Time sure has a way of getting away from me. One minute it's May and the next minute it's July and I'm losing one of my babies ( Snippy ). Fast forward and it's September. I cleaned up the planters on the porch today. Seemed I hadn't touched them since July, and everything was dying of thirst. Many plants went on to their next lives in the yard waste.
Mowed the whole lawn . THAT was dying of thirst too ! Ran the sprinkler for a few hours to give it a good soaking.
Then I took a bit of a break and flipped through the TV channels. Nothing very exciting on, so I guess I'm happy for the beautiful day and the needy yard ...
BEFORE the yard stuff , I went to REI for new shoes. Rugged, durable, super lightweight and a quality, cozy fit ... BEAUTIFUL !
Can you see the cat in this picture ??? KittyBoi Gus is a lovely, fun and playful addition to our family. ( Although just minutes after this picture was taken, he made a leap from the fan and it went crashing to the floor ...scared the crap outta both of us ! )
Life has been, well ... life. Kelly is working in management now, so her hours are long and we have little time to spend together. It's tough transitioning. It's not just about not having much quality time, it's also about redistribution of our " home stuff " so things continue to get done. It's a work in progress, to be sure. We're doing ok, but it's a little stressful when things slip through the cracks ...We are actively considering our next vacation, so that ALWAYS helps : something to look forward to. We've been invited to join the family again in Hawaii in March. We are pondering that, along with a couple other trips we'd hoped to make. Looks like Italy or a Rosie cruise will just have to wait until next year. Wisconsin is a big probability in July next year too.
Elsewhere in my world, hmmmm ... what's happening ?
I've been walking every work morning for six weeks now. Traffic is always a mess for me, so when one of my work friends suggested she wanted to exercise more, we decided to commit to a morning walk. It's been great ! My routine is to get to work an hour early and walk the five minutes up to the local park. I meet my friend there for a 30 minute walk, then I walk the five minutes back to work. Oh, I'm not setting the world on fire with my exercise routine, but it does feel really great. It helps clear my head before I walk into the crazy place that is the Post Office. My friend is Muslim and observes Ramadan beginning tomorrow, so she may not be walking with me for a month or so. Since my routine is established, it's ok with me to go alone. I actually know many of the early walkers now on a " nodding/hello basis ;) So I'm not really alone at all ...
A clear head is always a good start to those days that feel full before they even begin. I have two good friends with cancer right now. Both on my route; people I've been very fortunate to know in the past several years. One is a very recent diagnosis, and he goes in tomorrow for a first surgery. The other has been battling for a couple years, and after a recent stem cell transplant, may be nearing the end of his options for treatment. Cancer is no longer the bogeyman. It is SO much a regular part of life. Everyone is different in how they deal with it,although I sometimes wonder what's bubbling beneath the surface. I read Leroy Sievers Cancer Blog every morning. He's been battling cancer for over a year, and writing a blog about his experience. His blog has a link on NPR. He's very frank about his treatment, his options, his chances ... he talks very openly about how it feels. It's a wonderfiul insight into something I can only imagine. I hope I never have to compare notes with him. At the same time, I am grateful for his willingness to share this journey. Reading it has already helped me so much to be available for these two friends, and not be afraid to talk about it.
Keep a good thought for those two men of mine. Maybe say a prayer if you're inclined.
I'll end this for now, but promise to do better at keeping it updated. Fall is just around the corner and I'm looking forward to football ( Go Seahawks ! ), chilly mornings and the riot of color that only changing leaves can bring. This late summer has been enjoyable, but I'm ready for fall ... bring it on !
