Tuesday, June 7, 2011






Christmas?
Yep

In June?
Uh huh.
It's 103 degrees outside.
Yeah.
What the hell???
Dunno'
You've lost it.
LOL
Finally, the world has  knocked a screw loose



Nope. I was just thinking that with all the crazy going on recently, I might as well have some fun.

Finally.


And what's more fun than Christmas?

Mele Kalikimaka, ladies and gents. 
For once life is going my way.


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LOL, You'll want to read the comments on this post  if you're keeping up with the Zen....

If not?   . Yip. Like this guy. Click here ...


(You can not imagine how happy getting the blue links to work has made me. )
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56 comments:

  1. hi ya'

    Day - uh - dunno. I think that it's Day16 of the Zen experiment. I'll have to check later.

    So today? LOL, today I worked very, very, hard.

    It was actually cooler AND it almost rained.

    We could use the rain as it is very, very, dry.

    So what was the zen moment?

    That's easy.

    Life can be unexpected. Enjoy.

    Went out to see about the pups and it was lovely.

    Thought I'd be doing errands because of the heat intead I got to work on the saw horses. Then I talked to my dad who's invited me to come help make a stand for his boat motor. No I know that this might not sound as much fun as say visiting Paris, France but I was delighted. Considering how sick he was in February, the idea that we can work on a project together is really a happy event.

    I'm actually glad to have the chance to do this. I'd like a stand for my own outboard motor. It's easier to do maintanance on the motor when it's off the boat. Plus I've been looking for a better way to store it in the winter. This year we stored it in the spare bedroom which was okay but still not a great idea.

    I'm also going to get to talk to dad about my boat. Have been doing a bit of study of boat repair and finally have begun sorting tasks. It's like building a house on instead of coordinating contractors, I'm co ordinating tasks. I'm looking forward to this. Everytime I do something on the boat I learn so much more than just the task at hand. Slowly I'm learning about my (can't believe that I'm able to say this, my boat.

    Pretty cool.

    .

    ReplyDelete
  2. Day 17.

    It's Day 17 of the Zen experiment.

    .

    ReplyDelete
  3. Day 18 of the Zen project.

    Discovery and imagination.

    I've been building things that will help me refinish the boat and that will be useful for projects here at the farm.

    Last year I saw a PBS program on how to build a salad table. I tried a smaller version last spring. Worked great so I build the full sized version for this year. While building the table frames (built 5 of them), I had time to really look at the shape of the box. Got to thinking. If I attached 4 legs to the box, I'd have a work table for the boat. So I did. Then we needed something to put the salad tables on and viola (again) saw horses and working with angles.

    As I began to look at the shapes, I realized that I'd now built all the basic shapes in a small chicken roost and, wonder of wonders, a small shed. The grow table shape was very much like the floor of the shed and the walls too. The table legs gave me a chance to work with 4by4's. Cutting the angles for the saw horses gave me the needed experience to cut the roof angles. The screen on the bottom of the grow tables taught me how to attach the screen sided for the chicken house.

    It's been an intuitive process. Working with basic shapes and then exploring the results of combining them has led to a deeper understanding of the process.

    (Note Considering that I was using oral instruction (which I modified) and recollection of a tv show years old? I did pretty good.


    So what's next? Hmm I built a chicken roost a couple of years ago. It's been blown over by several storms. It's still standing. I've been thinking of changing it slightly to enlarge the structure and cnclose part of it for winter shelter for the chickens. So that's one need.

    OR
    I can finally build the shed.

    Pretty good zen moment.

    Working with your hands and watching an idea come to life. Even better? Building things that will improve the quality of life here at the farm. A real confidence builder.


    Note I figured out how to make screened doors with the chicken roost project. Another box!

    Thanks for the help goes to the folks here who took the time to answer my questions. Hugs. I know that I can buy the boards and screen much cheeper up the road. I know that they're nice too but well I kind of like it here.

    ReplyDelete
  4. PS

    Maybe it's because of the Zen Garden idea, I kind of wish that Newt was still around. I would love to tell her of my adventures on carpentry and get her opinion on the Zen of it.

    Hugs Newt. Hugs Lexi. I hope that you are both happy.

    AuthorAnn

    Gotta go outside and get working before it gets hot.

    .

    ReplyDelete
  5. Holy crackers! It's Day 19.

    Yip and yay.

    This experiement is definately working.

    They say that to break a bad habit, or any habit, you need about 12 weeks. While I still prioritize what I do? The oppressive (sp?) bad habit of the "to do" list is fast fading. It's nice to wake up and think, "What do I do today inorder to get the boat, the farm, and my life sorted? Did I write today?" Then I check the weather and "Just do something." This doesn't mean that I don't advance plan or make appointments. I do. Even thoses choices are made by considering how it will answer the question "What do I do today..." For instance, I'm going to go see my dad and we're going to work on his boat motor stand. It's at a predetermined time and date. But when I made that decision? I knew that it would a) be a way to strengthen my family, b) help to sort out my life, b) help with the boat c) give WB and I an organized way to work on the motor here (sort the farm), c) helps someone, d) and then I will definately write about the experience. I checked with WB and Pup to make sure it didn't conflict with their schedules before I said yes to helping my dad but made sure that they understood that this was very important. Unless someone gets ill or there is an emergency? Helping my dad with his boat stand answers "yes" to the questions, "What do I do...." even if it's at a pre determined time and place and there will definately be "to do" lists involved..

    In a way I still have a "to do" list. When answering the question, "What do I do today to get the boat, the farm, and my life sorted? Will I write today?" I have to prioritise the choices. For instance, today I feed the inside dogs and let them out first, visited with WB, ate something, and now I'm going to set up and do wood working outside. Later will clean/feed the dogs outside, shower, and.... Everything on that list answers, "yes" to the big questions "What do I do today inorder to get the boat, the farm, and my life sorted?" There maybe changes made or I might decide to only work on one thing if the weather changes or if it seems that I can finish a project. I still have an order of things to do within the activities that I choose today. A kind of list evolves within the choices(ex. feed and let out the inside dogs first thing as they NEED to go poop and then they're hungry. First priority or they get gripey! and Feed and sort the outside dogs later in the day because that's the last thing I'll do outside before I take my bath. I get really hot and dirty after feeding and visiting with the pups so I save it as my last outdoor activity. Then, I go take a bath or I get really gripey! LOL.) These things need to be done and do sort out my "family" and the farm. I might change what I'm doing but always I'm doing things that I can add to my "already done" list with pride.

    ReplyDelete
  6. continued from above comment...

    So what is really different? Before, I would write "to do" lists that didn't reflect who I was. They were daunting tasks that never seemed to get done. I didn't do the things that once done would help my family and stay done. (The tasks that had a "beginning, middle, and then done" were put off while the list of laundry, dishes, etc never seemed to get finished. There wasn't the satisfaction of a job well done and finished because these tasks are never finihsed.

    And that is the real revelation. I changed my attitude from a "to do" to an "already done" list. I took off the list the wash dishes, the laundry, etc and concentrated on the things that once done could be put on the "already done" list once and for all. And the list of things that I wanted or needed to do always answered "YES" to the "What can I do today..." questions.

    That made all the differnce.

    This is a rough draft. Should edit for grammar, spelling and redundancy but I think that the idea is sound.

    Hugs, Ann

    ReplyDelete
  7. Day 19 Zen moment.

    That I love to get up in the morning to see what's next.

    That my "already done" list has grown by leaps and that the results (like the work table and the saw horses) have been a real help in the day to day here at the farm.

    That the skills that I've learned while from doing the things on my "already done" list have be building upon each other. With each task, I'm learning and practicing the skills that I'll need for the next task.

    That far from being a disorganized failure, I'm fairly organized and have a knack for learning intuitively. I really am an autodiadactic.

    That I really don't like housework.

    That I'm not only growning in skills but I'm also becoming confident in myself. And I'm self directed. (Means that I don't need someone to look ove my shoulder every minute. No micromanaging needed.)

    That I'm finally getting things done, am making good decisions for myself and others, and I'm happy about what I'm accomplishing. I've learned how to learn anything that I choose AND I'm pretty confident that I can obtain those goals. LOL

    Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?

    Dunno.

