Appreciation

Flowers - Taken with camera phone

I work in an office with three bosses and one co-worker. She's not my boss, but I do a lot of work for her, to help her out. She is the only person who remembered Wednesday was Administrative Professional's Day. None of my three bosses remembered. She gave me this bright, cheerful little bouquet you see above. Isn't she awesome?

Plans and Laughter

Desert Island Blue - Nikon D40

After my whirlwind March, I planned on getting right back to regular posting. You've probably heard the old line, "If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans"? I really know what that means. My mom had emergency surgery two weeks ago and I have been taking care of her, plus doing all the things she usually does, which, let me tell you, is a lot. By the end of the day, there's just no time or energy for posting.

But, I am making the time right now. One of the {many} lessons I've learned in the past few weeks is that I need to really prioritize my days; do the things that absolutely have to be done, and the things that are good for my health and my soul, and let everything else go. So I'm letting a lot of things go these days, like the mind-numbing time-wasters, and focusing on the things that I should be doing. In so doing, I've learned a pretty startling truth about myself: it is my nature to be rather lazy (though I would tell most people I'm just laid back-heh) until circumstances force me to be otherwise. I would love to think that I am always up at dawn, doing all the things that need doing, making my life run like clockwork - but that just ain't how it goes. But, when life puts motivation in my path I amaze even myself with how quickly and capably I can jump to. So what's the lesson here? That on some things I shouldn't wait for a medical emergency to get my act together. That while it is my tendency to slack off, it's not necessarily my pre-ordained fate. That it's not such a big thing if the laundry gets done before the email gets checked. That I can do all the things I must, and still have fun and (most importantly) be fun to live with.

So, even in the midst of something that kind of sucked, some good things have come. Some lessons have been learned. Mom is on the mend and I am more aware of myself. I'd say that's pretty awesome.

Long Time

Yellow - Nikon D40

I was never very good at managing time and getting lots of things done at the same time. So when I bought a new car and picked up some extra shifts and got sick again, well, this little blog kind of got left behind for a bit.

How are you all doing?

Quiet

Banyan - Nikon D40

No words today.

Today Is Enough

Blue/Blue - Sony Cybershot

I've been trying to change my expectations a little, and my mindset a lot. Somewhere along the way, in the midst of working to get ahead and paying the bills and creating a life, I forgot to live it. I stopped smelling the roses. I stopped going with the flow. And, worst of all, I stopped going to the beach. I live in a beach community, where I'm ten minutes from the water at any given time, and I don't even see it any more. How did this happen? How did I get so wrapped up in the mechanics of life that I stopped seeing the art and the beauty of it?

So my challenge now is to change what have become habits and tendencies. And for me this is a challenge because I am a very strong, willful person, so changing my own characteristics is difficult. But I never used to be like this, so perhaps merely finding the girl I once was will be easier than if she was never there at all.

Serendipity

Caspian Tide - Nikon D40

A few weeks ago I was checking out my favorite blogs, one of which is Mana Moon Studios. Sharon had just posted photos of her newest piece, Caspian Tide. I gasped and stared at it for what had to be five minutes. How could she have made the most perfect necklace for me, without even knowing it? I emailed her as fast as I could, asking if it was still available - you see she makes only one of a kind pieces - and how could I buy it. She immediately sent me back a link to the necklace, and I was crestfallen to see that it was too short for me. Now, here's where things really start to get magical. Sharon offered to lengthen the necklace for me at no extra charge! Isn't she amazing?

So then I come down with bronchitis and I'm feeling really pathetic, and what arrives in the mail but my gorgeous Caspian Tide - customized for me. And let me tell you it fits perfectly! I think that made me feel even better than the medicine my doctor gave me!

So I have started my Mana Moon jewelry collection - and cannot wait to add to it! Head on over there and check it out for yourself. I know you'll fall in love with their pieces just like I have.

Assignment

Apricot Hibiscus - Nikon D40

Susannah at Ink On My Fingers recently posted an exercise about favorite words. Then she assigned those interested with a letter and instructed us to list our favorite words starting with that letter. Here's what I came up with.

- Contradiction: I like it best when pronounced with a Spanish accent. Watch this trailer for Vicky Christina Barcelona and you'll know what I mean. It probably doesn't hurt that it's Javier Bardem saying it.

- Chrysalis: such a gorgeous sounding word - the sharp C with the double S's - I could say it for no reason at all, just to hear it.

- Create: one of the most important words I know; the heart of every day, to create something, anything.

- Coast: my favorite place in the world to be, by the water.

- Constellation: I always love looking up at the stars.