Ignore Everybody

Tonight I want to give a quick shout out to Hugh MacLeod author of Ignore Everybody. Check out his blog--I have it linked to the title of this entry. What do you think?

The Perfect Storm

I'll likely regret saying this in about 24-36 hours when I have to begin digging out--but this is the perfect snowstorm. The fluffy flakes have been falling for hours now and we are a little over halfway through. I've sat by the window completely mesmerized by the dance of snow falling. At times it has been so heavy that I now truly understand the meaning of a "white out"-- sometimes it has been difficult to clearly see the building next to mine. The forceful wind is pushing large drifts of accumulation against anything stationary in its path. Temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing so the mounds of snow won't melt for awhile. That's okay with me, I'll stay inside toasty warm, sip my cup of tea and enjoy watching the remainder of nature's winter display, It is what it is.

Gotta Love Facebook

What a treat to log in to Facebook this morning and discover my friends and family were already posting birthday greetings. I'm getting to that age where tallying the passing years is less and less important, but that doesn't mean that I no longer want to be remembered.

Facebook has already proven to be a great way to reconnect with long lost friends and far away family. Discovering the well wishes this morning was an added bonus that made my day.

Happy birthday to me--It is what it is!

First Snow

This morning the first snow of the season is falling. It is so beautiful! We are getting the light, fluffy snow that seems to wrap the landscape in a soft blanket. Having grown up in Louisiana I missed out on snow in my youth, so I delight in seeing the flakes accumulate. Ironically, recent climate change has resulted in occassional snowfall back home. This particular snowfall began down south yesterday. What a joy to hear from family and friends share their wonder and excitement over the first snowfall of the season.

Oh well...It is what it is!

Oh well, ignore my initial promise to muse on an almost regular basis...that obviously isn't happening. The last couple of months probably would have been a little less stressful if I had blogged on a regular basis. I need to learn to get things that bother me out of my head and not dwell on things that I have no control over.

It is what it is.

Day of Remembrance

9/11 will forever remain as a day of remembrance in honor of the thousands of souls lost in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. For my family, Sept 11 was already a day of remembrance as it marks the day we buried my Mom at the end of her valiant battle against ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). She may have 'had" ALS--but ALS never had her. She was joyous and positive until the very end. She may be gone, but will never be forgotten.

To learn more about this insidious disease, or join the fight to eradicate it forever visit the ALS Association Web site alsa.org

Norma Jane Skipper
July 27, 1932 - September 9, 1998

What the...?

Has it really been almost a month since my last post? WTF? Where did the time go? It is fall already--the temperature didn't get out of the sixties today. I look around and see that the leaves are taking on vibrant hues of gold and red.

Speaking of the passage of time...President Obama gave an important speech on health care reform to a rare joint-session of congress last night. About 100 years ago Pres. T. Roosevelt was the first to propose health care reform. Not only were his efforts unsuccessful, subsequent Presidents efforts haven't fared any better. Everyone acknowledges there is a problem and that failure to do anything about it makes matters worse--yet here we are at another partisan impasse. Yet, they all continue to fiddle while we watch our great republic burn. What will it take to motivate our elected officials to set aside thier petty bickering and pass the legislation? President Obama said the two sides agree on about 80% of the issues--so put together a bill that addresses the 80% so we can get things moving then you can focus on a compromise to solve the remaining 20%. Can't we all get along? What the...?

The End of an Era

Wednesday morning we all woke to the news that Senator Edward M. Kennedy had passed away during the night ending his 15 month battle with brain cancer. The last of the Kennedy brothers to die --the onlt one to die of natural causes--Sen. Kennedy served in the United States Senate for 47 years. He authored or co-authored several thousand pieces of legislation--over 300 of which became law. He was a flawed man--as we all are--yet as a public figure from a prominent family his flaws were widely broadcast. Who among us could bear such scrutiny? He did withstand the glare of the spotlight and despite of it was able to profoundly change the lives of millions of Americans through his tireless work in the Senate. Civil rights, health care, education, labor, his professional life was devoted to serving as a voice and champion to the working man. We've lost a giant of a man. He leaves a void that won't soon, if ever, be filled.

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."

Feeling the Urge

I saw the newly released movie "Julie and Julia" tonight and left the theatre with the strong urge to cook something. I have a new appreciation both Julia Child and the art of cooking French cuisine. It is late and I need sleep so I will be back tomorrow to add more. Until then bon appetit!

It is now Thursday and I am finally getting back to finish this entry from Thursday. (Don't laugh, you know how easily distracted I am.)

The urge to cook something was still strong Wednesday so I put together an AMAZING casserole using a Southern Living recipe sent to me by my dear friend Marc. Sure, it is quite far from the high-end French cuisine Ms. Julia is known for, but this was the perfect recipe for me. OMG! the flavors were fabulous. If you want to want to give it a try look for the Bean and Cornbread Casserole in the July 2009 issue of Southern Living. When the recipe is posted on the magazine website I'll come back and give you the link.

I'm A Skyper!

