Shadow … home again from catting about

Geoffrey Greif, in his book, Buddy System: Understanding Male Friendships, provides labels and insights for several  categories of friendships:  

Must friend: a best friend, a member of your inner circle, a person you count on when something big happens in your life

Trust friend: a friend who shows integrity, someone you feel comfortable with, that you’re always glad to see, but not in your inmost circle; perhaps someone you’d like to be closer to, if you had the time or opportunity

Rust friend: a person you’ve known for a long, long time; you’re probably not going to get any closer to that person, unless something changes, but a part of your life

Just friends: a person you see — at a weekly poker game, at your child’s school — who is enjoyable company, but you have no desire to socialize outside a specific context or to get to know that person better

A couple of "things" I looked at and "briefed" :

“fundamental attribution error” = In social psychology, the fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overestimate the effect of disposition or personality and underestimate the effect of the situation in explaining social behavior

"negativity bias" = people are much more likely to choose things based on their need to avoid negative experiences, rather than on their desire to get positive things"

Below, excerpts from a paper I read this morning … 

Ten Keys to Handling Unreasonable & Difficult People
10 Strategies for Handling Aggressive or Problem Personalities
Published on September 2, 2013 by Preston Ni, M.S.B.A. in Communication Success
For more in-depth tools on how to effectively handle difficult individuals, download free excerpts of my (Mr. Ni) publications (click on titles) “How to Communicate Effectively and Handle Difficult People” and “Communication Success with Four Personality Types.”

1.    Keep Your Cool

Benefits: Maintain self-control. Avoid escalation of problem.

How:  … maintain your composure; the less reactive you are, the more you can use your better judgment to handle the situation.

When you feel angry ... take a deep breath and count slowly to ten. ... so that you can reduce, instead of escalate the problem. If you're still upset after counting to ten, take a time out if possible, and revisit the issue after you calm down.

2.    "Fly Like an Eagle"

Benefits: More peace of mind. Reduce risk of friction.

How: Some people in our lives are simply not worth tussling with. Your time is valuable, so unless there’s something important at stake, don’t waste it … (when more practicable/practical* keep a healthy distance.

3.    Shift from Being Reactive to Proactive 

Benefits: Minimize misinterpretation & misunderstanding. Concentrate energy on problem-solving.

How: When you feel offended by someone’s words or deeds, come up with mulitiple ways of looking at the situation before reacting. … When we avoid personalizing other people's behaviors, we can perceive their expressions more objectively. People do what they do because of them more than because of us. Widening our perspective on the situation can reduce the possibility of misunderstanding.  

Another way to reduce personalization is to try to put ourselves in the difficult individual’s shoes, even for just a moment. For example, consider the person you’re dealing with, and complete the sentence: “It must not be easy….”

“My child is being so resistant. It must not be easy to deal with his school and social pressures…”

“My boss is really demanding. It must not be easy to have such high expectations placed on her performance by management…”

“My partner is so emotionally distant. It must not be easy to come from a family where people don’t express affection…”  

To be sure, empathetic statements do not excuse unacceptable behavior. The point is to remind yourself that people do what they do because of their own issues. As long as we’re being reasonable and considerate, difficult behaviors from others say a lot more about them than they do about us. By de-personalizing, we can view the situation more objectively, and come up with better ways of solving the problem.

4.    Pick Your Battles

Benefits: Save time, energy and grief. Avoid unnecessary problems and complications.

How: Not all difficult individuals we face require direct confrontation about their behavior. There are two scenarios under which you might decide not to get involved. The first is when someone has temporary, situational power over you. For example, if you’re on the phone with an unfriendly customer service representative, as soon as you hang up and call another agent, this representative will no longer have power over you.

Another situation where you might want to think twice about confrontation is when, by putting up with the difficult behavior, you derive a certain benefit. An example of this would be an annoying co-worker, for although you dislike her, she’s really good at providing analysis for your team, so she’s worth the patience. It’s helpful to remember that most difficult people have positive qualities as well, especially if you know how to elicit them (see keys #5 and 6). ...

