Chapel Chatter: Flowers in Her Hair

So, technically, this doesn't matter as far as creating bad luck before the wedding because
1) it's not really my dress, and
2) even if it were, it's for the 2nd reception anyway!

This weekend I finalized my order for this beauty:
Isn't it lovely?
Just the perfect thing for my (if you shouldn't be seeing the dress - you know who you are, don't click here) dress!

Brandi over at silver pencils is wonderful - she's quick, friendly, worked with me SO sweetly when making my custom flower, and has a great blog with gorgeous travel pics to boot! Definitely go check out her shop for adorable designs at nice prices!

Hope you all are having a lovely Monday. It's raining here, and I have a full day ahead of sitting in a chair working on my dissertation and tearing, gluing, tying and embellishing wedding invitations. I'll post about 'em eventually.

Till then, happy in-like-a-lion month! He's roaring away here, just listen to that thunder!

today's quote:
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.
~John Ruskin

I'm Dreaming of a White January...

About now, my plan was to be arriving at the airport to fly up to northern Cali for my Ph.D. seminar (a week, twice a year. Exhausting, but necessary. I won't complain about a week on a secluded mountain either...)

However, Wednesday night, this beauty of a sky greeted me:
They say a ring around the moon means snow or (chilly) rain is coming soon. I discovered, in researching the myth later online, that the effect is caused by thin clouds made of ice crystals twenty thousand feet up. They refract the moonlight, causing rings around the moon.

So? Was it true? Did a ring around the moon mean snow was coming soon?

Well, Thursday, all day Thursday, this was going on outside:

It started out with rain awakening me before dawn, slashing against the window with a force that exceeded normal rain drops. That was because each drop had a little heart of ice in it. An hour later, only straight ice. And, after that, snow.

So, now, the roads are covered with ice, then up to a foot of snow.
Hmm.
I don't think I'll be making it to the airport, 50 miles away.

Last night I got a phone call from Southwest saying that my flight was canceled. They also said to, if possible, call back at another time to rebook because everyone on all the canceled flights (there were a few, I'm assuming) was currently calling to rebook.

No biggie. I put on my heavy socks and waited it out. Besides, what's the point of rescheduling a flight if I won't be able to make it to the airport?

This morning I discovered that the roads should be fully clear by Sunday, and that no flights are available til Monday.

So, Monday it is!

Of course, that's assuming that there's still a spot open on the flights (I haven't called yet.)

We'll see!

This morning's view out the front window:

Check out those ice cycles!I won't discuss how during the day Wednesday the temperature was up to 60 degrees. Living inland is weird.

Today's quote:
I spent a long time trying to find my center until I looked closely at it one night & found it had wheels and moved easily in the slightest breeze. So now I spend less time sitting and more time sailing.
— Brian Andreas (Story People)

White Christmas

Last Saturday I was informed that we were expecting snow.

SNOW.

I mean, I saw snow when I was visiting here last winter and stuff, but to see it FALL?

On a landscape that was currently untouched by snow?

To see flakes lazily drifting out of a deep velvety blue-black sky, turning and twisting until they light, ever so softly, on blades of grass and twigs and front steps and car hoods? (not romantic, but true)

It had been a decade at least since I'd witnessed anything similar. At most? Never. But I can't exactly recall. What I DO know is that I was very very very excited.

SNOW.

So, needless to say, that was about all I talked about that day. Every half hour I would either check the window or inquire as to the current precipitation status.

Childish?
Yes.

Annoying?
Probably.
er, I mean, Definitely.

However, once the sun was down and the air had cooled from frigid to arctic tundra, T called to me from the landing that it was finally happening!

I scurried down a few steps and all but pressed my nose to a window next to the door.

I didn't realize that #1) awhile had passed and #2) I was still grinning like an idiot until T started to laugh at me.

Whatever. I'll take looking like a dope (especially since it earned me a kiss on the nose, just sayin). It was snowing!

Before I knew it, my view had changed to this:
So, seeing as we were the only two home, we did what anyone would do - snuck out on to the back deck and ate some snow. Duh.

Unfortunately for me, T has more experience with this stuff than I do:
Yup, that snow ball had my name on it. Fortunately, he took mercy on the shivering girl with the camera and instead launched it in another direction. I amused myself for a few more minutes taking whatever shots I could, considering that getting good snow pics is something that I have NO experience with,
And we headed back inside.

The pristine snowfall made a perfect backdrop for Christmas card photos the next day, with the Duchess included.
(Rudy is male. You'd never know. Unless you consider the ego.)

Anyway.

So we did a few takes, and after the card pic was out of the way, a snow ball fight erupted between my intended and my beautiful soon-to-be sister (in law).
Most of it consisted of staring contests, trying to psyche each other out...
Most, I said.
Luckily, I again used my camera as an excuse and got away unscathed and snow free.

