afternoon when we got back. We splurged on Roys for dinner. We sat outside with the tiki torches, ate, drank, and listened to music. Very relaxing (felt like I was on a date). I am not sure but I think we may head out to the Waianae coast tomorrow. As Michael has pointed out several times, the end is near. It will be really hard to leave again. I woke up early this morning and laid in bed listening to the sound of the trade winds and then later the sounds of birds chirping. Just enjoying the breeze blowing through the window...  We went to the North Shore today. We had lunch in Haliewa at Kono's and spent about three hours at Waimea Bay before continuing our drive along the coast. We stopped to watch the surfing at the Pipeline where I took this photo. Another beautiful day of sun and surf.  November 6, 2011 Another shot of Diamond Head from Ala Moana Beach Park. It was taken at about 8:00am this morning while Michael was out paddle boarding. Blue Planet was holding a paddle boarding clinic which was kind of cool as it gave Michael an opportunity to try out some different board styles. We leave at the end of this week - time sure flies when you are having fun. :-)  November 5, 2011 I took this photo of Diamond Head from Magic Island yesterday afternoon - sort of reminds me of an old time postcard. We were reminiscing about meeting Butch there after work back in the 70's. Ah, the good old days. We met Michael's Aunt Wanda and cousins Carol and Courtney at Buzz's in Kailua today for lunch. I have to give Michael credit - he made it pretty clear that he had no plans to visit with them a second time while here. Leslie treated Michael and I to drinks and an appetizer (calamari steak) which was really nice of her. We've had some stormy weather - it's rained everyday (which I guess isn't that abnormal) but it has also been pretty windy. There have also been flash flood warnings which gave us a laugh - basically we are being told that if we encounter flooding on the roads to turn around and "don't drown." And in true Hawaii fashion, a few days ago the HOV lane (express lane) didn't open because the truck driver didn't make it into work and they didn't have a back-up. Gotta love it. Michael rode his bike out to Haunama Bay this morning. Tomorrow he plans on going to a paddle board clinic at Ala Moana Park. I have been trying to walk daily but must admit when he is out surfing or biking, I feel like a slug.    November 3, 2011 We spent the day at Waimanalo Bay today - pretty windy but still very pleasant. The color of the water is an incredible shade of blue. I will really miss this place when we return to Michigan. Waimanalo Bay November 1, 2011 I am sitting by the bedroom window in the Niu Valley home listening to the sounds of birds chirping, traffic noises on Halemaumau (and it is a busy street!) and water dripping off the roof and plants. It rained steadily for about an hour earlier this morning. I suppose this is what vacations should be about - really having nothing urgent to do. We have been to Kuhio Beach and little else so far and that familiar stretch of grass, sand and ocean is very calming and comfortable. It's great beach therapy as I've realized that there are times when my mind has completely blocked out work and other issues.  October 30, 2011 I don't necessarily believe that the longer the journey, the greater the reward is true but there was a moment early this morning when I was out walking in Nui Valley that I could see the ocean in one direction and a rainbow arcing out of the mountains in the other direction. It struck me how beautiful it all is. October 26, 2011 Feeling antsy as vacation gets closer. It will be good to get away from the routine of work and house chores for more than just a couple of days. And the change of scenery certainly won't hurt. One more day of work... October 23, 2011 Five more days, then off to Hawaii. Really looking forward to some serious beach time. As usual I am trying hard not to over pack this time . After all it's not like I can't wash my clothes or go shopping if need be. Things are shaping up at the house - the storm windows are up, leaves raked (realizing more will fall in our absence), gutters cleared, etc. :-D October 18, 2011 Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. Ralph Waldo Emerson October 16, 2011  October 13, 2011 I got Nick this morning when I dropped my car off at Howard Cooper. <sigh> October 12, 2011 Engine light = $617.48 (Cost to run diagnostics, new air fuel sensor, new serpentine belt, and an oil change) My favorite book quote this week: In my previous experience with women, once you've been intimate with someone for a while, her beauty is often the first thing you overlook. Intellectually, you know it is there, but your emotional capacity to be overwhelmed or surprised by it, to the point where it can get you drunk, diminishes. But there are still moments every day when I glance at Angie and feel a gust cleave through my chest