Treading Life's Path

Quote of the Week

2011-07-19T05:45:00.001-06:00

When an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside, as fate. C.G. Jung

Quote of the Week

2011-07-11T06:48:00.000-06:00

"We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results."

Herman Melville

My Quotes

2011-07-09T07:16:00.000-06:00

Sometimes words spoken ring a sour note. A simple smile can mean so much more than words that are not truly in your heart.

Fourth of July

2011-07-04T10:54:00.000-06:00

Please join us in celebrating the birth of our nation. Happy Fourth of July!

Quote of the Week

2011-07-03T16:13:00.000-06:00

We can do no great things, only small things with great love.

Mother Teresa

Quote of the Week

2011-06-27T14:04:00.000-06:00

The greatest discovery of any generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes.

Albert Schweitzer

Let It Rain, Let It Rain, Let It... Alright Already!

2011-06-22T11:37:00.000-06:00

Today is supposed to be the first full day of summer. By the calendar that is true. By the weather outside, now that's an entirely different story. Since April we have had winter, winter, some more winter, fall, a splash of summer here or there, a smattering of spring and our own monsoon season.

There have been a proliferation of wet, rainy and often violent weather days. I can count on two hands the number of perfectly beautiful days I've seen in the last two months. It doesn't even fill all ten fingers on those two hands!

I'm not depressed about the weather or anything, but I am sharing an observation of the changing weather. Every year seems to be worse than the previous year. If this trend continues, I will have to send my husband out next year to build an ark! Perhaps I should start gathering animals...

But seriously, last week it took me three times the normal amount of time to get to work due to standing water. It wasn't from an overflowing river. It was from the amount of rain that fell in an eight hour period over night.

Streets that normally never have standing water, were covered in several inches of it. The storm drains were unable to take in all of the water and it backed up into the surrounding streets and yards. Traffic had to be redirected around some of the areas, which caused major traffic snarls.

I sat in one spot for twenty minutes before I was able to crawl to the next spot to wait. I had plenty of time to practice meditation while I was waiting to move.

When I was finally able to get around all of it, there were lots of places where the traffic lanes were blocked off by the police due to the high water. Numbers of cars were left abandoned. They had tried to drive through the high standing water and the vehicle's engine had died. Why do people try to do that? They aren't driving Land Rovers.

A police officer escorted me past one area, where almost all three lanes of traffic were under water. I drove on the median to avoid it. Another day I didn't have my camera with me when I should have AND I had forgotten to charge my cell phone! I missed another photo op. I have to start thinking like a photojournalist.

I thought about asking one of the truck driver's stuck in traffic with me to use their CB, so I could let the people at work know I would get there some day! I tried not to drink too much water so I wouldn't have a potty break concern. Luckily I had plenty of healthy snacks with me. Half of which I ate before I got to work.

Quote of the Week

2011-06-20T20:03:00.001-06:00

What you are comes to you. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fathers Day

2011-06-18T22:29:00.000-06:00

Dearest Dad. Happy Father's Day. You were there at the beginning of my life and I was there with you at the end of yours. I would never trade that moment for anything, to be with you at the end. We shared a very special bond. I was always Daddy's little girl.

You gave me the gifts of music and gardening. I have your temper, oh yes, you bet I do! My husband even pointed it out a couple of weeks ago. But I also got your smarts. You taught me so much.

I so am happy I got to spend so much time with you in those last months of your life. Our bond only grew stronger and stronger. Your smile would light up the room whenever you saw me. Talk about making someone feel so very special! I always knew I was number one in your heart. But I promise, I won't tell Mom!

Whenever I hear thunder, I image that you are up in heaven bowling another "300" game, with all of the angels.

Your Loving daughter

Happy Father's Day to all of the Dads out there and everyone who acts as a father figure to others.

Quote of the Week

2011-06-13T19:42:00.001-06:00

Truth has no path, and that is the beauty of truth, it is living. Krishnamurti

For the Love of Flowering Trees

2011-06-11T06:43:00.000-06:00

A visual feast for the eyes. I'm posting these for the tree lovers everywhere. There's nothing quite like the sight of a majestic tree in full flower.

The Joy of Frozen Yogurt

2011-06-07T22:11:00.000-06:00

I rarely eat ice cream or frozen yogurt. Are you surprised at that? It's not because I don't like it or because I'm trying to be so good at not eating "junk food". It just one of those things that is special if you just don't have it too often. Do you know what I mean? If I have it once in awhile I look forward to eating it more and savor every slurp.

