A snap I found

Snap that I found while cleaning up my camera card. Taken 2014-10-18 at the nature park.

Quotes from books - In A Witch's Wardrobe

In A Witch's Wardrobe by Juliet Blackwell

Don't you remember the old controversy over the backward lyrics in rock songs?

My brother and I tried to play Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust" backward, but we didn't hear anything (nor did I know what it was supposed to say). This article talks about backmasking and provides examples, including this song. IMO, you have too much time on your hands if you think Led Zeppelin is talking about Satan.

...it looked like I was going to have to get happy in the same pants I got mad in.

This just seemed like a funny quote.

Quotes from books - The Mermaid Chair

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

... that when a person was in need of cataclysmic change, of a whole new center in the personality, for instance, his or her psyche would induce an infatuation, an erotic attachment, an intense falling-in-love. He knew this. Every analyst knew it. Falling in love was the oldest, most ruthless catalyst on earth. But typically you fell in love with something missing in yourself that you recognized in the other person...

Do therapists get bored at seeing human nature repeat itself so often? To the patient, their lives are unique. To the doctor, it's just another in a stack of "same shit, different day?"

Quotes from books - Yes Please

I decided to start blogging the passages I highlight while reading. May not be anything significant, may just touch me in some way. I may choose to explain why I highlighted it, or I may not.


Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Decide what your currency is early. Let go of what you will never have. People who do this are happier and sexier.

Tell the story [of your birth] every year on your birthday until you know it by heart. (My husband loves for his mother to call him on his birthday and tell him the story.)

'Guilt is an intersection.' Getting out of it means making a choice and moving forward.

'Divorce is always good news because no good marriage has ever ended in divorce.' (Phil Collins may disagree.)

Gone are the days (hopefully) when you take everything personally and internalize everyone's behavior.

(Regarding rock concerts) Now I just want to sit down and have someone perform my five favorite songs while I eat a light dinner and receive a simultaneous pedicure.

10 months in a few lines

July 2015 was a turning point. I made some admissions, sought some assistance, and made some significant change. It did turn out ok and for the better, despite my worst-case scenario expectations.

I'm 9 months into a new job. Still getting comfortable with things, but happy to be in a much more positive environment. I laugh again. I am reminded daily that I am helping people, albeit in an indirect way. The end result isn't helping someone earn money to maintain their boat or buy a new SUV.

I'm able to think without being overwhelmed. This is big, and very relieving.

I can finally reach "calm" again.

Happy birthday from here

Today would have been your 40^th birthday. Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you today, as I do often. It was always a point of pride (maybe that’s weird?) that we were only 1 week apart in age, and maybe we were baby buddies in the maternity ward.

I miss you, my friend. I miss your laugh. I miss your “that’s what she said” jokes. I miss one of the few people who also disliked Great Big Sea. I miss the guy who’d split the bottle of cream soda with me, and loved my banana bread. I miss your great sense of humor.

I started playing DnD this year, and I’m using your dice. I prefer to think of it as keeping them “warm” until your son is old enough to be interested, and then I’ll gladly hand them over. In the meantime, it’s nice to have that connection with you. Sorry I didn’t start playing soon enough for you to see. Wonder what you’d think of my character?

Halloween is coming up, and I’m going to miss seeing you at pumpkin carving.

It’s weird to look over at my calendar, where I’ve written everyone’s birthday, and to not see yours there. Maybe I should just write it in anyway?

Cancer sucks. I’m mad at it for taking you away. But I know you’re not suffering anymore, and have probably been enjoying all the non-liquid food you can since you arrived on the other side. ;)

Happy birthday. I’m sending your birthday hugs to the sky. I hope you have some way of knowing that I am thinking of you today.

July 2015 photo - Day 13

Calm

Calm is not something I've been feeling these days, but a quick stop at the park on my walking route seemed like a good spot to exemplify this.

 Bonus shot of some new leaves on a red maple tree:

April 2015 photo - Day 20

This happened today

After the Longest Winter Ever™, I resumed my lunchtime walking regime. The sidewalks are mostly clear. There were only a couple of spots where I had no sidewalk.

Seems weird to be this late in April and still see Lily Lake partially frozen:

March 2015 photo - Day 10

Floral

Passed by some nice flowers at the grocery store today.

February 2015 photo: Day 1

On my plate

We had a Super Bowl party, and served tacos.

January 2015 photo: Day 29

Summer/Winter (where you are)

It is most definitely winter here. This was the pic on that day:

 

This is a pic from Feb 1st, where we now have about 1m (just over 1 yard) of snow. They are calling for another storm starting tomorrow, with over a foot in that forecast. This pic doesn't do it justice.

January 2015 photo: Day 27

Morning

Snapped this at sunrise, which is after I get out of bed this time of the year.

January 2015 photo - Day 26

Three things

Three pieces of my car that I managed to break tonight while backing into the garage. I was trying a little too hard not to hit the snowblower.

January 2015 photo - Day 11

I see...

The lights from the plane on my flight to Toronto.

January 2015 photo - Day 9

Pattern

Wearing a plaid shirt today. John was calling me a lumberjack, but I said that means I'm ok, according to Monty Python. Also ok that I'm wearing women's clothing.

January 2015 photo - Day 8

Landscape

In my travels this afternoon, I stopped by Lily Lake and took a pic of the frozen water.

January 2015 photo - Day 7

Currently reading

When Harry Potter first hit the scene, I was in my 20s and trying to play the role of adult. It never occurred to me that I should read "a kid's book." Later, when it seemed like I was the only one who hadn't jumped on the bandwagon, I felt it was too late to join the party. I was also overwhelmed by the attention it was getting, and didn't want to feel like a lemming. Many years passed, and after much prodding from John, I decided to finally give it a shot. I liked it, and understand now why so many people enjoyed the series. I don't think it's the greatest book series ever written, but they're entertaining and I am invested in the characters.

This is book 5, the longest in the series, and I am 2/3 of the way through. So far I am liking it the least, but am told it will pay off by the end.

January 2015 photo - Day 6

Round

The view from the bottom of my water bottle.

January 2015 photo - Day 2

Something yellow

Snapped this as I drove home via the back road.

January 2015 photo - Day 1

Back on the wagon, again. John reminded me recently that taking these photos was a way to keep viewing things in a different light. I truly want 2015 to be a year of positive experiences for me, of achievement, of moving forward and getting to a happier place. Hopefully I can stay on this project more regularly now that they've changed it to a weekly list instead of monthly. I won't promise to do it every day, but to make more of an effort this time around.

Day 1 is "the sky."