I Am Here....

A few of you have inquired about my whereabouts this past week considering I am not usually absent from the blog world for long periods of time, and it does so touch my heart that there are those that miss me when I am not around.  But I do have a reason, sick.  Yeah, sick.  Just that nasty flu-like sick with coughing, sneezing, chills, fever, runny nose (oh my gosh the runny nose) and then after every sneeze and blow I felt the need to clean my hands, so now not only is the nose red and chapped from all that blowing, but the hands are as well, but they are germ free.  At least right at this moment. 

So instead of complaining about how I felt physically and more complaining  about this dang winter weather that refuses to leave (another 4-5 inches of snow last night) I just decided to back away for awhile.  The photography has been slim to none, just how many pictures can you take from your front window of the same snow day after day??  Taking a picture of the gallons of orange juice that I consumed didn’t excite me either.  And because I was sick I didn’t even go to Trader Joe’s for my weekly dose of flowers to add color to my world.  See now this is why I didn’t blog, I am having a pity party and that was not my intent. 

What I did do was read, nap, watch a little TV, read, nap and watch a little more TV.  I finished “The Girl You Left Behind”, good book – recommend.  Then I switched to something totally different, “The Bat” by Jo Nesbo a Norwegian writer dealing with crime fiction and a main character named Harry Hole.  Kinda gritty and unless you are into crime novels with some gore probably not what you would want to read.  Harry is from Oslo but is assigned to a murder case in which the victim is Norwegian in Sydney, Australia.  It does feature a fascinating take on the lives of Aboriginals in contemporary Sydney and is well written.  Now I am reading “The Rules of Civility” by Amor Towles a completely different story that begins at the end of 1937 and follows a young girl from the Bronx on her journey into the upper echelons of high society New York in the late 1930’s.  All the glamour and glitz of New York City, interesting story and great characters. A definite recommend.  As you can see, I am into variety, and I particularly like a well-written, character driven book.  

And speaking of writing, I have registered in another writing class at our local college.  It begins Wednesday and we already have homework.  If I come up with any good stuff or a "high five" from the instructor I might share....might.  I figured that if I didn't stimulate my brain somehow that it would begin melting unlike the piles and piles of snow.  

I came across a couple of great quotes today that I think are quite appropriate for this winter...

"May we all emerge from winter with our strength renewed and any unwanted pieces left under the ice"  ~  John Darnielle

and this one....

"At some point you just have to let go of what you thought should happen and live in what is happening."  ~  Unknown

Until next time....

Random 5 On Friday....uh Saturday

Joining in a day late for Nancy's Random 5 on Friday, only today is Saturday....that might give you a clue as to overall disposition lately. 

1) Oh my goodness, it has been 6 days since I have posted anything new, maybe, just maybe I haven't been totally inspired by much lately.  This winter has really taken a toll on my overall attitude.  This week alone we have had another major snowstorm that pushed us into the annuals of being the 5th snowiest winter since 1800 something...whoop whoop (fake excitement), we had temps that rose almost to the 50 degree mark which caused much melting of above stated snowstorm, followed by downpours on Thursday which caused major flooding coupled with the melting snow, after all the rain a major fog rolled in, cancelling another kazillion airline flights, followed by 50 mph winds on Friday.  Now I state again....where does one get inspiration from that series of events??? 

2) I did get excited the day of the major snowstorm when I spotted what I always think of when I imagine spring is on it's way.....a robin.  

He even turned around so I could capture both sides of him.

But then the very next day I read in the newspaper that the robins that we are seeing are either 1) those that hang here all winter, never going south or 2) Canadian robins that winter here.  Talk about bird brains, number 1 who wouldn't want to go south for the winter? and number 2 who would in their right mind want to winter here??  My attitude is showing again.

3) I am really trying to get in the mood of Spring by purchasing flowers....

I am even hanging on to the tulips even tho they are way past their prime....

4) I am really trying to eat better these days.  Leading a single life sometimes leads to bad eating habits. After preparing meals for almost 50 years, first for the two of us, then when the children came along, the four of us, then back to the two of us when the kids fled the nest, then my mom moved in and it was the three of us...so for many a year there were loved ones around to prepare meals for.  Gathering new recipes, watching cooking shows was then a part of my life.  But now with just me, that urge to prepare a meal has fizzled. I am finding new ways to add a little more healthiness to my daily diet. Trader Joe's has answered some of those needs.  They have (not only great flowers) but fresh veggies and fruits neatly packaged and already prepared which makes it super easy to correct some of my bad eating habits.  Instead of a donut for breakfast (not to say that never happens) I buy their already seeded pomegranates and sprinkle them on top of my cereal for breakfast.  They add that extra sweetness and crunch, actually I could eat a handful on top of nothing....!!

5)  Yesterday when the winds were blowing, another good day to stay inside I started reading "The Girl He Left Behind" by Jo Jo Moyes.  Well, honestly I couldn't put the book down.  The title of the book is actually the title of a painting that was painted before World War I by a young artist in Paris for his beautiful new wife.  The early story begins with the German occupation of France in 1916 then moves to present day London with the painting being the connection of those lives and times.  Well written, wonderful characters and I am returning today to finish it.  The "kids" sleep either on my lap or on the floor near me as I read on.

I know I lead such an exciting life, but in February, in Chicago this is about as good as it gets, for me anyway.  

"The word happiness would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness." ~ Carl Jung

Until next time......

Somewhat Pink

Well, I started out by trying to gather images of pink and making this a pink post, but I didn't get very far before I ran out of pink....you just can't find a lot of pink in the white world I am living in right now.  But I did go out and buy pink tulips (actually I didn't even know what color they were when I made the purchase, their little buds were so tightly closed it took a couple of days before their true color was revealed.

And then I thought of my trip to the Arizona zoo, and the pink flamingos...don't ya just love pink flamingos.

And then I remembered there were pretty pink flowers that the butterflies were sipping from at Butterfly Wonderland in Phoenix....

And then ofcourse there is Cinder's new sweater....this is her bounding thru the snow.  No, she really isn't playing she is running to get back inside, this is not her favorite weather.

And then Toby, who doesn't have a lick of pink on him, standing there wondering why Cinder is in such a hurry to get back inside, because when the temps get to above 20 he is ready to stay and play.

Kathy over at You'll Shoot Your Eye Out has a fun meme on Sundays entitled Song-ography - take a song and photograph your interpretation...this week it is Meatloaf's "I Would Do Anything For Love"....personally if I was a big singing star, Meatloaf is probably the last name I would have chosen to be known as, but then I didn't do the choosen.  Anyhoo, I thought this might represent that song....you just don't see giraffes sitting down too often, and I am thinkin' one was feeling a little down (maybe a sore throat...snort) so her mate came down to keep her company.

So that's it.....my somewhat pink post, mixed in with a little Toby and a little Song-ography.  Hope you are having a great Sunday.  And btw, I finished The Snow Child....very fairy-tale like, easy read, I liked it, but again, I think next February we should be more astute in our choice of reading and not pick something that takes place in Alaska in the winter-time....just sayin.

"Book lovers never go to bed alone."  ~Author Unknown

Until next time.....