I don't need any elaborate creations with nuts, chocolate sauce, cherries or candy sprinkles or anything like that. I don't even care if it is some exotic or new flavor. It doesn't even have to be in a cone; a cup or a dish with do just fine. I like some plain old vanilla or chocolate; or both swirled together. mmmmmm. Doesn't that make you hungry and your mouth water just thinking about it?

I think a natural ice cream or frozen yogurt is better for you, but I'm not going to pass up the other kind either! Now and then is just fine with me. So as the temperatures climbed, I started thinking more and more about eating some ice cream. I drive past an ice cream parlor on my way to work. It's kind of hard to miss it with it's red and white stripes and huge revolving vanilla cone on the roof!

So yesterday as the day got hotter, I asked my good friend who is always up for a trip to the ice cream parlor, if she wanted to go with me and get some ice cream. I didn't have to ask twice. In fact, I barely got my question out before she she said yes. We had an errand to do and stopped at the parlor I just have to look at every other day.

We both ordered the same thing; a generous cup of chocolate frozen yogurt. We sat for a long time at the tiny table, talking. I took tiny spoonfuls so it would last longer. You know so little that you barely get any on the spoon, and get just a tiny bit of deliciousness. Yum! It lasted for a long time and it was sooo good.

I had forgotten just how much I liked chocolate frozen yogurt. It was so smooth, cold and tasty going down. Ahhhh, frozen satisfaction! Now that's one of the tiny things in life that just make it worth living. If you like frozen yogurt... and I certainly do!

Quote of the Week

2011-06-06T20:50:00.000-06:00

The dew of compassion is a tear. George Gordon Noel Byron

What Is Mine Is Yours, With Conditions

2011-06-05T21:43:00.001-06:00

An odd situation came up the other day. An individual I work with lost some papers that were left out in a common area. She came to me first (I found out later) and asked if I had thrown them away. I didn't get the real point at first. I had a "Sometimers" moment. I thought it was terrible that someone would throw this person's papers away. Why would someone do that? Right? That's right; threw them away.

Apparently she checked the shredding box and the papers were there. My closet friend filled me in later, as she helped search for them. I didn't remember seeing them. I did however see the two reams of colored paper that had been taken from my office and used by this very same person. But did I say anything about that? No of course not. I wasn't upset, just surprised that someone had used so much of it and cleaned me out of that color. I asked who it was. When I was told I wasn't surprised that she had used it, just that she used so much.

But did I go and hunt that person down, knowing who used the paper and confront her about it? No of course not, what would be the point? The company's money paid for the colored paper, not me personally. So even though everyone thinks of it as my paper, it's not. So why would I make a big deal out of it? Why be so mean spirited as to throw her papers away. Hmmm?? Technically our offices and everything in them except our personal things are open and available to all.

Now originally I didn't take offence to that question. Although I thought at the time that it was odd to ask someone in a very accusatory manner. Later I offered to scan her papers and create a word file so that this person would have a copy. One because I felt sorry for her and two because I didn't want any more drama if they disappeared again. But I guess the papers had bar codes on them and you can't scan a copy, the scan can't read the bar code. It's always something!

Well wouldn't one think that the fact that I didn't know the papers were bar coded, should have been the first clue that I hadn't seen the papers. I realized later that perhaps this person had a guilty conscious. After all, remember she used "my" colored paper. She went to my office, had someone unlock it and took it out of my closed cabinet. I would think that's on par with papers being being dropped in the shredder. No wonder she assumed it was me.

Guilt by default no less? In turn she may have turned the situation around on me unconsciously. Everyone knows that I have to make a special trip to buy the colored paper. It's something that cuts into my work day, and I'm the only one who uses it. So no wonder everyone acts like it's my property. I store it in my office and I buy a bunch of reams so I don't have to go very often. I don't like going to get it, but no one knows that till now!

Whatever the situation, I am am proud of myself for not getting upset and bent all out of shape and accusing her right back. I'm quite pleased at the yogic, calmer side of me. Now I have to work on not writing about this stuff too! But what fun would that be?

My Quotes

2011-06-03T17:22:00.000-06:00

Awaken my children from a long winters sleep. To push your heads up to the sun. It’s time to show off your colors of pink. Your beauty is now at its peak.