cavity from the sweet pain of looking at her. (Dennis LeHane - Gone, Baby, Gone) October 4, 2011 What a klutz! I tripped over a loading cart yesterday, skinned and bruised my left shin and my right knee, right shoulder and arm hurt... Just feel sore all over... September 18, 2011 Happy Birthday to me... That's a start isn't it?, Ivan said. "It's very good: listening. I'd call it the second cousin to trying. And that's the crucial element of life experience that so many of us avoid, you know. Trying something new, taking that single leap of faith into the utterly and absolutely unknown. Into the different. Those that take that leap are the ones who challenge whatever fate they might otherwise have. They fly in the face of societal expectations, determining for themselves who and what they will be and not allowing the bonds of birth, class, and bias to make that determination for them. [What Came Before He Shot Her - Elizabeth George] September 13, 2011 Pepsi must have heard about my angst over not being able to find the 24 oz bottle size in stores. I was at Target today and discovered it was on the shelves again after disappearing for over a month. If it had been on sale, I would have stocked up. September 6, 2011 It is rare for two people to want the same thing at the same time. September 5, 2011 Today is Labor Day and I must admit in all these years I never really thought about what we are celebrating. Apparently it is a day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women, which in this economic down time seems a bit unfair to everyone out there that has lost their jobs. I spent the day by myself grocery shopping, doing laundry and making Michael a big dinner of chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, and biscuits. Guess what we will be eating all week. And it was actually pretty chilly today - currently only 57 degrees. September 4, 2011 The squirrels turned out to be a big raccoon who was extremely unhappy when we had the house re-roofed Thursday and suddenly found itself trapped in the attic. We set a live trap in the attic in hopes of catching it but it wouldn't take the bait, so to speak. It went on a rampage Thursday night that turned destructive Friday night as it went from soffit vent to soffit vent looking for an out. It completely ripped a hole through one of the soffit grates but because the hole opened to empty air, the raccoon was unable to brace itself on something to climb down. Saturday, Michael removed the grate and propped a board up next to the hole and last night the raccoon was finally able to successfully make its escape. A big relief for Michael and I (and I am sure the raccoon). I haven't been up in the attic yet to assess the damage and do some clean up. I am hoping the raccoon does not return! August 28, 2011 Michael has made the shift in seasons to Fall. He even took the a/c unit out of the window in the bedroom. There is definitely a shift in how it "feels" outside. It's been cool enough in the mornings that you actually find yourself wanting to snuggle under the covers for awhile instead of getting up. I went for a nice walk with my brother today. He's good company and I feel fortunate to have him close by. We have a hole in our roof, no thanks to some squirrels that think our attic is their winter home. I have contacted a couple of roofing companies and have one estimate. I am hoping to get a second one tomorrow and a new roof soon! August 23. 2011 I just spent the weekend in Las Vegas with family.    August 18, 2011 Newtons 3rd law reads that to every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction. I knew that when I made plans to visit Kathy in Vegas that Michael would say he was all right with me going and that he wasn't interested in going himself. But I guess I knew deep inside that it would make him unhappy, which makes me unhappy. And I don't know how to fix this. I am so, so sorry. I really do try hard to be considerate of his feelings. Sigh.... August 16, 2011 OMG, I just swallowed a cherry pit. Oh well, this too shall pass... August 12, 2011 The greatest sin is letting riches go to waste once you know they're riches. The difficulty is that most people don't know. They define riches only by what they can see because that is what they have been taught to do: to look at the end of things, the destination. What they never recognize is that the riches are in the process, the journey, in what one does with what one has. Not in what one manages to amass. (What Came Before He Shot Her - Elizabeth George) August 10, 2011 I am watching America's Got Talent - it's a guilty pleasure of mine. It's pretty cheesy but it makes me laugh. We are finally getting a reprieve from the heat. The cooler nights certainly make sleeping more comfortable. I am sure we are in for some more hot nights so I am enjoying it while it lasts. Things are pretty busy at work as we gear up for the Fall Member Meeting coming up the first week of October. I always find