Reckless Sarcasm

Avoidance

2012-01-15T17:04:00.000-05:00

I could make all sorts of excuses for not blogging, but who cares really. I've been telling myself that I would like to be more creative, yet I haven't really picked up my camera in a month or so and hadn't picked it up in months before that. I haven't set foot in this blog for two months. I seem to have lost my mojo.

I've started to take pictures with my iPhone again. Baby steps. Nothing happened really.... I didn't even get bored. I would do that thing where I would see something that I would love to photograph, promptly did an inner shoulder shrug and kept doing nothing.

Maybe I'm depressed. I get that way when the weather starts to get colder. Though I love the way the leaves look when they start to turn, I notice at the same time that my moods start to shift. Got a case of the Blahs... Maybe a vacation to a sunny destination would be just the ticket.

Anyway, I'm not going to make any silly promises about blogging more. I enjoy it and just need to make time for it. You can only stare at the boob tube so much, right?

Album vs Single

2011-11-15T20:06:00.001-05:00

I was driving home tonight, listening to one of my favorite albums, when I wondered how many people buy whole albums anymore. When using iTunes there's no need. You hear a song. You like it. You buy it. I wonder how many people spring for the whole shebang anymore.

I thoroughly enjoy listening to an entire album. The time and thought it takes to get the order just right... The artist tells a story and with just the right order, it can be amazing or eh... Just like a novelist builds characters and story lines with chapters.

Don't get me wrong. I'll certainly buy the single of a song that really resonates with me or if I like the beat or melody, but I'll frequently go back and buy the whole album. I rarely hit shuffle on my iPod. I want to hear ian album as it was intended. I'm not just talking about concept albums here, though they're great. I'm talking about any album.

I was listening to Arcade Fire's latest, The Suburbs tonight, for the ten thousandth time. I love it through and through. I love every note. I love the progression. I love how it takes me back to living in the burbs in the 80's. I looooooove it.

Got it? Good.

I can't imagine listening to just one song or hitting shuffle. It just wouldn't be the same!

Below I'm listing some of my all time faves. These albums enjoy regular rotation on my iPod.

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Adele - 19
Adele - 21
Alison Krauss & Union Station - Lonely Runs Both Ways
Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Depeche Mode - Violator
Florence + The Machine - Lungs
Garbage - Garbage
Paul Simon - Graceland
Keane - Hopes and Fears
Lissie - Catching a Tiger
Marc Broussard - Carencro
Metric - Fantasies
Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
Neko Case - Blacklisted
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
R.E.M. - Automatic for the People
Ray LaMontagne - Trouble
Ray LaMontagne - Til the Sun Turns Black
The Secret Sisters - The Secret Sisters
The Shins - Oh, Inverted World
The Sundays - Blind
The Sundays - Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic
Young the Giant - Young the Giamt

Ok there are more, but I got a little out of control as it is. What are your favorites?? Do you feel the same way as me or am I a maniac?

Oh. My. Goodness I'm lazy

2011-11-13T19:57:00.001-05:00

Wow, I popped online today and headed over to my blog so I could catch up on my reading and realized that I haven't posted since August. August? Really? Wow it's been a long time.
It's not that I don't have anything to say, it's just that I've been so busy that I haven't even thought about posting. I haven't taken a photo since September. What is wrong with me?

It's a combination of work, ghost hunting, and knitting like a maniac to make sure I have Christmas gifts done by the time the holidays roll around. I've got lots to say. I just have to make time to say it.
I guess it's time to make good use of that blogging app I have for my phone.

What's going on with all of you?

Bring it, Fall!

2011-08-31T20:08:00.000-04:00

I am so ready for Fall. Bring it on!

I know. I know. That means that Winter is not far behind, but I'm ready for the cooler weather. I'm ready for the crispness of a fall morning. I'm ready for the beauty of the changing leaves. I'm sorry to those of you that live in a place that has no seasons, I really am.

I'm ready for the smell of fallen leaves. I'm well aware that smell is the smell of decomposition, but I love it all the same. I also love the way that you can smell the hay in horse manure. Yeah, I really do.

I'm ready for hot apple cider, making applesauce (mom, I hope that you plan on making more this year), planning winter knitting projects, football, sweaters, wearing socks, Halloween and all of the adorable kids that will stop at my door, hay rides, corn mazes, pumpkin spice coffee (thank you Dunkin Donuts for breaking it out early...) Thanksgiving, and the excitement that preparing for the holidays always brings.

I'm ready! Bring it on! (The snow can suck it... but I love Fall!)

Are you looking forward to Fall? Do you want to punch me in the face?

We Survived

2011-08-28T14:35:00.000-04:00

Yup, that's about the extent of the damage at my house.

I went out to do a little surveillance this morning. We're fine. It was very windy and rainy, but we didn't get as much over here as they did to the east. They said though it was a Category 1 Hurricane, it was really more like a tropical storm.

No trees down in our yard. I made the hubs and the Daisydog sleep with me in the basement. There were tornado warnings all over the place and you could hear the wind howling outside all night long. I was worried more about the wind than anything.

We had a dove adopt us a little over a month ago. It's one of those white ones that is probably released at weddings. The poor thing got lost on it's way home. We can't get close enough for him to let us touch him, but we're getting there. I was worried about him.

Recently, he brought home a girlfriend. She's a regular old pigeon. There's a little love story going on in our back yard though I was concerned for a bit because she only came for one night last week and I didn't think that Dovey was that kind of guy. I thought that doves mated for life and to see this little hussy fly in for one night made me a little bit suspicious of their relationship.

She and Dovey came home together last night and hung out on the roof all night. I took a peek out this morning and they were a little worse for wear, but were alive so I'm happy. I worried about them all night.

It's still raining and it is likely to rain for most of the day. I think I'll stay in and knit.

What I've been doing aka ramblings

2011-08-27T07:46:00.000-04:00

So I've been MIA from my blog for over a month. I've thought about it, but I've been so busy getting used to my new computer (we bought an iMac!), building my photography site, and trying to re-design this blog and design another all while trying to continue knitting, working, ghost-hunting, breathing, and sleeping.

So.... drumroll please... my photography site is up! I have a blog over there too, but I'm considering removing it as it really is a place for my to show my "stuff" and I don't know that having a blog there is really appropriate. I guess I can do whatever I want. I'll figure it out.

Go on over and take a look then come back and tell me what you think!

http://www.recklessshots.com

I need to add watermarks to the photos and once I figure out how to do it the way that I like it I'll be adding them.

This week has been crazy in itself. We've had an earthquake, tornado warnings, and now Irene is barreling towards us. If it starts raining frogs, I'm outta here. Irene is not supposed to be affecting us until the wee hours of tomorrow morning, but I tell ya, it looks like it could start any minute out there.

What have you all been up to?

So, I've come to a realization

2011-07-15T20:45:00.000-04:00


Field near my parents' home

that I'm an artist. I mean I guess I've always known it, but I've never really said it. Until today...

I was talking with a co-worker about a frame that someone left as a takeaway in our corporate kitchen.

I said, "Well, I took it because I'm a Photographer and I'm always looking for frames."

Internally, I gasped and chastised myself. What?! A Photographer?! Who are you kidding?!

Then I thought. I am. I am a Photographer. Maybe I'm not getting paid, but I am. I. AM.

So there's that. Maybe I'm faking it until I make it, but I've been told so much lately about how fantastic my photos are, that maybe I should really think about this.

Sure, I have a lot to learn, but hell, who doesn't?

I am a Photographer.

I am an artist.

Photography

2011-07-12T20:41:00.000-04:00

Photography has been a love of mine since I can remember. My first camera was one of those chintzy 110 cameras. I would shoot roll after roll after roll. I have no idea what happened to most of the pictures.

The love had gone a bit dormant until I ended up at BlogHer last year. I sat in on one of the photography sessions and fell in love all over again. Seeing all of those beautiful snaps rekindled my love for the art.

I bought my first DSLR in October 2010 and have barely put it down since. Now I'm going through memory card after memory card.

Recently I signed up for the Superhero Photo E-Course with Andrea Scher. It's only two days in, but I'm loving it.

Besides the shot above, here are some of my favorites so far.

Weekend

2011-07-10T15:59:00.001-04:00

Brought to you by good friends, pick-up volleyball (keep away) games,a feisty cat, goofy dog, dancing on the lawn, and general tomfoolery…

While all hell broke loose on the internets yesterday (I was hacked… again…), hubs and I were visiting with old friends.

The day started with a water gun fight and it ended with me spiking a large plastic ball into a baby’s face. Yup… Not on purpose. Yes, she’s ok. It was a thin plastic ball and I’m a wimp so it didn’t hit that hard. Yes, I feel horrible.

It’s always great to get together with our BFFs. We’ve known each other for years. They don’t mind that I look like I have a camera growing out of my face.

Even the cat doesn’t mind. Or maybe she does.

I just love that face. He’s only 8 months old. We played a game where I would blow at his face. He would run around and then come back for more. It was the funniest thing in the world, at the time. I think I needed a nap.

There had to be a flower shot in here somewhere.

This week, hubs and I will be getting ready for our trip to Key West. I’m looking forward to filling my camera up with pictures of palm trees and the ocean.

Have a good week!

Where I'm From

2011-06-30T20:06:00.000-04:00

I was inspired to do this template by Schmutzie. It is a template from Fred First Floyd. You can read the story and complete the template here. It really does turn out some amazing stuff.
Here we go.

