Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Wheels Up.

It's funny when you see perfectly healthy young men, who carry their books and materials in those backpacks with wheels. I want to ask - are you going to class or on vacation?

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

Because it wouldn't feel like Halloween without it. :)

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Neuroplasticity

What we call the "self"--how we experience ourselves--is the result of all that we internalize from people and events.
Because we are always having new experiences--and can internalize these--we are always, to some degree, remaking who we are.
Every activity we engage in provides us with feedback about ourselves: our abilities, how we're perceived by others, our character. In selecting what we do, who we do it with, and how we do it, we can structure our experience to create mirrors of success and mastery.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Inbox Nostalgia

Oh how time has passed recently. Much quicker then usual; time seems more and more like a dear child who you hold in just one hand, but then find, in what seems only moments later, that the same hand is waving goodbye as the school bus pulls up.

Time is a friend though. And while we all have boxes of notes hidden away somewhere, guarding old memories, many of mine camp out right there in my inbox. So instead of rummaging through what would have once been someone's box of memories, made up of cards, notes, letters, and black and white photographs, I can open up my gmail account to account for what traces I have of my story. It was the pristine garden, with the lovely couple in it that got me thinking about all that had come about over the past year, in every facet of life. Got me thinking that even though some parts of the story have jagged edges and sharp points at times, it's somewhat comforting to know that part of the human story is the struggle, and part of the human beauty is the triumph.

Before I get too caught up in nostalgia, I'm reminded of what time it is again, as the contrast of my bright screen to my dark room signals to me that sleep must be near. But there's something to be said about these new boxes of notes. That at the click of a button I can remember and recall all the correspondance I sent forth that asked for help, or wished a friend a good day, or let a loved one know I cared. It's really wonderful to be able to recall this, but even more remarkable to be reminded of the response. Gnight'

West Wingers

The Boy and I were invited on a special tour of the West Wing a few weeks back. Here are some of the snapshots from a very fantastic evening and once in a lifetime memory! I even broke out the pearls for this event.
The Boy and I strolling through the Garden (I love this pic.) Outside the House
The Very Official Seal (isn't he so handsome).

Meet the Press

Live from the Press Room-
The Boy Correspondant

The Nicest Reporter this place will ever see.The Power Couple
Our questions got answered, so we're smiling.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Cool


Because this is cool and I wanted to try it out!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Munching on Things

Fall is starting to usher itself intothe city, and with that a good road trip always comes to mind. Now that I'm back up East I took advantage of a long weekend and hit the road. Due to the lack of rain the colors didn't change as much, but I still did some leaf peaking. (And thanks to lack of Ipod juice a bunch of radio surfing). But I survived.

Along with channel surfing, I surfed my own thoughts a bit. Taking record and checking in with myself. I've had some things on my mind - and good things. Most recently, I've really been a) learning a lot thanks to grad. school and b) thinking more and more about my focus for life. Ever since I was little I've wanted to be a professor - but along with that comes time and more time. So I have to evaluate if this is what I really want, what it's going to require, and where it will put me.

The positives are that the program will be fully funded and paid for if I get in. How great would that be! Bottom line is I really want to teach college level coursework. It's so much more stimulating then high school curriculum, and you have more time and less boundaries to delve in deeper into the real meat of the topic. I love people, love connecting, and love sharing knowledge and getting people to see things from new perspectives. And second, the actual Ph.D. is in something that is rather a rare specialty. Cool. (As you can see I'm not yet ready to reveal all details yet). I still have a bunch of charting and mapping and munching to do on this.

But what's the most exciting is knowing that this opportunity exists, and is available to me if I want it.

P.S. Great sentence I read recently: "Venice is spooky under its grainy November skies. The city creaks and sways like a fishing pier."
I love me some good writing'

Thursday, October 11, 2007

At this point in my career I have to be realistic about my value and my time.

