Dar's Two Sense

Just like old times...

My sister came to visit on Thurs & Fri. It was so great to have her here! She only lives about 3 1/2 hours away but doesn't get away too often because she's a breeder and has to be available for those doggies who need extra attention. You know, bottle feeding those who aren't eating properly... helping the females who're having trouble giving birth, etc. It's a round-the-clock job she has. And a real break when she can come home to visit. :-)

We did some heavy duty shopping, but put most of it back, lol. We brought home only the best of the bargains. There was a brief moment when I stunned myself by not fitting into the Capri's that should have been my size. Hmmm... note to myself that perhaps I need to exercise some discipline in the food department. Or just exercise, period. :-)

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It always brings back warm memories when dh and I pop into Steak n Shake for a quick bite (tonight's dinner). You see, for years we had only two other food choices near our home. Then came Steak n Shake! We ate there so often we knew the servers and managers by name, lol. Eventually, common sense (cents) prevailed before we totally blew the budget, and we weaned ourselves off the steakburgers. :-)

We go there about twice a year now. The servers' faces are all new to us, but the friendly, bustling atmosphere is still the same. I even took my journal in and did some writing.

Just like old times.

When It Rains... Look for the Blessing

Okay, I'm admit it. I'm still a tad bit miffed over the troubles I had with my web site and host. (I've gone from livid to miffed, so that's a significant improvement.)

When It Rains

There's a saying, "When It Rains, It Pours." A few years back, I changed it to "When It Rains, Look for the Blessing."

Hear me out on this one, ok?

It happens to all of us. Our morning starts out all wrong -- and it seems like the whole day is one big curse. Anything that can go wrong, does -- and we're not spared. Things seems like they're going from bad to worse. We keep checking our watches and praying that the day will be over soon. You know what I mean, don't you?

The wires are crossed, nothing's going to save the day except getting our buns in bed that night so we can start all over again. Maybe tomorrow won't be so bad...

Look for the Blessing

Amidst the chaos surrounding you on one of those *bad days,* teach yourself to be still. Stop. Now listen to the silence. Hear that blessing? It's there. Yes, it is! I guarantee if you listen long enough, you'll find it.

I learned this when I was just a kid. It happens to me, time and time again. When it's crazy and nasty and things keep hurling themselves at me, I let the storm pass. Because I know that, somewhere within the storm, that blessing awaits. Just for me.

I mentioned my site being down. Not only was it down, but I had not been notified. I found out quite by accident. It was down for several days, to add insult to injury. My biggest concern was that my faithful readers would arrive on the site and conclude I was history. That's pretty frightening to any webmaster who has worked hard to create and maintain their own site. And all this because of lack on the host's part...

Here's my blessing for the day: I arrived home to find a special email waiting for me. A gentleman had written for permission to read one of my articles on the air of his radio station. He does a special Christmas segment during the holidays and would like to use my article, 10 Reasons Santa's Broke this Year.

The Moral of the Story?

Always look for the blessing when things aren't going well. It has never failed me. I have really neat things like the above happen to me (on a regular basis). It's a lot easier to get through rough times when you know there's something great waiting around the corner for you. Your blessing's there. Go find it! ;-)

dar

A Father, A Champion

My site is back up! :-) It's somewhat belated at this point, but the Father's Day issue of newsletter can be found at the link below. Contained within it is my article, 'A Father, A Champion'

Father's Day: A Father, A Champion

Hope you enjoy!

Message to my Newsletter readers...

I wanted to let you know Monday's newsletter will be late. I'm hoping to have it out by Monday evening, possibly Tuesday. I do apologize! I'm having trouble with my host right now -- and plan to have the *issue* resolved on Monday. Please know that you won't be able to access my site until then. The problem seems to be on their end, and I'm livid with them at this moment. They've left me in limbo -- through a mistake on their part -- and naturally, do not respond to help requests on weekends.

