Zoo (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

 

We visited the zoo in Mexico City last October. I didn't know there was a zoo there until a couple of days before departing and we were discussing what we'd do while there. My hubby has been to MC before. I lit up when he said there was a zoo. Get this, the admission to the MC zoo is free. The only admission we paid was to enter the butterfly house which was $4 each.  WORTH EVERY PENNY! It was my favorite exhibit, second only to the bird section where the birds were "free range" and we were inside the caged area with the birds up close and personal. 

 

I had never seen a panda bear even though I've visited the San Diego zoo. The line in SD was too long and I have no patience for that.  In Mexico City, we visited on a weekday so there were no children. We practically had the entire zoo to ourselves.   The one downside to the MC zoo is that the bathrooms are far and few between. One thing to remember if you go to Mexico City is that you must pay to use the bathrooms. It's only a few pesos but can turn into a real emergency if you don't have any coins in your pocket. All the restrooms we visited were clean and well maintained.

I know I shouldn't love going to the zoo but I do. We live four hours from Portland, Oregon and have visited the zoo there a couple of times. My favorite exhibit there is the bat cave. They are interesting little creatures and it's a treat to watch them feast on fresh fruit, underground in a dark cave with only a plate of glass separating us. I can feel you shuddering.

 

Do you have a zoo in your area?  Do you ever visit?

 

Hey! I made it through the April 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge without missing one day.  The best part for me has been finding some great new blogs to follow.  There were over 2,000 participants and the bloggers I've chosen to follow have all kept their commitment to this challenge. Thanks to all who have commented and are following me. I hope I always have something interesting to say and my goal is to always have a photo up with my posts.

 

love, susan

Yes (A to Z Blogging Challenge)





Several years ago I read the following article written by Tina Fey on saying yes. It had made such an impact on me that I copied it and shared it with a co-worker. Years later my friend mentioned she remembered this piece and it had served her well. I hope you'll take one minute to read it and leave a comment.  

 

Have you ever said YES and knew you'd figure it out later?

********************************************

 By Tina Fey

In 1997, I moved from Chicago to New York to work at "Saturday Night Live." I packed up and was going through my things to see what I would take with me and what I'd leave behind. I found an orange folder -- a regular school folder -- in a bookshelf. As soon as I saw it, I knew what it was. There were quotes written all over the front of it. Some of them were: "Greet everything with 'Yes, and....'" "Make statements instead of putting the burden on others with questions." "Stay in the present, as opposed to focusing on the past or future." "The fun is always on the other side of a yes." (emphasis added)

Years before, I was a student at Second City, an improvisational acting school in Chicago, and took a class with artistic director Martin de Maat. These quotes were some of the rules of improv he gave us. When I found the folder, I realized that taking that class had completely changed my life. It certainly sent me down a career path that I never would have ended up on otherwise. It also sent me down a personal path -- my friends were all part of the improv community. My husband was a piano player at the ImprovOlympic, and we met there. All those rules and exercises defined us and our outlook on the world. 

The things I learned in that class became part of the way I live my life. A couple of times I've been called on to do things -- jobs or whatever -- where I've felt, Maybe I'm not quite ready. Maybe it's a little early for this to happen to me. But the rules are so ingrained. "Say yes, and you'll figure it out afterward" has helped me to be more adventurous. It has definitely helped me be less afraid. 

"We're offering you a job here at 'Saturday Night Live' -- can you move here within a week?" 

 *****************************************

love, susan

XOXO (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

World's best kisser!

There are not many X words, have you noticed?  I Googled XOXO and there is a Wikipedia definition of kisses and hugs so I'm going with it.

On hugging.  I'm not a hugger by nature.  I grew up in a generation that didn't show a lot of affection, or at least that's what I tell myself in order to feel better about my lack of hugging instinct. I do not recall our folks randomly hugging us or saying I love you until we were grown up and out of the house. Once my sister and I had kids, things changed. Weird. My mother was the most excellent grandmother.  When the grand kids visited, they got her undivided attention. And, she hugged and kissed them a lot.  I shoot for that as a grandmother myself but I know I fall short. My grandkids have warmed up to my hugs but they are not a kissy family and I'm okay with that.

