Gratitude

2013 is FINALLY over.  That's one thing to be thankful for.

In all seriousness, I have had a LOT to be thankful for this year.

• God...because He's made all this possible.
• Love...because it makes my world go 'round.
• My family...because they make it all worth it.
• My friends...because they know I'm crazy and love me anyway.
• My brother...because we're anomalies together.
• My cat, Timber...because she's my snuggle bug.
• My home...it's where magic happens.
• My freedom...without it, everything else wouldn't be so amazing.
• Coffee...because without it, I couldn't appreciate anything else.
• My vocabulary...because it's sexy and I worked hard for it.
• My computer...I'd honestly be lost without it.
• My Kindle...because my house is too small for all the books I love.
• Pinterest...because I love to be inspired.
• Google...because I love checking my facts.
• The Dollar Tree...because saving money is awesome.
• Amazon...because spending money is awesome too.
• Hastings...because Chai Lattes don't make themselves.
• Sushi...it's THAT important.
• Indian Food...Lamb Curry & Garlic Naan.  Yes please.
• The Olive Bar at Fred Meyer...makes my tastebuds happy.
• Tea...because it's wonderful.
• John Williams & Hans Zimmer...I love you guys.
• Pandora...because I love my music my way.
• Audible...because sometimes I want to read while I'm working on something (or driving).
• Snow...because hot flashes suck.
• Heat tape...because frozen pipes suck even more.
• Hot showers...no explanation needed.
• Pajama pants...because comfort is one of my favorite things.
• Slippers...because shoes and cold feet suck.
• Red Tail Sangria...because it's delightful.
• Hard Ciders...because adults need juice too.
• Apple Ice Wine...because it's amazing.
• My tastebuds...because I thought I had lost them forever.
• Dr. Perez & his team...for saving my life.
• The nurses on the 4th floor at St. Luke...for taking such good care of me.
• My neighbor...because he's like a grandpa to me.
• Electric pencil sharpeners...I can get back to writing just that much faster.
• Crayons...for making me feel like a kid.
• My church...for reminding me I have a lot to be thankful for, to slow down, and give thanks.

I know some of it might seem silly, but it's all true.  This year, I'm going to do my best to remember to be more thankful and present...to appreciate to the little moments that make it all worth it.

Happy New Year.

Here We Go (Again)...

So here we are again.  It's been awhile.  In my defense...life has been at times both too crazy to have time to blog or too boring to be of much interest (even to myself, at times).

Why are we here?  Simple.  My life once again changed radically about six weeks ago (and I have the scars to prove it).  It has made me reevaluate the things that are important to me:  the people I love, the people who love me, my cat, good food, my Pandora station, having the eye of a child when looking at the world, and the written word.

So...once again, keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times.  Hang on.  It's going to be one helluva ride.

Apple geek...

Alright...I gotta say it again.  I LOVE my iPad.  I love the funny pictures I get to take of Roy's kids.

I love the beautiful pictures I get to take of the world around me  I love that I can actually write on it (see earlier post) AND listen to Pandora while doing so.  I love looking at the stars with the kids, taking a picture of a constellation, having it identified, and then telling the kids the story behind it.  I love that I've got everything at my fingertips when I'm working on my book.  

I love the portability, possibility, and functionality.  It's been a creative revelation to me.  It is simply amazing how one little device can so drastically change your life.  It has wiped out the majority of my creative excuses.  Everything I need to write this blog, work on my novel, or capture snapshots of my life fits in my purse.  And THAT is a marvelous kind of freedom.

Technological monster in the making...

I just got myself an iPad the other day, and let me tell you...it might be the greatest thing I've ever done for myself creatively.  Between Evernote and Penultimate...HOLY SHIT.  Gone are the days of lugging around pen and paper, camera, and laptop.  This is sheer genius.  Being able to actually write longhand (see "The pen is mightier than the pillow") on a digital medium and not having to worry about losing it or it getting destroyed...AMAZING.

Granted...my handwriting on the iPad does leave something to be desired (as it does sometimes with a pen and paper), but it's a happy tradeoff...I'm writing again. I'd almost forgotten how liberating it is.  I could go on and on.  

I've got Pandora going in the background (I have a station set up to play selections from movie scores)...who cares that it's 32 degrees outside and foggy?  I think I'm the happiest biped in my zipcode right now.  

And seeing as how it's Saturday night...that's saying something.

The pen is mightier than the pillow...

Funny...I've been staring at the tab for this screen for the better part of a month trying to figure out what the hell to write.  Sitting at the keyboard, nothing came to me.  Then about twenty minutes ago, it hit me.  I was thinking about this while lying in bed trying to get some much needed sleep, and I caught myself scribbling on the pillow with my finger.  EUREKA!  I prefer to write longhand and then edit on the keyboard.  I can't seem to get the story I want to tell out even semi-coherently if I type it.  I have to actually create the letters, watch them flow together to become words, and string them into sentences.  

All by hand.  

Same concept...I write by hand (and anyone who's seen my writing comes away feeling loopy) and edit on the computer.

So...here I am, listening to my pillow throw a tantrum while the words pour out.  And the could very well be drivel, but dammit...they're my words.  And they're the first ones I've managed in quite awhile.

So there.

And so it begins...

There are days when I can barely manage to form a coherent sentence verbally.  Most days, it's a struggle to do so on a keyboard.  Why I became a writer is sometimes beyond me.  Maybe it's because I love a challenge.  Most likely because I was dropped on my head as a small child one too many times.  Either way...here I am.  

This past year has been one of incredible change.  Ultimately, all of it good although a lot of it didn't seem that way at the time.  After dancing barefoot across the desert for the better part of twenty years, I find myself dancing barefoot across the snow in Idaho.  (Told you...dropped on my head.)  Out of all the changes and the lessons that came along for the ride, I have come to the conclusion that life IS a scavenger hunt.  We stumble our way along, trip over various artifacts (some interesting, some grimy, some barely noteworthy), sometimes we pay attention, but for the most part we seem to just bounce around.  I'm done being aimless.  If life is going to bounce me around, I'm going to pay attention and enjoy the ride.  You only get to go once.

Five days ago I woke up from a dead sleep with a list of promises to myself for the year:  "My resolutions: to replace frustration with patience, to read more, to write everyday, to be in awe of my surroundings and take note of them, to commit random acts of senseless kindness, and laugh daily."  This next year I plan to carry my camera with me no matter where I go, cook more often with the people I love, attempt to accomplish greater things than just making it through the day without killing someone, work on (and finish) my novel, quit smoking, learn to play the guitar, get my flat ass to the gym on a regular basis, talk about books I'm reading (and listening to) with other people who are also reading, collect snowflakes on my eyelashes, bring smiles to strangers, and laugh as often as possible.

So welcome aboard.  Strap yourselves in and make yourselves comfortable.  It's going to be a helluva ride.