I have, for the past three years, documented the first thunder of the season, and it was today! February 24th, 2016. The last two years it has been April 8th, 2014 and 2015, but it's been a very strange winter for New York. It's been exceptionally warm. We've had very few inches of snow and mostly warm weather. It is 54 degrees and pouring with thunder and lightning. I love every second of it! I would rather it rain and pour and carry on that ever snow.
School is going well, but of course I am busy!
Enjoy the crazy weather!
Showing posts with label Rambling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rambling. Show all posts
10 Things & Merry Christmas!
I'm a big fan of Christmas. It's the only time of year that I get to see all my siblings. At once. In the same place. We cook and clean together; laugh and give each other gifts. These last two Christmases I have volunteered at the school kennels while Gramma volunteers to go into work so others can have time with their families.
I thought that Christmas should be about giving thanks for all I have (including this nugget).
I thought that Christmas should be about giving thanks for all I have (including this nugget).
I'm grateful for:
1. My loving family. We may not always get along, but we love each other without reservation.
2. A warm apartment that is my oasis, my retreat, my home. I love it here.
Sawyer Tried to Howl...
...and it might just be the cutest thing you see today!
The fire siren went off one night and I happened to have my camera handy. Enjoy my little nugget trying his hardest. One thing I learned that night: he is definitely not part husky! :)
Until next time,
On Saying Yes To Everything
It was 1am when I thought about writing this post. I was outside in my pj's hanging laundry on the retractable line underneath the roof of the deck. It was bright outside due to the nearly full moon. I haven't done laundry in weeks because of time constraints. I used my last clean underwear yesterday (and had to borrow a pair of socks from my mother), so when I got home from work at 10pm, I ran the washer.
I'm one of those weird people that will only wash socks in pairs. If a sock or two in the hamper doesn't have a match, it doesn't get washed. This is faulty logic though because I also keep a box of singleton socks. I bet the matches are in there.
School starts again on Monday. I'm not ready. I don't want to lose the summer vacation that I didn't really get to have. I have been so, so, so busy this summer that it has caused me to really take a step back and re-think what I say yes to. This summer I said yes to everything. I felt like I have to. Like it's my obligation to say yes.
I said yes to working at the animal hospital when it would have been more intelligent to say no after my internship ended. I said yes to working at the college, taking care of the animals on the weekends when it meant 12 hour work days. But it wasn't just about work. I said yes to more material goods that I certainly didn't need and now regret (more stuff = more management time spent with stuff) taking. Especially books. I hate to throw away things I might need, but if I won't read it, don't particularly want to read it, haven't read it in years, why am I keeping it? I just schlep it around with me. Ugh.
Did I further my personal goals? Some. The internship was a requirement of college, but it allowed me to progress through my classes. The goals I hold more important such as healthy clean eating, creating less waste, sustainability, self reliance, more time spent doing things I love like training the dog and making time for friends. Those goals I didn't do very well with. I did spend some time with new friends, cementing our friendships. I did train the dog a little bit (and we spent some time together having fun). I didn't garden, didn't work on any of my other goals. There was no time.
Ugh. No one should live a life so full of doing things that they miss out on life. I suppose I am fortunate to recognize this problem in myself and work to fix it. I realize I am fortunate to complain about these things. Having too many jobs is not something most people can say. Having too many things is a uniquely privileged idea.
Nonetheless, I am paring down. I'm participating in a community yard sale. I am not buying anything I don't need. (Also know as: spending money on only useful things that I see a need for in my life.) I am using up, wearing out, and making due. But it's hard. I am a chronic over-spender. I buy and buy and buy until I run out of money.
As always, I'm a work in progress.
I'm one of those weird people that will only wash socks in pairs. If a sock or two in the hamper doesn't have a match, it doesn't get washed. This is faulty logic though because I also keep a box of singleton socks. I bet the matches are in there.
School starts again on Monday. I'm not ready. I don't want to lose the summer vacation that I didn't really get to have. I have been so, so, so busy this summer that it has caused me to really take a step back and re-think what I say yes to. This summer I said yes to everything. I felt like I have to. Like it's my obligation to say yes.
I said yes to working at the animal hospital when it would have been more intelligent to say no after my internship ended. I said yes to working at the college, taking care of the animals on the weekends when it meant 12 hour work days. But it wasn't just about work. I said yes to more material goods that I certainly didn't need and now regret (more stuff = more management time spent with stuff) taking. Especially books. I hate to throw away things I might need, but if I won't read it, don't particularly want to read it, haven't read it in years, why am I keeping it? I just schlep it around with me. Ugh.
"Just because something has made you happy in the past, doesn't mean you have to keep it forever."
"Consumerism is the personification of greed and people don't realize that one can die for greed just as one can die for nationalism. It drives a person to work too hard, to desire money and to consume. One is conditioned to think that without consumer goods, one is nobody. 'I buy therefore I am' is the slogan of the modern age. We must understand consumerism as a new demonic religion and find a spiritual alternative."
Did I further my personal goals? Some. The internship was a requirement of college, but it allowed me to progress through my classes. The goals I hold more important such as healthy clean eating, creating less waste, sustainability, self reliance, more time spent doing things I love like training the dog and making time for friends. Those goals I didn't do very well with. I did spend some time with new friends, cementing our friendships. I did train the dog a little bit (and we spent some time together having fun). I didn't garden, didn't work on any of my other goals. There was no time.
Ugh. No one should live a life so full of doing things that they miss out on life. I suppose I am fortunate to recognize this problem in myself and work to fix it. I realize I am fortunate to complain about these things. Having too many jobs is not something most people can say. Having too many things is a uniquely privileged idea.
Nonetheless, I am paring down. I'm participating in a community yard sale. I am not buying anything I don't need. (Also know as: spending money on only useful things that I see a need for in my life.) I am using up, wearing out, and making due. But it's hard. I am a chronic over-spender. I buy and buy and buy until I run out of money.
Last Day
My last day at the animal hospital was yesterday.
I can't say I'm terribly sorry, even though I had a few minutes of overly-emotional attacks on the drive home. Working at this particular place was hard. It was difficult and frustrating. I was treated unprofessionally by the staff, and cringed at the way we treated and talked about some of our clients.
While I'm glad to be done with it, and know I never have to return, I will miss animal medicine on the scale I experienced there. School pales in comparison. I learned more than I dreamed I would.
This year of school I finished, along with my internship has taught me that I am intelligent. I'm sorry if it sounds conceded, that's not my intent. I used to feel so dumb. I used to feel like everyone around me knew everything and here I was struggling as hard as I could, and still not understanding. College taught me otherwise. I have begun to understand that it is simply not true, and it's the best and most important lesson I have learned thus far.
Until next time,
I can't say I'm terribly sorry, even though I had a few minutes of overly-emotional attacks on the drive home. Working at this particular place was hard. It was difficult and frustrating. I was treated unprofessionally by the staff, and cringed at the way we treated and talked about some of our clients.
While I'm glad to be done with it, and know I never have to return, I will miss animal medicine on the scale I experienced there. School pales in comparison. I learned more than I dreamed I would.
This year of school I finished, along with my internship has taught me that I am intelligent. I'm sorry if it sounds conceded, that's not my intent. I used to feel so dumb. I used to feel like everyone around me knew everything and here I was struggling as hard as I could, and still not understanding. College taught me otherwise. I have begun to understand that it is simply not true, and it's the best and most important lesson I have learned thus far.
Until next time,
A Whole Lotta Breaking
This summer has been the opposite of relaxing. I have somehow stumbled into five jobs. Yes. Five. I don't know how it happened, but now I grace the grocery store, the college, the local office for the aging, and the animal hospital with my occasional presence. (So, I said five and then listed four jobs. Can I count or what? The fifth job is various pet-sitting adventures.) They pay me for my appearances and a bit of work though, so it's okay. This has also been the summer of everything breaking. Into 10,000 pieces. And it feels like it costs that much too. My tooth needed a root canal. The same day as I had that checked out, the muffler went on my ol' Betsy (who is neither old, nor named Betsy). I drove to my mechanic in tears, mom in tow. He was jovial. He asked me what was wrong. With tears in my eyes I told him it sounded like I was piloting a dragon. He laughed and told me not to cry over cars and slid under the car. He came back out and wiped his hands on his jeans. He told me that the muffler came loose. We left it there to be fixed.
I seriously need to make that man and his crew some cupcakes. Mostly because about two weeks ago I was late to the animal hospital (set my alarm for pm, because I'm brilliant like that) and so when I roared in the parking lot I parked nose in and then thought I'd like to be backed in instead. I pressed the brake and pulled the shifter. It didn't budge. I pressed the brake harder because it has been known to grumble about coming out of park especially on an decline (I was parked nose down). It didn't work. I sighed, turned off the car and marched into the hospital, determined not to cry. I did anyway. I didn't even get two feet into the building when my poker face cracked. My coworker asked me what was wrong. I told him. He patted my back and went out to the parking lot with me, but he couldn't get it either.
What ensued was a long day of research about not shifting (a common problem in my car's make & model) and how to fix it, along with a call to my aforementioned mechanic, and to my grandmother for the number of triple A. One of the receptionists called her landlord who came with his truck and chains and tried to get enough pressure off the front of the car that the shift lock would let us shift. No dice.
My mechanic ended up driving about forty miles out of his way, taking time away from his family to help me. I can't tell you how much it means to me he was willing to do that. He ended up staying about an hour rigging the shift so I could actually shift the thing and get it to his shop. I'm just so damn grateful.
