James Otto - Just Got Started Lovin' You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT6EnqWAcQw

4:45 AM - 4 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Catching Up
Category: Life

 Well, it certainly has been a long time hasn't it?  First, thank you to those of you who have checked in on me.  I thought it best I write before some of you send the canine patrols on a search and rescue for me.  Have no fear, I am still alive and doing very well.  I went on a bit of a hiatus, so to speak.  Sometimes life wants to do-si-do no matter how many times you try to tell it your feet hurt.  When that happens, I find it best to just get out of the chair and accommodate it, no questions asked.

It began back in March with the loss of one of my cats, Smokey, to stomach cancer.  I'm still not capable of talking or writing about it suffice it to say that by the time he showed signs of not being himself, it was already too late as the cancer had spread to his liver.  The way it attacked, surgery to remove it wasn't possible nor was the option of chemotherapy with this particular type of aggressive cancer.  He was a friend of 13 years; longer than I've known most of the people in my life aside from my immediate family.  I miss him so, as too, does the rest of the pack.

Smokey died on March 15^th and I haven't had a cigarette since.  I like to think he was and continues to be, my inspiration.  There were no painful cravings, no nightmares, no sleepless nights, no outrageous outbreaks, no headaches, nothing.  I just stopped without a single side effect.  Even now, a little over three months, I have no desire to smoke.  Though I do sometimes still want a cigarette, especially after I've gorged on a delicious meal or when I have a glass of wine, but the thought passes just as quickly as it arrives.

I have my first camping trip planned for the weekend after the fourth and am very much looking forward to it.  I was originally supposed to go during my vacation at the beginning of the month but we had a heat wave that week with the temperatures reaching 98 - 100 degrees.  I thought it safer to postpone.

At the urging of friends and family I've put together my own photography website and have made myself available for hire.  I realized it was long overdue.

And the gas prices?  Huh?  I refuse to put gas in my car anymore, unless it is absolutely necessary.  I am not going to make rich corporations even richer if I can, at all, help it.  The last time I purchased gas was two weeks ago.  I filled the tank at an outrageous $47.00 and today, still have 3/4 of a tank left.  Why?  I've been riding my bike everywhere I go that is less than 10 miles one way and doesn't include riding on a highway.  I pedal to work, the grocery store and to visit friends and family. 

Some people think I'm a bit of loon because they don't think it's safe for bikes these days but I have to say, I absolutely adore the freedom being on a bike brings.  It's a time of day that is completely my own and, in most cases, doesn't take too much longer than traveling by car does as I can maneuver shortcuts a car cannot.  Not to mention it's a bit like regressing to the past.  Akin in spirit to those childhood days when my only mode of transportation was flying around on my purple bike with the banana seat, ice cream truck sounding bell and the tassles on the handlebars.  Though I've traded the girly bike for a tough mountain bike, the thrill is still the same. 

On the back of a bike, the senses come alive.  I see more than I would behind the steering wheel and can immediately stop to enjoy a particularly beautiful sunset on my way home without having to find a place to park.  At high tide the ocean's salt water scent is invigorating and I race the seagulls as they fly next to me.  Planted on certain side streets are bushes of jasmine and honeysuckle and I purposely traverse those lanes in order to indulge in their fragrances.  It's gotten to the point where I miss riding if I don't get the chance.

Well, I think here is where I'll end as this is probably already a bit too long.  There is more to fill you in on but perhaps I'll save that for our next visit.  Let me know what's been going on with you.  I hope you are all healthy and content.

11:42 AM - 28 Comments - 26 Kudos - Add Comment

The Inevitable Ending
Category: Art and Photography

Pristine and untouched by everything but the snow and my eyes, the land held something of a mystical quality.  No footsteps, man or critter, marked the hillsides.  The only signs of life, a freshly plowed road.  Such silence; interrupted occasionally by the call of a bird and the crunch of the snow beneath my boots.  The grounds lay in absolute stillness. 

I thought of all the people buried here.  I wondered where their loved ones were.  Did they still live near by?  When was the last time they came to place mementos by the graveside?  When had the person passed on?  Had they long been forgotten?  Had their ancestors also joined them in the next life?

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust is indeed inevitable for all of us.  There will come a time when our lives flash before us, so make sure it's worth watching.




















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7:03 AM - 49 Comments - 54 Kudos - Add Comment

Size Really Does Matter.....
Current mood: adventurous
Category: Life

in the world of camping.  What did you think I meant?  Hello, have we met?  You didn't think I was going to get all trashy on you now did you? 

Anyhoo, as I've been eagerly waiting for warmer weather and brighter skies, and based on the fact that my weekend was, um, not so good, I did a little shopping in preparation for camp season.  Let's just say I needed a bit of a mood lift.  And I got it.

Having read almost everything I could get my hands on in regards to the subject, I realized I'd have to make decisions on equipment based upon the fine line between necessities and the more extravagant "fun" items.  It's hard to keep yourself in check when there's a plethora of gadgets you don't really need, but want just because their cool.  Frankly, I think I did pretty well and kept reminding myself that camping is a first time experience.  I don't want to end up with a bunch of unusable items if, in the end, I'm just not into it.  In addition, purchases should be made with size in mind.  The more compact you can get an item, the less you have to haul.

I began with a list of must haves that went something like this:  shelter (which I already purchased and still haven't had the chance to set up because the weather is not cooperating), bedding, food and lighting.

Sleep; a very important part of everyone's life.  I usually crawl under four to five comforters throughout Autumn and Winter.  I tend to be cold more often than not.  Even Spring can cause me to reach for a sweater.  With that in mind, I opted for bedding that will keep me exceptionally warm if the temperatures are only in the 40's to 50's at night.  Actually, this baby will keep me warm to temperatures of -10 degrees.  It's dual purpose in the summer, will be to provide a ground layer.  This bag rolls nicely into a two foot long stuff sack and came with a pillow.




The food category was a little more involved.  I had to considered the need for transporting, cooking and serving and found exactly what I was looking for.

How great is this cooler?  If I end up never camping again, I can always use it as a carry on bag.  It has wheels and a handle for easy mobility and is only 36 inches tall.  The tacky plastic "Igloo" coolers just aren't my style.




Cooking; another important aspect of camping.  My intentions are to use a true fire to cook over but I had to consider the possiblity of rain negating that desire.  I wanted a stove that had a burner and a grill but that easily started with the push of a button while using a small propane tank.  Voila, Coleman provided.....





Utensils; pretty important.  At first I thought I'd just use paper plates and plastic forks but the environmentalist in me disagreed.  When I found these, I knew they were what I was looking for and would also provide for any company I might take along.......




And how could I resist when they follow along with my compact and lightweight theory?  Everything fits into this......





Oh, and let's not forget we need something to eat off of (I don't think the gentleman comes with the table but if he does, maybe he can gather wood for the fire)... 




and again, compact is the way to go.  I'll look like some kind of special agent on a covert mission carrying this around, but it works....





Lighting; I went with two lanterns.  One is the mother of lighting...

The second is a hand crank one (obviously) which is great, as it needs no batteries in an emergency situation and provides an am/fm radio...




Let's not forget starting a fire in the rain with soggy matches.  Isn't going to happen.  This little gadget provides a spark in the worst conditions and almost guarantees creating warmth in adverse weather....




Lastly, I considered how willing I would be to go out of the tent, in the middle of the night (in the woods, I'd imagine true night is very black) when nature calls.  I wasn't very willing so I thought, heck, if I really needed to (though I'm really hoping not to have to go there...literally).......




All in all, aside from a first aid emergency kit and a good swiss army knife, I think I'm pretty well equipped.  Everything, including my tent, will fit in the trunk of my car.  And the bonus is, all equipment purchased thus far, totals $400.  Camp sites charge around $12 to $20 dollars per night.  With these rates, I'm thinking myself and the dogs could travel across the country, visiting places I've never seen, for less than a plane ticket and vacation to Italy.  Not a bad deal.

Maybe those with camping experience can enlighten me to anything else I may have forgotten?

6:16 AM - 30 Comments - 24 Kudos - Add Comment

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring, the Old Man is Snoring
Category: Life

Well, the old saying "when it rains, it pours" accurately depicted my weekend escapades.  Friday night before meeting up with a friend to go to the movies, I went into the basement for the nightly litter box cleaning.  When I walked by the water heater, I noticed the ground there was a little damp.  My first inclination was that the water tank was leaking but upon further inspection, I found the bottom dry to the touch.  Making a mental note to call my next door neighbor in the morning, who is a plumber by trade, I skipped merrily on my way.

Saturday morning, while doing the breakfast dishes I thought, hmm, I have no hot water.  I wonder if that has something to do with the small damp spot on the floor in the basement?  I better go down there and check. 