    For almost my entire life, I've been working off of another person's "to do" list. It's been a while since I felt that I had my own. This experiement is allowing me to develope my own goals and then learn how to follow through with them. It's been a powerful 19 days but it's only been 19 days.

    The world of choices is very, very big.

    .

    ReplyDelete
  8. Day 19 Zen moment.

    That I love to get up in the morning to see what's next.

    That my "already done" list has grown by leaps and that the results (like the work table and the saw horses) have been a real help in the day to day here at the farm.

    That the skills that I've learned while from doing the things on my "already done" list have be building upon each other. With each task, I'm learning and practicing the skills that I'll need for the next task.

    That far from being a disorganized failure, I'm fairly organized and have a knack for learning intuitively. I really am an autodiadactic.

    That I really don't like housework.

    That I'm not only growning in skills but I'm also becoming confident in myself. And I'm self directed. (Means that I don't need someone to look ove my shoulder every minute. No micromanaging needed.)

    That I'm finally getting things done, am making good decisions for myself and others, and I'm happy about what I'm accomplishing. I've learned how to learn anything that I choose AND I'm pretty confident that I can obtain those goals. LOL

    Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?

    Dunno.

    Right now? I'm working on confidence and how to accomplish and it's working. That part will always be a priority.

    But is this leading up to a job in carpentry or animal husbandry?

    Dunno.

    For almost my entire life, I've been working off of another person's "to do" list. It's been a while since I felt that I had my own. This experiement is allowing me to develope my own goals and then learn how to follow through with them. It's been a powerful 19 days but it's only been 19 days.

    The world of choices is very, very big.

    ReplyDelete
  9. LOL

    A possible maybe.

    The more that I do what I'm doing the more I depend on the skills and mindset of sculpture.

    You know there are folks who make a living refitting boats. Much of that activity is an art. It's a visual art requiring a good eye for form. It's also a job that requires a mind with twin disciplines of art and science.

    And you get paid to do it.
    And you can write about it.

    Hmmm

    Working with boats?
    Writing?
    Healthy and happy?
    And you get paid.
    Hmmm.

    Thinking, thinking.


    Gotta go finish the saw horses. Have been thinking about what's next/

    Maybe reading alittle more about Amelia or Beryl for confidence.

    .

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  10. Hugs, Gentle Reader.


    And Newt and Lexi? David? Billy? I wish you were here to share this time. I know that you'd appreciate the change.

    Hugs and hugs again.

    I really do miss you.

    Ann

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  11. Reflection?

    Don't think that this is really the change. What I've been doing reflects what I've always wanted to do. Have thought about it alot. That might be why it's going so fast.

    Maybe the real change is having the confidence to do what I think that I should do.

    My decisions not the choices made for me by my family or cultural.

    .
    Yeah, that's the difference.

    I'm finally getting the courage to make my own choices on how my life should go.

    Today's very big Zen moment.

    NOW, I'm going outside. LOL

    cya.

    .

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  12. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWfZ5SZZ4xE

    LOL I love Patti LaBelle.



    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-xetxYwyak

    .

    Don't know how to put the actually video but those are the youtube links for

    New Attitude by Patti laBelle

    and

    Sweet Freedom by Michael MacDonald

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  13. Hi ya.

    Still Day 19 of the Give Your Stress a Rest (Zen) experiment.

    I'm taking a bit of a break to cool off. This time of day gets hot. I've walked in the mid day heat and you can get sick if you haven't built up a tolerance to it. I'm taking it slow should have heat tolerance up in abit.

    Anyway I was reading up on how to pick out lumber. If I get it at the big box home store, I have to pick out my own. It's a good idea to learn about the types of lumber as it can affect what you're building. Kind of wish that I'd know this before because it certainly made buying lumber easier.

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  14. Just a note. The view numbers for my blog have increased.

    Who are you and what are you doing at this very moment?

    I'm sitting in the cool drinking a glass of milk, ice water, and ice. It seems to cool me off, hydrate, and give me alittle calories(energy). Sometimes I'll add yogurt, sugar, and chocolate. Not much.

    What do you drink to beat the heat?

    .

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  15. Zen Day 21

    Moment

    This is my 3am wake up call.