5.    Separate the Person From the Issue 

Benefits: Establish yourself as a strong problem solver with excellent people skills. Win more rapport, cooperation and respect.

How: In every communication situation, there are two elements present: The relationship you have with this person, and the issue you are discussing. An effective communicator knows how to separate the person from the issue, and be soft on the person and firm on the issue. For example:

“I want to talk about what’s on your mind, but I can’t do it when you’re yelling. Let’s either sit down and talk more quietly, or take a time out and come back this afternoon.” ...

When we’re soft on the person, people are more open to what we have to say. When we’re firm on the issue, we show ourselves as strong problem solvers.

6.     Put the Spotlight on Them

Benefits: Proactive. Equalize power in communication. Apply appropriate pressure to reduce difficult behavior.

How: A common pattern with difficult people (especially the aggressive types) is that they like to place attention on you to make you feel uncomfortable or inadequate. Typically, they’re quick to point out there’s something not right with you or the way you do things. The focus is consistently on “what’s wrong,” instead of “how to solve the problem.”

This type of communication is often intended to dominate and control, rather than to sincerely take care of issues. If you react by being on the defensive, you simply fall into the trap of being scrutinized, thereby giving the aggressor more power while she or he picks on you with impunity. A simple and powerful way to change this dynamic is to put the spotlight back on the difficult person, and the easiest way to do so is to ask questions. For example:

Aggressor: “Your proposal is not even close to what I need from you.”

Response: “Have you given clear thought to the implications of what you want to do?”

Aggressor: “You’re so stupid.”

Response: “If you treat me with disrespect I’m not going to talk with you anymore. Is that what you want? Let me know and I will decide if I want to stay or go.”

Keep your questions constructive and probing. By putting the difficult person in the spotlight, you can help neutralize her or his undue influence over you.

7.    Use Appropriate Humor

Benefits: Disarm unreasonable and difficult behavior when correctly used. Show your detachment. Avoid being reactive. Problem rolls off your back.

How: Humor is a powerful communication tool. ...

When appropriately used, humor can shine light on the truth, disarm difficult behavior … one can use humor to reduce or eliminate difficult behavior.

 8.    Change from Following to Leading 

Benefit: Leverage direction and flow of communication.

How: In general, whenever two people are communicating, one is usually doing more leading, while the other is doing more following. In healthy communication, two people would take turns leading and following. However, some difficult people like to take the lead, set a negative tone, and harp on “what’s wrong” over and over.

You can interrupt this behavior simply by changing the topic. As mentioned earlier, utilize questions to redirect the conversation. You can also say “By the way…” and initiate a new subject. When you do so, you’re taking the lead and setting a more constructive tone.

9.    Confront Bullies (Safely)

Benefits: Reduce or eliminate harmful behavior. Increase confidence and peace of mind.

How: The most important thing to keep in mind about bullies is that they pick on those whom they perceive as weaker, so as long as you remain passive and compliant, you make yourself a target. ...

“When people don't like themselves very much, they have to make up for it. The classic bully was actually a victim first.” — Tom Hiddleston

...

10.     Set Consequence

Benefits: Proactive not reactive. Shift balance of power. Win respect and cooperation when appropriately applied.

How: The ability to identify and assert consequence(s) is one of the most important skills we can use to "stand down" a difficult person. Effectively articulated, consequence gives pause to the challenging individual, and compels her or him to shift from obstruction to cooperation.

...

