Dark days ~ Ain't no sunshine

The last couple of days have been really dark for me. I'm seriously struggling with the whole "I don't wanna" and "why do I have too". It is a major funk. I'd like to blame the funk on lack of self-care but that would be a huge denial. I've done really well getting rest, eating good foods, and even that dreadful thing exercise. Yet here I am feeling...wait for it...

funked!

I'm not sure what brought it about. I haven't had any remarkable occurrence significantly traumatize me of late. My power, water, and gas are still on. For the most part bills are paid. In the grand scheme of life, I'm doing better than the average American. Yet here I am feeling like I'm stuck in a rut too big to climb out of and lacking any ability to determine how to get help. It really is ridiculous. And contagious...

Seems that over the last few days my computer has also become "funked". After many attempts to revive it, I ended up with this result

I would love to rotate the photo for you so that you could see it in all its glory, but hey at least I was able to get a photo! Seems that whatever attacked my computer decided to remove all the icons from the desktop and hide all my folders. It has taken several hours to revive my poor funkified computer. Seriously thinking a trip to the Apple store is in order!



It's Gonna Be a Bright, Bright, Sunshiny Day!

I'm so absolutely frick'n excited. I can't even begin to express my excitement. Low and behold I found another exciting, snarky, sarcastic, fabulously witty, humorous blog to follow. Oh wait, I'm not sure if it is a blog. Well anyway, check this out...David Thorne ROCKS!

He is hysterically funny! Although a rational part of me worries if this is what psychologists warn about when discussing the consequences of bullying. Oh well I'm laughing too hard to really demonstrate a concern.

Hope you enjoy.

Ten F26-A Formal Complaints in six months

After receiving three, you are meant to have some kind of formal meeting between the parties involved but this never happened.
Read article...

Ain't No Sunshine Day yet I feel a warmth in the seat of my pants

I absolutely love when someone has a fine tuned ability to be snarky, cynical, or sarcastic without causing emotional hurt and suffering. By the way, Webster you need to add snarky to your dictionary. Please take note of this request. Now back to what I was saying...

A case in point is the two blogs I follow that are listed to the right ----->

Now I'm new to this blog thing and really have never been much of a writer per se therefore I don't consider myself to be anywhere near witty. I long for achieving 2% of the wittiness of The Bloggess. I say 2% simply because 1% seems like low balling it and anything more may come across as cockiness. Once I achieve said 2% wittiness then I can strive for higher percentages but for now let's just begin with that. As my therapist says, "keep your goals small, realist and achievable".

Okay I've strayed from my original point some. Here is an example of my love of snarkiness: and-then-the-pr-guy-called-me-a-fucking-bitch-i-cant-even-make-this-shit-up

What I enjoy immensely about this blog event not only is the wittiness of The Bloggess but the extraordinary efforts of her followers. It truly is amazing that a blog can be such a powerful platform for righting societal poor manners. I found myself laughing out loud at the fabulous comments. My laughing made the dog look at me funny then run off. I laughed so I think I leaked!

Simply by posting a blog, a situation and response changed. Just this morning when I checked her blog update there was a comment that it was discussed on the news. Even if its a social comment, the message is relayed. Although some may view manners as a simple, oh don't worry, I'm sure he's a good guy having a bad day, sort of thing, I have to say to them oh bullpuckey! The way we treat strangers says a lot about our character and the type of person we are on average. I enjoy immensely the fact that The Bloggess' followers sought out information about this poorly mannered shmuck and shared their two-cents. I can only hope they did not stoop to his cowardly level.

It is only fitting that I end this commentary about poor manners with mention of Matthew Shepard. It is the 13th anniversary of his passing. Ask yourself do poor manners, name calling, and bullying lead to a disregard for human life and if so, how can you make a difference. Please learn more about anti-bullying efforts and encourage the use of anti-bullying practices.

Matthew Shepard

Grey day - Seems perfect for pj's, coffee and blogging

I finally accomplished my first blog. YAH! I should have accomplished it years ago but how would you know this unless you know me...let's travel back in time a bit shall we.

Circa June 2008, the person I've fallen in love with works on a fishing vessel in the Bering Sea for three to four months at a time and are headed out during this month. Needless to say I had plenty of free time for blogging yet didn't. Sometimes I can be a real procrastinator. Like right now I'm ignoring things like this 

pile of paperwork that is an ongoing part-time job work project

and oh say, this

the quilting project I began three and a half years ago

So let us get back to this reality shall we...my partner no longer works on that fishing vessel due to a severe work injury. That injury occurred a year ago. It required three months of surgery recovery then another nine months of physical therapy. The first six months were really hard then when the stress of the situation seemed the hardest a light shined. B- got hired for a land job. Trouble is that land job is nearly four hours from our home. Pros: We get to see each other at least once a month rather than having to wait nearly four months. Cons: It still feels like I'm managing everything and it doesn't make living day to day without the person you love any easier.

It is a strange experience being in a long distance relationship. More and more I understand how it drives folks to an edge of insanity. I'm sure I will share a bit here and there as this blog progresses. Maybe I'll come to terms with it and radically be cured of the doldrums and depression that seems to go along with it. Anyway, maybe I can share a little of my struggle and survival and someone out there will recognize they too can make it.

Until next time, may you be blessed.

Bright day activity - Maryhill Museum Outdoor Art Exhibit

 Over three and a half years ago my partner and I spent a day up at Maryhill Museum. It was one of our first "Washington" dates. On September 29th we revisited. You can find out more about this outdoor sculpture exhibit by visiting this link:
http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/outdoorSculpture.html

Here are photos from our outdoor adventure.  As you enter the exhibit area you are welcomed by a bronze sculpture of a blue heron by Jeffery Weitzel, The Grace Blue.This sculpture used to overlook the Columbia Gorge and appears to have been repositioned.



As we walked about much tomfoolery was had.

B- attempted to hop on Diana's Stag

Several of the pieces were the same as we had seen back in May, 2008. This one remains a favorite of mine simply because I'm fascinated with ancient beliefs about fertility, especially since now this area of the Gorge is blooming with grapes.  


A new sculpture to us was this incredibly large flower, titled Malabar Bombax by Matt Cartwright. I was very tempted to sit in that lower petal and be cocooned.

A couple of joggers nearly trampled me while I was taking pictures of the next exhibit, Moon Temple by Leon White.

The last exhibit piece is at the far end of the parking lot. I don't recall seeing it before but all the Maryhill stuff reports it as being their first piece. It is definitely an interesting juxtaposition of structure versus landscape. A path weaves in and around it allowing for you to stand at one point and line up the notches to see across the Gorge to a lone plateau. And, YES, I had to look up how to spell that word :) 

 Don't forget to travel this direction early enough that you allow time to visit the Maryhill Winery. They close around 6 p.m. nightly. I love their Gewurztraminer and the Muscato is delicious too.