The End is Nigh

Never saw a sign like this until Cannon Beach, OR

Wow … I’m writing on the eve of my last daily entry for the month. The end is actually near! Can’t believe I survived yet another month of posting every day … actually, I can’t believe that I signed up to write for another 36 days until Easter Monday.

Eesh. I’m wondering if I have enough “Good Deeds” in me to last that long … As it is, I’m thinking that some of the good deeds I do are rather … lame or trivial. But I suppose doing something is better than nothing.

Today, Hubby & I slept in. Good G*D, it felt good to sleep in. And although I know that this is a luxury that most other people aren’t able to do (read: those with kids), I figure that this is something that I can at least add to the (very short) list of positive things that infertility has given me.

But that was last night‘s item of gratitude. Let’s see … what other thing about infertility can I be grateful for? Well, seeing that Hubby & I spent the afternoon at the grocery store … I guess I can say that I’m grateful that Hubby & I only have to worry about buying groceries for ourselves. Because somedays I’m just amazed how much two weeks of groceries can cost for just two people. Imagine if we had more than our two mouths to feed? As it is … our dollar is stretched tightly these days. Or as one of my co-workers said, “There’s still too much month at the end of our money.”** So yeah … that’s what I’m grateful for today.

Surfing the web tonight regarding the latest catastrophes

Good Deed? That one’s a toughy today. Probably mostly because I’m (if you can’t tell by now) not exactly in the most “giving” mood today. And I suppose if I had to name a “good deed” today, it would be that I withstood listening to a rather awful poetry reading group while at Borders tonight. (Boy, am I snarky today!) Don’t get me wrong, me love me some good cultural and creative vibe … and, if I was being honest, I’d say that a few were pretty good. But … well, yeah. I’ll just leave it at that.

One of the “readings” had to do with the whole “2010 End of the World” deal. Which, given the fact that I just mentioned above that *I* had another “ending” in site, is rather funny. (Babbling, I know. But I’m talking about NaBloPoMo for February.) But as this guy talked about wars and earthquakes, I couldn’t help but think of the most recent events of late.

Like today … the earthquake in Chile. And the Tsunami warnings for Hawaii and all the other Pacific Islands (including the Philippines).  Or even the recent iceberg collision that caused one of them to break off a huge piece into the ocean; which may cause, what some scientists believe, a disruption in the ocean’s circulation and therefore disrupting marine life.

Original 1900's shot of Crowfoot Glacier

Just over five years ago was the major tsunami in India. In 2007, there was the glacial lake (in Chile, of all places) that completely disappeared. Even when we went to the Canadian Rockies two years ago, we saw with our own eyes, how much the Crowfoot Glacier had melted.

Then there was last month’s devastating earthquake in Haiti; of which a team member of mine lost family in that tragedy. And just two weeks ago, an earthquake here. In Chicago.

I’m not a firm believer in the whole 2012 theory that the end of the world will be on December 21st of that year. However … I do think that something will happen that will cause the world’s population to change in some way. Whatever that “thing” is … it will probably require a major paradigm shift in the way that the world operates today.

A shot of the same Glacier (by yours truly) in 2008. Notice the bottom "claw" has melted away?

Because seriously … at the rate that these devastating events are coming***, I just might have to expect swarms of locusts followed by the Four Horsemen.

Okay, depressing post done with for the day. Let’s hope for a better one tomorrow.

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** Sadly, it’s the end of the month (a short one, at that) and POOF! All that money’s gone. <sigh>

*** Anybody else notice how more and more frequently these “natural” disasters are coming at us?!

Oh NUTS!!

Somedays work feels like Mr. Stay Puft

Proton Pack Day #2. Except today I was remotely putting out fires from home; which definitely had its challenges. But ask me if I minded doing it from home, and I’d tell you that I would find a way of putting up with the challenges in order to take advantage of this benefit. It’s just too bad that I’m limited to working from home only one day a month. Boo …

Anyway, because I worked from home today I did not have much opportunity to do any new Random Acts of Kindness. Instead, while taking my puppy-girl for an extended walk (after my work day was done), I once again spread some goodies for the Chicago wildlife. Well … the birds and squirrel variety, anyway — none of those “back alley” city wildlife.

