Sunday, May 22, 2011

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You're here!!!



Here's a challenge.

Starting today,  turn off the Twitter, email, and the cell phone for one hour.

Find a place outside or inside and just sit.  Tell yourself that for 5,  10, 15, or if you can spare it an hour, that you aren't going to do anything but sit and be quiet.   Find a spot outside.  Find a park.  Sit there and just enjoy the joy of sitting still and being alive.  Or sit inside. Visit a friend and ask them to sit with you.

Heck, climb a cliff, look over your shoulder, and enjoy the view. :)

Just give your stress a rest. Enjoy.

Yesterday I had only one thing to do on my "to do" list.  When I'd done it, I came home and went outside to sit under the shade.  Such a relief to sit in that chair and listen to the sound of out of doors. I hadn't realized how much I'd worried. That's when I  thought, "We need to do this alot." So today, back outside under the trees we went to sit and visit.

That's my challenge to you this week, Gentle Reader.  

Find someplace to sit and think (or not think) each day. Relax.

Hugs,

Hope it's a great week.

Author Ann

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56 comments:

  1. Day 2 in the Give Your Stress A Rest challenge.

    Finished reading Danielle Ganek’s novel, Lula Meets God and Doubts Him. Really funny book about the business of selling art and the Art "bubble". A kind of "who done it" mystery without a murder. Considering the events of this past weekend, it seemed like a funny book to read as a kind of tangent. Fast read. (Started reading yesterday and finished it today.)

    Tried out the new candles in the Zen Garden tonight. WB bought more candles for the trees.

    I'm really likeing this relaxation thing. Nice!

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  2. Day 3

    Sorry that I left off Day 3.

    Hmm. Not sure that the relaxing part of the day will make sense but upon reflection this honestly was the good part.

    After working outside, I went to get a soda and for just a bit got to talk with some nice folks. I didn't really need that soda but the day wasn't going well and I thought, "You know you can continue to let life give you grief or you and take a step, on purpose, to change find something good.

    So I did.

    I got in the car and went out into the world. If a person ever wanted to know who I really am as a person? It would be the time that I went out into the world.

    I'm not sure, but I think that I've been raised to think that no one cares what I think. I'm supposed to sit and listen to what's important to others is the way I've been raised. Don't get me wrong. Caring about others in their time of need is a very good thing. I'm not saying that it isn't. But so is finding healthy relationships with people who care about you when you have your own problems.

    This weekend someone, who I'd not talked to for almost a year, emailed me. He was telling me that he'd teach me how to sail. Sounds good doesn't it. Truth is he just wanted something for himself. Lucky me I didn't wait for him to call. Instead I went out and found someone to teach me the things that I needed to know. I didn't wait for someone to save me.

    The best things I've ever done have been times where I listened to that "inner voice" that we all have that says, "Go on. You can do it."
    I even though there was self doubt, I listened to that voice. Would I have liked that encouragement to come from a friend? Yes. But the fact that the folks I've listened to were no were to be found when I needed them? I didn't let that stop me from the very real, very obtainable dream.

    If you feel like there is a life out there for you to live but folks keep discouraging you from it. If that life is legal and moral but your "friends" discourage? You might want to ask the question I did, "Why? Why do they keep want me to be their "drinking buddy"? Why do they keep trying to feed me cakes and cookies when they know that I'm trying to loose weight? Why do they only show up at my door when times are hard but when they're good? They're off somewhere. Why, after hours of listening to their problems, are they nowhere to be found when I need a friend?"

    That fellow who emailed me? In my reply to his email, I mentioned that my dad had been very sick for months. Nearly died. In his reply he didn't say a word. Never asked how my dad was doing now. At that moment? I knew that he was never my friend.


    So yesterday, I went out into the world to see the sunshine and get a soda.

    That was Day 3's Zen moment.

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  3. Day 4

    The weather forecast today is that it will rain this afternoon. Yesterday I squared away the dog kennels so the dogs will have a cozy place to be when it's raining. I have a good feeling about that.

    Then last night I took a shower, followed up with baby powder, and then put on my warm fuzzy bathrobe. This morning when I woke it it was nice. After yesterday evening it could have been depressing this AM but it wasn't. I guessed correctly last Fall when I bought this robe and the slippers. It's the little things.

    So this morning, when I woke up in a bed with clean sheets and with clean clothes on, I had my Zen moment. That moment is full of gratitude that I do have a roof over my head and clean clothes. The last 40 years haven't been easy.

    The rest of this morning I think that I'll work outside. Then this afternoon will come inside, take my shower, and wash clothes. If the power goes out? I'll read and wait for the weather to come through.

    Maybe I'll settle in and finish the Beryl Markham bio.

    Hugs.

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  4. Note

    LOL Went back and reread the above comments. There are folks who'd think, "Wow how self absorbed is this woman? Where is the charity work? Huh???"

    To them I would ask the question, "Do you know when you are hungry? Do you know when you're really cold?"