- Business. You have to be your own advocate. I still laugh at what people try to get away with.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Shiny

My body feels a bit like a sanctuary today. The temperature has gone down a bit that I can leave the windows open without having the fan blowing. I managed to get myself up and go for a run this morning, and my body is praising me for it. Every step I took, bits of yesterday's tarnish shattered across the pavement and got left behind. And with a shower the shinyness is back again. With a cup of coffee in hand, I have been quietly scribbling away at the finishinings of a paper, while the echoes of NPR float from the radio. Today's a new day, and one that can be shiny.

Have a great day~

Monday, October 08, 2007

And too often we forget, that when we are right, we are like a ripe summer peach; in perfect time.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

the physical

there are times when I miss him so, but im not speaking of the emotional, but the counter partner to this half - the physical. His presence is one of strength, and not just the muscle strength, the heart and spiritual and just masculine strength that only a true man can offer a woman. and while I am well aware that I can easily function without this actual physical presence, and don't need it, my little heart loves it. it jumps at the thought of looking into the abyss of blue that springs from his eyes. and the energy that emits from him always makes me feel restful, yet energized, peaceful yet sparked. to hold these array of emotions all at once makes one feel very alive. And he's good with small gestures, very good, ones that only i pick up on, ones that make me feel like the most beautiful woman in all the world. it's true. And yes, his voice and words sing this to my delicate heart, but there's something that you can only get from a hug, or holding of the hand that speaks to this other part of myself.


ah. to be spoken to in so many ways; it's like meeting yourself on a different plane.

3 Things to Do Every Day

The stupid Feeling snuck up on me tonight - like a menacing Pinkerton Detective. He didn't need to show his badge. Then Feeling starts to interrogate me, frisks me, searching for joy in my pockets. It's at this point that I pull the club from him and fight him back hitting him over the head with what my priorities are in life. To come back to the true meaning of life, cliche as that is. It's like a healthy dose of reality check. We all have to do this in our own way. For me, as much as I might want it to come through talking, writing really does it. It seems like it's the best way for Feeling to finally hit the road and realize he can't sleep with me tonight.

What do you really, really, really want?

I want to be a woman of God. A woman of grace and strength at the same time. To learn, and seek, and to be a woman of faith and values.

I want to put something beautiful forth in the world each and everyday for the rest of my life. Whether through a small gesture of a smile or holding the door open for an elderly woman, or within my profession - going against the odds to bring change.

I want to create. I want to create new things, systems, structures, and ideas. I want to create in my profession. To speak in front of people, to motivate, inspire, and bring forth new life. I want to learn always. To be open, to meet new people, to mentor and to be mentored.

I want to have a family. I want to raise children in good values, and create a safe, encouraging, and loving environment for them to grow and learn. I want to be a good mother, a great example of strength and faith, and enjoy all that is the miracle in raising children.

I want to be a good wife. To encourage, challenge, and support my partner. I want to play and learn together. I want to dare, risk, and dream to make a great life. I want to be strong in faith together - to raise each other up to our higher selves. I want to be the strong one, when he can't be. I want to be patient, and kind, and loving. I want to be a couple of significance, not just success. That as a couple, when we are together our goodness is even stronger and our ability to bring greatness even brighter.

Happiest moment of the day:
Being told I love you more times then I can count on two hands - and then laughing, laughing about Schitzous and diamond collars.

Focus:
Focusing on the great work I get to do right now and the harvest I am sowing. Great blessings of family, friends, health, and a creative mind. Great love.
You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight.

...people universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descent upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, you strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it. If you don't, you will leak away your innate contentment. It's easy enough to pray when you're in distress but continuing to pray when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight in its good attainments.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Peace is God.

It's nice to have found the place where I am strong, yet can find rest and shelter at the same time.

It's been nights of hardships and tears have been shed. There were days of building strength, but still times I knew I'd cry and collapse at night again. I dare even say my heart was broken a few times.

But to have been able to lay down that night and another and another, to meet my God, and to have the tears and the heavyness in my chest lifted is to know peace.

And now I sleep, and my heart is warm, and not by anything that is of this world.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Dove's Onslaught Film

Here is a great new film that Dove has just recently put out. Once again they are on game.