Be careful what you ask for

I asked for balance and got the opportunity to practice it.

I attracted a little drama this week. My new neighbors are building a giant house and have kind of elbowed their way onto my property with an elevated driveway, saying it's their property.
Oh My, time for a surveyor.

Work is picking up the pace, more improvement workshops to lead, classes to teach and meetings to run....glad to have the job~ I'm lovin' it.

The house is empty for about 4 days, allowing me time to do homework. I got a nice visit from my dad and Terry, they came up from Oregon City for a couple of hours and got quite a few roses that I was getting rid of. Also helped me gather up old hoses and rope lights from the back yard. yes, rope lights...apparently the lady that lived here before loved them in trees. The bulldozer is coming in next Saturday to take out stumps, rhodies and a few other things to make way for the vegie garden and the brick patio. I'll post some before and after pics.

I finished up the PLA paper on Conflict Management....good reminders while I continue to work through the whole boundary issue.

I also got some time in the sun and took the convertible out for a spin, grabbed a chocolate shake and visited my aunt for few minutes.



Now, back home ready to dive into my Writing class homework and start my next paper on Listening.shhhhh.

Practicing Balance......

I did say that was one of my goals this year...well, be careful what you ask for!

I am looking forward to how I practice Balance over the next three or four months:

Still have a full time+ load at school through June 12th

Traveling a bit this month for work

My sister and nieces moved in about a month ago...so far, so good

Stir in a couple more things...

Moving my office space back into my bedroom, my niece is moving in from Montana to what was my office room the first week of June. My sister may come along for a visit at the same time,,,

The first week of June will be interesting and a definite opportunity to practice balance as I finish up the term, move some things around and a niece in. I am really excited about her arrival. I have been telling her for a few years that she was more than welcome to move out here and in with me, when she finished her teaching degree. I can't believe it's here already: excited!

It will be fun having the three nieces here this summer to enjoy the lake and each other.

Time to practice balancing my day....

I am going to keep this trip in mind...I walked a lot, saw a lot of history in both England and Greece. I had time on the beaches, in the museums, enjoyed the Mykonos night life, some quiet time by the pool and great exercise....all balanced...

Happy Mother's Day to those of you who have been blessed with that role.

Travel, homework, travel, zzzz

I'm not sure what I was thinking! Yes I do~ I was convinced that my 75% travel job would allow me time to go to my hotel room in the evening and do homework without the distractions of home; no lawn waiting to be mowed, house waiting to be cleaned, ,,,you get the idea.
I am taking two on line classes this term plus committed to completing 5 essays for PLA.
My travel was a little less at the beginning of the year, but has picked up. So last week I was in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Beautiful sunny weather, the softest sand I have ever felt; like baby powder. But being committed to school I trudged up to my hotel room only to find the 'free wireless', less than cooperative.
Working at a supplier's site this last week was exhausting and very rewarding. Working with them we were about to help them find a way to improve thier specific process by about 350%. Halfway through the week, both my co-worker and I decided that walking two blocks to dinner was too far, so we drove. Needless to say I then needed some serious zzzzz's which I got a few of, but not much.
To add to all of this, I had the 'pleasure' of seeing television this week and watching all the warnings about swine flu and how I shouldn't be traveling in an airplane...what? great! I still needed to get home, do laundry, homework and pack for another flight out Monday. This time it's to Nashville. As much as I have always wanted to go there, I will not be doing any sight seeing.
I am going to push through this 20 credit term, and then go back to a normal full time schedule of about 12. I will still be able to reach my goal of Graduation by June 2010, but have a little more balance. Ok, enough bloggin' time to get after my next essay....ciao' for now

Sunday dinners

I remember when we would go to Hood Canal with my family and spend the weekend with my Grandma GG. We would get clams, crab, oysters and goeduck. We would spend the day at the beach and the evenings laying around their living room floor watching TV or just visiting. I loved the afternoons when we would sit around and shell crab into a large yellow tupperware bowl at the center of the round oak table. ~ One bite for me, One bite for the bowl.~
I want to create that sort of environment with my family and have started having Sunday dinners a couple of months ago. It started out as an every other week event, but is growing into weekly. My son and his fiancee' come over, and Kelly and her girls, my mom came over last week. I can't wait for Heather's family to move closer and start joining in.
It has been a great way for everyone to catch up on each other's lives and spend time just being with each other. We spent yesterday afternoon outside helping to clear away the leaves of a former rhodie and cooking together, each of us doing what we wanted to.

During this time in my life and in the time of the world craziness, it is more important to me than ever that I spend time with my family.

Spring Fever

I think I've caught a bad case of it. The weather started turning nice and I've just wanted to be outside working in the yard. I've cut back three rhodie bushes/trees, each over 6 feet tall and two to go before the small bobcat comes in to dig up the roots. I removed the rest of the brick patio from the back 40. I even went and bought a new mower since my other one died. And while I was at it, the weedeater died too....so another new tool came home with me. My lawn looks great now.

As for school, well I am keeping up on my weekly classes, but have fallen behind on my PLA papers so I need to hit it double time to make sure I complete all five by mid-June. ARGH!

Work is good, a little crazy right now, but good. I am so thankful to have the job that I do.

Easter

Happy Easter to you!
I am spending it at home with my sister and two nieces. My son and his fiancee' are coming over for dinner, along with my mom.
I've spent most of the morning reflecting on how important Christ is in my life and what a difference he has made.
I am, and will be forever, grateful for my family and friends.
Have a truly blessed day.....

Earth Mother??

Today I got up early, scraped the thin layer of ice off of the Suburban and headed to our town's recycling sales day. I got in line with all the other anxious people ready to make a difference...but mostly we just wanted to save $$$$ on our 'earth friendly' items. I got two 90 Gallon rain barrels for watering the plants & lawn this summer ($35 ea. instead of $179), then a couple of "Earth Machine" composts, one for me and one for my son-in-law. I felt great about beating the crowd and saving $$, I enjoyed some dried organic apples for a snack and started homework and decided it was too nice for me to be inside all day. After all it was a day to focus on health and our natural resources.
I began to unload the rain barrels and discovered they came up to my shoulder when they slid out of the back of the truck! ~Strange, I didn't notice them being that tall when the handsome man was loading them for me.~ None the less, I proceed. What happens next is almost~almost~ funny...I try to figure out how to man handle this thing and discover that there is not only no place to hold it, but it's HEAVY!
So, I decided to maybe move it end over end....but not so easy when it's flat on one side and round on the other....that's when I got the first bruise! right on my shin...#$@#$%$^$, yes, it hurt!
I wrangle the thing into a position to try and pull it along....not a great idea with the pine needles, garbage cans and assorted yard care items in my path. That's when all goes into slow motion and I see myself falling over the barrel and the same shin is now hurting again. ~

I decide not to look under my jeans until I've figured out a way to master this beast. I just don't want to know...After a few more minutes of wrestling I found my arms in a position that worked! I could easily pick it up....and do.
Having placed both barrels into a temporary storage spot until I decide to hook them up to my gutters and drainage system, I retreat back into the house.
Earth Mother time is finished , now sporting a 4 inch long scrape and bruise on my shin for my efforts.
Homework and something really UNhealthy is calling my name....ok, I guess its a little funny :>)