Sick Day

Waking up this morning after not getting enough sleep and having nightmares I still planned to go to work.  I was ready early even.  Then I couldn't find the key to the car.  I searched for over half an hour and then called in sick.  By that time, I was feeling pretty ill.  When I first started looking it was very calm and orderly.  By the time I made the call, I felt as if I had exhausted all possible places and the stress of having no idea where else to look had taken its toll on my nerves and brought on an upset stomach. 

After the call I looked for the key at a more relaxed pace, expecting to find it immediately, didn't, and finally gave up and had some breakfast.  Perhaps eating would help my brain to work better and they would be found.  Normally my keys are attached to my belt loop with a little key chain clasp.  Yesterday I wore a skirt-no belt loop.  I also generally take care of all my things right after I get home.  Yesterday K wanted to tell me about some things that happened with Gideon on the bus and then Gideon wanted to show me some magic tricks.  All these little things and my routine was off.  I had no idea where I put the key down.  We searched for a bit more, but they didn't turn up.  We decided to make a detailed search and cleaning of the living room-later.  I was still not feeling great and so decided that a nap was in order and the cleaning could come after.  I normally leave for work around 6:15 AM.  After the nap, around 10 AM, I found the car key.  It had somehow fallen into a small plastic CVS bag that hadn't made it upstairs yet.  Not a bag of mine, but K's.  Not a place I looked earlier, I may have moved it, but not looked inside.

This leads me to my happy things for today:

• Finding the car key
• Getting to walk to the bus stop to get Gideon after school
• Helping to clean the living room and the kitchen
• Getting my laundry done
• Time to recover from those nightmares before going back to work

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Night Sky

Today was a little stressful, and very hot which may have something to do with the stress.  The AC wasn't working on the second floor at the school.  I had intended to go home after work and then go back out to fighter practice but I fell asleep when I got home.  Because it was so warm, I waited until after I ate to go for a walk.

The crescent moon shone bright towards the west and Jupiter to the south/southeast.  Through the lights of the city's edge I was able to locate Jupiter, Cygnus the Swan and the Big Dipper.  I even got some pictures of some of these and used the Star Tracker app I have on my phone.   It was a mostly peaceful walk with the occasional car going by.  The smells of blooming things and the sounds of crickets all coupled with the night sky make this walk tonight my happy for today.

Moon

 Moon

Jupiter

Jupiter 

Big Dipper (Ursa Major) 

 Big Dipper (Ursa Major)

 Moon

Moon 

 Moon

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Nine More Days

The closer to summer break it gets, the less anyone wants to be in school.  There are nine days left to the school year. Just one weekend that will be like a 'weekend' until next school year when it all starts again. 

This summer I am trying to plan some things early on.  Last year I fell into a bit of depression once there was no where to be.  This time, I am hoping to be more prepared.  To that end I am going to make a list of mountains to climb- real and figurative.  The first is Mount Major, the second is a full days worth of time (8-10 hours?) going through the storage unit, and then to do as much preparing-in advance- for event camping season as possible.  Other things include selling my house and my car, finishing projects that I have begun (like the storage unit), and seeing if I can climb some other real mountains in there too.  I am very well aware that I will not achieve all the things on my list.

My happy things for today are:

• Goals
• Walks
• Irises (not my personal favorite, but they are in gorgeous bloom now)
• Award planning (Shh)
• Smiles

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Short & Tired

Somehow I managed to forget to publish yesterday's blog last night.  Maybe because I fell asleep while writing it?  I noticed this afternoon when I got on my computer to do exercises.  The little mouse arrow hovering over the big orange Publish button.  Since I am just as tired tonight this will be short.  When doing my exercises I accidentally pushed a button (or the website automatically did something) and a YouTube video of a TedX started to play.  It is exercise related which is why I choose to share it here.

Tonight was the first official rehearsal for the i Sebastiani performance that will be in August.  I'm kicking myself for not bringing a pen or pencil with me tonight to make notes.  Tomorrow I will try to work on that some.  As I read through the scenario I thought I was playing the character one way and realized that it should be another way.  These are the notes I need to keep track of.  Getting together with the troupe is my happy for today.

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Fishy

There are things going on with life that I am choosing to not write about--death and depression type things.  It is important to me to keep something daily to write about that is happy.  At school today many of the students got fish for their eco-columns.  For reference, here is a site about a similar type of eco-column.  Any how, watching the students get their fish and watch their fish, is fun.  They get excited, then realize that the excitement can cause accidents or general stress to the fish and start to contain the energy and remain outwardly calm.  I wasn't able to work on mine today but hope to tomorrow.  Watching some seventh graders observe fish is a happy for today.

Other happy things include turning in my signed contract for next school year, getting bills paid and checking things off my list of things to do.

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Weaving Circle

The Baronial Bylaws meeting this morning did not have as many attendees as we expected.  Those of us who came worked on it anyway.  This part was a bit easier to do than the first meeting.  Most of what we have to work on at this point is updating what is already there. The first meeting we were adding things that were not there.  I am hopeful that the next time we meet it will be the finishing touches and then the populous will get to see it and comment.

K & I made a quick stop with some friends before going to weaving circle this afternoon.  It was a busy time today there.  There was a person who I believe is fairly new to the SCA as well as some that traveled quite a ways to get there.  Some absolutely gorgeous weaving happened today as well as some Kumihimo, hand stitching and research to name a few of the things people brought to do. 

It was really great to see so many smiling faces today.  Smiling faces is my happy for today. 

Gideon is listening intently to someone.

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Pride Day

On Thursday I learned that there would be a Pride Day event in Concord, NH today.  I also learned that there is a group called Free Mom Hugs.  This, I decided, is a group I could get behind.  K painted a t-shirt for me last night and today I attended my first ever Pride Event.  I've always been a bit of an introvert.  I like to think that I have been coming out of my shell a bit over the last few years.  Taking up performing and becoming a Baroness are part of that.  Standing among a group of strangers with a shirt that offers free hugs is kind of a big thing for me. 

There is no way I could have done this on my own.  Had K and Gideon not been there along with a friend of ours from town, I may have chickened out and not found the table with other hugging moms to say hello to.  As it was I didn't stay with them for very long and mostly walked around by myself or with the family.  The family left earlier than me though, I stayed until it ended around two in the afternoon.

The first stranger I hugged however, made it all completely worth it.  She saw the shirt, made that universal arms slightly stretched movement sign for a hug and we smiled and hugged each other.  She told me that she hasn't talked to her mom in 5 years.  That, for her, it was the best decision she could make and she was happier for it.  It was an extraordinarily moving moment for me.  Words were shared, I started to tear up and we hugged again.  Later another person and I hugged and as they walked away they started to tear up, saying that they must have really needed that.  There was a lot of time for me just wandering around the area looking at booths and listening to the music and speakers.  In the beginning, there was an interfaith service that was powerful, as was the last drag queen performance. 

Taking part of this is my happy for today.  As part of the day I also got to talk to my son, C, on the phone.  The picture below includes him on the phone talking with Gideon.  Today also included nail painting, an interesting bible tidbit I found, and the first day of a "30 Day Butt and Gut Challenge a friend and I are doing."
 

I have mixed feelings about people writing on statues

even with chalk that will wash away the next time it rains.

Love is Love.

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