Sky Watch Friday

A picture taken when life was simple and the pain was in his back not his heart. In the morning we will be boarding a plane to Vegas to see our son marry...a time when we should be light of heart and the tears should be falling from happiness. We will need all the strength we have to make it through this weekend for our son.

Cold

The bitter cold assaults my soul

Takes my breath away.

Sheets of ice blanket my life

Please uncover me.

Does Anyone Have an Answer?

I stood watching the seconds of the timer tick away and wondered if my heart was going to stop when it hit zero. How can you be in such pain and your heart still beat?

Lucy is Going on Hiatus

We often are our own worst enemies. I know that is true of myself...but this time the collateral damage is extensive. I am in a fight for my life. My health is fine, but everything I know and love is in danger and I am responsible for it.

With that being said, I am going to give it my all to do what I can to repair the damage. At this time it looks unlikely, but if that God you all talk about exits...I beg you to pray for my family and those I have hurt...they will need it.

In the meantime, postings will be sparse. But I have made such good friends here I hate to let you all go...so I will check on you occasionally or post a picture here and there.

Again, if your God be willing, this won't be the end.

Let Me Introduce...Little Lucy!

Thirty some years ago the hubby came to own this work of art through the fine art of bartering. He had a bag of...well it was the 70's and someone had her. A trade was made. Then he found himself desiring a bag of...well it was the 70's. His brother in law had what he wanted and thought this work of art would make a good trade. He then became her owner.

She has now found her way back to us...and NO! there were no bags of anything involved...it is not the 70's.

She's petite. She's skinny.

She's cute. She's sexy.

She's understated. She's powerful.

And she is MINE!

I just have to convince him...anyone know where I can find a bag of.....

Sky Watch Friday

Click to enlarge

color of picture was changed using Picasa

While walking on a very cold January day, I heard them long before I saw them...

Can you count them all?

Bondage

I look at this picture and have to laugh. Look at those eyes and that grin! This boy is absolutely full of everything that is wonder, awe, and joy mixed with a bit of rotten, temper and strong headedness.

Papa took him to the grocery store the other day. The toy handcuffs went along. Somewhere during the adventure, the boy of his own volition, attached himself to the grocery cart via the handcuffs. Papa didn't mind...this young man is often difficult to keep track of.

Oh but the looks! So...what does Papa say when a certain woman appeared appalled at the situation..."You know if you behave better, next time we won't have to do this." And out the door the dynamic duo went!

Quotable Photable

Out of the bosom of the Air,

Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,

Over the woodlands brown and bare,

Over the harvest-fields forsaken,

Silent, and soft, and slow

Descends the snow.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Gloved Ones

One of the Shutter Sister challenges this weeks was 'hands'. Some say the eyes are the window to the soul...I think the hands can tell many stories about who someone is. Though I intend to do a photo composition of hands at a later date, I was playing around today in the snow and made this photo.
I don't very often use the words 'make a photo' as I am not sure how I feel about that phrase...a discussion for another day. But in this case I feel like I made this one. I composed it...mine is on the right, the hubby's on the left. I also did a bit of editing with some tinting to add depth perception.

Just having fun...what next, snow angels? Not for us...we both still have broken wings!

Things You Hear in the Night

Those who know me know I do not sleep well. I spend many hours of the night listening to talk radio. I have become intimate with many late night talk show hosts and quite a few very strange guests.

During the many wakeful hours of last night, I heard something that had me greatly disturbe. One of the many newscasts aired a report on Obama's Whistle-Stop speech. This is what I heard our President-elect say,

"What's required is a new declaration of independence, not just in our nation, but in our own lives, our own hearts - from ideology and small thinking, prejudice and bigotry and narrow interests..."

A new Declaration of Independence...are you kidding me? Did I hear what I just heard? Hasn't the one we have had for more than 200 years been pretty okay?

So I got up this morning and did my research. It is not a bad speech. If you haven't seen it or read it you should. He certainly knows how to motivate. He is a powerful speaker. But I am still somewhat taken aback by his statement. I don't think we need a new Declaration of Independence. I think the one we have has stood the test of time.

Actually I think what is missing in this country is the memory of what made it great and, well Barack, I think you might have said it best,

"More than once did ordinary men, fishermen, laborers, and craftsmen who called themselves an army face the prospects of defeat. And yet, they were willing to put all they were and all they had on the line - their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor - for a set of ideals that continue to light the world. That we are equal. That our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness come not from our laws, but from our maker. And that a government of, by, and for the people can certainly endure."

