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Yesterday, on the way home from work and picking up Natalie from ballet, we stopped in downtown Auburn. They have " gutted " an entire city block to make way for a new Convention Center and City Park. One of the buildings was a Ballet Academy and I have driven by the empty space a hundred times. I noticed something spraypainted on the wall inside, and yesterday ...I stopped. Great piece of small town history ... Great message to share with Nat as we strolled the block, peeking in doorways at empty spaces ...I hope to go back soon with a better camera than my phone... but this captures it just fine ...

" Dance Like No One's Watching ..."

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Finally a weekend away. Well, not really even a whole weekend, but I'll take a good long Saturday and most of Sunday. Laconner was quaint and charming as ever. There are new " innkeepers " at The Wild Iris so we were a bit curious as to the changes they may have made, but it was as wonderful as we remember. In another month or so the tulips will be popping up everywhere ! There is nothing quite like spring in Skagit Valley. We usually go in February, but someday we'll take The Clipper over for a day trip if only to take pictures !

Life has been busy. Mostly I think it's because I'm working a little more and I seem to be commuting A LOT more. My day gets sucked into this drive/work/drive vacuum and I just know there's SO MUCH more I could be doing with my time and my life. I am still volunteering on Thursdays for a couple hours, and I have joined a soccer team that begins this March ! THAT oughta be interesting ! I played for years as a young person, but ever since that fateful last day of RUGBY ( a wrecked knee AND a small ROCK imbedded in the back of my head !! ), I haven't done any competitive sport. This should be more fun and exercise than anything else, but we'll see !

Just saw " 8 BELOW " this afternoon ! What a great movie! I think I cried about four or five different times ! Really good show. We also managed to watch one of our DVD's in Laconner ... " In Her Shoes ". LOVED that one too ! We're two for two on the movie front !

Besides being back at work tomorrow I'm looking forward to a good week !

State of The Union ( 2243 )

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So,the New Year is beginning with a BANG in Iraq. Let's hope and pray that cooler, wiser heads will soon prevail and we will find a way to begin leaving that country. The " spin " of this war by the administration STILL does NOT match the reality. It was a colossal mistake. It will take a bold decision of an equal magnitude to stop the insanity. I hope and pray we will soon elect a leadership who has the courage to do what is truly right.

On other, lighter notes ...

Finally got a good nights' sleep. Otter is SO insistent on getting up before 5AM that it's almost impossible to sleep in to any degree. I am glad Kelly's home and can take back those morning " Otter duties " ... at least on my days off. Today I'll be rested enough to tackle taking down all the Christmas decorations. I wish we had a tree year round in here . Not exactly a Christmas tree, but something green and alive ... I may have to start looking for a new years' edition to our family room ...

I have lots of art projects to finish. I mailed SOME cards to the cARTalog project in IOWA, but I have more to contribute. Also have a couple to do on Postcardx. I'm trying ( AGAIN ) to start reading Million Little Pieces , and I'm listening to Jonatha Brooke and my new FAVORITE, Anna Nalick. Her lyrics are really phenomenal. Definitely worth a listen !

I have no real resolutions still. Maybe to just keep up a bit better here ...

Oh, and that kindness thing ... :)

Happy New Year !!

Now THAT is what I call a FEAST ! Thanks, Steve ! Outstanding !
Happy New Year everyone !


I'm not sure I have any real resolutions this year, although I can always hope to be a bit more centered and lean further toward kindness in those instances where I have a choice. My last fortune cookie proclaimed that next month ( THIS one, January ) would be my most profitable one in 2006, so I am DEFINITELY buying a lottery ticket today. I don't imagine the post office will be springing for any bonuses, so it must be " lady luck " I am courting this year ! I'll stay aware .

Aside from that, I hope 2006 continues to bring us all good health.

I've made some new friends this year and I hope to continue to cultivate those relationships. Now that I think about it .... maybe that fortune wasn't talking about " money " after all. Maybe it was a different kind of " profitable " ...

Here's to family and friends *

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Merry Christmas Everyone !

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Give PEACE a chance ...

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Those who know me best, know that I am on a long, winding spiritual journey. Many twists and turns along the way, trying to find what I believe to be my own spiritual center. I'm not there yet, but what I envision is a spinning ball; a riot of color at the very core. Something brilliant and solid. I only mention it all this morning because there are days I feel like all I can do is ask The Universe for help. Ask for patience. Ask for peace. And so today I am asking ... for P E A C E . I know it begins here, inside me. So, with a blanket of freshly fallen snow outside I resolve that it begins here. With me. Today.

I've got piles of projects sitting around begging for my attention. Everything from ATC's to Christmas cards, to the cARTalog Project for the University of IOWA. I love this time of year. I am perpetually behind, but behind in the sense that there's so much to give and so little time to prepare it all for the window that is Christmas. I imagine some wishes will be late ... others will arrive just in time ! I've got a couple pictures of these projects in process ...

Do let me know what you think ...*

TidBits : Rosie's Blog Store opens soon. Check it out. All profits go to charity so your " gettin' " is really " givin' " ! I still hope everyone has seen CRASH by now, but if you haven't ... I highly recommend doing so. It is the most thought-provoking film I've seen in a long time. It's not a family show. But in the sense that what you learn and discover about yourself you can share, I'd say it is ALL ABOUT what you can do FOR your family. Sometimes it's important to be FOR something ...

Enjoy the pics ...

Hope you are all ready for the holidays !

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Tonight as I was driving home I was mesmorized by the moon. And not just the brightness or the size ... but the little star that seemed to hang just below. I tried to photograph it, but even that borrowed moment was not to be had. It is really remarkable. It's been a very reflective week. I'm not sure what caused them to come about, all these restless thoughts of days past, but I am actually welcoming them to me. Taking pleasure in reliving time that has passed. It could just be the full moon ...it could be something more.

It doesn't really matter, the why. All that I need to know is that I feel a little different tonight. Sharper, more like the Bonnie Rae I remember. Maybe even a bit more spiritual, though I couldn't pick a thing ; point at it ; and say " that's it " . Nothing is ever that clear

Or that simple.

Wish I could have captured that moon ...

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In war, there are no unwounded soldiers. ~José Narosky

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AND SO IT IS ...

OTTER

Over the river and through the woods, to GrandDad's house we go ... I realize she doesn't look THRILLED to be in the car, but there is a definite contentment that is unmistakable .

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Ahhhh ... Sunday morning. Nothing quite like a few hours relaxing and mindlessly searching the internet for whatever comes into my mind. I've become spoiled on GOOGLE search. It seems to somehow understand how I think, and allows me to type in just about anything and get responses back. As an example, type in the word " failure " . See what comes up. No real surprise.

Kelly seems to think I'm not very effective at getting my point across with regard to my political opinions. She says I leave the debate open, that I don't have a point or closure. I say I do. Mostly, it is about broadening your vision of the world. If we lived in the soundbite world of network TV we'd be doomed. We need to challenge our best selves to search for MORE information. Watch several different shows on the current news. Listen to more than just ONE radio program, and be mindful that if it is " Talk Radio " it is NOT news. Read more than just the local paper. Explore blogs. Read news online. It was amazing to me to read the New Orleans newspapers after Katrina. There was NOT a lot of sugar-coating. There were pictures of a very harsh reality. If I were to only have read my local paper, I would have an incomplete picture. I also sought out photo journalists. It helped me understand the real nature of the situation. I'm just saying we need to WAKE UP.

I meet hundreds of people a week and have lots of opportunity for chit-chat. It surprises me how many people don't " follow " politics . It's really like saying " I don't care if other people decide what is best for me " . I think it is irresponsible to "NOT follow " a process that determines so much of how we live our lives.

I know there are people who think I'm a bit radical. That's fair. I am the opposite of FOX News. The opposite of " soundbite " network reporting. I seek out information, do my homework, and decide in my own mind that the thing I should fear is not terrorism or bird flu, but an establishment that is slowly taking away my rights. And it's not just about my rights. It is about privelege and wealth and world power ... and if you don't believe it could happen here, think again. My prediction of a police state and a cancelled 2008 election are among my least popular theories, but among my worst fears.

And finally, Kelly and I are still at odds about God. She turns to God for comfort, and I am still searching ...

( FYI : Otter is doing wonderfully in her new home. She has adjusted to her surroundings and is establishing herself in the family. It's good to have such a sweet diversion most days ... )

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Yes, that's what it says ... TWENTY THIRTY FIVE. TWO THOUSAND THIRTY FIVE. It's been just over a week since we hit 2000. I don't even know what to say about that ...

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No further comment needed today on that number. Sad, just so very sad ...






On a lighter note, we may have gotten ourselves a new addition here ! We signed up with Seattle Purebread Dog Rescue and " Otter " came to us last night. Well, actually WE came to " Otter " . We had signed up in hopes of " rescuing " a needy pet. ( We lost Bosco in March. She was 15 and a half. ) Otter had lived her whole life with one woman before a stroke made her unable to care for her. Otter's 12 and in darn good health for her age. She is also a sweet, sweet spirit. Even Snippy ( our cat ) has taken to her. After a night apart, they woke up today and quickly became fast friends. It's nice having a dog underfoot again . I love the little tapping sounds her toes make in the kitchen, and the little snoring sounds she makes when she sleeps. And mostly it just adds a delightful energy to our home.

Thanks SPDR ! We think she's going to love being part of our family *
Hope she doesn't mind if we call her OtterGustazzi !