Support Your Local Library

A few weeks ago I was out and about and ended up needing to wait somewhere.  While there I happened to flip through the local free newspaper where I saw a listing of courses offered by the Reading Public Library.  Most were of no interest – basic Internet, beginning Excel and Word.  But then I noticed beginning Power Point.

I have no experience in that so I went off to work the next morning and requested to be permitted to attend.  Hey, training opportunity, free, within walking distance so yes, it was approved.

The class was today and I had a blast!  Many of the others there had attended all the other classes together so they knew I was new to the group.  A kindly older man patted my hand and told me not to worry, that I’d catch up in no time.  So cute!

The class began and the librarian instructing it was great.  He drew on the knowledge shared in previous classes, reinforcing what they’d already learned.  He made it interesting, fun and best of all easy to follow.  No, we’re hardly experts but in the few hours there we learned enough to set up a basic presentation, with encouragement to go off and be creative on our own.

Next month, he’s holding a Microsoft Publisher class.  Yep, I’ll be requesting to go to that one as well and I’m already looking forward to it.

Of the Green

Playing over on Figment today.  If you have two minutes click here to go read my new little tale.

Transition & Flux

The state of my life.  The state of everyone’s or it should be.  Even once you’re settled and think you’re exactly where you want to be I believe it is still necessary to keep growing to avoid stagnation.  And growth inspires change.  Oh sure, it may be gradual and in the same area where you already find yourself but it is change nonetheless.

As I sit here tonight, sipping a cup of inferior chai (I’m out of the good stuff.) I am being a bit introspective.  No, my life is not where I want it to be.  Yes, I think it may finally be heading in the direction needed to get it there.  No, I’m not that worried that I’ve reached this age and am still as far away from where I want to be.  Hey, it’s taken me all these years to figure that out so I’m really just beginning.  If it works out anywhere close to the rough plan I have, I’ll be a very happy girl.

Where do I want to be?  Sorry, no specifics but in general I want to have the freedom to be much more creative than I am now.  Yeah, not an easy goal but then what things that are truly worth it are easy?

So tell me.  Are you where you want to be or, like me, are you still evolving?

DOOM!!!

The Mayan calendar came and went without the world ending but now there’s something new to fret over.  In case you haven’t heard yet it’s called the Higgs Boson particle.

Not being much for physics you’ll have to go and research the technicalities yourself but it has something to do with being responsible for mass.  What it boils down to, in very basic, super oversimplified terms is this.  The universe as we know it is unstable.  It will one day miraculously realize that it wants to be in a different state and go poof, thus allowing an alternate universe to swoop in and replace the one we know and love.

Now before you get all worked up about this, stop!  It will happen at the speed of light so we won’t know what hit us.  And oh yeah, I forgot to mention that it will most likely occur tens of billions of years in the future which means it really won’t make much difference to any of us anyway.

So now you know.  I bet you’re just as thrilled as I am.

Rudely Awakened

There’s a new town crier in my neighborhood.  The past few years there was a huge tiger cat who would stroll through the yard, announcing his arrival as he came.  He’d stand where he could be easily seen from the back living room and side dining room windows.  My cats would hop up on the sills and get the scoop on the neighborhood.

The tiger seems to have been replaced.  There is now a very loud mostly black kitty who comes to share the local gossip.  He hasn’t learned to paraphrase yet.  Over the weekend he spent several hours talking in my yard.  He stayed so long that my cats lost interest and wandered off to nap.

Last night, in the wee hours of the morning, he returned and decided to sit on the outside of the non-functioning air conditioner while my cats perched on the inside of it.  Or so I’m guessing.  All I know is somehow the alarm system was triggered at that window.  At 3:45 AM.  This morning there were footprints on the top of the ac unit outside and my cats were afraid to scamper by it.

I’ve been happily ignoring that air conditioner for years.  It’s old and huge and very heavy.  Now however, I suppose I must deal with it.  Guess that’s the spot where my purging of useless things will begin.  Sigh.

A Lifetime Ago

It’s seems like just yesterday that I moved into my house.  I realized this morning that it’s not.  It’s been 25 years. 

The first five years were good.  It was a home, comfortable and welcoming whenever I walked in.  The next fifteen, not so much.  My fault.  Bad choices and all that.  I’ve since fixed the situation but it ruined the feeling for me.  Way too many bad memories for even the last good five years to rectify.

It is now just a house, the place I currently live.  Things are starting to go wrong and I have absolutely no interest in fixing them.  I’d much rather invest my hard earned money in my future and put it toward making an escape.

I have 25 years’ worth of accumulated stuff.  Well, that which was not stolen during the dark period in the middle.  I need to go through it and do a major purge.  The task overwhelms me when I think on it so more often than not I wander off and don’t even begin.  I had someone tell me once to do it in 20 minute increments.  Wise advice.  In theory that’s not so daunting.  In practice I haven’t been able to decide where to force myself to begin.

This week two individuals who were adopted extended family during my childhood died.  Both had good, long lives so while it’s sad and too soon it is not exactly tragic.  But it has me thinking, since mine is rapidly becoming the generation that will soon begin to die out.  Time to stop procrastinating and get to it.  I still have so much to do.  It’s just plain dumb of me to continue living in a place I’ve grown to hate.

Happy weekend, all.

Play for Me

Written by my friend, the talented Lois Kasznia.  Play for Me is Lois's second novel.  Do yourself a favor and go take a peek.  It just came out today so I haven't read it yet but if the humor in the book matches Lois's I'm sure you'll love it.  I know I will!

Blurb -


Samantha Stevens finds her life spinning out of control due to the downturn of the economy. One minute she's a young, hot shot Vice President in Chicago and now finds herself on the unemployment line. But not for long. In matter of days, she lands a job in Los Angeles working for aging rock star, Jett Robinson who wants her to help get his career back on track. Samantha quickly learns how to deal with wealth, sensitive egos and crazed fans.

Ian Andrews, a semi retired Navy Seal and architect, has been hired to do the work on Jett's house in Maui. Ian meets Samantha and is immediately intrigued by Samantha's smoking hot looks, as well as her humor, honesty and outlook on life. At first, Samantha is put off by Ian's model good looks, but soon finds Ian to be an amazing person.

Just as things between Ian and Samantha heat up, conflicts between Samantha's overprotective brother, her very opinionated mother and Ian's Seal connections become too much. Both Samantha and Ian want their relationship to work, but can true love really conquer all?

So Long, Lolong

The town of Bunawan in the Philippines is in mourning.  They lost their crocodile, Lolong yesterday. The cause of death has yet to be determined.

Lolong was estimated to be at least 50 years old and was the Guinness World Record holder of being the largest saltwater croc in captivity.  He was named after the environmental officer who died of a heart attack while assisting in his capture.

Bunawan villagers are tremendously saddened by his passing even though in prior years the crocodile was blamed for the death of several individuals.  There is a tribal funeral rite, complete with ritual sacrifices of chickens and pigs to thank the forest spirits, scheduled to be held at the ecotourism park where Lolong resided.

The local mayor, Edwin Elorde stated that Lolong would be preserved and returned to his place of honor. Philippine officials had planned on constructing a road to the park in order to make it more accessible to tourists. The article I read didn’t say if that project was still in the works, now that visitors would be viewing a stuffed carcass as opposed to a live crocodile.

Just Enough

To be pretty

I Have...

The most incredibly talented friends!  Last summer photographer Kim McClellan and writer Lance Cheuvront wandered through Lance's roots in Aliquippa, PA.  It inspired them to pool their brilliance.  The result?  Quip Town, an amazing compilation of memories, history and personal impressions through photos and prose.

Go here to get your copy.  Trust me, this is just the beginning for this duo.

Tillandsia Aeranthos

No, I can't really take credit for coaxing out the bloom.  It arrived already in bud.

Happy Weekend!