    LOL, I'm sorry, honestly I'm not trying to be a jerk nor am I about to promote a materialistic life style. I am trying to remember the story about the woman looking for enlightenment. She went to a Wiseman and pestered him to tell her the meaning of life. He told her to go sit by the road and the meaning of life would become apparent. She protested. Where was her teacher! To which the Wiseman again told her to go sit on the side of the road and her teacher would come.

    So she did.

    While she waited for her teacher she saw people walking on the road. Some of the people she knew. Some of the people she didn't know. She grew hungry. She grew tired and bored. She saw friends on the road who stopped to visit. One shared their lunch with her when she was hungry. Another friend sang to her when she was bored. They chatted and laughed or grew sad depending on the story. They shared the good and the bad of their day.

    At the end of the day, the Wiseman came over to the place where the woman and her friends were sitting. He sat quiety and listened and then he asked the woman how she liked her teacher? Puzzled the woman replied to Budha, "I didn't see my teacher. Did I miss them?"

    "No," said the Wiseman, "You didn't miss your teacher. You had many teachers. I saw them with you."

    "But where, " the woman asked.

    The Wiseman looked at the woman and then at her friends and he smiled.

    "Look around you. They are here."


    LOL. I'm listening to my heart. Trying to separate all the sounds. Put them in an order that makes sense to me. My dogs are happy. My feet are warm. My son and I hug each other. He's alive. I left behind someone who didn't care about me one bit but kept someone who did. I stood and listedn to someone lie about me an lived to tell the tale.

    There's a James Taylor song with the line, "... the secret of life ..."

    The passage of time. The everyday passage of time is really important. The things that are around you while you're waiting for the future. Every second that ticks by goes from future, to present, to past pretty durn fast. It's what makes up our life. Reality.

    I'll go find the song and post it here.

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  5. Here's the James Taylor song

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6akPDuDL2JY


    Here are the words,


    Secret O'Life by James Taylor

    The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time
    Any fool can do it
    There ain't nothing to it
    Nobody knows how we got to
    The top of the hill
    But since we're on our way down
    We might as well enjoy the ride

    The secret of love is in opening up your heart
    It's okay to feel afraid
    But don't let that stand in your way
    'Cause anyone knows that love is the only road
    And since we're only here for a while
    Might as well show some style
    Give us a smile

    Isn't it a lovely ride
    Sliding down
    Gliding down
    Try not to try too hard
    It's just a lovely ride

    Now the thing about time is that time
    Isn't really real
    It's just your point of view
    How does it feel for you
    Einstein said he could never understand it all
    Planets spinning through space
    The smile upon your face
    Welcome to the human race

    Some kind of lovely ride
    I'll be sliding down
    I'll be gliding down
    Try not to try too hard
    It's just a lovely ride

    Isn't it a lovely ride
    Sliding down
    Gliding down
    Try not to try too hard
    It's just a lovely ride

    Now the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time



    Not sure that I agree with all of it. Let's face it, sometimes life isn't at all lovely. Sometimes it's crap. There's got to be a way to walk through it all and survive.

    LOL For some strange reason this song sounds like something from Alice in Wonderland. The Caterpeler? LOL Not doing drugs. Not trippin on life. Just looking at it and saying, "Huh"


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  6. But it does have the line,
    ...the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time..."


    Speaking of that my watch has been going crazy for a while now...

    It was fine and then it was 2 hours behind and then it went to military time and then...WTF??



    The measurement of time is a linear measure that is teather to both a geographical location and a point in relation to the future moment, the present moment, and the past moment. Like inches and ounces alot of it has to do with the arbitrary.


    Anyway the date seems to be correct but the time is off.

    BRB and this post is definately subject to my edit and only my edit.

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  7. Forgot.

    Watched Jack Goes Boating (movie) last night.



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  8. Day 5


    Well I had my Zen moment early this morning. WB is here for the holiday weekend and Pup is awake very early. Have clean sheets on the beds, lunch already situated, and things to do outside that once done should be finished. Even a load of towels already in the wash (Friday is towel day for the laundry.)

    Today's thought is a job well done.




    It didn't storm last night but it was overcast with sporatic lightening yesterday. Wasn't able to work outside as I'd hoped. Started another book. So far not so good. Will give it two more chapters to see if it's worth reading. No title/ author until then as I'm not interested in trashing the author.\


    That's it.

    Looks like a long day of work, a bath, and then a lovely sleep on clean sheets.

    Life is good.



    Note.

    Will reference songs while posting in comments because I don't know how to do the Youtube..

    Ann

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  9. Day 5 continued

    LOL WB is agrivated because of the work day. Thing is that he can't angry BECAUSE the to list has lots of little jobs that he always complains that he needs to do. Since I get to hear about the complaining? I'm determined to get this done. At the very least he'll have to come up with another list of things to complain about.

    WB doesn't know it yet but that's his Zen moment.