    I just gave Pup his "to do" list for the summer. Then I confiscated his computer. No job? No college? No staying up late and playing computer games.
    He's not pleased. I don't care. He knows what he wants to major in college so now it's time to do it. When he asked what he had to do to get the PS2 back, I told him. A's and B's in college son. I'm not mad at him but I did talk in my "outside voice" alot. Then I told him that he was either going to spend the summer getting up at the crack of dawn helping me here or he was going to go help his grandparents.

    If he didn't like either of those options, I told him I was going to go buy him a tent, a sun shower, and a ice chest. It's cool at night and during the day he can come up to the house. It won't hurt him. He'll be okay.

    But there is no way that he's going to stay up all night playing computer games and sleep all day. Nope. That's not a good idea. I love that kid and he's not going to waste his very good brain goofing off.


    End of story.


    New rules for Pup. Not sure how he's going to take it. He's finally found out what he wants to study in college. Now? He's gonna find out how to work.

    Will he hate me? Probably for a bit. But he's a good kid and I love him. It's going to work out. Besides I think, I know that he'll love it at college.

    I think it's gonna be the hardest job I've ever had.

    LOL

    Love, faith, and prayers conquer all.

    Ann

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  16. Zen day 20

    (This is out of order because I wanted to write about this morning first.)

    Now for Day 20.

    First, I didn't write this weekend because I was pretty busy. Saturday (Day 20) I got up really early (think 4am) and then went to my folks house. My dad said that I could come help him build a stand for his outboard motor. So Pup and WB visited and I hammered and sawed.

    Zen moment. Being with my dad. I'm so happy to be able to do this. I love my dad and my mom. It was such a good thing to see my dad building things. Here everyone thought he was going to die last February and now he's walking and working. He taught me how to toe nail two boards together. I now know a good way to build a outboard motor stand. And when I asked him what he wanted for Father's Day he said that helping him build the stand was it. He even was okay when I bent the nails and when I broke the drill bit. I asked him if I could come back and help his some more. Next time bring Pup to help too. He and mom said absolutely.

    So I am. LOL it's like being a kid only now dad has the time to be around us. He was so busy working when we were growing up. So was mom.

    When my dad was in Intensive Care, I prayed that God wouldn't let him die. I prayed that if he died that our family wouldn't heal and he wouldn't ever have the family he needed as a kid. My dad and mom are smart people but very driven. This makes excellent business people but difficult family. My brother told me that he thought that we were both waiting for him to say something that we needed to hear. I heard it when he was in rehab. He hugged my neck and told me that he loved me. That's a big deal for my dad. He doesn't hardly even hug anyone's neck (except for mom's). He just doesn't. Now he does.

    So the zen moment was important. It's a kind of healing process for our family. That "thing" that says "I'm your parent and I love you."

    I really want for us to work on a boat together. Dad has alot of knowledge. So does Mom. We can learn from them. In turn we can do the physical work. There's such a joy and feeling of true accomplishment when you make something. It's especially good when you do it with your family. A good kind of pride.

    That's what I learned on Day 20.

    Pretty good.

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  17. More for Day 21


    Zen Day 21 I spent all day with WB running errands.

    For the last couple of times we've done this, we've spent it "spinning our wheels" looking at cars but not much else. Never feel like we're getting much done.

    Day 21 we spent doing errands that had impact on our life. That will help and change it.

    But first we talked about Pup and his future. It was a really good conversation. WB and I came up with a plan. It's a good one too.

    Then we went on our errands for the day.


    Got short sleeved shirt and sports bra for outside. The sports bra looks like the top for a swimsuit and the tshirt doesn't have sleeves. Also got shorts that dry fast and sooks too. This way I can work during the day and stay cool in the heat. Ditto for Pup.

    Got Pup some sandal type flips.Great for wearing outdoors in the heat.

    Got stainless steel screw for the boat, priced wood for boat stand, got groceries, got WB, Pup, and Dad water proof watches. (You can shower in them and they've got a stop watch function. Good for the boat. I'm giving Dad his for Father's Day. I have one myself and have actually washed it off under the water faucet.) Went to Sams to get milk and dog food.

