Updated map

visited 14 states (6.22%)


 I realized I have been to some new places since I posted this map a few years ago. Since Hong Kong is part of China, it looks like I have been to mainland China.

And I've been to a little tiny bit of Canada, but the map makes it look way more impressive. Ditto Spain, Italy, France and Mexico.

I haven't travelled abroad since the 2011 trip to Spain and France. I am so happy when I am in a new place for a while. But now that I have a dog it is more complicated getting away for any length of time.
He is such a sweet loving creature and I know he is confused when I am not around on a regular basis. Maybe once I retire I can hit the road again.

Ah yes, retirement.  I have finally started setting some wheels in motion.

Banjo

This is my newest folly.

 His name is Banjo.

He is 3 years old and a retired racing greyhound.

He is just as sweet as he looks.

His one mistake was eating a teddy bear.  Which was not because he had no other toys of his own. It was just tastier. He pooped stuffing for a couple of days but otherwise suffered no ill effects.

He is exceedingly polite and well-mannered.  He has made me enjoy walking again.

Sometimes a cat or two or three will join us on our walk. Banjo has learned to ignore them. But it is a pretty silly sight to see us all strolling down the street together.

When I come home he does this adorable happy dance. Look at that tail. It goes like a bullwhip when he is excited.

What a sleek handsome creature he is. I hope it is true that people start to look like their pets. I will be skinny and leggy soon.

 He loves attention, and especially from his buddy Anne.

Cancer

Nothing derails your train of thought like the words "invasive" and "carcinoma" coming out of the phone. Well. There it is. 

After planning my funeral and wondering who would take all the cats, I finally gave up waiting to hear from my primary care physician and made an appointment with a breast surgeon. So following the MRI and the pathology report I learned that this is not going to be a reason to quit the job and spend the retirement account. Dang. 

There will be a lumpectomy (what an ugly word) on Monday, and then I will find out about radiation and chemo or hormone therapy. But apparently there will be no excuse for doing the Camille thing. 

In the meantime here are some words of wisdom:

FIVE RULES TO REMEMBER IN LIFE: (blatantly stolen Susan Wever who attributed them to someone named Roz)

1. Money cannot buy happiness but it's more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than on a bicycle.

2. Forgive your enemy, but remember the bastard's name.

3. Help someone when they are in trouble and they will remember you when they're in trouble again.

4. Many people are alive only because it's illegal to shoot them.

5. Alcohol does not solve any problems, but then again, neither does milk. Drink Up Everyone !!!

January

Here are some things from this January.

First Friday at the Harrison Center, there were giant hamster balls in the gym.

Snow.  Lots of snow.  And tracks on Pogue's Run where the animals dance.

Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library opened.  

Fringe people Paul Strickland and Beth Marshall stayed at my house and made friends with the cats.  

This is Beth and Smudgie.

Places I have been, however briefly

Got some major holes to fill in. Just need some time and money.


visited 13 states (5.77%)



visited 39 states (78%)
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Crafting a New World

Click on this link and read the article from Utne.com. 

http://www.utne.com/Spirituality/Crafting-a-New-World.aspx?utm_content=01.13.10+DIY&utm_campaign=DIY&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email



A very interesting article about the importance of making, using your hands and mind and doing things well.  It expresses well some ideas I have been mulling over for quite some time, but have never really put into a coherent form.  It began when I started weaving, making pots, knitting.  Why am I doing these things?  Why do I feel compelled to make things as soon as I can escape from cubicle world? 

Of course, in cubicle world I find myself taking extra time to figure out ways to help the users, get the data they want, create edits that might seem impossible, and decipher what they really need in spite of what they say they want.  So I guess the idea of craftsmanship can be applied to part of my job, even though most of it is soul-sucking tedium.

Please post a comment if you have any thoughts on this article.

Christmas Tree

I never seem to remember to take pictures.   Here, for posterity, is my beautiful tree.

It is full of the ornaments I have collected over the years, mostly gifts from friends who are fondly remembered as I hang each little treasure.


There are the many eggs mom decorated so meticulously, with tiny scenes inside and glittering rhinestone outside.


And there are the family ornaments that go back to my childhood.  

Not a lot of presents under the tree.  The cats were not willing to wait for theirs, once they got a whiff of the nip inside.  And I haven't got others wrapped yet.  Or finished.  


So I need to get back to my knitting.