    Getting out of that complaining rut.

    Hugs!

    Hope you have a great day.

    Playlist? An oldson

    Atually two

    First

    Joe Walsh
    Life's Been Good To Me So Far

    from the album But Seriously Folks

    http://youtu.be/BXWvKDSwvls

    from the comments?

    "
    It's October 31 1978...I have just picked up the prostitute I would eventually get the clap from on the side of the road. Guess what song was playing when to my surprise, her pimp hit me in the face with his cane??? Asking me "why I be with his ho?" I told him "it's so hard to handle this fortune and fame." He agreed, let me go, then met up with me 25 years later to kill the dirty whore who gave us stds. Guess what song was cranked so no one could hear her screams??? You guessed it!!"

    from debohetzmania1 month ago

    I didn't make that up.

    Next song?


    Dr Hook and the Medicine Show sings

    Cover of the Rolling Stone



    http://youtu.be/Of368QdosR0


    LOL

    "...Well we're big rock singers, we got golden fingers and we're loved every where we go. We sing about beauty and We sing about truth for 10 dollars a show..."

    Movies?

    Banger Sisters and Authur.

    I was feeling nostalgic...

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  10. Day 5 continued

    Best Give Your Stress a Rest moments.

    Talking to my folks.


    Visiting with the ladies who I've met out in the world. The nicest people. I'm sending kind thoughts to one of them because she's not feeling so great. Get well! And very kind wishes to all of them because they always make me smile!
    Also kind thoughts to the fellas I've met who've also made me smile.


    Working with WB and Pup even though WB has been a real pain today. Why? I don't know but if he'd been on the boat? I'd have asked him to leave. Pup on the other hand was great even if he's a bit under the weather.

    Getting to see the work table finished (almost finished. I'm going to sleep on whether or not I should put extra screws in the table top.) Otherwise the top and the legs are all together and you know it looks great.


    Looking forward to seeing what we do tomorrow.


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  11. Note

    I miss having someone to chat with. Someone you can call and say, "Hey, wanna go to the movies?" or "There's a great free concert in the park. Wanna' go?" I really don't have anyone who I can call like that. WB's not interested and while I love to go to theater with Pup? He's not really interested either.

    I'm getting boring.


    I'm not going to ask SB. He was the last person who I could drop in or go see a movie with. Unfortunately we had a huge falling out. So that's not happening. I've reached an age and in a place were most folks get up, go to work, come home and take care of their life. Saturdays work or school stuff. Sundays are for church. I don't think that I know anyone who actually does brunch. Not since Billy. Again WB and Pup just aren't really interested.

    .

    Gotta do something about this.

    But what?

    I can't sit with the dog on the couch and watch LLS with TV's CF but we're all asleep otherwise.

    Ack.

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  12. Is it already Day 6 of the Give your STress A Rest experiment?

    Why yes it is.

    Yesterday (if you were here) you'd know that giving my stress a rest wasn't easy. WB was either gripey or drunk. Yep, apparently he'd been into the beer and wasn't thrilled to hear that we'd be doing actually work on his day off.
    His "to do" list was pretty much change the oil in the car, sit in the shade, BBQ something, drink beer. Repeat.



    LOL. He was abit pizzed at my "to do" list which was wash clothes, fix work table, errands etc.


    I called my mom and she told me to pet on him. I told her that he'd been a jerk and I wasn't about to pet on him. Might give him the impression that it was okay to get buzzed on suds and then make everyone's day gloomy just because he didn't get to "...sit in the shade and BBQ something..."

    After all he did get to change the oil in the car!

    Which brings us to Day 6 of the reduce stress experiment in which I finally finish the grow tables and we BBQ a chicken. I'm going to get WB to teach me how to use the BBQ this weekend. That way I can cook outside this summer instead of heating up the house.

    Pup is sleeping in. I think I'll go play Patsy Cline on the stereo. Loud. "..I'm sorry. Soooo Sorry..." on those big ole speakershat ought to make him leap out of the bed with joy in his heart.

    :D

    Best moment today?

    The dogs are fed and when I dropped the clean and newly filled bird's water bowl on the floor?

    I didn't cry.

    Actually it's the fact that the weather is really good and I'm going be happy.

    And hip hurray it's summertime. Which for me isnt' the best time of year. Personally I like Spring Fall and "The Holidays". Summer is hot here. You have to get up early or stay up late or sit under the airconditioner during the summer.

    Well time to go. WB is once again cranky. Worse yet he's washing clothes. After yesterday, I wish he had the mother of all hang overs but he doesn't. Don't know how he does that. If I'd done what he'd done yesterday, I'd be hanging onto the side of the bed for dear life.



    Regardless of what the day has planned.

    Ann

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  13. Note from WB about washing the clothes today.


    "..Hell no.."


    Which is good because he does a really lousy job of washing clothes.


    Which is why he get's to learn how to do a good job of it this summer. I learn to grill. He learns to take the grime out of his stinky shirts.