Where I'm From

I am from the old, rusty red, white, and blue swing set, from Ace Bandages and Calamine Lotion.

I am from the big white house on the hill, the dirty city, and the rolling Alleghenies that always call you home with their sweet summer smells and cold, cold winters.

I am from the lily of the valley, the hardy mountain laurel, the rose bush that always springs new growth from old wood.

I am from family get-togethers and grudges, from John and Gail, and Alfred and Ida, and a difficult cousin.

I am from jealousy and confrontation.

From what reflection I was to my parents and what an angel I wasn't.

I am from God and all of the challenges of faith.

I'm from Pennsylvania and the Scottish Highlands, fine roasted beef and Yorkshire pudding smothered with homemade gravy.

From the many broken bones, cuts and bruises of Cousin Andy Ritchie who was careless and free spirited, the childless Aunt Ida who was a grandmother to me until she forgot who I was, and the invisible, tap-dancing cat of my Uncle Bill.
I am from the old cardboard box, under a well-used bed, dragged out every few years.

An open letter to public restroom users of the female persuasion

2011-06-30T18:51:00.000-04:00

Women are pigs. Yeah, I said it. Women are pigs in a public restroom.

You can make available all of the toilet seat covers in the world. Women will still pee all over the seats and leave it for the next person to deal with. You've got a toilet seat cover, SIT DOWN! Unless, of course, the pig before you left feces all over the seat. I've seen it. It happens.

You do not have to use an entire industrial-sized roll of toilet paper each time you wipe. You're killing trees, not to mention you're clogging the toilet for the next user. I am by no means encouraging you to shake it off (though I'm convinced some people do) or use one square, but you do not have to cover your arm up to your elbow, for God's sake. If you drop a square on the floor, PICK IT UP. I should not have to check my shoes when I leave the stall.

You do need to wash your hands, but you DO NOT need to splash water all over the vanity. If you do, wipe it off. There is no reason why I should have to have the tell-tale sink line across my crotch because you can't clean up after yourself.

You do need to make sure that your used paper towel is in the trash can. I do not clean up after people at home and I'm sure as hell not going to clean up after a stranger.

Please follow these simple rules. I will call a bitch out for bathroom indiscretions. I've done it before and I will do it again.

Thank you for your attention.

Love,
Me

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-29T18:12:00.000-04:00

Let me hold your bags, will you?

2011-06-28T20:26:00.000-04:00

I don't claim to be psychic, but I definitely have the ability to pick up on others' feelings ~~all the time~~ from time to time. I am able to feel what other people are feeling and most of the time I take it into myself and don't realize that they are not my feelings.

I don't like to go to places where there are large groups of people because it's overwhelming on so many levels. I can usually tell when someone is in a bad mood without them saying a word. Yeah... Yeah... body language... but it's much more than that. I can just tell. Normally I try to stay away from those people until they work their shit out. Sometimes it's unavoidable.

On the other hand, I am a Paranormal Investigator so it definitely comes in handy during investigations. Sometimes, things just get weird.

I was on an investigation this past weekend and the entire evening I was stressing and thinking that I left my car lights on and that I would get into my car at 3am and the battery would be dead. I don't know how many times I walked around the house to the edge of the porch and checked my car, each time knowing that the lights were off. (But where they really off the last twelve times I checked and I just couldn't tell because of the way the streetlight was shining.)

When we were all packed up and ready to go, I gave strict orders to another investigator that he was not to leave until I had turned my car on and was ready to go. I got to the car, turned it on and it turned over. I was so relieved. I drove home (checking my back seat twelve thousand times to make sure I didn't have any hitchhikers), pulled in, and went to sleep.

The next day what do I find, but another investigator that had carpooled had to be jumped when he got back to another investigator's home. He had left his lights on and his battery died while we were at the investigation.

Coincidence? Maybe.

Maybe not.

Multiculturalism at the birdfeeder

2011-06-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

My weekend in pictures

2011-06-13T19:31:00.001-04:00

I spent a lot of time with my camera this weekend. I went to a Pink Party for my cousin's new addition. Unfortunately I left before I could take any snaps (sorry mom and ditter) and went immediately to an 8th grade graduation party (can't post the shots from there because I don't have parental clearance- I'm such a tease.)

Yesterday, I decided to do a little bird watching along with some nature shots of my progressing garden. The crazy heat has speeded things up a bit, though I’m not sure how much because I am horrible with timing. I never remember when things are going to bloom. When they do, they do…

So here is my weekend in pictures. Well, yesterday at least.

My weekend in pictures

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Here are some gratuitous Daisy shots just because she’s so damn cute.

Enjoy your week! 33 days until some awesome Key West pictures are taken.

I totally invented Planking

2011-06-10T19:16:00.000-04:00

Source

You know, the coolest thing since Parkour except you just lay there. That's my kind of extra curricular activity.

Everyone that knows me, knows I am possibly the clumsiest person on the earth. I fall. All. The. Time. If there is a crack in the sidewalk, the front of my shoe will find it. It's not that I'm not observant. ~~I just don't pay attention~~. I'm just focused on other things, like talking and taking in the scenery. I'm not staring at the ground.

I'm CONFIDENT. I'm even confident when I fall. I make a big joke out of it. I never ~~often~~ cry.

This one time (at band camp) at Friendly's, my co-workers and I were walking out of the restaurant. The leeft heel of my superfabulous, plastic-heeled sandals slid right out in front of me, split-style. My right leg tried to compensate, and down I went like a spontaneous proposal.

I'd like to say it was graceful, but I'm positively certain that my throat let loose a wild, "WHOA!" as I went down. I lay there for a bit. Once I had gathered my senses, I burst into laughter, got up and turned to the rest of the restaurant and bowed. I'm sure there was an arm flourish because I'm all about the artistic details.

The manager rushed over to be sure that I wasn't going to sue them. I had to sign some papers saying I wouldn't sue Friendly's and I was told that I would be getting a call from their Risk Management people. My friends say that the floor was wet, but I don't think it was. They were slippery shoes and I was not paying attention and flapping my gums. Friendly's was really great about the whole thing.

That afternoon, my knee swelled up to the size of a large grapefruit. Hubs took me to the ER and I left with a fluffy new accessory. The leg brace.

A couple weeks later, I came home after a particularly aggravating Open House (during my dark days of being a real estate "volunteer.") I whipped off my spiky heels, threw on a pair of flip flops and grabbed a Manhattan. (My father-in-law had made them in honor of the Phillies making the playoffs that year.)
I walked outside, took a sip, stepped off the deck and hit the deck. I flung my arms out and threw my Manhattan across the yard, but I held on to that glass!

I lay there sprawled out on the river-stones that hubs had probably raked that day while hubs tried to keep his giggles at bay. My ankles had rolled. Both.Of.Them. When I regained my composure and stopped wailing like a two-year-old, I exclaimed, "I only took one sip!"

Again, a couple days later, I ended up in the ER with swollen ankles. They asked me if I felt safe in my home. I told them I didn't feel safe around myself! I then promptly told them I was joking and no, I was not trying to harm myself, yes I feel safe in my home, I'm a clutz with poor fashion choices. I left with another flufyish accessory, the air cast.

There are other stories, like when I tripped up our basement steps, knocked the door open and flew into the wall leaving a shoulder size hole in it all the time yelling, "I'm FINE! I'm FINE!" Hubs had fun fixing that one. There was the time, in college, when I tripped after walking over the railroad tracks, did a flip in the air and landed on my knees, but still kept my lit cigarette. (My friend peed her pants laughing, by the way.) Aaaand of course there is the story of my "trip" to Key West. We've all heard about that one.

So, you see, I really invented Planking. Maybe I'm in more of the Interpretive Planking section. Had I known it would have taken off, I would have absolutely publicized it before anyone else.

A walk through my garden

2011-06-08T18:29:00.000-04:00

I've been really restless lately. I'm looking so forward to vacation that I find myself speeding through my day wishing that vacation would come sooner. (38 days to go, by the way)
It occurred to me, today, that I should really try and find things that delight me every day and not just wait for the "big" things.
So, I took out my camera and took a stroll through the back garden.

These things definitely delight me.

Yarrow - should be yellow soon

Rose Bush with undetermined name - These roses were planted in our first "real" apartment. I dug them up and took them with me when we moved. I was worried they would survive. It's been five years.

Feverfew - It's taking over the garden, but I love the flowers.

Joseph's Coat Roses - I love roses. I have six plants right now.

Expanding my repertoire

2011-06-02T18:10:00.001-04:00

So, I’ve realized that I take a lot of pictures of plants and though they are beautiful, I think I focus on them too much. I think it’s because I love macro photography so much.

This past weekend I was at a Memorial Day BBQ aka the Opening of Pool Club (the name we have lovingly given our summer gathering spot) and I decided to get my camera out and take some snaps.

Here are some of the faces of Pool Club.

I could use some improvement, but I’m happy with learning.

Authentic Sangria Recipe

2011-05-29T19:05:00.000-04:00

So the other day when I was dreaming of vacation and listening to the type of music played in every low-key bar in Key West, I decided to make Sangria to enjoy after work. I sent the Hubs a text to give him a heads up about the Sangria and like every good, trusting husband, he immediately checked with his Puerto Rican co-worker on how to make it so he could test me on my Sangria-making skills.

I was given a recipe in a college Spanish class from my Cuban professor. Her's went a little something like this:

-One bottle of any cheap red wine
-One bottle of Lemon Lime Soda
-Oranges, Limes, and whatever other fruit you would like to add to it

That's it. Simple, easy, and delicious.

