Olympic Game Park

Just my favorite picture from our day at the Olympic Game Park.  I love animals--and these guys had such great personalities.  But the yak was my favorite!

I want my house back

No pain, no gain, right? Okay, okay.  But there are workmen all over my house putting in new windows.  I am in the basement, which, okay, happens to be very comfortable--I have a t.v., my guitar, plenty of books to read and even an elliptical stair machine for exercise if I get really ambitious.  But even the most comfortable "prison" is still a "prison," right? I am starting to get that "closed in" feeling.  And the dog is barking her head off every time one of the guys moves a muscle.  Which says it all.  I am watching my soaps.  And working on my fall schedule. and playing my guitar. and slowly but surely going ccccrraaaazzzzyyyy.  But on the bright side--when they're finished, we'll have brand new windows, great insulation--which will make for a nice cozy winter season, finally!! But hurry up already!

Lighthouses

On Tuesday, a friend and I drove up to Port Townsend, about an hour from my house, to see a lighthouse, or maybe two.  It was great fun.  We went to Fort Flagler first--the lighthouse does not really exist as such--there's a big block of cement with a light on it.  But as far as I know it's functional.  The lighthouse at Fort Worden, however, is still there--still lighting the way for ships.  At the very end of a point, it is protected by a short rock wall.  In good weather like we had, you can walk all the way down to the point and up over a small rise of rocks to walk to the lighthouse.  It's not open to visitors expect on certain days, but we got pretty close.  It was shining in the sun.  So pretty.  And so symbolic.  Lighthouses just have a mythical quality to them.  They stand for hope--that light shining in the dark that we all so desperately seek when we're alone.  At our darkest moments, we pray that the light will find us and guide us home.  It's not really God, but I guess it could be.  It's what God stands for, I think--Love, Light, and Faith.  One of my favorite musicians, Susan Cowsill, just released a CD entitled Lighthouse--the title song expresses these ideas beautifully--she has put into words and music what so many of us have felt in those dark times.  The lighthouse will always be a symbolic beacon of light in the world.

Our backyard wild kingdom

I love living in the country.  We wake up in the morning to see ducks in our pond, or racoons playing in the stream, looking for their breakfast.  We are so blessed.  A little bit of heaven on earth.  Makes the commute worth it all year to get this three month vacay.  It's so hot right now that the afternoons are not really pleasant enough to sit on the back deck, but that is temporary.  I hate to complain about the heat when I know that in a few weeks, I'll be complaining about the rain and cold.  So I'll accept it without too much complaint.  The animals don't mind--we've seen racoons today--three of them--a kingfisher--and a duck.  Cool.

Wonder of wonders

Just thinking today about the small things that make life interesting and worthwhile.  A heron fishes our pond and graces us all with his presence daily.  We missed him for awhile, but he's back.  And he is HUGE.  I wish I could walk up and stand next to him to see just how large he really is.  I am 5'6" and he very well may be at least 4' tall at full height.  I would love to know his wing span.  When he flies overhead he looks like a pterodactyl.  I wonder if herons are their modern counterparts.  Anyway, the sight of such a creature flying above our pond and into the trees is a gift! A treasure. . . .Let's see--does he really look like a pterodactyl?

Maybe a bit, but I think what the ptero has in fierceness, the heron makes up for in sheer beauty and grace.  If I could see an ptero in flight, I might change my mind, but we'll never know.  Maybe in heaven, I'll have the ability to see into our past far enough to find out! Something else to look forward to.

Note to Self

As the summer winds down, it's easy for me to begin to stress out about the beginning of the school year.  I must remember--must etch deeply in my mind--that there are still many good times to be had! The beginning of a new school year brings with it many opportunities for growth--read "problems" or "obstacles." And also many opportunities to laugh and enjoy life.  I want to cultivate a more positive outlook this year.  I think I will also get a lamp that simulates sun light to boost my Vitamin D levels.  A girl can't plan ahead too much when her peace of mind is at stake!

Cleaning Day

Ah, yes, getting ready to go back to work, cleaning out old papers, throwing out a bunch of stuff I've been hanging on to for YEARS.  It feels so good.  I feel like I've lost weight--psychically, that is.  I'm feeling pretty good right now.  I think I'm going to be really, really ready for fall when it gets here.  Usually, I feel like I putting on the skids by this time in the summer.  You know, the comic strip character, sliding on a rug into a wall, trying desperately to stop, only there's no traction--just keeps sliding and sliding.  The wall meets him and you hear the sound, well you see it "SPLAT" and his head is flattened against the wall.  This wall is brick, by the way.  And then there are little cartoon birds, little blue birds and stars flying around his head, his eyes rolling around and around in his little cartoon head.  So usually, about this time, I'm feeling like "Holy _h_t, it's coming, it's coming, and I can't stop it!" I told Mike that I must get a lamp that simulates sunshine.  I can't face going through another winter like I did last year.  But, back to where I started--throwing things out.  Cleaning up.  I will also be throwing away that SAD thing I go through.  I'll be throwing away those same old attitudes that make me dread leaving my days of sleeping late behind, to be replaced by early mornings on the bus, walking into Starbucks for my morning brew, saying hello to a whole new group of smiling, excited freshmen.  Ah, this feels great!