    And Pup finally decides what he wants to do about college.

    Hugs.

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  14. .

    He also said that getting to sit under the shade and wear his tshitss is his Zen moment to make up for having to wear suits and ties the rest of the week.
    ...

    Change of plans.

    Road trip.

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  15. Day 6


    I. Am. So. Full.

    BBQ this afternoon. Chicken, corn on the cob, mixed fruit, and potato salad. Yum.

    Didn't get any thing done that I'd actually planned to do but it was sooo much better. Was going to get up and work outside. Then things happened and had a lovely time outside.

    So that's the Zen moment. Unexpected fun.

    I like it.


    Hope that you had a great day, Gentle Reader!

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  17. Day 7


    Ah the joys of family.

    I don't know why the rest of our families like to think that we should be a drama. Let them be dramas all they want.

    Not us.

    We're gonna enjoy this life.

    So ya'll can be drama all you want.

    We're not playing that game with anyone.

    Especially not family.


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  18. .

    Sigh.

    Was reading the Twitter when I came upon a group of folks talking about writing poetry inorder to deal with ones feelings. I think that's a great idea.

    However

    That's not the purpose of 12dotsandablot.

    So here it is again

    This is 12dotsandablot.

    A writer's journal.

    Fact and fiction co exist here.

    If you don't know which is which?

    Don't ASSume.

    Ask.


    I'm a fiction writer and I write poetry. Believe it or not, I try NOT to write about my so called life.

    I'm just not that interesting in real life.

    A long time ago, I had someone come on my blog and comment that they were worried about me. At that moment I realized two things.

    One. That there were nice folks who cared about me. Thanks!

    Two. That I needed to put a disclaimer on the blog to let folks know that the blog is about creating characters. Believable characters. If I do my job correctly the reader will think it is real. Again thanks.

    I'm not an Internet jerk trying to get views by writing things that aren't true. If you want to know what's true you can always ask me in comments. But seriously? This is about writing.

    I'm learning how to hear the world and then translate it into a good story.

    So you're going to have to either guess the parts that are true and those that aren't.
    OR even better? You're welcome to say hello and ask what's real and what isn't. I'd be delighted to hear from you.

    But be very very careful what you read here as true or not. You really must ask.

    Hugs,

    Author Ann

    PS True story.

    Two true stories.

    One. I wrote a story on my old blog about a fella who goes to Cuba. Someone who I'd chatted with was reading it. Got a comment that they liked it and then got a comment that made me smile. I was trying not to write as a man or woman. Even used a nick that was gender neutral. Apparently the person who'd been reading this had decided from my stories what my gender was before he'd read the story about Cuba. In that story, the main character didn't identify themselves as anything other than the child of the narator. That is they didn't say gender until the very end when the narator used the feminine pronoun and the word "...daughter..." At that point I got a comment from the fella reading who was asking me if I were male or female. Apparently they'd assumed one and because of the story they were surprised and wondering if it was the other.

    Don't ASSume. Ask.


    Two

    (and the reason for the disclaimer)

    LOL I love stories about people and I love writing fiction. To practice I would try to write dialog and fictional stories that were believable as people. My goal is to write stories that you suspend disbelief and are so into the story that you forget that it's not real. We'll I was doing such a good job that I got a comment from someone saying that they thought I had multiple personalities. They were kidding but aI got to thinking, "This is the Internet and folks lie inorder to take advantage."

    So after that comment just about every other post had the disclaimer, "This is 12..." I'm alot of things but not a jerk. Besides it's a compliment to be told that you characters are so "real" that you forget that they might be fiction.

    Anyway. They way I'd look at this blog is that it's not the journal of someones life. It's the journal of writing. Like a photo album of fiction.

    Although I must say that the Give Your Stress A Rest idea is a good one real or not.

    Happy holiday.

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  19. Reality calling.

    Day 7.

    Now this is real.

    We rested yesterday.

    Today? I have things to do outside.


    So no more writing for me today.

    Happy holiday.


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  20. "ain't no cure for the summertime blues..."


    Yeah there is.

    Get out there.


    Zen moment? Day8

    It's sunny.

    It's still not hot.

    Got stuff to grill and a place and people to do it with.

    :D


    No writing. Now get out there and do stuff >

    Ann

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  21. Okay. It's old. It's weird. It's musical. It's about space stuff.

    I'm not sure if I like it or if it's just that my over heated self is to weak to complain or spit for that matter.

    Thank the Heavens for cold drinks, ice cream, and cold watermelon.

    Day 8 is actually going pretty good.

    Summer.

    Yay.

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    The song?

    Deep Purple

    Child In Time


    http://youtu.be/PfAWReBmxEs


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  22. Make that

    "...my over heated self is too weak..."

    not

    "...my over heated self is to weak..."


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  23. Three good things about Day 8


    I like the people I've seen today.

    I like the people I'm with.

    Happy.

