May 31, 2011

May 30, 2011

On Memorial Day



A thank you to all those men and women who serve our country and those who support them.

May 29, 2011

Sunday Quote












Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

~ Lao Tzu

May 26, 2011

More of NY's capital city





















The Albany photos have gotten away from me - and I have yet to post the ones of the remarkable interior staircase that the guard called the million dollar staircase (really breathtaking in a Harry Potter kind of way which I think means - this is a remarkably busy Spring for various reasons, some difficult, some quite good, and I feel I am playing catch-up and not doing very well at it. Ah, well. Summer just around the corner, those late nights make the days feel longer and time feel like it's on your side.

May 22, 2011

May 21, 2011

The Last Day so they say...

Watching scenes from people picketing and proselytizing and the ancient minister who claims that only he knows that the end of the world will be today at 6 pm (well, at least I will be home from work by then, nice to end it all with a glass of wine in hand) and I had two thoughts - one, that it is such a drag to be a person who believes in God and have to have this whole fringe element making your own faith sound foolish which is annoying beyond words.
The second thought was how I wish some documentary filmmaker was following these people around and not just filming their yelling and freaking out but seriously asking - so if you really do believe that you have one day left - what are you doing with it? Hanging with friends? Converting strangers to your brand of lunacy? Eating tunafish sandwiches because it is your fave and on the off chance they won't have tunafish in heaven, you better get some now. Seriously, we always hear people say you should live like today is the only day you have left - and we never do because real days are full of such mundane but necessary things like mending buttons and working and grocery shopping and teacher/parent conferences and bill paying. So it would be interesting to see what true believers really do on this last day of their lives (and what a cool documentary this would make). My daughter tells me there are people trying to form looting after the apocalypse groups - I am astonished that anyone would advertise their criminal activities or even plans thereof (Jerry Springer, your people are waiting for you out there somewhere) but also - that implies they believe this too - and believe they will not rise up in the Rapture. So - do you really need to loot that flatscreen for Hell? Just wondering.
Personally, if it is your last day, those of you who believe - may you hug your children, eat strawberries, make love to your beloved, and try to be kind all day, lay yourself down on the green grass and look up at the clouds and thank God for making this day, this beautiful beautiful day.

May 19, 2011

Happy Birthday, kittencat :)

















How is it possible that this sweet child is now a young beautiful woman of 25? Where does the time go? Happy Birthday to my wonderful, warm, wise, witty daughter who has become a dear friend as well as my beloved child.

May 17, 2011

White Squirrels
















In Hendersonville, NC. Two of them - white squirrels. Not albino but white with a streak of gray. We were amazed - turns out not entirely a miracle - but we saw them on a difficult day and it was miracle enough for us.

May 13, 2011

Sunday Quote





















Regret is a natural part of living a fully engaged life. The more you take risks and relate to others, the more often you'll be called on to make complex choices that will lead you to regret - but also to intimacy, joy, and satisfaction. You'll never know what would have happened if you'd chosen differently over the years. Seen in that light, regret becomes its own badge of honor - evidence of a life well lived.

- Sharon Linnea

May 11, 2011

Admit it, he's a cutie


















Cute dog pix for a too busy week. At least someone looks relaxed.

May 8, 2011

Sunday Quote





















Our task is to say a holy yes to the real things of our life.

- Natalie Goldberg

May 4, 2011

Good song for the night...
















Love this song by the Avett Brothers...

Showing off


















Driving to work and all I can think is that the trees are so beautiful, the yards are so amazing, that it almost looks fake. These pictured, from a neighborhood walk, aren't even the most lavish ones - the plushest big pink hussy trees look like drunken fairies glued on hundreds of big fat pink tissue paper flowers everywhere and smacked them with fairy dust. The riots of yellow flowers dotting bright green lawns, or the tulips and daffodils and all the Easter bonnet topping types of finery sort of flowers, just everywhere. One expects elves and dancing rabbits. Just a world in bloom and a sky full of promise. And the sneezing. Don't forget the sneezing. Beauty comes at a price.

May 1, 2011

Sunday Quote
















At any moment, you have a choice, that either leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it.

- Thich Nhat Hanh