    Got boards and didn't get bored.

    Ate lunch. Salads.

    And I finally found a purse.

    And then we went an looked at trucks.

    When WB asked me what I wanted to do today, I told him. I wasn't bossy but I told him that these were the things that I wanted and needed to do inorder to feel like I'd accomplised something. Surprisingly he said okay.

    So even though we still looked at trucks this weekend, we got ALOT done too.

    Zen moment?


    Talking to WB about Pup and then having a plan for the day. Not a "to do" list but definately a plan of action. All of them went together to say yes to the questions, "What can I do today to help family, work on boat, and generally feel good about the day?"

    It wasn't the purchasing things, it was the solving of problems.

    :D

    .

    Looking forward to Day22

    Pup and I have things to do and hopefully we're going to the bookstore and to get the wood for the boat stand.

    Gotta go start the day.

    Ann

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  18. Zen Moment! Zen Moment! Zen Moment! Zen Moment!

    In which we find a butterfly in the truck and it "lights" on Pups finger and I, in a "Mom moment" take lots of photos of butterfly, Pup looking at butterfly, butterfly looking at Pup, Pup and butterfly looking at each other, close up of butterfly, close up of Pup, close up of butterfly and Pup, close up of butterfly's four - yes - four legs, photograph of Pup while we're discussing how many legs insects have and why this one only has four, more closeups of butterfly, butterfly wing movements, and finally butterfly on top of baseball cap on head of mom before the butterfly flys off into the world.

    It really was a cool moment.

    A God send considering the way the day started.

    Other Zen moment.

    Unexpected change of course.

    We found the butterfly while moving lumber.

    At which point Pup asked to take photos of butterfly before it flew off. That was a good idea since it isn't every day that a butterfly will sit on your finger. The last time it happened Pup was 9 or 10 and it was a Monarch and we found it in the back yard.

    Pretty good.

    .

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  19. And?

    Still Day 21.

    It was a departure from the "to do" list. Unexpected happens. Seize the day.

    :D

    .

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  20. .

    Seize the moment.

    .

    I'm thinking about the photo of the woman under the water. It's the one where she's holding a small sea creature. She's holding it up to the camera as if to say, "See, look at this. This iife and it's amazing. Go see for yourself." At the time -even thought we didn't know each other, I felt that was an important thing to remember. I can still close my eyes and see that photo.
    "Go out into the world and see. It's amazing."

    So today we have our own photo.

    And that is a true moment.

    Go out into the world and look.
    It's awesome.

    :D

    .

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  21. video

    Just Another Day In Paridise

    Phil Vassar

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBpMdGApgy0&feature=related

    .

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  22. "If your troubles aren't solved after lots of work? Maybe you should get rid of them and get some new "troubles"." c anne ford 6-14-11

    This morning I woke up at 4am. I was looking for my camera. Last night I was so tired I couldn't hardly stay awake. Fell asleep showing WB the photos of the butterfly. This morning I woke up wondering where my camera was. NOt fun.

    That's not the Zen moment but it did lead to it.

    This morning at appx 4 45am I got rid of a trouble and replaced it with a new one. It wasn't an easy transition but it was a really good one. I finally told WB and Pup that the problem was between the two of them, I wasn't going to get into the middle of it. I told them both that they were trying to make something my fault when it wasn't. Then I told them that I'd earned, not amnesty for something, but was infact innocent of it.
    I told them they had exactly 5 minutes to get on with their life. I was busy.
    It was going to get hot and I had things to do before it got hot. If they weren't sorted out by then I was going to do something else.

    So out the door I went.

    Finally, I think I got their attention.

    That wasn't the Zen moment either.

    The Zen moment was having things and goals in life. After years of running after other people's troubles and knowing that they had no intention of solving them?

    I got rid of them.

    Still have WB and Pup around.

    I think that they finally get it.

    Hopefully.

    That was the Zen thing today.


    There's still time for other Zen moments but I doubt if they'll be as big as this one.

    .

    .

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  23. "If I'm going to be responsible? It's my way or nothing."

    c anne ford 6-14-11

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  24. .

    There was one other moment.

    I got a big hug from Pup.

    And a big hug from WB as well.