Hubs decided that I didn't know what the hell I was talking about so he asked his co-worker, who immediately called her mom, in Puerto Rico, to get her recipe. Then, she gave him her own recipe and said her mom's was too much work.

- Burgundy Wine
- Orange Juice (I used Lite Orange Juice. You may also use concentrate.)
- Lemon Lime Soda (I use Sprite Zero as I would rather waste my calories on the wine.)
- Splenda (optional)
- Cut limes or limon verde if you can get them and oranges (as much as you like)

It goes a little something like this:

- Pour in any amount of wine you like into a pitcher

- Add the orange juice until the drink gets that Sangria color

- Add a little Splenda for sweetening, if you wish ( I didn't add any.)

- Add the lemon lime soda for a little fizz and some taste

- Squeeze the cut limes and oranges a bit and then add them to the pitcher

- Stir

- If you're serving it right away I would add ice to the pitcher or to the glass.

-Enjoy

Thanks to the Hubs for making this while I snapped the photos. He obviously gets the first taste.

The weather is beautiful today. I'm going to go enjoy some Sangria now!
Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all who served and are serving our country!

We booked it! Hurray!

2011-05-25T18:25:00.001-04:00

So, after talking about it for what seemed like months, hubs and I booked our summer vacation for this year.

Guess where we’re going? Come on, you can probably guess.

Why yes, it is Key West. I love that place. Hubs and I went last year after not traveling down to the Keys for a few years. We fell in love with it back then and fell in love with it all over again last year.

We had a great time. It was so relaxing. (Except when I was throwing myself on the ground) It was so much fun that we decided to go back again this year.

With all of the stress of fertility crap, losing weight so that I may go back to the Endo, never really having any time when we’re truly alone, we decided to take a Last Hurrah kind of vacation. With any luck, this will be our last kid-free vacation for a while. Hell, maybe until we retire.

I’ve got a little over a month and a half to wait. It’s going to be hard.

More fun with my new lens

2011-05-09T18:11:00.001-04:00

I went to the Philadelphia Zoo for my birthday, last Friday. I love animals, but I have to admit that I really wanted to go to practice what I learned at the Nikon School class and play with my new lens. Not all of the photos are edited yet, but here are three of them. I'm editing on a verrrrrry sloooooow computer so it is taking me a while. Compared to editing on an 10.5 inch screen, it's not that bad, but a new computer is on the horizon.

Victoria Crested Pigeon - right before she started sunning herself

Flamingo "herd" - we caught them right in the middle of their afternoon nap

Orangutan with his/her blankie - I still say we all have days like these.

New Lens, New View

2011-04-20T18:51:00.001-04:00

I’m happy to report that there has been a new addition to the Sarcasm household. For my birthday, I bought myself a new lens for my camera. It is chock-full of Macro goodness, 70mm-300mm Macro AF to be exact. It can be used as a regular lens or a macro lens. I . Am. Beyond. Excited.

Above, is one of the first photos I took. Below is another.

Not that my “old” lens wasn’t any good, I just like to have options. Below is one of the photos from our latest Virginia trip.

Well, that’s all for today, folks. I’m off to play with my new addition.

The Sound of Music

2011-04-04T19:14:00.000-04:00

No, it's not what you think. I'm not going to write about the musical. I'm writing about the profound effect that music has on your memory.

Have you ever heard a song from way back or even a couple years ago that brought you right back to a specific place in time? I had one of those experiences a few days ago. I had even thought about writing a series of posts about songs and the memories that are associated with them. Then, I happened upon RemembeRED. The prompt this week is about a smell or sound that provokes a memory.

Here is mine: Names changed to protect the guilty.

**************************************************************************************

All six of us were sitting in Tara and Jane's room, yet again, avoiding class on a Thursday afternoon, smoking cigarettes and acting generally cooler than thou. Silverchair is on the stereo, blasting through the cold silence.

Tara is moping.

She is waiting for her moment.

Scott made a rude comment about her. Maybe it's about her weight. Maybe it's about her crazy pink and black hair. Maybe it's about her self-absorbed attitude. It's anyone's guess, but she's pissed.

Tara rarely holds back. Tara doesn't play fair. Tara hits below the belt. That's the beauty of Tara. That's also what's ugly about Tara. She's your best friend and your worst enemy. Cross her and be damned.

The tension is palpable. Something is going to break.

The song changes. Israel's Son begins. The tension in the room grows. Tara goes off.

I can't quite remember all the things that were said, but I know they were harsh. They're not important. All I remember were her last words to Scott.

As Scott closed the door, Tara sang, "I hate you and your apathy and I want you to know that I want you dead."

Scott died a few days later in an auto accident. That was the last time that any of us saw Scott. Tara has never forgiven herself.

I will never forget it.

Here Comes the Sun

2011-04-04T18:38:00.000-04:00

I am so ecstatic that the seasons are changing and we are experiencing warmer weather.
Last week we had snow. Today it was 78. It's enough to make your moods go dipsy doodle, but I'll take the sun and mild weather any day.

It is great to come home and hear the neighborhood kids outside playing soccer. My neighbors are hanging out and enjoying their beer of the day like they always do in warmer weather.

Me? I'm hanging out on the deck with a glass of wine. I had all good intentions of going to the gym when I got home, but Monday's stink, trying to get back into the work groove. I just want to chill and sit on the deck.

That is one of my favorite places to be especially on summer nights. Hanging with hubs, having a glass of wine, and enjoying each others company.

What do you like to do when the weather gets warmer?

Avoidance, thy name is Blog aka What I've been doing while I haven't been here

2011-03-31T20:06:00.001-04:00

I have all these post ideas flying around my head at all times, but I rarely post anymore. I enjoy posting, but I've been so wiped out by the time I get home each day, I just flake out.
Excuses...excuses...

I'm on the third week of The Diet and I'm doing well. Its mostly protein drinks, but when I'm hungry, I eat. I just have to be aware of carbs.

So far, I'm down 12lbs! Hot damn!
********************************************

Hubs and I joined a local gym and went for the first time, yesterday evening.

I. Freaked. Out.

I have not had an anxiety attack like that in a looooong time.

They took us on a quick tour and then set us loose. Hubs immediately headed for the elliptical machines and I decided that I would work on some of the weight machines.

I started with the leg machines, partly because they were out of view from the main part of the gym. I immediately had issues.

I did not know what the hell I was doing. They have these little instructions on the machines, but they do not include how to get IN TO THEM! Needless to say, my clumsy ass got some bruises and banged knees (and pride) as I struggled to get in and out of these contraptions.

I finished fumbling my way through the leg machines and made my way into the larger part of the gym.

Any machines that looked interesting were in use. Anything that looked like it would be a challenge to figure out were open.

I must've looked like a lost puppy because a fellow, female member came up to me and asked me if I needed help.
Clearly, I had no idea what I was doing.
She said that the one thing they're not good at is telling you how to use the machines and I was welcome to ask her anything if I saw her when I was there. Nice lady.

By this time, I had enough. My anxiety level was at it's height. Fight or flight.

My mind said, "Flight!!!!!! Everyone is looking at you! They know you have no idea what you're doing! What ARE you wearing? Fat! Fat! Fat!"

I darted to the bathroom and sat in a stall until I could get up the guts to get the car keys from hubs and then I beat feet to the car where I waited until hubs was done with his workout.

Defeated. Teary-eyed. Mad.

I vented on Twitter. Thanks to those of you that offered kind words of support. That gym hasn't seen the last of me. I'll be back.
**************************************
Hubs and I spent a long weekend in Virginia wine country a couple of weeks ago. I have got to share some of the photos. It was a good time with great friends.
***************************************
I've been doing a lot of investigating with the Paranormal Group that I belong to. I've been promoted to Case Manager, but have not taken on my new role yet. It should be great! We're saving money for a mobile lab to take on investigations. Can't wait until that happens. We have some great cases that we're working on and some great ones on the horizon.

I will also be doing a blog for our new website. It's in production so I'll share the link once it's done. Can't wait!
********************************************

So, clearly I've been a very busy girl.

Day two of the Dreadful Diet

2011-03-17T19:49:00.001-04:00

So I started back up with the Dreadful Diet aka Medically Managed Anorexia aka Optifast. I am consuming very little, calorically, but it's nutritionally complete and kinda like hardcore SlimFast.

I've already lost two pounds and I fully realize it's water, though I have to drink at least 64 ounces a day.

I'm doing this for a few reasons. One being that I want to wipe the slate clean and relearn how to eat. Another benefit is that you lose weight rather quickly. You also gain it back quickly if you don't make sure you exercise to keep your metabolism going and if you go back to the same eating habits that got you into this situation in the first place. The last is that I have to lose fifty pounds before the Fertility doc will do anything with/for me. So, being almost 36, I'm done farting around.

Yes, it's drastic, but not as drastic as surgery.

I don't have to think too much about what to eat. There are not many choices and not a lot of room for error as long as you follow the plan. That's what I need right now.

I am already feeling more energy. Maybe I'm just delirious from not eating...

There are challenges, but I can do it.

Onward!

Wherever you go, there you are...

2011-03-14T08:52:00.001-04:00

So it's the last morning of my vacation in Virginia. We check out in a couple of hours and I'm still not relaxed, though I did have a few moments of relaxation during the weekend.