Oh yeah, that little damp spot had everything to do with the lack of hot water.  In the basement I was confronted with a mini pond about three inches deep that encompassed the entire basement.  I waded to the water tank and saw something of a mini Niagra Falls rushing out of the bottom and immediately started looking for the shut off valves.  Funny how you never really look for these things prior to having to know where they are.  My neighbor coached me over the phone, through how to shut everything, including the gas, off.

Next began the chore of clean up.  I ran upstairs quickly grabbing every towel I had in the house and brought them all back downstairs.  Every second that ticked by with the water at that level, gave me visions of crumbling mortar, mildew and house collapse.  Once I had the 20 or so towels ready to go, I grimly realized it'd be like trying to soak up the ocean with a sponge and I was very ill equipped. 

My father came over with a squeegee and a water pump and we began with that.  Soon thereafter, my plumber neighbor came over with his wet vac to drain the rest of the water in the tank and to allow us use of it for the rest of the basement.  It ended up taking three hours to pick everything up off the floor and remove the water.  I suppose that's better than three days of using towels.

I lost quite a bit of stuff but mostly things that I hadn't really used since moving in almost five years ago.  However, many of my books were in plastic bags on the floor.  I put them down there a few months ago with the intention of building books shelves along the wall.  Most came through without harm.  But those in the waters depths, were soaked.  Hopefully they'll dry out and I'll be left with only a few crinkled pages. 

The majority of Monday, from morning until almost 8pm, was spent vacuuming the remnants of debris left by the now gone water and having a new water tank installed (again thanks to my fantastic neighbor).  I'm only now, just capable of walking upright.

Though I did use a little bit of time to take down my Christmas lights.  Yes, you read right.  They're just such a pain in the arse to take down so I inevitably put it off.  When I leaned the ladder against the house and began to ascend, a Red Tailed Hawk flew overhead, piercing the morning with his shrill scream.  It is one of my favorite sounds and was the first time I'd ever heard one up close and personal (aside from television documentaries and movies of course).  It took me by surprise and when I looked up and saw him circling instead of taking off, I stepped back off the ladder to watch his graceful flight.   A few moments later, I turned towards the ladder again and began to climb.  The hawk descended closer and screamed again.  I thought, maybe today isn't the day to climb up on the ladder.  I haven't heard a hawk my entire life and now this one has screeched each time I placed a foot on the ladder.  Who am I to tempt fate?

Instead, I grabbed my old metal snow shovel and used the end to disengage the lights from the gutter.  Half way through the chore, shoulders screaming from being raised for so long, on a particularly stubborn light, the shovel bounced quickly back and whacked me off the head.  Maybe I should have just left them up in preparation for next year? 

7:35 AM - 20 Comments - 22 Kudos - Add Comment

The Road to Fit
Current mood: sleepy
Category: Life

Many of you already know of my intentions to camp this season.  And while I'm looking forward to it, now more than ever, there's quite a bit of preparation that goes with the territory of camping/backpacking.  It involves much more stamina than I initially thought with the ability to pitch a relatively big tent, carry a filled pack while hiking and handling two rambunctious dogs at once, for several hours at a time.

After hibernating for the majority of this winter, I have come to realize my level of fitness and capabilities is (ahem) less than what I'd like it to be.  Last summer I was a gym fanatic and biked to and from work every day.  I ate healthy foods in healthy portions and at 41, was fitter than I ever was in my 20's or 30's.  It's amazing how hard it is to get your body truly firm and fit and how simple it is for it to fall apart after only a few months off.

Last week I began the slow journey back to the gym and realized just how much I despise working out in a confined space with televisions blaring, stationary bikes and treadmills to nowhere.  I much prefer to be outside doing something active in which all my muscles get equal attention at the same time.  Biking to work is impossible this time of year but I'm planning to resume that activity in the spring.

The dogs and I have begun ritually getting up at 5:30am.  Did you notice the time?  That's before the sun comes up.  Trust me; there is a method behind this madness.  One of my dogs, Pippin, sustained a serious spinal injury back in September and it's been a very long road to recovery.  Currently, he can no longer do as much as Georgia (who is the energizer bunny on crack) so I have to take them for separate walks.  I've gotten Pippin from a ten minute stroll around the block to about a half hour, more intensive walk.  Sometimes we over do it and he ends up stiff and limping a few hours later.  Georgia, on the other hand, seems to be able to go non stop.  It takes her almost up to two hours to tire.  Less if she's running off leash but there are so few places she can be off leash now and still stay safe especially in the more wooded areas where coyote prevail.