staff's response to these periods of stress interesting. Some forge ahead with cheer - taking it all in stride. And others - well, it just isn't pretty. August 8, 2011 I went for a short bike ride yesterday (6.8 miles according to MapMyRide), something I haven't done since last summer. I woke up this morning with slightly sore shoulders and the realization that no matter how hard I try not to let past issues with my neck dictate my activities, there is always this little seed of fear residing in my psyche. It's what makes me afraid to lift weights, paint ceilings, and even do crunches (among other things). I went to the library Friday and now have a library card. My intent is to check out videos. but I noticed that some of the videos are pretty scratched up. I watched Memoirs of a Geisha last night and I ended up eventually using my computer to watch because the DVD player wasn't able to skip through the damaged areas. That said, I do have to remind myself that I am not paying a rental fee. August 3, 2011 Plans are underway for a week-end Vegas trip in mid-August. I am relieved that I am not the planner and/or decision maker for this adventure. It will be nice not to think too much for a change. Just going to bring my camera, walking shoes, watch (so I show up to the car on time), credit card and take it all in. I am wondering if Michael regrets not going? August 2, 2011 I woke up with a slight headache and feeling grouchy this morning due to the constant drone of the neighbor's generator all night. We lost power last night around 8pm, it came back on around midnight. Unfortunately, however, our neighbor decided to run his generator till 6 am this morning. (FYI - Michael, this is not the neighbor across the street.) Big, big yawn. Will have to catch up on the Closer (TV show) next week. I have run into a first ever for me - I am earning vacation days faster than I am using them. I have some vacation time planned in early November but it is not enough days to get me under the maximum amount of days Internet2 allows us to carry over to the next year. Thus you may find me bathing suit and running shoe shopping on Friday morning or trying to talk myself into going to Detroit to see the parents. Guilt is a powerful motivator. It would be so much easier if they lived closer by. July 31, 2011 I am working on a Michigan Season Calendar. Michigan Seasons
July 29, 2011 I am missing our usual "beach" summer vacation. Something just doesn't feel right. Fortunately going to Hawaii in November gives me something to look forward to. I think it's just that I equate summer with vacation. And I like spending down time with Michael away from the routine of house chores and work. I am going to Vegas for a weekend in three weeks with my siblings so I guess that is sort of a mini-vacation but things are so busy at work right now that I will be bringing my computer "just in case." I also miss Sean and want to visit him or have him come to Ann Arbor. I am thinking maybe September for my birthday but even that seems far off. Sigh... And the old river man is now speculating we will have an early cool Fall but he hasn't committed yet. July 25, 2011 It has been a hot and dry summer as predicted by the old river man on April 30, 2011. (See entry below)  July 20, 2011 Saw this on the way to Denali and thought it was pretty funny. Enough said!  July 19, 2011 Mama moose and calf at Denali. I am finally back on schedule again after sleeping the weekend away following my return from Fairbanks. But it is hot, hot, hot!! The heat is like taking a lethargy pill. The fan has become my best friend. I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday - my big toes have been numb for about three weeks now and I thought I'd better get them checked out. My guess is that it is diabetes related and I don't expect that there is really anything the doctor can do other than enter it in my medical record. I feel like I am falling apart body part by body part. It's really bumming me out. Joe arrives on Thursday. We are planning to brave the heat and go to the Ann Arbor Art Fairs Friday. I am really looking forward to his visit. July 15, 2011 I finally arrived home from Fairbanks this afternoon. We missed our 6:45am connection to Detroit in Minneapolis, then missed the 7:05am flight we were rerouted on. Not sure why Delta rerouted us on a flight at the other end of the airport with no time to get to the gate. We literally ran through the airport (and I have a big blister on the bottom of my foot as a result) only to get to the gate too late to board. We finally got on a plane to Appleton, Wisconsin and caught a connection from there to Detroit. It is now 11:20pm and I am still waiting for my luggage. The delivery guy called about an hour ago and said he is on the way but I so, so want to go to bed. Big sigh and big yawn! July 13, 2011 Last night's reception went well. It was a bit cool and drizzling but it was pleasant inside the tent and the food was