Saturday, January 03, 2009

The Best Made Plans...

Well.
Wow.
Hmmmm...
So, Alex is in a robotics club and today was the first day of strategy meetings for regional competitions. Today was the first day of many and even though I am not in the club, I have just had a small taste of how hectic, busy and robotically absorbed our lives are going to be. It's really cool stuff and I actually loved hanging out and checking in. But, um, wasn't I supposedly doing something else today?

ROFL

I so totally blew that off... the whole thing where I was going to come clean with projects and cleaning, post about it and show the process. My bad. Ah, but not all bad. If you want to see how the process was supposed to work, then I suggest you visit "Infinity More Monkeys" and see a successful version of what I had hoped to accomplish today.

And now I am going to talk Geek with my guys and see what's up for tomorrow. My plan is to go with the flow.

Friday, January 02, 2009

Today and Tomorrow


I say, let's begin with a joke. I don't tell enough jokes, considering how much I love jokes, especially rather bad ones. This joke came from my brother Hans:

A rope steps in to a bar and takes a seat. The bartender eyes him suspiciously and barks, "We don't serve ropes. Get out!"
The poor little rope slunk out, sad and dejected.
Then he pulled himself together, so to speak, and tied himself in to a knot and tousled his top end.
He turned around and walked confidently up to the bar.
The bartender caught sight of him and yelled "Hey you! Didn't I kick you outta here already?"
And the little rope replied, " 'fraid not."


Feeling something like a frayed knot myself, I giggle knowingly.

I am so behind!

So woefully behind.

To say nothing of my behind.


Today I am going to do somethings. Some. Things. I am being nonspecific, because I feel uncertain and uncommitted and unprepared. The holidays have taken their toll. Yes, I felt the deep, spiritual uplifting joy of seasonal gratitude and reflection, but honestly, I have to say it's a lot of work getting to that plane of existence, and sometimes the returns turn out to be something less than coal. My friend Anne may be reading this and having a chuckle at my expense... she knows what I am not saying.



Yes, so. So, I am going to clean some and move stuff around, and I am going to make a few calls and reply to some emails and then I am going to line up projects and give them serious consideration and devise a plan for finishing those projects. The new year does that to most folks... we feel a drive to begin anew and make things right and done and good. I am not alone in my quest, and I am extra inspired by Jennifer to commit to project completions. Tomorrow I will show the beginnings, middles and ends of WIPs and domestic projects.


My first thought, when thinking of joining Jennifer in tackling tasks and blogging about it, was to possibly finish the pink crochet blanket I started December 26th. I've made tremendous progress. It's getting big enough to appreciate the weight and comfort of it and to like the pattern that I settled on. I am far enough along to feel eager about seeing it complete, and even more eager to imagine it in the house that I want to move in. to. this. year.


I set the afghan on the floor so I could document the size, or the beginning, and prepare for documenting my task completion. Looks good, I though to myself. And, Ha! I guess I can have a glass of sparkling California wine, stay up 'til 1 am and crochet!

Err... or not.

On closer inspection I realized that I was 2 rows short on the last blue stripe. Grrrrr.


So, my first project or task, was to unravel two perfectly good dark pink rows of crocheting.

Yes, frayed so! lol


Then I'll add the missing blues and continue again with the dark pink, 8 rows of light pink, 2 rows of dark pink, 6 rows of blue, 8 rows of light pink, 4 rows of blue, 6 rows of light pink and 2 or 3 finishing rows of dark pink all around.


Even unraveling yarn is more interesting than the other tasks I should be attending. Check with me tomorrow and see if I get anything done, or better yet, join us and share your progress.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

That's So Last Year! :: 2008 Edition


January.
Disneyland.
Tamsyn.
Fun.

Obviously this is not going to be a wordy post.


Great low tides.
Natural marvels.
Homeschool rocks.
Geek bliss.


Play.
Imagination.
Max.


Welcome to the world Parker.
February.


No words.


Walking in the woods together.


March... William turns 17.
William, Delia, Max, Geoff, Maria.
Bill, Alison, Natalie, Alex.
Road trip.
California Central Coast.
Family.
Comfort.
Birthday Pie.


Wisconsin
Cousins.
Family.
Comfort.
Maria and Jordan and Carol.


Chicago.
Connecting.