Pippin's physical therapist said that if I stick with his routine on a daily basis, he should be back to 98% normalcy in four months; which brings us right to the end of May and the beginning of camping season.  While that is very good news, it also means, until Pippin can keep up with Georgia and I can take them together, I'll be doing two walks, back to back, for the next three months with the possibility of them each reaching two hours in length.

As daunting as three to four hours of walking seems to me right now (i wanted to get fit, right?), in the long run, it's a natural progression to where we should be for the coming trips.  But it sure is hard pulling off the covers when the sun isn't shining, the temperatures are low and it's raining.

.

4:19 AM - 23 Comments - 22 Kudos - Add Comment

Embracing Every Moment
Current mood: enlightened
Category: Life

This season's Winter has been harsher than those of the past several years. Or perhaps it's just my longing for a warmer sun that gives off that impression.  With it being so far from us, its rays, though bright, are tepid.  I am thankful when it shines.  For when it doesn't, the scenes seem dull and dreary. 

I've dug myself out from under yet another carpet of snow and find myself in a state of contradiction.  How beautiful it is when the small white crystals encapsulate every limb from the oaks and maples to the majestic pines.  Once the cold sweeps in, the freezing begins and icicles form.  I open my door to the blinding shine of their reflections in the sun and firmly believe it is this breathtaking landscape that carries me through the winter. 

The dogs become even more nimble as they bury their faces in the mounds of white fluff and leap about as if being carried on the wind.  Their antics make me laugh as they encourage me to romp and throw snowballs for them to chase.   Yet still, I find myself waiting to shake hands with the crocus and daffodils as they make their long awaited appearance, confirming the rebirth of the land. 

The lilac bushes and dogwood trees whisper that the new season is just on the horizon as their buds begin to swell.  Deep within, beyond what the eye can see, there is growth already occurring.  The new season is just on the horizon.  I, for one, am more than ready to embrace it.  But my dogs, well, they continually remind me not to rush time.  To embrace every single moment, because each moment is, in itself, very unique, very special and very important.

5:12 AM - 42 Comments - 44 Kudos - Add Comment

Home Away From Home
Current mood: adventurous
Category: Travel and Places

I have always adored the idea of traveling to far away places and experiencing new cultures.  Quite some time ago, I promised myself that instead of just talking about traveling, I would actually do more of it.  Since then, I have had many adventures, both in and out of the country.

In Mexico, I rappelled across tropical jungles, swam in underground cenotes and explored the Mayan ruins.  Italy brought Rome, rich in history and art, Tuscan hills and wine country, the quaintness of Assisi and the delicacies of Sicily.  I journeyed to Pisa and her leaning tower, Venice and its water ways and Florence introduced me to the David.   In Maui, I snorkeled with wild dolphins and sea turtles (a truly spiritual occasion), jumped from an 80 foot waterfall and tried my hand at surfing (not an easy sport).  I spent a Mardi Gras in New Orleans and once drove non-stop to Texas and Florida for windsurfing.  Not to mention the time I woke in Aruba to find someone had stolen the entire front grille of the rental car I was using; headlights and all.

While to some, these adventures may seem small, to others, it may seem like I've done much.  To me, there are still so many places I want to, and plan on, seeing before my road on earth brings me to the other side; Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Portugal, Spain, Africa, Alaska are among some of them.  Here in the U.S., California's Red Wood Forest, Colorado's Grand Canyon and Wyoming's Yellow Stone Park are just a few on my list.

And that got me to thinking about this year.  With no plans to travel on the horizon but still craving adventure, I decided it's going to be all about camping.  And the two best things about a camping adventure are that I don't have to exclude my dogs and the rates are either non-existent or very inexpensive.  Now, I don't mean cabin camping with electricity, heat and running water.  I'm talking real camping, in a tent with lanterns, sleeping bag, wild animals, camp fires and bugs.  Here's the thing, I've never gone camping before.  Neither have my dogs.  So we're really talking, adventure all around here.  I'm not even sure I'm going to like it, though I have a sneaking suspicion I'll love it.

Over the course of the last month, I've purchased a variety of books, researched a plethora of equipment needs (who knew there were so many freakin' types of tents) and have enrolled in two first aid courses; one for myself and, of course, one for animals.

