speaking of simplicity

On Sabbatical

2009-06-21T12:10:00.002-05:00

Sunday, June 21, 2009

It seems appropriate on the first day of summer to let you know that I'm going to take the summer off. I'm hoping to re-stoke my blogging fires and be back around Labor Day or so.

I wish you all a wonderful summer! Be well.

Sara

Summertime

2009-06-16T14:18:00.004-05:00

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

I don't know why but I still get a little bit excited when school lets out for the summer. I guess it's a holdover from childhood. There's a sense of freedom that comes with summer that I love. As an adult nothing really changes. I still go to work. I still have to cook and do the shopping. But just the expanse of days with no big plans makes me feel like things are different.

Ask me how I'm feeling about summer in a month or so and I'm sure you'll get a totally different answer. By then I'll be knee deep in whiny children (yes, even when they get big they whine) and waiting impatiently for the first day of school, which I'll also be excited about.

Fickle? Maybe.

driving

2009-06-15T12:52:00.002-05:00

Monday, June 12, 2009

Abby's learning how to drive. I'm having a hard time finding my happy place when I'm out on the road with her......Need I say more?

for laughs

2009-06-09T15:47:00.001-05:00

um..

2009-06-09T12:39:00.004-05:00

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

I'm trying to find my way in a new religion. Unitarian Universalism. I don't know if you're familiar with UU. I wasn't. About fifteen years ago a friend of mine told me that at her church there were people from all walks of life, from all religious backgrounds, there were no creeds and there was no doctrine. I was confused and curious. I came to find out the UUism in the US grew out of the Protestant church and has gone on to become not a denomination of Christianity, but a religion in it's own right. Many of our forefathers (an mothers) were either Unitarians or Universalists; John and Abigail Adams, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson to name a few.

I have always had a yearning for a spiritual life. I loved church as a kid but as I grew I found myself unable to accept the doctrine. I have learned that I don't fit well into a box. Still I felt the need for a spiritual home. A community of people who also felt the yearning but who wouldn't require me to compromise my beliefs.

Now I am trying to make it work. I'm trying to find a daily practice that will help me to stay focused on my values and beliefs, keep me appreciating and in awe of the Mystery. I have never had a routine of prayer or meditation. The closest I come to that is reading about prayer and meditation. The time has come (actually it's way overdue) for me to stop reading and talking about this and start doing what I need to to do stay on track.

Are you religious? Do you have a daily practice that helps to keep you focused and balanced and in touch with what's meaningful in your life?

she's 21!

2009-06-07T10:14:00.004-05:00

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Happy Birthday Meghanny! Enjoy, but not too much!

Mika takes a hit

2009-06-05T05:30:00.004-05:00

Friday, June 5, 2009

Did you catch Morning Joe this morning? I'm outraged.

The show came back on after a commercial break and Willy turned the mike over to Mika by saying..

"And now back to Mika, whose got two things...a great haircut and a look at the news."

The camera cut to Mika who was obviously offended as she threw Willy a look that could kill. She took a moment to compose herself, said to Joe, "No, I'm okay" and did the news.

This little example of chauvinism has me fuming. Poor Mika. Would that ever happen to one of the guys on the show? Hells to the no. But because she's the only woman regularly on the show, she's fair game for patronization. If you saw the look on her face you'd know that she wasn't happy with the comment, to put it mildly.

I'm thinking of writing a letter.

BTW: I saw her dad on The Rachel Maddow show last night, commenting on President Obama's speech. He seems like a smart guy. Did you catch Obama's speech? What did you think?

That old familiar feeling...

2009-06-03T13:12:00.021-05:00

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

I've got this year's vacation planned. A beach trip. Plain and simple. But next year Meghan will be graduating from college and Brad had this idea of establishing the tradition of a mother-daughter trip for the summer they graduate from college. As soon as Brad mentioned this idea and we booked Lauren's trip to London and Paris last year, Meghan told me she wants to visit Greece. So this is what we found.

We'd start here..

We'd visit here...

and here...

and here.....

Good thing we're planning early.

Gives me plenty of time to save.

Holden Beach

2009-06-02T07:42:00.005-05:00

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

I'm really starting to look forward to our summer trip to Holden Beach, NC. We haven't been in a few years so it'll be good to go back. We have a long standing relationship with that place. I've been going to Holden Beach since I was 8, the summer '70. My little sister, who is now 38, was conceived there (it's a well known family story so I'm not divulging anything here; something about a forgotten prescription, or so it goes). In other words it's part of summer for me.

This year the whole family is going; my parents, my family, my sister and my two brothers and their families. Seventeen of us. About ten years ago we all went together and it went well but for some reason we haven't done it again. This time most of the kids are pretty grown up. Nobody to worry too much about. My goal for this trip is to find my happy place, not to be too bossy, and to do only what I want to do.