That's right Barack, it is us...the men and women who put you in this wonderful grand house of white (though not my vote) and it is us who can take you out of that wonderful house of white. So take care of what you say and do. Protect our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Because if you don't, "...whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

That's in the old Declaration of Independence...hey maybe that is why he wants a new one!

I am So Developed I Can Barely Stand Myself

Yesterday the temperature in my city reached a negative 10 degrees with wind chills hitting between -30 and -40 degrees. All the school districts were closed except mine...we did not have a student day. We had a 'professional day' scheduled. Classified staff (of which I am one) are required to attend two per year.

We sign up for various one hour classes all day long with the intent doing our jobs better and of becoming better employees. I want to do a better job and be a better employee...don't we all. So I signed up for the classes I found most interesting:

1. Healthy relationships
2. Natural energy boosters
3. Food in the fast lane
4. Anti-aging

Oh yea, I work in the library and with kids who have difficulty with math. There were no courses that had anything to do with either of these subjects. So here is what I took away from my professional development yesterday:

If the district wants me to have healthy relationships with my co-workers, have lots of energy, not eat fast food and look young, then don't make me get out of bed at the crack of dawn (thus losing sleep, (robbing me of my energy and aging me), on a day when it is f***ing cold, drive through Tim Hortons for tea and a donut (oops caffeine and refined sugar a BIG no no), increase my stress because I am running late, (ever heard of the negative effects of cortisol on aging, energy and relationships?) to be professionally developed.

And if you are going to do so, please find something that pertains to my JOB!

Photos From The Lake

Who loves ya Henry?

Hi!

Icicles hanging from the bottom of my kayak

And after I come in from the cold....

Ummmmmmm!

The Frozen Tundra

Winter on the lake is a different experience then the sunny warm days of summer. There is still fun and adventure to be had. Just ask Henry:

He actually prefers the the subzero temperatures at the lake, for then that aqueous surface (he isn't a swimmer) magically forms into that solid state supporting his magnificent 160 pounds. If there is snow on top all the better...ice skating is not his favorite winter sport.

And then there are those who find other things to do when the lake turns to ice: how about some snowmobiling or maybe a little ice fishing?

What is your pleasure when the weather is so cold an entire lake becomes a frozen tundra?

Silent Song

Softy falling under the light of the mysterious moon

Frozen flakes striking the ground without a sound

Silently piling upon one another

Reminiscent of tears from days past

Do You Resemble That?

Respect...I hear this word thrown around a lot. I hear it most often used as a verb..."you don't respect me." "That boy has no respect for his teachers." I have pondered this word...thought hard on it. Wondered what the meaning of it is. I have even gone so far as to look up the official definition of it: to hold in esteem or honor

It puzzles me that there are people in this world who believe that they are deserving of respect just by the nature of their job, or the title they hold, or the fact they gave birth, or their age.

In my mind respect is a privilege not a right. It is given as a gift to someone deserving, not someone demanding. In my profession, many demand and fall short of deserving.

I run into this issue everyday. I work with middle school children. Most people groan when I tell them this. Yes it is a difficult age...but also one that is more rewarding than you can possibly imagine.

Yesterday a young man who has a chip on his should bigger than he is, was having an issue with another teacher. This student did not like the way the teacher was treating him and called him a douche bag as he was walking away from him. I heard the remark.

Now, it is probably not okay to call an adult a douche bag...especially your teacher. But...you have got to pick your battles and with this student this is not a battle you want to pick. So I suggested he think of something else to say. But no, he wasn't interested in something else...he had douche bags on the brain. He was going to make it very clear to me his teacher was a douche bag incarnate. Not much respect going on here.

So I needed a different tactic. Okay I said...if you are going to continue to call Mr. B a douche bag I need you to justify the reason you think he is one. My thought was there was no way he could and then we would be able to move past the problem. I was wrong.

He then began to tell me the story of the time he was in class and Mr. B made a reference about this young man and another student acting in a 'gay' manner. The story was confirmed by two other students sitting nearby. You don't do this to a seventh grade boy.

I understood why he thought Mr. B was a douche bag...I even thought it was a pretty douchey thing to do to a kid. So I acknowledged his feelings and told him how sorry I was that happened and then we were able to move on to his report. He didn't need to be punished...he needed to be heard.