We had a very nice lunch at Palladio's at the Barboursville Vineyard, yesterday. It was very expensive, $400 for five people, but it was R's birthday and the food was great. The wine pairings with each course were excellent and we lingered there, in our private room, for two and a half hours.
Besides that few hours and a few times when I was sitting quietly in the cabin, I was a big ball of stress.

For. No. Reason.

I kept thinking about my recent fertility appointment and how I need to lose forty pounds in order for any meds to be prescribed. I keep kicking myself for gaining back 30 of the 35 pounds I lost this past summer. I keep stressing about work and what I'm going to walk back into when I get back. I could barely sleep each night because of all the strange noises in my unfamiliar location.

Now I sit, after I've packed up most up the cabin and I've got nothing to do, but wait to check out and I've realized I wasted my vacation stressing about all the things that I came here to get away from.
I've been seriously been thinking about going back on meds. I thought I had been doing well, but with the amount of anxiety I've been dealing with lately my stomach is a mess, my blood pressure is rising, and I can never seem to truly relax.
I guess it's time to face the music. I can't do it on my own. So, I'll be calling the doctor and getting a new prescription when I get back.

I did take some great photos and I'll be sure to share them soon.
I'm very excited about my photography seminar with the Nikon School this coming weekend. That will be awesome!

Now I'm off to finish packing. Long drive ahead...

And a one and a two...

2011-03-10T19:23:00.000-05:00

So I've been MIA lately. This is obvious. In the wintertime I become a hermit. I get up. I work. I come home. I knit, sometimes. I go to bed. Lather, rinse, repeat...

I need a break from the doldrums. I need some different scenery. I need to spend some time away from work. I. Need. A. Vacation. Good thing, because I'm getting one!

Tomorrow, Hubs and I are headed to Virginia's wine country with our BFF's, M and R, along with their two beautiful daughters, Miss P and Miss J. We are staying at a resort in Gordonsville, VA, Shenandoah Crossing. We've stayed there before, in the two bedroom cabins. This year, all they had are the three-bedroom cabins so Hubs and I will have a rambling cabin all to ourselves as we stay separate from our friends. Last time we were next door to each other. I'm not sure how it's working out this year.

I really think it's the only way to go when you're vacationing with friends. You have your own separate space to relax and you don't have to spend every minute with one another. We have vacationed with these friends twice before. I guess our friendship is strong as we've vacationed together and survived.

It's beautiful there. There are walking trails, horses, streams and lots of trees. I am sure to find some inspiration in those hills. I think we're going to go to Monticello this weekend as well, between visiting Horton Vineyards and Barboursville Vineyards. It will give us a chance to stock up the wine fridge along with taking amazing photos, I'm sure.

I will be out of work until next Wednesday so I'm getting a much needed break. When I get back I'm going to be very busy. Along with my paranormal investigations (which I really need to start posting about in an anonymous way.... how does one do that?! ) I am going to a photography seminar that the Nikon School puts on. It should be fun. It is an all day affair. Soup to nuts on using my camera. I'll learn all about ISO, aperture, exposure, white balance, etc... By the time I leave there I will have some sort of an idea of what the hell I'm doing, I hope.
I really want to take a proper photography class, but this is a good place to start. I'm sick of auto-focus. I want new lenses. My father-in-law has a telephoto lens that I can use, but I haven't the foggiest idea how to adjust anything on my camera to take a decent picture, manually! I really need to sit down and spend some time with the thing. Hard to do when you feel like you have no time for anything and the photo project that you've been working on is iphoneography.
I will try to post while I'm there, on my phone. I keep forgetting that I have an app for that. No pictures, but I can surely describe the beautiful scenery.

Well, off to finish packing!

What I’ve been doing while avoiding blogging

2011-02-19T09:10:00.001-05:00

Well, I started the 365 Project on 1/1 and I’ve kept with it, amazingly well.

I wanted to share some of my favorites while I let some blogging ideas stew in my overworked brain. I have taken most of them with my iPhone. I recently upgraded to the iPhone 4. It comes with a 5 megapixel digital camera. It’s quite nice. It’s amazing to me how far cameras on phones have come. I can now take video, zoom and use a flash.

Photo of one of my favorite subjects. This was filtered using the Ink Well filter Instagram App for iPhone.

My hubs got some interesting beads on a trip to NoLa a few years ago. These have been hanging around. They’re a little creepy in my opinion. This was also filtered using the Lord Kelvin filter on the Instagram App for iPhone.

I took this last evening right before the sun went down. I like the lines of the branches in contrast with the clouds. No filter on this one, but was taken with my iPhone.

This was also taken last evening, right before the sun went down. Taken with my iPhone, no filter.

I’ve been pretty busy with the Paranormal Group that I joined in December. We’ve gotten a lot of new cases pursuant to being featured on The Haunted on the Animal Planet. I’ve been reviewing a lot of crazy good evidence lately. Here is a pic of EVP review. (I may be writing the group’s blog on our site when it gets updated. Stay tuned!) This was filtered using the Earlybird filter on the Instagram App for iPhone.

Speaking of photography, a friend has asked me to capture the moment at her second daughter’s baptism this evening. I’m a little nervous, but I’m sure it will be fine. Not sure what the rules are about a roving photographer during a church service, but I’ll find out.

I have also received an email from Nikon that Nikon School will be having seminars in Philadelphia. I have to do a little research. It would be awesome to go. Given I mentioned wanting to take a class, this popped up shortly after. Hmmmm

Reflection

2011-02-10T20:32:00.001-05:00

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about the things that I want to do with my life. Not necessarily work-related things, but things that I would like to do that would make my life more fulfilling. Not just the every day work, home, eat, sleep that normally happens…

I really want to take a photography class. I’m going to start looking at classes at a local design school. They have evening and weekend classes for continuing education and they seem relatively affordable. Some day, I may even be able to call myself an artist - a photographer.

Funky Tuesday

2011-02-08T18:37:00.001-05:00

I have neglected my blog for a while. I've been in a funk. After the holidays, begins the dark part of the year for me.

I spend several months just a little out of step with the rest of the world. I long for the sun, the sweet smells of a spring morning, and warmer weather. I eagerly await spending more time outdoors, planning the garden with hubs and strolling through the nursery.

There is so much hope when spring comes. It's like a promise of better days ahead. The thawing of a cold and dead season brings the reward after long months spent huddled under blankets. (A little dramatic much?)

Yes, winter is pretty, but we've already established that I'm sick of it.

Hubs and I were asked to accompany our close friends on a trip to the wine country of Virginia, in March. I can't wait. Hopefully the weather is as nice as the last time we were there. It was the same time if year when we last visited, two years ago. We had a great time and brought lots of wine home. Expect a lot of pictures.

I hope this end of winter break is just what I need to get me out of this funk. I'm tired of whining and I'm sure you're tired of hearing about it.

I hate winter

2011-01-30T10:14:00.001-05:00

I really feel like I should have bolded that title. I really hate it. I mean at first it’s ok. The holidays come in and they’re all merry and bright. Then comes the downside to the year. It’s dark, cold and dreary. There’s no sitting outside in the sun or enjoying the breeze of the evening air. It’s just cold, dark and miserable. Hubs and I are thinking of going to visit the Keys again in a month or so. I hope it happens.

Obviously I’ve been incommunicado for a few weeks. With the weather making me miserable and a little health scare, I just stayed away from all social media. Too depressed to think of anything to write about.

Good news is I’m ok and I’m baaaaack.

Since I’m sure there are other people feeling the same way about winter, below is a reminder of the warmer months. I can’t wait for them to be back.

Thank God For Small Favors

2011-01-15T20:55:00.001-05:00

A couple of years ago, my in-laws bought me a laptop for use in my new career in real estate. That did not pan out after more than a year of struggling, but I still had this awesome laptop to use.

I loved it. I could edit photos, blog, surf, whatever I wanted. Then it broke. I just stopped working. I thought it was the video card. Hubs didn’t know what it was. All I know is that it just stopped working. Consistent Blue Screen of Death dead… No Safe Mode. No passing Go. No Collecting $200 dollars. Dead.

We made do with the desktop. I fully realize how ridiculous this makes me sound, but our desktop was a dinosaur. You would click on something, go make a pot of coffee, come back and still have to wait five minutes for it to engage. We really needed a faster computer. Hubs is taking college classes online and this was not cutting it.

So, for my birthday last year, hubs bought me a netbook. It was nice, but it was not my laptop with the 17” monitor, cd drive and the keyboard took some getting used to. It had all the power of my laptop in a miniature form. It worked great until the day there was a little accident. I was having a glass of wine and tweeting, probably. It was summer. There was condensation. I think we all know where this is going.

Of course we didn’t get the insurance on the old one. That would have been smart. I sucked it up and went out and bought a new one. It is still alive. I haven’t dropped it or anything on it yet. (Knock on wood.)

So, my big, hefty laptop sat in our sitting room collecting dust until today. I had been saying that I want to get it fixed. Hubs has been saying that it would cost too much and he was going to chuck it if he couldn’t get it to work. I was devising ways of sneaking it out of the house unnoticed.

Hubs turned it on today. It works. It turned on, it ran some diagnostic test and it fixed the problem. I am so excited. It’s sad, really, that this is what it takes to excite me these days, but it’s the little things. I love my computer. I’m so glad it’s back.

What a nice way to wake up

2011-01-12T16:47:00.000-05:00

I got a nice surprise when I stumbled out of bed this morning. I generally check my email when I wake up in the morning and it's usually just random spam. Peppered in with the spam, this morning, was an email from the Bloggers website.

I am an Editors' Pick of the Day! My mug has been up on their website all day!

