Archive | nature RSS feed for this section

loveliness all around

23 Oct

Street5I’ve started taking new routes to work in the mornings. As I am directionally challenged, I depend on my trusty phone with its magical mapping apps to show me the quickest, if not the shortest course while taking the horrendous rush hour traffic into account. My favorite route is almost double the mileage of the shortest (but most congested) way, but its faster and a million times more beautiful. I actually have to be careful to not get distracted by the scenery and gorgeous homes. There’s this one particular “neighborhood” that I’m going to stop and take a picture of one day, once the fall leaves show up. Some might say it looks very upper class Stepford, but I say its stunning. Beautiful homes nestled in the hills; all very idyllic and picturesque.

I’d have to be blind (and not driving a car in that case), not to notice the fantastic views, but I think I’m more attuned to them after reading an article I ran across in my meditation research (another post perhaps) that suggested some ideas on how to have a more “mindful” commute. Its a quick read that has stuck with me and that I’m finding useful. Being mindful of your surroundings, focusing on breathing etc, really noticing things, and trying not to stress about when you’ll get to your destination since that is mostly out of your control. That’s the gist anyway.

Street2Speaking of beautiful things, I was reminiscing about Paris today. I miss it. I realized that I never shared any photos so I think I’ll start posting a few here and there, just to keep it interesting. I’ve included a couple of street scenes here. I love the architecture, among so many other things about that city.

As the famous person “Author Unknown” said…

Close your eyes and see the beauty.

Tags: , , , ,

training and reading happened, friday plans

8 Jul

Not feeling quite so lame for hitting the snooze button and missing my run this morning because I just did it. Day 1 complete. I’m a hot sweating stinky mess of a girl right now. My training program called for 4 min running/1 min walking for a total of 45 min, plus warm up and cool down. That netted me 3.52 miles. Done and done. Plus I walked the dog another 1.3 miles after. Take that you sneaky snooze button. Tomorrow is a cross training day so I’ll hit the gym and do some arm work and maybe cycle a bit. Onward.

bookI finished The Thirteenth Tale today. It was quite good but not super fantastic like I was expecting. There was a nicely done twist at the end which quieted some doubts I’d had about midway through. I hope to finish Slaughterhouse-Five tomorrow as well. I’m listening to it on audiobook and only have about an hour and a half to go. I’m finding that one a bit difficult and one of those novels that I feel like I “should” like because its all deep and intellectual. Reading reviews and other people’s analysis does help me to understand it a bit better and more clearly see where Vonnegut was coming from. Next I’m moving onto much lighter fare in the form of Tina Fey’s Bossypants. And then I think maybe Chi Running, which I’ve had borrowed from a friend for ages now and I think this is the time to read it. And Let’s Pretend This Never Happened…because, hilarity. SO MANY BOOKS, SO LITTLE TIME!!!!

I will be heading back out to the wildlife rehab/education place on Friday to spend some more time with the Animal Care Director for a more in depth tour and discussion about what their needs are and her expectations. Emails have been heavy over the past few days between myself and administration and I’m pretty jazzed about what I can do to help them out. And they, in turn, are helping me out in ways they don’t even realize. This is good for my brain. I wish I could take my dad out there. I think he would love it. Maybe soon.

And now methinks it’s time for a shower and sleep.

Tags: , , ,

wildlife need social media too

5 Jul

barred_owlHave you ever stared into the eyes of a barred owl for any length of time? Its all blackness and wisdom and creepiness up in those eyes. I did that today, as well as watched someone hand feed grub worms to tiny chirping baby birds, saw a raccoon carcass laying on a table, observed at least fifteen injured box turtles being cared for, smiled at more baby raccoons than I’ve ever seen in one place, laughed at squirrels playing, was startled by a coyote and had an opossum smile at me. Among other things.

It was quite the adventure. I lived right down the road from this wildlife rehabilitation and education center for years and didn’t even know it existed. Its hidden away and the address isn’t publicized lest people just start dropping animals off at the doorstep. It looks rather rag tag but this place knows its stuff. They take in injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife and do all they can to rehab the animals to be re-released into the wild. Owls who’ve flown into cars, bunnies abandoned by their mothers, deer hit by vehicles, baby birds who’ve floundered, all sorts of situations. The people there work very hard for little reward other than the satisfaction of what they’re doing, and from an outsider’s view, they look extremely overwhelmed. Money is needed, volunteers are needed, space is needed, resources are needed.

I’m volunteering to help with their social media exposure and hope I can make at least a small difference in increasing the public’s general awareness about what they need and what interested people can do to help out. I was met with a bit of skepticism and wariness and do feel I have to prove myself. It seems people like the idea of volunteering but aren’t so keen on the follow through part and so they’ve experienced three or four social media volunteers who have since disappeared. The doubt in my longevity is justified and I’m determined not to disappoint.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

– Albert Einstein

Tags: , ,

Fall outing

1 Oct

This weekend was pretty fabulous. Well, for kiddo and I anyway. The Accountant had a migraine most of the weekend so I’m only speaking for 3/4s of the household here I guess. I took kiddo to a local pumpkin patch/farm place on Saturday. We discovered it last year and it is so great! Only 15 minutes from our house and there are tons of things for her to do. Hopefully we’ll go back again, with hubs next time.

Tags: , , ,

somewhere over the…well, you know

24 Mar

I’m trying to wrap up and gear up at the same time. As one who loves change and loathes sameness, this means I’m a happy girl right now. But it also means I’m behind as usual. I always seem to either catch up or the thing I need to catch up on goes away altogether and it doesn’t matter anymore. So I’m not too worried about it either way.

Is this vague?

I managed to snap this picture after the storm yesterday.

Happy Thursday.

go away crazy world

28 Jan

What is up? Mass craziness, that’s what.

Lets see…Fisher is out, Egypt has completely lost its mind and I can’t get past Level 12 of Angry Birds. Some of my friends are going through tough times and I feel helpless. This week at work has been the most maddening yet and my potential new career seems to be held up in some sort of limbo-land.

To combat the crazies, someone asked me this week if I ever meditated. We talked about it a bit and it is something I’ve always been interested in but never put forth any serious effort into. I think I will change that.

I was thinking about a place in my head that I would go in my blissed out state and decided it is most definitely to the Swiss Alps. The place where this picture is specifically. I’ve been here once and have ridden on that very train. I can’t imagine a more beautiful or more perfect place to zen out and forget the world.

just a few lil’ things

3 Jun
  • I was reminded by a post over at Chez Bez’s place how cute I think The Accountant is when he shaves his head and grows his goatee. I’d post a picture but he hates that so I’ll just embarrass him with words only. And maybe “cute” isn’t the right word. More like sexy haut. Ok, so that’s two words. Sue me.
  • I really am old, creaky and falling apart as I have been summoned to physical therapy TWICE a week instead of just once. In addition to exercises at home. But I’m still a’truckin’ along with my walking/jogging self. Go me.
  • I love sentence fragments. And starting sentences with “and” or “but”. And ending sentences with prepositions. And writing just like I talk y’all. The grammar police hate me. I just think they need to chill. Live a little. Fer cryin’ out loud.
  • I met with a trainer today at the gym. Official weight training plan is in place, now to just get my butt there a few times a week to get all buff and supermodel-like. Da beach will be here before you know it. There is a post somewhere in my brain about my gym phobia. Stay tuned.
  • I will be attending a land dedication somewhere in the boonies this weekend. I’ve never actually been to a land dedication before and have no earthly (yuk yuk) idea what this entails but I will let you know. It will be new and different and I am all about that.
← Older Entries

%d bloggers like this: