Looking Glass

 Did you know it surprises me every time I go to check this site, I see it's been a forgotten source of smiles and relief for a long time? It appears it has been six weeks since my last perusing and writing. I really need to focus some attention here more often, even if for a smile or to tap out a few brief sentences. Before I know it, my blogger friends kden and grumpy will consider me a forgotten blogger and won't "site see" here anymore. I can't let that happen.  Did you know that at 3 AM there is nothing on TV unless you're interested in intense exercise videos, wrinkle removing makeup, QVC, or why a $700 dollar vacuum is better than a $100 vacuum, or there are a dozen ways to use a blender to make juices? That is what I scanned through on TV this morning. Thank god for "The Food Network"  and "Golf." They were   the only cable channels that weren't infiltrated with these paid programs. Since I hate golf, I watched master chefs bat...

 So why on earth am I blogging at 7:30 AM on a Sunday? I was paged at 6:20 AM from an ill caregiver. My mind has been thinking about which caregiver to call so early in the day for assistance with a client and thinking about their schedule for the day and who may be willing to help. (frown here). Not only does it rattle you...getting woken from a dreamy sleep so abruptly, but now I feel bad because I have to do the same to someone else. It doesn't make me feel good. I didn't start calling people quite that early. I am waiting until now to do so. I got lucky; one of my client's regular caregivers will check on my 9:00 AM client long enough to give him his medications and breakfast, (smile here).  This last week at work has been a hectic week of scheduling crisis, completing home visits, training my new support staff guy, interviewing for new employees, managing tasks with the phone ringing off the hook and dealing with paper pushing and such...I was exhausted every night by...

  Now that I was on the home stretch, I did feel great comfort and peace surround me as I listened to this book and the unusual occurrences in the author's life for a summer, a matter of months, where her patience was challenged more so than ever before.  The story revolves around this period in her life where her 20 year marriage was being tested, her husband was ready to leave and her best defense became no defense. Her common phrase was, "I chose to step out of sorrow." She allowed her husband space and solitude to work through his own doubts and questions of his life goals, even during the times she was not sure if he had fallen for another woman, or if his discontent stemmed from his lack of achievements. The concept resonated me as it made me see how to handle challenges in my future with more grace, self confidence and by stepping our of sorrow.   I was home now and eager to come inside and listen to the remaining few CD's of the eight disc set. I dug out my ...

 I enjoyed listening to the CD on the way to Tenino. I felt part of the pleasure was derived from the narrator's voice; it had a nice quality and she changed her voice to adopt from a male voice, to a female to a child's tone. Her use of inflection when needed often made me laugh, especially when she cussed. None of these interjections were obtrusive or harsh. They made me smile...and think... and reminisce. This was one of several audio books I've listened to of late and I've decided much of the success, or failure, of an audio book must rely on the chosen narrator, not just the words being narrated. It's HOW the narrator engages the listener and brings the story to full view in your mind. This author (or publisher) chose well here.  I can see the tiny town split on both sides of the upcoming, stretch of road. Ugh...who'd want to live here? Why'd my friend Melinda live here? The population stats range from 1447-1697...depending on which site you are privy ...

Where does it lead?  As I stated in my previous blog post about finding an audio book worth a listen, I decided to to take the disc set with me on some errands Saturday and listen during the drive. Of course, since me and technology have been dueling lately, I wasn't surprised when my CD player in the Honda kept spitting out the disc with an "Error Reading," rather than the narrator's voice sounding from the speakers. I attempted to reinsert it numerous times...spit out...one by one...I inserted all nine CD's hoping at least one of them would play... but the CD player vomited them out continuously. I even crossed my fingers with each start of the car hoping the stereo had reset itself and would satisfy my craving for the audio book. But it didn't. So, the longest part of my errand driving was surrounded with normal songs being replayed on every station I tuned in to. After my last stop at the post office and with a turn of the key...there it came...the lov...

 I have enjoyed my lovely view of the water and surrounding trees since I moved here in October. I have grown accustomed to the sound of the water foul on the inlet, landing and splashing there, sometimes not so gracefully, or smoothly floating on the water leaving small ripples of their beings behind them. I have grown used to the peace and quiet of this neighborhood and acclimated to the stillness.  I and my friend KP, who lives above me, see less of each other now than in the past. But, trust me, we have had our times of gathering and wine, talking non stop, of laughs, of seriousness and the sharing of information that should be bestowed upon the world. She is a serial entrepreneur and I have tried listening, guiding and allowing her to cope as she steps into her future of retirement, of finding out, "where will I land?"  She is a favorite person in my "cast of characters," (good analogy kden), and I see her remaining in my heart far beyond my vision and curtai...

 Well, I did it. I survived the preparation, perspiration and presentation of addressing a larger audience than planned. 126 people attended the Leaders Institute in Tacoma for District 32-Toastmasters. My counterpart did a great job of being organized and creating a brief power point that coincided with my speech. I was told I did a good job by several people. When I saw the room packed with more than 80 people, I did get a few butterflies in my stomach, but they flew away after a few opening sentences.  I certainly have a good experience under my belt. As a whole, the organizers did a nice job planning the event and it was successful.Whew...it's over. (I tried to upload a picture or two here, but that function isn't working at this time.)