quite good. Another cool day today. This is our last night here. We will begin packing all the equipment and supplies we brought this afternoon and will probably ship tomorrow morning. Our flight is not until 9:20pm so I will have some time to kill tomorrow. The group I am with wants to make a very quick trip to Denali but quite frankly I am at a point that spending the day confined in a car and then all night confined in a plane just doesn't appeal to me. If I choose not to go, I may ask them to drop me at the airport for the day. Not optimal but at least I can get up and stretch my legs, use the bathroom, etc. Added later.... It is now 5:45pm and I am done for the day other than checking on a social event that starts at 7pm. Then off to dinner with everyone at Pikes Landing - the boss is treating. I was surprised to find the day had turned clear and sunny while I was working. July 12, 2011 Raining today and much cooler. I mixed up my medications this morning and took two metformin tablets instead of one metformin tablet and one Citrical tablet, which freaked me out a little when I realized what I had done. They are both the same size, shape and color. I then could not find my test kit to keep an eye on my blood sugar levels throughout the day so I am off to a great start this morning. I am guessing my test kit is sitting on my desk at home. Fortunately though, it is noon here and so far I feel okay. The conference reception is tonight and will be outside so I am hoping the weather cooperates. July 11, 2011 It has been a very busy day. I have been at the conference location since 7am this morning, it is now 4:20pm and I still have a couple more hours of work to go. We've hit a couple of rough patches with our university event contact person and are now dealing with someone else. Things fortunately seem to be going a bit more smoothly. Our impression is the university does not normally have meetings of this size, duration and complexity (or not). Will try to post some pictures on FB later. July 10,2011 Woke up at 4:30am feeling fairly normal this morning. I lounged around in bed until about 5:30 am, took a shower and called Michael. It was nice to hear his voice. As I mentioned to him I can certainly understand the appeal of this state to people who have relocated here from the lower 48. Miles and miles of trees and mountains and very few people. I am off to work, hope to add some more comments later tonight. :-) It is later tonight (10pm). Long day at the registration desk but I did meet some nice people. We went to an Alaskan salmon bake for dinner - not exactly my cup of tea but after a few glasses of wine I didn't care. Really cool night tonight and cloudy so not as bright out. Well till tomorrow... July 9, 2011  Today was a full day of work and Thai food for dinner. From what I am being told, Thai food is pretty popular in Fairbanks. I must admit it was a relief to be back to my room by 9pm tonight. I am hoping I am able to fall asleep at a reasonable time. July 8, 2011 I am really getting the concept of the land of the midnight sun. It was really hard to sleep but it was related more to how noisy it was not how light it is. Some heavy piece of equipment was going up and down the road at 2:30am this morning. Up at 4:30am - we will be leaving here in another 45 minutes to meet for breakfast and then have a meeting at the University of Fairbanks. Yawn... Oh, and it is warm in the room. I was lulled into believing it would be cooler. I wish I had a do over in packing. :-) July 7, 2011 It is 10:30pm here in Fairbanks and it is still as bright as the middle of the day. Me thinks it is going to be tough to fall asleep despite the fact that it is 2:36am Eastern time. And big HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes to Sean. I love you.  Michael went stand up paddling yesterday at Gallup Park. Sitting in my comfy chair riverside was a nice place to be on a hot summer day. Saw a lot of waterfowl - swans, ducks, geese and of course one "lone dove" out there on the pond. Back to work and reality today. I leave for Fairbanks in a few days so am trying to get things wrapped up and ready to go work wise. I still need to pack as well which means laundry tonight and then trying to make decisions about what to take in anticipation of the weather, etc. We are in dorm rooms so I will need to pack some things I normally do not take like my hair dryer, hangers... Hopefully things will go smoothly. I regret not being able to add a few days onto the end of the trip to visit Bern in Anchorage as it would have been good to see him. He talked about coming to Fairbanks but it would be hard for me to guarantee him any time with me during the conference as there are events in the evenings as well. Sigh...   