Squirrels are funny creatures; more so, it seems, in the city. Hubby & I have had the conversation before about how squirrels in Chicago seem just a bit different than squirrels back in suburban Detroit. First of all, the colorings/markings on Chicago squirrels are remarkably greyish-brown; more of a hodge-podge of various squirrel colorings. And then there are those suburban Detroit squirrels, which tend to be either reaaallly brown or black.

Meet City Squirrel (Chicago)

And because I grew up in suburban Detroit in the decade following the 1967 Detroit Riot and during Coleman Young‘s five terms of Mayor (both circumstances that contributed to the massive segregation between city and suburbs, caucasian and non-caucasian), it’s a silly observation that Detroit squirrels should be so … well, black and white. Add to the fact that up until the last decade or so, it was rare to see a black squirrel past Eight Mile Road* … that’s irony at its best!

But regardless of ra- … I mean species , the big thing that we noticed about city squirrels and “country” squirrels*** is the personalities. Suburban squirrels (at least in all other areas of the Detroit area other than Ann Arbor) are rather timid. They are easily frightened by anything and everything. Whereas, their cousin, City Squirrel just loooves to come up to anyone or anything … especially my dog.

You know, the same dog that has anxiety issues? And totally gets nervous/aggressive when other pets are around? Yes, City Squirrel loves to antagonize her. (My poor Kozzy-girl … ) They love to stand in direct path of her and make clicking sounds in order to get her attention. And then they looove running away the minute Kozzy starts pulling on her leash and barking at them.

And this is Suburban Squirrel

Some days it’s absolutely hysterical. And then there are days, like today (as I tried to feed them), that it’s downright frustrating!

(Remind me again why I was trying to feed them? Oh yeah, for my daily Lenten *good* deed … NUTS!!)

As for what I’m thankful for today … I guess because we’re quite tight in the wallet lately, I’m grateful that I have food to put on our table and food to feed our pets. While City & Suburban Squirrel can probably scrounge off the land (they’re raised to do that) or fill their tummies with scraps given to them by suckers like me, at least I don’t have to go further than the closest grocery store to get mine. And how about all the other people I see in the streets of Chicago? The ones asking for spare change just to get food? The same ones that are grateful for any leftovers that other humans give to them? That just makes me even more thankful that we have what we have.

Okay … that’s it for the night. Think I’m going to crash now, so that I can be prepared to fight more fires tomorrow. <sigh>

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And finally, meet City Squirrel II (Detroit)

* Yes, that IS the road that is referenced in the famed Brian Grazer/Eminem** movie. This road in Detroit is literally (and figuratively) the dividing line between city and suburbs.

** Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon: I have a friend who actually went to HS/Middle school with Marshall … well, at least until he dropped out!

*** Remember City Mouse and Country Mouse? Meet their kissing cousin, Suburban Mouse! LOL!

Dream. Hope. Change.

I am overwhelmed with emotion today; brimming with excitement and hope. And all because of the results of yesterday’s Presidential Election.

I know I said that I wouldn’t let people know who I voted for simply because I felt my vote was confidential. Well, today I’m breaking from that thought. And it’s all because of how historic this moment in time is.

Let me start off by saying that regardless of who would have won this election, today … or rather last night … it would have been a historic moment. Whether it was an African-American president or a Woman Vice-President, it would have been a first for these United States.

However, being the liberal person that I’ve always been, I believe that my faithful readers would have realized who I voted for, even though I never said it “out loud.” But here it goes: I am proud to say that I voted for Barrack Obama. I am proud that I voted for a person who, amongst the two candidates, best aligned with my beliefs. I am proud that this is a person who was more attuned to the needs of my generation. You know … the generation that, in it’s current state, won’t be able to afford to retire, won’t get any social security, and won’t have any health insurance. The same person who believes that people have the right to choose.

But Obama being elected isn’t the main reason I’m feeling this incredible pride for this country. Today, I am proud to call myself American … not because terrorists invaded our soil and we survived (although, I am proud of that) … but because we, as a nation, have made one ginormous step towards breaking down stereotypes and races. And we have once again, instilled a sense of hope for our nation; that we can overcome any type of adversity to achieve change.

I know I posted this before ... but I just love this pic!
I know I posted this before ... but I just love this pic!

I wonder if this feeling of hope and excitement was how women other African-American’s felt when they were first granted the right to vote. That feeling of being able to make a difference. To be able to make free choices. If this is how it felt like back during  that time period, then I now know why those events were emphasized so much in History classes. Because just like it was during those times, right now … at this moment, we are ready for change. ANY change.