I know, I know...you are thinking that I am a bit late jumping on the Skype bandwagon. Better late than never, right? I was on the phone with Marc and Billy tonight--somehow Skype came up in conversation so we decided to hang up the phones then see if we could figure out how to Skype instead. It was so easy. The download and install only took minutes. Before we knew it we were looking at each other while we chatted over the 2,000 miles that are between us. I'll be Skyping again soon. When you are on your computer be prepared, I might just Skype you too.

Life in New Orleans

I've been in New Orleans since Saturday afternoon. I've posted updates on my Facebook page, but this is the first opportunity that I have had to blog. Let me bring you up-to-date:

Saturday July 18
I had dinner at Broussard's with my dear friend Danny. I'm so happy to be back in New Orleans. What a treat to be back in Louisiana for a little while on a work-related trip. Life is good!

Sunday July 19

It was a lovely NOLA morning with bright sunshine, lower than normal humidity, and a slight breeze that kept the air circulating. By noon I was able to complete all of the work that I needed to finish before the meeting began at 5 pm, so I had a few hours to myself to get reacquainted with the Vieux Carre'.

The meeting got off to a great start then when walked down Bourbon street to Pat O' Brien's for dinner. Yeah, I know, Pat O's is very touristy--but most of the folks in my group have never been to New Orleans before and I want to make sure that they experience some of the highlights. They were awed by the flaming fountains and of course ordered hurricanes. The atmosphere was great--the cuisine was so-so--we'll have to make sure they get a taste of authentic Nawlins' food before the week is over.

Celebrating our National Freedom

Happy Independence Day!

We Americans take our freedom for granted most days, but once a year we pause to celebrate the birth of our nation and celebrate our freedom. Right now I am watching and listening to a live NBC broadcast from NYC. The beautiful debris from exploding fireworks fall in a coordinated dance to the festive sounds of the orchestra. Through our history other fiery flashes ended the lives of countless brave souls as they fought to protect our independence. Tonight we give thanks for the sacrifice of those patriots as well as for the blessings and favor given to our nation by our Creator.

A Creative Mind

Just beneath the surface waves of energy flow. Wave upon wave of ideas, thoughts, memories, questions. How do I tap into the flow and draw the energy forward? How do I tame the wild waves? There is so much mental potential waiting to break through. Do we all have the same capacity? Why are some able to bring their ideas to reality--into fruition--while others spend entire lifetimes with no apparent interest in trying to tap the source and discern what they have the potential to accomplish and who they have the potential to be.

Catching Up

The past few weeks have been hectic. A lot has happened in the world while I've been immersed in work. U.S. troops are leaving Iraq and turning control over the newly established Iraq military.At the same time a troop surge continues in Afghanistan with a once-and-for-all plan in place to destroy the Taliban--something that should have been done years ago instead of putting U.S. troops in Iraq in the first place. Of course going after the Taliban in the mountanious wilderness may inevitably resemble more of a futile game of Whack-a-Mole instead of a successful military engagement.

The world has seen the passing of several entertainment icons over the past week. I won't eulogize them here as so many others are doing. There is nothing that I can say that hasn't already been said. Life goes on and then death. It is what it is.

Another Friday

It may sound trite, but I don't care--I really look forward to Friday's. That has especially been the case lately. Work lately has been so busy--hectic, but also rewarding. Trying to maintain this physical and mental pace is draining. Just when I think that I may not have the fortitude to keep going, along comes a Friday and life slows down long enough to provide a brief respite and allow me to recharge. That is how it should be--a challenging and rewarding career and time to enjoy life. A balanced life--It is what it is.

New Toy

Yesterday my newest toy arrived--a mini laptop. It has been such a struggle to travel with my heavy, oversized laptop that I decided it was time to invest in one of these 'baby' laptops that I have increasingly noticed my fellow travelers sporting. This thing is so small I can throw it in my purse and always have computer access. My next trip isn't until the end of July--I look forward to seeing how this new machine performs on the road. :-)

Contrast

News of the violent demonstrations and government efforts to squelch the protests that have followed the presidential election in Iran are vivid reminders of the miracle of our American political system. In the United States we enjoy a peaceful transfer of power every four or eight years. Even in the aftermath of the bitterly disputed results of the Bush v Gore campaigns in 2000 our party leaders remained civil and there were no violent protests. Time and time again events around the world leave me in awe of the wisdom of our founding fathers for creating this hybrid Democracy/Republic that continues to stand the tests of time. As a Democrat on the losing side of the 2000 election I can somewhat empathize with feeling that an election was stolen, but then again I have no comprehension of what it must be like to live in a country where there is no transparency and no recourse for challenging the election results.

The fact that I am able to reflect on the 2000 election and express my dissatisfaction with the results is a gift that comes with being born a citizen of the United States of America. At this very moment Iranian citizens do not have access to Facebook, Twitter, cell phones etc because the government has shut them down. How ironic that one of the freedoms protected in the U.S. is our freedom to say negative things about that very government. No, the United States and it's political system may not be perfect--but it does seem to be the best thing that the world has going. I am grateful to be an American.

