So many photos!

 

I love taking photos... we just took a walk, and I took about 50 more. Why? I have no idea. I'm not sure what I could ever use them for. But they are so much fun! This was one of my favorites on this batch. See ya later!

Hunkering down

 

We got more snow, but it oughta be spring! I took this picture through my son's window. I feel bad for this little guy, he came north too soon I guess.

I'm going to order seeds today. I want heirloom tomatoes, eggplant, peas, zuchini, and beans, and basil and oregano and parsely. I always buy too many seeds.

I might not have a job this summer. It's looking more and more likely that I'll be laid off. Oh well, what are ya gonna do about it? Not much. I am going to garden, that's for sure. And I really want to get that tree taken down; that WILL be happening this spring. Which means I need to have about $2,000. between the tree, a new fence, and Thor wants to redo the shed.

Today is a snow day is a wonderful day, and I can't wait to get started!

Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.

Isn't that a great statement?

Someone left it anonymously on my blog comments from my last post.

I wanted to post it, because I love the thought. Lately, though, I've been getting a surprising amount of spam comments, linking to other places, places that I am not sure are safe to visit or link to. I've been deleting these comments.

I don't know if this statement was some kind of spam, or truly a comment. So I deleted it, but I wanted to acknowledge the thought, in case someone really wrote it.
It's a thought worth exploring.

Truth, the seas are calm around here lately, and I'm very glad for that! And yes, I guess I shouldn't be prideful about it, it's no great accomplishment. On the other hand, I'm not going to go looking for rough water and storms to test myself! I've had a storm to weather in the past, and I didn't hold the helm, I just clung to the boat long enough to not get washed overboard. The winds and tides took hold, and I went with the flow. And when the storm was over, I figured out where I was, bailed out the boat, and took hold of the helm again. And found myself in a better place than I expected to be, thanks to the winds of fate.

I don't know how to sail. So perhaps my metaphor is unsuitable. Perhaps I would HAVE to hold the helm in the storm, and I should have lashed myself to the wheel. Perhaps, if the helm is not held, the boat will be inevitably swamped and dashed upon the rocks or submerged. But that was not what happened in my own storm. And how should I know? I love boats, but I get seasick at the slightest swell. I know nothing about boats that I haven't read.

Well, with my seasickness, can I really hold the helm when the sea is calm? Nope. No matter how calm the sea, I will be heaving at the rail, unless I'm taking medicine that knocks me out. In which case I will be sleeping at the helm.

Now, storms may come every season, but perhaps I have sailed into a different climate, where the storms aren't as severe? And I am keeping a watch posted on the weather, and if I see a storm, I hope to sail away from it, even if it puts me off course a bit.

If you wrote this comment to me, please comment again and let me know who you are! :)

four minutes, GO

Every day I have a very precise schedule,
I work at 7, so I wake up at 5:55, so I must be in the shower by 6:15, so I must be out of the shower by 6:30, so I must be in the car by 6:50, so I can make it to my job by 7:00.
I have a tea break every day and always seem to find myself getting into the car, driving the same route, getting out of the car, getting my tea, getting into the car, driving the same route, getting back to my desk, at exactly the same points on the clock.
I have lunch break, so, I get into my car, drive the same route, get out of my car, make lunch, surf the internet, get into my car, drive the same route, get out of my car, get back to my desk.
I get out of work, and my time is my own... for a few hours... most of which I usually waste.


I think "rut" is the obvious term. But I don't mind making the same tracks over and over day after day going to and from work. I choose them. I could drive a different direction, I could leave a little earlier, but I don't want to. And I like my job, and I'm happy to be working. The part of my day that is devoted to work is not such a bad little comfortable rut.



The rut I don't really enjoy is the "after work" rut. That is the one I want to break out of. I don't want to waste any time.

I only have four minutes. It's more precious than gold. I don't want to squander it. It's time to GO.

Punk and Rock Junket

Thor and I went on an adventure today, to celebrate our 22nd Anniversary and Valentines Day.

I heard this guy on the radio, about a month ago, talking about his Rock and Punk tour. It sounded like fun, so we booked it.

We took the train into New York City this morning and grabbed a cab to the corner where we were told to meet. Bobby Pinn was a fabulous guide, he was full of information about who did what where when and with who else... he walked us all over the East Village, and showed us a bunch of the New York City Rock landmarks - the location where the Fillmore East was, where the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers and so many others played... Places where the Ramones and the New York Dolls hung out... and he had a ton of stories about musicians and events and concerts. And, he had props... like when he walked us up to an apartment building that was on a Led Zeppelin album cover, he had the actual album cover to pull out of his bag of tricks!


The tour ended up in front of the store that used to be CBGB's... we parted there, and Thor and I shopped for a little while. I would definitely recommend the tour to anyone interested in Rock and Roll NYC!

We finished up the day working our way back up to the train station, stopping first for lunch at a nice trattoria, then stopping for a few ales at McSorley's - a place where Abraham Lincoln and years later John Lennon hoisted a few -- and it hasn't been cleaned much since then... talk about atmosphere!


and finally, we stopped at one last bar for a few more drinks before hitting the train home.

It was a lovely and romantic day.

Hope you have a happy Valentines Day too!

Blizzardy day :)

 

The first blizzard of '10 didn't really hit us here in our little hamlet in New Jersey.
We only got a few inches, which was fine since it was a weekend anyway.
The best part of snow days is staying home, right? Being compelled to sit on the couch with tea and a book... bake a few batches of cookies or something. But if it's a weekend, and you can choose to stay at home anyway, where's the fun in that?

This is the second blizzard of '10. It isn't a weekend. But we all got to stay home :) even Thor, whose company NEVER declares a snow day. Poor Thor almost ALWAYS has to struggle in to work. He's been known to go to work on days where it is declared a "state of emergency" and the government asks people to stay off the roads so that the emergency crews can get through and everyone can plow. He always makes it. It's about a 45 minute drive with traffic... not too bad of a commute by New Jersey standards. But today, he got to stay home.

Of course, Frankie isn't home. He probably isn't even awake yet, I might be wrong. The college WAS hit by the first blizzard, and they had limited services, but he still had power and heat and water and the cafeteria was open - not a lot of food choices, but they were able to eat.

The third blizzard of '10 is also today, apparently; this is like two storms rolled into one. But it's really hard to be sad about it, if you have no where you MUST go, and nothing that MUST be done!

So I started some starter to bake another loaf of bread, and I started the laundry, and I'm going back to working on my paper work. I feel pretty energetic, but since Thor and Nick are both home, I don't have to spend all my energy on the shoveling! And before too long, when my energy level dials back a notch, I've got a painting to work on, and a book to read.

Hope you have a nice day too!!!

Sunset in my backyard

 

I love spectacular sunsets. But how often do I see them from anywhere besides my backyard? When I have a camera around?

And the scenery in my backyard isn't all that exciting. But I guess it is home, so it's still beautiful to me.

yikes

it is a lower case day. i'm playing with 2 computers at the same time, and upper case is too much work, mostly.

the lap top has issues, and i'm tryin to fix them. boring.

so the other side of my brain is blogging. lol

wish me luck...

Waiting

 
Waiting watching the clock...
no wait, that's a Pearl Jam song.
Waiting and watching out the window
It's gonna snow soon I guess
But not soon enough so I don't have to go to work! I wish.
I'm so TIRED waking up this time of day!
But I'm looking forward to a great weekend.
I'm thinking about baking bread maybe? And definitely reading a lot.
And sleeping in, for sure. And I've got a painting to work on that's been started and hasn't gotten very far.
Oh yeah, and I guess working on the taxes. A blizzard of paper.