Oh, I’m not that naive to think that by voting an African-American man into the highest executive position in our country is going to change people’s opinions and views of an entire minority race. G*d knows that it was well after women were given the right to vote when (back in 1984) an entire political party felt that a woman would be “strong” enough to carry the Vice-Presidential ticket. And to this day, there are still many discrepancies to be found in promoting equality within a work place.

But the fact of the matter is that yesterday … we, as a country, opened that door; the door which  allows our children (or in most of my reader’s cases, nieces or nephews) to know that any dream is possible …

Me! Me! Pick Me!

Two posts in one day?! Oh. Em. Gee. (As my younger cousin would text, as an added emphasis on “OMG”). What the bloody heck is goin’ on?! Well, I finally have a Sunday of absolutely no plans to do a little catching up on bloggies.

And seeing as if I’ve recently been tagged for a meme, I figured I do it today. And actually, come to think of it. I’ve been tagged a few times with different meme’s … so might as well do them all!

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The first one was waaaaay back at the beginning of August from VA Blondie at Do Without Doing. Uhm … yeah. So sorry it’s taken me this long to do it! 

The Rules

  • Link to the person who tagged you
  • Post the rules on your blog
  • Let the tagger know when your entry is posted.
  • Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog
  • Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them

Okay, six random thingies …

  1. I’m such a procrastinator. Oh yeah, right … like you didn’t already know!
  2. I’m a coffee snob. Hate the nasty stuff at work and have to pick up “the good stuff” or brew my own before heading to the office.
  3. I’m a sucker for word games. Throw a Scrabble board or a NYT Crossword in front of me, and I’m game. Not good at them, but I love doing them!
  4. I have trust issues with my hair. Not that I do anything extraordinary to it (like cut/dye/style it a special way), I just don’t like anyone I don’t know or trust playing with it.
  5. I’m not as daring or brave or as impulsive as most people (IRL) think. I’m actually quite a deliberative person who has to be excessively prepared before heading into a situation. (Okay, maybe I should have just said I was “anal-retentive”!)
  6. Sunday mornings are probably my most favorite time of the week. I love sleeping in, but the utter quietness of Sunday mornings makes me feel at peace … even for just a minute

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The next one is from Kara at Becoming Parents. (Okay, wow … this one was from back in June! Talk about procrastination!) This meme was prompted by the book written by Larry Smith & Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure. Apparently, Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were, “For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn.” The book is a compilation of similar 6 word stories. This meme challenges us to do the same:


Instructions:

  • Write your own six word memoir.
  • Post it to your blog including a visual illustration if you would like.
  • Link to the person who tagged you
  • Tag 5 more bloggers
  • Don’t forget to leave a comment in the tagged blogs with an invitation to play

Here’s my Six (okay, really seven) Word Memoir and visual illustration:

(A) non-fictional account of triumph over tragedy

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And finally, Kate over at Bee in the Bonnet tagged me for this one word meme. Apparently I’m supposed to stick to a one word answer … which, just like Kate, will be torture for someone who loves to just babble on and on and on …

So here’s my attempt

  1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
  2. Where is your significant other? Table
  3. Your hair color? Black
  4. Your mother? Religious
  5. Your father? Traveling
  6. Your favorite thing? Reading
  7. Your dream last night? Scary
  8. Your dream/goal? Far
  9. The room you’re in? Cafe
  10. Your hobby? Writing
  11. Your fear? Failure
  12. Where do you want to be in six years? Happy
  13. Where were you last night? Football
  14. What you’re not? Ignorant
  15. One of your wish list items? Travel
  16. Where you grew up? Suburbia
  17. The last thing you did? Type
  18. What are you wearing? Underwear
  19. Your T.V.? Off
  20. Your pet? Family
  21. Your computer? MacBook
  22. Your mood? Content
  23. Missing someone? Cousins
  24. Your car? Orange
  25. Something you’re not wearing? Socks
  26. Favorite store? Target
  27. Your Summer? Gone
  28. Love someone? Hubby
  29. Your favorite color? Blue
  30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
  31. Last time you cried? Friday

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And if you’ve noticed, I’ve already broken the rules / failed to follow instructions. I’ve decided that I’m not going to tag anyone. So ptooey!

Boy, this was fun!