I registered there about a month ago, I guess. I thought it would be a nice way to network and just get people to read my stuff! Don't get me wrong. Above all, I am blogging for me, but it's boring to me if I'm the only one reading it. I like to get some interaction and it's exciting to know that people are actually reading this thing.

So, I have another 7 hours and 15 minutes to soak it in. Very cool.

The Most Expensive Coffee I've Ever Had

2011-01-10T18:24:00.001-05:00

Friday morning, we were hit with a smallish snow storm. It was only going to give us a couple of inches. No one thought anything of it. I certainly didn't.

I left home a little early that day. I planned on stopping on the way to work for a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich.

The roads were a little slick, but nothing out of the ordinary for this time of the year. I opted to not go the back way to the turnpike because there are lots of twists and turns. I didn't want to take any chances. Last year, hubs got stuck on those back roads and a kind man drove him home in his big truck. I didn't want to tempt fate.

The drive took a little longer than usual, but that's to be expected. I made my way down a two-lane highway, through a few traffic lights and headed on towards my favorite coffee in the world. The Dunkin' Donuts sign was shining like a beacon in the dark of the early morning. (Cue the singing angels. Or Monty Python...)

I turned into the parking lot of the shopping center and noticed that not a blade had touched it. I worried for a second, but I drove on.

I stopped in the center lane or what I thought was the center lane and checked for other traffic. There was none so I started the left turn. I started to slide. All of my drivers ed classes flashed through my brain. Steer into the skid. Steer against the skid. Don't hit the breaks. Don't hit the breaks? Hit the breaks! Hit the breaks!

I hit the breaks. I hit the curb. A little five-inch curb... BANG!

You would have thought a bomb went off.
I backed up and pulled into the parking lot and got out to survey the damage. There was no visible damage. Tire was inflated. No dents. Thank you, God!

I got my coffee and my sandwich and went on my merry way. My car was driving a little funny, but the roads are icy. I pulled into a gas station and checked the tire pressure. It was perfect. I figured as soon as I get to the turnpike, the roads will clear up and I'll be fine. It's just the roads.

It wasn't just the roads. You see, friends. I had bent the control arm of my car to the point where I was lucky it didn't shake off of my car. Me, the dumbass of the year, drove the next forty miles to work. On. A. Wonky. Tire. (Mom, I'm ok. Sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't think it was that big of a deal. Ok, I'm calling you now, before you read this.)

I got to work THEN I called AAA and had my car towed to my local garage. Got to ride in a tow truck. Thanks, Eddie!

So, a 50 mile tow (thank God for AAA), a new control arm, new strut and new tie rod later... That was the most expensive cup of coffee I've ever had. A $600 cup of coffee. Mmmm. Delicious.

Project 365

2011-01-03T19:36:00.001-05:00

While I'm chewing on my Life List, my New Year Resolutions, and my Mondo Beyondo List (and some trail mix) I wanted to direct your attention to the top right hand corner of my blog.

Yeah, up there...my Flickr photostream...

I've started a project that many people start in the New Year. My own special Project 365.

Though I'm not original and clearly I didn't bite off enough with my resolutions (you'll hear about them soon enough), I do hope you enjoy seeing life through my eyes.
All of the photos have been with my iPhone so far. That may continue and it may not, but I do hope you come back to see how the year progresses!

Canty Hogmanay!

Mwah!

The Year of Change

2010-12-31T14:08:00.001-05:00

This year, I decided, was the year of change for me. It’s not over as I made the decision on my birthday, in May, but it is zooming to a close. I am taking the Roman New Year as a way to refresh the promise I made to myself.

This is the year for me to better myself. Over the past few months I seem to have lost the gusto that I originally had when I made the promise to myself, but I’m getting back on track. Slowly.

With that said, I wanted to take today to reflect on the changes that have happened this year.

I’ve gained more grey hairs, more wrinkles, and lost and gained a little weight, but above all I’ve gained and done some real positive things.

This year I went to BlogHer with my sister, learned a lot great things, rediscovered my love of photography, and met a lot of great people,Some of whom, I will treasure for ever! I attended some great parties and danced the night away with people who were total strangers, but ended up as friends.

From left to right: Peaches and Coconuts, Reckless Sarcasm, Up Popped A Fox

I took an awesome visit to Key West.

I met Jesus in the bathroom at work.

I opened up my heart to the possibility that I could make my dreams come true.

One dream came true and I got a new camera! Have I mentioned how much I love it?

There’s much more, and trying to outline it all in this post makes me realize how great this year actually was and it’s not even over yet!

Tomorrow morning, I will make my life list and read through/edit my Mondo Beyondo list. I am really looking forward to 2011. Best wishes to everyone. I hope all of your dreams come true this coming year.

Even the Dogs Got Into the Act

2010-12-27T21:11:00.001-05:00

The World Outside My Window

2010-12-27T11:25:00.001-05:00

It’s not as bad as some got it, but I’m really glad I don’t have to go out today.

The Ghosts of Christmas Past

2010-12-22T21:06:00.000-05:00

I found some old photos from when I made a scrapbook for Ditter. I hope she doesn't kill me for posting them.

I used to love decorating the tree. Now I find it painful. I'm the short one, FYI.

I loved that magic set. I think I got it taken away for being obstinate. Surprise!

Incommunicado

2010-12-19T13:48:00.001-05:00

I’ve kind of been MIA from my blog and Twitter for a while, obviously. It’s been miserably cold and I’ve been feeling icky. Nothing major, just haven’t felt motivated to do much of anything except for knitting.

I’ve been knitting a lot for Christmas and that has also taken up a lot of time.

I also am “interviewing” to join a paranormal group. I went on my first investigation with them last weekend. It was a lot of fun and I hope they let me join. I have another investigation in a few weeks. I’m really looking forward to it.

I am working on a requested post. One of my Twitter friends has encouraged me to post some of my experiences and I have also asked if she would like to guest post. So that will be coming soon as well.

In the meantime, I leave you with a photo that my husband really likes. It has nothing to do with this post.

A Little Bit Monet? Maybe?

2010-12-08T18:09:00.001-05:00

It’s not the best picture, but I really like the way the lights look like they are dancing.

Even a Workhorse Gets a Break

2010-12-06T19:38:00.001-05:00

Seven Years Ago Today

2010-11-29T08:30:00.000-05:00

Seven years ago, today, I was just getting out of bed. My sister, my friends, and I were going to get our hair and nails done. I was nervous and wanted the day to go well, but overall I was ecstatic. I could not wait for the days events. They were nearly eight years in the making.
We had been through a lot in those eight years, college, untimely deaths of friends, break-ups, make-ups, starting careers, unemployment, friends getting married, friends buying houses... It was all a little bit overwhelming, but we decided to take the plunge and with the help of our family, we charged forward.

It was a beautiful day and what a party! I'm still told that it was one of the best parties ever attended. We all had so much fun and when the night was over, I couldn't believe it had gone by so fast. Something that I'd planned in my head since I was a little girl had gone flying by. It seemed like mere moments.

That was a lot of dress. I'm hiding somewhere under there. My mommy made it!

Seven years ago, today, I married my best friend. I love you, Hubs. May we keep the joy, love, and laughter in our hearts for many years to come. Really, I plan on driving you crazy for many more years. Hang on, it's liable to be a wild ride.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-27T17:56:00.001-05:00

Thoughtful Tuesday

2010-11-23T20:27:00.001-05:00

Holiday Shopping and Some Rambling

2010-11-22T19:52:00.001-05:00

I am looking forward to the holidays. I get to see my family, get a few days off of work and have time to relax. I will just get relaxed enough to enjoy having time off and then it will be time to go back to work. So, I may take off on Monday.

I just found out today that I have 52 hours to use until the end of the year. I can carry over 40 so that leaves me 12 to play around with. I don’t have to carry any over, but I always worry about getting sick and not having any time to play with. I also worry about being gone for too long. Too much to catch up on when I get back.

Speaking of the holidays, I really have to start shopping. I’ve finished knitting one gift and have two in the works, but by this time last year I was almost done! Every year it gets harder to shop for people.

What do you get someone that has “everything” and if they don’t and they want it, they go out and get it?!

What do you get someone that never tells you what they want?! My mom and sister, I can figure out. Any craft item goes over well, but my dad… I. Have. No. Idea. Hub’s dad is the same way and I have NO idea what to get Hub’s mom. It’s gotten to the point that if someone has an idea, I think we all hide it from each other so no one uses it and leaves us unable to think of something else.

Rest assured, I will be grilling my family over the weekend. Get your lists ready, family! I want ideas!

Heart

2010-11-21T20:31:00.001-05:00

I Wish I Had This View Right Now

2010-11-20T21:12:00.001-05:00

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

2010-11-19T20:06:00.001-05:00

I had a pretty stressful week. I let a lot of things get to me. Someone hit my car. Another month passed in which my body denied me one of my biggest dreams. It’s a crazy time at work and I didn’t feel good for most of the week, but as another week closes and I think about all the stress, I realize that I really don’t have a lot to stress about. When I think about all of the things that other people are going through, I realize that my worries are pretty trivial. I am pretty damn lucky.

What a Way to Start the Day

2010-11-18T19:22:00.001-05:00

I get up and head off to work like any normal day. I need to get gas so I stop at a gas station on the way.

As I pull in, I notice that there is a heavy-duty truck at the first tank so I start to pull around to get to the tank in front of him. He seems like he is getting ready to pull out so I stop right next to him so I don’t cut him off or get hit.