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  24. Day 9

    I never thought that I get here.

    LOL

    Humm the scientist in me thinks that, if this is going to be a viable experiment, I should record more than just my impressions of the day.

    Like maybe something a little more concrete.

    Weather

    Yeah, weather. That thing that you and I resort to in conversation when asking how the (insert your or my or a popular sports team is doing. It's also supposed to influence our stress levels.

    The weather today is sunny.


    LOL

    And now for the Give Yourself A Rest From Stress experiment.

    I'm trying to semi plan these daily moments and use them to reflect on the day. It's a bit early to do the reflecting of the day.

    So what to do?

    Reflect on the weekend and the experiment as a whole.

    Well this weekend I didn't have a real to do list other than a hopefully general list of activities, that when done, would help me fell good about the weekend. It was something like:

    I'll feel good if

    I finish putting the hardware cloth on the grow tables.

    I buy the boards and finish the work table (at the beginning of the weekend I only had a plan and the very basic frame made.

    WB, Pup, and I bbq outside.

    I clean the Pup's kennels (Not much of a holiday? It is for me because I really do feel relief when the pups have their kennels clean and they've had a romp.

    Pup practices his thing.

    The Zen garden is mowed.

    I get out and see the world.

    Work on the boat.

    Talk to WB about this summer.

    Finish reading the book that I started reading.


    Now this may sound like a "to do" list but it's not because if I did just one or these things I'd feel like I'd not wasted the weekend.

    Guess what.

    I'm feeling really good about the weekend. :D

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  25. Amazing I talked to WB at the beginning of the weekend and I told him that doing these things would make me feel rested come Tuesday. Usually we have conflicting lists and spend the weekend stressed.
    But not this weekend.

    This weekend even though there was fussing by Monday I think that WB was beginning to get it.

    Our lists for so long have been WB and Pup's list first then mine if there's time. Now that Pup is older? I have begun to tell them that my list is equally important. Problem? They didn't think so. So this weekend I threw out the lists and told them both that when I woke up in the morning? I'd ask myself the question, "What do I need and want to do to day that will help me to feel accomplished to night?" And I did. Last summer I worked in the yard during some of the hottest days of the year. I told myself that it was worth it because come the Fall I could work on the boat in peace. The only thing that I really did was get the things for the cover and get the trailer. I put the boat up on the trailer and let it dry. Then back I go into the house to clean out and sort the kitchen so that it would be easy for WB and Pup to function while I was working on the boat after Christmas. But then my dad got sick.

    When WB looked at me and asked what I'd been doing and why hadn't I been working on the sailboat? LOL I nearly decked him. But I didn't. Instead I told him because I was doing yours and Pup's to do list and not mine.

    That's when I began to think that the "to do" list wasn't working and that I liked the "already done" list alot better. Doesn't mean that I don't prioritize. Doesn't mean eating ice cream all day.

    I just sat down and asked myself, "What really is important? Why am I not doing it?"

    When Pup was little, he was at the top of my list but now he has his own list. He's still very important but it's not like when he needed me all the time to eat or to have clean clothes or ....

    Now?
    Now my list is important too.


    I think that WB and Pup get it. Yesterday afternoon during the hot part of the day I took a nap. I didn't intend to take a nap. I'd gotten hot and was just going to cool off but next thing I knew? It was dark and I could hear WB and Pup coming in. I felt better for the nap but a part of me was saying, "Oh no. Pup's practice. He was supposed to -- ack."

    I shouldn't have worried. Apparently WB did listen to the conversation at the beginning of the week because, while I was sleeping, he and Pup handled Pup's practice and went to the grocery store. He had the dremel tool charged up, he had the soda bottles ready to water plants next week, and he'd mowed around the dog kennels so that there would be no place for snakes to hide.


    .


    This morning I've got things to put on my to done list tonight.

    Hugs

    Ann

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  26. My "already done" list for the weekend.

    I finish putting the hardware cloth on the grow tables.

    I buy the boards and finish the work table (at the beginning of the weekend I only had a plan and the very basic frame made.

    WB, Pup, and I bbq outside.

    I clean the Pup's kennels (Not much of a holiday? It is for me because I really do feel relief when the pups have their kennels clean and they've had a romp.

    Pup practices his thing.

    The Zen garden is mowed.

    I get out and see the world.

    Work on the boat.

    Talk to WB about this summer.

    Finish reading the book that I started reading


    Corny, yeah but I really do feel good.


    http://youtu.be/SzlpTRNIAvc


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  27. Day? 9? lemmie look. LOL Nope Day 10.


    Day 9 continued -

    Had a great talk with Pup, got started making saw horses. Figured out how to do the angles on the miter saw. Talked to WB about Pup. In general a really productive day. lots on the "already done" list.

    Then last night I finally figured out that it's not my fault. That was quite a discovery.

    Today? Day 10 is going to be a busy one with errands and boat stuff. I'd hoped to work on the saw horses here but would miss lunch with WB if I did.