There hasn't been a good fall since, in spite of big scary weather forecasts last night. I woke up excited today, only to see a fine dusting. Now it's raining. Seriously, mother nature, who do you think you are? This girl is starved for snow. Bring it ON.

(Just after I've hit the grocery store and all of my ordered Christmas presents have arrived, please)....

Mountains Afire

Things remain smoky in SoCal, y'all.

I drive in to work each morning expecting to see green mountains welcoming me, and am instead welcomed by mounds of gray-brown smoke covering the horizon in front of a red sun rising.

When I open my car door in Pasadena the smell of campfires and wood stoves greets me.

One of my coworkers told me of a highway wreathed in fire as she drove East on Sunday night, and another is still out of town because his lungs won't be able to handle the smoke if he returns now..

The landscapers on campus are wearing bandannas over their faces (why they aren't at home is what I want to know...it's all fun and games til someone collapses and you get sued, campus powers-that-be...)

Since yesterday the air has been muggy and we're thanking heaven for the bit of humidity that arrived last night. Hopefully it'll help stop the fires.
Tuesday two firefighters died when their truck plunged 800 feet into a ravine. They were speeding down a mountain, trying to get away from the fire racing toward their backs.

This morning I heard that two other firefighters died because some yahoo decided to play the arsonist in the midst of all this craziness....I have no words.

People are losing lives and homes, and animals are too.What is there to do? Nothing, at this point. Pray for rain, I suppose. Just goes to show you that we may not be as in control as we think....so be thankful for the joys in your life...

Today's whiteboard quote:
"A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows."
~St. Francis of Assisi

Silhy Giveaway

So in honor of my long-ago 100th post, I'll be giving away customized silhouettes. It'll be anywhere from one to three, and you can pick the size, color, etc. They'll be black on a background of the color of your choice, and the size will be with the background included (up to 8x10). I'll do one, two, or three for you - of your family, parents, kids, or whatever.

Not a bad deal, if I ever charge for these bad boys, they'll run somewhere in the $40-$60 range, per sil (those things take foreeeever to make!)

Anywhoo, here's what you've gotta do:
1) leave a comment
2) become a follower (or already be one)
3) mention the giveaway on your blog

I'll pick a winner Friday!

Yes, this is a small giveaway. But, it's my first! (So I think only a small one is okay).

In other news, here's today's quote:
"I have a 'Play the Melody' philosophy. It means don't over-arrange, don't make life difficult. Just play the melody and do it the simplest way possible."
~J. Gleason.

In other other news, sorry about the odd font. Blogger is being weird and won't let me pick.

In other other other news, it's gone get up to 94 today. Ninety-four degrees. And last week I was wearing a scarf. What the heck.

Back to Life, Back to Reality

I may be the only person who feels like this.

Today at 8:57am I was walking across campus on my way to go do the same thing I do every weekday morning at 8:57am, move my car to the 9:00-4:00 street parking. The wind was blowing and I was huffing and puffing my breath, feeling something like actual freezing happening in my seldom-used-in-the-past-week sinuses.

My goal was to do a little walking meditation as I went to and from my car-transplant task. I've decided (weeks ago, actually, and it took til now to put it into practice, remember that stages of change theory from a couple months ago?...) that to lead my best possible life, certain moments of reflection are necessary during each day. To have it work out in the best way that it can, I need one in the morning, one around the middle of the day, and a final one in the evening.

For me, a good meditation can be as short as 5 or 10 minutes. That may sound funny, but think about how teeny tiny dreams can seem to take eons to pass. It's kinda like that. But, somehow, most days that 5-10 minutes is hard to come by (don't worry, I know it's me, and not the 5-10 minutes that makes it difficult...). Unfortunately, when I'm not meditating often enough, the awesome and weird things that happen when I meditate are....I get yelled at for not meditating.

Sigh.

But, not today! I just got a little yelled at for trying to do a walking one rather than an actual seated, closed-eye moment of contemplation. So I resolved to do that once I was back inside.

Anyway, I was walking along, chilly, doing the same thing I always do only slightly less comfily (left my gloves in the office) and I realized something.

Usually I'm (more or less consciously) grumbling just then for the same old thing, on a same old Monday, in the same old city (yeah, same old, I haven't lived here for two years yet...but you know how I am). However, today, I was just breathing sighs of relief for doing these same mundane things.

The truth is, I'm very boring. On the inside.

But that's okay! It's nice to have routines that make you feel comfortable, and effective! At least you know you're getting things done.

So, today, be thankful for the routines. That's what I'll be doing. Sure, there are wonderful ways that the routine could be changed, but there are lots and lots of not-so-wonderful ones.

And, a reminder. V-day is this Saturday. Are you prepared? Single girls, are you prepared? Not gonna lie, last year was the best V-day I'd had in a loooong, long time. It was the first time I'd been single in a buncha years and I saved so much money!

This V-day I'll try to have my cake and eat it too, as in, take T for his first massage using a gift cert. my mom got me last year for my bday. (sorry mom! And thanks :) )

Happy week-start!

Lines Blurry

Where's the difference between creating the life you want to live and walking the path that's been laid out for you, and is the one that you're supposed to be walking?

This morning I asked to be directed to live my best possible version of today.

I was taught that we all have multiple lives, days, realities we can live in each moment. It's a range, but there is a best one. Or maybe, a couple of best ones.

I was thinking about the thing that is an afternoon. Usually I don't know afternoons; my mornings bleed into noons which merge to afternoons and before I know it, the sky is darkening and I'm driving home.

Not that I mind the traffic these days (good contemplative time. Good people watching, too), but I do wish that I could live the different parts of my day, rather than the same minutes, or at least interchangeable ones, from morning to early evening, under the same fluorescent lights.

Today on my drive in I noticed the sky. I often do, but today I thought that I need to make sure to do that more often. I've been falling off lately.

In high school I remember my friend Brian G laughing at me and saying that I looked at the sky more than any person should. I miss being able to see it.

Then, I remember how nice it is sometimes to live my days this way. How long days can seem when each day is really four or five days, and not long in a good way.

So, finding the difference between the best path and your own choosing of a path? I'm not sure.

But I'm working on it!

Candycane Happiness -- no, just kidding.

Yesterday evening, when deciding what I'd wear today, I did what I've been looking forward to for weeks, maybe even months -- skipped over to the downstairs hall closet and got out my fleece jacket and scarf.

Yay! The cold season has finally arrived!

This morning I got dressed, wore my knee-high socks and boots (yessss!) and did my old faithful banish-the-cold routine: Scarf on first, two and a half wraps each way, tuck the ends, then the jacket over all, buttoned and belted, thank you.

I clip-clopped out to my car and was on my way to work. I even had to use the rear window defroster! Yup, I was excited about this.

Then, while driving, someone or other on the radio said that we'll be getting up to 75 degrees this afternoon, then up to 80 tomorrow.

Sigh.

Is it because of global warming? I know I'm in California and all, but come on! It's nearly thanksgiving and still not even consistent sweater weather. Not cool. (no pun intended, but it works.)

Yesterday as I was running an errand on campus I was exquisitely aware of the cool breeze chilling my cheeks and neck, and I thought how much more lovely the world looks right now with crispness in the air. Yes, it looks just as lovely in the early spring when the non-frigid winds are starting to thaw everything out, but the loveliness is different. Right now, at this time of the year, it seems to me that you need the cold in order to get the most out of the season.

Then, I realized something. It's only the temperature. How hot or cold the air is should have no bearing on my happiness anyway. It's such a silly thing. Well, maybe not NO bearing - I can understand being just a bit more happy if the weather matches, but less because it doesn't match? There's just something wrong with that.

It seems to me that we're always chasing something. Something material, or a relationship, or things that are career-oriented... isn't it only that what we all really want is to wake up happy, looking forward to the day, then live a happy day, then go to bed - happy? And the things and people that we chase are just ways that we think we can get that feeling?

The sad thing is, it seldom works. For me at least, once I've gotten those things that I thought would give me that all-is-right-with-the-world-and-I-am-all-of-a-sudden-an-infinitely-more-awesome-and-happy-version-of-myself-feeling before, I looked around and realized that it wasn't all it had been cracked up to be in my mind. I still felt like something was missing. It's not that I didn't appreciate what I'd achieved, but I didn't feel like I thought I would. So, it was on to the next thing.

But if that's the way that life is lived, you'll never be happy. What about deciding what things have really given you that feeling? Not what seems to give OTHERS that feeling - I think that's where most of us make the mistake, we see other people happy (or seeming like they're happy), so we think by having the situation or things that they have we can feel the same way. We're not those people. The same things won't make us happy.

So, what does?

Then, how to get it? And, more importantly, how much of it do we already have? Maybe we don't notice, or it doesn't help because we always want more. Well, something that's been true for me is, yes, there can always be more. And there can always be less. So it's good to appreciate what we have. Not as a fear-based "oh my gosh I may lose this" kind of appreciation, just with a gratitude for the things that make our lives sweet.

And, if we don't have what we want, how can we get it? I always used to practice the "what would the perfect version of myself, the one I want to someday be, do right now?" question. It almost always worked. And, it was hardly ever easy.

I should get back to that.

So, in closing, this has been yet another PSA to pay attention! Who knows what you're missing and wish you hadn't?