Quote of the Week

2011-05-31T19:21:00.000-06:00

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. Dalai Lama

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T05:40:00.001-06:00

Here in the United States, Memorial Day is the day we honor the fallen men and women in service to their country. Many people also honor the men and women who have served and are currently serving. But it is also a time to remember lost loved ones. So today on this Memorial Day, I honor all service men and women and my father who died last year.

Let me tell you a little bit about him as a young man. He had been a Sargent in the Army during World War II. Or as many older gentlemen like to say "The Big War" or W W 2. I separated it like that so you could read it the way they say it. It's always made me want to laugh when they said dubbaya dubbaya two.

My father was just barely 18 years old when he enlisted in the army right before his high school graduation. He went straight to boot camp in Texas. Having been a member of the ROTC, he quickly moved to Buck Sargent. He was the youngest of seven sons. All but my oldest uncle serviced in a branch of the Armed Forces. There were soldiers, sailors and marines. It was a time of great pride in his family and the country to service for his country. My Grandmother would have preferred if none of them enlisted, but 6 out of 7 of her sons did join up. Amazingly every one of them made it back and without major injuries. Families of soldiers everywhere know the odds of that happening are very slim.

My Father fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He spent most of his time in France and some time in England. He received a medal for being shot. A bullet pierced his helmet, but didn't seriously wound him. Good thing, or I may not be writing this today huh? He rarely talked about the war until he hit his seventies. When "Saving Private Ryan" came out, he took my mother to see it. He said it was too much like being there again and he didn't enjoy the film. Oh he thought it was really good, but that it was too real. I remember hearing that a lot, when the movie came out. I watched the movie twice and got a better idea of what it was like for him. Watching it on a big screen with surround sound enhanced the feeling of being there. I got why my father wasn't very keen on celebrating the Fourth of July. He always hated the fireworks. Watch the scene where they get off the boats on the beach and you may get it, like I did as to why it was so hard for the veterans of that battle to watch.

Dad had a box full of things he collected during the war and lots of pictures with his buddies. There were even some spent bullets in the box. When I was a kid they kind of made me nervous just to look at them. When my father passed away, my sister-in-law had some of those pictures blown up and framed for his memorial service. An American flag was draped over his coffin and then folded up in the traditional manner for safe keeping. We gave the flag to my brother. I never really paid attention to all of the rituals people perform for fallen soldiers and veterans before, until his funeral. It's a nice way to honor someone. I watched the Memorial Day concert from Washington D.C. last night with a new perspective. Too bad we all can't live together without strife, war and sorrow of loss. Then we wouldn't need days called "Memorial Day".

My Quotes

2011-05-26T18:21:00.000-06:00

Accept the bad things with grace and the good things will follow.

Until We Meet Again Oprah

2011-05-25T10:13:00.001-06:00

Today was Oprah's last show. She said it was not good-bye, but until we meet again. It was perfect in that it was just Oprah at Harpo studios talking about all of the years on the show and thanking the viewers. The smaller audience was made up of some of her ultimate fans. It was just what I would expect from Oprah. A quiet, more intimate show sharing the last moments of the show with us, her viewers.

I want to thank Oprah so very much for all of the years of her show and O Magazine. I subscribe to the magazine and they recently printed my letter about creativity and my blog. What a thrill just to have that letter in the magazine. I showed the article and my letter to all of my friends. It is amazing the effect of just having a letter in the magazine was to all of them. It was almost as if I had written a featured article that was published in the magazine! Everyone wanted to share in the excitement of my mini Oprah connection! That's the kind of effect she has on others. It is a rare thing indeed.

I will miss her show. It was one of the few television programs I watched regularly. Remember kids, I'm all about movies! One day I may even get cable so I can watch the OWN Network. I like uplifting shows and Oprah had many. Oprah has had a profound effect on people all over the world. Her leaving is like seeing a good friend move far away and you only get to see them once in awhile.

I really want to thank Oprah for talking about meditation. Because when Oprah starting talking about it, people no longer looked at me oddly when I said I meditated. I think now some of them have a better understanding. They may not agree with it, but they may see it in a better light. As a meditation teacher, I never push my opinions on others, but try gently to let them help find their own way. That is what Oprah did on her show with a few exceptions. Those exceptions are; getting the word about child molesters, not driving while texting and not talking on cell phones while driving. People pay attention to what Oprah has to say.