As I sit, I see him look in his rearview mirror, in his drivers side mirror, and then he starts to pull out.

“He’s going to hit me.”

I hit my horn. He keeps moving as he looks around, confused, and keeps coming.

“What, am I invisible?”

I hit my horn again as he crunches into my car and turns to look at me, incredulously. He throws his hands up in the air as if I have run into him!

He backs up and I hear my car groan. I cringe and put the car in park.

He gets out of the car and yells, “Where did you come from? I checked my mirrors!”

“I was sitting right next to you. I saw that you were going to pull out and I stopped so that I didn’t cut you off.”

He looks at the front of my car.

“Was this here before?”, he asks.

“No.”

At this point, I am shaking. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to say. We exchange insurance information. He apologizes profusely. He was trying not to hit the gas tanks with his trailer (construction) and he didn’t see me.

While we are exchanging information, another truck drives by and the driver leans out the window and yells, “Hey buddy, watch where you’re going next time!”

The car assailant smiles, waves and mutters, “I really didn’t need my neighbor to see me do that.”

It was probably good for everyone that he hit me and not the gas tanks. My day could have started out a lot worse.

I’m ok – my car? Well, she probably needs a new front bumper. Thankfully he missed the front quarter panel.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-17T19:44:00.001-05:00

Good thing, because I have nothing good to say.

Gone Fishing

2010-11-16T19:38:00.001-05:00

I don't have the energy to blog today, but I'm on a roll with NaBloPoMo and I don't want to quit. So, in honor of my laziness and utter overtime exhaustion, I want you to go play a round of Angry Birds in my honor.
Go ahead. You know you want to.

Mute Monday

2010-11-15T19:48:00.001-05:00

I’m sick and I’m not in the mood to think of something to write about.

So, here you go! A cute photo of Ms. Shotzie…

Autumn in the Northeast

2010-11-14T17:44:00.001-05:00

Here are some more photos of our walk in the park.

Autumn in the Northeast

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A Walk In the Park

2010-11-13T14:02:00.001-05:00

Boy I’m Glad It’s Friday!

2010-11-12T18:44:00.001-05:00

I have not had a chance to take my new toy out for a walk this week. It’s dark when I go to work and it’s dark when I get home. There is nowhere that I could stop on the way home even if I see something that looks pretty. Too much highway, too many changes for accidents. So I will have to wait until the weekends and days off to play with and learn how to use my new camera.

I should’ve taken this time to read the manual, but I haven’t. I’m overwhelmed by all the technical terms, but if I’m going to use this camera like it’s intended to be used, I will really need to do that. It’s unavoidable.

In the meantime, I will bumble along trying to figure out what looks good.

Happy Friday!

Peaceful Thoughts

2010-11-11T19:44:00.001-05:00

When I’ve had a day when I felt like I was the world’s bitch, I feel like looking at peaceful photos or listening to peaceful music.

I thought I would share some photos that make me feel peaceful. These are from my last visit to my parents, in early fall. I love it there, as I’ve said before. It is my peaceful place.

Peaceful Photos

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Release the Kraken

2010-11-10T20:28:00.001-05:00

Don’t be fooled. This is not a Clash of the Titans post and I am not being paid to review this product.

I wanted to make myself a drink tonight so I stopped at the liquor store on the way home from work today. Being a particularly stressful day, kind of the pinnacle stressful day of the week, and also being “Hump Day” I thought that it warranted a good, stiff drink.

As I wandered the aisles, I decided that I wanted to buy a decent bottle of rum for our collection. I happened upon this little gem, The Kraken. I read the back of the bottle and decided that I’d like to try it. Ok, I admit it, I liked the bottle. The dark label, the sea monster, and the curved handles on the top helped make my decision. Let’s face it, it was on sale.

I brought this little beauty home and hubs and I opened it up to have a taste. Holy Crap! It’s strong! I know that they say to not use the expensive stuff for mixed drinks, but there is no way in hell that I could drink this straight. Just a little mouthful burned it’s way down my throat, but it’s good! I really enjoy the spicy and sweet taste and the way it lingers on the tongue. (Hell, I don’t know the proper terms.) It was way too strong for me to drink straight though, so I did the unthinkable. I mixed it with Coke Zero. No limes in the house so no Cuba Libre for me, but I’m enjoying my little slice of the Caribbean tonight.

Cheers!

Perfect Sky

2010-11-09T21:12:00.001-05:00

I would really rather be enjoying the view while laying in a beach chair, but instead it’s in my back yard.

Loving My New Toy

2010-11-08T18:43:00.002-05:00

I can’t believe it’s that time of year again.

In the Garden

2010-11-07T16:33:00.001-05:00

Fur Babies

2010-11-06T19:25:00.001-04:00

I Did It!

2010-11-06T13:21:00.000-04:00

I broke down and got the camera that I was saving for. Today, I went and picked up my new baby, my Nikon D3000. It's beautiful and I love it and I didn't even want to wait to charge the battery before I took some shots.

Here is one of them, but there are many more to come.


I am in love with this camera.

Am I Too Nice?

2010-11-05T21:21:00.001-04:00

Today, while I was talking to a co-worker she mentioned that I came up in a conversation she was having with her boyfriend.

“I was talking to Mike and I said that no matter how mad Suz is, she always seems so nice. Even when I know she can’t stand the person… I’m so not like that. It’s obvious when I don’t like someone and I think that’s bad.”

That got me thinking. Am I too nice? Do I take too much crap from other people? I have long been the doormat choosing the “kill them with kindness” route, but then there are those times when I’ve had enough and I let some poor soul have it. This normally happens at the most inopportune times.

Did you ever get so sick of the way that someone treats you that you vow that the next time they piss you off you’re going to let them have it? Invariably the next “offense” is so minor and you flip out making yourself look like the asshole. I guess everyone does that, but I seem to do that a lot. I think because I let things simmer slowly for a long time. When I finally come to a boil, it’s a nasty i-forgot-to-turn-down-the-heat-and-there-is-milk-in-the-water kind of boil over. It stinks.

I really do try to turn the other cheek anymore and try and kill them with kindness, but sometimes I think that the person that you’re “killing” ends up thinking you’re an idiot because they’re clearly walking all over you and you’re just taking it and smiling. I guess that’s when you have to believe in Karma and that the universe will give that person a big old slice of Karma pie someday.

I really want to be there when some people get slapped in the face with it. Really.

So, am I too nice? I guess sometimes I am, but sometimes I’m ridiculously angry for no reason and over-reactive (is that a word?), and whiney.

I guess I’m just human.

When You Have Nothing To Say

2010-11-04T19:45:00.001-04:00

How My Day Started AKA I was in the UK?

2010-11-03T20:31:00.003-04:00

I started my day out with an email, @DaisyPantalones and a DM from my sister on Twitter.
(Pardon the paraphrasing)
Vee – I’m sorry to contact you at work, but someone has hacked your Gmail account and is impersonating you.
I immediately freak and grab my phone and realize that someone has, indeed, hacked into my Gmail account and sent the most scandalous email. ( The red italics are my commentary.)
Subject: (BRUTAL EXPERIENCE) I NEED YOUR HELP URGENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am writing this mail with tears in my eye. (In the flight over

I seem to have lost an eye. Horrible accident, I’ll tell you more

about that in tomorrow’s post.)I thought I could reach out to you

to help me out. I came out to United Kingdom for a short vacation

unfortunately I was mugged at the park of the Hotel where I stayed,

all cash,credit card and cell phone ( I would kill for my phone so

this, you can see, is a serious situation.) were stolen from me but

luckily for me I still have my passport with me. I've been to the

embassy and the Police here but they're not helping issues at all

and my flight leaves in few hour from now but.

I am having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager

 won't let me leave until I settle the bills. (What an asshole.

He let me use his work computer to send this email though.

He’s not heartless!)I need your help to loan me some money when

i get back i will refund it back asap.(I pinky swear!)

Thanks
Susannah (my last name is here too, but well…)


Now first of all, the grammar is atrocious.  No one could possibly think it’s me.  (I hope.)

Second, I don’t have a passport.  You fail, asshole.  Third, I talk to my family EVERY

day. (Ok, I email almost every day…  Ok, at least once a week.) They know I’m

not overseas. Oh no, you suck again!

With all that said, I’m mortified!  Someone at work told me that they saw this exact

same situation on the news recently.  Some poor sucker fell for it and sent this

Nigerian individual (yes, he/she was from Nigeria) money. We’re talking thousands

of dollars.  Duh!  They must walk around with a neon “I’m a sucker for everything”

sign above their head.  Sorry if you’re one of those people that falls for every email.

You know you’re gullible. This is not news.

Ok, back to the story.  Not only did this person have the audacity to hack

into MY email account (I’m important, you see….) they have the double

audacity to correspond with my sister?

“OMG I can’t believe I didn’t tell you about my trip!”

Really?  Really?

So, since Gmail is blocked at work, I had to clumsily change my password from

my phone.Then I logged in and realized that this asshat had gone into my settings

and forwarded my Gmail to this other email address at Yahoo. Now I feel REALLY

violated.  Thank goodness I don’t have any real personal information on that email

account, or any for that matter.

Thankfully, my sister (being the angel that she is and yes I’m sucking up because

Christmas is coming. No really you’re an angel --Vee) sent the whole thing to Yahoo

reporting it as Fraud and Phishing.

