The last day of 2007

Wow...I can not believe 2007 is nearly over. In my time zone, that is less than 2 hours from now as I start this. I have been actually thinking about this post for several days...nahh...a week. I have been trying to decide how I want to spend this last day. Of course there was work but now it is time for me. So I toast to you and me by hanging out in the tub with a lemon drop martini in my hand. You have got to love adult lemonade. :-) Plus I made a great dinner of turkey meatloaf (very moist), a potato and veggies. What is for dessert????? --- Creme Brule and another martini, of course.

This has been an interesting year. My dad says it has been one of his worst and for me, I have had two in a row. In just over two years, I have had my last grandmother, my best friend and a friend pass away. I have had to put my cat to sleep so he wouldn't have to feel the pain of kidney failure and liver cancer. Another friend of mine has been fighting cancer this year. She has intravascular lymphoma and by the grace of the universe and medicine, it is in remission. I have had my ups and downs as well...trying to figure out where I am at, where I am headed and what I want.

I have had some great times. First off, my parents are awesome! My dad and I have been watching baseball games and my mom and I can talk and enjoy what ever we are doing. As for my nephews...they are the best. Dad and Mom --- Thank You!

My friends are awesome!. They have allowed me my space as I have walked the path of grief. To my Jane Austen friends...glad there is more to watch in 2008. K - hockey soon..I promise and thank you for having our adult lunch. Taiji will always be part of my life and those who practice with me in it. My students who work for me are great and I am grateful for the chance to supervise you. More Friday's ahead at Cafe Ole! L - this year has been rough for you as well...thank you for smiling and being you. I may not mention everyone but you are all wonderful and special to me.

I think of resolutions and cringe...until I read a great little piece here. They are not resolutions but roadmaps. So as I map out my 2008, I will continue to envision my future and appreciate my past. My choices are mine.

I am at a fork stuck in the road............change is ahead............are we ready?

Grades today

I got an 'A' in Chinese 201. Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December 25th

Merry Christmas everyone.

Cookies!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight was great. My nephew Joe and I made sugar cookies tonight. We made dough, cut out shapes with holiday cookie cutters and he decorated. What a great experience. We both had fun.

The countdown has begun...

Today I completed my Christmas shopping...well almost. I need to get a sponsorship of an animal at the San Diego Zoo for each of my nephews. Fortunately I can do that online. I had done bits and pieces of my Christmas shopping over the last 2 weeks but nothing too significant. Today i did the rest. First to the mall. I went before noon because I knew the place would be insane after that. Then I meandered to lunch. I decided that since I needed to go to Barnes & Noble I got a sandwich and Starbucks. They have a great smoked turkey sandwich on 8 grain and cranberry bread. That with a cup of tea was just what I needed. I was also very good...no desserts. After 2 hours there I headed to Pier 1 for those remaining things. At last I am home...5 hours later. Whew! Now I have to wrap......

While waiting for my phone...

Once I was helped tonight on my psycho phone, it was one of those times where life is just funny. Tonight, I wandered the mall and bought nothing. I saw something there that a friend was looking for his girlfriend and I gave him a call...he happened to be in the mall a few stores away doing his Christmas shopping. It was a good time as we wandered the mall looking for a fun little gift (no I am not giving it away). Now if I could just get in the mood for Christmas...

Cell phones

My phone is driving me up a tree. Starting today it crashes when someone calls. Sigh. Now I have to go to the mall and see if they can fix my phone or give me a new one. Wheee!

Although...it is a good way to avoid people.

Update: My cellphone provider gave me a NEW phone. Downside was having to do a bunch of reconfiguration but at least I don't have to watch it crash and reboot every time someone calls. Plus I got the new software installed. Yes!

Life

Two steps forward...ten steps back. Yep, life sucks.

Absolutely Amazing

Any one who knows me knows that on Sundays I watch football. Today was different. Discovery Channel and the BBC have created an 11 hour mini-series about our planet called "Planet Earth". This series is just fabulous and today they have had it on all day. It is interesting, heartwarming and at times...heart-wrenching. The cinematography is breath-taking. Seeing polar bears swim in the open ocean, great white sharks jumping out of the water in slow motion and cool looking tree frogs is just amazing!

Food as Art

Cream of Mushroom Soup almost too pretty to eat...Almost.

Thanks for taking and editing the pic L.

Looking out the window...

There are many times when we second guess ourselves and allow influences both internal and external to shape what we are and what we want. I am finally realizing that I really do know what I want.

Snow

It has been roughly a week since my last post and it has been a busy one. I have had classes, work and have been to California for a workshop. I will finally slow down this weekend...I hope.

I love snow. While driving in from California last night, I hit snow 40 miles out of town. It is rather interesting watching people drive in the snow. The majority fall into two categories: those that panic and those that drive like a bulb has burned out in light fixture. No moon this time but it was beautiful. Today is gorgeous. It snowed some more and right now we have blue sky! We got 18 to 24 inches this weekend in town (depends on where you are).