Back to respect...did this teacher respect this young man? Did this teacher deserve this young man's respect? What recourse does a student have when a teacher disrespects him or her. Should I have sent this boy to the office for disrespecting his teacher? What should be done to the teacher who disrespects the student?

Respect is a word that is thrown around with little thought about the actions behind it. If I want my kids to respect me, I show them I am worthy of it and treat them with honor and kindness first. I let them know I am capable of failure and apologize when I do. I also tell them the choices are theirs and the consequences belong to them too. I treat them as I wanted to be treated 30 years ago.

I let them know every now and again it is okay call someone a douche bag...because you know what....if the hose fits, maybe just maybe, a cleaning out is in order.

ICE ICE BABY!

I look through the lens with the eyes of a novice, an amateur, a beginner. I have no gift that gives me a talent. I simply point and shoot. If I get lucky a beautiful image is caught.

A photographer is more than the camera. A photographer has a vision...an ability to see something in nothing and capture an image of it. That is what creates the art...the vision, not the ability to capture the shot.

What do you think of my vision today...did I create art or just capture an image?

These were taken with my new Nikon D60. You must enlarge them to enjoy their full beauty. I hope you enjoy what was the cold icy morning in my yard.

Vigilantism? Nah!

My city has been plagued by a serial rapist. He has raped seven women in the last six months.
This sign was posted on a stop sign in a local strip mall on a stop sign.

I like the way this person thinks! I know I have a .38 caliber cartidge with his name on it.

This piece of shit was very good at leaving no evidence behind. It took a long time and lots of investigative hours...but he finally seems to have screwed up and the police have a 'person of interest' in custody. Too bad...I think he was more deserving of the above outcome.

HSMSHS - Heart

My Mother's Heart

My mother was born with a crossed eye in a time when there was only two surgeons in the United States who preformed surgery to correct the problem. She was put in glasses at the tender age of 18 months in order to gain some semblance of vision.

It wasn't until she was five that there was enough money (no insurance or public assistance in the 1930's) to acquire the necessary surgery to correct the eye. My mother and my grandmother traveled to one of the Carolina's by train. On the trip, my grandmother presented my mother with this sterling silver heart necklace. It was a token of strength to help her face what was ahead of her.

When I was around eight I was rummaging through my mother's jewelry box and found the necklace. It was then I learned the story of my mother's trip on the train to the strange land where the Dr. would change the way she saw her world. She was forever grateful to this man who gave her what sight she had in her right eye. And some thirty years later she still had the heart her mother had given her.

She gave me her treasure that day. I put it around my neck and wore it for years. It gave me strength and courage in times when I needed it. Today the HSMSHS prompt is Heart and some nearly forty years after she gave it to me, I still have my mother's heart....the one on the chain and the one I carry in my own heart.

HSMSHS

Today's HSMSHS prompt is "Beginning" and since I have already posted a picture several days ago I titled 'beginnings' I shall take this opportunity to pontificate. Aren't you lucky!

Beginning....a great word to consider as the new year has just begun and we, the thinkers of the world, tend to look upon this time of year as a time of new beginnings.

We say goodbye to the past year, hoping for better things to come. We make plans for better bodies, better jobs, better minds, better loves, better lives, better better better.

But as with a beginning, there must come an end. I find myself somewhat melancholy over the end. Another year gone...another year older.

I struggle sometimes with what to celebrate...should I celebrate the beginning of the new year? Or should I celebrate the end of the one just gone by?

The pessimist would celebrate the one gone past and the optimist would celebrate the beginning. I compromise and celebrate both... I guess that makes me a Possimist!

As the old one ends and this new year begins, I give you this: Respect the past, create the new and live well though it all!

Sky Watch Friday - Beginnings

Sky Watch

Sunrise on my Lake

New Year's Day

What a way to start a new year!

"We will open the book.

Its pages are blank.

We are going to put words on them ourselves.

The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."

Edith Lovejoy Pierce

New Year's Eve

Even though I was not dressed in near enough lame', sequins, and glitter and I most certainly did not having enough Aqua Net in my hair, I did seem to find something to do at the Moose on New Year's Eve...a hoola hoop contest!

No I didn't win...bummer!

I Officially Declare....

I AM TIRED OF BEING SUPER MOM!

I NEED SOME SLEEP!