While I wasn't a hugger growing up, my first husband's family are huggers & kissers. My mother-in-law smothered me to death and it was pretty uncomfortable when I first met his family. She'd be standing at the door when we visited, which was often, and there was no getting through that front door without a hug. She always insisted on a kiss. OMG! I learned to love that and I miss her very much. I wish I had told her how much her hugs & kisses meant to me.

 

Not everyone loves to be hugged. We need to remember to be sensitive about it. May I give you a hug? is not too hard to say before you force yourself upon someone you don't know that well.

 

My hubby is a hugger. As I write this, I realize I don't hug him nearly enough. Note to self.

On kissing friends. I hate it when women acquaintances try to give me a smooch. What is that all about? We do not live in France, people. Stop it. It's stupid. I don't want your germs and, honestly, I don't know where your lips have been. Save it for your partner. Seriously. Stop it.

 

On kissing your lover. Now, I'm not going to get too personal here because that's just how I roll but I gotta tell you that I'm now married to the world's very best kisser.  I'm not his first kissing partner and he is not mine. Don't care. He knows how to kiss a girl and that's all I am going to say about that.

 

Are you a hugger and kisser? Do you hug and kiss your friends and family?

 

love, susan 



Woof ~ A Love Story (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

It was the 5th Annual Dog Adoption Day yesterday at Columbia Park. I grabbed my camera and drove over to see if I could find some subjects to shoot. I was not disappointed.

 

This first photo is an image I won't soon forget. A woman was holding this little sweetheart and her hubby was asking lots of questions about this full-grown mutt. I could tell they were highly interested in her. But when the Mr. turned around and took this little girl's face in his hands, as you can see here, I knew there was no way this dog was going back to the shelter last night. I didn't stick around to confirm that fact.  I just know.

 

The eyes have it. The eyes are why I have three active, hairy, bitchy, sweet, funny, exhausting dogs. And, one lazy cat.

 

I heard on the news late last night that at least half of the dogs brought to the event were adopted. How amazing is that? Now, some might think it's a horrible thing to have people just show up and adopt dogs without the shelters giving them too much thought. Does it really matter?  If you go to the humane society, you are required to fill out an application and if there is more than one person interested in a certain animal, the staff will choose.  Ask me how I know.

 

Missy with no coat.

My "Missy" was sittin' over at the HS when I first met her in 2009. I would not have given her a second look as she was scrawny with no coat whatsoever.  She had just dropped a litter of pups and her body was suffering the consequences. She was not a pretty dog. What I did notice was that among all the barking dogs in the kennels, she was not barking and was scooched up as close as caninely possible to the front of the kennel. She caught my eye and my search was over.

 



Look at her coat!

I took her out of the kennel for a quick walk around the area to see if she was leashed trained. She stayed right with me. Sold. I filled out the application and when I heard there were other applications for her, at the insistence of my dog-lovin' friend Becky, I went back THREE times to walk her and make sure they knew my name. She had to be spayed before they could release her but I felt positive I would be chosen ... and it was so.

 

Her coat came in the next winter.  Just look at the difference in her tail. She does not resemble the dog I adopted. If she had never grown a coat, I wouldn't love her any less. But I have to tell you that when we walk her, there is never a time we don't hear at least once, "what a beautiful dog!"

 

Thinking of getting a dog?  Why not save a dog from one more day in a shelter. My experience has been that rescued dogs will love you forever. Sometimes there are challenges but that's the fun in it all. Working through the behavior that re-homed dogs can develop. It takes time and patience but it's so worth it.

 

love, susan

 

Venture (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

Earlier in this blog challenge I used synonyms for a quick writing exercise. Today I thought I'd try it with antonyms.  Oh, yes. When was the last time you looked up an antonym?