    <3

    Ann

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  25. "

    Walk on through the doorway of embarrasment via the path of dermination and practice and you'll end up in the land of personal success.

    In other words?

    "Keep focused on your goals. Period."

    c ann ford 6-14-11

    And then

    "Keep on smiling." Wet Willie

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg0BNTebcbY


    Hugs.

    .

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  26. .

    LOL, I think that I might actually be fierce.

    Now that is funny.

    .

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  27. Zen moment Day 22

    When life throws you off the horse you have choices.

    One?

    Get back on the horse.

    Two?

    Decide that you'd rather not ride the horse to begin with. Go shopping instead.

    Three?

    ?


    So life threw Pup and I off of our respective horses. His learning a new skill. Mine. Continuing an old skill. We both got back up on the horse and constinued on to do better.

    Lucky for us.


    It's a good thing to know how to get back up and try again and it's just as good to know when to say, "Not for me."

    Cue Kenny Rogers

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XAxsS3IwXY

    D

    /

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  28. Zen moment Day 23

    Yay!

    Well well someone I know wants to date.

    LOL I nearly fell off my horse.

    Then I got back up there and offered my help.

    If you're interested in what happens?

    I'll post link here in comments.

    .

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  29. Link to dating and GoatHerderBoy's Rules of Dating


    http://12dotsandablot.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-post_15.html

    Happy day!

    Ann

    .

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  30. .


    Zen Day 23

    recap

    Boston wins a hockey game.

    (I'm not sure but I think that last sentence was an understatement. LOL I've watched hockey, been to a hockey game or two, just not sure I understand hockey. I've also seen football and the French rugby team. Even if you don't know all the rules it can be highly entertaining. Got to go to bed. It's late and my contacts are fogging up. Ann)

    ReplyDelete
  31. .

    Oh and Pup made dinner. All by himself and without being asked. Any other day that would truly be a Zen moment but considering other events? It's not THE Zen moment.

    Close though.

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  32. .

    For the record he made pizza.

    Not the frozen kind either but the kind where you make crust and let it rise and then put on the toppings.

    On second thought maybe this is THE Zen moment.

    Yep.

    .

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  33. .

    The other one was where -

    never mind.

    Making homemade pizza wins.

    Sorry hockey.

    .

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  34. .



    Welcome to Zen day 24, in which begins to answer the question, "When does one plus one equal four?"

    I woke up this morning thinking about my dad's saw horses. They've been around along time, got lots of use, and they're rock solid. While mine will also be around along time and are rock solid, they take more time to make and require the use of an angle cut. My dads' use 90 degree angles. Straight cuts that you can easily make with any saw (electric or otherwise). Mine take a bit and are easier to make using an electric saw.

    I'd already decided that I wanted to make a pair of saw horses like my dads but when I went to buy lumber I found that 2 by 6 by 8's are substantially more expensive than my 2 by 4 by 8's. I couldn't carry all the 2 by sixes in my car like I could the 2 by 4's.

    What's a girl to do?

    Take your dad's advice that's what.

    When I asked dad about making a boat stand based on his but modified to fit my own needs he said, "Well you know you should get out graph paper and draw it out." ( I remembered that as I sat thinking bleary eyed this morning in the "library"). "But I don't have graph paper." I thought. "No worries, "said my inner reason, "You always have stick figures."

    And that's what I did this morning.

    Taking my dad's saw horse desigh and my saw horse design, I have an idea for a saw horse that his sturdy, has only 90 degree cuts (no waste), uses the less expensive but durable 2 by 4's (2by4s will fit in car. No truck. Better gas milage.), and finally (if the drawing is correct) may lead to colapsible saw horse that I can easily transport and store. Yay!

    Syndergy.

    I really like working with my dad. It helps him. If my more free form approach to things (I'm not a big measurer and everything is basically a kindo of usable sculpture as far as I'm concerned.) doesn't drive him up the wall?

    Working with my dad is Synergy.

    At least for me.
    The look on dad's face when I told him "Dad, if this doesn't work, I promise I'll buy you another 2 by 6. I promise." says our approach to things is a bit different.

    But our hearts are in the right place.



    Got alot of hammering and sawing to do today.

