December is here!

Each and every year I struggle to hold back tears of gratitude on Thanksgiving day - gratitude for wonderful family and friends and good health and a roof over my head and food on the table and an incredible husband and great (adult) children and living in a free country, and Cooper and ...the list goes on.

Cooper didn't know what to think of this naked bird.

Hostessing and taking photos don't mix well. I did get one picture of the kids (young and old) eating.
When it's finally dessert time, we celebrate Willa's birthday . This year we surprised Chris with a 50th birthday party as well. Here he holds up a festive pair of Christmas undies! When each of us kids reach 50, dad and mom gift us with a photo book containing pictures of ourselves from birth through graduation. What a treasure! Chris was given his book that day. Also, Uncle Gene gifted him with a rifle that our grandfather used and his father before him. Wow!


While searching for my Thanksgiving napkins, I was rather shocked to realize just how many sets of napkins I own! I need to have some tea parties (or cocktail parties?) to use them up.

Last summer, I bought a large container of Christmas bulbs at a garage sale for $2. Many are flocked, all are vintage. Tonight I strung them along a wire and draped the mass atop my vintage door along with a string of vintage green lights = vintage delight!

I'm digging my recent art journal entry. I copied the idea from a booze advertisement in a magazine! The red border is actual vintage wallpaper from my grandma's little farmhouse kitchen in Enumclaw, WA. (How many times have I used the word 'vintage' in this post?)

My mind is whirling with decorating ideas, gifts to make and buy, goodies to bake, all preparation for Christmas which will be here soon!

This and that

Here is a mish mash of various pictures giving a glimpse into the ordinariness of my recent life. (Ordinariness = good.)

The quilt

Stephanie informed me she does not like the 'fancy stitches' on quilts. So, I decided to try stitch-in-the-ditch and ordered a special foot for my sewing machine. After many attempts at adjusting the tension (puckering), I gave up. No fancy stitches on this quilt - just a running stitch.

I decided it was high time to start using some of the old architectural pieces I have in storage. (The ones Glynn calls junk...) This is the door I rescued from a garbage pile...

and these are the original shutters on dad & mom's home in Kent. A perfect backdrop for Mr. and Mrs. Old Timer.


Cuteness = these rocks, made by sister Kim for mom's birthday. It's a basket of happy!

Tucker, the Knox family cat

A camera cannot do justice to the flaming sugar maple tree outside my office.

Bonnie (as in Bonnie and Clyde), our neighbors goat, asking me if I have anything to eat. She and Clyde love a scratch behind their ears and food of any kind.

And last, little Otis. He has not been overly happy with me as I rouse him from the first of his many morning cat naps to take a walk. To add insult to injury, I made him pose in a pile of damp leaves. Doesn't he look thrilled?

I need to vent!

On Sunday, '60 Minutes' revealed to the public (you and me) that Congress is exempt from the insider trading laws that apply to other Americans who use non-public information to enrich themselves in the stock market.

Silly me! Here I thought insider trading was against the law and would land a person in the Gray Bar Motel.

Then, I felt a slow burn start as I read an article in Wednesday's Olympian. It stated that 47% of Congressmen and women are millionaires. Compare that number to us normal folk where only 1% can claim that distinction.



I have great admiration for capitalists who become millionaires because of putting wheels to their lofty dreams (combined with plenty of sweat equity).

To use one's position of power, by manipulation or otherwise, to grow one's financial coffers is vile and shameful.

Both capitalism and politics have veered way off course. Once upon a time, they were balanced upon an ethical foundation. This foundation is now riddled with corruption and greed.

How can it be that the top officials in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (mortgage firms under government conservator ship) received over $12 million in combined 'performance' bonuses last year, all the while my neighbor, who tried to get federal mortgage assistance, lost his home to foreclosure?

Our partisan politicians spend time pointing fingers, blaming the inadequacies of the other party, rather than creating new policies that would benefit the health and economic growth of our great nation. Lack of transparency in government combined with no term limits and a heavy dose of huge corporate contributions thrown into the mix make the role of our legislators ineffective.

