« March 2008 | Main | June 2008 »
May 20, 2008
A Green Thumbs Up
There is a potentially fatal flaw in our plan to rework the front flower beds. I have no gardening skills. Flounder and I mostly know what we don't want. I especially knew I didn't want the azalea bushes that have inhabited the front bed since we moved in. My plan was to chop the bushes down and then dig them out. Being a procrastinator I have been putting this off while researching what I wanted to plant in their stead. I find the creative process to be far more fun than the actual work. While I puttered around Flounder came across a Wanted post on our local Freecycle list. What's this? Some hardy soul is willing to dig out our shrubs and replant them on their own property? Beautiful!
Last night they came, they dug and they left us with a wonderfully empty flower bed just crying out to be planted. Alas this bed will lay empty for at least a couple weeks while we refine our plans but all that bare dirt is very inspiring! Then this morning I realized that not only did we make the convenient choice for us, and the economical choice for our Freecycling-buddies, we also make the Green choice by reusing perfectly good plant life. Hurray! See, being Green doesn't have to be expensive!
Quote of the Day:
You cannot escape the results of your thoughts. Whatever your present environment may be, you will fall, remain or rise with your thoughts, your vision, your ideal. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.
-James Allen
May 19, 2008
Things I Didn't See Coming
This week has been full of surprises! In addition to my Dad's trip to the VA hospital (where he is still recovering, more on that later!) there have been several less important, but none the less surprising things that have gone on this week.
Flounder and I are planning to re-work our front garden. Recently I have become interested in planting a dwarf Japanese maple in the front garden. You know those beautiful delicate trees that grow to be between waist and chest high? That's what I want. While discussing my new found love of the tiny maple with my father in law he mentioned that their maple recently sprouted a sapling that took root in their flower bed and he offered to dig it up for me. How kind! Thank you! I remembered my in-laws have a couple beautiful small maples. Meanwhile Flounder is urging my to consider the placement of the tree. We can't put it too close to the house without risking damage to the foundation. What's the big deal I wonder, it's only a waist high tree. This is the example of where imperfect communication can get you in trouble. We went up to visit this Sunday and I discovered that the trees in question are WAY bigger than I remembered. They are Japanese maples all right, but there is nothing dwarf about them. Change of plan! About a year ago we had to cut down my beloved purple leaved flowering plum tree that lived in the front yard. Anyone know a company that grinds up stumps? We have a baby Maple to plant.
In entertainment news my early teen obsession of broken their years of silence and preformed live on television for the first in at least a decade. Lord help us, it was so bad. I have a loyalty to these guys but for goodness sake! Bless their hearts I do how they get better with additional rehearsal, but my hopes aren't high. Also on Friday, Flounder and I went to see The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. It was like some executive decided that the book was just not epic enough. The result was an overly long film with a extremely forced romance and way more blood shed. Not an improvement over the book. However, there was a bright light in the darkness. Reepicheep the chivalrous, butt-kicking mouse is voiced by Eddie Izzard. Totally unexpected and delightful. I love that character, and I love Mr. Izzard. They are two great things that go great together.
And the final surprising thing I did this weekend? I joined facebook. I know, I can't believe it either! After the waste of time that was friendster and completely refusing to join myspace (I stand by that decision!) I didn't think that facebook was for me. But after two friends mentioned facebook recently I caved. What can I say? I hate to be left out!
Quote of the Day:
The greatest friend of truth is Time, her greatest enemy is Prejudice, and her constant companion is humility.
-Charles Caleb Colton
May 14, 2008
Hello Stranger!
It is really sad the way I have let this little site of mine languish. There has been tons going on, but so much of it feels really personal and not ripe for sharing. That said there have been a few happenings that are worth mentioning.
Micah is turning 23 this week and that makes me feel very old! He is also investigating becoming a police officer. I have no doubts that he would be a good cop; compasionate, tough and honest. The idea stinks of irony in my mind given the difficulties the legal system has created for him in the past, but I know he can do it well if that's what he wants.
Dad (Micah's bio-Dad, my step-dad) has stopped drinking. It's been two months and I am really happy for him. I am keeping my expectations low given our history but I am just really pleased with the idea of Dad attending Coutrney's (Micah's other sister) impending high school graduation sober. But keep in mind, Dad has been drinking heavily nearly everyday for 30+ years. Since he has gone cold turkey he realized that he actually feel like an 85 year old. 2 years ago at my wedding he had trouble navigating the steps to enter the ceremony. Walking had become increasingly difficult and then last week he was having trouble sleeping and breathing. Then a miracle happened. Dad decided to go see a doctor. Now, Dad hasn't seen a medical professional in many, many years and has no health insurence. The good news is he is a Vet. So to the VA in West Virginia he went with Micah along for support. As you can probably guess he isn't a well man. What we know for sure is that he has congestive heart faliure. There are probably several other things wrong with him as well but I haven't heard news on any of that yet. I don't know how bad it is, or what is going to happen next. I do know that Courtney is graduating soon and I really hope he is there to see it.
I still have optic nerve swelling and I am still on medication to manage it. What I havn't done is lose any weight since the diagnosis which is the number 1 thing I should be doing. I did have a great appointment with a new GP this morning, she is young, spunky and well informed. A far cry from the distracted and quack-ish doc I was seeing previously. Oh, yeah and this one is conveniently located! Like night and day. This office also has an in-house dietician. I think I need to make an appointment.
Did I mention that Mom's Beau (the one who did all that work on our house) is still in jail? What, I didn't tell you about that one? It's a long story that involves too much alcohol and a 100 mph car chase with the cops that ended with Beau in the hospital and then in jail. Yeah.
I took a health class this past semester because I thought I might want to become a nutritionist. I got an A but I am already over the nutrition idea. On to the next thing...
Incidentally, all of you folks who are happy in your work: did you just KNOW what you wanted to do? Or did you trip over it? Just wondering...
And finally, Flounder and I have booked a cruise in October that we are really looking forward to. Western Caribbean on the Disney Cruise Line. I know we don't have kids and stop laughing! We are going to have a great time!
I hope this entry is the start of more frequent blogging for me. I just realized I missed it!
Quote of the Day:
"I'm not sure I want popular opinion on my side -- I've noticed those with the most opinions often have the fewest facts."
Bethania McKenstry