I hate to say it, but so far those three things (root canal, car breaking x2) have been the most traumatic parts of summer. It could be so much worse, so I'm not complaining. The weather has been beautiful with stunning days and rainy evenings, I've been able to keep on top of the laundry, and there's a good chance I get to have an apartment this upcoming semester... with Sawyer and Nova.
And so, despite everything, life is good friends.
Until next time,
I seriously need to make that man and his crew some cupcakes. Mostly because about two weeks ago I was late to the animal hospital (set my alarm for pm, because I'm brilliant like that) and so when I roared in the parking lot I parked nose in and then thought I'd like to be backed in instead. I pressed the brake and pulled the shifter. It didn't budge. I pressed the brake harder because it has been known to grumble about coming out of park especially on an decline (I was parked nose down). It didn't work. I sighed, turned off the car and marched into the hospital, determined not to cry. I did anyway. I didn't even get two feet into the building when my poker face cracked. My coworker asked me what was wrong. I told him. He patted my back and went out to the parking lot with me, but he couldn't get it either.
What ensued was a long day of research about not shifting (a common problem in my car's make & model) and how to fix it, along with a call to my aforementioned mechanic, and to my grandmother for the number of triple A. One of the receptionists called her landlord who came with his truck and chains and tried to get enough pressure off the front of the car that the shift lock would let us shift. No dice.
My mechanic ended up driving about forty miles out of his way, taking time away from his family to help me. I can't tell you how much it means to me he was willing to do that. He ended up staying about an hour rigging the shift so I could actually shift the thing and get it to his shop. I'm just so damn grateful.
I hate to say it, but so far those three things (root canal, car breaking x2) have been the most traumatic parts of summer. It could be so much worse, so I'm not complaining. The weather has been beautiful with stunning days and rainy evenings, I've been able to keep on top of the laundry, and there's a good chance I get to have an apartment this upcoming semester... with Sawyer and Nova.
And so, despite everything, life is good friends.
Until next time,
Bike Ride
Finals are over, but I have a busy summer ahead! Onward and upward!
Until next time,
Things 'Round Here
Spring is here with cold and snow, though last weekend was beautiful.
So beautiful that I brought Sawyer and Fidget (mom's min pin) to the fenced area at the school for play and training sessions. A friend and her dog joined us. She even brought cooked chicken for me for Sawyer! I didn't think of that!
Sawyer has escaped a lot lately. Last week it happened twice. I have to thank God that he doesn't go toward the (very busy) road, but up to the woods and he neighbor's yard. The neighbor has a 3 or so foot tall ravine in which a small creek flows. Sawyer especially loves jumping it. Then drinking from it (lepto vaccine very important here!), then laying in it.
Directly after running away and being caught again.
Nova is well. She enjoys making the bed and special kitty time in which I kick the dog out and play with her or love on her without her being startled or chased by any dog.
Playing.
Daffodils are just blooming now, but I've been buying the ones that the grocery store has been getting in. Daffodils are my favorite flowers. :)
This woman. She's my Gramma and she is just the best. She is sweet and kind and caring and will give you the shirt off your back to make you happy. Her brother passed away last Wednesday. She is away right now. My uncle (her son) drove from Virginia to New York to get her and bring her back down to attend the funeral in North Carolina. I miss her.
Lastly, I got a betta fish. I named him Amos. Gramma got one, then another and I remembered how much I missed having them. So I drove out to Petco and got the one I'd had my eye on for four weeks. He was still there!
Until next time,
So beautiful that I brought Sawyer and Fidget (mom's min pin) to the fenced area at the school for play and training sessions. A friend and her dog joined us. She even brought cooked chicken for me for Sawyer! I didn't think of that!
Sawyer has escaped a lot lately. Last week it happened twice. I have to thank God that he doesn't go toward the (very busy) road, but up to the woods and he neighbor's yard. The neighbor has a 3 or so foot tall ravine in which a small creek flows. Sawyer especially loves jumping it. Then drinking from it (lepto vaccine very important here!), then laying in it.
Directly after running away and being caught again.
Nova is well. She enjoys making the bed and special kitty time in which I kick the dog out and play with her or love on her without her being startled or chased by any dog.
Playing.
Daffodils are just blooming now, but I've been buying the ones that the grocery store has been getting in. Daffodils are my favorite flowers. :)
This woman. She's my Gramma and she is just the best. She is sweet and kind and caring and will give you the shirt off your back to make you happy. Her brother passed away last Wednesday. She is away right now. My uncle (her son) drove from Virginia to New York to get her and bring her back down to attend the funeral in North Carolina. I miss her.