What’s the moral of the story here, kids?  Don’t go on your iPhone when you’re in the

Philadelphia Airport. Also, don’t get mugged outside of your hotel while visiting the

UK for a short vacation.  The concierge at the hotel is really a jerk and will hold

you hostage until you bilk your friends and family for money to pay the bill.

It's the Small Things

2010-11-02T20:20:00.001-04:00

I own my car. Yep, I made the last payment today. I half expect to go out tomorrow morning and see a pumpkin where my car once was.
Times up! Thanks for playing!

I AM expecting for things to start going all wonky (yes, that is the technical term.) I am already having problems with the motor for the window on the driver's side, but overall, my little plastic car has been good to me and It's All Mine!

In other news, I bought a new coffee maker tonight.
.....

....

...

Yes, you read that right. I'm the only one in the house trying to change my coffee habit and we needed a new one. Badly.
The only person that could make it behave every time was hubs and he finally lost the battle.
It's beautiful and I can't wait to use it.
For decaf, of course...

(grumble grumble)

Day One of Nothing Valuable to Contribute

2010-11-01T18:53:00.001-04:00

Today chewed me up and spit me out like a stale cracker and all I want to do is stare at the wall like I'm in a catatonic state. You could throw a tv in front of me if it makes you feel better, but it doesn't really matter.
Why the melancholy, you ask? Or maybe you didn't, but I don't care. It's my party and I'll whine if I want to.
I'm giving up caffeine. Yep. I said it.
Caffeine and I have a longstanding love affair. I really do love it. I don't care if it has a bad hair day, puts on a few pounds or has spinach in it's teeth. I love it all the same, however it has come to my attention that caffeine does not love me.
It's not good for fertility. It's not good for anxiety. It's not good for any number of things. So, I'm giving it up.

It sucks and I'm tired.

My Weekend In Pictures

2010-10-31T21:30:00.001-04:00

Hubs and I took a drive to a local farm to get some natural meat and eggs. Of course I had camera in hand. We all know I love the Macro setting on my camera, but unfortunately I could not get a ton of good shots because the animals were constantly moving. And you know I whined about wanting an SLR… A lot.

They had enormous squash! Some of them were over 40lbs!

I had to get some pomegranates to “enjoy” at some point this weekend. They’re so pretty!

And then I ate one… And it got messy…

Happy Halloween!

Seeing the Forest

2010-10-30T08:34:00.001-04:00

I have realized that I see things as if I’m a Macro lens and while it’s nice to have focus, sometimes you don’t see the bigger picture. Dwelling on the small stuff is often destructive. Knowing how to switch gears sometimes needs to be learned. I’m learning.

Out Damned Spot!

2010-10-23T10:09:00.001-04:00

I can’t seem to get out of my own head lately.

I have not been on medication for a year or so and I thought I was doing well, but I’m starting to think that I’ve been fooling myself. Scratch that, I have been fooling myself. I still think that I need a coping mechanism that doesn’t involve chemicals or spending money because I don’t think that you can totally rely on medication. For a long time that has been knitting, but lately it seems that isn’t even helping. I find myself messing up the pattern because I get lost in my head, in some conversation that happened during the day in which I think that I may have looked like an idiot or didn’t know what I was talking about or I used the wrong word, or I said too much or I said the same thing too much or someone looked at me the wrong way or I must be annoying and that is why my someone snapped at me or I really am not good at what I do and some day soon they will figure it out and fire me and what am I going to do with my life when this happens and what if I get pregnant and what if I never get pregnant and never have children and should I really have children because I’m clearly CRAZY and can’t get out of my own head!

So, I’ve resolved that I am going to suck it up, stop the excuses, and go back to my doctor. I’ve never had a proper diagnosis from a mental health professional. One doctor has said it’s anxiety and depression and another has said that I am Bipolar. Whatever it is, I need a plan to get better because something is clearly not working. Whew! I feel better already!

Mountain Retreat

2010-10-16T16:41:00.001-04:00

I’ve finally edited some of the photos I took while visiting my parents a couple of weekends ago.

Here they are!

View Full Album

There are more and I’m slowly making my way through them.

Old friends

2010-10-15T15:27:00.002-04:00

There are few people who know me and know me well. There are a lot of people who probably think they do, but I don't really let people in quickly.
I am erratic, flighty, but at times am super intense and emotionally demanding. I expect too much of people because I expect too much of myself.
That being said, there are a select few people that have hung in there and I am glad they tolerate my behavior and accept me, warts and all.
I'm presently on my way to my college Alma mater for Homecoming to meet up with some of these people. It's amazing that there are some people that you don't see very often and when you do, it's like no time has passed.
Of course you catch up on each other's lives, but it's incredible how easy it is to fall into that same comfortable friendship - Just as easy as your favorite, well-worn, well-loved sweatshirt.
I'll try not to get too sentimental this weekend, but it's going to be hard.
I promise many photos. Faces may be blurred to protect the "innocent."

I’m lazy

2010-10-12T20:34:00.001-04:00

So I will post a photo. I have some things brewing and stewing in my brain, but until then…. a photo you will get. Or photos…. I’m indecisive. These are some of the shots from the canning extravaganza a couple of weekends ago while I was visiting my parents.

Speaking of brewing and stewing…

Fall Favorites

2010-10-07T20:04:00.001-04:00

I have many more pictures to post from my trip to my parents, but for now you’ll have to be satisfied with this. This was taken before the hand cramping peeling and coring. The results were way worth it.

Bathroom Jesus

2010-09-27T19:03:00.001-04:00

Some people see Jesus on their toast. Me? I see him in the bathroom.

Photo taken in the bathroom at work. They took off the hooks behind the door and are patching them up. I had to take this before they start sanding and painting.

This Year’s Themes

2010-09-25T22:10:00.001-04:00

Pork Chops and Tchaikovsky

2010-09-23T19:15:00.001-04:00

I’ve found that I go through music seasons. In the Late Summer into Fall I am generally interested in Singer Songwriter music like Ray LaMontagne or Ryan Adams. During the Winter I’m normally overindulging in the holidays and whatever station is playing the best mix. With the Spring comes Top 40 because I want some pep in my step and Summer is normally Country music (don’t cringe.)

Lately I’ve been tempering the Singer Songwriter with Classical. I just downloaded The Very Best of Tchaikovsky and I have been listening, rather voraciously, for days.

Whether it’s visions of Sugar Plum Fairies dancing in my head or Swans waltzing through the lakes, I can’t seem to get enough. It reminds me of being a child, driving anywhere with my mom. She always had Classical Music playing in the background.

Mostly what comes to mind is driving to the butcher shop on a Saturday, listening to her hum along. I loved every minute. Well, at least in my memories I do. I was a persnickety child.

I miss being with my mom. She truly is one of my closest friends (friend seems like too casual a word, really) and I don’t talk to her or spend enough time with her. She lives five hours away and I hate it.

As I was listening to Tchaikovsky on the way home from work, humming along, I imagined listening to it with my mom while we’re canning homemade apple sauce and apple pie filling next weekend. It would be even better if my sister was there too. I missed their jelly making extravaganza a couple of weekends ago.

I wish we all lived closer, but until I win the Powerball I’ll have to be satisfied with the occasional weekend and holidays. Of course, I’ll have to bring along The Very Best of Tchaikovsky to set the mood.

Hair dye malfunction

2010-09-22T20:44:00.001-04:00

I dyed my hair ~~purple~~ red, the other night and everyone is so entranced with it. Why are people so much more intrigued with you when you dye your hair an “unusual” color?

“OOOh, I love your hair!”

“You’re so punk rock!”

“I’ve always wanted to dye my hair that color, but I just don’t have the guts.”

That left me thinking that it really WAS as bad as I thought it was the night before. The color was supposed to be Medium Reddish Brown. I guess when your hair is on the blonder side of the spectrum that translates to damn near magenta.

I read through the instructions, left it on for the 15 minutes it suggested, and when I rinsed it off I saw that the water was purplish. I thought that wasn’t too unusual because the dye always looks deeper when you’re rinsing it. I got out of the shower and almost screamed. My hair was PURPLE! Of course, it was wet and would certainly lighten up. It did, but it does look a little bit too magenta for my taste. I already went through that phase when I was in college.

I went through about ten different shades of Manic Panic. At one point I had green bangs and the rest was hot pink. Thankfully it wasn’t permanent color, but it is a little disconcerting to be out in the rain and have the dye running out of your hair onto your clothes.

I slept with a towel on my pillow on Sunday night.

I really hope it’s not THAT unusual looking or else I’ll be in the HR office defending my personal style.

Let’s just talk about stash, shall we?

2010-09-20T20:06:00.001-04:00

I was thinking about how much yarn I have in my stash, but I NEVER have the color, fiber, style or weight that I want. I have tons of sock yarn and when I say tons, I mean it. Hubs made a joke that we don’t even need furniture. We could just sit on mounds of yarn or I could make a knitted cover for our house.

I thought that he was exaggerating, but when I try to find something that I know I’ve purchased, I find myself digging through bags and bags of yarn. I really have to organize my stash.

Why do knitters stash? Well, I can say for myself that it starts when I go out looking for yarn for some outlandish project that I want to do. For me, outlandish means a sweater. I have far too little patience to knit an adult sweater unless it’s on size 15 needles in super-bulky yarn that I shouldn’t wear because it is way too bulky for my frame. I end up at the yarn store, wallet in hand, to purchase yarn for the outlandish project. Inevitably, I see the section with the sock yarn and it’s all over. I end up leaving with a huge bag of sock yarn.