* = my addition

Bold print = my addition

… = where I "cut" the original article

(our three black cats)
thinking about it this morning

list'ning to … JJ Cale … and scouring the manuals

uh huh …
Everyone out the front door early this morning, except the cats … there is a debate about whether or not to get them "fixed" … I say absolutely yes, it makes no sense to encourage them to contribute to the  homeless kitty population … that's how these goofballsoffur come to be in our home in the first place … I say nip that in the bud so to speak … but/and other voices say it's just not right … so, this morning the three follow me about meowing, working in concert for the fast break. They are such little wankers!  I attempt to overlay their chatter with the laconic purring of Mr. JJ Cale.  Ahhh … makes me want to sit right here and go somewhere.  I like this album. L asked me "what" I'm going to do today … and I have a long list of shoulds  … I should go see about that little CTSW.  It is flipping out warnings on too high tach and not responding as needed to throttle settings … took 30 minutes  hobbs to get the oil temp up high enough for the run up, then two quick laps in the pattern chilled it back down to "fussing".  I'm reading up on the Rotax 912ULS3

Before starting the engine, read the Operator ́s Manual, as it contains important safety relevant information. Failure to do so may result in per- sonal injuries including death. Consult the original equipment manufactur- ers handbook for additional instructions! 
…

Although the mere reading of these instructions will not eliminate a hazard, the un- derstanding and application of the information herein will promote the proper use of the engine.
…
yes,yes, looking, looking …  

▲ WARNING: Never fly the aircraft equipped with this engine at loca- tions, airspeeds, altitudes, or other circumstances from which a successful no-power landing cannot be made,
after sudden engine stoppage.

yess, yes, okay … (yeah) … 

any engine may seize or stall at any time 

com'on … please … where's the poop on the wackytachy

4-stroke, 4 cylinder horizontally opposed, spark ignition engine, one central cam- shaft - push-rods - OHV
Liquid cooled cylinder heads
Ram air cooled cylinders
Dry sump forced lubrication
Dual breakerless capacitor discharge ignition 2 constant depression carburetors mechanical fuel pump
Prop drive via reduction gear with integrated shock absorber and overload clutch 

(totally unnecessary graphics, just like the tidiness, engines are simply elegant … there's a reason this little guy is annunciating)

1. Oil pressure:
   max. .................................................... 7 bar
   ■ CAUTION: For a short period admissible at cold start.
   min. ..................................................... 0,8 bar (12 psi) (below 3500 rpm) normal ................................................. 2,0 - 5,0 bar (29 - 73 psi) (above ............................................................ 3500 rpm)
   
2. Oil temperature:
   max. .................................................... 140 °C..............(285 °F)
   min. ..................................................... 50 °C................(120 °F)
   normal operating temperature............. approx.. 90 - 110 °C (190 - 230 °F)
   0. 
      
      Cylinder head temperature:
      max.....................................................150 °C (300 °F)
      Permanent monitoring of coolant temperature and cylinder head temperature is necessary. 
      7. Engine start, operating temperature:
         max...................................................... 50 °C .............. (120 °F) min.......................................................-25 °C .............. (-13 °F)
         
      8. Fuel pressure:
         max......................................................0,4 bar ............. 5,8 psi) min.......................................................0,15 bar ........... 2,2 psi)
         ▲ WARNING: Exceeding the max. admissible fuel pressure will over- ride the float valve of the carburetor and to engine failure.  
         
         (what, huh?  and to engine failure … and lead to? and contribute to? typo on the warning label can't be good … they spend so much time screwing these docs down tight I'm surprised at this little "burp")
         

      
      

      Nothing in the EMS manual or the EFIS manual specific to my little problem.  The EMS may be toggled to store operational data … that's cool.  That's a place to look.

      

      screen shot of similar display 

      
      
      

      

      
      
   the warning display reads "high tachometer alarm" … retarding the throttle didn't illicit a reduced rpm response  After calling my controls I told student to snap some pics of the displays so we could figure the problem out on the ground.  On this plane the RPM info is top left arc, MP middle arc, oil pressure top half of right hand circle with the oil temp using the bottom half of the circle, below that is the fuel gph, and those bars are as above, volts top, amps below … EGT displayed all green mid screen horizontal bars, with the CHT (suddenly) in cautionary range … no cowl flaps to open or close and I know these are flown in colder climates … thinking about shock cooling … this pic taken after an abbreviated turn to DW about 700' above the surface here … alarms off at about 300' into the climb on departure after a touch and go
   
   Well … I'm figuring it out.  All morning to read through all the little manuals and not much closer!
   

