Monthly Archives:April 2011

I’ve had an extremely busy couple of weeks – preparing for and then delivering a week-long workshop; arranging for speakers, doing the bulk of the teaching . . . so I am behind on the A-Z challenge. I will attempt to keep this short and hit the ones I am behind on: N-T.
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N: Never mind!
That is probably one of my least liked phrases – especially when said with disdain as it often is. I may have been taking a few minutes to formulate a response in an attempt to clarify my point. I may have been choosing words carefully in order not to offend.

Never mind! This phrase brings the connotation that my words are not important – my thoughts and emotions are “less than” so let’s move on.

I try not to use this phrase because it has such negativity to me.
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O Only the Lonely. A song from my teen years. Why is it that our lives are so full of angst when we are teens? Do we get over that when we hit our mid years and then our adult years?

It would be best if we can get to the point that we no longer see only BLACK and WHITE, but can begin to see the gray in between. That it is no longer an emphatic YES or NO, but a maybe thrown into the mix on occasion.

In the words of Mr. Sulo – “Oh, my . . . ”
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P: Petrol
Well, that is, perhaps, what it is called in some European countries. It’s, of course, gasoline or simply gas in the US.

Can I just say that it is getting to the point that I may have to choose between filling my tank and buying luxuries such as food? $4.35/gallon as of yesterday. I expect it to raise at least five cents over the weekend. This is starting to really hurt people.

It’s getting to the point where I have to think long and hard before I will even make the 25 mile round trip to the next town over to do any shopping.
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Q: Quilting. I don’t get it. I have seen really pretty results from quilting friends . . . but to just cut perfectly good cloth into teensy pieces and then sew the pieces back together? Yeah, that would frustrate me. Give me a hank of yarn and some knitting needles, though, and I’m a happy camper.
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R: Rest
I’m not very good at self-care sometimes. I can teach/preach it to my coworkers, but I sometimes forget to take care of myself. So, it is little wonder that last night I crashed and crashed hard.

As soon as hubby-moose got up to go to work (he works nights) I switched places with him. I was snoring before I hit the pillow – practically. And, I slept hard – was awakened by a strange noise about 5 this morning – my stomach was growling! So, hubby and I met for breakfast at a small hotel where we sat and chatted as I drank coffee to wake up and he drank water so he could go to sleep when we got back home.
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S: Snow! The last bits of winter snow are slowly fading into meltdown. Thank goodness! This is the least pretty time of year in Alaska – all gray and dusty. Snow piles (those that are left) are dirty and UGLY. In their place as they melt away will be piles of sand and gravel that has been kicked up by the plows all winter long.

As it dries the dust begins to swirl through the air making breathing miserable and those with allergies to suffer immensely. Lots of sneezing going on in Kenai.
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T: Tornadoes – ICK!
Give me a good old fashioned earthquake any day. I grew up in tornado alley and I do not miss them. When the sky turned a sickly green shade I was headed for the crawl space with my babies. Tornadoes are scary, folks! They are devastating and killers. I feel for those who have been impacted by such storms this week. You are in my prayers.
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There we go – all caught up now. I can face the rest of my weekend with no impending MUST DO blogging.
🙂

Have a joyous Easter weekend my friends.

The following is in response to Velvet Verbosity’s 100 Word Challenge: Distance.
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One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi

Boom!

One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three

Boom!

Sally and David huddled closer together as the Booms came.

“I’m afraid, Sally.”

“Shh, it’s going to be okay, David. I’m here. Just hold my hand and help me count. It’ll be all over soon.”

One Mississippi, two Missi-

“Sally! Please make it stop.”

David and Sally huddled deeper into the closet. Sally knew if they could wait, the distance between booms would get closer and it would soon be over. Mommy’s boyfriend would get tired of hitting her leaving them all in peace.

One Mississippi, two
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Tonight I attended a Candlelight Vigil honoring those who have been affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. I lit a candle in memory and honor of my mother who was a victim. April is also her birth month and she would have been 93 years old. I write this piece in her memory – and in the memory of my sister who huddled with me each time our father chose to batter our mother. Time is a great healer and understanding is a great distance breaker.
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The 100 Word Challenge this week is IMP. What follows is my answer to that challenge.
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It’s important to me
That you understand
My dismay when your
Character is impugned

I implode improbably when
You turn away from me
No longer listen to me
Become impatient with me

Your impassive nature
Yet impetuous spirit
Impress and frighten
My imperfect soul

It’s imperative that
We communicate!
And break through
Impractical barriers

Your impeccable words
Ring untrue when
Matched up with
Impractical actions

It’s implausible you can
Imply it’s my fault
When your impure actions
Have led to your impotency

There’s likely an imp
Inside each of us
It’s impressive to see
When it comes out in me
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The family Word Nerds put their collective heads together today while driving – the challenge? Come up with all of the IMP words we could. I was IMPressed especially with the 11 year old granddaughter’s contributions. Implausible was one of hers!!! I am so proud. 🙂
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Today’s A-Z Challenge letter is M.

Love surprises – this has been an especially nice day.

Mail call: received my swap cloth from my April Ravelry partner – gorgeous work – thank you!!

Mail call 2: also received 2 skeins of Cascade Sierra won earlier in the week. May post pics later.

Moose Call:
And, thanks to a little Etsy/facebook contest I received a cute moose key ring by Cottage Monsters. 🙂 Yay!

Today’s A-Z Challenge letter is L

Part of my day job is facilitating trainings and giving presentations; arranging for trainings for my coworkers and others.

Working with diverse groups means I need to use my important skill – and one that has been hardest for me to learn . . .

LISTENING.

Not just hearing sounds – but actually listening to what is being shared. True listening, I’m learning, is more than just using my ears – I need to develop my empathy skills – putting myself into the shoes of other people.

It is something that doesn’t come naturally for any of us. I think I probably have a long way to go still.