Part of the Shoebox Generation

I spoke with a friend today and I told her that I was cleaning out bedrooms because my son wanted to switch rooms.  He wants to move into the bonus room, formerly occupied by my oldest son, and by the oldest and middle son when they were toddlers.

The room still held remnants of that period of time when there were bunk beds, as the high shelf of trophies and soccer picture gives testimony to.  It also was additional storage space for some of my photographs that never got placed into albums.  He asked that all the stuff be moved except for the multitude of books.

I told my friend it was sickening to see how MANY photos were still in their sleeves just waiting for a proper home.  She said we were part of the shoebox generation, where we store photos and stuff in shoeboxes for a later date that sometimes never comes.  I really got a chuckle out that, thinking that we lived in an era of time that did that.  I wonder if the younger generation does that, or if everything is stored digitally.

I am not complaining about the number of pictures that I have--I'm still reeling over my stolen camera and most of our photos from the European family vacation we went on several years ago--I just need to make a concerted effort to do something with them, so they can be enjoyed.  I wish I had utilized the available technology for instant uploads.

Live and learn.

Running Through the Halls

I have been thinking about this lately, especially as I tweak the blog.  In my profile description it states that I am walking sometimes running on the road of life.

I don't know why, but when I am at church sometimes, either when I was working or when I volunteer, sometimes I run to my destination.  Often times, I am "caught" running through the halls.  

I suppose it makes me feel more energetic when I do this.  It's not a full-blown, drag-out run at full speed type run.  It's more of a light-hearted, tippy toe run.  I suppose I can get more done, faster.  Perhaps.

Spending a Small Fortune on Carpet Cleaning

You know the drill.  Get all your junk off the floor, vacuum up the dust balls, the stray Skittles and M&M’s along with the stuff-stuffed-into-boxes-so-you-can-deal-with-it-later frenzy so that you are ready when the carpet cleaner arrives.

Over the years I have cleaned my carpet in various ways.  I have cleaned it myself with a rented machine and used various carpet cleaner outlets.  Recently, I have used Linton’s Carpet Cleaners.  Linton and his wife Neela take pride in their work.  They charge a pretty penny for it, but you know what you are going to get.  Super clean carpets.

Linton will tell you that he will not haggle with the price.  He is very up-front about that.  Still, you try to weasel an area rug here and carpet mat there into the overall price.  Today, I think he was trying to make me happy.

The best part of getting carpets cleaned is the time right after, when, if you are fortunate to have a hot, dry day so that the carpets dry faster, you can spend a little time amidst your boxed clutter to admire how good each room looks unfilled and contemplate what stuff you might be able to get rid of.  You can’t move about your house freely, so you either lock up and go out or you sit with the drying carpets thinking about what else you would like to clean or update.  Really what you think about, is what items can be given away so that the next time the carpets are cleaned, the stuff won’t have to be moved.

My Last Day

I had a really nice send off from my crew at work.  I think, mostly, it was really good to get together outside of an office setting.

I am so glad it was a long drawn out process of losing my job.  It allowed me the luxury of living in denial for awhile and then finally coming to terms with it and then acceptance.  I guess that is the same for any "death."  We live little deaths each day.

Maybe, in the end, after I come to full acceptance, it will seem like a gift was given to me, especially since it is summer and the living is free and easy. It's only been a few hours--I really haven't unwrapped it yet.

I will try to make the most of it.

It's Only Been 5 Years-Why Have a Blog?

Wow, a lot has happened in five years that I am not even going to begin to summarize. The short synopsis is I began working for my church, thoroughly loved it, a reorganization is taking place and my last day is tomorrow. I had a really hard time yesterday.

 I've been ramping up my resume, created a Linkedin file and have been contemplating what I want to do next. As I was researching how to do something on Linkedin, I noticed a webpage that talked about blogging and how it is not as popular as it once was. I then remembered that I started one (a blog) only a mere five years ago. I hopped on it and was pleasantly surprised and I really did amuse myself all over again.

 But now, the braces are off, my hair is longer and more gray, I've obtained a few more inches around the waistline which I am going to work on in the interim between jobs and the kids are older and out of the house except for the youngest. The one thing that stayed the same is that I still have only one follower. I'll have to work on that. I might pick it up again because I find writing cathartic. Even if it is just rambling. Of course, that wouldn't be my objective with a blog.

 I am still making those connections in my life. Right now, I am trying to figure out why is God asking me to change and, of course, what is His will for my life. I feel lost right now. Nothing that a good, deep house cleaning wouldn't solve I suppose. Five years has flown by just like that.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! It's still Easter you know. It's may 6th and it's still Easter. The weather here in Washington, even feels like it's still Easter. It's unseasonably cold this Spring. It's Easter until the Pentecost on May 23 when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. For me, Easter this year has been about the Alleluia. It's been all about the Alleluia. Don't ask me why right now, but it's been all about the Alleluia.

I was at church today for a meeting and went into the church to measure the statue of Mary's head for the May Crowning. I blessed myself on the way in and on the way out. The Baptismal font is in the center of the church and I have noticed that upon entering and exiting I NEED to bless myself. There are other doors to which one can enter or exit but there is no Holy Water there (I'll need to bring that up to the Liturgy Team I'm on)and I feel incomplete if I don't bless myself with the Holy Water. It could be habit but to me it's more than that.

Well today and other days I've noticed that I would bless myself and then after a little while I would inadvertently look down at my chest and there will be big spots that at first look like grease and then, yes, I remember, I just blessed myself and it's Holy Water. I have done this quite a few times lately, the noticing of that anyway. It kind of amuses me because, I must be so immersed in the moment of blessing myself that I forget to look immediately whether I've sprinkled myself with the water. Something to ponder.

Shakespeare to Ponder

I found my son's page of homework and was entranced.

Shakespeare Sonnet No. 94

They that have power to hurt and will do none,
That do not do the thing they most do show,
Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,
Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow--
They rightly do inherit Heaven's graces,
And husband Nature's riches from expense;
They are the lords and owners of their faces,
Others but stewards of their excellence.
The summer flow'r is to the summer sweet,
Though to itself only live and die,
But if that flower with base infection meet,
The basest weed outbraves his dignity.
For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds:
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.

It reminds me somewhat of the writings of St. Paul who wrote in Romans 7:15 What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate...
I want the Easter lilies to last as long as possible. The life of flowers is fleeting. I guess you could say that about life sometimes. I'm feeling like the bloom has left the peach lately. The department store lighting at the make-up counter did not do my face any justice last week. I could see all the wrinkles in detail, which was magnified by the horrible department store lighting. I need to face this aging thing. There is no other alternative on earth.