June 26, 2011 So Butch, what is her story again? (Oh, and by the way, Mike and I think she might be a he.) Girl On A Swing (Gerry & The Pacemakers) I stand out of sight And watch as the light from the sun Shines through her hair From yonder she came I don't know her name Still I love that girl on a swing Girl on a swing, swing high Girl on a swing, swing low Take all the hate from the world that we're in Girl on a swing, swing high Girl on a swing, swing low And you can cast all your troubles to the wind   June 17, 2011 I am posting a few pictures of Dad in honor of Father's Day, which is in a few days. The first photo was taken in Korea in December of 1953. The second I am guessing was taken in Germany in the late 1950's. This is the Dad of my early childhood. I only remember snippets as I suspect he was away a lot. I remember he liked to roughhouse - he'd capture us between his legs when we'd walk by his chair. And he used to give me the cardboard from his shirts when he'd get them starched and pressed so I could use the boards to make my own paper dolls. And we weren't allowed to go in his room. And he was a big believer in building family traditions. Christmas is a good example. We'd open our presents after midnight mass instead of morning. Happy Father's Day!  June 15, 2011 I've got legs, I know how to use them...  June 14, 2011 Michael, Happy 39th Anniversary! Love you.... June 12, 2011 Despite the cool un-beach like weather, we had a really nice weekend in Saugatuck/Douglas. We bundled up and went to the beach anyway and Michael even went out paddle boarding. We had Oval Beach to ourselves on Friday. We went to the Mermaid in Saugatuck Friday night and sat out on the dock. With the exception of a couple of guys, we were the only ones out there. Saturday night we had dinner at the Wild Dog in Douglas and again opted to sit on their outside patio. Of note, is that we were pulled over for speeding Friday night. Fortunately the cop was pretty nice and let us off with a warning. June 7, 2011 Change in plans. We decided to go to Saugatuck/Douglas for the weekend and just investigate the St Joseph/Benton Harbor area on our way home to see if it is somewhere we would like to stay on a future weekend get-away. We managed to reserve the last room still available at the Beachway. I am looking forward to my first "beach" weekend of the year. Here's to warm weather and cold drinks! June 2, 2011 Michael and I are planning a 39th wedding anniversary get-away next weekend to (of all places) the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor area. It should be interesting as I have never been there so do not know what to expect. Michael has finally gotten tired of Saugatuck which had become our anniversary destination for many years. So no sitting by the dock at the Mermaid this year for dinner. Here's to trying new places and creating new traditions!  May 29, 2011 I married a graceful man. Watching Michael coach his boys is always a bit awe inspiring. His attentiveness to his team in the midst of chaos and his low key words of encouragement as he shakes each rower's hand prior to the boat pushing off from the dock are calming even to those of us that are only watching. There seems to be an acceptance at that moment that what will be will be. "And all the way, to guide their chime, With falling oars they kept their time." -- Andrew Marvell May 26, 2011 I was oddly touched when I saw a male coworker bow his head for a short prayer before eating lunch yesterday. May 24, 2011 I found a cool count down gadget. It is set to count down to my 65th birthday...  May 20, 2011 Would like to look like this again!! May 19, 2011 Celina interviewed me last night for what I believe to be a Women's Studies class. I started to think about the questions she asked and realized that the real story is not the things you have done or the things that have happened to you but how these events made your feel, how they changed you and how you found the strength and will to cope when negative things happened. And in cases where you were unable to move on, how you’ve managed your life to cope with the difficulties you’ve encountered and/or continue to encounter. In some cases you forgive and move on. In others, you try to implement changes to improve yourself or the situation. Many times you find you just have to accept that there are things you cannot change and you find ways to cope, which could be anything from just lowering your expectations to avoiding the situations causing you angst. I personally am grateful for the human mind’s ability to
block or suppress memories over time when something particularly painful has
happened. I am aware, however, that the events that are buried deeply in my
memory have impacted me. Thankfully most of us persevere. May 11, 2011 Just a few observations on Michael... He seems to be beaten down by work stress and exhausted by the excessive number of hours he puts in at both the Northside Grill and the Huron Crew daily. And unlike me who gets most weekends off unless I am at a conference, he doesn't get much of a break. He's had to deal with everything from firing deadbeat employees to egotistical oblivious Huron coaches this week alone. Mr. Dove, my heart goes out to you. It was all a dream Yeah homie I'm on my job And you can't take that away from me Yeah I got my team And I got all of my [----] behind me And they give me the love I need Yeah I got my foot in the door we still hustling for more Checking the game Yeah I'm back in the life Yeah I'm fed up Hey I'm fed up Hey I'm fed up I'm so sick and tired of being sick and tired May 10, 2011 Another bit of Bokonism... boko-maru: The mingling of awareness. A Bokononist ritual during which two people press the soles of their bare feet together. Bokononists believe it is impossible to be sole-to-sole with another person without loving that person, provided the feet of both persons are clean and nicely tended.   May 8, 2011 Happy Mother's Day!! May 6, 2011 An early Mother’s Day lament... Like many women, I find myself caught in the middle of being both a mother and a daughter on Mother’s Day. As much as I want to do something special for my mother (after all she did have eight children and earned it) it just seems so complicated and more pressure than I want on, well, my own Mother’s Day. Admittedly, this is not a day I would normally celebrate for myself but having Sean visit changes the dynamics of the day. He is coming all the way from Chicago after all. (I am thinking of this week’s episode of The Middle as I write this next part describing my ideal Mother’s Day, which would make this funny if you watched it.) I envision an early breakfast at the Northside with my husband and son (who normally sleeps till noon) and the Textile trio if they were interested. And then going on perhaps a stroll through the Farmer’s Market, a walk in the park, a drive along the river, or window shopping in downtown Ann Arbor. But this makes me feel very selfish. I should be spending the day with my mother, who for all I know has her own fantasies about her ideal Mother’s Day. And the truth is I really do want to spend time with her. I guess the bottom line is that in the end it all comes down to being willing to compromise. I still don’t know what “the plan” is but at some point on Sunday I will connect with my mother. And in the end I will feel better for doing so. May 5, 2011 Happy Cinco de Mayo! I thought about making Mexican food for dinner but it would have involved stopping at the grocery store (or Taco Bell). So we had hot dogs instead. Close enough... May 4, 2011 Overheard in the elevator (referring to his wife and Mother's Day) - "I keep telling my kids, she's not my mother." Mmm, where have I heard that before? I went to the bank at lunch time then stopped at Burger King for a Junior Whopper. It really hit the spot. The place I work is so health conscious that I dared not bring it back to the office. :-) April 30, 2011 Another Michael prediction. "It is going to be a hot and dry summer." April 27, 2011 7:57am Michael says "we are going to have a dry summer." April 26, 2011 Simple pleasures... A smile from across a room, a caress on your cheek, holding hands, a hug, having the wait person at Casey's bring you your drink without asking, sex (yes, I said sex), watching The Good Wife, sunny days, listening to the birds, having Sean home, train whistles, beaches, and so much more. April 24, 2011 We have had two beautiful days weather wise. It is after 8pm, I have my window open and can hear all kinds of birds chirping in the backyard. Incredible mix of sounds. Too bad I don't have my bird expert Butch to identify what kinds of birds they are. I recoginize the cardinals and robins (by sight not sound) but that is about it. Yesterday, there was a small high school regatta at Bandemeer Park (by the boat house). I am guilty of being down at the river all day and only watching a few races. I was reading an Elizabeth George novel instead. For shame! I dropped by the Pedit house today to find April really sick with possibly pneumonia. Here's wishing she quickly recovers. She was pretty miserable.  April 22, 2011 I got back from an Internet2 conference in Arlington, VA on Wednesday. Long hours and a lot of work (and stress) but I survived to tell the tale. I did, however, manage to escape the hotel the first night there to go to a Nationals' baseball game with the other two girls on the registration team. We took the Metro which in itself is an adventure for me. It was a cold clear night so we were all a bit chilly but it was good to get out and do something. By the way, it was the Nationals vs. the Brewers and the Nationals won 4-3. March 27, 2011 Another weekend is coming to a close. I am not sure what precipitated these thoughts and they are certainly thoughts I have had before but I have absolutely no talent. I can't sing, dance, paint, draw , play an instrument, etc. I am not particularly accomplished at anything. I guess it does bother me a little. Oh well, I guess it's common folk like me that make others look good. :-)  March 21, 2011 I finally finished painting Sean's old bedroom.
