might want to keep an eye on your ethics too...

Withdrawal

The neighbors who had been so kindly allowing us to steal internet from them have smartened up. Our formerly free (albeit unreliable) internet access is now password protected. You wont believe this, but those jerks did this without warning me AND were brazen enough to keep their password a secret. *sigh*

So until Mer and I suck it up and become slaves to Comcast the posts may be infrequent and to the point.

Just like this one :)

The perfect card

Not usually much of a card person, but I laughed out loud because of this one. My mom sent me a birthday card which was funny in and of itself, but let me share a little story with you.

I have this neighbor. He is an elderly gentleman, and very fickle. One day he likes me and gives me all sorts of non-perishables and offers me wine, the next, he hops on his bike and completely ignores me. (I've tied these mood swings with my actions... I visit every day and talk for hours= good side. I enjoy my life hanging out with people my age and go a week without stopping by= bad side.) I am currently on his bad side. He is an odd, kind man.

He has this system of getting my attention. He walks out onto his porch once he sees that I have come home. He stamps his foot on the floor (which is above me) and then lowers down a plastic bag on a string with various items in it. Sometimes it is a note, sometimes it empty containers from food I brought him, today... it was my birthday present from my MOM. Yep. She had forgotten to put the apartment number on the address and somehow Lee got a hold of it. I thanked him, asked how he was doing- he grunted and raised his plastic bag contraption and went inside.

Now that you have some background, CHECK OUT this card my mom sent!



How priceless is that?

Anyway, my mom so kindly sent me quite the loot. I guess now I will have to bake those muffins Lee so desperately wanted a while back (he even gave me paper cups and 25 year old muffin mix!) Perhaps I can get back on his good side.




Thank you mom, and I must say that this is probably the coolest apron I have ever encountered. And now its mine! Hip hip hooray!

Psst...

Check out the Flickr account!

Awwww

Here are a few pictures from this weekend. It was lovely. Shauna and Ryan just bought a house- the previous owners were... shall we say... poor housekeepers. That and the house is about 110 years old. So, should have taken some pictures of the house to show you all what I'm talking about, but somebody stole the show.

Cle Elum

What a crazy day. Filled to the brim with confusion, frustration, hurt feelings, and all because of a lack of communication. It'll all work out, and this evening Mer and I will get to see Shauna and Caden, but it has been a long day already.

Mer and I had planned on leaving this morning for Spokane. I called, and called again with no answer. I called Shauna, hoping she had talked to Mer. Even Spencer wasn't answering his phone, so we began to worry. Where is Mer Bear? As it approached noon, I decided to fly solo. Got about 30 miles into I-90 and its MER! Too far away to turn around, silly to take two cars to the same place on the same day, so here I am. In Cle Elum, hanging in an air conditioned coffee shop with plush chairs and free internet. Not so bad. Took a walk at a rest stop, drank their free coffee, topped off the gas tank, ate a yummy sub from Quiznos, and soon we will be on our way to the east end of the state. Hooray!

So yeah. I had an interesting night last night. I got a lot off my chest that has been weighing me down for a long long time. Had a good cry, shared hugs and hugs and more hugs, and then slept like a baby. I would like to attribute this to my general pleasantness today even in a situation that is less than pleasant. In the scheme of things, a few hours of confusion is really no big deal. I mean really, what is this whole mess about? Three friends and a baby that just want to see each other really badly. How can that be a negative?

See you soon Mer. See you soon Shauna. See you soon Caden.

Inspiration right under your nose

I am wandering around my apartment, again, waiting for paint to dry. I came across some of Mer's artwork and actually read some things on there. Seems timely as I have recently rekindled my relationship with Ehrmann. Here we have a poem by Judyth Hill.

Wage peace with your breath.
Breathe in firemen and rubble,
breathe out whole buildings and flocks of redwing blackbirds.
Breathe in terrorists and breathe out sleeping children
and freshly mown fields.
Breathe in confusion and breathe out maple trees.
Breathe in the fallen and breathe out lifelong friendships intact.
Wage peace with your listening;
hearing sirens, pray loud.
Remember your tools;
flower seeds, clothes pins, clean rivers.
Make soup.
Play music, learn the word for thank you in three languages.
Learn to knit, and make a hat.
Think of chaos as dancing raspberries,
imagine grief as the outbreathe of beauty
or the gesture of fish.
Swim for the other side.
Wage peace.
Never has the world seemed so fresh and precious.
Have a cup of tea and rejoice.
Act as if armistice has already arrived.
Don’t wait another minute.

-Judyth Hill

And there you have it. Obviously we are talking 911 here, but, how timely right now. Today. So much hurt and sadness and despair and anger in the world… how are we to handle it? What can I do about it? And here is an answer. Thank you Miss Hill, your words have touched many.

I love the idea of thinking of chaos as dancing raspberries... what a beautiful mental image.

Got to thinking...

I've blogged about this poem many times, but I am willing to bet that I have a few new readers. Lets hear your thoughts this time.

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann:

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Brad, I am so happy that this makes you think of me... and thanks again for the book and wall hanging. You rock.

At least my friend's lives are interesting...

CONGRATULATIONS ALI & BRENT! Looking forward to my first experience as a bridesmaid. (Like I said earlier Ali- I trust you to not make me look hideous, thank goodness I have friends with good taste)

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY CADEN! You made it through one year of life and are loved loved loved by so many. (Good job Momma- you have a spectacular little boy in your life. So glad you share him with me!)

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! What can I say... I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you! Love you lots and hope you are enjoying your time away from work. *HUGS*

MACtacular

So I've never really found a foundation that I like. This may turn out to be the same, but I finally broke down and bought myself some MAC powder foundation and some concealer. I like it. A lot. But this evening is the first time I have used it... we shall see if it stands the test of time.

Isn't my life just fascinating? The big news is new foundation... yikes.

If anyone would like to help me out in making my life more interesting, perhaps we could start out with a bicycle. Anybody have one they want to sell? Or know a good place to purchase one at a decent price? I'd like a road bike, but mountain bike would do. I just need to start doing something about this mid-section of mine which has been slowly but steadily growing larger each year. Hmmm....

More soon. I just charged the battery for my camera so you may luck out and get some photos. That and Lance just purchased a BEAUTIFUL camera that needs some breaking in. Coming soon, "my life in photos." (Hahaha, it'll be a photo of me drinking a beer on the porch putting on some MAC makeup and eying my flubbery body with disdain. What a shot!)