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On a bettter note, remember the small bird (black head, ring of white acround his neck, brown-black feathers) I haven't identified yet? I'm still not sure what type bird he is, but I'm naming him Bandit. He's visiting the feeder on a regular basis. We've also had a visit from a Cardinal who is good looking as well. I wonder if there's such a thing as bird addiction... :-)

See you soon.

dar

Microwaved Mosquito

I microwaved a mosquito this evening. Medium-High, one minute. A pinch of salt, dash of pepper... (just kidding there) I know he was in there because the light stays on while the micro's on. And there he was. This was a first for me.

"Did he die?" you ask. (you're curious, aren't you?)

No, he didn't die. Not until I swatted him a good one. Since West Nile has become so prevalent, I'm no longer as charitable as I used to be with the Skeeters. I fear the critters will bite my dogs and they'll contract some horrible disease we've never heard of.

Who woulda thought that mosquito would survive the microwave, though?

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No sign of The Woodster Photo Pileated Woodpecker again, but others have been visiting the feeder. Yesterday (and today) I had a visit from a woodpecker with a mohawk-type strip of red for a crown. Cream underbelly, with brownish-blackish-white stripey feather pattern. According to the books, he's a Red-Bellied Woodpecker. (Photo Red-Bellied Woodpecker) He's quite a guy with that dark red on his head! I think I'll name him Red.

There's also a small unidentified bird that feeds on the deck. He has a solid black head with a white stripe around his neck. The rest of him is black and brown. Handsome, indeed. I'll have to look him up.

That elusive W-H-Y...

Earlier in the week, I referenced a page in Peg Kaplan's blog: What If... . She had written a piece I thought was great, entitled "Strangers in a Strange Land." She has received some good comments on it, too. (Hello, Peg) Needless to say, her posts (and others like it) are right up my alley. Gets me thinking, lol.

I don't know if there's just one solitary answer to why things are so different, i.e. we don't have time to even know our neighbors anymore. Yes, quite possibly (and my belief) we spend so much time making money that sometimes there's just not much left of us to give. But a comment had me thinking: There does seem to be so much more desire for 'privacy' nowadays. Seems we've been somehow trained to always call first. Or make that great appointment to get together...

Which makes me wonder why? Why such a huge desire for privacy -- that we willingly fence ourselves in, set up caller id, let the recorder pick up a call, etc. Sometimes we even hope no one drops by or calls. It's like we need that time to ourselves... and then some.

It reminded me of something that happened in my life about a year ago. A former coworker and I had kept in touch via phone (sporadically). We had talked of getting together a few times but hadn't managed it. She had just survived breast cancer along with some other really tough times in her life.

Dh and I were driving around one day when I recognized the street name. I knew it was where my friend lived with her dh. I talked dh into stopping in at the local supermarket where I picked up a colorful bouquet of fresh flowers. On the way back to find her place, there was a message in the back of my mind... "This is a no-no! It's not okay nowadays to drop in. It just isn't done anymore."

I usually listen to these messages -- always try to do the *right thing.* But this time I ignored it, called her on the phone stating that I was right there. Could I drop by? "Of course!" she said. So we did. She, her dh and I visited maybe an hour.

Less than a year later, her name caught my attention on the local news. She'd gone to work that day at a local church where she worked with homeless people. A homeless man had stabbed her. The damage was done and she did not survive.

I didn't make it to her funeral. The day before, we had brought a 16-y-o foster son home to live with us, and it didn't work out that I could go see her one last time.

I'm glad now that I ignored that small voice that day. I hope she forgives me for not being there for a final goodbye. After things settled down here at home, I wondered, "when did it become such a no-no to drop by to say hello?"

There's still one place I know of where's it's considered a great thing to drop in -- and that's in the small town where I grew up. Maybe 1,000 people or so... Problem is, it's over an hour away. And that can seem too far sometimes to pick up and go when life is so hectic.

... That elusive W-H-Y...

- Why are we *cocooning?* (A word coined by trend expert, Faith Popcorn, popcorn.html.)

- Why are we so busy that we hope no one drops by?

- Why are we building in such privacy measures -- while missing the openness of earlier days?

- Why is it, with all the modern technology and tools we have (designed to make life easier, remember?) that we seem to have less time and energy for others -- and for ourselves?

Any thoughts? Opinions? Hunches? Your comments are welcome. :-)

It's the woodpecker's fault...

I should be working on my half-finished ebook. Or on my Coach ezine. Updating my website, even. But not! That silly woodpecker derailed me... 'Woodster' is what I've named him. photo similar to Woodster

You see, Woodster showed up in my backyard about 2 weeks ago. He visited a stump back near the fence, drumming away happily. I stood in awe, because I've never seen such a large woodpecker. I've never watched one drum for as long as he did, either. He moved into the neighbor's yard after a few minutes.

The cartoons have done these beautiful woodpeckers an injustice. He was majestic, and I was fascinated. His beautiful red head worked feverishly chipping away at the stump, over and over. I stood there wishing I had a video camera with me. Although in truth, it wouldn't have been able to capture the speed and consistency the Woodster portrayed.

Seeing Woodster that day left me in a research mode. I believe he's a "Pileated" woodpecker, according to his coloring and behavior.

Last week found me hanging some suet in hopes of attracting him again, or others like him. We'll see if it works... I also found info on designing a yard to ensure the woodpeckers will always have a habitat -- and food year round.

I found myself thinking of my grandfather who passed away several years ago. He would have loved Woodster. He probably could have told me anything I needed to know about the woodpecker. Grandpa loved wildlife and all living creatures, and continued his love of nature after retiring as a Missouri Conservationist.

Woodster by himself is not what fascinates me, though. I've had Grandpa on my mind for several months now. I'm not sure why. He's just there. Several months ago, I began a morel mushroom habitat. It was Grandpa who taught me to distinguish the good mushrooms from the poison ones. The morels were our favorites. He also showed us where the choice spots were for finding them... I'll see if those spores take. If they do, I'll get a picture and post it for you.

I'll share more thoughts of Grandpa another time. It's late and I'd best hit the hay.

I, too, miss those days...

Peggy Kaplan of What If... has a great post up: Strangers in a Strange Land. Really great thoughts there (go check it out). Here's a small piece of her post:

I think part of our detachment from others comes from an unhealthy relationship with materialism. Every waking hour must be spent in the pursuit of more money, more assets, more "stuff."

Who has time to get to know the neighbors? To sit for a few hours over a cup of tea, or take long walks and discuss age old issues?

Hmmm... My thoughts exactly. I call it the Rat Race -- that elusive race many of us seem to be participating in -- whether passively or consciously. How, exactly, do we *win* the rat race, by the way?

Some years ago, I found myself competing furiously in just such a race. I recall putting myself on *pause* one day (after many years), and began to take time out to really think about where I was headed, rushing about so furiously. And the 'why' of it... It wasn't getting me where I wanted to go. I didn't long for a larger home to clean, or a fourth car to insure and protect (add a bigger garage to store it, too)...

No, I wanted none of those things. I simply wanted a more simple life. One where I would have time and energy to meet with a friend at a coffee shop if I felt like it that day... I didn't want to *squeeze* it in amongst all the other *musts.*

That year, I came to the conclusion that my *musts* were mostly a result of needing to make money to pay for those *musts.* But I was so busy working that I could no longer enjoy even a peaceful existence.

Those of you who know me will also recognize this: that was also the year I made up my mind that I wouldn't be trapped into overworking to pay for things (which I didn't have time to enjoy anyway.) Yes, that's the year I decided to go debt-free. Along with that decision came my commitment to never, ever owe anyone money -- which in turn could trap me into working jobs I don't like, or more hours than is healthy for a soul.

I now encourage others to do the same. I do have one regret: that I didn't do it sooner. :-)