But I'm also going to be realistic. I know there may be moments when I need a getaway. So far I've scoped out a few options....a free concert one evening and a nearby winery for an afternoon of wine tasting. I don't know what to expect from North Carolina wine but it may be worth a try.

The Big Reveal

2009-05-27T13:45:00.004-05:00

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Believe it or not it's grown some since last week. It still sticks straight up on top no matter what I do...Oh well. soon it'll be a bit longer....

I made Meghan pose with me. Isn't she beautiful?

bye bye brown

2009-05-19T16:03:00.002-05:00

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

I'm all gray now. And super short, kind of like a marine. Not loving it yet. In fact, I'm fairly horrified. But with time, hopefully it'll be fabu.....

Things.

2009-05-18T07:42:00.007-05:00

Monday, May 18, 2009

Hi all,

This has been a busy weird month for me.

I just don't seem to have the energy to blog about anything. The things that are on my mind tend to be flitting and fleeting and either too insignificant or too weighty for this forum. Does that make sense?

I need to find a way to go on or else this thing is going to implode and go away. Either I get a bit more serious or I let it go. I'm not sure how I feel right now.

The ability to connect well with a computer community may not be part of my DNA. I'm having a hard time with the two ends of the spectrum. At one end is an quasi-addictive obsession with my blog-o-spheric interaction and at the other end is a guilty sense of avoidance. I tend to sit at one end or the other and can't seem to find a happy medium.

This inability to find my place in the blogosphere is a metaphor for my life. I tend to be two people, at least two. I am both a deep contemplative who longs for authenticity and meaning, the monk in a cave, and at the same time I'm a spastic teenager who worries about being fat and how my hair looks.

Please. Bear with me.

Poker Face

2009-05-04T19:18:00.004-05:00

Monday, May 4, 2009

I don't know what I was thinking today. I told my co-worker, with a totally straight face, halfway thinking I meant it, that I would join her Monday evening running class. It's for women of all ages and all fitness levels who want to get back into running/walking. What was I thinking!? I know myself and there's no way in hell I'll be going to that class. I love the idea of joinging the group but when Monday rolls around I'm 99.9% sure I won't be there. God, I hate lying to my friends.

Amish Friendship Bread

2009-05-03T19:27:00.005-05:00

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Twelve days ago Abby was given a container of Amish Friendship Bread starter. On Friday it should have been baked. Unfortunately we didn't get around to it until tonight. The starter smells great, with no unseemly coloration and I'm hoping it's fine to feed, divide, and bake.

Does anyone have any experience with this and do you have any advice for me as to whether the bread will turn out and more importantly, whether it's fit to share? I'd love to give some away but I don't know how sensitive the starter is to timing.....

Anybody?

Home Alone

2009-05-02T05:34:00.005-05:00

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Mornin'!

I'm sooo glad it's Saturday. Brad's in DC this weekend for his annual meeting and I'm home alone with Abby and the dogs. This has been a long week.

Sunday we did the MS walk with our good friends from the neighborhood. It was a 4.5 mile walk around Reston (the scenic route which was very pretty). I found out my Nike's are a bit too small when I walk that far.

Monday I took care of all of my piled up paperwork, including filing our state taxes and submitting our FSA receipts. Hurray for me! Found money!

Tuesday I got to hang around for the AC guy. Then I took a lovely walk with my friend Ingrid and later practiced driving with my 16 year old after school. Fun!

Wednesday I worked 7-7 in the nursery. It was a ZOO!

Thursday I volunteered at the UUCF yard sale prep for sorting and secretly shopping.

Friday, another 7-7 work day, this one was crazier than Wednesday, and lasted till 9 pm.

Now it's Saturday! Thanks be to God! All I have to do today is go to the Board dinner with Brad down in DC. We're going to a swanky restaurant. I'm not a huge fan of these shindigs but it means a lot to him. As you may recall from our trip to Hawaii in January, I spend a lot of time worrying about what to wear. This time I have the added joy of my multicolored crew cut.

In the meantime, I've paid minimal attention to the news. I understand that folks are freaking out about the Swine Flu.?...I don't really get it. Thousands of people die of Influenza every year in this country but hardly anyone hears about that. Now we're ready to shut the country down because of a few documented cases of swine flu, the vast majority of which the "victims" have fully recovered. I just love a good fear campaign. Isn't the media great? Just the thing to get the germophobes riled up.

Have a great weekend! Rest up and Enjoy!

Sara

HVAC 101

2009-04-28T11:15:00.008-05:00

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Here's what I learned today.....

Change your filters every month. Not every two months. Especially if you have dogs. Even if your special order high quality filters are expensive and hard to get.
Pour white vinegar down the drain pipe of the air handler twice a year.
Pay for the service contract. It WILL save you money in the long run.
Some service people are still decent folks, not just looking to make a buck.