Spring.
Grandma. Mommy.
Wild Animal Park.


Holly and Izzy.
Easter.
Hope springing eternal, and the goodness of children in gardens.


April.
Homework picnic, because chocolate and strawberries is smart.


Personality and sunlight and hilarity.


First haircut.
She cried.
I felt horrible.
She looked adorable.
We recovered.
Life is that way.


May.
The first hint of Summer.
We love heat + water.
We play.


Chickens return to Chickenblog.
Joy.
Amusement.
Anxiety.
Messes.
It's just like real life.


Life in Garage Mahal.
Our home.
Our columned, grand entry, slick floored, lousy plumbing, small yard, rental wonder.
We make due.


This is just pure childhood magic.
Maria meeting Mary Poppins, and falling in love.


Family time.
Bubbles.
Children.
Good stuff.


June.
Reflection.
Gratitude.
On our way home from Oregon.
Time with Delia and Ron.
Healing time, with prayers and gentle hugs.
Oh. And 3 chickens in the trunk, because I am "Crazy."


Alex turned 14.
Amelia.
She turned out to be a He.


July.
An anniversary dinner.
19 years.
4 children.
Lots of living.
Lots of love.
More ahead.


Best friend.
Thundering Nerd.
Lots of love.
More ahead.


Brothers.
Companions.
Co-Conspirators.
Comedians.
Kind.
Considerate.
Very Smart.
Sons.
Lots of love.
More ahead.


A year full of surprises.


A year full of creativity, sharing, reading, playing, exploring, learning and sitting together.


Comic-Con.
Geeks converge.


August.
Max turns 10.
Our L.A. weekend.
Tar Pits.
Art Museums.
SIGGRAPH
PIXAR.
Lassiter.
More Geek awesomeness.


Bricks in to spheres.
Not as easy as it looks.
William has sweet skills.


Septiembre.
Mi Abuela Antonia.
Amor.


Welcome to the World Marissa.


October.
Pumpkins.
Pie and Jack-O Lanterns and pony rides and country vistas and a season of gratitude.


All through the year I miss family.
It's the blessing of having so much family that I care about.
I like to remember that everyone is safe and happy, doing things they enjoy and that we will be together again for nice visits and happy exchanges.


Getting together is the best part of living, it's the best part of having friends and family.
Getting together and sharing makes life very good.


Playing and creating and imagining makes life very good.


November.
Aunt.
Grandmother.
Mommy.
Thanksgiving in the mountains, sharing laughter, recipes, prayers, memories.


Hans and Gretchen.
Lots of living.
Lots of love.
More ahead.


Maria.
Natalie.
Antonia.
A celebration of Maria's 4th birthday.
Much to reflect on about girls and women and dreams and love and how we grow and where we belong and flights of fancy.
We can make our own light, and heal, and trust, and live in faith.


December.
Delia.
William.
I love this memory.
More light, healing, trust and faith.
I am so thankful and filled with awe.


Cousin Nick and a sleepover.
Remembering games and laughing late in to the night and boys playing together and that really cool kind of friendship that cousins share.


More time together.
Just can't get enough of time with family.
Happy to have them safe and near.


New schools. New rules. New expectations and paths.
I am proud of Max and William and Alex.
I hope they are proud of themselves.


My Mom and my daughter.
Together.
This makes me very happy.


A 2008 memory post must include some Maria-isms.
Like hide and seek. "2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 7, 8,10, 2! Wready or not, here I come!"
She calls William "Yo-wee."
Cat barf and other messes are "Bigusting."
The tub of slime uncle Bill and aunt Alison sent her for Christmas is fascinating and also "Ugul-lee!"
She wants to be a "Beanerina" and wear a pink tutu and tights and beanerina shoes.
Pink is her favorite.


Changes and new traditions.
Christmas time spent playing and dancing and singing.
Ruth and Maria taking a spin, making merry!
A beautiful sight.

2008 has been a full year, a hard year, a sad year, a year of challenges and triumphs and adventures. It has been memorable...


and joyful...


and I have learned that we can expect to be surprised.

It's impossible to cover it all, the ups and downs, the details, the significant people and moments. I like how these images trigger a million synapses and thoughts and feelings and recall a year full of living. And it makes me pause, and look forward to the year ahead.