I have a rather large addiction to making socks. You can afford to make them in more decadent fibers because you’re not purchasing a ton of it (yeah… ) and they satisfy the instant gratification for someone like me. You can also experiment with different, more difficult stitch patterns and if you screw something up, you don’t have to get disgusted and scrap the whole project. Well, you can, but it won’t seem like you’ve wasted your entire weekend.

I keep telling myself that I’m going to go through my stash before I buy any more yarn, but I still find myself standing in front of the Mini Mochi, Lorna’s Laces, Panda Silk, or <insert name here> with eyes glazed over and drool running down my chin.

This is the internal conversation that goes on.

“I must HAVE that! It’s so pretty!”

“No, you don’t need that. You have all you need at home.”

“No! You don’t understand, that is GORGEOUS! I have nothing that color! I NEED that color!”

“Well, you are right. You don’t have that shade at home.”

“SEE?! Well, it’s on sale. I might as well buy two of that shade and LOOK, they have some in Kelly Green!”

“Sigh.”

This is why I have bags and bags of yarn, some of which I have not touched since I purchased it.

Hoard much?

The Beauty of Ordinary

2010-09-18T19:47:00.000-04:00

There are lots of ordinary things that I have come to love due to the Macro setting of my camera. It provides you with the ability to really zoom in and see the beauty in ordinary things.

Why I Knit

2010-09-17T19:19:00.001-04:00

Why do I knit?

That is a multi-faceted question. There isn’t a way to wrap it up into a nice little package, but I’ll try and explain for my 2.5 readers. (I’m counting you, mom.)

I started ~~knitting~~ trying to knit when I was a child. I learned how to cast on and I learned garter stitch, but I had no idea how to finish anything and I sure didn’t have a pattern that I was knitting from. I was more successful with crochet or shall I say, I was more successful with making giant, granny square afghans, but knitting was always more comforting to me.

I think the most successful thing I knit was blocks that I made into an afghan. I stumbled through the casting off and sewed the “thing” together. It fell apart shortly after.

I gave up.

I tried again shortly after I graduated college. I made a scarf. This was waaaay before Ravelry and I had no pattern to go by. I don’t even know what happened to this scarf. I think I was probably too embarrassed to wear it. Knitting was not “cool” then. I remember calling my mother and her walking me through the cast-off process. I quickly forgot it because I was clearly not going to EVER do that again. What a failure!

I didn’t pick it up again until years later. It’s funny. The fiber-art gene runs so strongly through my genes. My grandfather was a weaver, after all. He had a rug that he worked on that was in the Oval Office until Jackie Kennedy redecorated, that bitch. Way to screw up my legacy.

I was walking through one of the local craft stores in my area, The Flower and Craft Warehouse, when I saw a bag of this beautiful yarn. It had a pattern for a shawl that had both crochet and knit instructions. I thought that I would surely crochet and it would be a perfect Christmas gift. I bought four bags in different colors thinking that everyone was getting handmade shawls that year.

I came home and looked at the knit instructions and thought that I should have no problem knitting them as the knit instructions looked far easier. Remember, I am a whiz at the granny square.

Youtube has everything so I thought it would be a fabulous resource for knitting help. Boy was I right.

And thus, the love affair begins. I started knitting and I haven’t stopped. I never finished one of those shawls. I started looking up patterns and started making socks, wraps, baby sweaters, hats, you name it.

So, we get back to the question at hand. Why do I knit?

Painters paint to stay sane, ha! Writers write because they have no choice. I knit because I need to create. It is addicting to see a fabric being created by your own hands, to see loved ones marvel over a simple scarf, or to see a baby wearing a sweater and hat that you’ve made just for them, that you’ve put a little bit of yourself into.

I knit because I’m a knitter.

I was born a knitter.

Schnoz

2010-09-16T20:44:00.000-04:00

Yearning

2010-09-12T16:38:00.001-04:00

Warning: Emotional Post Ahead – Brace Yourself

I had the house to myself for the past couple of days and I’m not going to lie and say it hasn’t been wonderful. The only time I am truly alone is when I am on the way to or from work, but as I was wandering through the house today, something hit me.

I was lonely.

I wasn’t lonely for my in-laws. I wasn’t lonely for my hubs. I was yearning for something that I’ve never had. A child. I wanted to be nurturing a child, at that moment, and I was so sad that I wasn’t.

It’s been pushed into the back of my mind, for months now, because I’ve been trying to lose weight. I lost 30 lbs and thought I would be ready, but I was still petrified.

I am petrified.

I’ve always been told that there is never a good time to get pregnant. Hubs and I were always waiting for us to be in the “perfect” position to have a child.

Well, folks. We’re running out of time. And I’m still scared.

What if it’s too late? What if I have a hormone problem? What if I get pregnant and go to the doctor and they are horrible to me? I’ve had a GYN be utterly horrible to me in the past. What if I’m a horrible mother?

I obviously have some issues to work through.

I’ll get there.

I hope.

After the Rain

2010-09-12T09:53:00.001-04:00

Word of the Day

2010-09-11T13:16:00.000-04:00

This simple word could mean so many different things to so many different people on this day.
What does it mean to you?

another flower post

2010-09-09T21:30:00.000-04:00

Have you noticed that I love flowers?

2010-09-09T21:26:00.000-04:00

Laugh Until Your Sides Hurt

2010-09-05T19:07:00.001-04:00

We all need to take the time to play and, most importantly, to laugh.

Hubs and I visited friends yesterday who had recently had a new baby. We haven’t seen them for months so it was great to catch up, have some good conversation and, of course, some play.

Miss P (above) has all the toys that she could want, but what was the most fun yesterday? A toy named Mr. Tickles.

I painstakingly crafted Mr. Tickles out of a can cozy, put him over my hand and proceeded to chase Miss P around the porch. We took turns chasing each other and boy did we laugh. We all laughed. We laughed until our sides and throats hurt. We laughed until we cried.

It was the best fun I’ve had in a long time.

We all need to take the time to laugh until our sides hurt. It reminds you that life is good and simple, if you let it be.

Mum’s the word

2010-09-03T21:47:00.001-04:00

I love mums. I’ve been watching the plants right outside my front door bloom for a couple of weeks now. I’ve posted a couple of pictures already but I took some this evening.

Mums are a sure sign of fall. I love fall.

I would plant my yard full of mums if hubs would let me.

I’m ready for the brisk chill of a Fall morning. Bring it on!

Spy

2010-09-01T19:42:00.001-04:00

I love flower photos – can you tell?

2010-08-31T20:30:00.001-04:00

I don’t have much to say lately, but I do love to see the beauty in nature.

Love the morning dew

2010-08-29T08:58:00.001-04:00

Fun with Macros part deux

2010-08-28T18:45:00.001-04:00

Morning Dew

2010-08-28T09:04:00.001-04:00

Fun with Macros

2010-08-26T18:40:00.001-04:00

I Miss This

2010-08-21T22:32:00.001-04:00

And this…

And especially this…

Tears and Butterflies

2010-08-21T08:21:00.001-04:00

Shortly after returning from BlogHer, the hubs and I boarded a plane to Key West. We had a great time. On one of the last days we decided to go to the The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory.

Before I go any further, I have to mention that I have been recently entranced by butterflies. One of my favorite sayings of late is, “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, it became a beautiful butterfly.” Some sources quote this as a proverb. Some say it’s anonymous. Wikipedia has no idea. I say it’s just beautiful. It has become a mantra, of sorts. So, understandably, I wanted to go to the conservatory.

I expected it to be beautiful but I did not expect the experience that I had. We walked in and it was staggeringly beautiful. There were tons of gorgeous butterflies, but the ones that caught my attention were these beautiful blue butterflies. On the outside they are brown and unassuming, but when they fly, they are the most beautiful blue you have ever seen.

They could not keep still. They rarely landed on anything and when they did, it was not long enough to catch even a blurry photo of them.

I resigned myself to taking photos of the other beautiful creatures that put themselves on display for us, though what I truly wanted was a picture of one of these blue butterflies.

We were about half way through when, out of nowhere, I felt a thud on my hand. I looked down and almost immediately started to tear up. One of the blue butterflies landed on my hand.

I continued my silent weeping until a woman walked up to me and said, “I’ve been watching them around you. Since you walked in, they’ve been following you around trying to land on you. It’s amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it!”

I stood there for a bit. I did not want this experience to end. Surely this butterfly would flit away just like all of it’s friends. They were fluttering around us not staying in one spot very long. This one stayed. As people stopped to take pictures of me and my new friend, it stayed. As I spoke, it turned and almost seemed to look at me as I spoke. (The instructions on the website advise that they are afraid of noise and to please be quiet.)

I wandered around, retracing my steps, trying to stay in that moment but hubs was ready to leave. There was a large group of people that had just entered. It was time to go. As we decided to leave, as quickly as it landed, this butterfly flew off. It’s job had been done.

We stopped in the gift shop and found that this butterfly is the Blue Morpho, native to South America. Once it has gone through it’s metamorphosis, it lives about ten days. It hit me that this beautiful creature chose to spend five precious minutes with me. That is a significant amount of time if you’re a Blue Morpho.

I like to think that I was given an important gift that day. I like to think I was given some grace. After all, just when I thought the world was ending, I was graced by a beautiful butterfly.

Beautiful creature

2010-08-19T08:56:00.001-04:00

I haven’t had the time to post my experience at the Butterfly Conservatory but will once I come in for a landing. Until then, here is one of the beautiful creatures I was blessed to spend time with.