Tag: life

How do you measure a life?

 Regardless of your station in life,  experiences good and bad,  bank account balance, job description or living quarters… if you’ve got good friends who you can count on, who you can trust with your most neurotic thoughts and dumbest mistakes,  who think of you often and make you laugh even on your crappiest day – your life is  rich.  

I’ve been blessed with a handful of truly terrific friends over the years and I’m finding that even the blog world is an extension. We may not see each other often, but the message between us  is always clear.  No matter what’s going on in the daily grind, there is always this…

 I’m here for you 
We’ll always be “us”
Oh Shut up, you’re being ridiculous
Not all of my friends would appreciate a photo here,
 but I’m sneaking in the few that I think will tolerate it …

  
What? You don’t believe me?   
 So..Why am I sappy today?
This little guy was delivered to my door this morning.
Thank you, Raven – He’s perfect.
The song on my playlist is Seasons of Love by Rent.
 My daughter introduced me to the song recently and I love it.
 Lyrics below…

Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.


In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?

How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love
Seasons of love.
Seasons of love


Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes!
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Journeys to plan.




Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure the life
Of a woman or a man?


In truths that she learned,
Or in times that he cried.
In bridges he burned,
Or the way that she died.


It’s time now to sing out,
Tho’ the story never ends
Let’s celebrate


Remember a year in the life of friends
Remember the love!
Remember the love!
Seasons of love!




Oh you got to got to
Remember the love!
You know that love is a gift from up above
Share love, give love spread love
Measure measure your life in love

And so it goes…

Text:

CollegeGirl:  MOM I feel awful. Have I ever had strep?

Me:  No, you’ve never had strep. What are your symptoms?

CG:  I ache all over and have a stuffy nose.

Me:  Well if you start to feel alot worse or develop a fever, stop in the nurses station at school and have them check for strep,  ask if the flu is going around campus.

CG: Ok I will.

later….

CG:  I feel really lousy and now I have a fever. I went to the nurse, she doesn’t think I have the flu but she gave me this horrible tasting stuff to take.  It’s #######.  I’m going to bed.

Me:  Want me to come pick you up and you can convalesce at home this weekend?

CG:  Noooo, but thanks. “M” is making me chicken noodle soup from scratch!  And he went to the store and got me “stuff ”  to take. I think I’ll tough it out here, but thanks mom     ( “stuff”  here, when it was described to me later, was a freak’n arsenal  –  Nyquil so she could sleep better, dayquil for when she has to be alert, sore throat lozenges and half the contents of the local CVS too, I’m sure. )    Have I mentioned that “M”, who showed up around Christmas time and had us frantically looking for a present to give someone who’s –coming home for Christmas- that we don’t even know yet –    turns out to be a pretty decent guy by anyone’s standards from what we can tell.   Good thing I didn’t get that light-up reindeer Christmas Sweatshirt after all, huh?

And… I think I lost my day job.

Where… do the years… go.

My Heart Sings…

 

I read something out there in blogland today, and please forgive me,  for I have forgotten where I read it….that it takes but one kind word to warm an entire January.

I took my Bailey dog to the vet today for a check up – her tumor still exists but it has been held at bay with meds. No new growth, and I allow myself to feel a little relief.

 I’ve also developed a wicked allergy this year – my eyes look like I went a round or two with Evander Holyfield.  And Lord help me, I think it may be the dogs.  It’s either that or dust. Both are part of my world for eternity… so…  Right now I’m giving Claritin a go because Benadryl just makes me  look like a drugged out zombie if there is such a thing.  Well yes there is, cause that’s what I am when I’m on it.

 When I pulled in the driveway after the vet appointment and a Walgreens stop for drugs, there was a package hanging out of the mailbox. It contained these wonderful treasures from a truly gifted Folk artist in Nova Scotia…. Shelagh of Alice in Paris loves Art and Tea.   It was the most wonderful of surprises… a gift for simply wishing her a happy birthday –

Shelagh – you’ve warmed my January, February and lets sail into March.

 Now here’s the really incredible thing…. I have been following Shelagh’s blog since before I had one of my own.  Every now and then I’ve commented on a painting or photograph I particularly like – her colors and subjects are always vivid and fun.  Within this collection of postcards and notecards, a print and a board-mounted photo, they are all included! Each one I commented on!… Shelagh, how could you have possibly remembered?  And if you were just winging it, well that’s cosmic.

 

Chocolate hearts, a pretty heart hand towel and red shoes on black check floor…  

We could use a little of this advice…

I  Love this sky…

I’ve placed the herd of horses in my beta fish garden on the kitchen island….

 I’m already wearing these as we batten down the hatches for yet another snow storm.

  

 Shelagh also shares some fabulous recipes on her blog… I’ve made quite a few, and I’ve got a copy of her cookbook too… wonderful Novia Scotia recipes in her own whimsical style. 
 http://www.amazon.com/Nova-Scotia-Potluck-Friends-Family/dp/1412028027/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296514649&sr=1-1

  

No business like snow business

 Record snow fall these past few weeks – Connecticut hasn’t seen this much snow all at once in a hundred years.  It’s stunningly beautiful, and a royal pain in the a** too. We’re about to get clobbered with another Nor’Easter on Tuesday – and no one knows where they’ll put it.  Our country roads in some places are down to one lane, people entering and leaving driveways aren’t visible because the snow is banked so high – roofs are caving in… two horse barns in a nearby town had casualties after their barn roof collapsed, and I got a frantic call from another barn owner today – looking for people willing to climb on a barn roof because it was about to collapse and the heavy wet snow needed to be removed. Our previous home that is not yet sold  burst two pipes and my MIL’s roof is leaking. SO… husband & son and his crew have been on snow removal duty and house damage repair for five days now and I think most are sitting on their very last nerve.  Our good friend Tim has a new solar panel installed on his property – a brilliant idea!..but comes with a heavy price, quite literally, when there’s heavy snow fall.  TIM, are you still with us?….