   

   
   
   This also today:
   

   

   
   

   

   V created this red bird from duct tape Christmas 2012

   
   

   

   and fresh Vans for Spring

   
   

   

   and this … an intentional approach … 

With courage

you will dare

to take risks,

have the strength 

to be compassionate,

and the wisdom 

to be humble.

Courage 

is the foundation

of integrity.

~Mark Twain

(that's not a picture of a 737 wing, it's a picture of an airplane on approach to a major hub … there was an apparent continuous flow on that radial and it made me think of all of us moving around, sitting beside, passing over … 
all of those ing words…

I was enjoying watching them and musing
the guy behind me leaned forward and asked me if they (the big guys on our 45) were going to hit us. 
He was serious.
It seems so strange how we go looking for troubling thoughts.
I mean … their progress was so orderly … so obviously choreographed …
we'd had a couple of pre-announced (seatbelts pls) altitude adjustments for comfort's sake, but the heading hadn't varied since DFW … he had slowed down but not so that one not particularly listening would notice … our guys up front were pros.
I passed my iPad back over the seat and answered  … those guys aren't aiming for us, they are all just trying to get to there.  See how they are spaced so nice and even?  Those guys, just like our guys, know exactly what they are doing. Nobody wants to ruin a perfectly lovely day.

Just trying to get home.) 

and I let the cat{s} in

FitBit … fun
it's both difficult and easy to walk 10,000 steps per day
and, if I run part of that, it's super easy to get 30+ active minutes in
(those are the goals)

these and now C S Lewis book in
waiting on Habits book

A small observation about the animals I tend to …
… and, partly in reference to my V …

our cats are at an age where they like to come and go as cats tend to do
it is easy for my mouth to say "cats are come and go animals, we have to accept that" but it's hard for my heart to manage the goings (along with the anxiety that they may not return)
and, this morning, after spending several hours fretting, calling, wandering about looking for Shadow on Tuesday and Wednesday … and then he came home with a hurt hind leg and slept for 12 hours straight … and then hovered at the doors ready to slip out again … which he did and spent Thursday night away … now it's Friday and (my attention scans back and forth for him like a radar seeking a little target) … two cats out and about right now (and who knows if we will ever see them again?)
well cats … if you give them a bit of your heart, expect that they will carry it with them on their shenanigans … and if that doesn't work for you, cats may not be a good option
AND … I know people like that (and I maybe even love them)
there are reasons why hosting cats rocks
they bring texture and joy and a richness to one's life
cats are interesting and exciting
cats are fun

but they are careless with one's heart
they don't want to be responsible for your heart
(and … they ask you not to make it a heart thing … they really do warn you not to even as they wrap their tail around your leg … isn't that sweet?)
cats want you to feed them
and pet them
amuse them with dangling strings and feathers
they want to rest in your warmth
they want to keep you engaged for when they want your something
and I don't think that's selfish
I think it's a very straight forward contract
and if your heart can manage it, it may be just the thing
But, don't deceive yourself in to thinking a cat is a dog
(I think cats are loyal, as loyal as the best dog, but only to themselves … and if it appears that they are loyal to a person (you) it is only because it suits them best … it is because they are too satisfied and/or  lazy (old) to forsake their own comfort for new adventures.  Cats are smart, and self serving … and willing to offer what they do best for what they want most most.)

Loving a cat takes (and teaches) stamina ~ cat hosting is not for the faint of heart.


"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? Matthew 18:12

Pastor referred to this verse during the sermon and I immediately thought of all the running around we do in search of the one cat who doesn't make it back in time ... the missing one.  I get it.