This years camping will most likely be limited to local woodlands (I had no idea how many there actually are in Massachusetts alone) and strictly one or two nights at a time.  Once we've accustomed ourselves to scary night sounds and day to day camp life, stays will be longer.  The ultimate goal; a travel adventure that involves driving and camping as far across the county while visiting as many places as we can in a 4 week time span.

My tent arrived yesterday and I feel like a kid at Christmas.  I can hardly wait to set it up.  Considering we're to have flurries all weekend, wait is exactly what I'm going to have to do.  Our home away from home....

11:30 AM - 34 Comments - 28 Kudos - Add Comment

The Writer’s Albatross
Category: Writing and Poetry

Intriguing characters, compelling plots, descriptive details are all fundamental to great storytelling.  But, a book can have all of these elements yet still fail to capture my imagination if the beginning is dull.  The albatross of any good writer is the opening sentence of their story.  In many cases, it's what causes me to delve into or put down a book.

I'm a fan of fiction; mostly horror, science fiction, fantasy and mystery.  When I first pick up a book, it's not the back cover I go to but instead, the first page.  If the author has written a great first line or at the very least a good first paragraph, I'm encouraged to continue on through the initial chapter where, hopefully, the author then binds me to another time, another place or even a completely different dimension and I can't seem to turn the pages fast enough.

There have been so many great opening sentences in the history of literature.  For example, George Orwell's book '1984', "It was a bright cold day in April and the clocks were striking 13".  Why?  Because the first part seems rather typical but then the second half makes you read it again to make sure you didn't read it wrong.  Now you begin to wonder why the clocks were striking 13.   Stephen King's book 'The Gunslinger' opens with the very intriguing "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed".  Made me want to find out who the man in black was and why the gunslinger was following him.  I wasn't disappointed, that's for sure.  Charles Dickens wrote "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" in his classic 'A Tale of Two Cities'.  Or how about "Where's papa going with that ax?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast. From E.B. White's Charlotte's Web.

You have to love an author who can grab you from the get go.  Who are your favorite authors and what are some of the best opening lines you've read? 

3:47 PM - 40 Comments - 34 Kudos - Add Comment

Which Side of the Sword Do You Live On?
Current mood: blissful
Category: Life

I've always found that reflecting on your past is somewhat like running your finger down either the smooth or serrated edge of a sword.

On one side are the delicacies of experiences that help us grow and evolve.  Here lay the memories of successes achieved, journeys taken, friends made, mistakes regretted and failures we have seen.  Living on this smooth to the touch side of the sword allows us to revel in these memories but more importantly to learn from them.  Taking what we have experienced and using what we've been taught to our advantage, helps us continually achieve happiness as well as preventing the repetition of the same mistakes over and over.

The blade portion of the sword contains the same memories and experiences as the smooth side does.  However, it is when you choose to beat yourself up for your mistakes, wallow in your unhappiness, cloud your vision with negativity and lose your dreams to pity that you are cut by the sickle and can't move forward.  You get stuck in the past, replaying events on the movie screen in your mind and you grow stagnant to evolution.

This is the time of year when many of us tend to look back and evaluate ourselves, in some cases a bit too harshly (and in others, not harshly enough).  If you're like me, perhaps you didn't accomplish every one of the resolutions you set for yourself in 2007.  What of it?  Does it make you a horrible person?  I think not.

On my daydream back through 2007 I have learned just how good of a friend I can be to those I love but also how neglectful I can be at times.  I have come to the realization that my home is truly my refuge.  There is no where I feel more comfortable and sometimes, no where else I'd rather be.  I envisioned traveling out of the country in 2007 but didn't get the chance to.  However, I journeyed throughout the year on day trips throughout New England.  I have found that elusive thing they call love with a man who is intelligent, handsome, witty, respectful, caring and loves animals.  My health is good and while I haven't completely kicked the nicotine habit, I have reduced my intake by more than half and plan on continually lessening that.  I had some set backs in 2007 but nothing I wasn't able to overcome and I'm optimistic of the future.  For I know that no matter what it brings or what I choose to do, I am sure to learn more about myself from it and in turn be a better woman, for myself and those around me.

I have decided that running my finger over the smooth edge of the sword is much more to my liking.  Bring on 2008.

10:15 AM - 40 Comments - 36 Kudos - Add Comment