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Ch-ch-changes…

Happy 2016!  Time to rip open that new calendar! Break out the gym membership card, give up all that chocolate, stop staying up so late reading; you know– it’s resolution time! Ha! Not here. I talk the talk, alright, and what do we gain from it? (I will resolve to doing ONE of these things.)

I know, I know. “Shush. Too. Perky. Not. Enough. Coffee.”

img_0677No resolutions from this woman. But a WORD for the year, that I can do.  This word came, as it does, in the same organic fashion I have grown to expect. It pops up and says “Hi, I’m your word: You get to deal with it now!” It won’t leave, and it  is noisier than the other words. So, I always go with it. Introducing—

CHANGE

It is certainly the right word for the year. Big changes afoot. Timmy JUST retired on Monday after 37 years! (He’s far too young to have worked that long, I know 🙂 ) Yet, as he is  lacking a sufficient stash to be a gentleman of leisure–and he didn’t marry money– AND he keeps bringing home the wrong lottery ticket–he is going to be starting a new career on Monday.

This is huge as far as CHANGE goes; now I have more vacation days than he does!  But that’s probably OK; we can’t afford to have 6 weeks off if the paychecks are so much smaller. The REALLY big thing about this is that he will come home, EVERY NIGHT. He will not work 16 hour days, he will not have to go to work at midnight and get drafted to stay until 4pm the next day. He will SLEEP at night. And get up in the mornings! Talk about CHANGE!

“But,” you say. “That’s all well and good, and congratulations and all. But it’s YOUR blog, your word!”  True, that.

It IS time for change.  25 years in retail/management is long enough for anyone! So, what DO I want to do when I grow up? I am a creative problem solver…Now I have a problem to solve, too. But, some smaller changes can also be worked on, as well.

  • Can I become a finisher of quilts?
  • Can I change the desire to buy things; be happy with what I have?
  • Can I finally edit ALL the photos?
  • Can I do the dishes before I go to bed?
  • Can I change our eating habits?
  • Can I cook at home more?

It will be a big adjustment to our little corner of the world, this less money/ more time situation, but so much better, as long as we both approach this year as a time of change, of different, smaller expectations. I recall the truth of the saying, “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.”

12435979_10208893178030679_1667159247_nThese are previous years words–click on any to read that years essay.

CONNECT— ENOUGH— CHOOSE— INSIGHT— WEATHER— MOTION—BALANCE— DELIBERATE

Have a GREAT year! (Do YOU have a word? How does it work for you?)

—Do you LIKE this? Share it, please!   My photos are available for purchase.  Follow me onFacebook. On Twitter, I am @rteest42 . @rteest42 for Instagram. My  Etsy shop! –Photos, jewelry.

 

Hypocrazy

If I am following the latest outrage du jour properly, I am to understand that Ted Cruz allowed (used/permitted/agreed to/suggested/didn’t refuse) his young girls to mock our current government and other people running for president, in search of campaign contributions. This is an acceptable use of an actual minor child.

And then,  a political cartoonist inferred that his children were being used to collect money by performing, a la the organ grinder and his dancing monkeys. This is not an acceptable use of pen and ink, or pixels. (Do people understand the reference –that the organ grinder is out begging for money, using the monkeys to ‘entertain’ in exchange for cash?) or are they just offended because they were told to be offended?)

And THEN, he sent out the offensive cartoon to many, many more people who would have never otherwise seen it, and begged for the money himself.

Let’s leave all the kids out of it all, how about that? Politicians–Don’t parade them out for votes or for warm-fuzzies photos. Reporters and photographers–Don’t stalk them, or try to sneak photos, or use them in the news cycle. What they wear or where they vacation or had for dinner? Not part of the campaign.

 

Christmas Photo A Day, 12/26/15

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Santa was kicked to the curb!

I am not a fan of the mad rush up to the 25th, with a full screeching stop for one day, and then the determination to denude the house of any sign that Christmas happened before the next trash pick-up.

I celebrate the 12 days of Christmas AFTER Christmas, as is traditional, and not how retailers have decided it was meant to be BEFORE Christmas.

So, as long as all Christmas is packed and away by Valentines Day, I feel I am doing good! The tree stays up till the Epiphany. And it is usually far longer before it gets taken down, to be honest! I want to enjoy the holiday season, not rush to the next big thing…

I hope that Santa was good to you!

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Any takers?? (it’s a dry heat 😉 )

See you next December 1! I hope that you have enjoyed our December fun! I hope that 2016 is as wonderful as you are!!!

If you are interested in knowing what I am up to during the year, subscribe to this blog!   PLEASE—Do you LIKE this? Share it, please!   My photos are available for purchase.  Follow me on Facebook. On Twitter, I am @rteest42 . @rteest42 for Instagram. My  Etsy shop! –Photos, jewelry.