Now I need him to go through the closet and either toss, give away, or
store. I also need to figure out what to do about a window covering. I
may just clean the old blinds and rehang them.Ellen called to let me know that the Hawaii house sewer pipe needs to be worked on. It sounds like they will be able to just reline the existing pipe which should save some money. The alternative is excavation and replacement. Spring has finally arrived. Sort of.... March 16, 2011 Busy, busy, busy is what a Bokononist whispers "whenever [he] thinks about how complicated and unpredictable the machinery of life really is." (From Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut) I am busy, busy, busy at work. We have a Member Meeting coming up in mid-April. I have come to realize that most people don't realize what is involved in putting on a big conference. And I am just one piece of this very complicated puzzle.Sean also seems to be busy, busy, busy... He just put out his first comic book called Fried Rice - which I of course immediately downloaded for the outrageous price of $.99. It is very hard not to be a proud parent. And mark your calendar - today was the first day it was warm enough (a whopping 56 degrees) to comfortably go for a walk when I got home from work. It was fun to see how many people were out and about in the neighborhood! March 6, 2011 I just pushed the transmit button on Turbo Tax and sent my federal and state tax forms into cyberspace. I usually fill out the paperwork myself and mail it so I hope that I answered all the questions correctly. In some odd way I feel like I lost some control and that worries me. Friday night's and Saturday's rain resulted in a lot of water clean-up in the basement. It's amazing how destructive water can be. We have gotten so used to this Spring ritual that we just deal with it but I think the time has come to find a more permanent fix (whatever that might be). March 3, 2011 Another Kenny Chaffin poem. http://www.kacweb.com/kachome/ He seems like a nice guy. A Real Poet hesitates before A Real Poet absorbs A Real Poet casts A Real Poet standing Winter - On the Edge of Empty (Kenny A. Chaffin – 2/9/2011) Steel grey skies await the sun which will not come Squirrels clamber over icy branches searching for buds that will not bloom Winter goes on forever I search my memory for another time like this and come away empty. February 20, 2011 Yowzer, just ate a Grand Slam at Denny's. But in fairness to myself, with the exception of the bacon, I only ate one of the eggs and half of the hashbrowns and pancakes. The key word there is "only" ate but you add on two hot chocolates and it was over the top. No lunch today! February 18, 2011 It's getting to the point where I'm no fun any more I am sorry Sometimes it hurts so badly I must cry out loud I am lonely I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are You make it hard Tired, it's been a long week. Have mercy on me. February 16, 2011 Busy, busy busy.... February 14, 2011  February 13, 2011 Michael celebrated his 63rd birthday yesterday. I bought him a flat screen TV which he seems to be enjoying except for the frustration of not being able to easily connect things like the iPod, laptop, etc. We got the anticipated warm-up - boy oh boy the 40's feel pretty balmy! And this is an early Valentine's Day wish for Michael....  Let It Be MeI bless the day I found you Don't take this heaven from one Each time we meet, love So never leave me lonely February 11, 2011 I love when I hear people talking about it warming up this weekend and they are talking about 32 degrees. The theory of relativity at work. And Happy Birthday wishes to my brother John (or as Michael calls him - my bro). February 10, 2011 It's been a busy week at work as Internet2 copes with the fall-out of scheduling a major conference during Passover week. There are a lot of unhappy people out there. Unfortunately, just about everyday of the year is probably a significant day to some group of people which makes it hard to always accommodate everyone. Admittedly though, the Passover is a big one. It's been pretty chilly with temps in the single digits and wind chills well below 0. I had to scrape the inside of my car's windshield this morning. You'd think it was wintertime around here. February 5, 2011 More snow...  January 31, 2011 I am in Clemson, South Carolina for a conference and the conference center/hotel is located on a lake. It is amazing how much the proximity to water and warmer temps affects your mental state (in a good way). Temps are on a downward trend here but 40 degrees certainly beats 10 degrees. I am seeing that the Ann Arbor area has a winter storm on its way that is expected to dump 8-12 inches of snow. I am hoping by the time I return Thursday the roads will be cleared. "Oh worry, worry, worry, worry. Sometimes I swear it feels like this worry is my only friend...." January 21. 