 

My word is Venture and the antonyms are idleness, assurance, certainty, fact, inaction, protection, reality, and safety.

 

They say nothing ventured, nothing gained and I'll agree with that.  Idleness nearly killed my spirit in my first 42 years of life. Then, the fact is, something big happened and my reality changed.  I left the safety and protection of a daily battle with depression, fear and inaction and stepped into the sunlight.

 

It has been a little over 12 years now and my life has never been the same.

 

Have you tried using antonyms?  Try it! 

 

love, susan

 

U is for Upper (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

A friend napping on a camping trip.

UPPER:  Warm fuzzies. Goosebumps. Happy tears. Butterflies in the stomach. Laughter. Moments you know are special and you never want to forget.

 

Sometimes I'm able to capture them in my lens. Sometimes I have to stop and take a mental picture like  Claire in the movie "Elizabethtown" and hope it stays with me forever.



My son and daughter-in-law sharing a laugh
with her brother and friend. Priceless.

Today I am sharing a couple of photos I chose randomly that instantly bring back feelings of joy when I see them.

 

The last 12 years of my life have been non-stop experience in fun and adventure. I wish I could remember every single moment of it but the images I shoot will have to do.

 

These are just a millisecond glimpse of my life.

 

Best day ever spent with two great friends on a
day trip to Seattle. Epic fun!

 

Motorcycle trip with friends on a fine summer day.

I hope you have some epic moments in your life. 

 

love, susan



T is tor TRIPS! (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

We took a little trip through Columbia Park
last night on our way into Kennewick.
Glad I had my camera.

Trips are my favorite topic. It doesn't matter if we go 500 miles or 5. I grew up in Alaska and, as you may know, there is a limited number of miles one can travel by car. I left Alaska about thirteen years ago and I've been making up for lost time. The road is my middle name. 

 

If you are new to my blog and interested in travel, please check out my trip adventures under the labels rides, trips, 2012 Summer Trips and photos.  My 2012 Summer Trips label was an idea that formed because my husband always complains in September that "we never went anywhere this summer".  I decided to document every motorcycle trip we took that year.

 

If you think about it, we get 52 mini-vacations a year. Oh, the places you can go in 48 hours is amazing. If you have wanderlust like us, I hope you'll take whatever mode of transportation you have and go.  And, then write about it.

 

Where do you love to go?

 

love, susan 

Snap Snap (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

I love snapping photos. If I had to choose only one material

thing to keep and get rid of all my earthly possessions,

I'd keep my camera.  What would you keep?

 



My hubby and dogs



Happy Earth Day!

Rivers Run Through It (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

Three rivers run through Tricities, Washington. Now that we've been here a couple of years, I sometimes take it for granted. We have the Yakima River, the Columbia River and the Snake River running through the three cities that make up this area.

It sure makes for some fun photography. Here are some recent images I want to share with you.

A sternwheeler that visits our
city often from Portland, OR (Columbia River)

The pelicans are back! Much fun
to watch while they fish. (Yakima River)

Ice Harbor Dam (Snake River)

 Do you have rivers near where you live?

 

love, susan

Q is for QUITTER (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

I'm a quitter.  I haven't always been but life events forced me to take a good look at how I spend my time. There are obvious things a person can't stop doing but my goal in life is to enjoy washing the dishes, folding the laundry and shopping for groceries. One might think that's a crazy statement but I've learned a few things along the way and I'm here today to share it.

I wrote a couple of posts in 2010 about making a Stop Doing List.  It was inspired by a blog I follow called The Art of Nonconformity.  The author is a young guy from Portland, Oregon who has traveled the world and helped many people get started with their dreams. He is an optimist and I dig that.

That list I wrote 4 years ago has expanded but I never bothered to write it down until now.