    Funny I'm productive in a positive, stress free way without the "to do" list.

    Yay.

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  28. Day 10

    This is the second time that I've had to post this. Apparently Blogspot is screwing up.

    To recap?

    Had a great day yesterday. Talked to Pup, purchased 2bys and began making saw horses, figured out how to do the angles, talked to WB, and then last night? Realized last night that it wasn't my fault.

    LOL Was surprised at the number of things I can put on my "already done" list! Amazing how productive and happy I am without the "to do" list. The "to do" list was just one long dread but the "already done list" really makes me feel as if I've accomplished something.

    Yay!

    Today? Day 10? Lots to do (including boat work).

    Must fly. Busy day. :D



    Now let's see if this will post.


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  29. "...Also realized that it wasn't my fault...


    That would be about a past relationship not about growing old.

    All I'll say (at the moment) is that men who marry women 20 years younger? Shouldn't be telling women his age that they should accept that they're getting older. When I heard those words that I should as a woman accept menopause as a, what is the word -uhmm -- it's the word -- it's - it's the notion that women of a "certain age" should go sit in some old age home. That sex for women is over. "Go into moth balls woman."

    From a man who in his 40's married a woman in her 20's??? LOL I expected him to say don't go willingly into old age demographic that watches my show and spends money.

    Can't be arsed about a man who's a hypocrite.

    Yep, I said it.

    Now then I'm not missing my lunch date and fun day giving the notion the time of day.

    Besides. My Great Auntie in her 90's was very active. My mom in her 70's is very active. My other Auntie? Very active in her 80's and another Auntie? Just coming into her own.

    LOL, That man doesn't have a clue.

    Like I said. Can't be arsed.

    .

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  30. Day 10 continued.

    LOL Gentle Reader. Today certainly didnt' turn out like I'd planned. I did run errands this evening but most of the day I spent sawing and drilling and generally trying to make all the angles turn out right for my saw horse. The result? I finally figured out how to make a saw horse using just the one cut for legs and the same angle throughout. Not quite the same as the guy at the hardware stores but his advice was really helpful.
    It's sturdy and looks great.
    All I had to do was imagine that I was making a sculpture. That always works.

    LOL, at this very moment I've got a slight sunburn and I'm covered in a mixture of sweat, bug spray, saw dust, and Kondike IceCream bar. I actually went into the local hardware wearing baggy shorts, tshirt and cap. I was so hot and tired I could hardly see straight. Lucky for me the people I know here are nice and aren't a bit snobby otherwise not sure what I'd have done. Just didn't have time to take a bath and then change before they closed for the day.


    The Zen moment? It came when I'd finally put in the last nail on the first saw horse. Like the table and the grow table it's a real feeling of? I dunno. Joy. Joy of a job well done and a skill learned.

    Add to the "already done" list?

    Learning to make a saw horse and actually making one that works.

    Next to Pup and sailing and knowing that my Dad will be okay?
    This is definately happy.
    .
    Hope you have a great night.

    Ann

    PS Song of the day. Telephone by Shelby Lynn. I know that it's a breakup song but the chorus to the song is ," I can't wait until it's over." Seemed to fit the part of the day when it seemed that I'd never get the right angle.
    That and I love the harmony and key to that song.

    LOL.

    .

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  31. Day 10 (continued)

    There was another Zen moment.

    Two actually.

    The places that I visited today are both small businesses owned by local folks. The people who work there are really nice. I can go into both stores covered in a layer of sawdust and bug spray and they're okay with that.

    That was the best moment. Thinking that even a mess there was some place where I was welcome even if I looked a mess.

    Very good and very important Zen moment indeed.

    :D

    .

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  32. .

    And as far as I know they neither know or care who my folks are.

    Now that is good.

    LOL "Woman of a certain age" my arse.

    "...You find out who your friends are...."

    Yep.

    .

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  33. OMG I forgot.


    On Monday (Memorial Day) we saw the biggest snake cross the road.

    A rattlesnake.

    PETA will not be happy about what happened to that snake.

    WB ran over it.

    Four times.

    I think he even backed over it once.

    The first time he skidded over it because, "Mr. ____ told me to skid over them otherwise you might just stun them."

    I'm not kidding.

    Then?

    He came back home and bushhogged around the dog pens and the storage building.

    Why?

    Because last fall my neighbor killed a huge rattlesnake that was apparently living under the very small pile of logs next to the dog pen. I am talking VERY SMALL and RIGHT NEXT to my fur babies. As in within 2 feet of my fur babies. It was HUGE.

    Anyway our neighbor said that maybe we should move the logs and keep the grass very short around the dog pen.

    And then we saw this one on Monday.

    Do WB ran over it.

    Again and again and again and again.

    And he was sober.

    According to him if someone from the sherriff's department had seen him do this? They'd probably said good job and then shot it.

    And then run over it with the sherriff's car.