I let the (dog)s out.

Sammy and me walking
(he really is a huge dog)

I'm busy reading
and doing a good bit of flying
and
trying to get a few things done around the house

I do miss the time to sit and think and write

It seems like I don't know how to express what I most likely need to be thinking about
like, I don't want to think about it
I want to let it just flow off of me
I want to let the mud of it settle

I am intentionally busy with other things
I'm walking my dog

"What a wee little part of a person's life are his acts and his words!
His real life is led in his head, and is known to none but himself." ~Mark Twain

CATS

yeah!

Momma called last night.

The phone rang long enough after I had been in bed for my feet to get warm. (Is cold feet part of the aging process?)  "It's your momma", she said, and I could tell she felt a bit hesitant though I didn't know why so until this morning when I spoke with my brother.  I thought it was because she sensed that the call came in too late at night for a non-emergency but that didn't make sense because she has always seemed to believe that everyone should be on her time so that consideration would never occur to her, and now that she spends most of her time in na-na land, she really may not know if it's 11 in the morning, 11 at night, or where 11 even fits in the grand scheme of time … she is at that time in her life and I instinctively accommodate her.  She wanted to wish me a Happy Birthday.

"Momma called last night."  I said that to my brother this morning when he called to wish me a Happy Birthday.  "Yeah, I reminded her yesterday".  He said she was fiddling with her phone saying she didn't know how to reach me and he told her that he had set me up on her speed dial which she said she didn't remember how to use.  He said he wrote it down for her and tacked it to her bulletin board near a picture of me.  To call DeAnn push 2 on your phone.  She must have decided to try it.  I bet that was the weirdness for her.  It must seem kinda magical to push one button to connect with someone half way across the country … someone who isn't even a part of your world.

I know, it sounds pensive, or maybe whiney.  I'm okay with it.  I have actually come to prefer it.  I like to look at other mother/adult-child relationships … the ones that seem to work well.  I have five very important reasons, make that more then five 'cause excellent reasons seem to multiple, for figuring out my part in that dynamic.  I've always said my mom did the best she could and I'm going to stick with that … I would like to do my best as well … and for that cause I look for successful examples.  So … Momma called, "happy birthday, how old are you now, I'm really old too (lol) but I'm not on any meds and I still get around well and your brother is on me about forgetting stuff but I don't know what that's all about … ."  I just listen.  I know the steps to this dance.  My attention drifts from what her words are to what she is experiencing behind her words.  She sounds afraid … and small, vulnerable.  "I love you Momma, thank you for calling", I say and I feel her smile.  "It's tomorrow, isn't it? (my birthday)" She sounds suddenly lucid.  "Yes, tomorrow, you are the first to wish me a happy birthday (not really, but it doesn't seem like a lie to say so and I know it will please her)".  She seems satisfied when we say goodnight.

It's easy to just chat with my brother.  I tell him about the goofy dream I woke up with …
"I dreamed that we were young again, but in my garage here, cleaning it out.  Momma was cutting down stuff in the back yard with long lopping shears, she was wearing a red shirt and overalls and she had a towel wrapped around her neck (uh … never woulda happened in real life, lol, as I remember the dream attire it makes me laugh, she would never have on overalls) and she came running across the yard in to the garage and grabbed a fishing pole and started whipping at me with it and one of y'all (my brothers) said "you can't hit her with that" and it made her furious and she kept on swinging it at me and I caught the end of it and I was looking at the welts on my legs and she grabbed my wrist and bent it back and it hurt even in the dream and I woke up … really weird huh?"  He said it sounded like I was reliving my past.  While we were talking I looked up fishing pole on that dream dictionary site …

To see a fishing rod in your dream represents your quest and exploration of your subconscious mind. You are ready to confront issues and emotions which you have suppressed.

