Beautiful Day

On my way to work this morning I was struck with the beauty of the sky and the clouds and the moon still up in the sky. I took some time this afternoon to sit outside and bask. It's just so happy-making. And I thought about a good God who made the whole of creation and I was full of awe. If an afternoon like this makes me so happy I wonder what the new heaven and new earth will be like.

Those things that get you through

There was a point when I knew things were not good between my parents. My brother and I hadn't been told anything yet but I knew something was wrong. Eventually we were taken to a parade by my mom and a friend and she told us what was going on. I think my dad moved out while we were gone. They did counseling. He moved back in. He found a new job in a new state. We moved. Somewhere during that time we went to Kansas for a family visit. My brother and I stayed with relatives while my parents spent some time in the car together driving back to wherever we lived at the time. I knew it was some sort of last-ditch effort to try and salvage the marriage.

What I also remember about that particular vacation was that I had a new book, The Black Stallion. And with reading this book began my obsession with horses. I think almost every girl goes through this horse phase. I drew them and dreamed of being a horse trainer. When we moved to that new state there was a nearby horse stable. Most days after school I would ride off on my bike and pet velvety soft noses and scratch necks. I read all of the books. There are a few. It was one of those things that would get me through the moves and fights and sadness and craziness of the life I was experiencing at the time.

This past year I've found a few Walter Farley books including a copy of the The Black Stallion and The Island Stallion. A few weeks ago, in a box of library discards at my local Salvation Army store, I saw those books up there and got really excited. But thinking about that time in my life also makes me a little sad.

More fireworks

Fast and Furious

I'm back at work. It's really OK. For the most part.

But, sadly, the annoying folks at work? They're still here. But to balance that out, fun co-workers who have been gone are back from vacation too. So, you know, not horrible. Just the same stuff.

Also? Odd charges are showing up on my debit card. Charges from a place that has been closed for the summer (since mid-May) and are dated 6/30 - 7/2. And it's running my account into the negative numbers and could be super expensive in regards to those special fees. It makes me wonder why they would approve a charge this morning if my account is $20 in the hole supposedly. It makes my head hurt a little and then I get angry. I've made phone calls and sent emails and contacted my bank to get another card and put a claim through. Except I have to call back in a few days because a few of these hinky charges haven't gone through yet, they're just pending. But once they do go through, then I can file another claim for those two items. It's happening to a co-worker of mine too. I suppose this is what I get for never carrying enough cash.

Enough whining. I declare that the rest of this post shall be whining-free!

I think it's pretty obvious that I did make it to the butterfly sanctuary and spent some time there taking pictures. Folks, butterflies are hard to capture in photographs.
The rest of the vacation was nice.

The time in WI was relaxing for a day or two and then it got boring. There's just not a whole heck of a lot to do in that area unless you have a boat or jet ski. I have neither. I went to the nearby lake for about 30 minutes and decided it wasn't my type of lake. Apparently I like quiet lakes. I visited a few antique shops in the area but didn't make any purchases. I actually left a day early because I got bored and the fireworks in the little town where I was staying had happened the week before. On my way home I stopped at the Bahai Temple and took some pictures of this gorgeous structure. I got home in time to meet up with friends and watch fireworks in their traditional spot.

Sunday I saw some folks I hadn't seen for a long time, met a new baby, and went to see Jersey Boys. Overall, a good week. Enough so that I woke myself up twice because I was laughing so hard in my dreams that I was sleep-laughing. That, my friends, is a happy way to wake up.

Stay-cation

Today is my first day of my stay-cation. My job gave us Thursday and Friday off for the holiday weekend and, since I've got some vacation time and comp. time that I'll lose if I don't use it soon, I decided to take the rest of the week off. A friend has offered me the use of her house up in WI for a few days. There were lots of other options I thought about. I could drive out to a surprising amount of places due to friends and family being somewhat scattered. I still want to hit CO but would have to drive far too long on the way there and back to really enjoy the three or so days I could have there. WI is far closer and will, I hope, be relaxing.

Today and tomorrow I shall run errands. Long errands like the DMV. I also want to get my hair cut. And maybe squeeze in a long trip to a museum. Would it be weird if I went back to the Art Institute for the third time in 6 weeks? Of course, only if I can get a free pass. I'll have to see what's available at my local libraries. It might be a thin week since it's a holiday and all.

Ooh, or maybe see the butterflies. That might be a perfect little jaunt.

Oh, and I bought tickets to see Jersey Boys for Sunday night when I return to the city! I've been jonesing to see this show forever. Hottix.org had half-price tickets to this and Mary Poppins earlier today.

Have a wonderful Monday!

He's Super

It's my brother's birthday today.

I love him.
I'm glad he's my brother.

On my way to nowhere

I need to get myself out of some rut that I'm stuck in. I don't even know what rut it is but I know that I'm stuck somewhere. And maybe it's not a rut. I mean, a rut implies that other folks have passed the same spot, on their way to somewhere else. It would imply that I am on track to something. I don't feel on track to anything.

Maybe I need to put the sewing away for a while and pull out the pens and pencils and paintbrushes. I look at the work other folks are doing and it's both inspiring and depressing. I feel like I couldn't be that creative in a thousand years. But I want to be creative so badly. I feel like it's one of those times that I have to force myself to do something. Paint, draw, whatever, even if things feel dry.

Feeling dry sucks.

Passionate Weather

That's what one of my friends calls the type of weather we're having right now. I love it. I don't mind being woken up at 3:30 with huge cracks of thunder. I mind the car alarms a bit. We've got flooded streets and power lines down. I'm only hoping that the university doesn't have more flooding because the floods last fall really put us in the red. That and the economy tanking. We really don't need any more major damage is all I'm saying. Part of me wants to just go walk around in the rain and get soaked. But while I'm at work I'll stay where I won't get too wet - there's a nice covered portion of the patio in the building where I work. It's perfect for getting the smell and wind of the rain without coming back looking like a wet rat.

Do you have a favorite type of weather?

From a calmer time: