Hoping for snow

This picture is from last year, sadly. There's not a lot of snow around here at the moment. Now there's news of a MAJOR storm (2 storms, actually that are going to collide) that will bring a lot of snow our way. I love the word Nor'easter. Translated, it means: snow day! Everybody I know would love a snow day. It's been a cold grey winter, filled with ill health. The latest is a stomach bug that is really making kids miserable!

I fly to Phoenix, AZ Friday night for a change of scenery, some warmth and a short break for the 4 day weekend. Plus, my husband will be there waiting for me. In the past, we used to get an entire week off and would head North to go skiing. My old bones are looking forward to sun and warm feet. But in the meantime, bring it ON baby! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Super bugs, bean throwing and feeling lucky.

It's bean-throwing time in Japan. It's a ritual that I believe is supposed to symbolize getting rid of evil spirits, and making room for good ones. I will never forget one friend wondering what would happen if a person threw a CAN of beans out a window...Anyway, I have no beans to throw. I have hardly any groceries to throw at anything, because I caught a super bug that really knocked the stuffing out of me for the past 2 weeks. I haven't felt like doing much of anything beyond work. And work has been a kicker. Deadline after deadline has come and gone. And as usual, I scrambled (plan ahead, you say??? HAhahahha) to meet those barreling deadlines. Whew. This a January I'm glad is behind me. I won't list the details but I had some major event/thing every week. Consequently I am tired. I'm still coughing, but thankfully each cough now does what it's supposed to do and doesn't hurt any more. At least there's THAT. I am grateful for the little things these days. Like the groceries my in-laws brought over when I sent out an S.O.S last weekend. And the mandarin oranges that mystically, magically appeared on my kitchen table today. I am grateful for the talented kids I get to work with every day. But again, I am tired.

Here's a little something my friend Madeleine Bialke wrote. She is 18 years old and a Freshman in College. I thought this was a good piece. I think her Mum and Dad did a great job.

Here is her piece:

To the average, middle class-to-upper class people of second or first world countries who are down on life:

We often get caught up in the rigors of our own lives, and the little things that happen each day that get us down. Too many papers due, coffee spilled in the car, a messy breakup, even a paper cut. It’s easy to get into the rut of complaining about every misfortune that comes your way, and commiserating with your friends as a sort of bonding experience. Why not? You’re harrowed; you’re run down, tired, you haven’t slept well for months, nothing goes as planned, your best intentions go awry, you lost your job, you broke it off with the love of your life, you lack inspiration, your computer broke, your dog died, your child doesn’t respect you, you broke your leg, you suffer from insecurity and self esteem issues, you can’t get out of the closet, you’re failing out of college, you’re getting fat, your car was totaled by a driving maniac, a kid in your English class is stalking you, you have an eating disorder, your spouse left you for some younger tail, you have alcohol problems, you’re in jail, you have a bad credit rating, and you’re in love with your best friend.

There is nothing laughable about these concerns. These are real life problems, and have to be taken seriously. We all feel sorry for you, we really do, and we wish that your problems could go away, and you could be happy. We understand that you go through a lot, and we support you.

I have a solution for you. It won’t fix your problems, but perhaps it will help your mental state of mind, and your general outlook on life. This solution is called the “At Least Principle”.

Though you have traumatic experiences in life, and you aren’t happy with the way things currently are, at least you have a roof over your head, a decent income, and food on your table. You have friends and family, you can buy just about anything you want, you have a room to yourself, you don’t have to share a bathroom, you have running water—CLEAN running water, you can bathe every day, you can drive to your job and it’s not even that far away, you have free wireless at Starbucks, you can listen to any song in the history of the music industry, the world is at your fingertips, you have delicious food, you can vote, you can take nature walks, and you can be whoever you want to be.

At least you don’t live in a mud hut next to an open latrine.

At least you weren’t a Jew in the holocaust.

At least you didn’t die of cholera on the Oregon Trail.

At least you didn’t have to flee the killing fields of Cambodia.

At least a Pharaoh didn’t kill your firstborn son.

At least you never had to live through the Genocide in Rwanda.

At least you didn’t lose your family to an earthquake, hurricane, tsunami or volcano eruption.

At least you didn’t drown, trapped in the third class rooms of the Titanic.

At least your family didn’t sell you as a slave so they could buy food.

At least you didn’t cross the Atlantic in a slave ship.

At least you didn’t die in the crossfire’s of a world war.

At least you’re not dying of starvation in a third world country.

At least you have the luxury of complaining about concerns other than the ones listed previously. You are lucky enough to be in the upper echelon of human society, and don’t you take it for granted.

You aren’t blessed with such things, because that would mean that you deserve this and all the others don’t. We live in a world that is fraught with inequality, injustice, and apathy towards other people. You deserve your life as much as everyone else does, and no being or higher power ‘chose’ this for you. You are just REALLY DARN LUCKY.

So whenever you’re feeling depressed with your life, just remember the “At Least Principle”; it’s a good way to put your life in perspective, and really cherish the things that you do have. Remember that old saying about the glass being half empty or full? Well, it’s pretty full. You have a wonderful life. It has its ups and downs, but all in all, it’s pretty amazing. At least you’re lucky, and don’t you forget it.

No narrative required

Andersen Replacement Windows

Baby it's cold outside

I just got whistled at. By my DINING ROOM door. It's one of those winter mornings that makes you thankful for the new fleecy robe, the wool-lined slippers and a cup of hot coffee. The wind roared around the house last night, but oddly now from my bedroom, it sounds more like I am sitting on the inside of an airplane, and the wind is definitely OUT THERE. The replacement windows are sealed up nicely. However, noises downstairs during a windy winter storm can be likened to those heard on an old wooden sailing ship. All creaks and groans. Banging and whistling.

There is frost on the inside of the outside windows. At least on the ones that are really leaking warm air. Frost is fascinating and beautiful. And a sign of heat loss.

This week, I bid my old sailing ship windows adieu. Winter will be a quieter, warmer affair around here shortly.

Walking in a winter wonderland

I had this notion, on the first day of 2010 to get outside and away from the home, the teen boys, (who are apparently trying to win some record of consecutive hours of video gaming)and walk my worries away. Macy and I were headed to the National Forest up in Hector! It gives me joy to give HER joy, and there's nothing she likes better than a romp outdoors. But alas, my fuel tank warning light was on when we got to the car, so we were off to the pump! A minor and necessary detour. And while we were already at the store for gas, might as well pick up the 2 things I needed. The 2 things turned into a basket full and could have turned into a cart, but NO! I need to put my mental and physical health first, so I was determined to just get in and out of the store, and on my way to the snowy woods. Luckily I didn't meet anyone.

On my way to the Forest, deep in thought, I forgot the turn, and ended up driving past my house and figured I'd just drive for a while. It felt very nice to be alone in the car with Macy, listening to my favorite music and not having to be really anywhere...

I went the long way back towards the Forest, and ended up heading past my in-law's. Something made me stop. I figured it would be nice to pop in and wish them a Happy New Year. Now I was driving on secondary or even lesser roads and they were not great. It's been snowing all day- the fine, powdery snow that acts like grease under the wheels. I discovered no one was home. Parked the car. Sat and thought about the road conditions...

Macy and I wandered into my father-in-law's woods on his 90+ acres. My dog was delighted as she sniffed out mice nests under the snow, and zoomed back and forth all around me. I took out my camera and started taking pics. We took our time, went off trails, wandered in and out of the trees, listened to the silent sound that snow makes as it comes straight down in complete stillness. I wish I had the time for a walk of that sort every day. But real life will resume shortly, and that kind of walk will become very rare indeed. I hope this is a harbinger of a year filled with precious and rare experiences.