Lastly, I got a betta fish. I named him Amos. Gramma got one, then another and I remembered how much I missed having them. So I drove out to Petco and got the one I'd had my eye on for four weeks. He was still there!
Until next time,
Thunder Storms
The first thunderstorms of spring rolled through this evening. I wouldn't have felt the need to make a post about it, except I looked up when the first thunderstorms came through last spring. Can you believe it was this exact date? April 8th, 2014!
Strange huh?
Lots of crazy has been going on around here, with school and my computer crashing, etc. I promise I will be back soon with photos galore and a proper post! Hope everyone is well.
Until next time,
Strange huh?
Lots of crazy has been going on around here, with school and my computer crashing, etc. I promise I will be back soon with photos galore and a proper post! Hope everyone is well.
Until next time,
New Addition!
Hello friends,
Well, I won't beat around the bush too much...
Isn't it wonderful!?
It's a Nikon D3200, and I am totally in love. It went on sale on Amazon, and I had enough saved up just for it. It was even on special and came with a 32GB memory card, and a case too.
This is the first photo I took.
This is one of the first pictures I took; and even though it's slightly blurry, I love it.
Guys, I never knew how amazing DSLRs are! I always thought it was my lack of skill behind the camera, but I know now that no matter how wonderful my little Canon Powershot is, it just doesn't have the same level of control.
I tried landscapes...
...and some action shots!
I attempted the macro setting...
...and portrait too!
I love, love, love this camera already, and I have so much to learn!
Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture a day last week, so I won't link up with Natasha. BUT I will next time around! In the mean time, go check out what she and everyone who linked up did this past week!
Until next time,
Well, I won't beat around the bush too much...
Isn't it wonderful!?
It's a Nikon D3200, and I am totally in love. It went on sale on Amazon, and I had enough saved up just for it. It was even on special and came with a 32GB memory card, and a case too.
This is the first photo I took.
This is one of the first pictures I took; and even though it's slightly blurry, I love it.Guys, I never knew how amazing DSLRs are! I always thought it was my lack of skill behind the camera, but I know now that no matter how wonderful my little Canon Powershot is, it just doesn't have the same level of control.
I tried landscapes...
...and some action shots!
I attempted the macro setting...
...and portrait too!I love, love, love this camera already, and I have so much to learn!
Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture a day last week, so I won't link up with Natasha. BUT I will next time around! In the mean time, go check out what she and everyone who linked up did this past week!
Until next time,
Out of Daylight
And just like that, winter descends, great beast that she is. (Is winter considered a he or she? It feels like a her this time around. Maybe it just depends on the year.) We've had several days, two weeks, of below freezing weather. When it got to 27°F people were commenting about the heat wave.
But that's just how it is. Warm summer, cold and sometimes bitter winters. Payment for long days of sunshine is with long nights of dark.
I like darkness.
Sometimes.
Sometimes I shiver and shudder in the dark, repeat Psalm 23 and walk as quickly as I can without running, but other times there is a delicious thrill to the dark. The thought of things just beyond sight.
Some nights, rare nights, there is an electricity that fills you up. Maybe such a night wakes the sleeping thing in us all. Makes the wild stir within us and rise up for a moment, when all clarity and cunning belong to you. For moments. Then gone and leaving you to feel normal again, under the wide arc of stars. With naught but a memory.
Oh, yes. There are some nights worth venturing out in.
And I go out every night. With the dog. So he can pee.
And if I can stand on the other end of the leash while he's doing his thing and look into the darkness just outside the circle of light and safety and feel that wildness stirring, well, I'm all the better for it.
Or, you know, I could be a lunatic.
I am grateful today for a lot of things. I cannot discern and specify one at the moment, but in the interest of brevity, I will say I am thankful for the safety net of stars and moon.
Until next time,
But that's just how it is. Warm summer, cold and sometimes bitter winters. Payment for long days of sunshine is with long nights of dark.
I like darkness.
Sometimes.
Sometimes I shiver and shudder in the dark, repeat Psalm 23 and walk as quickly as I can without running, but other times there is a delicious thrill to the dark. The thought of things just beyond sight.
Some nights, rare nights, there is an electricity that fills you up. Maybe such a night wakes the sleeping thing in us all. Makes the wild stir within us and rise up for a moment, when all clarity and cunning belong to you. For moments. Then gone and leaving you to feel normal again, under the wide arc of stars. With naught but a memory.
Oh, yes. There are some nights worth venturing out in.
And I go out every night. With the dog. So he can pee.
And if I can stand on the other end of the leash while he's doing his thing and look into the darkness just outside the circle of light and safety and feel that wildness stirring, well, I'm all the better for it.
Or, you know, I could be a lunatic.
I am grateful today for a lot of things. I cannot discern and specify one at the moment, but in the interest of brevity, I will say I am thankful for the safety net of stars and moon.
Until next time,
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