That's some weird.  How do they get that from a fishing pole?  The first thing I think of when I think fishing pole is the intro to the Andy of Mayberry Show (was that the name of it?), fishing poles make me need to whistle.  Hmmm … ready to confront issues and emotions … okay, I'm in.

He, my brother, told me that he had recently dreamed one of his reoccurring dreams, he said, "It's starts with me in an old building like my Jr. High and people are swarming everywhere, brushing and bumping against each other, not seeming to get anywhere (like between classes) and I am looking for you, and then I see you with two of your girlfriends and then suddenly a big guy comes at you fast and body slams you and knocks you down and I hurry over there to kick his ass and you hop up and you say don't worry about it, no big deal, I'm okay."  He says he knows he dreams that every once in awhile.  They were protective of me.  I wouldn't have wanted him to get in trouble at school for "kicking someone's ass". We didn't get in trouble at school.  And … nobody at school would have body slammed me … or been rough with me in any way.  School wasn't like that back then if it is now.  It's just interesting to see his dream with him.  I would handle it like that … .   What does it teach someone to be unjustly hurt by the person who they are supposed to be safe with?  And … what's it like for him where our stories overlap … where his instinct to protect is dampened by me "being okay".  I don't feel like I need protected now even if I maybe did back then.  But … I do say I'm okay when I'm not, not really … I'm always okay, I don't want to be a sissy pants  (lol … those childhood words crack me up).  And here we are 35-40 years out of the home we grew up in still circling back to review "issues and emotions".  

Well, that isn't what I wanted to write about on my birthday.  I note it because I guess I will be thinking about … not those weird dreams but the tangle they are maybe trying to undo.  Yesterday, in Sunday School, some reference was made to Charles Cooley's notion of Looking Glass Self.  I've been thinking about that some … and I guess we do drag along some of our old scripts and I guess one of mine is that people one allows to become important are liable to hurt you.  I mean, it makes sense and … being hurt is just a part of being alive.  That's true for everyone I think … not everything "feels" good.    Well … maybe more on this later.  I'll let myself be available for whatever is trying to seep out of my self conscious if it wants to.  

taken yesterday, after lunch

For now … on with life!  I am super excited about this year.  I think it's going to totally rock!  And … it's already off to a great start.  What I am mostly thinking of today is already I have received sweet birthday wishes from my people who know me (and love me anyway, lol).  

And … this one (IV, pictured) has sent me a note asking for a doctors appt. today because she thinks she broke a bone in her foot playing basketball last night … and, I'm sorry that she is hurt, but I'm really happy that her instinct is to call me to help her fix her stuff … that's really a wonderful thing.  My "looking glass self" is happy to be a mom among other cool stuff.  (II has been consulted on this foot thing and she says it's probably the fifth metatarsal … broken … needing a "boot" … we have a bunch of sweet "mothering" going on in our nest!)

Friday...

… and after being "out of pocket" for several days there are several things asking to be done!  Yesterday I worked on the big easy chairs.  One is all but finished … I say that, what's left is the outside which will go back together very fast, and then, the skirt, which will be easy to do, but time consuming because of the precise machine work required.  I am nervous about my bolt of fabric … is there enough there to complete both chairs and their loose pillow back … did I get enough fabric initially?  Have decided to "do" the other chair up to the same place this one is currently at (so that the fabric fronts on both will be from the same dye lot) and then assess where I'm at on fabric.  The back can easily be same fabric/different bolt … it would not be noticeable at all.  I'm "stripping" the other chair today (and probably for the next several days).

 I think it's interesting to see how things look on the inside.  This chair is beautifully constructed. I'll add some pics of the frame before I close it up.  I do enjoy re-doing my furniture, maybe even more so then I would buying it brand new.  Looking forward to it warming up in the garage so I can finish the chest of drawers I have started!

 Detail of front … and now I am wondering if those 45* creases are exactly as the should be, or bound up a bit around the upright support.  Smoothing out the top while intentionally "bunching" up the lower back portions was tricky!

