Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Si, Se Puede

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
- President Obama

My Mother called me, she said she laughed, she cried, she sang along. My daughters came home, one from school the other from Europe, dancing around to Michael Franti's tribute to our new President. Audrey asked if I cried, because she knew I did, and stated her drama teacher sobbed(the one who made the wonderful commencement speech for the class of 2006).

It's a new day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd9xU8cw1JE

Monday, January 12, 2009

Knitting Sunshine


This is what I am doing today. Sitting in the sunshine, with Apple Sunshine on my lap, knitting a scarf. I hope to finish it today.
I am operating on the "no news is good news" policy. Emma has been gone for 5 days. She is travelling in Scotland and England singing with her choir. She had just finished 6th grade the first time she travelled without us, going to Hawaii on a People to People expedition for two weeks. She called home several times with a calling card, the last time being the night before departing Hawaii saying she did not want to come home. That's a good call. Audrey spent New Years in California with her best friend. She called home everyday, sometimes more than once a day, with joy, laughter, excitement, speaking a bit of spanish. They were good calls. My girls are growing, becoming adults, not needing me as much...as I need them. So I sit and knit, repetetively, and wait for my children to come home.

Friday, January 09, 2009

A Walk in the Woods

I already started the list, I met my sister, her boys, and dogs for a walk in the woods.






Our path




The walkers




Carl taught me how to use his bow










Balance -using my core, dog on leash, camera in hand
Dog walk dog


And for a moment, we were still, listening to the trees

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Yesterday it was My Birthday


Yesterday it was my birthday

I hung one more year on the line

I should be depressed

My life's a mess

But I'm havin' a good time

- Paul Simon

Well, not really, I shouldn't be depressed, but my life is always a mess. But I'm having a good time. This is us at the airport, waiting in line, sending Emma off to Scotland and England to sing. What a lucky girl. I spent 8 hours, again, in the car, driving to Dulles, waiting, driving home. Not exactly my idea of fun, but somehow we manage to make it fun. We laugh, we take photos, we tell stories.

It's time for the list again. In reviewing last year's birthday list, at first I was a bit disappointed that I did not realize about half, but then I recognized the fact that what I did accomplish took quite a bit of effort, mainly school, so I'm ok with that.

46 Things to do do before I turn 46


  1. Music - expereience some new, still look for some old favorites. Being a bit more vague because if an artist does not come to town, then it becomes a bit more difficult, I still want to see Ozomatli and Anders again. Michael is already scheduled.

  2. Continue my college education

  3. I NEED to finish more unfinished creative projects so will try to keep a running tab on what I manage to accomplish - Be more aggresive in posting to Use What You Have

  4. Take a photography class

  5. Take a photoshop class

  6. Continue with Project 365

  7. Resume Self Portrait Challenge

  8. Sell our house

  9. rent an apartment for the next year, this is so we only own one house

  10. Get a job for the summer on the eastern shore

  11. Publish my blogs (a must!)

  12. Make peace with my demons/people. Accept them for who/what they are and move on

  13. Travel - Puerto Rico is on the horizon, so is Mexico and New York, still want to go to Philadelpia, maybe a trip to Chicago to visit family, a music festival somewhere (New Orleans is always a possibility but would like something new, too)

  14. Local Museums - including the Visionary Arts, BMA, Holocaust

  15. Go ice skating - that's a bee in my bonnet for the last week or so

  16. Spend more time with my sister

  17. Join or start a creative group - the women's retreat never happened and maybe that's too big - start small with a group that meets weekly/monthly/or quarterly

  18. Buy some new cowboy boots, oh yeah

  19. Go for walks

  20. Continue exploring the eastern shore

  21. Kayak

  22. Ride, ride, ride

  23. Be kind to myself

  24. Continue to purge, including clutter and weight - an ongoing process

  25. Annual mash and flash

  26. Build a fire pit or two, one at each house?

  27. Get back on the blogging wagon

  28. Physical challenge - Either the 10K with Peach or the Seagull Century with some Y people or both

  29. Do something that scares me - might need to do some research on this one or not- there are many things that scare me

  30. Organize recipes

  31. Organize photos

  32. Organize clippings

  33. Order ACE certification materials

  34. Zumba certification?

  35. Drink more water

  36. Service projects - Charlottes hats, Santas Helpers Anonymous, Rubarb

  37. Spend more time with my parents

  38. Attend church at Lansdowne (once a month?)

  39. Etsy shop

  40. Bake bread

  41. Yoga more than once

  42. Talk to strangers

  43. Hook a rug

  44. Speak spanish

  45. Take time to play, play games, play creatively,

  46. Host a party down the shore

And there you have it. That's a mighty big list. Again, some things will happen and some will not (like those organizing ones, dang! they are no fun, but need to be done). I may review and make changes. The point is to make the list and see what it brings.

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Happy New Year


It is Saturday, the beds have been stripped, the laundry has been done, the dishes washed and it is time to head west and north. It's tough living between two places.
The girls were not with us to ring in the new year, although Emma missed us so she arrived late on New Years Day. Gotta love that girl.
So what's it going to be this year? I'm making my list, my shirt says hope, I'm drinking a 90 minute, with friends and family, playing rockband. Sure started out good.