blue sky and sun

Today the weather was the opposite of yesterday, so we were outdoors most of the day. We stopped by the Alice Summerthing concert, walked by the boat pond, to Ocean Beach and back through the park. It was gorgeous out. We are going to try and watch the movie Letters From Iwo Jima tonight before it gets late.

June 14 blog-iversary

June 14 marks one year of this blog.
(Why did the boy throw the clock out the window? .... To see time fly! i know, dinosaur)
I really enjoy this format of photos and writing.
One year ago I was still at DDB and a month from leaving for a new job!
Now I have already quit that new job!

What's next?

Well, life is short and I plan to live more 'on purpose' and eliminate anything soul-draining.
More writing - especially with the online course I'm taking w/Sheila Bender right now.
More reading (and hopefully a book group w/Mira & Karena)
Fresh air in the park and naps in the sun
Watch more adventures of the Starship Enterprise
Hopefully some temp work at interesting companies
Hopefully a trip to Lake Tahoe w/George
Spontaneity
Serendipity
Ultimately more travels abroad with George
Ultimately new and improved sources of livelihood

Quote

HAPPINESS is when
what you think,
what you say,
and what you do
are in HARMONY.

-Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) Indian Statesman

not a manic Monday

Clear blue skies and sunshine, what a great day to not have to work. It was breezy but warm in the sun.

I read a couple chapters of Anne Lamott's "Grace Eventually". Her essays are full of honesty and humor which I really enjoy. She is one of the few author's I read that makes me laugh out loud.
My new online writing class w/Sheila Bender begins today, I plan to get busy with her writing exercises and hopefully write some interesting pieces.

Yesterday at church, the message was about "through the chaos". The scripture that spoke to me was this passage in Mark 4, v. 39-40:
"He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be Still!' Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. Jesus said to them, 'Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?'"
Honestly, after all these years, this question is still relevant as ever. This sheep is a late bloomer.

After church, I went to http://www.secretgardenteahouse.net/
with some friends from church. It was my first time at a tea house, I enjoyed it. We had interesting conversations and delicious tea with little sandwiches and pastries. (I learned that a crumpet is basically an English muffin) There is a photo below from my cell phone.

p.s. Sending prayers for a successful surgery and recovery to my dear friend Shauna.

Multimedia message

A spot of tea

Multimedia message

June afternoon

Quote

"For everything you have missed,
you have gained something else."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Japanese Tea Garden

This morning was the first clear sky we've had in awhile! Fortunately it just happened to be on a day when the Tea Garden is free from 9-10am. So George and I got coffee, and walked around the Tea Garden for a little while. It's such a beautifully maintained place. On our strolls, we almost always find completely formed spider webs in various bushes or trees.

I also enjoyed a leisurely appointment at the hair salon today. A nice color fix and cut. However, my lady-of-luxury days go on temporary hiatus tomorrow.

I leave you with this little ditty I read tonight in Julia Cameron's Finding Water (chapter 4):
"So many things are out of our control, but making art is in our control. There is always a small and doable creative something we can do if we are willing to move ahead without a guarantee. We may not be able to work at our art on the level that we wish we could, but we can always do something."

Star Trek Wisdom #1

To live long and prosper.(I read that Leonard Nimoy used that from a Jewish prayer. ) I prefer to use live well and prosper for this topic though. Isn't that a worthy goal? It sounds simple but I think we each need to define for ourselves what exactly living well and prospering is.

For me, to live well is a balanced life, uncluttered with room to learn, create, grow, and blossom.

I believe that when we are living well and able to use our gifts and talents in work and life, we will naturally prosper. It's during this time that I hope to discover my authenticity in work. Interestingly enough, the person I really want to be, often shows up in my writing. Writing is a natural and necessary activity for me. I think it's time to find more ways to pursue it.

May we dig into our potential and pursue authentic activities.
Let our talents and creations spill out and touch others.

a little work interruption

Today my former job called to see if I was available and interested in working for them to cover the Credit Manager's vacation. It requires some training now and during the three weeks she is out. I thought, "Why not?" I'm familiar with everything and everyone and it's some 'scrilla'. They are okay with a flexible schedule hours-wise, so that's good because I don't want to work 8-hour days. It's the first temp offer for work I've gotten and I can make more this way too.

It will only temporarily 'bogart my mellow' of not working. I signed up for a 10-week online writing class with Sheila Bender that starts next Monday to compensate and keep me happy.

Today I went to the gym at 11:45 till about 1:00. I like the luxury of working out at different times, mixing it up. The sun came out this afternoon and we took a little walk in the park. After, we had a late lunch at L'Avenida. I had my usual yummy vegetarian burrito on a wheat tortilla and we shared a Fat Tire beer, mmmm.

I have two days of freedom, then it's back to work for awhile, but on my terms and there is an end in sight this time. Then hopefully we still take our Tahoe trip end of July/beg. of August.

Hope

Romans 5 (New King James Version)

Faith Triumphs in Trouble

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have^[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Actively waiting

Being active helps a lot in this process. For example, going to work out in the morning is a good start. Having some people to call, or places to go, or even errands to run keeps you moving. I have three people working for me now, if you will. I like that they are looking for interesting jobs for me. It's just a matter of getting something lined up. I use the term "actively waiting" in times like these. Not just job-related, but whenever you are waiting for something to materialize in your life. It requires waiting but you can certainly do your part too.

I'm reading some good stories in Po Bronson's book "What should I do with my life?". There are some interesting stories. I found this insight on page 322. This is Po speaking, "In the nine hundred plus stories I heard in my research, almost nobody was struck with an epiphany. It was one of my biggest surprises. Most people had a slim notion or a slight urge that they slowly nurtured until it grew into a faint hope which barely stayed alive for years until it could mature into a vision. ... Don't doubt your desire because it comes to you as a whisper; don't think, "If it were really important to me, I'd feel clearer about this, less conflicted." My research didn't show that to be true. The things we really want to do are usually the ones that scare us the most."

So it's Friday. It doesn't carry the weight right now since every day has been my weekend this week!

(haiku on the spot):
soft petals sitting
delight in the sweet perfume
quietly lovely