    Ciao!

    Ann.

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  35. Autobiography title

    Finding Nemo in the Woodshed

    .

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  36. .

    "My life? More Paris, Texas than Paris, France but it's good. I get to make things. I get to teach Pup new things. I get to really talk to my Mom and Dad.
    It's pretty good."

    c anne ford

    6/16-11


    .

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  37. Autobiography title

    Finding Nemo in the Woodshed

    by c anne ford

    6-16-11

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  38. Note

    That post about the saw horses isn't for print. It's not great writing. It's on theme but it's not cohesive. Would definately rewrite.

    Then again.

    Not too much as to loose the "heart" of it.

    .
    Edit

    This

    "Welcome to Zen day 24, in which begins to answer the question, "When does one plus one equal four?..."

    Should read

    "Welcome to Zen day 24, in which we begin to answer the question, "When does one plus one equal four?"

    .

    The next couple of sentences, while on topic, do not flow. Are they on topic? Yes. However

    The style changes. I'm thinking that's because that first sentence is actually the thesis sentence and stands on it's own. It's more for me than the reader. It's my guide post for the public part that I'll write for othere to read.

    Hmm.

    "Welcome to Zen day 24, in which begins to answer the question, "When does one plus one equal four?"

    More of a title as well.

    But there are other problems within the following paragraph.

    LOL, I have to work outside before it gets to hot. There's thunder in the distance so maybe we'll also have a shower. Can write while it rains but not hammer and saw.

    Back later.

    Ann

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  39. crap

    And that's "...too hot..." not "...to hot..."

    Sheesh and ack.

    BBL

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  40. (more edit)


    "...My dads' use 90 degree angles. Straight cuts ...

    maybe better to write



    Yep. Let's do the whole thing.



    "...Straight cuts that you can easily make with any saw (electric or otherwise). Mine take a bit and are easier to make using an electric saw. "


    "My dad used 90 degree angle cuts. The resulting straight cuts can easily be made with any saw, electric or otherwise. My design requires an angle cut that's not too easy to make with out a mitter box or miter saw..."

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  41. Let's see what we have so far.

    (Yeah, I know, why am I still her-- I just am. Easier to write in the moment. )


    "


    Welcome to Zen day 24, in which begins to answer the question, "When does one plus one equal four?"

    I woke up this morning thinking about my dad's saw horses. They've been around along time, got lots of use, and they're rock solid. While mine will also be around along time and are rock solid, they take more time to make and require the use of an angle cut. My dads' use 90 degree angles. Straight cuts that you can easily make with any saw (electric or otherwise). Mine take a bit and are easier to make using an electric saw. .."

    Now should read

    "
    "Welcome to Zen day 24, in which we begin to answer the question, "When does one plus one equal four?"




    I woke up this morning thinking about my dad's saw horses. They've been around along time, got lots of use, and they're rock solid. While mine will also be around along time and are rock solid, they take more time to make and require the use of an angle cut. My dad used 90 degree angle cuts. The resulting straight cuts can easily be made with any saw, electric or otherwise. My design requires an angle cut that's not too easy to make with out a mitter box or miter saw..."

    Let's see how that looks.

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  42. Zen moment. Day 24


    .
    Just read my twitter and got a most excellent tweet.

    It waa the lady in the photo. The one with the sea urchin. I was glad to tell her thanks for the photo. When I found it I was at a place where I needed reminding that the world was great big and full of adventure. Now I got to tell her thanks. I'm grinning ear to ear.

    That's the weird thing about Twitter and the Internet. You'll see something and it's just what you needed.

    Happy journey.

    Ann.

    Definately a great Zen moment.


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  43. .

    Zen Moment Day 25

    LOL

    It's raining again.

    Yay.

    Had a great talk with Pup about physics type things. To which everyother moment I tell him, "Go to college." "D


    Going to be a busy couple of days but will try hard to post the zen moment.


    Oh and hey. yesterday? I got the "keys to the world".

    "...and she'll have fun, fun, fun ..."


    hugs. Ann

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  44. Day 26 Zen moments.

    Chickens at hardware.
    Fencing at the mall.

    Literally.

    Had a great day with WB and Pup.