Well tomorrow the roads will be an ice rink. Looks like I am leaving early!

Almost over

Another semester of Chinese nearly under my belt. Only thing left is the final next week. I will try to practice speaking some and understand the spoken language this weekend at the workshop.

On the road again....

Very True

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.
-- Marie Curie

Interesting Quotes

Lately I have been seeing some interesting quotes. They have shown up on bumper stickers, in my Quotes of the Day Google gadget and in other formats. The great thing about quotes is that they are an easy way to help convey meaning and to make you think. Once I used a couple of quotes in a eulogy to get my point across. Some people in the room understood their significance while others did not. Quotes also allow you to look at the happenings of the world and wonder why we human beings do the things we do in the name of something. You just have to wonder. Here are a few quotes that I have been pondering as of late:

You must be the change you want to see in the world.
--Mahatma Gandhi

Fearful people do stupid things
--A bumper sticker

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
--Robert Frost

My Day...

Sometimes you're the windshield.
Sometimes you're the bug.

...yep...that about sums it up.

Ramblings of a cold

I am warm and I need a name.
-- me

Drive...

My journey across the Mohave tonight was peaceful. The full moon was rising in all of its glory. The dust in the air caused it to start in an orange-ish hue and gradually changed to a pale yellow. It highlighted the surroundings showing the outlines of mountains and hills. The moonlight cast an interesting view of headlights and taillights snaking through the desert floor.

Peace.

Fun with Joe

What a fun day! My nephew Joe and I went to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. Joe got to touch sharks, learn about seals and sea lions and help me track down the embossing stamps for the different pages of the guide book. They had a life size model of a blue whale and her calf from the ceiling. Very cool. They also had a neat exhibit called Whales: Voices in the Sea .

Thanksgiving

Turkey and a ham
tons of sides
delicious desserts
Time spent with family.

priceless....

Things people need to learn....

Always listen.
Give to others.
Be able to receive.
Let other people drive once in awhile.
Be patient.
Enjoy your family.
Appreciate your friends.

Most of all......Love yourself.

Quote of the Day

When in doubt, pivot.
-- J.M.

Relax....

Enjoy a glass of wine...

Life's journey...

Work and play are only interludes away from life's journey which only exist in one's mind.
-- My Dad

Grrr...

Tried as I might last night, I couldn't get connected. Everything was fine until about 9PM then nothing. I guess I should have tried posting earlier. It was fun, I would try loading a website and I would get a "done" message in the corner of my browser and the page would be blank. I tried all three of my computers to no avail. By midnight I gave up. No I did not sit there for 3 hours constantly trying. That would be silly. Sad thing is last night I had a pretty good post in my head. I probably should have just typed it up and saved it for this morning. Oh well. Some times a small rant is better anyways. :-)

Hmmmm....

Just Smile. Do you really need an excuse? I think not. I know I don't.

My day...

I am not young enough to know everything.
--Oscar Wilde

A great fall day

Wow! The weather was great today. A light breeze and sunshine. A good day to sit outside, eat lunch and just enjoy.

A really nice thing happened today, a little hummingbird made me smile.

It's November, right?

Don't get me wrong, I like the winter holidays. I get to spend time baking, cooking and going to an occasional party. However, today I had to check the calendar to double check to see what month we are in and yep, it is November. Says it right there under the picture of the polar bear and on the calendar on my phone and on my computer. In fact, today is November 11th - Remembrance Day or Veterans Day. In that moment, I took time to reflect.

So what's the deal on the calendar? "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" was on TV tonight. Hello?...Christmas is in six weeks! Why on earth are they showing a Christmas movie in early November? Can you please let us remember those who have fallen in wars and conflicts? Can you please let us give thanks on Thanksgiving? Even after Thanksgiving we are going to have four shopping weeks. All I could do is just sigh.

*sigh*

Mmmmmm....

The smell of pumpkin is in the air. The aroma of food often triggers memories for me. Mashed potatoes and pumpkin seeds to name a few. There is often a wave of emotion in those memories. Sometimes it is a smile. Not one of those cheesy grins but one off to the side. You know, one of those smiles that only you understand. Today it was one of those memory days and a lot of thoughts floated by. I think it is time to have a cup of tea and a pumpkin chocolate chip pecan cookie and reflect. Mmmmmmm.

Every day is a new beginning...

...and today it is start a blog.

I think about many things as I start each day. My thoughts are jumbled pieces of a puzzle that I need to put together. What this puzzle looks like is only up to me. Today the pieces have been filled with working, and spending time with friends. One piece from this morning has had me perplexed all day. I woke up this morning thinking about pie dough. How this piece relates to the rest of my day, I am not sure. I mean, who wakes up thinking about pie dough? I guess me. Time to bake down those pie pumpkins and get baking. To my grandma's -- thanks!