Slow-moving Saturday

After languishing in bed this morning I have now embarked on a slow-moving Saturday. Of course, as always, there are a lot of things that I should be doing--and I'll get to those tasks in good time--but for now, I'm going to kick-back and read, sketch, and chat on the phone to catch up with friends and family. Hmmm, maybe I am off to a productive day after all.

It is what it is.

Happy Friday

I am so happy that another Friday has arrived. It has been a busy week--actually, we are in the middle of a busy season in the office. I much prefer having a lot to do however, it does physically wear me down a bit. Life is good...I suppose that says it all for today.

Time!

SUCCESS!!!!

As you can see I figured out how where the time code setting is for this blog. Yesterday I mentioned that I was challenged to figure out how to do so. Oh how I cherish even the small victories.!

It's A Small World

I know the profusion of technology created to 'make our lives easier' is often more problematic than helpful, but that isn't the case with all of the tech-tools. Earlier today I facilitated a Web-based meeting with one person on the West coast and another here on the East coast. There was no travel involved. Prior to today we coordinated a time in our schedules when we were each available. Today all that we had to do was fire up our computers and Internet browsers then log on to the URL at the agreed to time. I've participated in Web-meetings, from work, from home, while traveling. In one of my first Web-meetings 6 or 7 years ago one participant was actually in her backyard hammock using a wireless connection and laptop to join-in. How cool is that? I like that we can use tools such as this to bring folks together and make this world a little be cozier.

Ah, wouldn't it be nice if all of life's challenges could be solved so easily?

Gorillas in the Mist

As soon as I stepped out of my home and into the world this morning I was enrobed in a blanket of thick fog. It was a tactile experience of a fine mist--I could feel the tiny droplets however, I was not not wet. As I walked to my car I remembered the movie"Gorillas in the Mist" and decided that I must be experiencing what the title was referring to. I don't recall if I ever actually saw the movie--I'm hopping over to Netflix now to add it to my list.

I love my job!

It's true, I really do love my job. I work with great people and do rewarding work--I also get opportunities for once-in-a-lifetime experiences. For example, Monday night I had the honor of being a guest at the annual Mathematics Olympiad Awards Ceremony, Dinner and Reception. It was held on the 8th floor of the State Department--an area that members of the general pubic rarely get to see. The rooms were gorgeous. While the building itself was constructed in the 1960's--the decor of that floor is in the fashion of the mid to late 1700's. The paintings and antique furnishings are stunning.

The most memorable thing for me was the chance to see the Treaty of Paris--I mean the actual document, signed in 1783 by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay. The treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War. Can you imagine?

Here are a few photos from the event:

Here we are enjoying the reception out on the terrace.

Look at this amazing view. That is the Lincoln Memorial and the Potomac River in the background.


Here is a glimpse of the dining room.

Elusive slumber

It is almost one in the morning and I am once again struggling with insomnia. I hate it when I get stuck in this cycle. I've never been able to identify a single trigger---stress? changing weather patterns? the moon? all of the above? who knows!

Tuesday

It is another Tuesday...it seems like they come around faster and faster these days. Wasn't it just Friday and I was getting my weekend started? Now 'suddenly' it is Tuesday again and my work week is well underway.

I left the office a bit early today to take care of a couple of appointments that I have been putting off. I went to the dentist for my 6-month cleaning and check-up. All is well, so I can put that behind me for another 6-months. I also had some lab work done in preparation for a doctor check-up. Why do we tend to delay taking care of small self-maintenance tasks such as this? It isn't like they are painful, disruptive or otherwise inconvenient.

Consistency

The fact that I have not blogged since May 17 makes it obvious that I am a little challenged when it comes to being consistent. I have the best of intentions, yet for some reason I do not always follow-through. Why not? I think the main reason is because I am easily distracted. I'll get excited about something new and dive in full force, then before you know it I've abandoned that pursuit for something new.

My latest interests are gardening, photography and drawing. My balcony garden is in full bloom right now and I enjoy sitting out there. When the two fountains are running it is my own private oasis. Sometimes I sit out there with my camera and try to capture shots of the birds that frequent the surrounding trees. When the birds aren't around I photograph different views of my space like this picture of the copper and brass fountain (now I have plants in those pots sitting behind it--I'll show them to you another day.

As for the drawing and sketching, I've played at teaching myself those skills on and off for a few years now. I'm finally beginning to see a little progress when I compare things that I have recently drawn to the ones that I did back then. I'll scan something to post one day.

Finally, there is this blog--I'm not sure why I feel compelled to jump on the bandwagon and join the blogosphere, but I do. Who knows? perhaps eventually writing here will help me develop the self-discipline that I need to be consistent. :-)

May 17, 2009

I have adopted "It is What it Is" as my life motto. The phrase comes in handy for so many times when faced with something out of my control. Rather than allowing my frustration to get the best of me, reminding myself that it is what it is helps me move on. This blog will be a way of documenting my journey and measure how well I am moving toward my goal to let go.