There is an awful lot going on in my life right now.
In addition to working and leading the exercise class, there is the normal household business of laundry, dishes, cooking meals, shopping for food, and paying bills on time.
Now that spring has arrived, the yard needs attention. We have a pond that was shut down for the winter. It needs to be opened and that means a couple of days of draining, power washing, refilling, setting up pumps, and trimming (maybe repotting) plants. The pond is beautiful and relaxing once it is up and running, but twice a year (spring and fall) it is a pain in the neck.
Spring is the season for Continuing Education workshops and I'm scheduled for 3 in the next couple of weeks. The first is a 2-day Cataloging & Classification workshop needed for directors in small public libraries in order for them to be certified by the state and for their libraries to be eligible for state grants. The following week, I'm giving 2 half-day programs in Connecticut and the week after that, a full-day program.
On the personal front, my mother died in December of 2014 and my father has not been well since then. My parents were devoted to each other and he was her primary care giver until she entered a nursing home for the last few months. Even then, he was with her every day. Now my father won't be with us much longer. The doctor's prognosis is vague: a few weeks or a few months. I'm trying to manage at least one visit with him very soon. He lives about a 2 1/2 hour drive away and a visit is pretty much an all-day affair. Fortunately, most of my siblings (and there are many) live much closer. They have been keeping an eye on him and communicating with me and each other.
At times like this when life seems beyond my control, mindfullness and meditation can help me stay calm and think clearly. These next few weeks are a time for deep breathing. I know there will always be difficulties, sorrow and loss. I will face them.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Sun, Snow and Murder
My leisure reading took me to Colorado. The plot began with a blizzard. As I read Diane Mott Davidson's Crunch Time, I thought to myself "I hate being cold. I hate having to drive in snow (which caterer Goldy Schultz had to do in the very first chapter). Maybe I should stick to mysteries in warmer climates."
The next book in the pile happened to be Dilly of a Death by Susan Wittig Albert. At least character China Bayles lives in the Texas hill country where there is very little chance of blizzard. Drought, maybe, but not snow.
As luck would have it, the next book was Through the Evil Days by Julia Spencer-Fleming. Oh no! Another blizzard and the main characters (Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne and his new wife the Reverend Clare Ferguson) were trapped in a remote cabin in upstate New York. It amazes me how these people can survive cold for long periods of time, sometimes without jackets or gloves.
Fortunately, I'm now on one of J.A. Jance's books. This one is Paradise Lost, part of the Joanna Brady series. Joanna is Sheriff of Cochise County Arizona. Here, everyone is trying to keep cool as the temperature soars to over 100 degrees during the day.
Right now in Massachusetts, the sun is shining. While the morning temperature is chilly, the weather report forcasts highs in the mid 50s. I'll take it!
The next book in the pile happened to be Dilly of a Death by Susan Wittig Albert. At least character China Bayles lives in the Texas hill country where there is very little chance of blizzard. Drought, maybe, but not snow.
As luck would have it, the next book was Through the Evil Days by Julia Spencer-Fleming. Oh no! Another blizzard and the main characters (Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne and his new wife the Reverend Clare Ferguson) were trapped in a remote cabin in upstate New York. It amazes me how these people can survive cold for long periods of time, sometimes without jackets or gloves.
Fortunately, I'm now on one of J.A. Jance's books. This one is Paradise Lost, part of the Joanna Brady series. Joanna is Sheriff of Cochise County Arizona. Here, everyone is trying to keep cool as the temperature soars to over 100 degrees during the day.
Right now in Massachusetts, the sun is shining. While the morning temperature is chilly, the weather report forcasts highs in the mid 50s. I'll take it!
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Redundant
I received yet another invitation that ended with the phrase "Please RSVP ..."
Redundant.
RSVP = Répondez s'il vous plaît
S'il vous plaît = Please (or more literally, If it pleases you).
Therefore, Please RSVP = Please reply please.
Redundant.Or, according to Wikipedia (that source of all knowledge), it is a Pleonasm. This is a Greek word for TMI.
Pleonasms, or redundancies, appear everyday. A common one is when the cashier in the store asks you to enter your PIN number. Since PIN = Personal Identification Number, PIN number = Personal Identification Number number.
Even Librarians and other book loving people are guilty. I often hear ISBN number. Just in case you don't know, ISBN = International Standard Bibliographic Number. ISBN number is another pleonasm.
Pleonasm is a new word for me. I wonder how many times I can incorporate "pleonasm" into my conversation today.
Redundant.
RSVP = Répondez s'il vous plaît
S'il vous plaît = Please (or more literally, If it pleases you).
Therefore, Please RSVP = Please reply please.
Redundant.Or, according to Wikipedia (that source of all knowledge), it is a Pleonasm. This is a Greek word for TMI.
Pleonasms, or redundancies, appear everyday. A common one is when the cashier in the store asks you to enter your PIN number. Since PIN = Personal Identification Number, PIN number = Personal Identification Number number.
Even Librarians and other book loving people are guilty. I often hear ISBN number. Just in case you don't know, ISBN = International Standard Bibliographic Number. ISBN number is another pleonasm.
Pleonasm is a new word for me. I wonder how many times I can incorporate "pleonasm" into my conversation today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)