Greyish

This week's Thematic Photography over at Written, Inc. is "Greyish". I chose this photo not just because it's grey, but because it shows movement (the current lapping on one side of the cone), weather (the raindrops hitting the water), and proof that indeed it does rain in southern California!

Oh yeah, and I didn't take this picture - DH did. He said I could use it, though. :-)

A Lesson in French

Last summer, DH and I spent a weekend in a small town for one of his sports meets.  It was a typical small town:  one grocery store, one gas station, a few motels, and about four bars.  While in our motel’s breakfast room, I was chatting with some of DH’s teammates.  Everyone else in the breakfast room was from the team except for one couple, who were conversing with each other in French.  As I was leaving the breakfast room, we all said the usual “Bye”, “See you at the site”, etc.  Just as I was about to go out the door, I turned around, looked at the couple, smiled and said, “Au revoir”.  The French-speaking couple looked quite shocked and said, “Au revoir!”  The looks on their faces were priceless.

A New Word

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I learned a new word!  It’s one I can even say at work, unlike some others I have learned in the past year or so….  Anyway, a local newspaper asked its readers to describe their biggest complaint about other drivers.  There were the typical responses:  lack of turn signal usage, slow mergers, bad parkers/door dingers, tailgating, etc.  One response, however, was “sidegating”.  Even though I had never heard this term before, I immediately knew what it meant because it happens to me a few times per week, at a minimum.

What is “sidegating”?  It’s a term derived from “tailgating”.  It’s when someone drives right next to you for a long time.  This happens to me a lot, but I don’t know why.  People zoom up to me, and then drive next to me for a long time.  Why do people do this?  It’s not like I’m going to look over and see who it is.  I really don’t care who it is, because I’m driving 60-65 mph on the freeway!  Is it because I sit deep in the car and from behind it looks like no one is driving?  If so, do they really think a car would drive itself?  *sigh*  I just ignore them.  They go away eventually – kind of like a rash.

Groundhog Day Lessons

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Now that Groundhog Day has come and gone, so has the movie.  Again.  For those of you who haven’t seen it, Bill Murray relives Groundhog Day countless times.  Every morning, it is Groundhog Day, but Bill remembers the previous day, which was also Groundhog Day.  He eventually realizes that his actions will have no consequences.  He also takes piano lessons.  This means that by the end of the movie, he’s a really good pianist.  This made me think about what I would do if my actions had no consequences.  I couldn’t think of much, though.  I couldn't think of anyone I'd like to tell to naff off or anything.  Maybe I would “predict” things at work (which would of course come true), and they would think I was brilliant.  Maybe I would buy lots of things I didn’t really have the money for.  Maybe I would drive as fast as I wanted to and park on the sidewalk.  Heck, maybe I would take a fancy car on a test drive and never return it.  Of course, I would do good things, too, like save people’s lives and such.  But about to those piano lessons….

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If I had all the time and money in a make-believe world, and my actions had no consequences, what would I do?  I had fun thinking about this one.  I could try roller derby, learn another language, learn how to fly a small plane, become a race car driver, take ice skating lessons, and maybe even learn how to sing or dance.  Heck, I could learn all sorts of sports and get into shape.  Did I mention that this would be in a make-believe world?

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If your actions had no consequences, what would you do?  If you could take lessons of some sort, what kind would you take?

One of Those WTH Moments

So there I was, driving home from work. Being December, it was dark.  I took a route home that I have taken hundreds of times over the years.  Part way up a wooded hillside I saw some lights.  Since it was during the winter holidays, I just figured they were holiday lights.  Just as I was driving by, I realized that there was something different about those lights.  I made a mental note to drive by a little slower the next time.  Well, traffic being what it often is (crappy), I took that route home again a day or so later.  I drove by slowly and realized that it was a carousel!  Like this:

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Next to it was another children’s amusement park ride.  It was circular, kind of like this, but without the umbrella:

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There were also signs like “Keep Out”, “No Parking” and “Private Property”.  And then I realized:    someone has a carousel and kiddie ride in their yard!  In a wet, cold climate!  What the****??  So, what does any normal, self-respecting person do?  Go home and look it up on Google maps, of course!  Here it is:

 

I’m not even going to guess what these cost in electricity and maintenance alone….  Now, I’m all for giving kids fun toys every now and then, but a carousel?  What will the parents do when the kids become teenagers?  Make a mini shopping mall?  How are they going to top private amusement park rides?  Wow.  Just....  Wow.

P.S.  Welcome, BragonDorn!

Happy Holidays!

2011 has gone by really quickly.  It was full of many more changes than I am used to, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.  If life was always the same, it would be boring.  Changes shape who we are, for better or for worse.  Good or bad, we learn from it.  When we don't learn from the bad, we will repeat the mistake over and over until we figure it out.  Sometimes the learning curve takes many turns.

What did I learn in 2011?  Nothing terribly new, just reaffirmations of stuff I already knew.  It doesn't hurt to be reminded sometimes.  One thing is that I am in charge of some things in my life, but not others.  Can I help what the economy is like?  No.  Does the poor economy make me not look for a job?  Hell no!  When I am out of work, I will look and look for a job no matter if I am getting monetary "unenjoyment" or not.  I won't find a job if I don't look.  Fortunately, my two years of persistence paid off with a temporary job.  It will end sometime next year, but I am thankful for the paycheck for the time being.  When the time comes, I will start the job search all over again.

I also learned that some things are worth stressing over and some aren't.  In general, I can't find anything worth getting all wound up about, so I consider myself lucky.  Things that stressed me out before (such as my gambling addict parents) don't anymore.  Crappy traffic?  I'll get to work when I get there - the same time as the car in front of me and the car behind me.  That doesn't mean it isn't frustrating or annoying, it just isn't worth blowing a (figurative) gasket over.

Another thing I learned is that I like blogging, and that I miss it.  It's kind of like a combination of free therapy and living vicariously through others.  I need to make time for it.  I think it's important and well worth it.

So here comes 2012.  What's in store?  Who knows?  If I knew stuff like that, I'd play the lottery.  At any rate, I'm looking forward to another year of life.  After all, I'm just happy to be here.

Happy holidays and a fantastic new year to you all!

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day - September

Hi everyone!  Although my schedule's not yet ready to allow me back into the blogging world (too many 12 hour work days), I did find time to take some photos for this month's "Garden Blogger's Bloom Day".  Many plants from June are still blooming, so I won't bore you with those (Lamium, anyone?).

Up first is not a bloom, but rather some foliage.  It's from a pygmy barberry.  Barberries are great because they're low-maintenance, they look good, and they keep rug rats out of your yard (i.e. they have thorns).

Next is one of my favorite plants, a smoke bush (or tree).  Like real smoke, they are difficult to photograph, but here goes:

There aren't many blooms left in my wildflower bed, just this

and this:

There are a few of these left (Campanula?)

along with Heuchera

 and some stuff that's new this year (Meadow Rue?).

Then there are some reliable staples, like Nandina,

some tall asters (~six feet tall)

and some short asters (~12 inches tall).

The Echinaceas had a hard time this year,

but the Silver Lace Vine went bonkers

and the Rose Campion bloomed reliably.

 There are some plants whose buds promise future blooms, like Hydrangea,

 sunflowers

and Clematis.

Best of all was a late summer surprise:

This is the first year I've had this clematis, and I had no idea it would bloom twice in one season!  I kind of like the "leftovers", too:

Hope you're all doing well!  I still have some traveling left to do, along with busy weekends for another month or so.  I'll have to catch up with you all sometime in October.  Until then, take care!