The deep chair was designed to be used with a loose supporting pillow.  This isn't the right pillow … I'm waiting to gauge my fabric quantity before I make the pillow covers.  Still thinking it may be grey on front (with a monogram in turquoise thread and piping to match the chair) and a different fabric (maybe like the one pictured) on back, or both front and back the same fabric (leaning towards mixing it up a bit!).  The chairs are so comfortable, perfectly scaled for tall people.

Also, delighted to have a stack of interesting books on the way!  We ordered my top 6 picks last night and I have two that I'm working through right now with one waiting on the table.  It's been a while since I made time to read as much as I like to … only so many minutes in a day!  

My husband is interested in The Daniel Plan.  I am doing pre-reading on that now.  It is not very different then how we already eat.  I think it is such a luxury to be able to cook for my family rather then needing the convenience of eating out a lot.  

It encourages a ten day detox then a 40 day core meal plan … with exercise of course.  One premise seems to be that rather then employing guilt or other self defeating motivators, that this "plan" might be seen as an offering of ones frailties to God.  It seems to focus on love.  Love for God, oneself, and one's  community (supporting each other).  Also on thinking of food as medicine.  Still pre-reading (reading to find out what it says to do before reading it to incorporate changes) the book … .  I may make notes here as we go along … asked L when he wants to start this thing and he said he is too busy to think about that right now … lol.  He is busy. (And … just to note:  this was not my idea though I think it's a good one, and I'm willing to do the meal planning and prep around this and whatever else it entails. A few steps in the right direction will be better then none I think.)

We still have all three of those silly black cats!  I guess I sorta like them.  They are funny together and all have sweet personalities.  They sure do like to run in and out (and about).  Sammy is okay with them … we tried to send a couple of them off with the kids at Christmas, but each one meowed so desperately that the cars were turned around and the cats were unceremoniously dropped off in the drive way.  Little whiners.

What else … airplane stuff up in the air so to speak.  Still waiting to see if the shareholders in the plane are able to secure (purchase) it.  They seem to have been conned out of huge chucks of money.  Very sad.  I do hope, for their sake, that everything works out for them to keep the plane.  I love instructing them in it.  It is so cool to help motivated people reach their goal, and of course, it is a joy to fly.  I've got lots to do either way … one big goal this year is to create a habit of daily intentional exercise.  Last year I had great success in getting and maintaining an appropriate weight … this year, yoga, cardio and weights for strength training (I think my gym has a rowing machine, and I think I would love rowing).  In general, I suck at group exercise.  I think it is time for me to accept that … lol!  VERY excited about my FitBit Force bracelet coming as a birthday gift … I love that I'll be 55 in a few days.  I like getting older … should say, I like the experiences that come with time on the task of living life.

And … I think it's time for me to get to work around here!  Loved visiting California!  I should get out more!

Oh … three quick additions … an interesting (to make) lamp and an interesting painting seen in the Tommy Bahama Store:

lamp base with actual (?) shells
I might create one with white clay and glaze

easy good feeling color splash
I see this idea repeated often
manipulated color block
I like

Tommy Bahama - elegant beachy interiors
at Fashion Island

Pics - Game day - to home next day

Brunch at hotel before boarding bus to Pasadena

CHIPS escort (idk)

lotsa buses in our convoy

(cameras on trees … interesting)

tail-grating in mayhem village … nice people everywhere!

in our seats … jostled … maybe an hour and a half before game begins (idk … that's how they do it)

I spent the time texting with the kids until my phone lost charge … no pics during the very exciting game … it was truly a Championship quality match up!   Too bad my team came up short!

image from USA Today … link to their story

goodbye mountains
(I loved seeing part of California!)

both of us really tired … I didn't want to cat nap because it was so neat to see everything

page from what I'm reading ...

Dpt ONT

ice inside Mississippi line E.

I85 home …