Hot....

2009-04-27T13:31:00.000-05:00

Defunct A/C.

urgh!

"Beach Ready Body"?

2009-04-26T15:21:00.003-05:00

Sunday, April 26, 2009

How's that s'posed t' happen? Seriously......?

feeling better

2009-04-24T10:11:00.004-05:00

Friday, April 24, 2009

Thanks to all of my friends, colleagues and fellow bloggers who were so generous with their compliments and words of reassurance yesterday, I survived the day with my self-esteem intact.

Have you ever pondered the phenomenon of a woman's identification with a part of her image, her hair, for instance? I knew I was self-conscious about my gray hair. Obviously. I covered it up religiously for the last 20 odd years. But to have it revealed to the world (okay, my very small corner of it) is humbling beyond my imaginings.

My husband can't get over my fragility regarding this experience. He's balding and graying and has been for some time. I think in his eyes it's just ridiculous to get so nervous about this whole thing. But regardless, he's being supportive and patient.

So I wonder...What would freak you out if you lost or changed or gave up a "beauty regimen"?

hair anxiety

2009-04-23T04:39:00.002-05:00

I'm experiencing some serious hair anxiety today. I'm trying to deal with a ridiculously short haircut and to figure out how to walk around with some semblance of dignity. It doesn't feel good and I know I shouldn't care, but I do and it's rough.

Ugh!

etc etc

2009-04-22T16:13:00.008-05:00

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Hey ya'll. I've been up to no good.

Just got my haircut again. Now it's about two inches all over and half silver, half brown. It's lovely. I'm feeling especially pretty these days. Not. But I'm still hopeful that it's going to turn out to be pretty. I'm starting to accept the color underneath the color. It's probably still gonna be a shock when the brown's gone but I have to see it through...

Went to a conference today on Late Pre-Term Infants. It was excellent, even if it was a bit long. Apparently with my advancing age I'm losing my ability to focus on academic topics for long hours at a time. Unfortunately the organizer thought that a bag of goodies at each place setting would help the participants stay awake and I consumed almost the whole thing. Ooog, barf-eroni. No dinner for me!

Been doing some yard work, trying to get the old homestead looking respectable. The front is nearly there...the back is going to require another burst of energy. Obviously not happening today.

Been getting a bit more involved in a few things at church. I'm taking a class on facilitating a small group (UUCF calls it a "covenant group"). I guess they hope to get things up and running in the fall and need a few new group leaders. I love working with small groups so I'm hoping it'll be good. Either way it's good to get to know a few more folks.

How 'bout you? Anything new and/or exciting?

Good Movie

2009-04-18T06:11:00.005-05:00

Saturday, April 18, 2009

We are so far behind the technology curve it's not even funny.

We don't have DVR, blackberries, texting, HDTVs, or anything else besides cellphones, and computers.

But we joined Netflix! For the lowest monthly subscription rate I can watch an unlimited number of movies on my computer and rent one DVD at a time. When I return the one I've just watched, they'll send my the next one in my "queue".

On Thursday night we watched Marley and Me. I was hesitant. I knew the story wouldn't end well for Marley. And it didn't. But what a sweet story about what a dog can teach his humans.

Dogs.....

live each day in the moment.

give love no matter what.

greet you like you're a rock star EVERY time you come home.

have a way of knowing when you're sad or sick and just being there for you.

They don't ask for more than they are willing to give of themselves.

If you've got a hankerin' for a real tear jerker that feels worth it in the end, try Marley and Me.

Blast from the past...

2009-04-16T15:36:00.013-05:00

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Today I was out browsing for a gift at Barnes and Noble and I stopped into Starbucks for a coffee. The woman behind the counter took my order and said, "Tall coffee for Sara, without an H. You probably don't remember me but I remember you. You took care of me when I had my first baby 15 years ago." Wow! I was impressed, not only did she remember me but she remembered that I don't spell my name with an H. But honestly, 15 years ago? She said she liked me so much she asked for me the when she went in for her next baby....I wasn't working apparently.

She said something that really struck me. ...."Never think that what you're doing doesn't affect people's lives, because it really does. No pressure or anything......just kidding." She was sweet. I felt flattered. I wish I had remembered her. Honestly, it's a bit freaky. But in a good way.

I'm a Fan!

2009-04-15T13:36:00.002-05:00

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Please check this out if you have not yet heard of Susan Boyle....

How fun is that?

upside down

2009-04-14T07:47:00.006-05:00

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Do you ever notice an inverse relationship between blogging and real life? It seems that often when life gets busy my ability to blog slows down. Lately, life has been flying by and my brain can't seem to settle down enough to come up with anything to post about.

I hope things are good with you all. And that you are blessed with happy hearts, precious people, and rich relationships.

Take good care,

Sara