    Again and again and again.

    And then they'd holler in unison, "The only good rattlesnake is a dead one so if you're a rattlesnake living in those woods you better get out or we'll run over you, shoot you, and then run over you again. And then skin you and use you as a hatband."

    It was kind of funny but I'm pretty sure it was very politically incorrect and that PETA would hate it.

    Good thing we live in one of those Red States.

    .






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  34. .

    I know that if you read the above post that you'll think that I made this up.

    Nope.

    song?

    Sneaky Snake by Tom T Hall

    http://youtu.be/MchhtofbgJI

    .

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  35. Day 11

    Day 11

    Zen moment.

    I'm in rush hour traffic and there is a line of cars in both lanes. It's a long red light which means that there's lots of time for cars to cue up at the light. I'm looking at the cars and at the first car in the left hand line. That's when I saw a lady hand the car's driver a small gas container. Couldn't have been much more that the tiny one that holds maybe two gallons. For what seemed like the longest time I watched the fella pour gass in his, I assume, empty gas tank.
    Zen moment.
    I'm thinking as I watch him that even though it's not the best situation to be in, at least someone was kind enough to go get or give him some gas.
    And life could be worse.

    So while I sat in that light, I thought that there are worse things in the world than today.

    Hugs to the folks who've been in harms way. The folks whose homes were lost in the storms and floods and the folks who have family in a war zone surely aren't having a very good day.

    Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Kind of funny how some of these posts and comments vanish mid sentence.

    LOL

    .

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  37. Day 12

    I find out that WB isn't the person I thought he was.

    No wait that was Day 11.

    Today?

    I find out what I'm going to do about it.


    .

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  38. .

    I'm not sure if this is my Zen moment or not.


    There's a old Sunday School song about the folly of building your house upon the sand. I never entirely believed that song because I lived on the coast where folks not only built their houses upon the sand, they rebuilt their houses upon the sand after yet another hurricane washed them away. I'm sitting here thinking that building your house on the sand should much more faith in God. You had faith that THIS time surely God would honot your faith by just leaving you be to enjoy the view.

    And then, even though you know deep in your heart that it's coming, he sends something like Hurricane Katina.


    I am deep in my heart a optimistic person. Even now when I have a very good idea that next "huricane" is due. I'm not sure after all that's happened why I'm not a raging pessimist or at the very least a cynic. Maybe I'm alot like that herpitologicst fella , Bryan. We know that some snakes bite. Yet we still study them and care about their lives.


    And yes, comment and this day is more than just about the study of snakes.


    .

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  39. Zen stuff Day 13.

    Apparently the computer gremlins here at Blogspot think that the BS that I write here is ever so much important that what I actually write.

    Thanks Blogspot but you do read the disclaimer.

    Suicidal I am NOT. I am however a writer.

    And that was to be pretty good writing until it was deleted.

    I hope that the bluebird of happiness flys up your nose and gives you a raging sinus infection that lasts for weeks. :D

    Not very Zen like but it really does pizz a person off.

    LOL

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  40. Zen stuff Day 13.


    I just can't write here if my posts are going to be deleted mid sentence. This isn't the first time that it's happened.

    I'm thinking of moving.

    For real.

    .



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  41. Zen stuff. Day 14.

    It's actually Day 15. I didn't post yesterday. Didn't mean that I didn't have a Zen moment nor does it mean that I'm losing interest. This and the "already done" list is turning out to be a very good idea. The reason why I didn't post has to do with yesterday's moment. WB and I went and worked on the boat. It was an excellent experience. We worked together in some really difficult (very hot) weather and didnt' fuss. I got to set out the agenda including delegating tasks. WB didn't try to take over or tell me that I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't try to micromanage. We both did tasks that we were good at. We rolled with it when unexpected things happened (Except for the missing screw, but that is a whole nother thing.)

    Then we went to get something to eat.

    The other Zen moment was about the difference between being fair ang being over bearing and the notion that you can and should ask for discounts. This is also a whole 'nother story.

    Put together?

    It's about the notion of respect. For and from others and from yourself. Self respect.

    Well we got'er done (at least what I'd planned to do. And we're one step closer to a good boat.


    .

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  42. Now for today, Zen Day15.

    More out in the world. Hopefully we'll be finished before the hot part of the day. Have been awake since alittle before 4am. Nothing like working in really hot weather to make "Early to bed. Early to rise." look like a good idea.

    Plus I get to go "swimming with dogs", take a lovely shower, and then get a nap.

    That and ice cream.
    Ice cream on a hot day is it's on Zen moment.

    .

    BBL to write about what happened.


    PS While everyone was nice, I'm coming to value the folks here for what I can learn to do. Every time I go to the store to get boards or nails it's like school.

    I'm really using the work table and the saw horses.
    I'd like to sit down and write about what happened yesterday evening. Just can't right this minute. Will have to start writing after outside work.BBL

    .Ann

    ReplyDelete
  43. AAAAAAhhhh yeee.

    Hot

    Turns out that today's Zen thing (Day15) is perserverance and fun.

    There've been several things we've talked about doing but haven't. Today we did.

    On the Already Done List

    I can't say but it was good to do and we learned alot. Nice people. Answered our questions. Pleasant and definately productive.

    Then? By the time it got really hot? We went out to eat. I haven't eatten in Olive Garden in a while but was really glad that we did. First it was cool and the people were really fun.

    AND
    The food was really good. Didn't want to be miserable in the heat so we ate the salad and soup lunch. I loved it.

    Afterward we went to the local homestore and then home.

    Nothing like driving in the heat with no function air. That was the perserveraance part of the day. LOL By the time I got home this afternoon, all I could do was undress and fall asleep. By the time I woke up there was BBQ in the kitchen.

    Now? A bath and sleep.

    Tomorrow? I dunno. We've spent the weekend trying to ignore the "elephant in the room". WB is here and his mom is very sick. He's not saying alot. Two days he spent in the waiting room of the hospital and today and yesterday he's been busy in "we're all fine" mode.

    She's tough but I know he's worried. Add to that the heat and it's stressful.

    Lucky for us the people we've seen have been really nice.

    Hugs.

    .

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  44. note for the summer.


    Folks it's really hot here.

    I'm trying to get things done outside before it becomes hot in the afternoons. We need rain. It's dry. By the time we've finished errands or tasks outside, come back indoors for something to eat, and then a rest?

    We're just tired out.

    Lucky for us we've been blessed with the Gulf of Mexico and the river system. This year, when the thought that summer was upon us started to fill me with dread, I didn't cry. Instead I reminded myself of how good it was going to feel putting my feet in the water.

    Hugs.

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  45. Day 16 of Zen week - or two ?

    Today's zen thing.

    Relief from the heat..

    Cue Mungo Jerry.


    .

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  46. LOL. I go walkabout when it's time to think but -

    working on the boat and doing stuff here is surprisingly fun. Plus? I have something substantial to show for the time.

    :D


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  47. For a bit, this might be the only place that I will write. Just for a bit.

    This experiment is going great so I'd like to try to enlarge on it.

    BUT

    Instead of writing about it here, I think that I'll use the time to write something. Hiaku would be good because of the rules for writing it. It takes a good deal of concentration to write hiaku. This is good because it will be a kind of meditation. It will also allow me to keep my goal of writing something daily.

    And it's short.

    For the actually experiment? I think that it's time that I go old school and keep a note book. This way I can record the moments while I'm outside, on a travel, or on the boat.

    Not a to do list. Just planning the journey.

    Hugs,

    Ann

    .

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  48. Day 17? Seriously? Man the time is flying by. Not long and it'll be the longest day of the year. The we start the long move back to dark.

    Better make the most of it.

    Today's Zen?

    The unexpected joy.

    The weather was amazing. Cool breezes. None of the opressive heat we had this weekend. Worked outside instead of doing errands. Lovely.

    But that was only the least of the surprises. I called my dad and he invited me to help build a stand for his boat motor. I was delighted to here this. If you read the blog you know that he's been very sick. Nearly died. The idea that he's able to be about and work on a project is good news.

    So the surprise and the unexpected. Two really good Zen moments.

    .

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  49. "...I was delighted to here this..."

    Actually, I was delighted to "...hear this..."

    .

    Have copy of Baby Boom for inspiration.

    Ciao, AuthorAnn

    .

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  50. Looks like I'll be writing here too. I'll be doing research for working here at the farm and on the boat and a bit of writing here.

    ReplyDelete
  51. For the next phase of the Give Your Stress a Rest experiement, go here:


    http://12dotsandablot.blogspot.com/2011/06/christmas-in-june-its-103-degrees.html


    Cya there.

    Hugs.

    .

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  52. Song?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrqF7yD10Bo&feature=fvsr

    ReplyDelete
  53. From May 15, 2012

    That part about the candles outside. It would seem that we've constructed a bottle tree. It doesn't exactly look like the ones I've seen. Most of them are stylized metal. Looks like a tree with no leaves. Then there are colorful bottles stuck on the ends of the limbs. The idea is that the shiny glass and the color attracts "haints". They're (the haints) so busy flying to the light that they don't notice that it's a bottle and they bang into the bottle and get trapped inside.

    The only difference is that our trees are the real kind and instead of having colors they have candles. Otherwise is't a bottle tree in it's truest form. LOL, I'm such a southerner.

    .

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  54. Post card from the future
    Hey, It's cold outside. One week until Thanksgiving. I am sitting here trying to decide if it's a good idea to buy the French press coffee maker. It's a big one and I'm going to use it to make iced tea.

    Why am I drinking RC cola on ice when my feet are cold and so is my nose?

    Makes no sense.

    Sleep.

    I need it.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Back to 12dots

    http://12dotsandablot.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete