Having a snack

A first time experience

Today for the first time I opened the store. Happy for the opportunity to have more responsibility and to work as a team with my coworkers. Had a wonderful manager shadow me this time. It was an unexpected surprise when our semi from Florida showed up a day early. Made plans for it to return early tomorrow morning.

On another note I am participating in our martial arts tournament next month. I will compete in open hand forms, self defense and sparring. I have been choreographing and practicing.

Solo flight

Today is my daughter's 16th b'day. After work, we headed to the Sec of State to get her driver's license. Then to Ihop for lunch and to the store to find a special dessert to bake. And now she is off--on her own, her first solo flight, like a kite up in the sky, trying her driving wings.

Good morning

Off to church this morning to start the day. Saw my good friends there--a week or so ago, he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. A delicious cup of coffee, and then off to the gas station to fill the tank, check the oil and clean the windshield. Nasty weather forecast for today and tomorrow-freezing rain and snow. We are hoping we will all be safely home before the worst of it hits. Concerned about a friend who is in a desperately sad situation. Told the friend I wished I could help. Was told it was something my friend had to take care of. So for now, prayers for my friend with lung cancer and my other friend with the deep sadness and two other friends who are pregnant and have diabetes.

Wind gusts of 35 mph, a "hang onto your hat" day

A productive day

Today was my first day off in eight days. I swept and swifted the laminate. Not too carefully as the backyard is a mess, and the dogs will track it up. I vacuumed, and cleaned the bathrooms, finished the laundry, and straightened my daughter's room. I played some music on my flute. Mostly I spent the day thinking. I practiced hapkido forms and registered for a tournament next month. And I read a bit and wrote in my journal. Perhaps we will go out to celebrate my two daughters' birthdays.

High of 51 tomorrow

Wow! It is supposed to be 51 degrees tomorrow and sunny. A little teaser of spring in the midst of winter. I filled the bird feeder and I see birds flying from the hedge to the feeder. My daughter and I drove on the expressway, and then to a residential street to practice parking. She has her road test Saturday. I talked to a friend and he said he was a free man. I know exactly what he means.

Getting back to normal

The days leading up to Valentine's Day are very busy for a flower shop, with Valentine's Day the single busiest day of the year. Lots of work hours in a few short days. And when it was over, and I tried to sleep, I found I was up all night. I had reached the point of no return. I worked today but on 2 cylinders. After work, I would stop at the dentist about a referral and make an appointment for a road test for my daughter. At home, I planned to lay down in the sunshine in my bedroom, close my eyes and take a nap. After three hours, I woke up and felt somewhat refreshed. My head hurt so I took some pain reliever. I made some dinner and am slowly but surely getting back to normal.

My Aquarium

New Aquarium Inhabitants

Today I added to the aquarium. I bought 2 catfish pictus and 4 zebra danio. I searched online about pictus and discovered that they are nocturnal and like to spend the day in "caves" such as a terra cotta flower pot or plastic piping. I added a mug as another cave. So now the inhabitants of my aquarium are 4 zebra danio, 3 catfish pictus, 4 harlequin rasbora and 2 white cloud.

I also bought 10 suet blocks for the birds--mostly small sparrows. One day I was eating my lunch and I noticed a male cardinal at the feeder.

My own little space

My own little space
To organize secret thoughts
A corner for me.

My daughter received new bedroom furniture as a gift for her b'day. As a result, my sister's corner desk was discarded and put in the basement. Only for one night however. There happened to be one corner in our room, that would be perfect for the little pine desk. I had to put the front leg back on, badly I might add. However, once the desk was brought up the stairs, ever so carefully and set in the corner, it was perfect. A place for a radio, library books, a pencil holder... A drawer for a mouse pad, and mouse. After all these years, I have made a space to work, write, think, dream.

Summer 2010

12 days

As of 2pm today, I have an afternoon and day off! I am in desperate need, as I just finished working 12 days in a row. I started my afternoon off by enjoying the glorious sunshine as I drove to buy bird feed and sunglasses. Sunglasses don't do well in the pocket of a winter coat. I filled the feeder and already saw a couple birds flying back and forth from the hedge to the feed. I loaded the dishwasher and folded the last load of laundry. In a few minutes, I'll put some chops in to bake. And tomorrow? No plans. Late in the day, I have dance.

A snowy day picture

Amusing

The atmosphere at the big department/food store was as if Armeggeddon was approaching in the next half hour. Shoppers bustled without talking, scurrying here and there, obviously on a mission, with no time to talk to anyone. I saw one essential item being carried out--a snow shovel. My cart contained only one helpful item for the snow storm--salt. Other items were bananas, brownies on sale for $1, ribs, deli meat, milk and hoagie buns. One lady pushed a cart with two cartons of soda pop. A mom and her son and daughter purchased a toy, perhaps to be given as a gift. Other than backing the cars in the driveway and purchasing salt, I did not buy kerosene propane or gallons of water. The ribs and potatoes are baking, and I am content.