 

More Things I've Quit Doing Since 2010

• Attending baby showers. I hate baby showers. Squirrel, if you are reading this, I'll go to yours but only because I love you.
• Bridal showers. I haven't been invited lately but I'd politely say no, thank you.
• Funerals. Celebrations of life? Yes, I'll go.
• Tupperware, Mary Kaye, Pampered Chef parties.
• Washing my own car. I now take my car to the car wash every Sunday.
• Buying things I don't need at the thrift store.
• Hoarding crap
• Wearing makeup.
• High heels.
• Nylons!  That's a big one for me. No nylons when I wear dresses.

Do you do things you wish you didn't have to? Do you really have to them?  What would you put on your To Stop Doing List?   Leave me a comment if you feel inclined.

 

love, susan

P for Peppermint Ice Cream (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

In an uncanny move, my husband brought home Peppermint Ice today. How could he know I needed a "P" word for today's post?

 

He was shopping over at Grocery Outlet and while picking up our favorite coffee beans he decided to check the freezer section for cheap ice cream. I can only imagine his surprise when he saw it sitting there in the freezer section. We recently had a conversation about this topic and I told him it could be found but he doubted me. He thinks it is only a seasonal item.  I was right.  He was wrong. I know the ice cream section, okay?

 

Peppermint Ice Cream holds a special place in our hearts. Early (I'm talking the first two weeks) in our relationship, we were holding hands and cruising the ice cream freezer at Safeway, trying to decide what to buy for dessert.  When one of us spotted the candy cane flavored ice cream, we looked at each other and I swear to you I heard angels sing. He loves it as much as, or more than I do. We knew instantly we were soul mates. Truth.

 

Do you have a soul mate? Do you love Peppermint Ice Cream? Do you love being right?

 

love, susan

 

 

Oh, The Places You'll Go (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

I'm cheating this morning. I went back into my archives from 2011 and pulled up this post for "O" entry today. I do love going back into the archives. And, I'm glad I started blogging when I did. My posts have always been random and I'm not sorry about that.

Every day I get up, suit up and show up for my life. And, then I write about it. I hope you enjoy my blast from the past today.

love, susan


Oh, The Places You'll Go

The Cable Bridge - Tri-Cities, Washington

“Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.” 
~ Winnie the Pooh

This morning I read this quote in a blog I read regularly.  The blog (Jonathan Fields) is written by a guy who used to be a big-shot, corporate attorney but who is now writing books and has a thriving blog with a nice following of smart, compassionate business-type followers. He left the titles and excerpts of 7 childrens' books as food for thought today about everything we need to know to succeed in business. I would expand it to say everything we need to know in life ....

Out on the Columbia River

“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.” 

~ Winnie the Pooh

I shot these pics when we were on a boat cruise with "the big guy" in June 2009. The big guy was the senior partner in the law firm where I work. He worked hard and he played hard.  He died suddenly last May. When I look at this picture, I remember leaning over the side of the boat putting my hand in the  spray from the wake of the boat and allowing the cool water to hit my hand. It was hot that day.  I love that feeling.

Under the Cable Bridge

We had to go under the cable bridge to get down the river. I don't know if I'll ever be on a boat out on the Columbia River ever again. I had no way of knowing that would be the first and last time I cruised in DRR's yacht. I only know that I enjoyed every single moment of being out on the water and doing nothing. We took off at3:00 p.m. from the office and the first two hours of the cruise were the very best because instead of typing words like radiculopathy and depositions, I was munching on chips & salsa and sharing laughter and sunshine with my co-workers.

Columbia River

“What makes the desert beautiful,” said the little prince, “is that somewhere it hides a well…” 
~ The Little Prince

We live in a desert here in Eastern Washington but you'd never know it by the two rivers that run through the Tri-Cities.

On this day, we traveled down the Columbia River quite a ways towards Umatilla. I was given a little history lesson on how the gorge was formed but the information did not stick to my teflon brain. All I know is that it is an amazing site to see and I'm glad I got to see it while out on the water.

The Cable Bridge

“You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You’re on your own.

And you know what you know.

And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go.”

"Oh, The Places You'll Go" ~ Dr. Seuss

Numbers (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

Among my favorite movie lines is from  "Erin Brockovich". Erin (Julia Roberts) is trying shoo George away. Her numbers don't scare him away. As a matter of fact, I think her clever response endeared her even more to him.