Oprah said today that everyone is meant to do something; we all have a calling and we all want to be validated. I know for sure my "voice" will continue to be heard through this blog and I will continue to share a variety of things with all of you. I have been validated, by you the readers. My calling is to teach what I know, share it with others and to help others in the ways that I know how. The gift I can give back to Oprah, is the gift of my eternal gratefulness for the years of uplifting and interesting shows and insights. The Oprah Show will be missed and it will be almost impossible to replace it.

Namaste

Quote of the Week

2011-05-23T21:01:00.000-06:00

Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness. Chuang-Tzu

Helper's? in the Garden

2011-05-18T21:56:00.000-06:00

Spring is natures reminder that it's time to put your things in order and recruit your friends and family to help you with the cleanup! Here is my mid spring garden clean up and my helper in a corner of the garden.

However, my husband got a little too vigorous in helping and even pulled up a tiny rose I had planted last year. I couldn't find it in the debris in the bags we put out for collection. I was a little upset for a minute, but he worked so hard I couldn't possibly be angry. I rooted that rose from a cutting and I can always root another. Next time, I'm going to mark it with a red ribbon or a flag or something and put a note on it that says, "I am not a weed, don't pull me out!" I wondered how he didn't notice it was a tiny rose. I mean after all, it had thorns on it! You know, I have over a dozen roses, so it's not like he's never seen any roses before! But when you have helpers, sometimes it's better to suffer in silence and be grateful for all of their help. But if they start ripping plants up by the armful, then it's time to kick them to the curb!

It's actually the first year he's helped me so much. I normally do most of the clean up, because I like to do it myself and get it done early in the season. But the mold season has been very long and much worse than in previous years. By doing less outside though, I haven't gotten a sinus infection because of all of the wet earth. Yeah! Knock on wood, or a tree...!

You can see the bones of the garden and the few flowers that were growing. Just a mere two weeks later and a lot more has bloomed and already gone. The leaves are coming out everywhere. It is a veritable explosion of green! I'll post more later. You won't even recognize that it's the same corner!

My Quotes

2011-05-17T21:27:00.000-06:00

The sun rises each morning and with it comes the blessings of the earth.

Quote of the Week

2011-05-16T11:45:00.000-06:00

Man's heart away from nature becomes hard. Standing Bear

How Many Seasons?

2011-05-15T11:21:00.000-06:00

It seems as if we are just meant to have strange weather; from the snowiest of winters, to the rainiest of springs. It's rained and been gloomy so often here that I can only recall about five or six days of sun since the beginning of April. It hasn't rained every day thank goodness, but it's rained a lot more than in previous years. I wouldn't mind the rain so much, if it would be sunny for awhile between rainstorms. Geez! I'm looking outside, trying to will the sun to come out right now! Nope, no where in sight...

The positive side of all of this unusually wet weather is the state of the vegetation. The plants and trees are really lush and green. You've seen my pictures of the flowering plants. They are so much fuller and prolific this season. Now I know why Seattle, Washington has such a great reputation for it gardens. Their gardens are lush and full of green leaves and flowers from all of the rainfall and fair weather. I can't exactly say the weather has been really fair here, because it hasn't been all that good, let alone fair!

Well it has gotten warmer here lately, at least I can say that it has in the last week; its been warmer and hotter, then colder. The temperatures have been pretty extreme though, as if mother nature is experimenting and can't decide if she wants it hot, warm or cool. The weather's been all over the thermometer too; anywhere from 40 to 60 to 90 and back to 50 degrees. It's kind of hard to know what to wear on a given day, unless you have a degree in meteorology!

A few days ago I had to search for my summer clothes and get them out of my seasonal storage, so I could wear a pair of shorts. I had to turn the air conditioning on because it was 87 degrees when I got home from work. It took two hours to get the house down to the upper 70's and get the humidity out of the house, it was that humid. Two days later I needed socks to keep my feet warm and a sweater, then I had to turn on the heat! Now I check the weather before I get dressed in the morning, just hoping it doesn't snow too. I'm just kidding, but you never know! I don't need clothing for three or four seasons, I need clothing for two seasons; hot and cold!

Mother Nature Used Her Crayons

2011-05-13T18:44:00.000-06:00

Doesn't spring just simply burst with color? Some colors are subtle, while others are almost garish. But put them all together and they are like a painter's palette, ready for the brush. A pink here, a yellow there and a splash of fuchsia for a jot fun! It's just like Mother Nature opened her box of crayons and started coloring the landscape.