Back again

Here I am, Blogiwog, back again after a long absence. I was missing my dad, and wishing he was here to talk to. We used to have such good conversations. As he got older, and more forgetful, and more worried about things on a daily basis, it seemed like time just passed by us and we lost those chances to sit down and talk about things. I really miss that. And I think there is something irreplaceable about what you have with a parent–a familiarity–a feeling that someone knows you and loves you so well, so unconditionally, that when they are gone from your life, you don't really feel the loss completely...but in increments...slowly...throughout your entire life.

There and Back Again...and Again

We watched the 3rd Lord of the Rings movie last night. I guess we (Pat, Dan and I) felt we hadn't watched it in a while, and it was time. As much as I love those movies, now when I watch them I find myself filling in the dialogue with absurd, ridiculous dialogue. I can't take them seriously anymore.

The rain is relentless. This is the time of year around here that gets difficult to bear. But it's also why this area is so green. Small price to pay.

Thought for the Day

"Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity."
- The Tao te Ching, translated by Stephen Mitchell

Quieting the Voices

"Quieting these voices is at least half the battle I fight daily... Left to my own devices, my mind spends much of its time having conversations with people who aren't there. I walk along defending myself to people, or exchanging repartee with them, or rationalizing my behavior, or seducing them with gossip, or pretending I'm on their TV talk show or whatever. I speed or run an aging yellow light or don't come to a full stop, and one nanosecond later am explaining to imaginary cops exactly why I had to do what I did, or insisting that I did not in fact do it."   -Anne Lamott, "bird by bird"

Got our veggie garden planted today. Broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, buttercup squash, spinach, zucchini, peas, bush beans, and sunflowers. It was a great day!

"What Buddhism teaches is that the connection, the ability to find intimacy or connection, is inherent within us, and that if we can just surrender back into that capacity for love, that is all of our birthrights--all babies are born with that; they instinctively love their caretakers. So if we can find that again, then our relationships will take care of themselves."
-Mark Epstein

Thinking about the Garden

It's time to start planning this years garden. Now that I am working, I'll have to stategically plan this out. We are all ready set up this year, at least. Have to get the soil ready, and start getting some seeds, and plant them and set them under the lights. Can hardly wait to get the starts planted again, now that I have that little bit of knowledge that could make this year better for growing some of our food.