So what have I been doing?  I’m taking pictures, cooking and eating too much, taking care of critters, stocking the woodpiles and whining just a little. Most of these pics were taken with my iphone today while out walking with Ben… some with a little touch up from picnik –

  We’ve seen some of the most amazing sunsets on the back hill…
Tonight I’m looking at this… 

  The natives are restless, time to go rustle up some grub.  Stay warm my Northern friends.

White Out

 Yesterday the snow began to fly.  Most of the day looked like this…

 So we did some of this ….

 The fire burned out and we went to bed… to awake this morning to this…

 That’s the top of the adirondacks around my little fire pit, right there.

 So the rest of the day is going to look like this….

Resolve

 Another year bites the dust…Or a fresh new year begins.  It’s all in your perspective.. glass half  empty or full kind of thing.  My spouse reflects with sadness on the ending of a year – … I’m all for new beginnings –

 Every year in the past  I have said the same thing –  “THIS… is my  year.  The year that I will get in the best shape of my life, the year that I will find the patience in all things that I have always lacked. More family time, less frivolous spending, more giving of myself, less eating CRAP.    The year that I will FIND MY BLISS.”   and ultimately, when I don’t accomplish all of the above, I feel failure.

 I’m not doing that dance this time, I’m finally realizing that the job I do in the important areas of my life, like family, is perfectly OK.  Even  more importantly –  exactly what I am at this moment… is enough.

 Instead of placing demands and unrealistic expectations on myself, I am going to embrace each day as it comes. Where I find inspiration, I will go with the creative  flow. I will not try to fill every moment with a meaningful existence. Where I find someone or something in need, I will lend a hand.  Impatience is part of who I am, and sometimes it really helps to get the job done… I accept it.   I love food and I’m not obese – perhaps a little restraint and more frequent walks with the dog is all that is needed, and I can handle that with joy. 

  LIFE.. is a huge gift. I think what I will resolve to do this year is to appreciate that I am here, now, living in the moment and doing a decent job of it.  The lyrics to one of my favorite Eagles songs says it best … Learn to be Still –

Sometimes you just have to let it go

 Those of you who know me well recognize my camera as merely another appendage.  While it’s true there are heavy sighs and some serious eye rolls whenever I arrive on the scene, who do they gather around when it’s all said and done to see their minute of fame, I ask you.  Ah, the woes of those who wield the camera.

(My hair! NO.. I don’t have make up on! I’m Fat! Oh no, not a picture..)  

 Last night we had a Christmas open house for family and a few friends. My 14 year old niece pried the Rebel from my fingers and took over the job for the evening.  I loved flipping through the images later to see her perspective.. sometimes you really oughta just let. it. go.   🙂

My sister and I.  
Oh no, my hair! No makeup! the dark circles!!..
*sigh and eye roll*
maybe even shock and awe

It’s not over till it’s over

 I did the last minute fools rush yesterday..first to drop off presents to family that I won’t see before our Christmas Day party, then to a certain store for a few certain gifts, then to the grocery store for the remaining ingredients needed for the Big Day’s menu.   ( I never know exactly where to use apostrophes.. for those of you that I annoy with it, I apologize for my laziness.  Mom. ).   Everyone and their brother and  third cousin twice removed was there doing the same darn thing – the shopping, not the apostrophe abomination.

 Anyway.  I thought I was done. Everyone checked off the list. Everything put away, everything wrapped.  I even found the gift card I thought I lost, which was the best gift ever because I  was tired of trying to conceal the evidence of my negligence from the signifcant other.

 And then last night there was this new development.

Me:  “So, since you and (new guy) M are now officially dating,  did you get him something for Christmas other than the little friend gift you originally got, you know.. before you were dating?”

College girl:  “Noooo, and I probably should, huh. “

Me:  ” Ummm, probably. Just a something, nothing huge. ”

College girl:  ” And , Mom? He got YOU guys something.”

Me:  “WHAT?  Really??… he really didn’t have to do that.  Really shouldn’t have done that…. really?”.

College girl:  ” Yeah, really. Somthing nice.  And he made cookies for you. “

Me:  “MADE COOKIES FOR US?”.   …..

College girl:  ” OMG – I have to work tomorrow, I’m not going to have time to shop for him!?”

Me:  ” *sigh*   Well.  Ok … I guess I’ll head out one more time tomorrow and pick a little something up from us and from you. What does he like? Any sports teams?  Particular colors?”

College girl:   “I don’t really know yet.  Want me to ask  him?” 

Me:  “NO, don’t ask him.  What are you gonna say..  Hey, we’re doing a last minute after-thought shopping spree for you because this is the awkward moment when you’re brand new to the scene and it’s CHRISTMAS and you came on the scene  right at the last minute when we don’t really know you yet but you made cookies and are bearing gifts. Can you give us a hint so we can buy you a meaningful gift? “

Back to the stores I go.

And the dog has a fever this morning so I’ll probably be visiting the vet too.  Awesome.

Any suggestions?  This is what I know – male college student, medium build, tall-dark-polite-handsome.  Gives gifts immediately upon meeting you.

 This is an actual Light-Up Men’s Christmas Sweatshirt.  Whadayathink?

No, I did not buy it. Just.. can you just imagine? 🙂