While in office, Brian Baird, a representative from Washington state, tried to get a bill passed which he called The STOCK Act, an acronym for "Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge." If enacted, the bill would prevent members of Congress and their staffs from using information not available to the public to guide them in making or selling investments. At the time, Brian could only get six other house members to sign on as co-sponsors.

Since '60 Minutes' aired this little piece of dirty laundry, the bill has gained momentum and more legislators have signed on. Apparently, transparency in government does works....

Although the Occupy Wall Street movement lacks a cohesive mission statement, its participants portray the frustration and unrest felt by so many in this country. Hopefully, our lawmakers are taking notice. If not, Occupy Congress may be next.
I feel a sense of hopelessness as I contemplate our future political arena. Men and women who enter politics because of a true desire to serve and better our country quickly become corrupted by power and money. It makes me wonder why I even bother to vote......

Eye Candy

Ever heard of a knox box?

They are required at many commercial properties to provide a non-destructive way to gain access to said property in the event of an emergency. The contents of our knox box allow emergency personnel a way into our facility after hours.
The true beauty of having a knox box is apparent once a year when the local firemen visit the property and open the box to ensure the contents meet with their approval.

I walk out to the box with a fireboy and await his comment about the contents. It's an inconvenient part of my job but some has to do it.....

Those 'aha' moments

While filling out paperwork for an event last week, I had an 'ouch' moment.

Often we experience 'aha' moments, their gentle content usually coaxing a change in mood or perspective.

Sadly, my moment was jarring and gritty, much like a harsh slap-alongside-the-head.

It was all about excuses.

At this event, we were given an itinerary and our full involvement was requested. We initialed our consent and acknowledged that, without excuse, we would be on time and prepared.

For some reason this simple task showed me how often I use excuses to avoid engaging in life.

Have you ever been on the sidelines of an activity, wishing you had the self confidence and gumption to jump in? While cruising a few years ago, passengers were frolicking and dancing to Reggae tunes under a moonlit sky. Imagine the passengers dancing on the lido deck with drink in hand. No fancy 'Dancing with the Stars' footwork going on there! Yet my excuse of not knowing how to dance held me back from joining in.

How often do we say, "I'm too busy", "I'm too fat", "I was mistreated as a child", or "I don't have any friends"?

Or, couched in different language but still an excuse:

"If only I had more money I'd take that trip with you."
"If only I had more time I'd be a successful ___________."
"If I knew my soul's purpose then I'd be working at a job I love."

The truth of the matter is the time I have is the time I have. The money I have (and spend) is the money I have. The body I feed and exercise (or not) is the body I have. The activities I choose (or not) are the activities I involve myself in.

Life is like an event. If it begins at 8 am, be present and prepared at that hour without excuse.

'Storage Wars' woes (quickly repeat that 3 times in a row)

Recent conversation with a tenant who has been denied access to her unit because of unpaid rent. (Her unit is in the foreclosure process...)

Tenant: How much do I owe?

Me: $90 brings you current.

Tenant: There isn't $90 worth of stuff in the unit. Most of it needs to be trashed. Can't you just let me grab my duffle bag out of the unit and then you can auction off the rest like they do in 'Storage Wars'?

Me: But you just said there is nothing of value in the unit....

Tenant: Yeah... but the units that hold junk still sell for hundreds of dollars on 'Storage Wars'. You'd be making out like a bandit!

I concluded this conversation with a 30 second lesson in the reality of reality TV - in the 16 years of managing my facility, I've never been paid hundreds of dollars for dump fodder.

She paid the past due and emptied out her unit.

I rest my case.

Cooper

Indulge me and act interested in these pictures of Cooper taken by grandma Sue:

'Walking upright on two legs is great for exploring. I'm freeeeeeeee!"

"I'm not sure why you think a diaper wedgie is so funny, Grandma. It's mighty uncomfortable..."

'I have to dress up as a dragon to get candy? What's candy?"

"Grrrrrrrr.
Is that scary enough?"