2011 Casey's = Exposing your inner self (or is it the liquor speaking?) January 20, 2011 Every once in awhile I run across words that express my feelings far better than I can... In the end, life is all about seeking reassurance, she thought, we're all engaged in looking for some kind of sign that will tell us we're not really alone. We want a bond, an anchor that will hold us fast to a landmass of belonging somewhere, of being close to someone, of having something more than the clothes on our backs or the houses we live in or the cars that we drive. And in the end we can only gain that reassurance through people. No matter how we fill our lives with the trappings of a carefree independence, we still want the bond. Because a vital connection with another human being always carries the potential to act as a viable approbation of the self. If I am loved, I am worthy. If I am needed, I am worthy. If I maintain this relationship in the face of all difficulties, I am somehow whole. (Excerpt from "For the Sake of Elena" by Elizabeth George) January 18, 2011 I copied this from the Dove Crew Speak site. It gave me a good laugh because I have said and/or have heard every one of the excuses listed below at home. Oh, and by the way, I am in a bad mood and I need to relax! :-) EXCUSES I'm too tired. I'm in a bad mood. I don't feel like it. I need to relax. I'll start over next week. I'll make up for it. BULL.... I've heard them all. Do I need to list anymore? January 14, 2011 The cold snowy days are what one would expect for the month of January. It's too early to start looking forward to Spring and there is no point complaining. I was out before it got light this morning brushing the snow off my car and clearing the driveway and walk. It was really quiet and still (except for the sound of the shovel) and despite the cold it turned out to be good way to start the day. I have been sleeping badly all week - waking up a few times during disturbing dreams that I couldn't seem to change the course of. The physical activity and cold air cleared my head. I have no weekend plans of note - just the usual errands and housework. I may get back to painting the woodwork white in Sean's old bedroom. Eventually I'll get to painting the walls as well. I am hoping at some point Sean will go through the stuff in the closet so that I can box up the keepers and get rid of the rest. January 11, 2011 Happy 1-11-11 It is snowing again...  Winter (The Rolling Stones) And it's sure been a cold, cold winter And the wind ain't been blowin' from the south It's sure been a cold, cold winter And the light of love is all burned out It sure been a hard, hard winter My feet been draggin' 'cross the ground And I hope it's gonna be a long, hot summer And the light of love will be burnin' bright And I wish I'd been out in California When the lights on all the Christmas trees went out But I been burnin' my bell, book and candle And the restoration plays have all gone 'round It sure been a cold, cold winter My feet been draggin' 'cross the ground And the fields has all been brown and fallow And the springtime take a long way around Yeah, and I wish I'd been out in Stony Canyon When the lights on all the Christmas trees went out But I been burnin' my bell, book and candle And the restoration plays have all gone 'round Sometimes I think about you, baby Sometimes I cry about you Lord well well well Sometimes I wanna wrap my coat around you Sometimes I wanna keep you warm Sometimes I wanna wrap my coat around you Sometimes I wanna burn a candle for you January 7, 2011 Woke up to more snow this morning. I parked in the covered lot this morning at work so I wouldn't have to clean my windows later. I usually don't like parking there though because this awful white liquid stuff drips from the ceiling onto my car. I am hoping to go out for a drink tonight! And need to find out if Butch has any plans to go to the Detroit Auto Show once it opens. I had a really good time last year and would love to give Mexi-Town another visit. Although, as I recall, last year we all said we wanted to go when it was warmer so we could walk around and check out the shops. Ole'! January 5, 2011 We received a hand crafted New Year's card from Rose's mother today. What a nice gesture. I am thinking she must be as nice and thoughtful as her daughter. January 3, 2011 A few thoughts as the new year begins...
And I wish everyone a better year in 2011… January 2, 2011  Happy 80th Birthday, Mom! January 1, 2011 New Years Day - Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. (Mark Twain) Happy 1-1-11... |