George: How many numbers you got?

Erin Brockovich: Oh, I got numbers comin' outta my ears. For instance: ten.

George: Ten?

Erin Brockovich: Yeah. That's how many months old my baby girl is.

George: You got a little girl?

Erin Brockovich: Yeah. Yeah, sexy, huh? How 'bout this for a number? Six. That's how old my other daughter is, eight is the age of my son, two is how many times I've been married - and divorced; sixteen is the number of dollars I have in my bank account. 850-3943. That's my phone number, and with all the numbers I gave you, I'm guessing zero is the number of times you're gonna call it.



Random alert:  There are 10 turtles on this log. Can you spot them? I couldn't see them
when I shot this pic because I was a far distance away. Loved it when I
opened up the pic on my big screen and discovered so many turtles.

Do you have a favorite movie line?  Tell me!

 

love, susan

Movies (A to Z Blogging Challenge

I have been a big movie fan ever since my job at a small theater in my home-town Haines, Alaska. With a population of 1,200, going to see a movie on Friday and Saturday night was the only alternative to drinking yourself into oblivion. Often enough, we did both at the same time.

 

Back in the day, movies arrived on reels in big metal cans with handles on them. I don't recall how many reels it took for one movie but one of the jobs I never held was running the projector. The guy who owned the business usually put boys in that job. I'm pretty sure they made more money than the ticket and concession stand positions. I digress.

 

Movies. Yeah, I loved sitting in that theater watching the newest movie. We were at the end of the line for receiving them so while the rest of the world had already seen The Exorcist, we had to wait patiently for it to arrive.  I wasn't old enough to see it but we (the workers) would go into the theater after-hours and watch whatever we wanted. Honestly, I do not remember any other movie in all my high school years (maybe too much wine?) besides The Exorcist. It scared the hell out of me and I can't watch it to this day.

 

What I do love these days is just about anything on the big screen. If you asked me to name my Top 10 11 Movies, that list would change but my all-time favorite never changes, On Golden Pond.

 

My Current Favorites

1. On Golden Pond
2. As Good As It Gets
3. There's Something About Mary
4. Second Hand Lions
5. Terminator 2
6. Erin Brockovich
7. Crime of the Heart
8. The Perfect Storm
9. Steel Magnolias
10. Something's Gotta Give
11. Elizabethtown 

Have you seen a great movie lately?  What are your Top 10 faves?

 

love, susan

 

Light is My Friend (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

Got a pic with dead space? Get your quotes on!

Light is a photographer's best friend. I've taken a couple of photography classes and while I feel like a kindergartner when it comes to my new camera, the one thing I've remembered from class ... IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LIGHT.

 

I love getting up early in the morning to head out with my cup of coffee and camera bag to see what I can catch in my lense. I've often thought that going to the same places would get boring but I've found that each day brings a different angle on the light, along with changes in the air quality, fauna, and other interesting subjects to shoot. In other words, just because I've visited a place 20 times doesn't mean it's going to look the same.

 

 

We visited the library last night for a quarterly potluck. I slammed down my dinner so I would have time to walk in the library garden before the light dimmed too much. The tulips are in full bloom and the daffodils are almost spent.

 

I was happy with the few photos I snapped yesterday and can hardly wait to go back to capture what blooms next. I think we lived here 3 years before I heard about the beautiful library garden. I often wonder what I'm missing that I haven't discovered yet.

 

There are many places to treasure where I live. I think the beauty is in the eye of the beholder and since I've been taking photographs seriously over the last 3 or 4 years, I am seeing it in a whole new light. 

 

It makes me so happy.

 

Do you have a favorite place you visit in your home town? 

love, susan

K9 Krazy (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

It has been a long week and I've got stuff to get done so today will be a photo blog with some favorite pics of my Krazy K9 fur kids.  I love 'em! Have a great weekend everyone!



Abbie

 


Missy



Remi (<------KRAZY)

Jello (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

When asked for a J word, my husband came up with Jello. We proceeded into a lengthy conversation about the different colors of the jiggly stuff and some childhood memories.

 

First off, I love jello. I love it plain. I love it with shreds of carrots or fruit in it. I love it layered with whip cream, and I even love it with cottage cheese. When I think of jello, the first thing that comes to mind is a funeral potluck.  Right?  Come on. You know it's true. Have you ever been to a wake where there wasn't some kind of jello dessert?

 

Jello dishes fall into two categories. Take orange jello with shredded carrots and celery in it.  Would that be a dessert or a salad?  These things are important when you look at the flyer for a potluck and your last name falls into the category of DESSERT or SALAD. I'm such a rebel that sometimes I use my first name and take whatever I want. The world can always use more desserts, wouldn't you agree?

 

When I was a young mother, my mom taught me to feed warm jello to my son when he was sick with the flu. It was the one thing that would actually stay down when he was throwing up. She suggested I not use red just in case it came back up. Good advice. I hadn't thought about that until I sat down to write this post. She had a lot of home remedies that I'm sure my doctor would have poo poo'd.

 

I'm a jello connoisseur. When I see a fluffy, orange jello-looking batch of stuff sitting on the potluck table, I simply cannot resist trying it.  Did you ever notice nobody brings jello dishes to a potluck in the winter?  It's spring/summer thing. I'm going to a potluck this Sunday night where the main dish is sloppy joes. I'll bet you lunch that the jello dessert I'm taking will make someone very happy.

 

I hope something about this post has made you happy and that you have a great childhood memory from it. Jello has been around a long time and I don't think it's going to go away anytime soon. 

 

What's your favorite jello flavor?  Got a great recipe?  Share it with me, will you?

 

love, susan

 

Ideas aka Brain Dumping (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

I've been plagued with ideas my entire life. I say plagued because sometimes it is difficult to function in daily life with so many ideas swirling around in my mind. I daydream and have constant ideas running through my mind like the ticker tape at the bottom of CNN news. 

 

Yesterday I wrote about riding motorcycles. One of the things that happens when I'm out there on the road is my mind will switch to idea overload. I am conscious of this and have to reel myself in constantly when I'm driving. Same thing can happen in the car.

 

There are times, too, when I feel stuck for ideas. That's when I pull out some tools I've learned along the way. Mind mapping, for example.

 

According to Wikipedia, Tony Buzman coined the term mind map. I learned it while in high school English class for writing stories.  It can be used for any word or idea that you have where you feel stuck. 

 

It's easy and free! I recommend that you get a blank piece of paper and sit down at a table that has been freed from any clutter. Write a word in the middle and place a circle around it. Now here comes the hard part. You must resist thinking that any idea you have is a bad one. Whatever comes to your mind, WRITE IT. Use lines to branch off that idea and keep writing. When you feel like you've had a complete brain dump, you're done. Now, wasn't that easy?

 

I used a mind map to write this post. So from my map, you can see that I was trying to think about where my ideas come from.  In linear form (which is kind of boring, in my book) my ideas look like this:

 

WHERE DO IDEAS COME FROM?

• photowalking, scavenger hunts
• talk to strangers, talk to neighbors
• coffee w/friends, drive down a different street, try new recipes, visit library, do SOMETHING
• motorcycling, riding in the car, walking the dogs, in the shower
• life experiences

How about you, where do your ideas come from? I'd love to know! Leave me a comment if you feel inclined.

love, susan

Honda Girl (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

  

I've been riding for about 8 years now and have about 15,000 miles under my butt. We ride on the weekends all summer.  A 200 mile ride is about perfect for me. I went on my longest ride ever summer of '12. I think growing up in Alaska made me a little tougher than I would have been had I not endured 60 below zero winters, mosquitoes and lack of great fresh fruit. A long day on the bike can really tear up the body. When you're out there, a hundred-plus miles from home you just gotta make your mind over-ride your body and push on. I try to pace myself. We make it a habit to stop every 50 miles, even if it is just for 5 minutes to stretch.

My favorite rides are when we pack a lunch and stop somewhere along the road to kick our feet up. We have been all over eastern Washington and some of Oregon. The closest I've been to riding in a big city is Vancouver, Washington. I'm not crazy about city driving, even in the car.

Most of our friends have Harleys. We are budget riders so I bought a used Honda and my hubby has a Kawasaki and a Yamaha. So far, I've only had to replace tires.

I'm not a religious person but I always say a little prayer to the motorcycle gods to help keep me focused and safe from distracted drivers while we're out on the road. So far, so good.

There are a few things that will keep me from getting on my motorcycle to ride:

Having too much on my mind (sad or pissed)

Inclement weather

Too tired

Holiday weekends

 

It's spring now and my motorcycle brothers and sisters are on the roads now. Please take extra care and watch for us on the road. Please give us space.  Please don't text and drive.

 

Do you have a summer thing you've been waiting all winter to do?  Leave me a comment if you feel inclined.

 

love, susan





Google, I Love You (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

My first full moon pic with my
new camera

Google it.  This last year it has been the phrase that is most likely to come out of my mouth when I don't know the answer to something.  Google it.  Google what?  Yeah, Google "what".  You will receive 33 definitions and uses for the word what. Who knew there were so many?  You can Google that too!

This leaves me wondering ...

Who invented Google? Was it just one person?

Where did they go to college?

I wonder if I can learn to play guitar by Googling it?

Can I Google questions about my new camera?

How do you train a dog to walk who hates the leash?

Is there anything you can't find on Google?

 

How did we ever survive before Google, I'll never know.  And, then there is YouTube. Don't get me started.



Do you love Google?

love, susan



 

Fifteen Minute Fix (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

Give me a fifteen minute deadline and I can accomplish more than I can all day without one.  Have you ever been overwhelmed by all the to-do's on your list, whether you actually have a physical list or one in your head?  Have you ever looked at your mounting housework or weekly, monthly, yearly chores and just didn't know where to start ... so you didn't start at all?

 

I have a solution. It is tried and true. 

 

Get yourself a timer or use your cell phone. Look at the area you are wishing to clean up or bills to pay or whatever it is that's dragging you down. Survey what you have in front of you. What is it you wish to accomplish? Picture it in your mind quickly.

 

Set the timer

 

Go!!!!!!

 

Just do it

 

When you have just a couple of minutes left on the timer, you'll have to decide how you want it to end.  But my rule is, you must stop when the timer goes off.

 

My fifteen minute fix has worked well for tackling jobs I hate with a passion.  You know what I'm talking about.  Who likes to clean the bathroom?  Ever found yourself spending two hours cleaning the bathroom?  No wonder we hate cleaning.  It should not take you more than 15 minutes. Seriously. Try it!

 

Got a couple of rooms that need picked up?  Use my 15-minute method for each room and let me know how it works for you.  I used it to write this blog post.

 

love, susan



Energy (A to Z Blogging Challenge)

 

Today, I just didn't have the energy to write without the aid of some synonyms. You should try it!  Choose a word.  Google the synonyms and see what happens!  Leave me a comment with your words.

 

en·er·gy

Synonyms:

vitality, vigor, life, liveliness, animation, vivacity, spirit, spiritedness, verve, enthusiasm, zest, vibrancy, spark, sparkle, effervescence, ebullience, exuberance, buoyancy, sprightliness;  strength, stamina, forcefulness, power, dynamism, drive; fire, passion, ardor, zeal; informal: zip, zing, pep, pizzazz, punch, bounce, oomph, moxie, mojo, go, get-up-and-go, vim and vigor, feistiness   I hope wherever you are that you are enjoying this moment and that your life spirit and enthusiasm sparks a fire that will keep you buoyant and full of passion and zeal.     May you have enough moxie and mojo to zip zing through your life with enough punch and vigor so that your effervescence and exuberance drives you to get up and do it all over again. love, susan