Poem of the day

from “The Tatters” Brenda Coultas

I can get at the drawings or language of making things: instruction manuals for building fires or cookbooks for explosives or poisons. I have found out why we stand tall and who the commanders of the great ships are. I have learned the story of the microscope and of birds which dress in blue and purple, of how to read a sea shell. I have read of Monsters of the Land and Sky, from the crumbles of a 19th century text. I commit to memory views from penny postcards of sights I’ve never seen and actions I never witnessed; like the great swans of Long Island in the wild, or the skyline of Manhattan as seen from the deck of a paddlewheel steamer. I am impressed by cancelled postcards from the plains of a sod house or from a museum of corn.

On the road again: Packing for another adventure

Getting ready tonight for a 2.5 week adventure to visit my dear dear friend Krista in Japan.  Leaving this Thursday at 6 am and thinking about how much better I am at packing now than a few years ago.  A few pre-trip essentials have been taken care of:

- Cut, buff, and repaint toenails
- Take nail polish off, cut, and buff fingernails
- Toiletries bottles refilled and in a bag at the top of my airplane "personal item"
- Lonely Planet Japan book reserved at the library for pick up tomorrow morning
- iPhone 4 from Kalen charged w music, Japan travel app, and Skype credit
- Credit and debit calls called for details of international fees and travel notice so they're not stopped while abroad
-Clothes for two and a half weeks carefully rolled up to fit into one backpack and one carry on suitcase
- Sketchbook and journal packed
-Camera charged and memory card cleared
- Two pairs of squishable walking shoes purchased, squished, and packed into a carry on
-Waterproof Sea-to-Summit camping bag emptied of air and packed into the mix
- Camping towel and swim suit rolled into side pocket of backpack
- Layers, layers, layers, and even more layering options ready to go

East Asia, I'm nearly ready for you.  Bring it on.

The start of another year

The big 2-7, and I've felt surrounded by thoughtful people all day long.  I actually prefer working on my birthday to not working bc there are more people around to feel celebratory with.

A late night gift pick up from my neighbor's unlocked car in his driveway last night, nice Trippel beer waiting on the counter in a beautiful bag from my roommate this morning, the most beautiful rose I've ever seen waiting in the crack of my car door for me from a secret admirer this morning, a cubicle covered with streamers, 4th of July costume celebration and pitch in at work, a team pitch in with cupcakes, a singing birthday card from my coworkers, and a thoughtful gift of sidewalk chalk (long story) from my boss to round out the day before a birthday dinner (and my annual St. Germaine birthday cocktail!) with Mom and Sarah at Flatwater on the White River.

Early bedtime getting ready for an early morning tomorrow to drive up to a 4th of July weekend in Pentwater, Michigan

It's been a relatively grown-up, relatively low-key, but 100% perfect birthday.

The sort of week where you come home to flowers on your doorstep

It's been an interesting few days. Thankful for a thoughtful surprise. 

And so begins the World Cup

Biking season at last!

13 miles, smoothies, and tadpole catching on the Monon

Life Lessons -- Find of the day

45 Life Lessons from some one who really knows

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland ,
Ohio

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled
Over to 90 in August, so here goes:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never
blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is
up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an
answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't
save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this
matter?
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or
didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,
we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift