Cartoon By Anderson From My Blog 05/28/11
This cartoon is/was on my Blog as part of the design. It spoke to me.
After all, I am an old printer, with hopes of having fresh, new thoughts on at least a daily basis. Ok, maybe a weekly basis.
Perhaps the cartoon "spoke" to me today because, due to medication changes, I appear to be missing a few "dots."
Let's ponder on that.
Copper Hides Under His Bangs 2010.
Photo by Sharon.
A few people noticed I stopped writing. Thank you. My computer crashed from viruses. In case any of you have not experienced this, I have now crashed twice. Let me explain.
My mom asked if I should just buy another computer. Well, not really. I have a friend who fixes these crashes. But, even with backup, you pretty much have to build up the computer just like you've been doing the last year or so doing before the crash. So, unless the hard drive is killed, or worse, there isn't any reason to buy a new computer. Unless, of course, it's time for a new one anyway.
Most everything we experience should provide us with at least one learning point. This time around I've learned that computers should be turned off when not in use. Especially overnight, 'cause while you're sleeping the viruses are eating up your data and programs. Even if your computer goes into a "sleep" mode. They do this very quietly so as not to wake you up. But, they do it none the less.
Bad people send out viruses because, well, because they can and they're bad people. The attacks come into our computer through various means: worms, trojans, etc. They come in attached to something else, like maybe the chain letters we all receive. The trojans skip by safe guards because they are like the Trojan Horse - the outside is great, but dangers are hidden inside. Worms kind of tunnel in and once deep inside start to devour everything.
More News...
The Chief and I have been watching the news lately. This is something we have not done for a long time. Why? It's depressing. And, we get our news on-line.
But we recently discovered MSNBC: Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, and Lawrence O'Donnell. After that we go to the Comedy channel and watch Jon Stewart and then The Colbert Report. Whew!
In the photo at the top of this post is our super-dog Copper. Copper watches from his place on our bed the same things we do. His now VERY long bangs are intended to send us a message: "I can't watch this political stuff anymore!"
Hmm. I wonder what his reaction to watching Fox would be. We'll never know, because then I would have to hide under my covers with my pillow over my head, and my fingers stuck in my ears.
Nope, not gonna happen.
October is my blog's birth month. Started it in October of 2009.
Probably never thought I would still be blogging after a year. If you go back to the first few blogs I wrote, you'll read about someone who had no idea why or what they were doing. I still don't.
But, this I do know. People are reading my posts. People are enjoying them. People have smiled while reading them. And people have written back to me.
My age is a secret. Only my husband, my mother, sister and brother know for sure when I was born. But, I am old enough to have memories. Yup. I have lived long enough to have memories, stories and lessons to remember. One of these days, I will trip up and remember something that is older than I am. And, that's when other people will know.
This may be one of those memories.
Pink and charcoal gray were very popular colors at one time. Felt skirts with loads of crinolines underneath. Collars of blouses turned up in the back. Hair styles called "D A's." I had little bells on my "gym" shoe laces for basketball games in High School.
I never got bullied. But, I never fit in. I felt I wasn't pretty enough for the boys to like me. I wasn't smart enough to be in the "egghead" group, but I was too smart for the popular group. My collar was turned up and I identified with the "hoodies." But, I really didn't fit in there either.
"It gets better" is the new campaign for kids that are bullied. And it does. Once I got out of High School and into College everything changed for the better.
And then came last October 2009. Little did I know at the time I would find an other, newer format to use what creativity I had. And, that was to write. Write short posts on something called a "blog." And I found it because my health had deteriorated. I had taken an early retirement when all my sick, personal, and vacation days were used up at work. I had always worked at a job. Always. I decided to volunteer. Learned how to edit videos for local television.
And then another health blow: Fibromyalgia. It's a disease that hurts somewhere or everywhere. Movement causes pain. So I choose my activities very carefully. I enjoy being on my computer. I stay inside most of the time. I enjoy looking out my windows. And, I love blogging. I could focus on all the things I'm missing. I prefer to enjoy what I can do.
So the following is in honor of my blog's birthday. Be forewarned that while you are listening, I just might be dancing the "stroll."
Join me.
The Tune Weavers - Happy Happy Birthday Baby (Checker records) on 78 rpm! From 1958.
Bird Breadline: Waiting. Photo By Sharon 2010.
I've written before about why I blog. It started as an experiment. I've also written about validation. I have gotten more validation from my blog than I could have ever imagined. It almost scares me when my fingers touch the keyboard and start typing. All those letters. All those words. Flying out into cyberspace. Does anyone read them? And why?
Here is a recent comment from a Face Book friend. At least that's where we met. The friendship is bigger than Face Book.
Her husband has been very sick. Scary sick and no diagnosis. Sick that whispers the dreaded word "cancer." Sickness that changes the normal everyday pattern of our footprints.
And then...EUREKA!
A diagnosis was finally given. The disease was found. This is why medicine is not just a science but an art. The art is putting all the colors of the palette together and fitting the pieces together until finally a picture is recognized and named.
And with the diagnosis comes the knowing. And hope is rekindled.
A message from my friend is received:
I have been meaning to write you, but I have been busy learning everything I could about this disease.
You don't know this but you helped me. From reading your blog, etc. I remembered you joined a group on-line concerning your medical condition and had positive things to say about it.So on a lark I found the world organization for the disease.
I think it may have saved his life. His light containing hope had just about flickered out. He now has hope. I am so glad I stumbled into your garden...just wanted to say thanks for being there...you are wonderful beyond belief!
Choose to be happy!!!!!!!!!
Here are some magnified microscopic specimen photographs of the disease I found online. Also art in their own way.
As a person who remains in home most of the time my blog is a way to reach out to others. It warms my heart when my readers reach back to me.
Share your strengths when you can. Accept others' strength when in need.
And, don't forget to WOOOOOOHOOOOO! Whenever possible!
Crab Apples In Fall 2010 Photo by Sharon
Validations. They come at the best times don't they?
I've worked most of my life. As a single mother for quite awhile, my life consisted of work and taking care of my daughter. At one point I worked my way up to a Department Manager in our local hospital. I supervised, hired, fired, did budgets, wrote proposals, became accredited in the field. I hated it. I did it very well for about 16 years. But, I hated it and the stress from that hate wore my health down.
After several layoffs at different places I wanted to retire early due to my health...and with the real opportunity of being able to do so, I did (thank you Chief).
My mom told me later she thought I would be unhappy when I retired, losing the validations I received through my job.
But, guess what? I found I could do other things that I never had the time for before. As a volunteer, I learned how to edit videos for broadcasting on our local community television station. It was the first time my "creative" side was demonstrated to the outside world. And I received many good validations for my effort.
My health deteriorated further the last year or so. The editing I loved to do, and did about 40 hours each week, ceased. I became somewhat limited in my physical abilities. Always loving the computer, I decided to try my hand at blogging about 11 months ago.
Recently my mom said to me "Sharon, I didn't know you could write!" Well, I didn't know either. I keep plugging away. Some readers and friends have told me I have a "gift." Sometimes I write about memories, sometimes about current events. Mostly, I write about looking out my window.
And, it's just amazing how much I see from my window. Everyday is like a field trip in my office chair. Right this very moment I am watching the Canadian Geese migrate from one window pane to another.
My hope is I can give a giggle or a warm snuggle to a reader... to someone who needs just that, just then. And ultimately, perhaps, the feeling that they are on a field trip, too.
Join me, take my hand.
Three Flavors of Yogurt....photo by Sharon
In my post http://texaschief.typepad.com/looking-out-my-window/2010/07/savor-the-flavor-of-the-day.html I talked a bit about taste testing.
To follow through, the Chief and I have been taste testing yogurt for about the last month or so. My assumption was, after my experience with the popsicles, that knowledge and color have a greater control over taste than your tongue. Of course smell is the strongest determiner of taste than anything else, but popsicles and yogurt are severely insufficient in odor.
The tests were done with the Chief bringing me an opened yogurt. My eyes had to be closed to eliminate any color reference. I would get one spoonful. I carefully smooshed the yogurt to cover all areas of my tongue so I wouldn't miss out on any of my taste buds. And then I would proclaim...
"Vanilla"
"Ummm, Cherry?" "No? Then Blueberry?"
And so on.
What I soon realized was that my knowledge was not limited to nothing regarding the yogurt:
1. Everytime I opened the refrigerator door I would see the yogurts.
2. The yogurts were divided into two groups: the Chief's favorites & mine.
3. When I tasted the yogurt my mind visualized them in the refrigerator.
So, mentally, without any intention of "cheating" I would think to myself "there were three yogurts on my side - cherry, raspberry, blueberry. Hmm, not cherry. Not raspberry, that leaves blueberry.
But even with that information I mostly got them wrong on the first guess. To do the test correctly absolutely no information about the yogurt should be available. This would make a good Consumer Reports test.
By the way, the flavors I tasted correctly the most were cherry, vanilla and raspberry.
Yummy!
Finches at Feeder Photo by Sharon
You'd think by looking at this picture the finches were starving to death. Let me assure you they are not, as they feed like this several times a day. I haven't as yet been able to photograph the "waiting line" on our fence. I shall keep on trying.
I think it's due to these little rascals the mighty cardinals have yet to return to us. Too crowded, especially when there are so many other feeders close by. We still enjoy listening to their songs.
Dream A Little Dream with Me
Last night I had a very long dream, or so it seemed. I don't remember it all, nor the details. What I do remember is the Chief and I kept running to different places trying to hide from someone whose goal seemed to be to harm or kill us. No matter how clever we were... we were found.
When I told the Chief about it I paused and said "maybe it was the grandchildren?" And we laughed. We love them so much.
OTC* Laughter
I've written about laughter and humor before. I think it is the one thing that keeps me going. It gets my adrenalin and endorphins jumping.
Recently, on Face Book, a woman contacted me saying she had read my blog when she was feeling sad and it made her happy. Wow. It turns out we have so much in common it's freaky. I mean how we think, how we choose to be happy when that is not life's intention. We both like Lady Gaga (laugh if you want), the Coffee Party (as opposed to Tea Party) and Dexter (okay, so he's a serial killer), to name a few. She is an artist and her work makes me smile. She called me, yes meeee... a word smith! Holy cow!
Now my mom might say those things (she however doesn't like Lady Gaga) but a complete stranger with no ties or reason to tell me this. What a wonderful gift to give someone. It's sorta like the "random act of kindness" thingy. Any way, I'm so grateful to her for letting me know that my writing touched someone in a meaningful way.
And this reminds me of Roger Ebert, one of my idols. I've loved him since the 60's. This last year has not been the best for me. Fibromyalgia is a nasty thing. Not, however, as bad a trial as Roger has been through. The thing is, I think we both approached our change in life style in a somewhat similar manner: Look at what has happen. Find how limitations can be turned around. Refuse to be miserable. Mandate life be enjoyed. And laugh your heart out.
No, I don't go outside much. No, I haven't gone to things I use to. My life changed. But, one day I thought about blogging. And if you look at my first few blogs, you'll see I didn't have a clue what I was doing. As it is now, it seems to have turned into a conversation with myself and anyone who wants to listen.
And, what brought me to this blog was a retweet from Roger Ebert:
TheSocialBrain Compelling evidence that smiling leads to physiological changes in the brain that cool blood+trigger happy feelings. http://alturl.com/25bdn Retweeted by ebertchicago and 100+ others:
Smiling Makes You Happy
Bob Sutton's Blog "Work Matters"
Gretchen over at The Happiness Project had a lovely and thoughtful post yesterday called smile, smile, smile. She ended the post by saying: "And apart from its effect on my dealings with other people, smiling makes me feelhappier. Actions trigger feelings, so by going through the motions of feeling happier, I change my mood. Thich Nhat Hanh wrote, “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”'
And here is a Video with Laughing John Cleese
And another from the Yogi himself
And, finally...Never take yourself too seriously...
*OTC means medicines that are Over The Counter - no prescription needed
I didn't expect any casualties but I girded for battle anyway.
http://bit.ly/admYUS
I follow the Mighty Hunter on twitter. The above link is for his blog. His story is a great one. Please read and follow him. Below are my comments.
**************************************
Again, sir, you have trigger memories that I will herewith describe and add a link to you on my blog.
I was living about 50 miles south of Chicago and was once again laid off. I had an interview with the human relations department of a large, well known company in the "loop." They loved me. And why not? I was a catch.
They had me come in for interviews with different people in the HR department, taking written tests, oral tests... you woulda thought I was trying to get into Harvard. After HR was through with me, they set up an interview with a department head which went well.
A week later I was informed that the department was being reorganized. Department Head and job were no longer there. Another interview, and another for about seven interviews for specific jobs.
During the latter of those interviews I interviewed with another well known Chicago company. Two interviews, two total interviews and I was hired. They got a catch.
I then had the pleasure of informing the first place that I was no longer interested in them. Ha!
Each time I interviewed, it was as Mighty Hunter (above) described. The process of gearing one's self up for the battle. The concentration. The appearance. The confidence. The walk. The hand shake. And ready with answers for those surprise questions that are always asked.
The job I did take ended up being the best job I ever had... with the best boss I ever had.
Post Script. I hated the first place's registration area. The modern decor looked good. But, was very low to the ground. If I sat on a chair or the couch, there was no way for me to get up, as I am old and decrepit. After that discovery I never sat while waiting to be called.
Post Post Script. Just two months after I started my new position, the first company was involved in a horrendous scandal and eventually, for all practical purposes, shut down. Ha! Again.
As an aside, about two days after being on the job I got called in to the HR department. Really weird. Like I was a thief or...something...
I had failed my drug test! But that's another story.
Oops!
What If You're Wrong
Flocking of Starlings
Pot Luck!
I thought today I would give you a few of the videos that I enjoyed this week. All of them came from people I follow on Twitter.
I am especially fond of the Flocking Birds. I talked about groups of birds on another post. Nature is fascinating.
For example: the cardinals are gone again. What is up with that? Instead of cardinals at the feeder we now have a mother house finch who continues to feed her children way past when she should have stopped. In my humble opinion. Or, maybe not. Maybe she feeds her brood until she has another brood.
House Finch on Swing taken by Sharon
House Finches are originally from Mexico and were spread to the States by what is now illegal trafficing. They are beautiful birds in their own right, just as are the brilliant Gold Finches.
Gold Finch at feeder by Sharon
If you have any extra cardinals - please tell them we are good people with both water and sunflowers seeds - and send them off to us!
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"The Muse visits while you are writing, not before." - R. Ebert
Go To: www.MyLifeLine.org/swjensen
For more informaton about my
Metastasis Breast Cancer to Bone.
"Yes, I'm an optimist, I still have some water left in my glass." - Sharon W Jensen
"Like a cat I find work enough in staring out the window, eye amused by random movement, a fluttering leaf, a flitting chickadee."
Bluegrass Poet
"Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got." - Janice Joplin
Tired and Retired. Democrat Liberal Progressive. Secular Humanist. Verbally Dyslectic. Fibromyalgic. Blogger..
"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." - M. K. Casey
"Virtue is its own reward." - M. Cicero
