NaBloWriMo Day 25 - It Got Away From Me

It's too late to blog. I've had a busy day. Just wanted to say Good Night. I will blog amazing things tomorrow, so tune in then.

NaBloWriMo Day 24 - Random Status Post Thursday...Bumps in the Road of Life

A friend of mine from high school is the winner of today's random status post blog topic: 

"We all have bumps in the road. Sometimes they amount to nothing more than the anthill whereas other times they seem like they are more like Mount Kilimanjaro. Hold your head high, lean on friends and or family and you will be able to get up and over every one of them. Life is not a test run it is a one time dealeo. We are only here for a flicker make the most of each day! God Bless this Republic!!"

Very well stated!  Not much more I can think to add, so I will just pull one thought from today's post...


"Life is not a test run..."

How many times have I sat through a board or committee meeting and come out saying, "There's an hour out of my life I'll never get back!"?

"Life is not a test run..."

How many times have I picked the short line at the grocery store only to watch as all the longer lines around me move twice as fast?

"Life is not a test run..."

How many times have I been running a little late, and the person in the car in front of me chooses to drive 5-10 miles below the speed limit with no opportunities to pass?

"Life is not a test run..."


Then there are those moments that you wouldn't trade for a thousand board meeting hours or even picking the right line at the market every time...like the moment your kids are born, or the moment your newborn wraps his tiny hand around your finger, or a first smile, or first giggle; or your son walking across the stage to receive his diploma, or your daughter reaffirming her faith on her confirmation day.

"Life is not a test run..."

Make every moment count...even the moments that are less than pleasant.  As it says in Romans 5:3-5:  "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

"Life is not a test run..."

If you're stuck in the "short line," take a deep breath and grab your mobile device to check email or prioritize your to-do list.  If you are stuck behind a slow driver, calm down and take it as a warning that there could be a speed trap up ahead or simply that arriving too early could put you in harm's way.  As for the board meeting...learn to pick your battles and make that necessary evil as short as possible.  (I struggle with this one, but I'm working on it.)

"Life is not a test run...We are only here for a flicker make the most of each day!"

NaBloWriMo Day 23 - Owl Be Back

I had a personal revelation quite out of the blue yesterday.

This revelation resulted from a walk down memory lane where I was recalling various craft projects I had attempted over the years.

I remember either wanting to try whatever my dad's current hobby entailed or just experiment with the latest art trend.  Unlike my father, however, I couldn't sell one hobby to pay for the next, so I was somewhat limited as to the depth of study for each art form.

A partial list includes seed bead chokers, crocheting, Styrofoam egg decoupage, latch-hook rugs, string art, watercolor, leatherworking, paint-by-number, candle making, macrame, shrinky dinks, tissue paper flowers, embroidery, loops and loom potholders, washcloth and yarn-fringed pillows, and calligraphy.

As I envisioned each project, the steps involved, and who I learned from, I discovered a reoccurring theme...owls had played a significant role in my vintage craft projects--my string art was an owl, one of my candle molds was an owl, and a finished macrame wall hanging was also an owl.

This revelation sent me on a search of owl symbolism where I found references to intuition, intelligence, protection, and the ability to see what others do not see.  One reference I kept coming back to talked about the heightened sense of awareness and how being drawn to owls may indicate shared abilities.  This really made sense to me.  As I tend to be more of a silent observer, I can sometimes see through pretense to the truth of actions and motives.  And I have to say this has been a curse as well as a blessing.  Anticipating others' needs tends to be a burden, as I end up putting myself last.

Most enlightening in my search thus far was a reference on the macrameowl page that said, "The owl also teaches us to acknowledge the dark side of our personality, and in that darkness we may find food for growth."  This is quite intriguing given my self diagnosis of avoidant personality disorder due to growing up with a narcissistic parent.  I would love to delve more deeply into living with joy instead of darkness.

Additionally, this new-found knowledge has me thirsting for more information.  I remember touching on Greek Mythology in a high school CP English class, but my memory has filed away those days too deep to be helpful.  I now want to explore and embrace all there is to know about the Greek goddess, Athena as her bird was the owl.  Perhaps it will lead me to growth and a further understanding of me.

Owl never know until I try.  :)

NaBloWriMo Day 22 - Still Fall Here

In the wee hours today, about an hour south of where I live, the first snowfall of the region blanketed the still green grass and the various pieces of semiretired patio furniture.

The fall decorations and autumn tree colors in my immediate neck of the woods are still unscathed by the tangible icy white coating which is sure to usher winter in sooner rather than later.  So I thought I should capture some images during the peak of the color...

Farewell Autumn...til we meet again.

NaBloWriMo Day 21 - Words Flying High

Do you know anyone who has been proposed to with the skywriting method?

My daughter and I discussed this unique way to ask for someone's hand in marriage...

DAUGHTER:  "What if the skywriter wrote, 'MARRY ME, PATTY', and there were like ten 'Patty's' that saw the message; and maybe three of the 'Patty's' were in a serious relationship, and each thought they were the one being asked...how awkward would that be?"

ME:  "That's an interesting question.  But wouldn't the one doing the asking be right there on bended knee with ring outstretched when it happened?"

DAUGHTER:  "But what if one of the other Patty's was with her boyfriend waiting for him to pull out a ring and he's standing there looking stupid and pulls lint out of his pocket all apologetic and pitiful?"

ME:  "Okay, you have a point...that would be quite awkward.  Hopefully the skywriter will spell out the last name, too."

DAUGHTER:  "Not if they charge by the letter!  He better spend that money on the diamond."

ME:  "That's my girl!"

NaBloWriMo Day 20 - Are You Ready for Some Winter

There may have been a few snow flurries in the air today.  I say "may have been" as I'm still in denial that winter is upon us.  You would think after the 40-something winters I have been through (that I can recall) that I would recognize a flurry and know that the white stuff is imminent once the leaves turn and the temperatures drop.  I guess I'm just never ready to let go of summer and warm temps.

Do you have YOUR winter survival kit ready?  Did you leave the scraper in your car, or do you take it out for the summer and forget to replace it until the day you have to scrape ice from your windshield with a credit card?  Do you know the whereabouts of your mittens and snow boots, and are they laundered from the year before and in good condition?  Do you have the electric blanket on the bed?  My purse-onal necessities for surviving this frigid season include lip balm, extra tissues, hand lotion, and hand warmers.

My hubby gave me the best gift of all last year--heated gloves.  I feel like I'm in possession of some kind of 007 gadget when I wear them as they light up with red indicator lights...but, man, do they do the trick!

Life is short...don't get caught out in the cold unprepared!

NaBloWriMo Day 19 - Weather or Not

Today was partly cloudy...
 followed by cloudy...
 followed by dreary...
 followed by rainy...
 followed by sunny...
 followed by cloudy...
 followed by heavy rain...
 followed by pea-size hail
(although some said it was sleet)...
followed by rainy...
followed by sunny...
followed by cloudy...

Well, you get the picture.  Mother Nature could not make up her mind.

It closely mirrored my own mood swings:

Tired...
followed by not quite awake...
followed by indecision...
followed by teary-eyed...
followed by joy...
followed by anxiety...
followed by frustration...
followed by a meltdown
(although some said it was an episode)...
followed by more crying...
followed by laughter...
followed by sadness...

I wish I could let go of the preconceived notions I have of the way I feel others should act and behave.

If only I didn't have expectations and standards...for myself as well as for those around me...or if I could just lower my expectations of others...then I would not constantly be disappointed and annoyed.

Life is too short to be consumed with bitterness.