    Did lots and got lots done.

    Then stepped way outside my comfort zone to talk to someone who turned out to be very nice.

    Now off to bed.

    Hugs
    Ann

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  45. Day 27 Father's Day.

    We stay home but do errands first.

    Betting things done kind of.

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  46. Day 28

    Surprise. I think that it's going to be about chicken houses and chickens. Turns out it's about appointments and visiting folks.

    Very tired. Going to get some sleep.

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  47. Day 29

    Almost one month.

    Already done list.

    LOL

    This one is a big one.

    Celebrate and hurray?

    Or is it just relief from the "heat".


    What's more fun than Christmas?

    Mele Kalikimaka, ladies and gents.
    For once life is going my way.


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  48. Day30

    .

    :D

    You can not imagine the happy.

    .

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  49. So how does one celebrate the happy?

    I'm going to get chickens.


    Again,

    Mele Kalikimaka!

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  50. Note from Day 30


    Pup did it. It was a pretty big add to his "Already Done" list. We're proud of him.

    Took all day. Lots of sitting and waiting but it was definately worth it.

    Good job, Pup.

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  51. Day 31

    Yesterday morning I was chickenless.

    Now I have chickens. They're cute. WB and Pup have already given me responsibility lectures on having chickens with dogs.

    I'm confident.


    That was day 30.

    Today is Day 31. Second day of summer and first real day of chicken mama responsibility.

    I'm celebrating by planning a cruise and delegating the chicken parrent and dog parrent responsibilities to Pup and WB.

    After all the lectures yesterday? I know they'll do a great job.

    Now have to go take a shower and be responsible daughter. Taking dad and mom to the doctors. I was worried about how they'd get there but after hearing how responsible my other sibling and their spouse are? I'm planning a trip to a spa. I know they'll do a great job.

    And I need a vacation.

    Love ya,

    Ann

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  52. I'm taking something to read with me. Planning Christmas parties. I'm thinking of having a Christmas Hawaiian luau in August.

    Have I gone loco from the heat?


    Nope.

    I was just thinking that with all the crazy going on recently, I might as well have some fun.

    Finally.


    And what's more fun than Christmas?

    Mele Kalikimaka, ladies and gents.
    For once life is going my way.


    Hugs and love, Gentle Reader


    AuthorAnn.

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  53. In most every case 31 days is a month. Yes, there are months shorter but well no month is longer.
    It's been an excellent experiment this Give Your Stress a Rest/Zen Thing. I have much to show for my time and effort. The old "to do" list system was a kind of mountain of Sisyphian proportions. By throwing out the list and doing tasks that had the twin joys of being complete and having a real impact on my day to day life, I began to remember the satifaction of a task well done. It was an synergistic results. I finally began to ask for the resources, ignore the naysayers, and see a job weel done.

    The confidence that resulted was healthy and vital.


    Now I'm going to build on the new attitude that this experiment has fostered.

    I really am excited to see the day.

    I'm not stoping the "already done" list idea not at all. I'm going to build on it. To use nautical terms my "way point" hasn't changed but my relationship to the wind has a bit. I'm going to "tack" my metaphysical boat inorder to continue on my way.

    You see, I've taken on crew and it is summer so

    The next leg of my journey begins here:

    http://12dotsandablot.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-post_13.html


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  54. Wait! Wait a minute !

    Even better?

    ...

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  55. note from the future

    1 The choice of post that people read today? Thanks but today isn't a great day.

    2 Will someone please put a fire hose on the perky person who wrote these comments? Lol for the love of pie I can hear their voice getting "perkier" and higher to the point that they were a 33 and one third voice on a 79 rpm.

    sheesh.

    I'm trying hard to remember this period today. I'm sorry but while I do appreciate the good things there is such a thing as being held hostage by them. That and I seriously don't like the movie It's a Wonderful Life.

    I'm glad that there are people here that are content with their situation but right now I'm thinking, "I'd love to go see Venice with a friend. Or maybe go to Ireland and see if I can find Irish David. There's a movie I'd love to see. Hey, there's a concert. "

    Only after years of going on my own or not going? I'd kind of like to see what it would be like to go with a friend.

    Not going to happen.

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